As some of you will know, I have a HUGE thing for soundtrack albums...
This week, after literally years of trying, I finally got hold of a copy of the OST to Batman Begins (Hans Zimmer / James Newton Howard), and it was worth the wait...
3 reasons I love OSTs:
• they swell the heart
• they are terrific to walk along to, listening on the iPod
• the tracks can produce any kind of emotional response (hey, I cried within 2 minutes of the beginning of Saving Private Ryan - listen again, and you'll see why...)
Here's Batman Begins track by track (second half tomorrow?):
1. Vespertilio
Sets the scene, dark, mechanical. Short, but so sweet.
2. Eptesicus
More hopeful, but yet this track has it's undertones too. We begin to hear the themes that rise within the music so hugely towards the end - the sweeping notes at the end of this track are those of a 'hero'.
A wonderful mixture of orchestra (some oboe at the beginning, maybe) and piano. Absolutely brilliant music to walk along to...
3. Myotis
We're brooding again. The almost mystical chimes make you think of Asia as they echo at the start of the track.
The sound of confusion builds, but this is very quickly followed by action - sharp, recurring notes...punches being thrown, explosions!
The track concludes with peaceful tones, as though our hero is emerging - music to make you wonder, breath in deep and smile...
4. Barbastella
(OK, how did they come up with these names??!)
Choral beginning, with orchestra flowing through, followed by piano... There is something of track 2 about this one, but it does build and has a sort of metallic, structured feel to it at the end.
Then the drums begin to bang... With wind instruments and a lot of passion...great finish!
5. Artibeus
Mysterious, spikey in tone and course - definitely a track to personify our bag guy... Nothing particularly moving about this song, but can be terrific to listen to depending upon where you are (imagine listening to this one walking around a city in the early evening...).
A little show at the end...
6. Tadarida
Softer, brought back to a more comfy place with this track, but for how long...
There is a sense in the music that something is wrong - spikiness returns!
This track is long (just over 5 mins), and is worth it - the last two minutes are pure OST gold dust! Orchestra, choral, a real sense of something happening -it is listening to pieces like this which make OSTs soooo much fun!
7. Macrotus
Even longer now (7+ mins), and starts beautifully with flowing violins and delicious piano. This is the main theme of this album - one of hope, heroism, passion, yet pain. You feel, at moments, like your head is swirling in the clouds...
But, like all great OST composers, you're brought back down to Earth soon enough...
The chimes begin again, but no sharp spikes yet. Enough to feel eerie...
Big, strong, powerful orchestral tones follow in the middle third - our hero is being called upon. The young choral that follows feels like a weakness has been shown, and help has been sought.
Tracks 8-13 tomorrow...
Thanks - hope you found this interesting!
Have a great evening!
Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Tuesday, 16 March 2010
10 Menace2Music regrets
I'm not a person who regrets much - for me, life is about choices. We make 100's everyday. I don't think you can regret anything if you've made the choice, however painful that choice might be sometimes... But, for fun, here are 10 Menace2Music regrets:
1. Not listening to The Cure a lot more when I was a teenager (sorry, for regular readers, I know I've said this one before)
2. Never having been to Glastonbury, or any other Festival for that matter
3. Although it would've been the biggest waste of money and time (with the great benefit of hindsight), never going for minidiscs!!!?
4. A personal one - never committing to singing training as a bass
5. Aaah, to have a thing like Spotify as a teenager?!
6. Not going to more gigs, full stop...but, I can't help preferring just to listen to the live album!
7. If George were alive today, I'd write him a letter...
8. Maybe I haven't given Soul and RnB music enough of a chance (naaaaaaah!?)
9. Never learning to play an instrument
10. Not inventing the iPod (ok, so tenuous there aren't even words!!!?)
Have a good music evening - remember now, no regrets!!!
Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
1. Not listening to The Cure a lot more when I was a teenager (sorry, for regular readers, I know I've said this one before)
2. Never having been to Glastonbury, or any other Festival for that matter
3. Although it would've been the biggest waste of money and time (with the great benefit of hindsight), never going for minidiscs!!!?
4. A personal one - never committing to singing training as a bass
5. Aaah, to have a thing like Spotify as a teenager?!
6. Not going to more gigs, full stop...but, I can't help preferring just to listen to the live album!
7. If George were alive today, I'd write him a letter...
8. Maybe I haven't given Soul and RnB music enough of a chance (naaaaaaah!?)
9. Never learning to play an instrument
10. Not inventing the iPod (ok, so tenuous there aren't even words!!!?)
Have a good music evening - remember now, no regrets!!!
Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, 11 March 2010
Well, I love that 'part' of the song!?
The first of two blog entries today, I hope... We shall see!
This morning I've been thinking about how there are songs we like, or love, but sometimes just for PARTS of them. A few i've thought of, for example:
"Layla" - Derek & The Dominos
I can't help but link it to the montage on Goodfellas, but the piano section of Layla is, in my opinion, the stronger, more giving part of this fantastic song.
"Perfect Kiss" - New Order
The ghostly synths (like something out of Blade Runner) and instrumental towards the end of the track.
There's a song by Unkle featuring Richard Ashcroft (trying to remember the name of it - it's on my second iPod, which is stowed above my head on the train) - the second half of the song, which I seem to recall being mostly instrumental is really moving/beautiful! Name of track later on, unless someone hits me on Twitter with it!
There are some amazing guitar solos that stand out above songs too - out of left field, and not a major one that people would think of, is the solo on "Things We Said Today" of McCartney's Tripping the Light Fantastic album. It is a classic track in it's entirity, but this solo (which comes in 2 parts) has always had a special place in my heart!
On my way to work - train to London. This morning on shuffle, as well as the above tracks (aaargh, what is the name of that Unkle track??!), I've also been enjoying music by:
Ray LaMontagne
Maria Callas / Verdi
Stephen Fretwell
Snow Patrol
The View
Tori Amos
Heard a great song by Kate Bush last night on shuffle, from her Red Shoes album. Here's an interesting choice - flick back 30-odd tracks, or listen to the whole album? Tonight I'll let you know what I did! Come on, you can't wait, huh???!
May your Friday be filled with happiness, praise, but just as importantly, some great music!
Catch you all later!
Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
This morning I've been thinking about how there are songs we like, or love, but sometimes just for PARTS of them. A few i've thought of, for example:
"Layla" - Derek & The Dominos
I can't help but link it to the montage on Goodfellas, but the piano section of Layla is, in my opinion, the stronger, more giving part of this fantastic song.
"Perfect Kiss" - New Order
The ghostly synths (like something out of Blade Runner) and instrumental towards the end of the track.
There's a song by Unkle featuring Richard Ashcroft (trying to remember the name of it - it's on my second iPod, which is stowed above my head on the train) - the second half of the song, which I seem to recall being mostly instrumental is really moving/beautiful! Name of track later on, unless someone hits me on Twitter with it!
There are some amazing guitar solos that stand out above songs too - out of left field, and not a major one that people would think of, is the solo on "Things We Said Today" of McCartney's Tripping the Light Fantastic album. It is a classic track in it's entirity, but this solo (which comes in 2 parts) has always had a special place in my heart!
On my way to work - train to London. This morning on shuffle, as well as the above tracks (aaargh, what is the name of that Unkle track??!), I've also been enjoying music by:
Ray LaMontagne
Maria Callas / Verdi
Stephen Fretwell
Snow Patrol
The View
Tori Amos
Heard a great song by Kate Bush last night on shuffle, from her Red Shoes album. Here's an interesting choice - flick back 30-odd tracks, or listen to the whole album? Tonight I'll let you know what I did! Come on, you can't wait, huh???!
May your Friday be filled with happiness, praise, but just as importantly, some great music!
Catch you all later!
Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
5 albums I would LOVE to listen to for the 1st time....again!?
The idea for today's post came to me as I was listening to Sleep To Dream by Fiona Apple. I was blown away by her debut album "Tidal" - not only was this a female vocalist who wasn't afraid of who she offended, her blend of vibrant piano playing and passionate vocals was a joy to behold. I was hooked from the beginning, and "Tidal" (although by no means the greatest album I own - it might just feature in my top 100) is an album I would love to listen to again for the first time!
Here are another four:
2. Stephen Fretwell - "Magpie"
When I listen to this album, it's like I'm being given a hug! Clever, poignant lyrics, so clever musically - a wonderful mixture of acoustic guitar, drums, piano (ooo, running theme) and voices.
Track to hit: Run
3. Radiohead - "The Bends"
Purchased on the back of a piece on TV about their nomination for the Mercury Music Prize (I had not really heard of Radiohead by this point), I bought a copy of "The Bends". Is it over the top to suggest this was the equivalent of my father's Sgt. Pepper moment all of those years ago. Music, for me, was never going to be the same...
Track to hit: start at the beginning, and ride to the end
4. The Beatles - "Abbey Road"
I have to include this album in such a list as this! Why? This is, quite simply, my favourite album of all time EVER! Did it take the demise of one of the greatest bands of all time to create their final masterpiece? Side B of this album is just the cleverest arrangement of music there is on the planet (is it too weird that I'm welling-up just writing this - well, I am a Pisces, and it's my birthday today!!!?)
5. Dodgy "Free Peace Sweet"
I awaited this album so eagerly, and Dodgy did not disappoint. This was a band having fun, writing great songs! I saw them live, bought the t-shirt - this album was probably played more than any other at Uni! I wish I could turn back time, slide this into a cassette deck and play this again for the first time! Would I love it more? Probably not, but that's not the point!!!
I was going to do this about 10 albums - might do another 5 next week, maybe...
May a little music in your day guide the seconds, minutes and hours with harmony!
Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Here are another four:
2. Stephen Fretwell - "Magpie"
When I listen to this album, it's like I'm being given a hug! Clever, poignant lyrics, so clever musically - a wonderful mixture of acoustic guitar, drums, piano (ooo, running theme) and voices.
Track to hit: Run
3. Radiohead - "The Bends"
Purchased on the back of a piece on TV about their nomination for the Mercury Music Prize (I had not really heard of Radiohead by this point), I bought a copy of "The Bends". Is it over the top to suggest this was the equivalent of my father's Sgt. Pepper moment all of those years ago. Music, for me, was never going to be the same...
Track to hit: start at the beginning, and ride to the end
4. The Beatles - "Abbey Road"
I have to include this album in such a list as this! Why? This is, quite simply, my favourite album of all time EVER! Did it take the demise of one of the greatest bands of all time to create their final masterpiece? Side B of this album is just the cleverest arrangement of music there is on the planet (is it too weird that I'm welling-up just writing this - well, I am a Pisces, and it's my birthday today!!!?)
5. Dodgy "Free Peace Sweet"
I awaited this album so eagerly, and Dodgy did not disappoint. This was a band having fun, writing great songs! I saw them live, bought the t-shirt - this album was probably played more than any other at Uni! I wish I could turn back time, slide this into a cassette deck and play this again for the first time! Would I love it more? Probably not, but that's not the point!!!
I was going to do this about 10 albums - might do another 5 next week, maybe...
May a little music in your day guide the seconds, minutes and hours with harmony!
Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Could I have been an EMO?!
I started writing my blog a lot earlier last night - you see, I'm on my way home on a train, thinking a lot about my wife and daughter, my new job, but also music...
I decided about a year-or-so ago that music is something really REALLY important to me. I collect and listen to enough of the stuff - it was time to appreciate that my interest in music was something that does, and should, DEFINE me.
I'm pretty simple to read:
* I don't go anywhere without my iPhone and three iPods (yes, 3!!?)
* I'm seen, very rarely, on my own without a pair of headphones on
* I cannot go a week of my life without buying a CD, hearing something new
That's me really!
Right now, the following is true:
> I've been listening to the song 'Afterglow' by Genesis a lot
> I wish I'd listened to The Cure f%#€ing years ago - not sure I would've been an EMO, but they're just sooooo good
> I am definitely going to put a playlist together of songs to play to "people who are just too damn jolly?!"
> sorry to be so hung up on this, but it is my birthday tomorrow, and I have no idea what CDs to get (apart from perhaps Gorillaz..., and Peter Gabriel..., and heehee, maybe I do know after all!!!!)
I believe in music. Music can bring peace. But, music can be a volatile maiden, that needs to be treated with maximum respect. Me: I thrash music around, and get treated in a reciprocal manner!!!?
Love to all - enjoy whatever tunes that are rockin' your life right now!
Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I decided about a year-or-so ago that music is something really REALLY important to me. I collect and listen to enough of the stuff - it was time to appreciate that my interest in music was something that does, and should, DEFINE me.
I'm pretty simple to read:
* I don't go anywhere without my iPhone and three iPods (yes, 3!!?)
* I'm seen, very rarely, on my own without a pair of headphones on
* I cannot go a week of my life without buying a CD, hearing something new
That's me really!
Right now, the following is true:
> I've been listening to the song 'Afterglow' by Genesis a lot
> I wish I'd listened to The Cure f%#€ing years ago - not sure I would've been an EMO, but they're just sooooo good
> I am definitely going to put a playlist together of songs to play to "people who are just too damn jolly?!"
> sorry to be so hung up on this, but it is my birthday tomorrow, and I have no idea what CDs to get (apart from perhaps Gorillaz..., and Peter Gabriel..., and heehee, maybe I do know after all!!!!)
I believe in music. Music can bring peace. But, music can be a volatile maiden, that needs to be treated with maximum respect. Me: I thrash music around, and get treated in a reciprocal manner!!!?
Love to all - enjoy whatever tunes that are rockin' your life right now!
Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, 8 March 2010
What's running around in my head?! Musically....
Evening everyone - hope you're all well!
I've got lots of music stuff swirling around in my head (and not only those songs you hear in your head - yes, worryingly, those hang around every so often...this morning's was definitely a Duran Duran track for no particular reason), so in haste let me chuck a couple of them down here...:
* it's my birthday on Wednesday and I have no idea which CDs I'm going to get, or I want?!
THIS is very unlike me! Maybe it's because I started a new job this week, and new music has (oh, this is paining me to write it' let alone think it?!) been shelved somewhere at the back if my head... Blurgh, this sucks!
* we have to come up with a remedy to this particular "blurgh" - could this be Spotify Premium???
Still very much up in the air for me, but a definite possibility for purchase later this week. How about positives and negatives:
GOTTA HAVE IT
• let's be honest - Spotify is cool, so Premium will be even cooler
• freedom to listen to tonnes of stuff on the iPhone
• the current "blurgh problem" disappears for a bit...
Oh, I'm not sure, I'm so indecisive?!
• currently commuting to Londinium, and from what I can see, Spotify will be crap on the train - it'll keep cutting out as the 3g is sporadic
• I'm not that fussed about the ads
• with the job, and a new baby, I don't get as much time on the computer with the ol' Spotify as I would normally crave...
So, it's a quandary!!!?
* should I STOP shuffling ALL the DAMN time!?
I've been thinking about putting some playlists together, plus working on a new top 100 tracks - I know all of this takes time, but I'm keen!
I think the playlist idea (I would then post them on Spotify as collaborative playlists) is a fun one...ideas???
> music to cheer you up
> tracks by artists that might surprise you
> in your head to stay, but for good reason (haha, as I write this, "Wild Boys" started playing - thank you shuffle?!)
> music if you're just too damn happy (Mmmm, I like this one - bring people down a peg or two)
But it's a serious question about shuffling - I've got to stop, and get some solid album/playlist time in!!!
* lastly, I think I might have found one of thx coolest cafes on the planet - bagels, music, Walls covered in CDs, music magazines to read... And, all of this....25 paces from my new office!!!! Yes yes yes!!! Brill Cafe in Clerkenwell!
Right, as Eva Cassidy sings about valuable pastures, I'll sign off! If anyone has any thoughts on the above, you'll find me on Twitter (Menace2Music) most mornings and evenings!
Menace2Music signing off - listen to a track today that reminds you of someone, that will make you smile...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I've got lots of music stuff swirling around in my head (and not only those songs you hear in your head - yes, worryingly, those hang around every so often...this morning's was definitely a Duran Duran track for no particular reason), so in haste let me chuck a couple of them down here...:
* it's my birthday on Wednesday and I have no idea which CDs I'm going to get, or I want?!
THIS is very unlike me! Maybe it's because I started a new job this week, and new music has (oh, this is paining me to write it' let alone think it?!) been shelved somewhere at the back if my head... Blurgh, this sucks!
* we have to come up with a remedy to this particular "blurgh" - could this be Spotify Premium???
Still very much up in the air for me, but a definite possibility for purchase later this week. How about positives and negatives:
GOTTA HAVE IT
• let's be honest - Spotify is cool, so Premium will be even cooler
• freedom to listen to tonnes of stuff on the iPhone
• the current "blurgh problem" disappears for a bit...
Oh, I'm not sure, I'm so indecisive?!
• currently commuting to Londinium, and from what I can see, Spotify will be crap on the train - it'll keep cutting out as the 3g is sporadic
• I'm not that fussed about the ads
• with the job, and a new baby, I don't get as much time on the computer with the ol' Spotify as I would normally crave...
So, it's a quandary!!!?
* should I STOP shuffling ALL the DAMN time!?
I've been thinking about putting some playlists together, plus working on a new top 100 tracks - I know all of this takes time, but I'm keen!
I think the playlist idea (I would then post them on Spotify as collaborative playlists) is a fun one...ideas???
> music to cheer you up
> tracks by artists that might surprise you
> in your head to stay, but for good reason (haha, as I write this, "Wild Boys" started playing - thank you shuffle?!)
> music if you're just too damn happy (Mmmm, I like this one - bring people down a peg or two)
But it's a serious question about shuffling - I've got to stop, and get some solid album/playlist time in!!!
* lastly, I think I might have found one of thx coolest cafes on the planet - bagels, music, Walls covered in CDs, music magazines to read... And, all of this....25 paces from my new office!!!! Yes yes yes!!! Brill Cafe in Clerkenwell!
Right, as Eva Cassidy sings about valuable pastures, I'll sign off! If anyone has any thoughts on the above, you'll find me on Twitter (Menace2Music) most mornings and evenings!
Menace2Music signing off - listen to a track today that reminds you of someone, that will make you smile...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, 1 March 2010
Why I love Movie Soundtracks, and I'm back...
I won't dwell on why or how, but Menace2Music returns with a vengeance from today!
Musically, today, I've shuffled on the iPod, and hit the following albums for some sustenance:
Gattaca OST - Michael Nyman
Hospice - The Antlers (yes, I just had to buy it!)
Unplugged - Eric Clapton (looks like a dodgy old CD downloaded, as it was skipping, so abandoned)
...and now I'm listening to The Dark Knight OST - Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard
The primary reason I like listening to movie soundtracks is that I find the music can be so emotive.
What I mean by this is that you can be strolling along, minding your own, or sitting on a train (like I am now), and a track from a movie hits your ears... Suddenly, for me (depending upon the track), blood begins to boil, or I feel as light as a feather, or I look around me and everything is just wonderful (or scary - depends upon the movie/song)!!!
I don't see the movie in my head very often at all - this is mainly because I have a lot of OSTs where I've either never seen the movie, or have seen it once (Gattaca, for instance - bought this for Nyman's music).
I know I've harped-on about OSTs before, but it was either talking about this, or what "shuffling on a iPod really means to me" or "To Shuffle, Or Not To Shuffle...". Yeah. Exciting stuff to come, huh!?
I think I'll review a classic album tomorrow, and might try and do this in the morning...we shall see!
Have a fab Music-filled Monday!
Menace2Music
Find me on Twitter - Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Musically, today, I've shuffled on the iPod, and hit the following albums for some sustenance:
Gattaca OST - Michael Nyman
Hospice - The Antlers (yes, I just had to buy it!)
Unplugged - Eric Clapton (looks like a dodgy old CD downloaded, as it was skipping, so abandoned)
...and now I'm listening to The Dark Knight OST - Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard
The primary reason I like listening to movie soundtracks is that I find the music can be so emotive.
What I mean by this is that you can be strolling along, minding your own, or sitting on a train (like I am now), and a track from a movie hits your ears... Suddenly, for me (depending upon the track), blood begins to boil, or I feel as light as a feather, or I look around me and everything is just wonderful (or scary - depends upon the movie/song)!!!
I don't see the movie in my head very often at all - this is mainly because I have a lot of OSTs where I've either never seen the movie, or have seen it once (Gattaca, for instance - bought this for Nyman's music).
I know I've harped-on about OSTs before, but it was either talking about this, or what "shuffling on a iPod really means to me" or "To Shuffle, Or Not To Shuffle...". Yeah. Exciting stuff to come, huh!?
I think I'll review a classic album tomorrow, and might try and do this in the morning...we shall see!
Have a fab Music-filled Monday!
Menace2Music
Find me on Twitter - Menace2Music
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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