Menace2Music

1 of 18220 or A Train Journey of Shuffling

2011-01-06T07:02:00.001-08:00

Let's have a shuffle adventure, like only my iPod can provide... I've over 18,000 tracks on this thing, so let's see what this train journey throws at me!

I've turned off the Aqualung album (their last one, strong but lacking the warmth of the others), and my first track is...

Leonard Cohen, If It Be Your Will
I knew a lot of Cohen tracks, before I was finally encouraged (by a former colleague) to buy some. I bought this CD in New York on a business trip, and recall listening to a lot of this while in the U.S. (probably great environment for it).

I'm always a big fan of harmonies, even if they're as brutal as Cohen's (with the ladies singing in the background) - you're pulled through the harmony, sometimes, like being pulled through a hedge, but overall I like this song.

Next up...a bit of Mahler (symphony 4, I think)
Now, here are harmonies...aaaah! Klaus Tennstedt conducts, I think. However, I think I'll move on - listening to one movement out of context with the rest won't sit well...

Fischerspooner, track: Wednesday
I bought this CD in Richmond on my way to a Quins game (where, coincidentally, I'm going on Saturday), knowing nothing about them. I still know nothing... Track is electronic, but not overally. Lyrics and voice aren't overwhelmingly great. Next...

Yeeeeeees, a bit of Ben Folds! You Dont Know Me (from Stems and Seeds)
This guy is a genius - you've just got to love a bit of piano based rock! However, lyrics, harmony play as big a role in this as the piano, which has an electro edge to it.
I can't get enough of this guy - might have to put together a Folds playlist and have a Folds day...tomorrow, maybe?
Mmmm, which is better - Ben Folds Five, or Ben solo????

This us followed by The Decemberists (I Was Meant For The Stage)
I just adore the vocalist's voice -kind of one you can close your eyes listening to, and it will wash over you and make you feel warm and plush!
I don't know this album as well as I know The Hazards of Love (rock opera at it's finest - go listen now!!!!), but this track is fab. Damn, more to listen to and appreciate more...(ha, you know I don't mind!!!)

Last one - bit of Radiohead (I'm already getting FWS, Folds Withdrawal Symptoms...!!?!) - track is a Bside from the Karma Police single - Meeting In The Aisle. One of the best bands around, and OK Computer (very justifyingly, though I didn't see where The Bends featured) was #1 album in Q magazine this month for album released in their lifetime. Yorke and the group, long may you rule!!!

Let some music into your life today, whether it be in your car, your house, or perhaps in your head...

Love to all ----- Menace2Music

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I've emerged from a classical phase...

2010-12-22T23:44:00.000-08:00

I wasn't sure how long it was going to last, but Classical Music (which I have enjoyed for some time, and loved for a little less time) grabbed me BIG time in November and December...

I was hitting iTunes purely to look at Classical releases. I was purposefully keeping HMV emails detailing purely Classical albums (not sure I've ever bought one from them, but I'm not fussed about receiving emails such as these from retailers).

I got through some Rachmaninov, some Bach, and some Opera (plus some Arias). All in all, I loved it, but I have emerged from the other side...

I now find myself sitting on a train, selecting songs as I go on my iPod (Menniss III, as I call it), and just to prove that you can go from classical to other things, today's music has consisted of:

Muse (currently steaming through the HAARP live album)
Sir Paul McCartney (I did listen to some Lennon on Dec 8th as well, I admit - always try to do this)
The Bee Gees (guilty pleasure - just think the song Nights on Broadway has some if the BEST harmonies ever)
Philip Glass (OK, a bit more classical)

Currently organising a little trip to see Dodgy play the Tunbridge Wells Forum next month, so I've been listening to them too, catching up on one of my favourite bands ever! Have already seen them once since they re-formed, which was a bigger gig in London.

Right, I must now give Muse the attention they deserve/crave...fortunately, no one is looking at me too seriously as I headbang to a bit of 'Hysteria'...

Hope you're all well - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May music affect your holiday in some way, supremely positively...

Love, Menace2Music

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Worth the wait - Batman Begins OST Soundtrack

2010-03-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

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

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10 Menace2Music regrets

2010-03-16T13:35:00.000-07:00

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

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Well, I love that 'part' of the song!?

2010-03-11T23:56:00.000-08:00

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

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5 albums I would LOVE to listen to for the 1st time....again!?

2010-03-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

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

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Could I have been an EMO?!

2010-03-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

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

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What's running around in my head?! Musically....

2010-03-08T11:32:00.001-08:00

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...

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Why I love Movie Soundtracks, and I'm back...

2010-03-01T11:16:00.001-08:00

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

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Why I can't stop buying music!!!

2010-02-09T13:19:00.001-08:00

I can't believe 2010 is already so old, and I've only written 5 entries on my blog - shame on me!!?

You might be interested to know that at some point next month, I am going to be getting Spotify Premium for my iPhone, thus ending the arguments that have been going on in my head for ages!!? Why? Well, it's a birthday present first-and-foremost, but I think it is a worthwhile "musical consumer experiment". Is it going to stop me buying so many CDs?

Well, just having a few adverts scattered over albums hasn't stopped me so far! But, I like to think I've been the kind of music consumer that Spotify and the labels respect - I use Spotify a lot, I playlist any albums I like, and if (after around 3-5 listens) I like the album enough, I go out and buy it!

Is that going to end when the adverts stop? When all I have to do is click on Spotify anytime I like, via my iPhone, and I can listen to anything I like! Will I need the CD anymore?

There have definitely been periods of my life where I just collected music. I could say this happened a couple of years ago - I just bought CDs because it was enormous fun!!! But, as I filled iPod-after-iPod, something a year-or-so ago changed in me. I realised that MUSIC was a lot more important to me than any collection.

I've begun to listen a lot more...

I've read a lot more about the music industry...

I've remembered a lot more track names, artists and albums - I've been able to talk a lot more to friends and family about what I'm listening to...

Will I still buy CDs, when I have Spotify Premium? Fuck yes! But for one vitally important reason - if I love an album, I mean TRULY love it, I have to own something tangible. Owning the virtual space just isn't enough! You want something you can hold, open, and see on your shelf! OK, I might not put a CD in a player much anymore (well, if ever, to be honest - sadly), but that ownership is vital! It is a link with the artist. A link with your passion for music. Collection, and their artistry.

I'm looking forward to Spotify Premium - I cannot wait, to be honest! But, it won't end my collection of music. It will, if anything, create a new beginning - I am hoping it will lead me to listen to more, More, MOre, MORe and MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you're all well - currently hitting my Spotify Playlist of songs I've found on there over the last 14 months-or-so! It's a collaborative playlist - check it out on:

New Songs I Love!
New Songs I Love!

Have a great day, wherever you are in it - let music rule a few minutes of it, for me, OK!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

D is for Delphic, but only because I love too many bands that begin with the letter D!!?

2010-01-17T10:40:00.000-08:00

Apologies for the delay on this blog, but have been extremely busy - music has passed me by a little lately, but I have a couple of nice journeys ahead of me soon, where I can maximise some listening time!

In the meantime, I'm listening to the Delphic album on Spotify - I'd seen a load of hype around this, and a fair amount of media coverage! Plus, the album has been splashed over phone boxes and billboards too. Weirdly, the last album that did this so much was White Lies, a year ago, and it sold a lot of records. Is the same going to happen here?

HTTP/Spotify link for the album:
Delphic – Acolyte
Delphic – Acolyte

Although you can hear the New Order influence upon Delphic, there is a lot more to this band and album - you can at times feel a mature sensitivity to it (check out the title song, at a wonderful 8mins.51secs), as well as some wonderfully pure electronic vibes!

I'm not sure, however, whether this is on my list of albums to go out and purchase? I think it is definitely worth a few more listens to see, for sure.

I tackled a look at Delphic for a couple of reasons:

(i) because my Dad said he'd listened to the album, and recommended I give it a look - this is a man who discovered Arcade Fire before me, so I give him his dues on musical taste (plus, I owe a lot of my taste in the musical arts to him)
(ii) because I just like so many bleeding bands that start with the letter D:

Dodgy
Dire Straits
Dr Dog
Def Leppard
The Divine Comedy
The Doors
The Doves

I mean, wow!? Each of these is worth a huge mention, as part of my musical collection - I own practically everything by them all (apart from The Doors, where I have only begun to scratch the surface)!!!

Off the letter D, I heard a great song today - Change by Marc Bolan and T Rex - unfortunately not on spotify, but I will keep an eye out for it!

Right, I'm now going to start thinking about the letter E, and promise to write something a lot sooner! Hey, I'm on one of my journeys tomorrow, so might just have to hit a few keys on my iPhone - watch this space!!!

Signing out, Delphic-stylee - Menace2Music

C has been a toughie!

2010-01-08T13:46:00.001-08:00

I didn't want to write about Coldplay, despite being a fan (though their last album still disappoints in comparison to "Rush of Blood").

I thought about writing about Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - the 7+ minute version of "Almost Cut My Hair" always sends shivers down my spine...

I've never let "Mmmm Mmmm" put me off collecting music by The Crash Test Dummies albums (though I can't say I've been an avid listener on the iPods to the Dummies - I just buy the albums if I see them).

Cranberries - no.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - love 'em, but not enough to have more than a Greatest Hits.

It was through discussing this on Facebook that one of my friends mentioned a band I have always loved, buying album after live album - Counting Crows!

I think it shows a lot of confidence as a band that you can release live albums so regularly, and them not dissolusion a fan base waiting for more-and-more studio material.

They're just a very solid band, with great foundations (question: will they ever better their first album, "August and Everything After"). Their live albums also show they have a human side, often having charity tables outside their gigs.

Favourite song: pick anything from "August", which is an album of hits

Really looking forward to tomorrow, and the letter D. Getting used to writing this blog on the iPhone now!

Enjoy your weekends, everyone - let some music flow through those ears of yours...

Menace2Music

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B is for The Beach Boys

2010-01-07T04:18:00.001-08:00

I'm working my way through a Greatest Hits, but could quite easily have sat here listening to Pet Sounds.

I remember the first time I heard that album - it featured at #1 in a UK newspaper (thinking The Sunday Times) chart of top albums, published in the very early '90s. Sgt Pepper was #2, and I had no idea how anything could better The Beatles masterpiece that I had listened to so often!

I've been fortunate enough to see Brian Wilson perform live, and he was amazing - he performed the above album from start to finish at The Royal Festival Hall in London.

Favourite track by The Beach Boys = Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
Rather morbidly, I've said I'd like this played at my funeral - this is one of those songs where the lyrics just reached out to me, and dragged me in...

Tomorrow is C - it's going to be one of:
Clannad
Coldplay
Creedence Clearwater Revival
or Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

One for me to mull, while I enjoy a Little Deuce Coupe..."you don't know what I got!"

Menace2Music

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From A to Z... Menace2Music style

2010-01-06T12:41:00.001-08:00

I'm going to spend the next 26 days (roughly what we have left in January) discussing some of my favourite bands through the alphabet!

Today = A
The Arcade Fire

Firstly, there probably isn't another band around at the moment that I am looking forward to their next album more! Neon Bible was fab, and a terrific follow-up to their superlative Funeral.

And it is Funeral that I find myself listening to now, as I write this. The harmonies and instrumentation make this album so individual, but so wonderfully accessible.

My favourite song of all time by them is 'My Body Is A Cage' which concludes Neon Bible. I've seen Arcade Fire live twice, and was gutted when they didn't play it either time?!?

Tomorrow is, rather predictably, the letter B. Not sure what to go for yet....tune in to see! It definitely won't be my fave band of all-time (The Beatles), but won't be Billy Ocean either...

Right, 'Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)' just kicked-in......time for me to rock out to T'Fire!!!!!

Menace2Music

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Jason Lytle's masterpiece

2010-01-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

Evening everyone!

I hope everyone had a very lovely Christmas and New Year!

I'm currently listening to Jason Lytle's "Yours Truly, The Commuter". If you get a chance, enjoy it on spotify (I'll post the link soon), or buy it, as it will be money well spent!

Now, get back to listening to some music.....

Menace2Music

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How cool - I can update blog via my new iPhone!!!

2009-12-29T08:48:00.000-08:00

Well, this is novel! I am sooo chuffed that I am going to be able to update this blog via my iPhone!

So, where have I been for the last month - well, importantly, becoming a Dad for the first time!

Music for Xmas = Them Crooked Vultures, and the OST to the last Star Trek movie by Michael Giacchino (awesome soundtrack)

Recently purchased music includes Jason Lytle, Animal Collective, Paul McCartney, Wild Beasts, and a load of old backlist OSTs, including Gangs of New York.

Currently listening to Reverend and the Makers - impressing me so far.

Considering purchasing Spotify Premium, but ONLY when I get a job.....

Hope you're all well - Happy New Year!

Menace2Music

Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella, Why You Should Love Classical Music, and #5 in our TOP 20 ALBUMS of 2009

2009-11-23T09:44:00.000-08:00

Good evening music lovers!

If you ever needed any more proof that Ben Folds is a complete musical genius, check out the new album, Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella.

Ben Folds – Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!
Ben Folds – Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!

It has been a long time since I have wanted to OWN an album sooooooooo much! To me, it's almost as if this album should always have existed - Ben Folds (and Ben Folds Five tracks too) sung a cappella, as if they were sent from heaven!!!

To get as major a kick out of this, it would be useful for you to be a Ben Folds fan and know some of the songs they're representing here. However, as an art form, this album is as about as clever as it gets! Recycled songs, sung without instruments, the voice doing all of the work (and making it look so easy). There are a lot of different Universities on here, including some jazz singers (on Selfless, Cold and Composed - Ben Folds – Selfless, Cold and Composed - University A Cappella Version).

I can't quite envision myself listening to much else this week - I will listen to this again and again, especially when it is on my iPod. I'm only halfway through it, and I'm in love!?! The version of Still Fighting It will make it into my new TOP 100, without a doubt:

Ben Folds – Still Fighting It - University A Cappella Version

What a beginning - just magical!!! Oooo, I have goosebumps! But, isn't this what makes music so wonderful sometimes - finding a new album (even if it is new versions of past songs), that just makes you feel special!

...and purchased!!!! Cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NB: still listening as I write below - check

******menace2music******menace2music******menace2music******menace2music******

I'd like to feature at least 5 reasons this week why YOU, the reader, should love classical music:

REASON # 1

I don't know enough about classical music to say that much of the music you listen to everyday wouldn't be around without Beethovan, Mozart and Bach. This is possibly true.

Classical music is a lot more accessible for the part-time, armchair listener now, with a lot of radio stations (radio 3 and classic fm, being the major examples) devoted to the music. I think a lot of people are still a little afraid of being perceived as fuddy-duddy if they listen to a lot of classical music in their 20's and 30's (I'm 33, before anyone asks).

I'm going to keep my reasons pretty simple - #1 is that classical music can be extremely relaxing! An obvious point, you might say, as I know there are a lot of double, triple (and more) CDs out there, such as:

Various Artists – Relaxing Cinema Classics
Various Artists – Relaxing Classics
Various Artists – Relaxing Classics (Vol. 1)
Mason Jar Ice Tea Drinkers – Relaxing To The Classics

But, it is worth trying to chill out to some classical music as well as the trance/chillout stuff that the last 10+ years has spawned. Composers have clearly been trying to calm us down for some time!?

******menace2music******menace2music******menace2music******menace2music******

TOP 20 albums of 2009

#5
Metric - Fantasies

I read one review which said this was like The Killers with a female vocalist - I think this summed it up enough! Crack it open, and enjoy!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Next week on Menace2Music!!!

2009-11-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

5 reasons to love classical music, as well as everything else
everyone's typical classic albums - are they really classic
the finale to Menace2Music's TOP 5 albums of 2009, in-depth
plus all of Menace2Music's usual features

Hope you're all well - tune in next week for more and more...

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Damn, I ran out of time today!

2009-11-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

Sorry - no blog entry today, as time has drifted away from me!

Promise that more is to follow!

Menace2Music

Why a week delay, and what next for Menace2Music!

2009-11-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

Good evening, one-and-all - music lovers alike!

I apologise from the very bottom of my heart for leaving a week since my last entry! But for those who spotted it mentioned a couple of times in past entries, I became a father for the first time this week! So, I have been incredibly busy, and looking forward to the future with my wife and daughter!

But, the future is bright as far as I am concerned for Menace2Music! I have a lot of ideas for up-coming features, and look forward to discussing more-and-more music with you, both good and bad!

I'd like to finish up where I left off, and start afresh in the new week! So, lets get cracking on finishing my TOP 20 albums for 2009:

Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009
Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009

10. Gavin DeGraw - Free
Loved this album from the very first listen, and have been meaning to purchase it for some time! Gavin's voice just has a perfect pitch and tone - the album is soulful (Gavin DeGraw – FREE), with some great pop songs thrown in too (Gavin DeGraw – Stay).

9. Regina Spektor - Far
I think this latest album is her strongest by some margin - my only disappointment was that a couple of tracks on spotify didn't make it onto the album (Regina Spektor – The Sword & the Pen - Non-Album Track). See also Genius Next Door (Regina Spektor – Genius Next Door) and Machine (Regina Spektor – Machine).

8. Doves - Kingdom of Rust
Have recently discussed this album, and said it would appear in my TOP 10 (which became a TOP 20). The Doves go from strength-to-strength - great guitars, strong vocals - terrific stuff!

7. Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Another album that hooked me big time, but I am still yet to own! The former lead singer of Grandaddy puts together a mature songwriting album, with some amazing sounds going down (Jason Lytle – Fürget It). Another highlight is Jason Lytle – I Am Lost

6. The Horrors - Primary Colours
Like the Doves, I also mentioned this was a contender for my TOP 10, and it just misses the TOP 5. A band exploring new heights, broadening their tone - one of those albums I wish I could buy every week!

So, we'll hopefully conclude matters on the TOP 20 over the next couple of days, and then kick off afresh on Monday - will draft in a couple of new features during the week, so look forward to going over them with you soon!

Wherever you are, however your weekend is spent, let music flow through you!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Next 5 from my TOP 20 albums of 2009...

2009-11-13T23:16:00.000-08:00

Morning,

I know what you're thinking - yesterday, he writes a really late blog, and now today he writes one incredibly early...!? Just trying to keep everyone on their toes!

The next FIVE from my TOP 20 albums of 2009 are an interesting bunch, particularly as I own all five (whereas from the first 5, I only owned Fanfarlo):

The whole list is available on SPOTIFY, but I will feature the albums in 5's:

Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009
Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009

15. Adventure Man - Eg
I just think Eg is an extremely good songwriter, and this is reflected in his own solo work. I am yet to totally fall in love with this album like his last one (Turn Me On I'm A Rocket Man - a 90's masterpiece - unfortunately taken off spotify), but I'm sure it won't be long!

14. Throw Me The Statue - Creaturesque
Funky vocals, and excellent song-writing - can recommend this album!

13. Wait For Me - Moby
A return to form for Moby, one thinks! This is, in my opinion, his finest work since the commercially successful Play.

12. xx - The xx
Reviewed on an earlier blog entry, this is a just brilliant album - haunting, great harmonies, awesome stuff! Beautiful CD package as well, so top marks all round!

11. Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
An elegant folk/indie crossover album that gets warmer and friendlier by the listen - could well, I think, with more listens, become quite a big album of the noughties for me!

Well, I hope this is enough to keep you going for the time-being! Hope whatever music you listen to today, it gives you lots and lots of pleasure!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

A month old, and am I getting sloppy....quite the opposite!

2009-11-13T15:31:00.001-08:00

Good evening, one-n-all!

Just in time for a very quick daily entry today - Friday 13th!!! For those who are superstitious, I hope you have had a fantastic day, saluting magpies and avoiding ladders!

Yes, Menace2Music is a month old, yet I find myself putting a late entry on at this time of night! I can justify that I am not being lazy for two reasons:

* have had something vitally important to do today
* I have worked up my MENACE2MUSIC TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009

Now, for you regular reader(s), you'll recall that I mentioned this would be a TOP 10. Well, in the course of putting this together, it just had to become a TOP 20!

The whole list is available on SPOTIFY, but I will feature the albums in 5's:

Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009
Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009

20. Slow Attack - Brett Anderson
An album that gets better and better the more you listen to it - haunting, spiritual, and a fantastic voice!

19. Home - Armand Amar
Just beautiful - I felt the list should have one OST on it, and this one hooked me from the very first listen.

18. Popular Songs - Yo La Tengo
Inspired me to hit their back catalogue hard - to be honest, not sure yet why I love this album, but certain I will figure it out and review it on here!

17. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix
This was a funny one - I listened to this early doors when it was released, and thought "OK, alright"....then, when I played it a few months later, I realised this album is a gem! Hugely fun, experimental musically - definitely worth dipping into, as you might find you like it too!

16. Reservoir - Fanfarlo
OK, they sound like Arcade Fire. I love Arcade Fire. So, now, I like Fanfarlo a bit, and I'm looking forward to hearing their next album where they might spread their wings a little!

Time permitting, I will get around to the remaining TOP 10 Q Albums, and discuss why my TOP 20 is, well, different!

Love to you all! Love some music today, whatever, wherever, whenever!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

We're into the TOP Twenty albums of 2009, and it's Artist Day!

2009-11-12T08:24:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Well, I would like to kick off today's entry with a little anniversary - Menace2Music is ONE MONTH OLD TODAY!!!!!! Yippeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

I plan to put daily entries on continually (haven't missed a day yet), so please don't go away....!!! Heehee!!!

Apologies for another short entry today, though I do have another exciting spotify playlist for you to have some fun with while I write my full artist day entry (publish next week, I hope...).

Lets get cracking on the Q mag top 50 albums of 2009 - we're into the top 20 now...

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

20. Fever Ray - Fever Ray*
19. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
18. The Boy Who Knew Too Much - Mika*
17. 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day*#
16. Walking on a Dream - Empire of the Sun*@#
15. Tongue N' Cheek - Dizzee Rascal (only clips available on SPOTIFY)*
14. What Will We Be - Devendra Banhart*
13. Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear (NOT on SPOTIFY)*@#
12. Everything is New - Jack Penate*@
11. Kingdom of Rust - Doves*@#

Menace2Music STATS to date:

a) albums I have listened to before this week: 9 out of 10 (marked with a *)
b) albums I have previously liked, and considered buying in 2009: 4 (marked with a @)
c) albums I own to date: 4 (marked with a #)

As I mentioned on Twitter (http://twitter.com/menace2music), I think the real highlight of these ten is Kingdom of Rust (KOR) by The Doves:

Doves – Kingdom Of Rust
Doves – Kingdom Of Rust

The Doves had always been around for me, but never a key band. KOR changed this entirely! This is now a band I will keep a very close eye on! Jetstream was their first teaser release, and what a treat this was! They labelled it a track for a "Blade Runner like soundtrack/audience" - well, this was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey!!?

I think I can tease you all a little to let you know that this album will definitely be in my Menace2Music TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2009, which I plan to publish on Sunday... Remember to check out the playlist of all of these TOP ALBUMS - we're up to 400 tracks spot-on, as of today:

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

Lastly today (again, my apologies for the short blog), a Thursday is typically ARTIST DAY. The next artist on the list is Queen, and I have put together a playlist of all of the Queen music on SPOTIFY:

Menace2Music - Queen
Menace2Music - Queen

I hope to get this written, and looked at next week - as I've said before, reviewing Queen's Greatest Hits (which has since been extracted from SPOTIFY - shame! Check out my review at http://menace2music.blogspot.com/2009/10/to-spotify-premium-or-not-missed-cds-on.html), I'm not the MOST enormous Queen fan in the World, but I think some of their music is fantastic and pioneering!

Hope you're all well - remember, if you can, let a little music into your life today!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Q's albums of 2009 (30-21), The Low Anthem, and what's going down...

2009-11-11T08:42:00.001-08:00

Hi all,

Short entry today, as I have an absolute stinker of a headache (which makes it very difficult to listen to music)?!

Just going to let you know that all TEN albums from the next round of TOP 50 from Q magazine (do go out and buy it this month - awesome list, this is - http://www.qthemusic.com/) are on SPOTIFY, how exciting:

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

30. La Roux - La Roux*@#
29. Wilco [The Album] - Wilco*
28. Working on a Dream - Bruce Springsteen*#
27. Horehound - The Dead Weather*#
26. Two Suns - Bat For Lashes*@#
25. The First Days of Spring - Noah and the Whale*@#
24. The Ecstatic - Mos Def
23. Invaders Must Die - The Prodigy*#
22. Oh My God, Charlie Darwin - The Low Anthem*@#
21. Kings & Queens - Jamie T

Menace2Music STATS to date:

a) albums I have listened to before this week: 8 out of 10 (marked with a *)
b) albums I have previously liked, and considered buying in 2009: 4 (marked with a @)
c) albums I own to date: 7 (marked with a #)

I'm up to owning 9 out of the 30 featured - not bad, I think!

Of the albums I have purchased, I would definitely recommend you listening to The Low Anthem - this one might just sneak into the bottom of my list - Menace2Music TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2009, which I plan to publish on Sunday:

The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

Excitingly, Menace2Music blog is ONE MONTH OLD tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!! I set myself a number of mini tasks while I was writing this blog - one of the main ones was that I wanted to write something on this every day, however short!

This is going to become even more of a factor from next week, as I am about to become a father for the very first time! Taking this into account, next week will be simple, short entries detailing albums to listen to - it'll feature some of my TOP TEN of 2009, but also a few selected others that you should/could listen to, and the SPOTIFY links!

Hope you're all well - will try and round up matters on the Menace2Music - baby, will you drive my car? feature shortly too! Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!!!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

2009-11-10T02:28:00.000-08:00

Morning/Afternoon Menace2Music fans!

Lots to get through today, and not a huge amount of time to write it, so lets get cracking:

Today's NEW TRACK, or Track of the Week, is Sky is Folding, by A Mountain of One:

A Mountain Of One – Sky Is Folding

Haunting backing vocals, and some neat bass guitar play make this an excellent track. The whole album (A Mountain Of One – Institute Of Joy) is definitely worth a listen too.

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

Again, 3 of the next 10 I am looking at are not fully available:

40. 3 Words - Cheryl Cole (only on Premium SPOTIFY)
39. Primary Colours - The Horrors*@#
38. Truelove's Gutter - Richard Hawley*
37. Tarot Sport - Fuck Buttons (not on SPOTIFY)
36. The Eternal - Sonic Youth*
35. Backspacer - Pearl Jam
34. To Lose My Life... - White Lies*@#
33. Bitte Orca - Dirty Projectors*
32. Sunny Side Up - Paolo Nutini*@
31. Only Revolutions - Biffy Clyro (not on SPOTIFY)

Menace2Music STATS to date:

a) albums I have listened to before this week: 5 out of 10 (marked with a *)
b) albums I have previously liked, and considered buying in 2009: 3 (marked with a @)
c) albums I own to date: 2 (marked with a #)

So, of this ten, White Lies and The Horrors got me to put my hand in my pocket. I was swept along (see how freely I admit it) by the publicity bandwagon behind White Lies, but justifiably - their album is still excellent to this day, however morbid it might sound on occasion. But, this is the point - I know I've said this before, but "what they do, they do very well". You can't fault anyone for that!

I am a huge fan of The Horrors album, Primary Colours. From the first listen to it, I knew this was an album of the year for me. Check out my list - Menace2Music TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2009, which I plan to publish on Sunday. This album might just feature... Why do I love Primary Colours - it rocks, it preaches, it flows like a fine wine on the tongue! This is a band evolving - I dare you to listen to their first album (The Horrors – Strange House) and then this one! Same band!?!? WHAT!?

DOWNLOAD:
The Horrors – Who Can Say
The Horrors – Primary Colours
The Horrors – Sea Within A Sea
(but this album is a creation that needs to be enjoyed in full)

Menace2Music Driving Classics - baby, will you drive my car?

We are building a very nice list of tracks in this SPOTIFY playlist:

Menace2Music - baby, will you drive my car?

Some great suggestions from Gail:

Chalk Lines and also Reversible--Division Day
This Town's Disaster--Blackpool Lights
Paralyzed--Bob Mould
Turn Me Off-The Audrye Sessions
Oh oh oh oh oh etc--Say Hi (to your Mom)
City & The Streets--Rubik

And most of all, We Will Fall Together or anything by Streetlight Manifesto (ska punk! they're amazing. Now I'm expanding in that area.)

Of these, I really enjoyed Chalk Lines (Division Day - Division Day – Chalk Lines) and Turn Me Off (great drum beat on this one, and the vocalist/harmonies are terrific - Audrye Sessions – Turn Me Off). Both the albums, these come from, will be getting a listen shortly:

Division Day – Visitation
Audrye Sessions – Audrye Sessions EP

Right, I'm going now - hope you enjoyed today's snippets! Lots more to come as the week progresses!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Album of the Week, Q's Top 50 of 2009, and a couple of driving classics!

2009-11-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

Good evening, and welcome to another week of Menace2Music!

Lets kick off with the album of the week - I'm going to review three very quickly, as (a) I couldn't decide which to review, and (b) we have so much else to go over today, including a number of other new albums of 2009 (Q's TOP 50 albums of 2009, starting with 50-41), and a look at some great songs to drive to (as we've all probably some Christmas drives ahead of us!).

The three albums of the week are:

Port O'Brien - Threadbare
The Unthanks - Here's The Tender Coming
McAlmont and Nyman - The Glare

Threadbare stood out immediately - the vocals are strong, over the top of the folk-indie roots. The only criticism I have is an old one. We seem to be inundated with bands that are pretty similar - it's almost like the Fleet Foxes were the new beginning of a folk rock revolution. A poor critique, to be honest, when you'll get a lot out of Port O'Brien's warmth and funky acoustic guitar playing.

I'd be interested to breakdown my CD collection to find out how many I have with female vocals over male - I would say, although the bands I'm featuring on ARTIST Day (every Thursday) tend to have male vocals, I have a lot of CDs by female artists. The Unthanks blend and harmonise two sisters vocals, and it makes a splendid sound across the whole album. The blend of piano, guitar and orchestration across the album is fantastic.

Lastly, The Glare is an acquired taste - lyrics have been placed over a number of Nyman's beautiful pieces of movie score. Much of it works, but the odd track lets this album down (for instance, In Loas works, but City of Turin sounds a little too messy).

DOWNLOAD:
Port O'Brien – Calm Me Down
The Unthanks – Annachie Gordon
McAlmont and Nyman – In Laos

Remember, everything reviewed (where possible) features in the Menace2Music playlist on SPOTIFY:

Menace2Music

Q's TOP 50 albums of 2009

Today, we're looking at 50-41 - what I plan to do is break this down in 10's, and then look to go into more detail on the TOP 10 as I get closer over the weekend! For all of you readers, I am putting all of the albums (as they're available) in a SPOTIFY collab playlist:

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

Unfortunately, 3 of the first 10 I am looking at are not fully available:

50. Further Complications - Jarvis Cocker*
49. Together Through Life - Bob Dylan (NOT on SPOTIFY)
48. My Way - Ian Brown
47. The Liberty of Norton Folgate - Madness (only a teaser available on SPOTIFY)
46. True Romance - Golden Silvers*@
45. Outer South - Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band*@
44. Which Bitch? - The View*@
43. Imidiwan: Companions - Tinariwen (NOT on SPOTIFY)
42. El Bronx - Mariachi El Bronx
41. Two Dancers - Wild Beasts*

Menace2Music STATS to date:

a) albums I have listened to before this week: 5 out of 10 (marked with a *)
b) albums I have previously liked, and considered buying in 2009: 3 (marked with a @)
c) albums I own to date: 0

Interesting ten albums this, as I don't own any of them (the first album in the TOP 50 that I own is Primary Colours, by The Horrors, at #39). However, I have listened to a few over the last 12 months. The stand out album of this ten is definitely Golden Silvers' True Romance (check out songs like Arrows of Eros - you don't know whether to rock or dance: Golden Silvers – Arrows Of Eros). However, I will say that on a further listen, Which Bitch? by The View has got better and better. Gem of a Bird is an awesome track (The View – Gem Of A Bird).

Menace2Music Driving Classics - baby, will you drive my car?

I've put 24 tracks together in a SPOTIFY playlist already (Menace2Music - baby, will you drive my car?), but will really welcome some thoughts from others on GREAT SONGS TO DRIVE TO???

I hit shuffle on the playlist, and the first three I hit were:

Driving Home for Christmas - Chris Rea
Well, this is why I put this feature together (honestly, this was the first that came up) - a lot of us are going to be in the car over Christmas! And, there is always the need for music on journeys, however short or long! Not sure I'd have this one playing, though?! There are a few better tracks by the Rea-meister than this one!!!?

Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
A great song to drive along to, and sing out loud - who here hasn't sung this out in a car:

I'm a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go go go
There's no stopping me

If this is the case, do it tomorrow!!!!!!! It's also a terrific song for the harmonies and backing vocals of the passengers:

Don't stop me now I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time
Just give me a call
Don't stop me now ('Cause I'm having a good time)
Don't stop me now (Yes I'm having a good time)
I don't wanna stop at all

Love it!

Run To You - Bryan Adams
I think this song works, like Don't Stop Me Now, as it builds, and is another song that is pretty easy to sing along to in the car! The lyrics aren't as long, or as involved, as Queen:

I'm gonna run to you
I'm gonna run to you
cause when the feelin's right I'm gonna run all night
I'm gonna run to you

Right, that's about it for today - lots more to come tomorrow!!!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Week 4 summary, and looking forward...

2009-11-08T05:01:00.000-08:00

Morning all - so, Menace2Music is 4 weeks old, and what have we discussed this week (including spotify links):

Kurt Vile's album, Childish Prodigy - Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy
Golden Silvers track, My Love is a Seed That Doesn't Grow - Golden Silvers – My Love Is A Seed That Doesn’t Grow
Genesis album - And Then There Were Three - Genesis – ...and Then There Were Three...
Artist Day was about the Electric Light Orchestra - Menace2Music playlist - ELO
The Bee Gees - The Ultimate Bee Gees - Bee Gees – The Ultimate Bee Gees
5 more tracks in my old TOP 100, including Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles and Radiohead
+ of course, the Menace2Music soundtrack/OST (18 tracks) - Menace2Music - OST

All-in-all, a top week, I think - I've enjoyed this week a lot! I've posted a few questions via Facebook which have got some awesome responses. These resulted in the following collaborative playlists - check them out while they're online:

Menace2Music - NOW 12 - Edson's list
Menace2Music - fave 80s song

As discussed yesterday, I am going to come back to the Menace2Music soundtrack again, in say a month-or-so - the playlist will remain online. I'd like to launch a new themed playlist this coming week, in fact, TWO of them! We will have:

Menace2Music - baby, will you drive my car?
Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

baby, will you drive my car - I'm going to have a good look at some fantastic songs to drive along to!
Q's albums of 2009 - Q magazine, this month (http://www.qthemusic.com/), has the TOP ALBUMS OF 2009. I am going to run through as many of the 50 as I can, adding them into this playlist as I go. I'll look at what Q have written, but importantly give my own view on what's great, what's alright, and what's pants!

So, all of that, plus the regular features/reviews (new album, new track, classic album, artist day, reissue album and my old TOP 100), I hope you'll tune into Menace2Music next week!

Take care, all of you - may the musical force be with you, always!

All the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

TOP 100 (tracks 85-81), the conclusion of the Menace2Music OST (for now), and ideas for next week!

2009-11-07T09:44:00.000-08:00

Good evening music lovers - I hope you're all well, having fabulous weekends, full of music galore!

Today is old TOP 100 day, so a good look at 5 more songs:

85. Bobby Jean (Live) - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Live 1975-85

I remember hearing the album Born in the USA about the same time as I got into bands like ELO, Queen and The Beatles - my father's cassette of this album was played regularly in the car. It wasn't enough to make me a major fan, but I did pick up this fantastic triple live album. This song always stood out for me, along with a live version of The River (check out the monologue at the beginning - Bruce Springsteen – The River - Live).

84. Things We Said Today - The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night
NOT ON SPOTIFY

To be honest, I think my favourite version of this song comes on Paul McCartney live album, Trippin' The Live Fantastic - however, this is a great track, and shows the maturity of The Beatles' songwriting developing.

83. Paranoid Android - Radiohead
OK Computer

I remember having seen OK Computer, in some recent polls (might be NME or Q), detailed as one of the best albums of all time. It is good, no - very good. But for me, The Bends is a superior album. I will be touching upon my love and admiration for Radiohead in greater depth at a later point, so I will save fuller comment on this for then. Paranoid Android has some amazing guitar work in its interior, but some real finesse to it too. The lyrics are nonsense, but it is the musicality of Radiohead, and their appetite to experiment, which I love the most.

82. Please Forgive Me - Bryan Adams
So Far So Good

Bryan has already featured a couple of times on our iPod shuffle grab - we might see this song fall out of the new TOP 100, to be honest. I think this song was enjoyed a little more in my single days, and there are much stronger songs out there since this TOP 100 was put together (at least 5+ years ago).

81. Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits
Alchemy

Unlike this song, which will definitely feature in the next TOP 100, and may even go higher. Dire Straits will feature on an Artist Day (Thursday) in a couple of weeks, justifiably - I think they're one of the ultimates in terms of guitar rock/pop. Some of their guitar solos are mind-blowing. The funny thing about this song, R&J, is that it is so much better live - the studio version of the song doesn't have the same electricity and energy about it (though, could this just be said about live music as a whole?). There will be a couple of their songs quite high in this TOP 100, but I am not going to say anymore than that - you will have to wait and see...

Menace2Music official soundtrack

As detailed in the title, I am going to conclude the soundtrack here, and come back to it again in a few weeks - it has been a lot of fun putting together some of my favourite soundtrack songs, but it would be nice to look at doing something a little different next week. I am definitely going to come back to it, for sure - maybe in a month-or-so...we shall see!

Three more today, and I'm going to conclude with a few songs in their own right, rather than score - we have:

Stand By Me - Ben E King
FILM: Stand By Me

What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
FILM: Twelve Monkeys

China Girl - David Bowie
FILM: The Wedding Singer

In short, Stand By Me is a classic song, and a classic film from my youth - everyone knows the lyrics, the simple, but amazing passion in the song. Much the same can be said about What A Wonderful World - the kind of song that swells the heart, and fills the soul with sunshine and fluffy bunnies...and lastly, a bit of Bowie! I could so easily have picked something from Labyrinth (Various Artists – Labyrinth), but this is a good way to finish (for now). I was a child of the 80's, so never really got to enjoy songs like this in bars or clubs - I can see the scene in The Wedding Singer, when this comes on! Total excitement!

Check out all of the tracks in the Menace2Music OST @ Menace2Music - OST

So, we'll conclude matters tomorrow and wrap up everything we've discussed this week! I've had a couple of thoughts for a new feature - maybe "Great Driving Songs" or "Best Albums of the Year", or maybe both............

As I said at the beginning, I hope you're all having a fab weekend! I've just put Spotify on shuffle - a folder of new songs I love, and I've hit some Dawn Landes (Drive - Dawn Landes – Drive). A nice way to finish today...

All the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
I try to feature all of the songs I write about in a SPOTIFY playlist - check it out @
Menace2Music

The Ultimate Bee Gees, Menace2Music OST, and what's your fave album of the last few years?

2009-11-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

Now, I have never professed to be a huge lover of dance and disco music, but it has more of a place in my collection than soul and rnb. But, there is something about the Bee Gees - they're not just about disco and the 1970's - this is a band that are versatile (listen to Tragedy and then To Love Somebody, and you'll see), fabulous fun (who hasn't strutted their stuff like Travolta to Stayin' Alive at least once in their life), and have some of the most amazing harmonies of any band you'll ever listen to (Nights on Broadway is a perfect example).

This year sees the release of a double album - The Ultimate Bee Gees. There have been a number of Greatest Hits albums and alike, and if you own one already, you're not going to run out and buy this one for a few extra songs and live tracks (a great example of when SPOTIFY does a great job). However, if you don't have an alike album in your collection, I would advise picking this up, or asking for it in your stocking. Why?

Well, as well as the above reasons, I feel the Bee Gees are pretty accessible to everyone, some of the tracks are terrific fun to sing along too (even if most males would have to have pretty serious cosmetic surgery on sensitive parts of their body to even go close to making the required notes), and there are some great songs to listen to on here, perhaps on a long Christmas drive - this album has 40 tracks (almost 2 and a half hours of music), so plenty to go around!

However, if you were only to download three, I (personally) would go for:

Nights on Broadway - for harmonies, this is one of the most accomplished songs of the 20th Century, and will appear in my new TOP 100 later this year)
New York Mining Disaster 1941
Massachusetts

However, these are three very personal choices - a bit too purist, and not nearly disco and fun enough! If you want three great tracks for a party, go for:

You Should Be Dancing
Stayin' Alive
Tragedy

Menace2Music official soundtrack

Re-entry And Splashdown - James Horner
FILM: Apollo 13

Song for Bob - Nick Cave and Warren Ellis
FILM: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Bibo no Aozora/04 - Ryuichi Sakamoto
FILM: Babel

Well, firstly, you might spot that I'm working my way a little alphabetically now - I've got the iPod out, hit genre for soundtracks, and started at the top! As well as the ability to shuffle (a plus, when I have over 14,000 tracks on my current Pod), I find genre searching a huge plus - saves having to plough through lots of artists or albums, if you only want to listen to a specific type of music.

A first entry for James Horner (of Titanic fame) with a track from Apollo 13 - this album doesn't only have his score, but also some fantastic songs from the era, like Somebody to Love (Jefferson Airplane), Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix Experience) and Night Train (James Brown). I have singled out the above track for two reasons - one, because is so atmospheric and portrays the emotion this moment exhibits, but two, because I always cry at the end of this film (however many times I've seen it, knowing full well that they're going to survive?!)

Jesse James the film is worth watching for two main reasons - its cinematography and its music. The acting is non too shabby either, but it was its cinematic portrayal of the West, and Nick Cave/Warren Ellis's OST that stood out for me. This is the final track on the soundtrack, which is one of those that is worth listening to a few times, from beginning to end - it is a beautiful and moving soundtrack.

A certain amount is lost as this track concludes, with the violins and piano using a little too much of what I might call "scratchy artist warrant" towards the end, but otherwise, this is a phenomenal track at the end of a phenomenal movie. The soundtrack for Babel won an Oscar, and it is understandable why. As a whole entity/soundtrack, it is amazing - however, I would say that I have found listening to single tracks difficult. This one has always stood out above the crowd.

Here are the links for the Menace2Music OST:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc

Today's question on my Facebook page was about what your favourite album of the last few years was? I thought, as we'd had a band question, and a song question, we needed an album question! I chucked in a few:

Animal Kingdom (Signs and Wonders)
The Decemberists (Hazards of Love)
The Doves (Kingdom of Rust)
Joan As A Policewoman (To Survive)
The Maccabees (Wall of Arms)
Metric (Fantasies)

...and we've had some terrific suggestions:

Prince (not sure what the album was yet?)
The Foreign Exchange - Leave It All Behind
St Jude - The Courteeners
Goldfrapp - Supernature
Latest Wilco (Wilco [the album])

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions - I am having a good listen to all of the above (I already own St Jude), and will report back!

Right, it's Friday night - hope you've had a wonderful week, and you've an even more fabulous weekend ahead of you! I know I've said this before, but whatever you're doing - involve a little music - you know you want to!

All the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Electric Light Orchestra on ARTIST DAY, 3 more OST tracks, and what was your favourite song/single of the 1980's???

2009-11-05T02:45:00.000-08:00

Morning everyone - hope you're all well!

Today is ARTIST DAY, and as I said I would write about Electric Light Orchestra today, and why I like them so much!

Three immediate reasons as to why I love ELO:

1. The blend of orchestra and rock works - they've proven so, again and again
2. I admit to not being the greatest fan of lyrics in the World (very often ignore them over the music and melody), but Jeff Lynne is a genius!
3. Fabulous songs like...

Well, the list is a very good one:

Mr. Blue Sky - catchy, and pop-tastic! I dare you not to have this on in the car the next time you're driving along with blue sky in the distance!
Turn to Stone - great harmonies
Wild West Hero - well, it must be said, that if we're talking about harmonies, this is the song - WOW!
Telephone Line - another catchy number, and some great lyrics:

Doowop dooby doo doowop doowah doolang
Blue days black nights doowah doolang

Oh, well, I meant:

I look into the sky, the love you need ain't gonna see you through
And I wonder why the little things you planned ain't coming true
Oh oh Telephone Line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight
Oh oh Telephone Line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight

I don't think my love of ELO is simply justified by being introduced to them at such an early age (I guess I first heard songs like the above when I was 7 or 8 years old) - what they do, they DO exceedingly well! They do bring LIGHT through orchestral-pop, and all credit to them! They cornered a market, as far as I'm concerned, and should be commended for that!

I will admit that, apart from the (many) greatest hits albums that they've released, I don't know enough about their backlist! But, if you were to hit this album at the very least, you'd have some fun, and get to know a fab and importantly, fun band!

The songs are great to sing along to, and admire!

The ELO collab playlist on SPOTIFY is still available - check it out:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/4Hfee7VdH1pOsR8tBcLOyo
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:4Hfee7VdH1pOsR8tBcLOyo

...and for more official(ish) information on ELO, check out the following websites:

http://www.elomusic.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Light_Orchestra

Menace2Music official soundtrack

We're getting into double-figures now - so, lets get cracking....the next three are:

Romeo and Juliet (Balcony Scene) - Craig Armstrong
FILM: Romeo and Juliet

The Grace of Undomiel - Howard Shore (featuring Renee Fleming)
FILM: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

The Asteroid Field - John Williams
FILM: The Empire Strikes Back

Craig Armstrong is one of the finest composers working in film today - as well as R&J, you'll have heard his music on films like Moulin Rouge, Plunkett and Macleane and World Trade Center. This track is one of R&J's major highlights, hence the reason it appears on albums like "The Most Relaxing Classical Music in The World...Ever"

The Lord of the Rings trilogy are amongst, in my opinion, the finest movies ever made. I was never the most enormous "fantasy" fan, but these films were so accessible and majestic. The music throughout was fabulous. If I have any criticism, its that it has not had the longevity on the iPod unlike other soundtracks. I am looking forward to owning the full set (they have released further albums with ALL of the music, and not just selections), which might give me a further glimpse into Howard Shore's masterwork.

Wow, how have I got to 12 tracks, and only just inserted John Williams, the King of Move Soundtracks! Not sure, but I am sure this track (which I think is one of the best pieces in all of the Star Wars movies) will be the first of many Williams tracks on this list as it develops!

Here are the links for the Menace2Music OST:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc

Lastly, today's question was about your favourite song of the 1980's:

Starship "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"

A-Ha "Take On Me"

Def Leppard "Animal"

I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on this - the above three would definitely feature in my top 10 of the 1980's, for sure!

Have a great Thursday, everyone! Guy Fawkes night, and I just happen to live in the centre of the World when it comes to this night - Lewes. Tonight, thousands of people will descend upon the town, and hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of fireworks will be sent up into the sky, along with a few effigies (I hear Alistair Darling is one) will be burnt to smithereens (always wanted to use that word!!!). To all, have a fabulous night!

Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

And Then There Were Three (Genesis), and the OST goes from strength-to-strength...

2009-11-04T07:45:00.000-08:00

If this were the last day of your life, my friend,
Tell me, what do you think you would do then?

This is an early turning point in this remarkable album - you can feel the energy of this album under the surface in opening track, Down and Out, but the above lyric in Undertow, is followed by blasts of emotion and a majesty of electronic harmonies.

We're talking a classic album today - it is Genesis' ...and then there were three...

This album was all about change and shifts of direction for Genesis - Steve Hackett had left the band, and the new three-piece had plenty to prove. This was their first opus. As Wikipedia mentions:

"...And Then There Were Three... heralded a move towards shorter radio-friendly songs and marked the band's move away from progressive rock at the height of punk rock"

The songs are long (9 of the 11 are 4mins+, and 2 are over 6mins), and show enormous depth - there are a couple like Ballad of Big that I don't find as memorable, perhaps because the lyrics tell a little more of a fantasy story. But, overall, there are a lot of layers to this album, and if you've only heard much of Genesis's later music (No Son of Mine onwards), listen to this as you're in for a treat!

I've often found that the better Genesis songs are those that have their softer side, as well as the rousing keyboard/electronic support. Songs like Snowbound start out softly, carefully, but conclude with the swirling, uplifting lyrics and music you're come to love in this album.

One of the reasons I like this album so much is that you do feel lifted - the songs blend together so sweetly, and the some of the keyboards and harmonies make you feel like you're flying along (see Deep in the Motherlode, for an example).

If anyone is listening to Genesis for the first time, I would have them listen to this, and then Duke, followed by some live albums (starting with Seconds Out - one of the greatest live albums there has ever been). Then they can get into the more commercial single-driven 90s Genesis, who were still pretty fab!

If you download three:
Undertow
Many Too Many
Follow You, Follow Me

To find out yet more about this album, long onto the following wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...And_Then_There_Were_Three...

Menace2Music official soundtrack

The album is growing nice - we're up to nine tracks with today's three:

A Dark Knight - Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard
FILM: The Dark Knight

Plane to Chicago - Eliot Goldenthal
FILM: Public Enemies

Raising the Sail - Philip Glass, Burkhard Dallwitz
FILM: The Truman Show

Firstly, I just had to include another Batman track, and A Dark Knight, is an exhilarating roller-coaster of a track. Over 16 minutes in length, this track contains music from the film and is the resulting end credits. Quite simply, breath-taking. If you don't like music like this, then you don't really like OSTs and film scores. If this is the case, you can just by-pass the next couple of songs too - go on, don't let me hold you up...!?

I still haven't seen Public Enemies, but the OST got a good write-up in Empire magazine, so I listened on spotify, put in a playlist, and eventually went onto purchasing it. I like Plane to Chicago as it is one of those OST tracks that triggers emotion - you can feel the energy of the moment in the film, through the music. For me, you don't even need to see the film!?

Lastly for today, we have Raising the Sail, from The Truman Show. I think I always realised the music to this film was great, but I was reawakened when I watched it on TV the other night. There is plenty to enjoy about this film - the fantastic performances, the triumphant finale, but the music is also worth a listen on its own. I'm hoping to pick-up the OST on CD shortly, as I sense it might be one that becomes a classic for me as time goes on. This track shows how good this OST is - the blend of piano against electronic keyboard works perfectly. The only pain with the track is that it ends too abruptly, going into another track - Father Kolbe's Preaching (the music that plays as Truman beats the ball of his enormous cage).

Lastly, I'm going to try and post a few questions on Twitter (and my own personal facebook page) that will get people thinking, who might want to gesture an opinion - today's is one that has been asked many times before - "The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?"

For me, The Stones have their place (particularly when it comes to live performances and albums), but The Beatles were amongst the first bands I listened to as a child, and I was hooked from moment one.

I would answer "The Beatles" for three very important reasons:

1. Abbey Road album is my favourite album of all-time
2. Something was the first song that Emma (my wife) and I danced to at our wedding
3. George Harrison is a genius - I cried on the day he died, and the World misses him everyday that passes...

Already working on tomorrow's question - watch out people!

Have a great day, one-and-all!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Golden Silvers (track: My Love is a Seed That Doesn't Grow), and the Menace2Music OST grows!

2009-11-03T04:48:00.000-08:00

I like, if possible, to keep up with reviewing albums and tracks that I own, rather than picking anything - spotify is all well-and-good, but I think this blog is also about giving people an idea about the varied taste I have (it's also a great way of tracking everything I'm buying and listening to regularly).

Today's track comes from Golden Silver's album, True Romance - the track is My Love is a Seed That Doesn't Grow:

This song swirls around, with echoing synths and a strong piano backbone. For me, it was one of the strongest on the album from the beginning. It sounds like an ode to a lost love. I got the album today, from an ebay purchase - straight on the iPod, and another to give a longer listen to at a later point!

The next three songs in the Menace2Music OST are:

Recruiting Officer - James Newton Howard
FILM: Signs

Silk Spectre - Tyler Bates
Film: Watchmen

Descent Into Mystery - Danny Elfman
Film: Batman

Recruiting Officer is one of those tracks that starts so slowly, with those chirps, and then builds up as the scene in the film progresses - the violins and brass sweep in, and you have a very moving, atmospheric piece of music.

The next two songs are pretty short, but still have a whole lot of umph - we start with Silk Spectre. One of those tracks you just know comes from a superhero movie - crescendos of drums and orchestration!

I shut my eyes, and I can see the batmobile (which you have only just seen for the first time) storming along through the night, leaves being blown in every which direction - Descent Into Mystery is a fab track, beautifully combining orchestration and choir. Naturally, a fantastic track to drive to!

So, we're up to six tracks now in the Menace2Music OST - check it out on spotify at:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc

The Menace2Music main collab continues to build - we're up to 162 tracks in there now (11.4 hours worth of music already reviewed):

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Hope everyone is well, and this blog is picked up by a few Golden Silvers fans - let me know what you think about the above song, and whether you have a different fave from the album, True Romance.

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Kurt Vile (Childish Prodigy), and the start of the Menace2Music OST (Einaudi, Vangelis, Elfman)

2009-11-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

Now, I'm only too honest to admit that the first few weeks of this blog have seen us being a little too dependent upon folk-indie - we've reviewed such bands as Polite Sleeper, Fleetwood Mac and Dan Arborise. If I was going to go overboard, I could easily have reviewed J. Tillman here (a member of Fleet Foxes, who has released his second album, Vacilando Territory Blues, in the last few weeks). But no (however much that album is worth a listen), for today's new album review, I'm going for Kurt Vile's Childish Prodigy:

This is a rock album - from what I've read about Kurt Vile, he's a difficult artist to read, as he can change from song-to-song. But, in this album, he is definitely showing off his rock-n-roll skills to the full.

In some songs, his voice sounds like a modern abstract Jagger (Dead Alive). Within others, you can hear a bit of Tom Petty - in how he reaches the end of lyrics, and stretches his voice to the full (Freak Train). Though this is making this album sound like Kurt Vile is mimicing - this album is a very individual project, and there really aren't two tracks on this album that sounds the same! Some might find this a little jarring - others will revel, and find tons to love about this album!

There is a great use of guitar on this - all electronic, but in songs like Monkey and Heart Attack, you can feel more of an acoustic/rhythmic edge coming through.

However, the more-and-more I listen to this album, the more I agree with other reviewers that this is a very difficult album to classify - Vile is up to so much on here. The ultimate question is whether he is doing any of it well enough. Well, yes, I think he is. I have gone onto buying this album - I was first told about it by my cousin, and gave it a listen on spotify. It's on the iPod now, and I've been promising myself that I will listen to it again soon. This album may be one of those that grows on you a little more, when you've had a break from it? We'll see...

DOWNLOAD:
Overnite Religion (the first single, I believe)
Freak Train
Monkey

As I mentioned last week, I want to start building a Menace2Music OST (Official Soundtrack) on spotify of some of my favourite soundtrack songs - I have started this, and the collab playlist can be found on the following links:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc

Today's three tracks are:

Sotto Falso Nome - Ludovico Einaudi
FILM: Sotto Falso Nome

Blade Runner Blues - Vangelis
FILM: Blade Runner

Reval/The Escape - Danny Elfman
FILM: Terminator Salvation

Sotto Falso Nome is a funny one, as I know absolutely nothing about this film - however, the soundtrack is amazingly moving, with this title track (which comes about halfway through the OST), being one of the stand out pieces from the score. I thought this would be an ideal first track for the OST - you're immediately drawn in by the beautiful piano - it sounds like a murder mystery, a person walking down darkened corridors, past door-after-door....you know what I'm saying!

Vangelis' Blade Runner OST is a masterpiece (it is worth listening to the last year's release of a double album, with extra songs, but the single soundtrack is enough). It was a tough choice to pick any one track, and I may add more to this Menace2Music OST as we go along. I went for this one, purely, as I heard it on my iPod earlier today and I forgot how wonderful this track was. My other first choices would be Rachel's Song, Love Theme, Memories of Green, hey - the list goes on... If this becomes more of a regular feature, and I build up this OST into a monster of a collab, these will feature sooner rather than later!

A newer soundtrack (the film has only just come out on DVD), but a film composer we are going to feature a few times here - Danny Elfman (expect something from his Batman film tomorrow). This album (score from Terminator Salvation) was found through spotify, and it is one I want to own sooner rather than later - how many times have you seen a film, and heard this kind of uplifting orchestral music - our hero, storming through, bullets/laser beams flying through the air, and they escape [to roaring orchestra]. I might feature another Escape track at some point - from Plunkett and Macleane (composed by Craig Armstrong).

I want to say that I feature these OST tracks in no particular order, in terms of favourites etc. - I love so many OSTs, and although it would be fun to put together a top list of them (something for the future, definitely), this feature is about building together some fantastic tracks, in no particular order!

Right, I hope you've listened to some music today, and you've enjoyed it! Let me know what you're listening to - it would be great to know!

I hope your week is going well - I know it has only just begun, but if is hasn't, there is plenty more of it for things to improve!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

10 Minute sum-up - Menace2Music week 3

2009-11-01T07:51:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone,

Well, Menace2Music is three weeks old (as I mentioned, our 21st - how exciting!).

This week has seen reviews of Dan Arborise, Califone, The Leisure Society, REM, and a few more. I've decided, importantly, to do some features on SOUNDTRACKS. What I think I'll do is build the ultimate soundtrack album, picking some of my favourite tracks from the many I've bought and listened to over the years. I'll try and feature a few a day, which I can find on spotify!

Well, that's 4 minutes of the sum-up done - what shall I do with the other 6? Not sure really... Mmmmmm... Well, I could....oh no, I've already done that!? Hang on - you know what would work...........................................that's bonkers - how could I think would work!

Time's up! I hope you've all had a wonderful week, with more to come in the next seven days! As I beg, make music part of your week - you won't regret it!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

TOP 100 (old) - tracks 90-86

2009-10-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to Saturday's meaning something again. One of the huge mental issues with being unemployed is that weekends blend in with every other day. Don't get me wrong - I am not resting and relaxing while out of work - got a million things on, as well as looking for a job! But, when the weekend comes around, there is great feeling of relief. I want to look forward to the weekend again.

Today I'm going to feature another 5 songs in my old TOP 100 - this week, it's tracks 90-86:

90. Memphis Skyline
Rufus Wainwright
Want Two
I love Rufus's voice when it is deliberately low and subdued like this - his voice blends with the piano so simply and beautifully. I've never seen the Memphis Skyline, but if I should ever fly over it, I will make sure this song is playing on my iPod!

89. You Never Give Me Your Money
The Beatles
Abbey Road
When I get onto top albums, I'll bore you to death about how much I love Abbey Road by The Beatles - to me, it is the finest album I have ever heard. This song stands out, as it builds and builds - from a soft beginning, Paul's voice lifts it, and then you get a crescendo of a finish (with a wonderful harmony of voices with a couple of minutes left)! "One sweet dream, cam true, today"

88. styrofoam
Daniel Powter
Daniel Powter
This is just a wonderfully chirpy pop song - it is OK to like them, I swear! You can't fail to be hooked in by the piano towards the end. There is nothing greatly artistic about this - it's catchy!

87. You're My Best Friend
Queen
Greatest Hits
Appearing in the Menace2Music collab playlist for the second time (one of only two tracks to achieved this so far), You're My Best Friend is a great Queen track. I know Who Wants to Live Forever features very highly, but this one deserves its place too.

86. Sing
Blur
Trainspotting
Great beat, nice harmonies - this is quite a tune. The thing that amazes me about this (and Song 2), is that I've often found people surprised that this is a song by Blur. I'm not sure if they ever released this song (I doubt it) - for me, I hear this, I see the Trainspotting film.

All available tracks have been added to the spotify collab playlist - check them out there!

Thanks for tuning in - look forward to catching-up with you tomorrow to have a little bit of a sum-up, as Menace2Music celebrates three weeks in existence! Hey, our 21st!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

What was I thinking, and REM's New Adventures in Hi-Fi

2009-10-30T04:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not sure what I was thinking on Wednesday, but I should've reviewed a classic album, and not a reissue!? So, I'll do a classic album today, and then again on Wednesday returning to the programme I set in place?!

Although, in saying that, I'd like to do some OST/soundtrack reviews at some point, and talk about my favourite overall OSTs, and individual tracks - might look at putting something like this together next week - this will include such soundtracks as:

Batman
Spy Game
Indiana Jones
Romeo and Juliet
....and many more!

Well, in a week where they have released another live album (and, according to some of the reviews I have read, a great live album at that), I thought I would look at an REM album as a classic one this week - I have chosen the under-stated New Adventures in Hi-Fi:

As I've mentioned before, I love bands that experiment. To keep your music the same, and not try to branch out and grow, is playing it safe and boring. For me, this is why I never liked bands like Oasis, yet appreciated bands like REM, Radiohead and Dodgy - they weren't afraid of taking risks with their music, however often it might get them into a few creative scrapes!

REM's Monster album is an acquired taste - for me, it grew-and-grew into a better album the more I listened to it. I grew with it, as it was the first REM album that I bought all of the CD singles religiously as they were released (each had a number of live tracks that grew into their own live album). New Adventures was recorded on the road, during the Monster tour.

This album stands out, as REM took a few chances - it sounds distinct enough from Monster, as though this was the album and moves they'd been trying to show-off all the time. It has some absolute classics on it, including one of the finest REM tracks of all-time - Leave. According to Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide:

"Clocking in at seven minutes, "Leave" is the longest track R.E.M. has yet recorded and it's one of their strangest and best -- an affecting minor-key dirge with a howling, siren-like feedback loop that runs throughout the entire song."

The song just picks you up, and chucks you around - it starts off so deliberatly slow, and then drags you into a tornado of sound! When I heard this for the first time, I remembered thinking that I had heard nothing like this from REM before - what, from 1:00 minute in, was acoustic about this?! It was electric (as Monster had been, but this felt like it had structure), and had so much depth. It sounded like Stipe was pained, but was pulling through. I knew from the beginning that I had touched upon a song I would love forever!

If you download three tracks, hit:

Leave (features in my TOP 100)
Bittersweet Me
Be Mine (for me, my second fave on the album - also features in my TOP 100; I love the secondhalf of this song, as the guitar sweeps along - a song I wish to this day that I'd heard live)

I've added the album to the spotify menace2music collab playlist - see the link for this below.

They'll be more to come on REM, as they're in my top bands of all time list, which I feature on a Thursday (a Thursday, dammit - remember Menace!?!).

Have a great Friday - may the weekend, which it looks like is going to be awet-and-nasty one, bring you everything you need, demand, and require! Hopefully, some of it will include music!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

ELO, and am I buying CDs for the sake of it on a Thursday???

2009-10-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

Howdy from the heady heights of a lovely Thursday! Back from an absolutely lovely afternoon tea, at a swanky, grand 5* hotel, treating my gorgeous, heavily-pregnant wife to an afternoon of leisure!

Have been listening to lots and lots of ELO, but I have to be frank when I say that I am not quite there on writing a piece about them - I want to write as much (if not more) as I wrote about Mansun, and I know I have neither the time or facility to do this as I type right now! So, next week will be ELO week - sorry if you were tuning-in especially for this!

The ELO collab playlist is available to whet your appetite though - check it out:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/4Hfee7VdH1pOsR8tBcLOyo
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:4Hfee7VdH1pOsR8tBcLOyo

Just bought three CDs on eBay - not sure if I've mentioned this before, but I absolutely love soundtracks/OSTs. So, I decided earlier tonight to simply search by the following keyword on eBay "soundtrack", I bid on three and I won all of them:

Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (well, we have already had a couple of Bryan Adams tracks on there so far, and this looks mostly score-like)
Stand By Me (definitely worth a listen)
but, the highlight - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (really looking forward to this one!)

I have to ask the question though - am I serious!? Am I buying too many CDs right now, if these are what I'm grabbing for right now?! These cost me, together, £4.49. Good business? Would I pay £1.50 for each of these if I saw them in a second hand music store or charity shop? You know what, I would, so push off - I'm doing the right thing!!!!!

Have a great Thursday night everyone - see you all tomorrow!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

The Leisure Society (The Sleeper) reviewed, the importance of CDs, and we're almost halfway through the week!

2009-10-28T01:24:00.000-07:00

I was planning to review the reissue of Madness' One Step Beyond, but it is not on spotify yet. So, instead, I have had a listen to a local band hitting the big time - The Leisure Society, and their early reissue of this year's album - The Sleeper.

Comparing this band to Fleet Foxes (as Q magazine have done, see November 2009 issue) is fair, but there is a bit more to this band. Orchestration, sweet guitar riffs (see A Short Weekend Begins With Longing), and heart-warming vocals (We Were Wasted) a-plenty!

I definitely think this album is worth a good listen - it's a friendly album, welcoming you in with open arms. If you're a fan of this folk-indie cross over, you will definitely find a song or two on here for you.

I had a very interesting discussion last night about the importance of listening to CDs themselves, more. Have I embraced the digital revolution a little too much (adoring spotify, and owning three iPods)? Have I forgotten the magic of putting a CD in a CD player and listening to ensuing liquor of sound? I admit that I wasn't terribly proud of myself to say such things as "I couldn't remember the last time I played a CD in a CD player" - now that is pretty poor!!!

But, without spotify, I wouldn't be able to do this blog! Yes, I buy a fair amount (I estimate around 7-12 CDs per month enter these premises, much to my wife's frustration), but I couldn't buy everything I like or listen to - I'd be bankrupt within a couple of months! Spotify allows me a huge amount of freedom to listen to music as it is released, the artist is still paid as I listen, and I'm committed to acting like the kind of consumer they want - I listen on spotify, and if I like it, I buy or download it!

But, today, I'm going to put a CD in a proper CD player and listen for the difference. Play a CD from start to finish on my stereo downstairs, and let the music flow over me. Mmm, but what to listen to? I'm thinking classics, guitar, harmonies. I'll fill you in tomorrow.

So, we're almost halfway through the week - had a nice trip to London yesterday with the iPod on shuffle, but also listened to Muse's new album - The Resistance - and thoroughly enjoyed that!

I hope the week is going well for you - let music mould it a little, at least!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Funeral Singers (Califone) and what can a Tuesday bring?

2009-10-27T04:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Today's new track is Funeral Singers by Califone - you can feel this song slowly build, strumming guitar.

Although this isn't the happiest of titles or subjects, the harmonies build and build to a frame an elegant, and powerful song. Let it not be forgotten that Arcade Fire built a whole album out of Funerals. Here is Califone's attempt at the same.

Short entry today, as have a million things on! I'm hoping my Tuesday is going to bring good news - keep your fingers crossed for me!

Feel the love, feel the music - listen to something new today, it'll be fun!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Dan Arborise (album: Of Tide and Trail), and a Monday can be great!

2009-10-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon from Menace2Music!

Going to start with the new album of the week - Dan Arborise's Of Tide and Trail:

I put the album on shuffle on spotify, and hit the final track of the album first - Feet In The Sea Head In The Stars. I want to say this has been influenced a little by latter-day Pink Floyd in it's sweeping, atmospheric nature, but I think there is more to this song than that. It's heart-warming, almost spiritual - nice chillout music, if you're feeling a little stressed. You don't expect the lyrics to come along, but when they do they don't detract from a fabulous finale!

I went back to the beginning of the album now, and took it off shuffle - I wanted to hear what came before this piece. You immediately know you're in for an acoustic adventure here, built on a strong, folky-indie voice - a little of the Ray LaMontagne about it, but a touch more rock-n-roll!

There is quite a lot of depth to this album (on one listen, I did purchase this and am awaiting my copy), with most songs being 4mins+, and three over 7mins (including the last track on the album, mentioned above). And I don't feel this is just another musician churning out a clone-like album - it feels like a lot of time and energy has been thrown into getting these songs right. Some of the guitar play (see Cries, 4-odd mins in) on this album is magical, elegantly balanced in the background by ultra-chilled tones.

In an age where we have a lot of very bad music drubbed into us, with TV and media overplay, it is refreshing to hear a musician and a music without borders, without too much over-production and editing - this is is Dan Arborise singing and playing for all he is worth, and for that he should be commended.

I would honestly say, after only a couple of listens, this albums ranks in my top 10 of the year (I'll put this list together towards the end of 2009 in another blog entry - other albums potentially on this list are The Decemberists, The Doves, Marillion and Animal Kingdom - so, it's great to have a solo artist on the list now).

If you download three:

She Told Me How to Love Her
Cries
Feet In The Sea Head In The Stars

For more information:
http://www.myspace.com/arborise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrqIg1C95QU

The album has been added to Menace2Music's collab playlist on spotify - check it out at:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

So, in conclusion, Monday's can be pretty terrific things! Here I find myself, listening to a fab album, plonking on my keyboard about music, and I've just spoken to an old friend who has got engaged! Go Monday!

I'm not even going to tempt matters with an iPod shuffle feature, as I'll only bring up some music that I don't really want to talk about!?

I hope you're having a good Monday, and the week has begun in a suitable fashion! Let Dan Arborise chill you out on a Monday too - well worth it!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

Menace2Music is TWO weeks old, what's been reviewed in week 2, and what's to come!

2009-10-25T03:09:00.001-07:00

Menace2Music is two weeks old, and I am still having a lot of fun with this blog, despite the last couple of days and the late entries. I'm just hoping that I'll be able to keep up a daily post - going to try my very hardest!

Our second week has seen the following reviews:

Monday - Polite Sleeper - Lake Effect
Tuesday - Animal Kingdom - Silence Summons You
Wednesday - Queen - Greatest Hits
Thursday - Mansun all of the spotify music is in the following colab:
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/71ZPy0U32W6JCScMfRLkvk
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:71ZPy0U32W6JCScMfRLkvk
Friday - Fleetwood Mac - The Very Best of
Saturday - 94-91 from my old TOP 100, including Cat Power and Keane

I hope you've found this week interesting, and are looking forward to the next seven days, which will include Fanfarlo, ELO, Madness, and lots more iPod shuffle grabs!

The new albums I've been listening to this week have been as follows:

Fanfarlo - Reservoir (possible new album review tomorrow)
Fleetwood Mac - The Very Best of (reviewed, however briefly, earlier in the week)
Dead Man's Bones
Dan Arborise - Of Tide and Trail
Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains
Califone - All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

I haven't listened to the iPod enough to feature a full list of songs that have moulded my week (following on from the Brian Jonestown Disaster song, mentioned earlier). So, what has moulded my week? Well, lots of things that just aren't related enough to music. What have I been thinking?!

Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab

Haven't done one of these for a couple of days, so lets shuffle a few songs:

Scott Matthew - Ornament
Album: There is an ocean that divides and with my longing I can charge it with a voltage that's so violent to cross it could mean death
Not the strongest song on the album (with one of those irritatingly long titles - see Fiona Apple, which was actually a good album too, with too long a title), but enough layers and instrumentation to draw you in. The album is definitely worth a listen on spotify, though.

The Gypsy
Charlie Parker Quintet
Charlie Parker On Dial Completed Vol.1 West Coast Dates 1
Over the last couple of years, I have grown to love jazz more-and-more. This song epitomises why I like it so - the music is so friendly! For me, it is welcoming, open-hearted.

Another Only One
Art Garfunkel, Maia Sharp & Buddy Mondlock
Everything Waits to be Noticed
Despite being a huge Garfunkel fan, this album (a collaboration with Sharp and Mondlock) is not one that I have given enough time. If anything, the song sounds a little too modern - it almost sounds like the three of them are trying their hardest to sound like a Timberlake or Buble ballad. No, leave Garfunkel to do what he does best!

Kids Wanna Rock
Bryan Adams
So Far So Good
Now, you see what I mean about shuffle picking up on the same artists - how many times am I giong to write about Adams and Garfunkel - I will flip over them the next couple of times, I think?! A good rock-n-roll song, but not Adams finest by any stretch of the imagination!?

Fake the Aroma
Massive Attack
WarChild: From Help to Heroes (Disc 2)
For me, Massive Attack are one of those bands that I talk about having listened to, and own a couple of their albums, but I don't know enough about them, by far. I've heard this song a couple of times - bongo and mystifying beats behind almost rap-like, downbeat, lyrics. (not on spotify)

Do check out Menace2Music's spotify colab:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

May you all have an absolutely fabulous week, coming-up - may it be filled with music, love, happiness and Menace2Music!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

TOP 100 (tracks 94-91, oops) and how's your weekend going?

2009-10-24T13:16:00.001-07:00

I realised a moment ago that I featured 6 tracks from my old TOP 100 last week, so this week only has FOUR:

94. Bedshaped
Keane
Hopes and Fears

Subtle, but still strong - the lyrics, and slow building sound of this song, are excellent. Of all of the Keane songs that I have liked (or grown to dislike - see last week's blog for further on this), this one has stayed with me. I think this one might hold it in the new TOP 100 (Work in progress).

93. The Greatest
Cat Power
The Greatest

Sweet piano, great singer - this has always been the stand out track for Cat Power, and I have gone onto collecting a lot of her albums, without finding another song of this quality and strength. This one will most likely lose its place, which is a shame as it is a very good song.

92. My Little Town
Art Garfunkel
Breakaway

The first song, I think, to feature in the spotify collab playlist twice (as we featured Breakaway as a classic album) - a duet for Paul Simon and Garfunkel, this is a such a beautiful song. The harmonies against the sweeping piano - sweet! "It's just imagination, relax, everything's the same back in, My Little Town"

91. God Protect Your Soul
Ed Harcourt
Here Be Monsters

I'm not sure I would have heard of Ed Harcourt to this day, unless a friend had introduced me to this excellent album. Again, another song that builds and builds (becoming a theme I am spotting). Might slip down, but hold - we shall see.

eBay sales have gone well - thanks to everyone for their purchases who go onto reading the blog!

Hope your weekend is going well - I'm going to go back to trying to get a webcam to work?! Check out the Menace2Music spotify collaborative playlist (still need to get a shorter title for thisa - any suggestions???):

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Very best wishes, Menace2Music

menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

By a whisker, the Mac (sorry, I know I said), and the weekend!

2009-10-23T15:26:00.000-07:00

Phew - no, I haven't forgotten you, my Menace2Music blog (now 12 days off - almost a teenager!!!) It has just been a manic day! Started some Christmas shopping (don't say anything, please...), more of the eBay auctions have ended (I'm frantically producing invoices?!), and the weekend is almost here...

Classic Album Review

Fleetwood Mac
The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac - remastered

If you don't own a Greatest Hits of Fleetwood Mac (there have already been a few, lets be honest), but this one - some of the songs are refreshed nicely. There are some classics on there (Dreams, Tusk, Big Love).

Sorry for the very short review, but it is getting very late... and yes, I know I promised I wouldn't review the Mac, but I was running out of time, and didn't fancy that I knew enough about Madness!?!?

Well, we're 16 minutes away from the weekend now, and although I am not working at present, I am looking forward to this one - may I compose of more than two days......oh well, worth a thought!

Take care all - see you all tomorrow with something a little longer, and more fulfilling!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

Artist Day - just who did I choose? A fave band breakdown, and a start with a 90's cult band!

2009-10-22T04:37:00.000-07:00

Good afternoon, and welcome to an earlier edition of Menace2Music! Lots going down today - prep for an exciting job interview, plus keeping an eye on the first round of CDs on eBay (username: menoir16) to finish around 5pm tonight. So, all-in-all, an interesting day to be had!

You might recall that last Thursday I wrote a list of some of my favourite artists, that I thought I would discuss on this day of the week, as this blog progresses. The list was:

The Beatles
Def Leppard
Marillion
Dodgy
Mansun
Gene
ELO
Queen
Dire Straits
REM
U2
Genesis

I suppose, if I were to publish a starting 11 (plus one substitute) this would be the team of my fave bands in the entire world, like ever and stuff! I can then break them down into the following groups:

Early-doors (into music from mid-1980s onwards - a lot of influence from my father):

The Beatles
Def Leppard
ELO
Queen

Developed as the years progressed through my teens towards Uni:

Dire Straits
REM
U2
Genesis
Marillion
Dodgy

Uni days and onwards:

Mansun
Gene
If I were to actually give these as a top 12, I would go for the following (and this is tough, but you know us boys do like to classify things):

1. The Beatles
2. Marillion
3. Def Leppard
4. Dodgy
5. Gene
6. U2
7. Genesis
8. Dire Straits
9. REM
10. Queen
11. ELO
12. Mansun

Apart from #1 (The Beatles), which went on first, this chart was very much easier to build from the bottom up. And it only really became difficult from #8 - once I'd placed REM, Queen, ELO (Electric Light Orchestra, for those who didn't realise) and Mansun, the seven I was left with were a bit of fun to mull over.

The real fun began when I had the following four for places #2-5:

Def Leppard
Marillion
Dodgy
Gene

You could break these down into two groups - Def/Marillion being the more die-hard fan, and Dodgy/Gene being that pre-Uni/through-Uni phase of liking (no, loving) the underdog bands (I was never, ever, really a Blur or Oasis fan).

Funnily enough, it was at this moment that I realised I was missing a band - Radiohead. Did Radiohead mean less to me than Mansun? There is no doubt that I put the list together last Thursday relatively quickly. Who else was I missing? For the time being, Radiohead would have to go in at #13, and look for redemption at another time...

So, Gene was eventually put in at #5, and Dodgy (a tougher one this, as I have always adored this band, everything they stood for, their musical diversity - you'l hear more on this later on...) at #4. Leaving two giants, after my absolute love of The Beatles - Def Leppard (stop sniggering at the back) and Marillion (I mean it, kill the laughter).

Why do I like these two bands so much? Well, I'll go into more detail in a later week, but the first album I ever bought was Hysteria (Def Leppard) and Marillion have been one of those bands that I have followed consistently - I just love so many of their songs!

So, if we take the above chart, and work our way from the bottom (leaving Radiohead aside for the moment - we will bring them into discussion at another time, perhaps closer to where they should be in the league), we start today's discussion with MANSUN.

If you wanted to listen to them on spotify while reading this, I have put their back catalogue in the following collab playlist:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/71ZPy0U32W6JCScMfRLkvk
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:71ZPy0U32W6JCScMfRLkvk

If I had to give three reasons why I love Mansun they would be:

* they're a highly experimental band - you can't define them
* their use of orchestration, as well as more traditional pop/alternative instrumentation
* their 1998 album, Six, I would have in my top 20 albums of all-time

They were also, I think, ahead of their time - if Mansun brought out their music now, I believe they would gain more success. This is a band that had more of a cult following than anything else.

I like any band that are willing to expand, experiment and grow within their music - I don't think Mansun felt constrained when it came to musical invention. However, in the end, it does seem like in-fighting, and bouts with their labels, did eventually bring them down. This to me shows emotion - without this, we wouldn't have the music from Mansun (and many other bands, before their subsequent break-ups) that we have.

Attack of the Grey Lantern was a more of a catchy-pop filled adventure than anything later, but it launched them. Wide Open Space is the one most people remember, reaching #15 in the UK Top 40 chart.

But is was with Six, released in 1998, that I feel Mansun showed their perfect 4 Aces hand:

The album flows from song-to-song effortlessly - it has to be listened to from start to finish without a break to get the very most of it. It has a slightly preachy side to it, but if you don't feel pressured by this, you can take in a band that was on top of it's game.

As I mentioned, in-fighting and spats with their label, led to their break-up in 2003. They had their time, showed their strengths as a band, and perhaps did as much as they could. Their early EPs are very collectable, if you have any. I know I do, and several are signed - we shall see if they're worth anything in years to come!

For a solid introduction to the band, check out their Greatest Hits - Legacy:

However, I would listen to the albums as they were released - you'll be taken on a fine journey.

See wikipedia for more information on the band - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansun

NEXT WEEK: The Electric Light Orchestra

As well as the ipod shuffle feature, I am also going to bring a new daily feature in - Menace2Music What have I been listening to today?

Today (apart from a lot of Mansun, reminiscing) I have been listening to Dead Man's Bones eponymous album (the actor Ryan Gosling's album with friend Zach Shield), and the new one by Echo and the Bunnymen (The Fountain).

Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab

Metarie - Brendan Benson - album: Lapalco
We definiely have an acoustic vein to the week, as heard again on this track, but it does get a little electricity behind it after a minute-or-so (track is 3:42). I don't know a huge amount about BB - I know his recent release (My Old, Familiar Friend) was very well reviewed in Q magazine. I'm going to give this a listen later today to see how good it is.

I really liked this song (Metarie) - the vocals tell a story (not that I listen to them that often), and BB has a warm, friendly voice. I'll give this whole album a little listen too (not sure where I picked this up, like, sometimes, so much of my music - could've been from a friend) and report back at a later point!

I'm also, every Sunday, going to feature a list of tracks that have stood out for me as the week has progressed - got the idea listening to an awesome live song (Swallowtail) by the The Brian Jonestown Massacre. So, this will be on Sunday - I just know you're looking forward to it! I'm compiling it by placing tracks, on my iPod, in a on-the-go playlist.

Right, hope you're all having a fab ol' day - back to the job interview prep!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

To Spotify Premium or not, missed CDs on eBay, and something rockier!

2009-10-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Quite simply, I love Spotify - I know I have mentioned the streamed music service a few times (every day), but I do - it is quite simply the best thing that the Internet has ever spawned! And long may it continue! It seems like a long time ago I read an article in The Independent about free music online (it was about a year ago) - I have enjoyed sooooo much!

I bring them up again, as I was e-mailed by Spotify this afternoon with an offer of Premium Service for only £6.49 per month (usually £9.99). I swore to myself that if I could get it for £50 per year, I would sign up. This is only a little bit more... I have to sign-up by November 2nd - I'm going to make myself a deal - if I get a job before November 2nd, I sign-up...we shall see!!!!?

eBay sales are going well - look up my CDs on my username (menoir16). But, I missed out on buying the album by Dan Arborise, as I was chatting to my (lovely) wife. When I logged back on, it had either been snapped-up or had simply gone. Hope it was missed, as I will be keeping an eye out for it! (please note: I can't really complain, as I got Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy for £1.24!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Today is CLASSIC ALBUM REVIEW, and I promised something a bit rockier. Well, what could be more ROCK than Queen Greatest Hits!!!

I am afraid, in the history of all music, there is no better Greatest Hits in the World. and I can say this confidently, even as what I might term myself, a part-time Queen fan. I don't own all of the albums, I never saw them live, but you have to respect what an absolutely astronomically cooool array of tracks this album has on it! From the sublime and classic Bohemian Raphsody, through You're My Best Friend (excellent sung drunk with mates), to camp treasures like Flash and Fat Bottomed Girls.

In my opinion, my favourite track at the moment (minus Boh Rap, which is just so good) is Save Me - this song has so many levels, and I love how flexible Mercury's voice is.

The whole album has been added to the Menace2Music spotify collaborative playlist (still need to get a shorter title for thisa - any suggestions???):

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab

Taking a chance on ONE track today - it is:

Shout - Tears for Fears - Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92)
"These are the things I can do without, come on - I'm talking to you, come on" I'm not sure what this means, as I don't really hear them discuss the specific things that they can do without.

I couldn't do without this album, as I decided at the last minute to pull it from the eBay sale that is currently going on!

Had to forward it on and listen to their version of Mad World - I initially thought this was bettered by the Gary Jules version for Donnie Darko. There is no doubt that slowing it down added a huge amount. Not sure, but I'm not going to mull it much longer, as I'm hungry!

Hope you're all well!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

The greatest planning undone, as the song is cut from the final album... and tomorrow I will get a little more rock in Menace2Music

2009-10-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

It's been a day of travelling to London, iPod in ear the whole way. I thought I had found the new track to review, as it is:

New Album Track Review Day!

I was going to review Dollar Signs by Animal Kingdom, but I was very surprised, when I got onto spotify, to see that this song was CUT from the final album!

You see, I got hold of a promo from my local secondhand music shop, loved the album from an early listen, and this was one of the tracks that stood out! It came up on shuffle while on my jaunt to London today, and I thought - yes, I have my track for today. But no, I don't!?

So, I need to pick another song from the album! I've gone for Silence Summons You - a sweet, melodic number (track 4 on the album). Feels almost acoustic, but you sense there might be a little electronic wizardry behind the guitars on the track.

I suppose I should've gone for something slightly different, as Animal Kingdom sound a little similar to yesterday's band, Polite Sleeper. I think both are definitely worth a listen - if Animal Kingdom stand out a little more for me, its because their songs a little catchier around the chorus.

Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab

Sonatine bureaucratique
Erik Satie
Assorted

If you haven't heard any Satie, and you like composers like Rachmaninov or Debussy, catch-up and bathe in some Satie for a while! His Gymnopedies, Gnossiennes etc. are gorgeous, sweet little orchestral treats!

The following four that came out of shuffle were:

Raindrops - Tindersticks - BBC Sessions
Stuart Staples, the lead singer of Tindersticks, just has a wonderfully haunting voice - loved the swifling strings behind him on this song.

Jellybelly - Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness: Dawn To Dusk
Listened to this double album (quite a statement, but justified as it was a symphony) a lot when I was at Uni. I think I'll have a good listen to some more Smashing Pumpkins soon - to be honest, after this album, I never felt they hit the same artistic heights. This, and Siamese Dream - two of the best albums of the 1990's. They might not be in the top 10, but certainly in the top 20 of the 90's.

Don't Ever Get Tired - Tindersticks - Can Our Love...
We're getting a Tindersticks-double treat (but then, if you know shuffle, it can be unpredictable - simply type "iTunes shuffle" into google to see all of the arguments that rage on about it?!)!

Last, but by no means least,

I Just Can't Wait To Be King - Jason Weaver, Rowan Atkinson & Laura Williams - The Lion King OST
OK, I didn't listen to this for long...

Damn, the next track was The Great Escape [Orchestral Version] by Marillion - I listen to the sweeping beauty of this track as I sign off.

Mmm, so tomorrow is classic album review - I want to get away from the whole folk/indie tone of things that the last couple of days have taken on (which will probably mean that the reissue review will not be Fleetwood Mac, but we will see). Might have to look at something a little more rock. We shall see...

Signing off, 40 winks is imminent. Keep loving music - it, amongst other things, keeps the world moving!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

Polite Sleeper - Lake Effect, and 10 iPod Shuffle Grabs - what a bonus!

2009-10-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

It's been a glorious day today - only popped out the once, to the postbox, but the view from the window has been lovely! Have been busy updating (well, changing altogether really) my CV. It is just beginning to resemble a CV now, so I think I'm halfway there...!?

We kick off the week with the New Album Review. Today's band is Polite Sleeper, and the album is Lake Effect:

It's a neat cross-over between folk and indie - neat harmonies, some nice strums on the guitars with adequate back-up on the piano.

I'm currently only on my second listen (despite the fact that I have already bought the album off eBay - I refer you back to comments last week), and already have a nagging feeling this album could herald a few gems once it has been digested enough through the ol' plugholes!

If I have any criticism at this stage, its that the singer's (Jason Orlovich) voice is left without enough musical back-up. When the two support each other, Polite Sleeper have a more dynamic, poetic sound to them (see the first half vs. second half of the title track as an example).

I'm looking forward to getting this album in the post, so I can slap it on the iPod and give it a few more patient listens.

Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab

I'm going to do something slightly different today - give you a run down of the ten tracks that shuffle off, and write a few things on all of them! One track doesn't say enough, in my opinion (plus, also, this shuffle grab of just one song has got me stuck with Katie Melua and James Taylor....need I say more?).

The ten tracks:

Hang On To Your IQ - Placebo
Placebo went a little out of fashion (I admit I wasn't a huge fan when I first heard their music for the first time at Uni in 1996), but have fought against the tide and are still around. I believe their last album (Battle for the Sun, which I own - the above track is from their eponymous album) was financed by the band - good luck to them!

I Could Lose Ya - Stereophonics
Funny - another band that were around during my Uni days that endear to this day! I was bought this album as a gift, and haven't given it enough of a listen. This is a good track - great beat, strong lyrics, and some excellent guitar! Will listen to this again shortly!

The Voice & The Snake - Enigma
First you're rocking it to the 'phonic, and then you're down to this enigma album filler with the voices - not suited to a grab like this, so I forwarded on pretty rapidly!?

Baby Phat - De La Soul Feat. Devin The Dude & Elizabeth "Yummy" Bingham
Mmm, I seem to recall mentioning that soul and r&b were not my types of music in one of the first entries of Menace2Music. On we go....

All the Pictures on the Wall - Paul Weller
Almost half way through the ten! Have been listening to a little bit of Weller (solo) recently - this song is from the superb Wild Wood album (if you haven't heard it - do). A nice mini-guitar solo near the end. Weller is a bit of an enigma though, as I don't think he's got close to Wild Wood since - come on Weller, pull your finger out!

Toe The Line - Trademark
Off a magazine compilation album - electronic alternative. Doesn't do a great deal for me - would rather listen to New Order or Joy Division who do this a lot better.

The Outsiders - Athlete
This is a really good song, and from what I can recall, one of the very best on the disappointing album. Athlete were very quick out of the blocks - their second album Tourist is, as far as I'm concerned, one of the best albums of the last 10 years. This song, with a few more listens, might make it into the new TOP 100 - we shall see!

Apply Some Pressure - Mark Ronson Feat. Paul Smith
Mark "Add some horns, and you have a new song" Ronson - yes, we recall this criticism of Ronson, but some of the songs he has remastered have some traction. I'm thinking, particularly, of Valerie (featuring Amy Winehouse). This one isn't too flamboyant - gets the toes tapping a little, but not enough!

This Boy - Franz Ferdinand
Great beat - FF really rock this short song through to the end (only 2:22). Taken from the album - You Could Have It So Much Better.

Last one - I Killed The Neighbours - Mistys Big Adventure
I saw this band live, supporting Dodgy, a couple of years ago and they sung this song - brought as many laughs as it did applause at the end! Quirky, sometimes a little controversial (or just plan odd/rude), Mistys Big Adventure are a pretty good band, but have never really hit the big time.

So, there we are - ten songs from my iTunes (currently 14,190-strong). I've added as many as are available to the Menace2Music spotify collaborative playlist (need to get a shorter title for this):

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Drop us a line or hit the comments button below - don't be shy!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

Sundays are about re-capping, and an apology

2009-10-18T03:44:00.000-07:00

That's right - Sunday's are about re-capping, updating, going over all of the music we've discussed in the week (you get the idea).

The format of the week, with plenty more tidbits-and-things to come, will be:

Monday - New Album Review
Tuesday - New Track Review
Wednesday - Classic Album Review
Thursday - Artist/Band Day
Friday - Reissue Album Review
Saturday - TOP 100 Tracks
Sunday - re-cap!

We've had new bands like The xx, Art Garfunkel, Kraftwerk, Yo La Tengo, and Antony and the Johnsons reviewed this week - the inaugural week! Its been great!

Highlights for me were definitely talking, however briefly, about why I love Breakaway, Art Garfunkel's album. I'm looking forward to the Classic Album Review this week - will try and make it very different.

Kraftwerk was fun, as it was a band I'd known of, but not heard a lot of their music! As discussed on Friday, you can find all of these digitally remastered editions in a Menace2Music/spotify collaborative playlist:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/4WGE2vrXdvaDdmqomD9mnC
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:4WGE2vrXdvaDdmqomD9mnC

Again, if you need a SPOTIFY INVITE, please e-mail me - menace2music@googlemail.com

My apology has to be for James Taylor - maybe I over-exaggerated the amount of puke there was. Oh no, there's some on the wall that I missed?!!?

I'm not going to give anything away on next week yet, which you can take to mean that I'm keeping some exciting facts under my hat, or I'm making this up as I go along - answers on a postcard (or e-mail - menace2music@googlemail.com)

Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab

Wanderlust (Radio Edit)
The Delays
Album: Lost in a Melody

Nice melody, warm and fun - good guitar back-up running through the song. The end is a little sharp on the ears, but all-in-all a nice song.

So, the end of week 1 of Menace2Music - I've enjoyed it, and I hope people will begin to visit as I keep it up (the blog, that is). My sale on eBay continues, and I will post the odd re-cap on this as everything comes to a conclusion! So far, the only album to have been bid on more than once is Starsailor's All The Plans. Did I miss something here?

Till tomorrow, hope you're all well - hope you're keeping it real, like I asked!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

Saturday - Menace2Music TOP 100 (100-95), and I give James Taylor a rough-riding (well?)

2009-10-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Sales on eBay continue - have 40 CDs on there now, and very happy with how things are progressing!

Every Saturday I plan to discuss an old TOP 100 I put together, while I build a new Top 100 (which will be featured later on, on http://menace2music.blogspot.com/). Today, 100-95:

100
Someday I'll Find You
Shola Ama with Craig Armstrong
20th Century Blues EP
Unfortunately, not on spotify
Very elegant, beautifully sung rendition of a Noel Coward number. Craig Armstong is a masterful composer, known for his soundtracks (Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, The Bone Collector, World Trade Centre, to name but a few).

99
The Operation
Morrissey
Southpaw Grammar
ON SPOTIFY:
http://open.spotify.com/track/47a1fFEayh94n7Ao1qkZqW
spotify:track:47a1fFEayh94n7Ao1qkZqW
If you don't appreciate drum solos like this one, you either have an aversion to percussion (sure you can find a doctor for this) or feel drums should just be in the background. No - they can play for minutes to introduce songs like this one (2:21 in, to be exact), and it is right!!!
I don't think there are many Morrissey songs in this older TOP 100 - enjoy!

98
When You Love Someone
Bryan Adams
Hope Floats OST
Only the unplugged version is on spotify - see the Menace2Music playlist for this!
What with Shola Ama, there was a sweet romantic vibe going on with me, when I concluded matters with this TOP 100. The orchestration/band link-up on this song works really well. You'll see, throughout the TOP 100, that I do like a bit of orchestration behind my music, if I can get it!!!
Love 'im or hate 'im (particularly for his Robin Hood song which was #1 in the charts for about 3 years), Bryan Adams can write and sing a blooming good ballad. It might sound twee, but if you've ever loved someone, you believe all of the lyrics of this song - listen to them, and you'll see!

97
The Brazilian
Genesis
Invisible Touch
ON SPOTIFY:
http://open.spotify.com/track/7s4hAEJupZLpJEaOel5SwV
spotify:track:7s4hAEJupZLpJEaOel5SwV
First, 2 for romance, and now 2 for drum solos - I didn't do this on purpose (I think)!!?
Now, there is one thing I need to get off my chest early-doors - love Genesis, think Phil Collins solo is wrong. We got that - Genesis = awesome, Collins solo = pants.
Not that we need worry about The Brazilian - no lyrics! Fun, great guitar and beats - great song, that I remember loving the first time I ever heard it, and had always stuck with me!

96
We Might As Well Be Strangers
Keane
Hopes and Fears
ON SPOTIFY:
http://open.spotify.com/track/5VsR0zpgalIKXo8D9gfM4r
spotify:track:5VsR0zpgalIKXo8D9gfM4r
From the romantic, to the break-up song. Keane did set a standard when this first album came out - how good music, with such tone and lyrics, could be done without a guitar in sight. I shouldn't of liked it as much as I did. Reference on the word "did", as this song will probably drop out of the TOP 100. My wife and I listened to this album a lot when it first came out, and then, all of sudden, we'd gone months without listening to it. We didn't miss it tremendously - it was just there, for a while, and we liked it. End of story. Really, this is it - stop prying!?

95
Fixing a Hole
The Beatles
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Not on Spotify (there are 12 covers on Spotify, and I cannot be bothered to find out which is funniest or most painful)
Short, sweet, great harmonies - give it some "hey, hey, hey........hey"!

This TOP 100 was put together some

Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab

Your Smiling Face
James Taylor
Ultimate Acoustic

This track makes me want to smack a smiling face off of James Taylor. Then I'd have to mop up all of the sick that I puked-up while listening to awful pile of puss-filled, over-sickly, poorly-guitar-riffed nonsense. Or is this a little harsh?

No, I don't think so, so.......the track has been deleted off of everything I own - may I never ever ever ever listen to this song again (despite the fact I have added a live version to the Menace2Music collaborative playlist on spotify) - here are the individual details:

http://open.spotify.com/track/0qWeTfa2rF6Q0KICiGjr3j
spotify:track:0qWeTfa2rF6Q0KICiGjr3j

But please be aware - spotify has a tracking system of how much a track is listened to. If it goes up on the basis of this blog (which would be interesting, as I'm not sure anyone is reading it), I'll be sorely disappointed!?!!?

So, I've added a few more tracks to the Menace2Music collaborative playlist on spotify - here are the details:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

I hope you're all having wonderful weekends, and you don't think I was too rough on old Taylor-boy!

Till tomorrow, hope you're all well - keep it real, now!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

Album Reissue - Kraftwerk, Trans Europe Express (2009 Digital Remaster)

2009-10-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

I ummed-and-arred about what reissue album to review today, but in the end went for Kraftwerk, Trans Europe Express (2009 Digital Remaster):

http://open.spotify.com/album/0HHRIVjvBcnTepfeRVgS2f
spotify:album:0HHRIVjvBcnTepfeRVgS2f

I'll be honest when I say that I had not listened to a great deal of Kraftwerk before launching into this album today on spotify. But, I was quickly hooked - there is some catchy stuff on here, as well as some nicely ambient chill-out tunes.

Does this mean I'm letting Kraftwerk into my life? Not sure yet - might set up a playlist on spotify of all of the Kraftwerk stuff, and see. Certainly, with so many albums being reissed at the same time (8 albums), it would be worth putting them in a playlist to sample the highs and lows of their career-to-date.

The eight albums are:

Autobahn
Radio-Activity
Trans-Europe Express
The Man-Machine
Computer World
Techno Pop
The Mix
Tour De France Soundtracks

You can find all of these digitally remastered editions in a Menace2Music/spotify collaborative playlist:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/4WGE2vrXdvaDdmqomD9mnC
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:4WGE2vrXdvaDdmqomD9mnC

As I've already mentioned, all music I review is available in the following collaborative playlist (the central Menace2Music one):

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

We're up to 32 tracks in there now, and it is coming along nicely!

Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab

Oh blurgh - Katie Melua - go on then, see if you can impress me???

Blame It On The Moon
Album: Call Off The Search

There isn't a great deal to this. I might have been put off by the question I can hear you asking - why do I have the album on my iTunes if I'm going to need constant impressing. I refer you back to yesterday's inital comment:

"My name is Menace2Music, and I'm a Musicholic............

Tough to admit, it is. Three iPods, almost 1,500 CDs in my collection. Still buying, despite being unemployed. Damn, I love music that much!"

I'll listen to anything, and have been known (all too often, embarrassingly) to buy stuff that I never, EVER, listen to!?!

Further to there being not much to this, it isn't available on spotify either - well, spotify just gets better and better!!!!!!!!!!!!

Till tomorrow, hope you're all well!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

Selling CDs on eBay, Thursday is Artist Day

2009-10-15T14:14:00.000-07:00

My name is Menace2Music, and I'm a Musicholic............

Tough to admit, it is. Three iPods, almost 1,500 CDs in my collection. Still buying, despite being unemployed. Damn, I love music that much!

So, it was a tough decision (but needed) to start selling CDs on eBay today - I'm glad I'm doing it (20+ on there now), as things were getting a little ridiculous again! Have already done one big trip into the loft to dump 750+ up there!

Thursday is Artist Day (short entry today, as I'm knackered). I'm still yet to get a follower to this blog, so I'm going to list some of my favourite artists/bands, and talk about one of them NEXT Thursday:

The Beatles
Def Leppard
Marillion
Dodgy
Mansun
Gene
ELO
Queen
Dire Straits
REM
U2
Genesis

It would be nice to hear from someone - let me know what you think!

Till tomorrow, hope you're all well!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

SPOTIFY / Classic Album - Breakaway, Art Garfunkel

2009-10-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

Day 3, and all is well!

Breakaway
Art Garfunkel

http://open.spotify.com/album/1XrVWVKKfRlD0waskKj5uy

As I said yesterday, I wanted to get away from the type of music I'd dealt with on days one and two (The xx, and Yo La Tengo), and talking about classic albums gives me a huge opportunity to delve into my collection.

I should say one thing before I continue - I am trying hard at the moment to only select music that you can listen to yourself on SPOTIFY. For instance, you won't find me reviewing any Beatles (although I love them, being introduced to the music of them at a very early age) as there is none on the awesome music site that is SPOTIFY! As I've already mentioned, all music I review is available in the following folder:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Breakaway is quite simply beautiful. Although Garfunkel was never the prolific writer like Paul Simon, his voice more than makes up for it. It's a very romantic/poetic album - lots of lifts. If you love this album, you will find yourself singing the songs over and over again (please note, you will never hit the notes that Art can hit, but that's not the point!)

I think this album is a perfect package - kicking off with I Believe (When I Fall in Love it Will Be Forever), and ending with The Same Old Tears on a New Background. One of the definite highlights is My Little Town, sung with Simon.

DOWNLOAD: either the whole album, or the above three + Looking for the Right One (if you're in a romantic mood)

Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab

Aeon
Antony and the Johnsons (album: The Crying Light)
http://open.spotify.com/track/1mhx3VT768DBBrjrSqgnr3
spotify:track:1mhx3VT768DBBrjrSqgnr3

I haven't given this album enough of a listen (please realise I buy tons of CDs and never listen to everything - I draw your attention back to the fact I have three iPODs!?!?) - perhaps this shuffle grab will help...

Love him or hate him, Antony has an amazing voice, and it sounds like he is trying to do a little too much with it in this song. Plus, he's doing his own backing vocals on this track too.

Feels like an awesome climax is about to come in the song, which never materialises. Not sure this one would rank alongside my favourite A&theJ track, Fistful of Love (from I am a Bird Now).

Till tomorrow, hope you're all well!

Best wishes, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music

2009-10-13T02:29:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Day 2 of Menace2Music, and we're talking about individual tracks.

New Track Review
More Stars Than There Are In Heaven - Yo La Tengo
http://open.spotify.com/track/0vly7MG2OCiS3JF7WqFVNN
spotify:track:0vly7MG2OCiS3JF7WqFVNN

Slow building, haunting - in a way, a similar type of taste to The xx yesterday. The slightly sharper guitar in the background holds you, and the beats on the other keeps the song plodding along. To me, it doesn't feel like the song is almost 10 minutes in length (9:39).

Apparently Yo La Tengo have been around for a while, but I hadn't heard of them until I listened to this album (brilliantly named Popular Songs). The album build beautifully to three long almost-symphonic songs at the end (More Stars... is the first of the three).

I'm definitely going to review something slightly different tomorrow - it'll be CLASSIC ALBUM REVIEW tomorrow.

Right - this is the first of what I hope will become a daily snippet into my musical taste - the Menace2Music iPod shuffle grab. I'll hit shuffle on my iTunes playlist (currently 14,087 strong) and talk about the song it hits. Today it is:

Please Have Mercy On Me - Little Richard
http://open.spotify.com/track/4LLVCZ3XLKcPboWyxat2DX
spotify:track:4LLVCZ3XLKcPboWyxat2DX

I laugh a little when I see that iTunes had the genre for this down as rock - well, the rest of the album (Tutti Frutti Slelcted Singles 51-56) might be a little more rockful than this! This is a man singing the blues, for sure!

With those twangs at the beginning, this feels quite modern for a track from the '50s (not exactly an era of music which is given enough attention). The sax is delicious, sexy - you feel it sway you from side-to-side if you close your eyes!

Also, everything we're reviewing is in a COLLABORATIVE PLAYLIST on spotify - check us out "Menace2Music".

Have a great day - all the best, Menace2Music

Menace2Music is born, with plenty more to come!

2009-10-12T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

Well, lets be honest, by everyone I currently mean no one...unless I've been the luckiest blogger in the history of blogging and got an audience from moment one!?

Lets start out with the important stuff, and get it done quick-like:

What is Menace2Music?
A simple music blog - I wanted an written outlet for all of the music I'm listening to, and want to listen to! I want to talk to an audience about music, give musicians (from bands to composers) a voice.

Who am I?
Currently unemployed, about to become a father, and a huge lover of ALL music (currently own 3 i-PODs, and over 1,400 CDs

What type of music do I like?
It is easier to flip this question a little to what I don't like. Soul and R&B. Other than those, you'll find EVERYTHING, and I mean, EVERYTHING, on this blog!

What sort of features am I going to write, and how often?
Well, to answer the second question first, my aim is to write on this blog every day - we shall see. In terms of the features and articles I aim to write, expect to see things like:

* new album reviews - below, see our first on The xx (http://open.spotify.com/album/2nXJkqkS1tIKIyhBcFMmwz and spotify:album:2nXJkqkS1tIKIyhBcFMmwz)
* new title reviews
* classic album reviews
...and lots more!!!

Before we get onto the reviews - please find us on:

FACEBOOK - menace2music
TWITTER - menace2music
and e-mail us at menace2music@googlemail.com

I plan for each Monday to have a review of a new album - as mentioned, today is The xx:

The xx - xx

http://open.spotify.com/album/2nXJkqkS1tIKIyhBcFMmwz
spotify:album:2nXJkqkS1tIKIyhBcFMmwz

Where did I first read about them?
Q magazine

Where did I first listen to them?
spotify (let me know by e-mail if you would like an invite to the amazing streaming music search engine that is spotify)

Do I own the album?
Yes

I've always believed that to get the most from an album you have to listen to it three times. Your first listen gives you a brief overview - very rarely will you know from a first listen if this is a good, great or awesome album (you should know if you never, ever want to listen to it again - this can be achieved on a first listen). I always feel your second listen is where the musician begins to tease you - they begin to give a few things away. By the third, you're getting a bigger glimpse into who they are, what they're about, and what their music is going to do for you!

The xx is a prime example - I thought I had something by the second listen, and by the end of the third, I knew I had to own this. It is under-stated throughout, but classy and warm. I think it's like a big emo-like hug!

By "shelter" you'll be moving along with The xx, feeling their passions - their music is moving, but keeps you at an arm's length. The male/female split vocals draw you in, and there is a good use of a number of guitar and drums throughout.

So, pretty clear that I'd recommend this one - again, if you need a spotify invite, please let me know!

and, finally........

COMPETITION
To win an iPod shuffle (red), please join us on Facebook and Twitter, and give us your thoughts on the music reviewed on this blog! Also, drop us a line, and suggest other music/albums to be reviewed! The competition ends on the 15th December 2009 (just in time for Christmas), and the winner will be selected by the random name generator thing - best of luck to everyone!

---------

So, many thanks for checking us out at Menace2Music - check us out tomorrow for a New Track Review! I'm as keen as possible for this NOT to be TOP40 singles (if there is such a thing anymore), so you get an idea about some of the awesome album tracks people never appreciate. Check us out tomorrow!!!!!!!