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  • The Soundtrack 2010 volume 1

    5 mars 2010, 17h40m

    Since sometime in 2002 i've obsessively documented my life through soundtrack mixtapes every two months or so, which tells you all you need to know about me really. In 2005 I switched to CD's and iTunes playlists (I came late to technology) and now i'm going to start chucking them on this too. I realise I may well be the only person who ever reads this but if by chance i'm not, please feel free to leave comments and agree, argue and obsess with me.

    That is all.

    Cheers.

    At The Zoo Simon And Garfunkel

    The Zookeeper sounds like a good guy.

    Too Fake Hockey

    Achingly cool hipster posturing, but don't let that put you off. Great band, with an exciting and varied debut LP out now.

    Black Wave The Raveonettes

    What If, what if, what if? Love and mystery in the wasteland.

    Invisible Sun The Police

    Love the expansive 80's sound and the cold, pulsing bass.

    Right Next Door To Hell Guns N' Roses

    This is how you start an album. Proof that Guns were once justifiably known as the baddest band in the world.

    Sat in Your Lap Kate Bush

    Flamboyant weirdness from Kate.

    Sparkle My Life Story

    Flamboyant orchestral Britpop from Jake

    Curse This City Hockey

    More Hockey, this time with white boy rapping over a funk beat and an impressively crunchy metal riff. Album highlight.

    Let Us Prey/Call For The Priest Judas Priest

    Classic Priest, proto speed metal with that Queen-esque campness that they did so well in the early years.

    Evermore The Devil's Blood

    Highly charged, blood fueled occult rock from one of the most exciting bands i've found in ages. Very accessible, goes well with beer.

    Keep The Customer Satisfied Simon And Garfunkel

    Builds and builds with a joyous chorus and a high pitched horn crescendo that blows me away every time. Guaranteed to bring a smile in any situation. And the bass! Incredible...

    Dead Horse Guns N' Roses

    Especially love the intro/outro. Axl may be a bit of a prick but he can write.

    Plowed Sponge

    Sponge have been a great surprise for me this year, i'd always thought of them as a straightforward 90's punk band but Rotting Pinata is a diverse, mature and surprisingly dark sounding album. This, the lead single, is easily one of the best tracks.

    Baby Don't Sweat The Cribs

    An old favourite, off the long forgotten first album.

    Hounds of Love Kate Bush

    You can feel it, cant you? Its in the trees...

    Four Letter Girl The Shamen

    Weird psychedelic rock from the band that would later be known for high NRG rave classic Ebeneezer Goode. Unsettling.

    Flowers And Fire Blitz

    Dark, gothic post punk from a band that were formerly known for jack-booted classic era Oi! punk.

    Experiment IV Kate Bush

    Sensual (yes i know i'm a tosser for using that word) atmospheric dream pop, telling a sinister story of a military experiment gone wrong.

    Lady Day and John Coltrane Gil Scott Heron

    Who can resist this? Surely this is as grass roots as it gets.

    Song Away Hockey

    Addictive, throwaway, lighthearted... the ideal qualities for a radio friendly chart single. What attracted me to these guys in the first place was the casual, laid back Dylan-esque vocals on this song. Like Bob in 'Don't Look Back' really the only word for it is fuckin' cool man. Well, three words then.

    Rotting Pinata Sponge

    This is one of those 'yeah man, bring it ONNNNNNNN!!!!' kinda songs. A huge adrenaline rush and blindingly played solo. What more do you need?

    The Heavens Cry Out For The Devil's Blood The Devil's Blood

    More occult madness, reminiscent of early 80's era Rush in that there are easily 15 minutes worth of ideas here, compacted into one dynamic five minute blast. Can't wait to see them live...

    ps - that last Devil's Blood track is currently available for free download on here along with a few others. All I can say (like Judas Priest in 1978) is DO IT!
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  • 20 Negative things about my twenty favourite bands.

    28 déc. 2009, 20h40m

    20. Girls At Our Best They only made one album, which is just plain lazy.

    19. New Model Army They never found a bass player to match Morrow on the first few albums.

    18. Queen Everything Brian and Rodger have done to the name Queen since 1995. I hate them and everything they represent. Don't get me started on Paul bloody Rodgers either. Free were never much cop.

    17. Holocaust Where the hell have they gone? A killer album in 2003, then no gigs, no updates... they've just disappeared.

    16. The Monochrome Set For not being around in the musical wasteland of 2009, when we need them the most.

    15. Iron Maiden For playing the same uninspired setlists year on year. They've got one of the greatest back catalogues in rock and they give us Run To The Hills and the bloody Trooper again and again. How about some Caught Somewhere In Time or Only The Good Die Young guys?

    14. Wall of Voodoo Happy Planet was naff

    13.Helloween Where to start? Michael Wiekath and his happy clappy power hymn songwriting. Rabbit Don't Come Easy. Covering Sheer Heart Attack. Being generally naff since 1991

    12.Leonard Cohen For describing Death Of A Ladies Man as 'horrendous' and refusing to play any of it live. Its his best album!

    11. Therapy? For millennium era albums that came a little bit too close to power pop punk (ala Blink 182, Green Day etc) for my taste. But we won't hold that against them.

    10.Madness For suffering from the same setlist disease as Iron Maiden

    9.Hanoi Rocks For the remake of 'Don't Never Leave Me' on Two Steps From The Move. In fact, for most of that album. For not playing the likes of Cheyenne, Don't Follow Me and Ice Cream Summer live. For leaving us here cold and alone

    8.Vain For not coming to scotland on their UK tour this year. Its a minor though, otherwise they cannot be faulted.

    7.Rage Rage are just so unrelentingly solid and reliable. I don't think i can fault them.

    6. Pulp

    5.Rush Some of their nineties stuff was a bit guff.

    4.Megadeth Dave Mustaine is a tool and has been since about 2001. Before that he was a legend and its embarrassing to see what he's become. I've said it before and i'll say it again... god and golf kill good musicians dead.

    3.Killing Joke They should play Europe live and they should do it soon.

    2.The Chameleons For the appalling butchery of their classic album covers on the remastered editions.

    1.Blue Oyster Cult For kicking out Albert Bouchard. He was the true soul of the band, and they've never been as good since.
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  • Last FM music quiz. Be warned, it takes bloody ages.

    4 mars 2009, 11h24m

    1. How did you get into 29?
    The Babyshambles - I'm afraid they're not mine, i used to share a computer with my flatmate who listened to them a lot. I much preferred The Libertines or DPT.

    2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?
    New Order - It was Bizarre Love Triangle. I became obsessed with it at the time, it really encapsulated the moment. I honestly thought there would be no way New Order could possibly have any better songs than it but pleasingly, i was wrong.

    3. What's your favorite lyric by 33?
    Kitchens Of Distinction - I swear I'm chasing sanity, lost easy laughter and forgetting... from Elephantine.

    4. What is your favorite album by 49?
    The Church - I only have one - Heyday, so I'd have to say that. Any album with Myrrh on it is an instant classic.

    5. How many albums by 13 do you own?
    The Monochrome Set - Just the first two, Strange Boutique and Love Zombies.

    6. What is your favorite song by 50?
    Supertramp - Christ thats a hard choice to make. So many of their songs mean a lot. I'd have to go with School at a push, just for the fact that they compress 15 minutes worth of themes and changes into 6 and somehow manage to make it work.

    7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad?
    Kings Of Leon - Most of 'em. Again, they're my flatmate's music, not mine.

    8. What is your favorite song by 15?
    Iron Maiden - Only the greatest metal band of all time! Despite them having such an untouchable careers worth of music to choose from, it has to be Caught Somewhere In Time. 7 minutes of urgent, frantic, storming spaced out metal with a solo that kills me EVERY TIME. :)

    9. What is your favorite song by 5?
    Rage - Rage are another band whose solid consistency of form makes it hard to choose one favourite, although at a push i would say Time Waits For No One.

    10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
    Rush - every Rush song i know makes me happy, so many of the best albums i've heard are by them. Kid Gloves is nice and upbeat, so i'll go with that.

    11. What is your favorite album by 40?
    Europe - Its got to be Wings Of Tomorrow. Such a near perfect metal album, before too much of the cheese and stadium rock that consumed them set in. Wasted Time, Stormwind, Aphasia.... theres an ridiculous amount of top drawer songs on there.

    12. What is your favorite song by 10?
    Holocaust - Current favourite is Alexander from the Covenant album, but overall i'd have to go with Hypnosis Of Birds, for reasons it would take me so long to express.

    13. What is a good memory you have involving 30?
    The Strokes - Hanging out my flat window with my wee brother, smoking and listening to Razorblade. Starting Uni and obsessing with my flatmate over a leaked version of You Only Live Once. Good times.

    14. What is your favorite song by 38?
    Strawberry Switchblade - I love the early folky SS demo stuff (like a true nerd) rather than the overproduced versions on the album. Favourite song is the first one i heard, 'Go Away'.

    15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
    Arctic Monkeys - Once again, they're really my flatmate's band but i do quite like them. Leave Before The Lights Come On really does it for me.


    16. How many times have you seen 25 live?
    The Wake - None yet, but they've a new album out soon so hopefully it wont be too long until i do!

    17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23?
    The Cribs - You're Gonna Lose Us, i think. Sounds like it was recorded in the back room of a pub with everyone getting pissed and singing along. Brilliant.


    18. What is your favorite album by 11?
    Leonard Cohen - Death Of A Ladies Man. No one else seems to like it so i give it all the love i can. Except the song Fingerprints, that one is a wee bit naff. Sorry Len.

    19. Who is a favorite member of 1?
    Blue Oyster Cult - Easily Albert Bouchard. He is an amazing drummer and he wrote most of their best songs. Kicking him out was the worst mistake they ever made.

    20. Have you ever seen 14 live?
    Wall Of Voodoo - No, and i think its safe to say it wont ever be happening, mores the pity.

    21. What is a good memory involving 27?
    Megadeth - There must be hundreds, Megadeth have been with me right from the start. Fast times drinking with old mates, so many spring to mind.

    22. What is your favorite song by 16?
    New Model Army - I've only heard two albums but so far it has to be Smalltown England.

    23. What is the first song you ever heard by 48?
    Girls At Our Best! - Getting Nowhere Fast...

    24. What is your favorite album by 18?
    Gillan - For Your Dreams, from Futureshock.

    25. What is your favorite song by 21?
    Gang Of Four - It's Her Factory.

    26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26?
    Durutti Column - The Missing Boy.

    27. What is your favorite album by 3?
    The Chameleons - Tough one, as they are more or less my favourite band. I think i would have to say Strange Times.

    28. What is your favorite song by 2?
    Killing Joke - Europe, no question.
    .
    29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32?
    The Smiths - How Soon Is Now probably. Old daffodil arse strikes again.

    30. What is your favorite song by 8?
    Therapy? - Anything off Troublegum or Infernal Love. Probably Unbeliever.

    31. How many times have you seen 17 live?
    XTC - None, and i'd put money on it staying that way.

    32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy?
    The Passions - Bachelor Girls.

    33. What is you favorite album by 12?
    I dont seem to have a 12...

    34. What is the worst song by 45?
    I've not heard anything really awful by Propaganda, its hard to say.

    35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34?
    Sparks - Probably This Town, just like everyone else.

    36. What is you favorite album by 48?
    Girls At Our Best! Its got to be Pleasure, seeing as its the only one they did.

    37. How many times have you seen 42 live?
    Accept - none.

    38. What is you favorite song by 36?
    Helloween - How i love thee late 80's Helloween. Anything from Keepers 1&2, and for now i'd say I'm Alive.

    39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28?
    Probably 20th Century Boy, predictably.

    40. What is you favorite album by 7?
    Vain - Thats tough. I know No Respect is the better album, but you have to be ready for it being as its so dark and twisted, whereas All Those Strangers is much more immediate. Ill go with No Respect though, because any album with Secrets on it has to be ultimate...

    41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy?
    Young Marble Giants - Brand New Life.

    42. What is your favorite album by 41?
    Japan - The much maligned first one, Adolescent Sex.

    43. What is your favorite song by 24?
    Judas Priest - DISSIDENT AGGRESSOR!!! Feel the epic girth of that riff and Halfords trouser soiling high pitched screams.... EPIC.

    44. What is a good memory you have involving 46?
    Monster Magnet - Getting taken to a wee record shop in Invergordon after a nightmare holiday and buying a few MM singles.

    45. What is your favorite song by 35?
    Metallica - Tough one, overall i'm not sure but at the moment its That Was Just Your Life.

    46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy?
    Queen - My favourite band. Everything makes me happy, what i get from Queen i have never found anywhere else in music.

    47. What is your favorite album by 4?
    Madness - The Rise And Fall, its their Sgt Pepper, but miles better than that.

    48. Who is a favorite member of 37?
    Black Sabbath - Geezer Butler for his cool name and his intricate, melodic basslines that hold Sabbath together.

    49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43?
    Razorlight - They're not mine.... *shudder*. Somewhere else was good though, like severely watered down Pulp.

    50. How many albums do you own by 20?
    The Libertines - The two main ones.
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