Die Apokalyptischen Reiter - vier reiter stehen bereit (Have a Nice Trip)
Marvin Gaye - unforgettable (I Heard It Through the Grapevine)
Opeth - epilogue (My Arms, Your Hearse)
Sepultura - attitude (Roots)
Slayer - bitter peace (Soundtrack To The Apocalypse)
Jerry Goldsmith - old bagdad (Der 13. Krieger)
Subway To Sally - carrickfergus (MCMXCV)
Testament - practice what you preach (Practice What You Preach)
Aaliyah - try again (I Care 4 You)
Watain - darkness and death (Sworn to the Dark)
Rebeka Dremelj - vrag na vzame (Eurovision Song Contest 2008)
Wisin & Yandel - aprovechalo (Los Extraterrestres)
Seventh Seal - lucifer's cry (The Sacred Test)
Emperor - sworn (IX Equilibriu

There is only a 0.004% chance that one song makes it into the Today playlist and today a song from the Eurovision 2008 made it. I had to check immediately the date for the next song contest, its in about 5 months - 16th of May. Well ... didnt want to bore you with numbers and some random information :) and actually the selection today offered quite some variation, nothing really that sticked out though. Just one thing, I need a better version of Emperor's album. The sound quality of my version sounded like it has been recorded with the band and the recording mics in seperate studios ... "Is this Mic on ?" ..."Yeah, yeah, dont worry !"


Sacrifi-Sir

What I listened to on the train

Dornenreich - In Luft geritzt
Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King
Nocte Obducta - Sequenzen einer Wanderung
Hande Yener - Apayrı


--Sapnish--

Baby's first today

This time together with Meh78 (her library). Just 13 tracks, because - despite recent tagging adventures - there was this one album/compilation that didn't want to be tagged, so there where no titles and we decided to skip it (it was kinda crap, anyway).

Alanis Morissette - everything (So-Called Chaos)
Everything But the Girl - i don't understand anything (Amplified Heart)
Madonna - deeper and deeper [7" edit] (GHV2)
Spice Girls - if u can't dance (Spice)
The Chemical Brothers - hoops (Come With Us)
Shalamar - i can make you feel good (Super Disco)
Blondie - call me (Atomic - The Very Best of Blondie)
Marilyn Monroe - (this is) a fine romance (Golden Hits)
Queen - fat bottomed girls (The Platinum Collection)
David Lynch, John Neff - go get some (Mulholland Drive Original Soundtrack)
Tarkan - uzak (Karma)
Moby - porcelain (The Beach Original Soundtrack)
Lacuna Coil - heir of a dying day (Unleashed Memories)


--Sapnish--

Beatallica - ... and justice for all my loving (A Garage Dayz Nite)
Candan Erçetin - yaşıyorum (Melek)
Celtic Frost - procreation[of the wicked] (Morbid Tales)
Helstar - evil reign (Remnants of War)
Marvin Gaye - got to give it up (Charlie's Angels OST)
The Beatles - paperback writer (1)
Therion - asphyxiate with fear (Of Darkness...)
Virgin Steele - narcissus (The House of Atreus, Act I)
Tori Amos - precious things (Tales of a Librarian)
Dispatched - intro (Motherwar)
Đogani - dok ja ljubim (Dok Ja Ljubim)
Sarah McLachlan - fumbling towards ecstasy (Mirrorball)
Hector Lavoe - ah-ah/o-no (Willie Colón y sus amigos)

again 13 tracks, and again my Turbo-folk folder, I think Today wants to tell me something :). Tori Amos and Đogani were nice, interesting song from Tori Amos really.


Sacrifi-Sir

Battle Metal, Opera Metal & Emocore

Ich bin mal wieder komplett aufgewühlt nachdem ich den Metalhammer von November durchgelesen habe. Auf einen der letzten Seiten der Reviews erblickte ich das Genre "Battle Metal" und nach Lesen der Review musste ich den Metalhammer kurz weglegen um mich wieder zu fangen.
Es gibt Zeiten da bin ich schon sehr verwundert welche "Genre-Bezeichnungen" so das Licht der Welt erblicken, und ich bezweifel, dass die Bands selbst wissen welchen Kategorien des Metal sie so zugeschrieben werden. Ich hab hier absolut nichts gegen die Musik der Bands diverser Genres. Mir geht es in diesem Artikel eher um die teilweise irrsinnige Kategorisierung von Musik, die einem manchmal zu dem Schluß kommen lässt, dass es mit jeder Abweichung zu den etablierten Genres im Metal sofort jemanden gibt der dieser Musik einen neuen Namen geben muss oder noch schlimmer, einen neuen Namen erfindet um der Musik was Speziells zu verleihen. Sicher lässt sich streiten welche Genre jetzt die sogenannten Etablierten sind und eine Kategorisierung ist auch notwendig um gewisse Stilrichtungen abzugrenzen, denn man hört ja nicht nur Metal ... oder doch ? Nein, es ist schon gut die Musik in Stilrichtungen zu unterteilen, aber man sollte es nicht übertreiben wie man am Titel des Artikels sieht.


Sacrifi-Sir

P.S.: ich hoffe Sapnish verzeiht mir den "Rant" als Folgepost auf ihren tollen ABBA post :)

ABBA GODS OF POP

ABBA may be the best pop group ever, and they are certainly among my favourite artists of all time. And especially in a cold and grey season like this, where I may feel a bit down and uncomfortable, I turn to them and they make me alright again.

I spent a big part of this weekend listening to all ABBA studio albums and watching the Definitive Collection DVD, and it's not only time to worship their genius, but also time to - as usual - make lists.



The 10 best well known ABBA songs:

1. summer night city
An epiphany of disco, pop and atmosphere - 3:35 minutes of sheer perfection.

2. dancing queen
The smooth disco beat cannot be done better, and even considering how marvelous Frida and Agnethas voices sound together on every single ABBA song, here the term "angel voices" is still an understatement.

3. s.o.s.
Amazingly composed hit. The piano intro, the addictive lyrics and the strong guitars in the chorus - straight from pop paradise into the homes of people all around the planet.

4. gimme! gimme! gimme! (a man after midnight)
A dramatic intro takes us to a disco song produced so perfectly, that even the Goddess Madonna has sampled this track. Just put the song on and let it take you: each and every time you'll see how wonderful and stunning the vocals work their way into our hearts, and how the beats work their way to your body. And you cannot hold still.

5. knowing me, knowing you
We should not forget that unlike other pop artists, also the lyrics almost never failed in any ABBA song, this maybe being a prime example. Incredibly powerful, filled with beautiful melodies and guitars that have just the right sound and carry the song from chorus to verse without taking it over. And yes, it features pop's most famous "ahaaaaa".

6. money, money, money
Frida's darker toned vocals fits this tune so perfectly that it takes many many spins until you can actually pay attention to anything else than her voice. When you finally can, you'll hear Benny's piano taking the lead, and especially the precious bass guitar that has (like on so many other ABBA tracks) a warm and groovy seventies sound that you will get hooked on.

7. fernando
Yes, you might want to label it cheesy at first (yes, you hear pipes even..). But this is exactly what a ballad should be: powerful, sensitive and featuring a stupendous and majestic chorus. Once heard, forever loved. It just sticks, but in the best possible way.

8. lay all your love on me
A swift pop sensation, strong beats and fantastic synthie experiments. Fantastic production (an attribute that simply has to be applied to all of ABBA's later works).

9. take a chance on me
The first ABBA song I have ever (consciously) heard, fantastic and creative with Benny and Björn providing the famous background vocals. A tremendous hit.

10. waterloo
The perfect pop/rock song: propulsive, young and ready to conquer the world.


The 10 best lesser known ABBA songs:

1. eagle
Incredibly atmospheric and a bit unusual for Sweden's finest - a manifesto of ABBA, the artists (not "just" the pop group).

2. watch out
ABBA's Heavy Metal song. Sharp guitars, bumping bass and driving female vocals: you know what to do!

3. tiger
Very strong and vibrating tune with a chorus so great that Gods must have written it. And Gods did: Benny and Björn.

4. disillusion
Early ABBA ballad, melancholic and utterly perfect.

5. why did it have to be me
ABBA boogie and a back-and-forth duet between Björn and Frida. Maybe I don't really know why I like this so much, it has sax interludes, is moderate and this boogie piano. But especially the melody after the chorus makes me wanna bounce through my room until I'm out of breath.

6. the visitors
Their last album's title track is an atmospheric masterpiece and so untypical for ABBA that it really makes you see the whole spectrum of their genius. Fantastic how they have arrived in the 80ies on this album, the sounds still sound fresh and addictive as if we had 1981 and would just begin to wear mullets and shoulder pads.

7. hey, hey helen
Rock guitars, vocals to die for, a thick bass and melodies taken right out of space: it's so easy to write a hit. Why can't other bands do it?

8. get on the carousel (live)
This song was never released on CD, but is featured in ABBA: The movie. It's speed speed speed, it's spinning, it's acceleration until you drop or leave the earth's orbit. Must have been amazing to hear this live in concert...

9. that's me
Notable lyrics wrapped in a fantastic bounce - upbeat and straight forward, with angel choirs on top of it.

10. hole in your soul
Built on the fragments of the unreleased 'get on the carousel', this was the intro to ABBA: The Movie and therefore the intro to my progressed ABBA worship. Driven and cool, with great guitars and extraordinary vocal additions.


--Sapnish--

Bob Dylan - blowin' in the wind (The Best of Bob Dylan)
Crematory - tears of time [german version] (Remind)
Rock Goddess - my angel (Rock Goddess)
Thin Lizzy - still in love with you (BBC Broadcasts 1972-1977 )
Jana - koje li su boje njene oèi
Daemonlord - the voice (Of War and Hate)
Hole - petals (Celebrity Skin)
Hypocrisy - sodomized (Into the Abyss)
Nine Inch Nails - the wretched (The Fragile)
Britney Spears - get back (Blackout)
David Hasselhoff - hot shot city (You are Everything)
Stine Nordenstam - little star (Romeo + Juliet OST)
Pulp - like a friend (Great Expectations OST)
Anathema - sentient (Eternity)

Today sessions early in the morning are nice, can have a coffee, waking up slowly ... well Black Metal might not be the best as a possible first song, its up to Today whats in the playlist though . The song from Jana misses the album info as its taken, as you might already guess, from my Turbofolk folder. No worries, Ill get that info :)

Sacrifi-Sir

Beatallica - leper madonna (Beatallica)
Enthroned - premature satanicremation (Armoured Bestial Hall)
Kreator - system decay (Violent Revolution)
Marvin Gaye - stop look listen (Marvin Gaye and Friends)
Earl Grant - house of bamboo (Mojo Club Dancefloor Jazz Vol. 10)
Tori Amos - silent all these years (Tales of a Librarian)
Norther - nothing (Death Unlimited)
Kiske - kids of the century (Past in different ways)
Lenny Kravitz - fly away (5)
Xandria - black flame (Ravenheart)
Aca Lukas - hiljadu puta (Lešće)
Cat Power - the greatest (The Greatest)
Jamiroquai - feels just like it should (High Times: Singles 1992-1996)

only 13 this morning as my "Turbofolk" folder is still a bit messy and Today picked a "Track" song, sorry :)

Sacrifi-Sir

Sapnish 2008

Following the example of my miraculous Sacrifi-sir.


Enemy Ships
theme song
The Emergency

This is the song mentioned here, and obviously the finally successful quest for this mysterious rock tune has resulted in my playing it over and over and over again. Great guitars and singer who audibly means what he's saying. The few seconds I heard back then promised a great, vibrant and heavy rock song, and these promises were certainly fulfilled. Unfortunately, Enemy Ships seem to have disappeared since then, which is a shame, not only considering this hit song, but also the rest of their "The Emergency" album. An old love finally won over.

Madonna
candy shop
give it 2 me
Hard Candy

These two tracks share the 2nd place in my top song list of 2008. In my initial review of Madonna's latest I have predicted that it will become a record to love, and it has indeed. Especially thinking about hearing the songs live in September 2008, they have become even more intense and important. These two tunes however didn't need more than one spin to tickle the brainwaves, they sparked an immediate love. 'hard candy' is incredibly cool and memorable - the beats, the sounds, and even the cheeky lyrics just go together so very well here. 'give it 2 me' is generally speaking even more, it has evolved to Madonna's concert "outro", extended the addictive beats until they were in everyone's blood and soul. Fantastic tune, the chorus did seem a bit too simple at first, but looking at what this song is and should be one can easily see that this is exactly how it was meant to be.

Paola & Chiara
tu sei il futuro
secret
vanity & pride
Win the Game

These 3 songs share the 3rd place, and my feelings were expressed in my fan-crazed jumping-up-and-down review that I wrote the first day I listened to the album. With a little distance now, I'm glad to see that the album kept its promises. It still sounds as fresh as on that first day to me, and the three songs I listened to most are prime examples of the contemporary Paola & Chiara. The dance revelation 'tu sei il futuro' not only combines futuristic electronica with amazing melody lines, it also proves that using the Italian language, the Milano sisters are that tiny bit better than in English. 'secret' is an incredibly cool upbeat dance track, smooth and genius, and as always sung so amazingly great that you have to fall down to your knees to worship. 'vanity & pride' features marvellous 80ies synthies, the electronica here are so cool and present, yet not overdone so that the song loses focus. Perfect production, and obviously - melodies.

Auf der Maur
taste you

Auf der Maur

It will never be possible to understand why Melissa Auf der Maur has made only this one album so far. Her selftitled debut is the perfect mix of straight rock tunes, alternatively structured obliqueness and just a bit of dirt. 'taste you' is a steady rocker with an impressive soft/loud buildup, great sexy lyrics and a perfectly balanced production. Various reasons have made me listen to that song so many times in the last year - and all of them were damn good reasons.






The Disco Boys
fly so high
Kontor - House of House Vol. 4

One of my favourites from the absolutely brilliant House of House Vol. 4. This track is so irresistible that I don't know where to begin. Amazing sounds that serve the purpose of the song and are not just there to play around with ProTools. A fabulous singer and lyrics that make you want to go outside, to tell your secret love how you feel, to make you wanna have summer. Excellent beats and female vocals - an obvious hit.

Mattafix
to & fro
Signs of a Struggle

Mattafix' fourth single off this album didn't receive the attention it would have deserved, but then again we might be able to pin this down to the fact that this is not a typical "pop" single. (Plus, I read that it was a "download single" only). The beats are - and I know I say this a lot, but in this case it really really applies - fantastic and magnetic, there is no way you cannot move when this tune starts. I really mean it - try it. You will at least move your head to the fine beat. The vocals are excellent and you cannot escape the heartfelt lyrics. Also, ex-Sugababe Siobhán Donaghy is doing backing vocals here. The nicely produced strings work well with the beats, and for me it was enough hearing this track one time on TV to know that it will be everlasting love. I just hope the goddamn lyrics never come true.


--Sapnish--