Pretty much everybody gets addicted to songs, it's the way it is. I am not exempt from this. I think it's an interesting distinction to make between a song that gets stuck in your head, and one that you listen to all the time. I propose that there is a difference, although there can be some crossover.
I'll elaborate. So on the one hand a song can get stuck in your head. This can be because you recently heard it, and it's catchy or maybe you just remembered it. The thing with this is, the song might stay in your head even if you don't listen to it, and you don't have to like the song for it to stay there. In my experience it's often the songs I hate that stay on replay in my head the longest. On the other hand you can have a song that you like so much that you feel that you want to play it again and again, so it stays in your head, but the difference is you want to play it again and again. So it seems that the latter is the more positive one. All this is probably pretty obvious, but I thought I'd have a ramble about my musings before I start listing tracks that I've been addicted to in the past, after all, this is a malfunctioning guide to the world of music. I did warn you, it says so in the title.
So, songs I've been addicted to. This probably won't be in chronological order, but I'll list try and put the most recent songs last.
Rip Out The Wings Of A Butterfly- H.I.M
I listened to this a lot, and I mean a lot. I can't listen to it any more, in fact there are a fair few of this band's songs that I either can't listen to at all, or have to limit the amount of plays, simply because they got overplayed. One day I'll be able to listen to all of their songs again. I can still listen to their latest album yet, that hasn't been overplayed yet. I reckon in about a year's time I'll be able to listen to this track again. I recommend you listen to it though, it has one of the most iconic and memorable guitar lines I have ever heard. On playing the song it will be immediately apparent why I became addicted to it.
Fear Of The Dark, The Clansman, Aces High, Powerslave, and many more- Iron Maiden
I have been addicted to many Iron Maiden songs over the time I've been listening to them, I won't go into detail but I thought I'd list a few of the songs I've been addicted to.
Within A Mile Of Home- Flogging Molly
This is a great song, and the great thing is I'm not sick of it. I'm not sure I ever will be. Sure I don't listen to it as much as I used to, but I still love it. I imagine it's great live, and it sounds it from the live recordings I've listen to. I have yet to see this band, as they haven't been to the UK in a while. When they next play in the UK I will try very hard to get to see them. They are at present (and have been for a while) my second favourite band.
I Hear The Bells- Mike Doughty
This is probably the most recent song addiction of mine. When I first heard it I didn't know the song title or artist, so I looked up some of the lyrics I remembered and found out what it was. Since then I've listened to it a lot. It's a great track, I particularly like the chorus, although there is one bit of the song which occurs twice or so in the the whole track that I wasn't keen on. Although now I'm beginning to warm to it. But as a whole track it is very good. Check it out, but be warned, it's addictive.
So there you have it, a few of the songs I've been addicted to. I didn't list them all, because that would have taken ages and I would have inevitably forgotten a fair few. Why not comment and tell me a few of the songs you've been addicted to. If you have read this, or any of my other entries, you have my thanks, and my apologies.
Thanks,
big_friendly_letters.
Showing posts with label Flogging Molly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flogging Molly. Show all posts
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Tuesday, 29 December 2009
Where to Start?
Where do I start? The world of music is complicated and utterly massive, so it would be crazy for me to start at the beginning, although I do like the idea of cavemen banging on rocks with other rocks to some sort of rhythm. The rock would certainly have been all the rage as a musical instrument back then. To be honest I can't think they would be able to experiment with many different genres.
Anyway, back to the present day. I think in this first proper post I'll just talk about my music taste a little. I invite you to comment with your own favourite bands and criticise mine as you see fit. Ok, my top five bands, um... You see the problem with this is that after my utter favourite band the order becomes a little hazy. The fact that I have an extremely varied music taste doesn't help, in fact it makes it a lot more difficult because I would like to give a balanced view of my music taste as well as just listing bands that I like. Well I'll try, no promises but here goes:
1. Iron Maiden
A few years ago I bought my first Iron Maiden album, Dance of Death. I had first heard their music a couple of years before that but at the time I hadn't given it much thought. So I purchased my first Iron Maiden album in a second hand shop in the town closest to where I live. The shop was one of those that sold second hand CDs, DVDs, and books, but also sold new musical instruments and various hippy paraphernalia. So, on to the album itself. At the time I didn't know much about the band, other than the fact that they were famous. The album art drew me in, I love the image of the hooded figure beckoning. I listened to the album in the car on the way back. My reaction was that the music was good, but I still did not merit it as anything more than Ok. It was the beginning of this year, or thereabouts that I began to listen to them once more. This time their music really grabbed me, and I began to put that album on a nearly constant loop when I listened to music whilst travelling. I think it was soon after this that I went out and purchased my second Iron Maiden album, again going by which artwork I liked most and what I could afford. This time I bought A Matter of Life and Death, I remember loving the image of the skeletal soldiers on the dark battlefield. Incidentally now the same image occupies a portion of my bedroom wall. Anyway this album went on to share the intensive listening that I was putting Dance of Death through. This album I liked very much, my favourite track being Brighter than a Thousand Suns. I then heard about the release of the film Iron Maiden: Flight 666. I was very enthusiastic about going to see this and so I did. At this point Iron Maiden were probably up near the top of my favourite bands but their exact position wasn't clear. The film changed that, I came out and whilst waiting for my lift home I came to the realisation that Iron Maiden were my favourite band. This has stuck over the year, and I suspect Iron Maiden will be my favourite band for years to come.
2. Flogging Molly
This is another band I discovered this year, I think I first heard them in May. I was recommended them by a friend. At first listen I smiled and chuckled. I don't believe this was because I thought their music was humorous as such, but because the concept of the type of music they play is so unusual but works so well. I love they way that they combine Traditional Irish Folk with the raw power of Punk Rock. After a few songs though I began to realise that as well as the concept of the band's music working, the standard of the music they played was phenomenal, their musicians are of a very high level of talent. I particularly like the prominent violin parts on their songs. I have found the music this band plays to be a helpful remedy for sadness and anger, their music just makes me smile. Over the last year they have worked their way into my list of my favourite bands, they are one of the bands I want to see live the most, second only to Iron Maiden.
As I have said before from hereon in this list becomes a little uncertain. The list that follows may not be in order, and may not be exactly correct as I will probably forget a band or two. Into uncharted waters we plunge.
3. Alestorm
This band I recently heard, and when I first listened to this band, I probably did laugh. This band's genre is Pirate Metal, an entirely ridiculous concept, but a very entertaining one. Every lyric of every song is some thing pirate-related. As time went on I did start to appreciate the band for its musical talent, they are indeed a talented set of musicians. I highly recommend that all people who are sceptical of such a genre of music go and actually listen to some of this band's music. When I first heard about this genre I was indeed astonished, but once I listened to the band I no longer thought that Pirate Metal was such a weird genre. This band are highly entertaining and well deserved of this place in my favourite bands.
4. Muse/Frank Zappa
No Muse/ Frank Zappa is not some crazy hybrid band (undoubtedly it would be good though), no, I just couldn't decide who I liked more, and here's why. Muse I like because I can listen to them when I just want to listen to some basic rock, or when I want to listen to something with good lyrics but is still heavy enough to rock to. Frank Zappa on the other hand is my second favourite guitarist of all time (Hendrix being number 1), and I love the fact that his music is full of raw talent but also much that is experimental and different from anything else. So because they are two very different I find it near impossible to compare them, so I have placed them at an equal level.
5. Foo Fighters/Blur/H.I.M
Again here is evidence of my indecisiveness, I cannot decide what order to put these bands in. Foo Fighters I very much like for their Nirvana-ish tones, and their guitar lines. Blur is a band that I have grown up with, and I had the pleasure of going to see them live in July. Lastly H.I.M. are another band that I really like, their lyrics are very creative and are extremely emotive.
Well there you have it, my five favourite bands. I apologise for the lack of decision in terms of which bands should be there, if you're like me you'll have the same problem.
A few bands that deserve a mention, in no particular order are:
Anyway, that's all. Thanks very much for reading, I applaud you if you managed to sit through reading half of this, I know that it isn't fantastically written. I will aim in future to make my posts more themed and more interesting.
Let me know what you think, and tell me your favourite music if you want.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
big_friendly_letters
Edit 11/06/11: My current top five bands are not reflected in this post. At some point between the above post and now my tastes have changed somewhat. I still like all the above bands, but there have been some drastic changes to the list. I won't detail it all now since I may dedicate a future post to this subject or incorporate it into another. However I will say that apart from the top two, most of the bands mentioned are not in my top 5 anymore. Thanks as always, big_friendly_letters.
Anyway, back to the present day. I think in this first proper post I'll just talk about my music taste a little. I invite you to comment with your own favourite bands and criticise mine as you see fit. Ok, my top five bands, um... You see the problem with this is that after my utter favourite band the order becomes a little hazy. The fact that I have an extremely varied music taste doesn't help, in fact it makes it a lot more difficult because I would like to give a balanced view of my music taste as well as just listing bands that I like. Well I'll try, no promises but here goes:
1. Iron Maiden
A few years ago I bought my first Iron Maiden album, Dance of Death. I had first heard their music a couple of years before that but at the time I hadn't given it much thought. So I purchased my first Iron Maiden album in a second hand shop in the town closest to where I live. The shop was one of those that sold second hand CDs, DVDs, and books, but also sold new musical instruments and various hippy paraphernalia. So, on to the album itself. At the time I didn't know much about the band, other than the fact that they were famous. The album art drew me in, I love the image of the hooded figure beckoning. I listened to the album in the car on the way back. My reaction was that the music was good, but I still did not merit it as anything more than Ok. It was the beginning of this year, or thereabouts that I began to listen to them once more. This time their music really grabbed me, and I began to put that album on a nearly constant loop when I listened to music whilst travelling. I think it was soon after this that I went out and purchased my second Iron Maiden album, again going by which artwork I liked most and what I could afford. This time I bought A Matter of Life and Death, I remember loving the image of the skeletal soldiers on the dark battlefield. Incidentally now the same image occupies a portion of my bedroom wall. Anyway this album went on to share the intensive listening that I was putting Dance of Death through. This album I liked very much, my favourite track being Brighter than a Thousand Suns. I then heard about the release of the film Iron Maiden: Flight 666. I was very enthusiastic about going to see this and so I did. At this point Iron Maiden were probably up near the top of my favourite bands but their exact position wasn't clear. The film changed that, I came out and whilst waiting for my lift home I came to the realisation that Iron Maiden were my favourite band. This has stuck over the year, and I suspect Iron Maiden will be my favourite band for years to come.
2. Flogging Molly
This is another band I discovered this year, I think I first heard them in May. I was recommended them by a friend. At first listen I smiled and chuckled. I don't believe this was because I thought their music was humorous as such, but because the concept of the type of music they play is so unusual but works so well. I love they way that they combine Traditional Irish Folk with the raw power of Punk Rock. After a few songs though I began to realise that as well as the concept of the band's music working, the standard of the music they played was phenomenal, their musicians are of a very high level of talent. I particularly like the prominent violin parts on their songs. I have found the music this band plays to be a helpful remedy for sadness and anger, their music just makes me smile. Over the last year they have worked their way into my list of my favourite bands, they are one of the bands I want to see live the most, second only to Iron Maiden.
As I have said before from hereon in this list becomes a little uncertain. The list that follows may not be in order, and may not be exactly correct as I will probably forget a band or two. Into uncharted waters we plunge.
3. Alestorm
This band I recently heard, and when I first listened to this band, I probably did laugh. This band's genre is Pirate Metal, an entirely ridiculous concept, but a very entertaining one. Every lyric of every song is some thing pirate-related. As time went on I did start to appreciate the band for its musical talent, they are indeed a talented set of musicians. I highly recommend that all people who are sceptical of such a genre of music go and actually listen to some of this band's music. When I first heard about this genre I was indeed astonished, but once I listened to the band I no longer thought that Pirate Metal was such a weird genre. This band are highly entertaining and well deserved of this place in my favourite bands.
4. Muse/Frank Zappa
No Muse/ Frank Zappa is not some crazy hybrid band (undoubtedly it would be good though), no, I just couldn't decide who I liked more, and here's why. Muse I like because I can listen to them when I just want to listen to some basic rock, or when I want to listen to something with good lyrics but is still heavy enough to rock to. Frank Zappa on the other hand is my second favourite guitarist of all time (Hendrix being number 1), and I love the fact that his music is full of raw talent but also much that is experimental and different from anything else. So because they are two very different I find it near impossible to compare them, so I have placed them at an equal level.
5. Foo Fighters/Blur/H.I.M
Again here is evidence of my indecisiveness, I cannot decide what order to put these bands in. Foo Fighters I very much like for their Nirvana-ish tones, and their guitar lines. Blur is a band that I have grown up with, and I had the pleasure of going to see them live in July. Lastly H.I.M. are another band that I really like, their lyrics are very creative and are extremely emotive.
Well there you have it, my five favourite bands. I apologise for the lack of decision in terms of which bands should be there, if you're like me you'll have the same problem.
A few bands that deserve a mention, in no particular order are:
- Nirvana
- Led Zeppelin
- Slayer
- Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. (This was nearly in the top five, in fact it would be but it was too hard to place)
- Them Crooked Vultures
- Fleetwood Mac
- Captain Beefheart
Anyway, that's all. Thanks very much for reading, I applaud you if you managed to sit through reading half of this, I know that it isn't fantastically written. I will aim in future to make my posts more themed and more interesting.
Let me know what you think, and tell me your favourite music if you want.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks,
big_friendly_letters
Edit 11/06/11: My current top five bands are not reflected in this post. At some point between the above post and now my tastes have changed somewhat. I still like all the above bands, but there have been some drastic changes to the list. I won't detail it all now since I may dedicate a future post to this subject or incorporate it into another. However I will say that apart from the top two, most of the bands mentioned are not in my top 5 anymore. Thanks as always, big_friendly_letters.
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