crankyoldman (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
crankyoldman) wrote2008-04-28 09:23 pm
crankyoldman) wrote2008-04-28 09:23 pm
Entry tags:
Monthly Music Post: May
Alright, so I've wanted to start doing these, because I like music a lot. And since I discovered muxtape which lets me up stuff for streaming, I like this very much. The interface is spare and nice and you may want to make sure that your headphones/speakers are down at first because I'm not sure how loud it'll be and it doesn't have volume control. Also, since I can't seem to be doing anything productive at all either, I figured I'd write up stuff to go with it. I'd like to for every month, but you never know.
So this month's theme, since it's May (well, in a few days) and I like playing with the idea of May/December is lost along the way: angst for those with some years under their belts. Yes, I like irony.
1. Robbie Williams - Road to Mandalay
My theme song for all the old people I like to write about, certain onesVeld more than most. The type of story I could never get tired of writing about; imperfect, occasionally sorrowful, but ultimately pretty balanced and most of all accepting. My favorite part of this song is how the melody is in direct contrast to the lyrics a lot of the time. And I have to admit for the tenorish guys all over the place in music these days, I have always loved Robbie's voice.
2. David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
So, I've been slowly collecting everything David Bowie's ever done, because he is my favorite music artist of all time, hands down. I love how freaking diverse he is, and this song just sort of underlines everything I like about him; the range of vocals, the experimental instrumentation, and the lyrics. It's got a young/old appeal that really... I just love. And if you don't catch the cleverness of the title (which is also the title of the album) then say it aloud. It'll especially make sense when you get to the chorus. This is him coming off his Ziggy Stardust alter ego, so if you know a little about the artist, this song (and album) is particularly meaningful.
3. Liquid Laughter Lounge Quartet - Perfect World
Um, I love this band. Loungey old rock with weird accents always makes me <3 all over the place. It's quirky, dark, and a little evil sounding. Like something an old Vegas card sharp would have for intro music in a movie. The use of "perfect world" is really really ironic as both a title and a punch phrase in this song. I just love how atmospheric it is.
4. dc Talk - Hardway (Remix)
So for a period of about three months, I was only allowed to listen to Christian music. I won't go into details, but in order to not go insane (because unfortunately, some of it gets quite repetitive) I had to find ones I liked. And dc Talk has a certain, well, comforting effect on me. The thing I like about this song in particular is not the penance aspects, but the whole general feel that yeah, you screw up, but you can find help, through one means or another. It's very mellow, not very in your face, and calming.
5. Lunascape - Tears From The Moon
I'm kind of in love with very dramatically symphonic music, if you haven't noticed through knowing me. While "Road to Mandalay" has a certain masculine regretfulness, this has a more feminine feel (not just because it's sung by a woman). This song isn't regretful, it's tragic. Which is another thing I like, and tend to gravitate towards writing-wiseI'm looking at you Edea and Ifalna. I cannot get over how haunting this woman's voice is either. Just gorgeous, really.
6. Over The Rhine - Ohio
This feels like home, to me. I'm from Indiana, but I spent a summer living by myself in Ohio, and certain places really leave an impression. Probably something only people that live in rural/small town areas would understand. A certain type of relaxed solitude, a comfortable exile. I also love gospelish blues a lot, because it's just so... it's a legacy, really. I am also easily disarmed by a good piano player and I would love to catch these kids live sometime, because I would probably have a huge crush on the pianist.
7. Rasputina - Wish You Were Here
Alright, this is where I admit I don't actually like Pink Floyd much. I love their lyrics, but there's... I am ambivalent. This cover, however, is everything I like about this song and nothing I don't. A little harder than the original, and the woman's voice is interesting. There is a level of dissonance that really just appeals to me; any group that can use dissonance properly wins at life. It's tense. This is what a good cover should be.
8. Billie Holiday - Tenderly
I discovered this wonderful lady when I was in eighth grade, during English class, because my teacher was trying to set a mood. Billie's always had such a desperate sounding voice to me, and I kind of love that. She's why I love good jazz singers--it gets under your skin. And finding such a clean recording is hard, too. I'd hate to think how many jazz singer voices have been lost over the years.
9. Coldplay - Amsterdam
Say what you will, but I've always loved these guys. The song "Clocks" is what made me buy this CD, but it was this song, snuck in at the end that proved to make it a good purchase. This is a catharsis song, which has its bitter moments, but overall just leaves me feeling clean. One of the things I've always liked about Coldplay was the hard/soft thing that they do with their best songs, and the almost androgynous nature of the lead singer's tone. If you haven't been overexposed (which is a shame, if you have) give this one a listen. It's quite a lovely song.
10. Bear McCreary - Roslin and Adama
My favorite song of the year, no contest. Since I only listened to classical until about the age of twelve, I have a love affair with good string arrangements. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer (song I just stick it on repeat a lot). It feels like outer space, it feels like floating, it feels like being lost and found. It even does a damn good job of being musically attuned to the characters its named after. Not quite a love song, but almost in some parts. Comparable to "Lara's Theme" from Doctor Zhivago in impact (and if you've never heard of that movie, or song, go look it up! IT IS AWESOME).
11. Aimee Mann - Save Me
Another thing I have an almost fatal attraction towards is sociopaths. In real life, this sucks, but musically/fictionally it's alright, I think. I personally find this song really sweet, in a crazy people giving each other real hearts for Valentine's Day kind of way. The beat is also really catchy.
12. Mika - Any Other World
This kid is one of my new loves, as he sounds like Freddie Mercury on crack, really. Most of his music is bouncy, but I really like this slow one. Also contains really awesome chorus/big instrumental bits in contrast to very spare bits, which is a favorite musical device of mine. Another very lovely accepting song that I figured would be a great way to end this mix out. Proof that my little sister has taste in music (even if she doesn't like the goth music I am sometimes found listening to, oh well).
So this month's theme, since it's May (well, in a few days) and I like playing with the idea of May/December is lost along the way: angst for those with some years under their belts. Yes, I like irony.
1. Robbie Williams - Road to Mandalay
My theme song for all the old people I like to write about, certain ones
2. David Bowie - Aladdin Sane
So, I've been slowly collecting everything David Bowie's ever done, because he is my favorite music artist of all time, hands down. I love how freaking diverse he is, and this song just sort of underlines everything I like about him; the range of vocals, the experimental instrumentation, and the lyrics. It's got a young/old appeal that really... I just love. And if you don't catch the cleverness of the title (which is also the title of the album) then say it aloud. It'll especially make sense when you get to the chorus. This is him coming off his Ziggy Stardust alter ego, so if you know a little about the artist, this song (and album) is particularly meaningful.
3. Liquid Laughter Lounge Quartet - Perfect World
Um, I love this band. Loungey old rock with weird accents always makes me <3 all over the place. It's quirky, dark, and a little evil sounding. Like something an old Vegas card sharp would have for intro music in a movie. The use of "perfect world" is really really ironic as both a title and a punch phrase in this song. I just love how atmospheric it is.
4. dc Talk - Hardway (Remix)
So for a period of about three months, I was only allowed to listen to Christian music. I won't go into details, but in order to not go insane (because unfortunately, some of it gets quite repetitive) I had to find ones I liked. And dc Talk has a certain, well, comforting effect on me. The thing I like about this song in particular is not the penance aspects, but the whole general feel that yeah, you screw up, but you can find help, through one means or another. It's very mellow, not very in your face, and calming.
5. Lunascape - Tears From The Moon
I'm kind of in love with very dramatically symphonic music, if you haven't noticed through knowing me. While "Road to Mandalay" has a certain masculine regretfulness, this has a more feminine feel (not just because it's sung by a woman). This song isn't regretful, it's tragic. Which is another thing I like, and tend to gravitate towards writing-wise
6. Over The Rhine - Ohio
This feels like home, to me. I'm from Indiana, but I spent a summer living by myself in Ohio, and certain places really leave an impression. Probably something only people that live in rural/small town areas would understand. A certain type of relaxed solitude, a comfortable exile. I also love gospelish blues a lot, because it's just so... it's a legacy, really. I am also easily disarmed by a good piano player and I would love to catch these kids live sometime, because I would probably have a huge crush on the pianist.
7. Rasputina - Wish You Were Here
Alright, this is where I admit I don't actually like Pink Floyd much. I love their lyrics, but there's... I am ambivalent. This cover, however, is everything I like about this song and nothing I don't. A little harder than the original, and the woman's voice is interesting. There is a level of dissonance that really just appeals to me; any group that can use dissonance properly wins at life. It's tense. This is what a good cover should be.
8. Billie Holiday - Tenderly
I discovered this wonderful lady when I was in eighth grade, during English class, because my teacher was trying to set a mood. Billie's always had such a desperate sounding voice to me, and I kind of love that. She's why I love good jazz singers--it gets under your skin. And finding such a clean recording is hard, too. I'd hate to think how many jazz singer voices have been lost over the years.
9. Coldplay - Amsterdam
Say what you will, but I've always loved these guys. The song "Clocks" is what made me buy this CD, but it was this song, snuck in at the end that proved to make it a good purchase. This is a catharsis song, which has its bitter moments, but overall just leaves me feeling clean. One of the things I've always liked about Coldplay was the hard/soft thing that they do with their best songs, and the almost androgynous nature of the lead singer's tone. If you haven't been overexposed (which is a shame, if you have) give this one a listen. It's quite a lovely song.
10. Bear McCreary - Roslin and Adama
My favorite song of the year, no contest. Since I only listened to classical until about the age of twelve, I have a love affair with good string arrangements. My only complaint is that I wish it were longer (song I just stick it on repeat a lot). It feels like outer space, it feels like floating, it feels like being lost and found. It even does a damn good job of being musically attuned to the characters its named after. Not quite a love song, but almost in some parts. Comparable to "Lara's Theme" from Doctor Zhivago in impact (and if you've never heard of that movie, or song, go look it up! IT IS AWESOME).
11. Aimee Mann - Save Me
Another thing I have an almost fatal attraction towards is sociopaths. In real life, this sucks, but musically/fictionally it's alright, I think. I personally find this song really sweet, in a crazy people giving each other real hearts for Valentine's Day kind of way. The beat is also really catchy.
12. Mika - Any Other World
This kid is one of my new loves, as he sounds like Freddie Mercury on crack, really. Most of his music is bouncy, but I really like this slow one. Also contains really awesome chorus/big instrumental bits in contrast to very spare bits, which is a favorite musical device of mine. Another very lovely accepting song that I figured would be a great way to end this mix out. Proof that my little sister has taste in music (even if she doesn't like the goth music I am sometimes found listening to, oh well).
no subject
no subject
Also, Lunascape lady does have an awesome voice.
no subject
~Cendri
no subject
Also, I think this my be my favorite of the mixes you've put together.