Today is an old school '80s metal day--
Guns N Roses
Metallica
AC/DC
Megadeth
and little bit of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band thrown in just to mix things up...
M@
Music is a gift in all forms. Don't waste it by limiting yourself.Agreed. As the back of my iPod says "Without music, life is a journey through a desert."
"Without music and gaming, life is a journey through a desert on a camel with fleas." -- Ancient Persian proverb
"May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your genitals!" my mother's favorite curse, along with
"May you get a flat tire, on the inside of your dualie in the middle of a Texas thunderstorm!" (usually said at drivers who pass you at mach .999 in heavy traffic)
"May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your genitals!"
Scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch, scratch.....::shudder::
Today, my rotation of life accompanying music was primarily:
Big Country's Greatest Hits (it ain't what you might think)
Rush (R30)
Bap (X fuer 'E U)
Scorpions (Tokyo Tapes)
The Cranberries (Everyone else is doing it, why can't we?)
Big Country's Greatest Hits (it ain't what you might think)
Like a lover's voice fires the mountainside...
stay alive!Good stuff!
Today it was some borrowed stuff/
'To our children's children's children' by the Moody Blues
and
a couple of mix cds
one with Madsen 'Die Perfektion'/Kaiser Chiefs 'I predict a riot'/Datsuns 'M F from hell'/Rage Against the Machine 'Calm like a bomb' and 'guerilla radio'/Buckcherry 'all lit up'/Low Fidelity All Stars 'Battle Flag' and some other stuff
and then a 'techno' cd with Paul Oakenfold/Daft Punk/Quarashi/Cardigan's 'Losing my favorite game'/and just some stuff like Happy 2b hardcore/DJ alligator/E Type/ and some other stuff which ended with that great Berlin song 'Sex (Im a slut)'
Dungeons and Dragons fans worldwide must listen to the metal band 3 Inches of Blood. Album title: Advance and Vanquish, complete with cover art painting of axe-wielding barbarian hordes. 3 songs about pirates, one about an evil super computer called "Wykydtron" (how metal is that?), and a song called "Destroy the Orcs". My favorite lyric: "Enemies of Metal, YOUR DEATH IS OUR REWARD!!"
Beyond that:
The Decemberists- Picaresque
The Bled- Found In the Flood
Ed Gein- It's A Shame That A Family Can Be Torn Apart By Something As Simple As A Pack of Wolves
Curl Up And Die- Unfortunately We're Not Robots
The Arcade Fire - Funeral
Neutral Milk Hotel- The Aeroplane Over the Sea
The Pixies- Surfer Rosa
Andrew Bird- The Mysterious Production of Eggs
Lots of others, but that's a pretty good overview.
"The PRICE! Payed in BLOOD! THE PRICE! PAAAYYEEDD IIN BLLOOODD!! JUST PRAY THAT THE BLOOD IS NOT YOURS!!"-- 3 Inches of Blood
Okay some albums I've been listening to recently:
Metric - Live it Out
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Rush - R30, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves
Interpol - Antics, Turn on the Bright Lights
Death from Above 1979 - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
The Futureheads - The Futureheads
Cardigan's 'Losing my favorite game'
Which makes me want to ask the question: Has anyone heard The Cardigans latest album 'Long Gone Before Daylight'? It may be one of the most heart-acheingly beautiful records ever. Really. Screw that (fun) 'Love Fool' stuff... this is a sensual album with a heavy country/folk lean to it. It still maintains the bounce of a good pop song in lots of parts, but damn... when you hear lyrics like "If there is a chance, just one in this world/ That we'll ever dance..." or "If this is communication/I disconnect" your heart wants to break... It sounds like Nina's been through the ringer. But somehow that sounds beautiful.
Can't wait for the new one! (Edit to add, looks like I don't have to. Came out in February. Need to hit me a record store this weekend...)
Okay some albums I've been listening to recently:
Metric - Live it Out
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Rush - R30, Hemispheres, Permanent Waves
Interpol - Antics, Turn on the Bright Lights
Death from Above 1979 - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
The Futureheads - The Futureheads
"On my ship, the 'Rocinante'
Wheeling through the galaxies,Headed for the heart of Cygnus
Headlong into mystery"
Nice to know that I'm not the only one whose Avatar name was inspired by a Rush song!!
Iced earth the blessed and the damned
its good mood music for reading the AOW
Corvus Corax - 3 percussionists, 5 bagpipers playing medieval music with the intensity of Metallica!
Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bullocks
Eisbrecher
Zeke - Dirty Sanchez
I used to play Blue Oyster Cult's "Fire of Unknown Origin" during gaming sessions. Excellent album.
"On my ship, the 'Rocinante'
Wheeling through the galaxies,
Headed for the heart of Cygnus
Headlong into mystery"Nice to know that I'm not the only one whose Avatar name was inspired by a Rush song!!
Cygnus X-1 has got to be one of my all-time favourite Rush songs. It's definitely one of their most raw and atmospheric tunes. Not necessarily their darkest lyrically (Freeze might take that honour), but sonically it's pretty dark.
You know there was a small chance that my avatar wasn't Rush-related - it could have been inspired by Don Quixote's horse.
[You know there was a small chance that my avatar wasn't Rush-related - it could have been inspired by Don Quixote's horse.
I know, but when I saw that R30 was in your CD collection, I just knew that you were a fellow Rush fan. I can't wait for the next tour, although I usually have to fly to Phoenix or Albuquerque to see them.
I know, but when I saw that R30 was in your CD collection, I just knew that you were a fellow Rush fan. I can't wait for the next tour, although I usually have to fly to Phoenix or Albuquerque to see them.
I didn't get to see them on the R30 tour. The closest they came to me (Dawson City, Yukon) was Seattle, and that was like a day or two after my wedding. Would have been an awesome honeymoon but unfortunately my wife's not a huge fan :) Although oddly enough she was dancing around to Red Sector A the other day (not really a dance song but hey whatever!)
I saw them in Toronto on the Vapor Trails tour though. That was an incredible show. Sounds like there's going to be a new album late this year woohoo!!
I saw them in North Carolina and Phoenix on the Vapor Trails Tour....then my wife and I flew to Phoenix in '04 to see the R30 tour. My wife likes early Rush--she's not fond of the keyboard-heavy '80's, although Roll the Bones is one of her favorite albums.
I can't even count how many times I saw Rush in the 80's and 90's....at least a dozen times counting off-hand. The 1979 Hemispheres tour was so loud and I was so close to the speakers that I had vertigo for like 12 hours afterwards...the sound just knocked my equilibrium off--I think the 15 db hearing loss I have now is due in large to that concert and perhaps when I was front row for Judas Priest and Megadeth in 1990.....
As far as associating music with D&D--there are a few records that will always remind me of the time I first started playing AD&D in 1980--Pat Benatar's early stuff, Dreamboat Annie from Heart, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Steve Miller Band, .38 special, The Police, Bad Company, ZZ Top, Neil Young....I didn't really get into headbanging heavy metal until I saw Ozzy Osbourne with Randy Rhoads in concert in about 1981....
For some unexplained reason, whenever I hear Zebra "Who's behind the door?" I think about the Castle Amber module, which our DM ran us through in about 1982....don't ask me why.....it's one of those memory association things that I can't explain.
Oh....and thank you Neil Young for making a little 9 year old German kid realize that music was not all polka bands or disco.
Today's playlist while cleaning the house-
Eric Clapton- Reptiles
SOD- Speak English or Die
Deli Creeps- live bootleg
Les Claypool's Frog Brigade with Adrian Belew- live bootleg from Columbus
Buckethead- Giant Robot
Ween- The Pod
Beethoven- some compilation CD
Deadweight- Half-wit Anthems
Madness- Madness
Fantomas- Director's Cut
music is the best
Today's playlist while cleaning the house-
Eric Clapton- Reptiles
SOD- Speak English or Die
Deli Creeps- live bootleg
Les Claypool's Frog Brigade with Adrian Belew- live bootleg from Columbus
Buckethead- Giant Robot
Ween- The Pod
Beethoven- some compilation CD
Deadweight- Half-wit Anthems
Madness- Madness
Fantomas- Director's Cutmusic is the best
MAkes me wish I was able to spare the drive north to play in your AoW game. C'est la vie!
Spoon, anyone?
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Today's playlist while cleaning the house-
Eric Clapton- Reptiles
SOD- Speak English or Die
Deli Creeps- live bootleg
Les Claypool's Frog Brigade with Adrian Belew- live bootleg from Columbus
Buckethead- Giant Robot
Ween- The Pod
Beethoven- some compilation CD
Deadweight- Half-wit Anthems
Madness- Madness
Fantomas- Director's Cutmusic is the best
Fantomas is amazing. Director's Cut is one of my favorite CDs of all time.
Right now in my car (my current rotation) is:
Mr. Bungle - Mr. Bungle
Godspeed You Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven
Demon Hunter - The Tryptych
Iron Maiden - Somewhere In Time
Overkill - The Years of Decay
Slipknot - all three CDs
Machine Head - Through the Ashes of Empires
Dillinger Escape Plan - Mrs. Machine
David Bowie - Outside
Sin City Soundtrack
Anthrax - The Greater of Two Evils
Sepultura - Roorback
All kinds of fun stuff to get the blood pumping.
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Iced earth the blessed and the damned
its good mood music for reading the AOW
I played in a campaign in Springfield, MO with Richard Christy, who was the drummer for Iced Earth for a while. He always had a weird fascination with John Davidson, the guy that used to host Hollywood Squares! And no matter how good the beer was that anyone brought over to his place, he would still insist on drinking Keystone Ice. Kinda strange guy, but he was also super cool and always had something funny to say.
This month I have been mostly listening to...
The Smiths
Interpol
Morrisey
Belle and Sabastian
Tori Amos
Echo and the Bunnymen
Placebo
DJ Crush
David Bowie's 1995-2005 best of mix
DJ Shadow
The Ambulance
Timo Maas 'Pictures'
The Shins
Stone Roses
and various vile radio-pap that happens to be on at work.
I live in Dubai so the English radio options are little thin. Though in spite of that I still tend to listen to the radio instead of CDs mostly because I can't be bothered to go buy CDs I like. The English language radio here is interesting because the mix of music is skewed towards British and European taste, and also an expatriate listener that came of age in the 80-90s (like myself). Lots of Robbie Williams for example. The DJs genrally pick pretty good music but the on air personality part of their shows are weak - even weaker than the states - which I would've thought impossible.
In my CD player I have Bowling for Soup (single CD in this car).
Now here's some lyrics to wake up with on a chilly Tuesday:
Pillage the village, trash the scene
But better not take it out on me
'Cause a ghost town is found
Where your city used to be
So out of the darkness and into the light
Sparks fly everywhere in sight
From my double barrel, 12 gauge,
Can't lock me in your cage
You see us comin'
And you all together run for cover
We're takin over this town
Here we come reach for your gun
And you better listen my friend, you see
It's been slow down below,
Aimed at you we're the cowboys from hell
And so I start my day with a smile on my face....
Now here's some lyrics to wake up with on a chilly Tuesday:
...Aimed at you we're the cowboys from hell
And so I start my day with a smile on my face....
So sad that Dimebag was killed here in my home state. Such a waste of talent.
M@
So sad that Dimebag was killed here in my home state. Such a waste of talent.
M@
That concert was definitely the suck. I almost went, but I decided not to because of work issues. Part of me wishes I had gone, but part of me is glad I didn't.
Well, between listening to classical on the radio (I don't bother to change the dial because I hate listening to commercials), I've been weeding through my collection of cassette tapes, accumulated in college and my 20s when CDs were expensive, vinyl wasn't portable enough, and I was interested in exploring other people's collections. I've been in the Ds thru Hs recently--Dylan, Enya, Melissa Etheridge, Roberta Flack, Peter Gabriel, the Dead, Buddy Guy, Emmylou Harris . . . I guess my tastes are a bit more conventional than some--Rush and Zep was about as close as I got to really liking heavy metal, and the Clash about as close as I got to really liking punk. Tonight, though, it's Joe Turner and John Lee Hooker. I'm in a blues kind of mood.
I never listened to Pantera much, but more so after the shooting death. While I wasn't there, obviously and don't know all the details of what happened, I'd like to thank my brother in blue who went in there and did what had to be done while the shooter was trying to take hostages. Courage under fire--going in while most everyone else is running out. Big hats off to all those who tried to rescuscitate the victims while the shithead was still firing shots...now there's courage...doing CPR while you're being shot at.
Well, between listening to classical on the radio...
...Tonight, though, it's Joe Turner and John Lee Hooker. I'm in a blues kind of mood.
I can get behind both of these styles as well, though I have to admit I just graze the surface...mostly led here thru other media. Classical comes from "Ordinary People" and "Exorcist" and "Fantasia"-- Pachobels Canon in D, Tubular Bells, and Night on Bald Mountain / Ave Maria are all amazing. Mussgorsky (spelling?) is inspirational to listen to when writing. Very moody and dark, bwa ha ha ha! The William Tell Overture is great if for nothing else than having cannons in the orchestra. Another influential piece from my childhood is the "Peter and the Wolf" cartoon from Disney.
For blues, I have to follow where Belushi and Ackroyd led me. I know this is a blow to the purists, but you have to admit, those two broadened the audience for blues (for good or ill) more than pretty much anybody else (except the british invasion Zep / Stones / Animals / etc.). Hooker, Calloway, Brown, Sam and Dave, Aretha, and the almighty Ray Charles were introduced to me and manymany others from that movie. Bill Withers and Al Green are another pair that I have enjoyed when in that 'soul' frame of mind.
I'm a fan of BB King myself. My other half is a huge blues fan and has introduced me to many many blues artists - I love him for that.
I'm a fan of BB King myself. My other half is a huge blues fan and has introduced me to many many blues artists - I love him for that.
Ahh... B.B. King. He's awesome. I remember the first time I met him; I was 6 and didn't know who this big black man was, or why he lived on a bus. I also didn't know why he called his guitar after a woman, but she was fun to touch. ;)
I love growing up where I did. I got to meet so many talented Blues and Jazz musicians - I should really thank my dad sometime for that.
Today's playlist includes the following choice slabs of aural goodness:
Marilyn Manson- Golden Age of Grotesque
Liam Lynch- Fake Songs
Miles Davis- Live Evil
various artists- Pure Funk
Sepultura- Roots
Beanpole- demo
Muddy Waters- Electric Mud
Jonh Lennon/Yoko Ono- Double Fantasy
I'm attracted to Jazz but dont know much about the genre; where should I start?
I already have some Herbie Hancock and like that quite a lot but who else should I try?
As for Blues music, Ive heard some Robert Johnson and find it quite captivating awe-inspiring stuff!
I'm attracted to Jazz but dont know much about the genre; where should I start?
I already have some Herbie Hancock and like that quite a lot but who else should I try?
As for Blues music, Ive heard some Robert Johnson and find it quite captivating awe-inspiring stuff!
Jazz, blues, and swing all blur and blend together. In general, swing is the older, 40's & 50's-type stuff, blues is the angst-filled stuff, and jazz is everything else. ;-) Really, though, jazz comes in so many moods and varieties that it's really just a matter of taste. If you sample a jazz album and don't like it do not despair, just try another one. Myself, I like Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Old Blue-eyes. But then, I'm also partial to swing music, so my taste in jazz runs in that direction.
You guys are giving me great ideas on what to check out on Napster. I'm always looking for some new artist to catch my ear. I've got one of those Napster to Go memberships that lets me download unlimited songs to my MP3 player, but if it kicks ass I'm very willing to shell out the buck to own the song and burn it to CD.
Amal Ulric, d13: Thanks for your advice! I'll try those out.
I find when it comes to Jazz and Blues it's the more depressing the better really, lol!
Must be the little Morrisey deep inside my heart! ;)
I came to like the genre through movies like Smoke, Sideways and American Splendor so if theres a bleak overtone to the sound - count me in! It's like I've discovered 'teen-angst' music for miserable grown ups! 'YAY!'
What this about soul selling?
What this about soul selling?
There are legends associated with several famous blues players in which a mysterious figure shows up at a crossroads (or other location, the crossroads is just the archtypal location) and makes the musician a deal - musical prowess (or a magical instrument) for the musician's soul.
Some attribute this to the Carribean/West African traditions of Legba and voodoo, but there is not a lot of evidence for this. One of the more famous legends would be Charley Patton (Satan shows up at the train tracks/crossroads of *EDIT*Clarksdale*EDIT*).
If you are looking for Blues musicians...it /really/ depends on what kind of music you are looking for. Simply put, there are two main genres - Delta Blues and Chicago Blues, although there are other regional variations as well.
If you are looking for names: Muddy Waters. Charley Patton. T-Bone Walker. B.B. King. Miles Davis. R.L. Burnside. Junior Kimbrough. Fat Possum Records in Oxford is a great resource for current bluesmen, although their musicians tend towards chaotic jam sessions with 'guest musicians'.
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1. Burn Victim-Baptised in gasoline CD
2. Disgorge(MX)-Forensick CD
3. Conan soundtracks
4. Pretty Little Flower/Unholy Grave Split 7" record(on the turntable fools!!)
I listen to every kind of music that is humanly possible as I run a recording studio in AZ. I love the Conan soundtracks for the D and D sessions. The other bands aren't good for playing d and d except for some combat now and then or to portray the sound of meeting pazuzu himself.
This isn't a good song for playing during a D&D game, but perhaps beforehand to get into the spirit of things....
LYRICS FROM "THE NECROMANCER" BY RUSH (Album: Caress of Steel, 1975)
. Into The Darkness
"As grey traces of dawn tinge the eastern sky, the three travelers, men of Willowdale, emerge from the forest shadow. Fording the River Dawn, they turn south, journeying into the dark and forbidding lands of the Necromancer.
Even now the intensity of his dread power can be felt, weakening the body and saddening the heart.
Ultimately they will become empty, mindless spectres; stripped of will and soul, only their thirst for freedom gives them hunger for vengeance..."
Silence shrouds the forest
As the birds announce the dawn
Three trav'llers ford the river
And southward journey on
The road is lined with peril
The air is charged with fear
The shadow of his nearness
Weighs like iron tears
II. Under the Shadow
"Shreds of black cloud loom in overcast skies. The Necromancer keeps watch with his magic prism eyes. He views all his lands and is already aware of the three helpless invaders trapped in his lair..."
Brooding in the tower
Watching o'er his land
Holding ev'ry creature
Helplessly they stand
Gaze into his prisms
Knowing they are near
Lead them to the dungeons
Spectres numb with fear
They bow defeated
III. Return of the Prince
"Enter the Champion.
Prince By-Tor appears to battle for freedom from chains of long years.
The spell has been broken; the Dark Lands are bright. The Wraith of the Necromancer soars away in the night."
Stealthily attacking
By-Tor slays his foe
The men are free to run now
From labyrinths below
The Wraith of Necromancer
Shadows through the sky
Another land to darken
With evil prism eye.
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This isn't a good song for playing during a D&D game, but perhaps beforehand to get into the spirit of things....
LYRICS FROM "THE NECROMANCER" BY RUSH (Album: Caress of Steel, 1975)
. Into The Darkness
"As grey traces of dawn tinge the eastern sky, the three travelers, men of Willowdale, emerge from the forest shadow. Fording the River Dawn, they turn south, journeying into the dark and forbidding lands of the Necromancer.
Even now the intensity of his dread power can be felt, weakening the body and saddening the heart.
Ultimately they will become empty, mindless spectres; stripped of will and soul, only their thirst for freedom gives them hunger for vengeance..."Silence shrouds the forest
As the birds announce the dawn
Three trav'llers ford the river
And southward journey on
The road is lined with peril
The air is charged with fear
The shadow of his nearness
Weighs like iron tearsII. Under the Shadow
"Shreds of black cloud loom in overcast skies. The Necromancer keeps watch with his magic prism eyes. He views all his lands and is already aware of the three helpless invaders trapped in his lair..."Brooding in the tower
Watching o'er his land
Holding ev'ry creature
Helplessly they stand
Gaze into his prisms
Knowing they are near
Lead them to the dungeons
Spectres numb with fear
They bow defeatedIII. Return of the Prince
"Enter the Champion.
Prince By-Tor appears to battle for freedom from chains of long years.
The spell has been broken; the Dark Lands are bright. The Wraith of the Necromancer soars away in the night."Stealthily attacking
By-Tor slays his foe
The men are free to run now
From labyrinths below
The Wraith of Necromancer
Shadows through the sky
Another land to darken
With evil prism eye.
You could also include "By-tor and The Snow Dog" as another Rush song that is good for getting into the spirit.
today it was a little of this:
"All we want is a headrush
All we want is to get out of our skin for a while
We have nothing to lose because we don't have anything
Anything we want anyway...
We used to hate people
Now we just make fun of them
It's more effective that way"
and some of this
"you are not a beautiful and unique snowflake.
you are the same decaying organic matter as everything else.
we are all a part of the same compost heap.
we are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.
you are not your bank account,
you are not the clothes you wear.
you are not the contents of your wallet.
you are not your bowel cancer.
you are not your Grande Latte.
you are not the car you drive.
you are not your f%&%ing khakis."
not exactly happy things to listen to, but there you go...sometimes it's not all happy and funtime!
I've been listening to DnDRadio lately. Eclectic stuff, nice variety.
I've been listening to a lot of Tool this week. Aenima, Lateralus, Opiate, and a couple of live bootlegs.
M@
Dream Theater's Official Bootleg Live Covers of Metallica's entire Master of Puppets and Iron Maiden's entire Number of the Beast.
Sah-WEET!
You could also include "By-tor and The Snow Dog" as another Rush song that is good for getting into the spirit.
BTW & FYI - Dream Theater's lead singer, James LaBrie, covered (most of) "By-Tor and the Snow Dog" (as well as "Red Barchetta") on the Rush tribute CD Working Man.
(Yeah, I consider myself to be a pretty big DT fan...)
Double-post! (My bad.)
Well, all I can do it climb out of my wayback machine and proudly state that the CD that currently resides in my CD player is Styx - Paradise Theater
"I've got too much (clap, clap) time on my hands . . . "
And after that I may put in some Autograph. (Man, I feel old)
