Featuring Some of Your Favourite Words - From First To Last

I just died.  I have literally just blown my own mind.  While I claim to know everything about music (or almost everything), learning five minutes ago that Skrillex is actually Sonny Moore of From First To Last fame has actually blown my mind to kingdom come.  In what world do things like this happen?  The lead vocalist of an old, emo post-hardcore band grew up, grew out half of his hair and learned how to use a Mac.  Skrillex...y u do this to me?  Though I can't say I enjoy his electronic-dubstep-debauchery, I have to admit that I was a big fan in his post-hardcore days.  Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has A Body Count was the soundtrack to my '05, and among the emo gems that echo with industrial (dare I say, a precursor to Skrillex?) sounds would be today's featured track.

Featuring Some of Your Favourite Words.

Though Sonny retired from post-hardcore because of vocal strain (among other things...ahem....solo project....ahem), I kind of wished he would have stuck around to belt it out like he does here.  Ironic, as he laments here's to playing tug-of-war with my vocal chords.  "Featuring..." emerges as a catchy number, somewhere in the vein of Hawthorne Heights, but it's Sonny's vocals that make it.  It's that simple.  But hey, at least he loves what he does now.  You need to listen to know what I'm talking about, so get to it!  On a final note, the final note of this song will forever remain a highlight of music in my life...

Throw this paper into fire, and take me with it.

Quiet Dog - Mos Def

One thing I want to assure them, if they think I'm gonna change or compromise my attitude and my way of life or in my expression or in my goal towards politics, they are making me stronger, and I am much much stronger now.

I've always liked a good, stripped-down rap song, and I've always liked Mos Def as both an actor and a rapper.  He makes "Quiet Dog" anything but quiet, however.  The beats are pared down, but that's all the better to let Mos's words shine, and once again, proof that rap isn't just about loud bass and all that jazz.  This is something different from Lil Wayne and Whiz Khalifa and everyone else out there, and that's why Mos Def is going to be around for a loooong time.  Besides, haven't you seen The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy? 

LYRICS: Oh Thee 73 - Felix

Friday night is the worst night to be alive
Will you help me get out of the firing line?
Still no word from the sisters
Too good for this line
No word from the sisters
Tell me tell me tell me that we're still tired

Sitting on the songs of the back of the bus
It's the best and the worst for both of us
Sitting on the songs of the back of the bus
It's the best and the worst for both of us

Electro, how retro
Dancing at the disco, I am the tempo
Then you know that you're getting old, 'cause you're growing cold
Say what you will, I will see you in hell
Where we're all, where we're all right now
Where we're all, where we're all right now

All of these years
For my sins, for my sins
Sit yourself down and I will get me a pen
Your draw your tattoos and I will ink them in
On your arms, on your skin
All over, all over
All of these years
For my sins, for my sins
Sit yourself down and I will get me a pen
Your draw your tattoos and I will ink them in
On your arms, on your skin
All over

Isn't it funny how you spit all the bad words out
There in the blood as they flow out of your mouth

Oh holy molar, you can be my savior
I will thread you on a string and wear you as a treasure
Under my jumper, under my jumper
The bass beats down and the drums get bigger

Friday night is the worst night to be alive
So shoot me down and we'll all feel fine
Still no word from the sisters
They're too good for this line
No word from the sisters
One God loves, her sticks shine bright

Sitting on the songs of the back of the bus

It's the best and the worst for both of us
Sitting on the songs of the back of the bus
It's the best and the worst for both of us
Sitting on the songs of the back of the bus

It's the best and the worst for both of us
Sitting on the songs of the back of the bus
It's the best and the worst for both of us

The Brave Little Toaster

Computer troubles keep me from truly enjoying my time on the internet, and laziness keeps me from going upstairs so I can see today's Top 10 on my ipod.  But who needs a Top 10 list when you have music from the creepiest, most disturbing children's movie ever (though Fern Gully scarred me good)?  Not you, is what I say.  So this afternoon, enjoy the four songs that defined my childhood, and morphed me into the person I am today.  Yeah, it's messed up, buy what can we do?

Victory Song - Ensiferum

Folk metal Sunday!  Well, "Victory Song" was scheduled for a little earlier in the month of June, but the important thing is that it's here now, and there's no need to worry yourself any longer.  I did recently stumble upon the Finns of Ensiferum, and was pleasantly surprised by what I found.  If folk metal should be anything, then it should be epic, and that's exactly what they're best at.  They've got gems like "From Afar" and "Raised By The Sword," but it's clear to me that "Victory Song" is bounds above the others.

Clocking in past the ten-minute mark and vocals coming in close to four minutes in, we've already got the beginnings of a great epic in "Victory Song."  Harsh vocalist Petri Lindroos puts power into every growl, but that doesn't stop the clean-vocal-near-chant of the chorus to shine.  Soon you'll be uttering swords in our hands, we kill each and every man who dares to invade this sacred land as you make your entrance anywhere.  And the guitars?  There are no words to describe such wonders.  "Victory Song" is really just the perfect song all around, for the folk metal monger in all of us.

I Won't Play - Gossip

After first hearing their new single "Perfect World" way back when, I couldn't resist picking up Gossip's latest album, A Joyful Noise during my last Wal-Mart excursion.  These indie-dance-alt rockers are just too catchy to pass up.  In fact, it was an especially difficult task to choose just one more song from the album to feature (so don't be surprised if another post comes out).  I settled on "I Won't Play" for a few reasons, as it would seem, though there was serious competition from "Into The Wild," "Involved" and "Move In The Right Direction."

"I Won't Play" has a few things I like in a song.  One, a strong female lead in Beth Ditto, who I've started following on Twitter and is still one of my heroes.  Two, even though it pulses with bass, "I Won't Play" is a little bit subdued, or subdued enough for my liking.  Then you have the strong instrumental side, the vocals that won't quit, and all in all, a well-rounded song that you shouldn't pass up.  Hell, just don't pass up the whole album.  Go out an buy it.  I don't always go out and buy a full album, but when I do, I never make a bad choice.

Orifice Origami - Reptar + LYRICS

I'm back after a 3 day absence, and I have to say, I went through a bit of blog withdrawal during my time off.  And even though now that I'm back home and settled, I'm anxious to get back to my baby (this blog).  Even though my laptop is decommissioned for the time being, I'm on the family desktop with Youtube as my guide and the saved playlist on my ipod to remind me what comes next.  And wouldn't you know it, today's choice comes from Georgia's own disco dusters Reptar, with their always-fun-always-stellar "Orifice Origami."

The beginning of "Orifice Origami" is what initially drew me in; it's the entrance music I'd like to follow me everywhere I go.  Though as the indie rockers continue into the four minutes of greatness, you realize this is more than entrance music.  This is good regardless.  Think of this as Foster The People, but with a rocking twist that'll have you drooling.  From personal experience, "Orifice Origami" grew on me as I continued listening, and I think it'll grow on you too.  If not, get the thing that is growing on you checked out; we're all worried about you refusing to see a doctor.


Something's not right here
What is it missing?
Gold under pebbles, throw it away
I was the last one pondering, caught up in the revel

Pellucid in disarray
Stacked under water
It's like the backgrounds lost
So I don't know where we started
Thumb said I am running away, I was raised to stick around, and be a fool
This way
Addy wrote verses that blew my mind
They were folding wandering all the time
The last of them roses burning away
It's a sophisticated process you just can't bottle, ok?
When I was one

Something's not right here
What is it missing?
Reacting the same but we don't know what the facts say

We take our medicine at night
I can't control it, what do I do?
Stay in the background, run around and try to console you

Suddenly what can I say?
Through the pillow my head reaches an appalling state
Do you remember the doctor's name?
No, it's going to be a long night anyway 

Top 10 Females in Metal

This was coming, and you knew it all along.  So all you can do now is sit back, listen to ten songs I've hand-picked from my library, and wonder why you aren't a metalhead yet.  Though this list isn't in any particular order, regular readers know of my penchant for Masha and Annette.  For good measure I've included Tarja, though I still have to see what she's up to these days in the music scene.  But enjoy what these ten (or eleven) lovely ladies have to offer.

Simone Simons (Epica):


Masha "Scream" Arhipova (Arkona):


Annette Olzon (Nightwish):


Alissa White-Gluz (The Agonist):


Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy):


Maria Brink (In This Moment):


Sara Squadrani (Ancient Bards):


Elize Ryd (Amaranthe):


Tarja Turunen (formerly of Nightwish, now solo):


Anna Murphy & Meri Tadić (Eluveitie):

Don't Fuck With Me - Pusha T

Pusha T already has one thing going for him: my personal catchphrase as the title of his four minute rap ditty.  "Don't Fuck With Me" should be everyone's personal catchphrase, if I could have it my way.  I first became familiar with the Virginia rapper's work through the great Kanye West, taking featured artist duties on tracks like "Runaway" and "Looking For Trouble."  Now that I've got him where I want him, riding solo, Pusha T lets you know that he's got what it takes to survive.

Despite the title, "Don't Fuck With Me" is a pared-down rap number, with background beats focusing on minimal percussion and choppy vocals and choral work.  I can't complain.  Sometimes you don't need a lot of bells and whistles behind you.  Less is more, I always say.  He laments, there's a lot of people out there to be fucked with, I am not one.  Some quick research shows this song to be a diss directed at Drake; something I can't complain about either.  I know some albums can be called the soundtrack to a certain year of my life, but "Don't Fuck With Me" is the soundtrack to my entire life as a whole.  Here's to twenty years of letting people know, that like Pusha, I'm not one to be fucked with.

Piazza, New York Catcher - Belle & Sebastian

Juno still remains as one of the best movies I've ever seen (though from left field, it faces some serious competition from Prometheus), and boasts a soundtrack that just might be the best movie soundtrack I've ever heard.  Though I can give my props to Barry Louis Polisar's "All I Want Is You" and Kimya Dawson's "Tree Hugger," the show is stolen by Glasgow's own Belle & Sebastian with "Piazza, New York Catcher."  There's no need to argue, because you all know I'm right here.

The acoustic guitar powers "Piazza, New York Catcher," an indie number that's a little sad, a little happy, and a lot good.  Even a casual listen to the lyrics shows how it connects to Juno (you'll take care of her, I know it, you will do a better job), but even on its own, it's powerful stuff.  There's a reason why these guys have been around so long as an indie fave.  The proof s in the pudding, as I've recently said a lot, and it's also in "Piazza, New York Catcher."

Meet you at the statue in an hour.

The Bard's Song - Blind Guardian + LYRICS

Given my penchant for being a metal hound, we all knew it wouldn't be long until I stumbled across Blind Guardian and instantly fell in love.  Thankfully, the first song of theirs I heard was the epic "The Bard's Song."  There's something about the enchanting acoustic guitar and Hansi Kursch's vocals that get me every time.  Though this is a lighter side of the German collective (think Lord of the Rings journey music), it's still in the vein of metal nonetheless, and the lyrical prowess can't be aruged against.  Well, why don't I just show you instead of telling you?

Also, if you're not against Blind Guardian covers, then take a listen to the Van Canto version of "the Bard's Song."  Epic.

Now you all know
The bards and their songs
When hours have gone by
I'll close my eyes
In a world far away
We may meet again
But now hear my song
About the dawn of the night
Let's sing the bards' song

Tomorrow will take us away
Far from home
No one will ever know our names
But the bards' songs will remain
Tomorrow will take it away
The fear of today
It will be gone
Due to our magic songs

There's only one song
Left in my mind
Tales of a brave man
Who lived far from here
Now the bard songs are over
And it's time to leave
No one should ask you for the name of the one
Who tells the story

Tomorrow will take us away
Far from home
No one will ever know our names
But the bards' songs will remain
Tomorrow all will be known
And you're not alone
So don't be afraid
In the dark and cold
'Cause the bards' songs will remain
They all will remain

In my thoughts and in my dreams
They're always in my mind
These songs of hobbits, dwarves and men
And elves
Come close your eyes
You can see them, too

O.J. - 50 Cent feat. Kidd Kidd

First off, if you haven't gotten your hands on 50 Cent's The Lost Tape mixtape, I suggest you get on it before bad things happen, simply put.  Fitty's come a long way since "In Da Club" came out in 2003 (wow, don't I feel old...), and songs like "O.J." are the proof of the matter.  Along with New Orleans native Kidd Kidd, the Curtis Jackson tells us that he's still relevant to the world of rap, and always will be.  "O.J." has everything I like in a rap song: interesting background beats and rhymes you can't argue with.  The upbeat piano and snare drums of the chorus will get you too, if they don't get you moving.  Fitty gloats I'm pulling off an O.J., I'm killin' these bitches.  50, you've been killin' them since you came on the scene.  Mad respect.

Bloody Mary - Lady Gaga

Try as I might, I can't find a bad word to say about Lady Gaga.  She's the definition of a true entertainer, and Born This Way might just be one of the best albums in my collection.  I want to see this woman in concert ASAP.  Today's selection comes from her latest effort, which was a fantastic effort if I do say so myself.  I've found that Gaga's religiously symbolic music has been my favourite (with the exception of "You and I" ...that will always be fantastic).  There was the "Alejandro" video, "Judas" and now today's "Bloody Mary."

I'll dance, dance, dance with my hands, hands, hands above my head, head, head like Jesus said.

"Bloody Mary" is pared down compared to Mother Monster's high-energy epics, but it's still pure pop and a little dance.  Remixed, this would be thumping in a club, but I like "Bloody Mary" just the way it is.  The chorus is killer, and should never be changed.  It's an experience, and an interesting listen for everyone.  It evokes a bit of Evita (I won't cry for you, I won't crucify the things you do) and runs in the opposite direction of the high-energy tracks of Born This Way, but if Gaga is anything, she's a chameleon.  "Bloody Mary" is just another side to the world's most interesting woman.

Teeth - Dead and Divine

D&D is back!  Well, kind of.  They're still not going to be a band anymore, save for one last appearance at the SCENE festival, but this isn't going to become another Paul Gray incident.  There's not going to be long periods of wearing band t-shirts in mourning.  There's just going to be a lot of revisiting their song directory.  Now, from The Machines We Are comes "Teeth," a track I've been aware of for the last three years, but have never looked too closely at.  Perhaps, it's because it's very different from all of the other D&D songs, but what makes it different is what sets it apart.

"Teeth" is a combination of slow guitar chords, fuzzy vocals from Matty Tobin and vocals about love and drugs (if I don't beg you stop, will I become one of them?).  It's the small touch of noise in this track that removes it from its metalcore siblings on The Machines We Are.  You'll hear it, don't worry.  The percussion gets dirty, like banging on the tops of oil drums, and as the end of "Teeth" nears, that industrial feel is more than apparent.  I commend Dead and Divine for going a different route here.  It paid off, believe me.

Laura's Top 10 Artists

Though I do throw the term around quite loosely, there is a core group of musical artists that I consider my favourite.  Some have been around for a while, and others are newer, but it's always been about how good music can get.  I can say that it's pretty good these days.  So here is a list of my ten absolute favourite groups and musical artists right now (though only one rides solo), and a song of theirs that you may or may not have heard, but I'm currently obsessed with.  It's also roughly in order, but remember, roughly.  Enjoy!

It's All Okay - Julia Stone

Julia Stone is half of the indie duo Angus & Julia, and on her own she's more than brilliant.  My favourite kind of singing voice for a female is a unique voice that packs a punch when it has to.  Julia has it in "It's All Okay," joining in the ranks of Fiona, Annette and Sarah (my forever faves).  With a delicate piano on repeat and a little help from the acoustic guitar, Ms. Stone shows us that she's just as capable solo as she is in a duo, all in four minutes.

"It's All Okay" begins the story is different now, the records are playing in the living room, and you might say you're wounded, and I might say I'm hurt, but we knew the difference then between the fire and the earth.  Lyrical genius so soon?  You get me, Julia.  You really get me.  She weaves her words through what just might be the perfect indie song.  I think it's a serious contender.  The Active Child remix of this track is also to die for.  Holy crap.  But enough of my insistence; let your mouse do the clicking and Julia Stone do the talking.

Plaster - Booggéré

Itunes originally brought me "Booggéré" as the single-of-the-week some time ago, and I can say this electro ditty has grown on me ever since.  The Montreal collective Plaster knows how to stay unique in a genre that's growing larger each day, and prove a kid with a laptop doesn't have anything on them. 

"Booggéré" begins with an a capella chant, but soon an electronic god's orchestra is introduced.  You have the electric guitar, some percussion, and evidence that it's danceable by the sway of your shoulders.  Listen to "Booggéré" and tell me that it doesn't get you moving.  A childish chant turns into something far more here, and paves the way for an English rap verse to enter the scene in front of beeps and switches.  They've even got lyrical genius: show love ad expect no lesser.  Though "Booggéré" is danceable on its own, I'd like to see it remixed into a thumping club track.  Why not?

Fromalt2zen's Top 10

There's a reason I didn't post yesterday!  I'm a little trickier than you all think I am.  I purposely waited one more day so my 300th post fell on the same day as this blog's first anniversary!  I personally can't believe it's already been one year, and would like to thank each and every person who stops by to listen to my rants about music.  Let's raise our glasses (or mugs of coffee, it is 10 o'clock here) to one more year, or many more, of fromalt2zen.  Today's post will look at this blog's Top 10 posts as read by you.  That's right, you!  Let's get started, shall we?

10.


9.


8.


7.


6.


5. (lyrics post)


4.


3.


2 and 1. (lyrics post and regular feature)

Beauty and the Beast - Nightwish

More Nightwish, because if you're anything like me, you never get tired of them.  Today's selection comes from the Tarja era, in particular, Nightwish's first album, Angels Fall First.  Having sampled the entire album, I've come to the general consensus that "Beauty and the Beast" is the best track, though faces serious competition from "The Carpenter."  But don't confuse it with their later "Beauty of the Beast."  This is the original, and even if you're an Annette-ophile like me, you'll be a fan of Tarja on this track.

"Beauty and the Beast" could perhaps be called the for-adults version of the classic fairy tale.  Instead of Mrs. Pots and her charming words, you have Tarja, an operatic powerhouse going head-to-head with Tuomas, back when he was on male vocal duties.  He's not very bad at all, though I can't say Marco should go anywhere now.  All in all, "Beauty and the Beast" is a solid track from a solid band.  It's Nightwish doing what they do best, even all the way back in 1997.  Case closed.

Drippin' - FKi

I'm still a big FKi fan, and still listening through Zoolanish and Transformers N The Hood, where today's featured song comes from.  The thing about this duo is that they can do anything with the rap genre and make it their own.  Doing it to near-perfection helps too.  Their "Drippin" is on the shorter side, but still packs the punch you want.  Yes, it's slower, but so what?

"Drippin" has one thing that I hate to admit I've become a fan of lately: some dubstep-like bass that echoes in the chorus.  It's just what "Drippin" needs to go from a slowed-down-stripped-down rap song to sheer brilliance.  They've created something special here in a place where you'd least expect it.  Giselle's vocals repeat I walked into the room drippin' (sampled from "Crave You" by Flight Facilities) but I started listening to Transformers N The Hood with my jaw droppin'.  Listen to it and let me know that I'm right.

Fiona Apple's Top 10

Ms. Apple has always been the aforementioned fruit of my eye.  She has a way with piano keys and her vocals have always been something that puts other jazz pop artists to shame.  There's no denying that this girl has talent, plain and simple.  With her new album, The Idler Wheel is wiser than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords will serve you more than Ropes will ever do comes out later this month, you can bet I'm going to be the first person to get it in my small town.  Until then, as always, there is a plethora of great Fiona Apple songs to bide my time.  Enjoy them all.

Valiant Ride - Ancient Bards

Now and again I like some good power metal, and I'm usually in the mood for symphonic metal, so why not combine the two?  Italy's Ancient Bards will always be that happy medium, even if I'm not allowed to comment on the "The Birth Of Evil" video...still.  They've got a slew of epics up their sleeves, and as I've gone through my cache of their music recently, my penchant returned.  You can blame Sara Squadrani's vocals and drums that just won't quit.  "Valiant Ride" is the almost-perfect march into battle song, as it turns out.  I think it's become a forever fave.

I'll let Ancient Bards have one too-literal-for-its-own-good verse of "Valiant Ride" (you'll know which one it is when you read the lyrics), as the rest of the song makes up for it.  There's the lyrics you expect but luckily still impress you, however (for as long as we know how to use our weapons, there's nothing that can destroy our force), and a bridge beginning at 2:25 that will put every other piece of power metal you know to shame.  Sara's got talent, and she knows how to put emotion into her words when she needs to.  Congratulations, Ancient Bards, you've redeemed yourself from the The Birth of Evil" video.

Zero Gravity - Kerli

After a busy morning of volunteer work and a rather busy afternoon, the only thing to get me out of a sugar crash-induced funk is some bass-thumping pop music.  I'm only human, even though I'm wearing all black right now.  But that won't stop me from enjoining my favourite Estonian artist, Kerli, and her latest single, "Zero Gravity" in between loads of laundry.  Don't compare her to Gaga, because she's no carbon copy.  Her flavor of music takes an entirely different route.

"Zero Gravity" is pop music, plain and simple, but it has something unexpected lurking in the shadows that gives it a bang!  What is it?  The dubsteppy electronic beats in the chorus and verses that surprisingly work with Kerli's airy vocals.  It makes "Zero Gravity" danceable, and gives it some great potential to be remixed (hint, hint).  If only the Canadian clubs would play this instead of that god-awful "Payphone" garbage...we'd all be a lot happier.  But the proof is in the pudding, and a listen is needed to truly appreciate what we've got here.  Thank you, Estonia.

Whatever Never - Drug Cabin

It's June, people!  You know, the month where it's hot but not too hot, the month where tornadoes usually rip through every town in North America and when high school kids finish up another wasted year.  Memories...well, today isn't one of those hot-but-not-too-hot days.  In fact, it's going to rain for the better part of it.  At least I have a plethora of breezy indie tunes to keep my spirits high and looking forward to running a quilt auction tomorrow.  The breeziest of the breezes?  "Whatever Never" from LA-based duo Drug Cabin.  This oozes summer.

I got a message from a new old friend, said "love will never end," said, "it can only land."

If "Whatever Never" is like the rest of the duo's EP, due out this month, then we are all in for a fabulous summer ahead.  The acoustic guitars here have that tropical feel, but the dash of electric strings in this gives it some character.  And the vocals?  Like I said, "Whatever Never" oozes summer from every open pore.  Though it only clocks in at two minutes, twenty-two seconds, Drug Cabin gets us to do exactly what they want us to do.  Want more.