MicShazam

Nice More coming. I've got a few noted down that I want to do when I have time.

Cuthbert

You like Kate Bush?

MicShazam

#5
Tori Amos - Code Red
Album: American Doll Posse
Year: 2007


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvLgW5Rv5Lw

I've been a big fan of Tori Amos for many years by now. Actually, I've brought her music up little enough that it might now quite be clear just how much it means to me. But there are few artists whose new albums I look forward to with as much anticipation as those of Tori Amos.

This song is from an album that is quite significant to me, since it's the first album of Tori's that I got my hands on years back. It's far from her first album (being from 2007, while her debut is from 1992), but it was just the one they happened to have when I decided to look for one of her albums downtown.

The song Code Red remains one of my favorite Tori Amos songs, despite her albums being often chock full of memorable tracks. It's got that trademark Bösendorfer piano sound with those deep, almost heavy sounding chords and that icy cold singing voice (which seems to be sort of a love/hate thing when you ask people what they think of Tori's music). Not least, the piano and vocal melodies are very fully developed and flow so well, while taking twists and turns that modulate the feel of the song without ever losing the strong sense of songwriting cohesiveness.

There's a variety of instruments, backing vocal tracks and electronic noises adding support and texture to the song and I really think it sounds great. I'm generally a fan of music that spans a wide range in terms of the frequencies going into the mix, so I love how the deep bass guitar and piano chords mesh with Tori's higher notes and the various musical elements that sit at higher frequency ranges. A lot of music that I don't like sounds kinda "thin" to my ears, so I guess that's yet another thing that would hint the direction of this thread a bit, as far as what the songs I post might tend to sound like.

It's not my favorite Tori Amos song, so there will definitely be more from her, but for now, I'd like to try and go for variety.

MicShazam

#6
Be'lakor - Remnants
Album: Of Breath and Bone
Year: 2012


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRBYWAgRXsw

I was thinking it might be time for a change of pace, so I'll try and remember to put some metal in here as well.

While I wouldn't consider Australian melodeath band Be'lakor one of my favorite bands as such, they do scartch a particular itch amazingly well when I'm in a certain mood, and this track embodies everything I love about their music.

Oh and there's also some growly dude, but who cares. It's really all about the über catchy riffs and lead melodies, delivered with driving metal chugging and double pedal propulsion. Not exactly rocket science, but damn it if it doesn't feel good! I believe "exuberant" is the word to describe the feeling of the midsection of this track kicking in after that quieter section. Jump to 2:20 to see what I mean. Goosebumps!

I like to crank this one. I've played it a million times and it's not even close to getting old. That's how you know you've got a great song.

MicShazam

#7
Röyksopp - What Else Is There?
Album:
Year:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnhAjUqdpo8

I'm not actually into neither Röyksopp or The Knife or Fever Ray, but this collaboration between Röyksopp and Karin Dreijer of The Knife (or Fever Ray - Drejer's solo project) fame has some strong atmosphere going for it. I used to listen to this song practically every day when I traveled home from where I was studying. Quite a sad and lonely chapter of my life, so there's sort of a weird bond I have with this song. Like I remember it as a companion during times where I didn't really know what the hell I was doing with my life.

But that's very subjective. The important thing to relay is really how beautifully the gorgeous vocals and the quite laid back and simple backing track works together. This song amply achieves its goal of being a moody, driving slow jam.

MicShazam

#8
Judie Tzuke - Welcome to the Cruise
Album: Welcome to the Cruise
Year: 1979


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtuGq9sU0OI

English songwriter Judie Tzuke is currently one of my most favorite artists, really. She's got a discography packed with soulful songs and shows a great understanding of understated, but memorable tunes.

This song has a neat sort of prog rock-lite vibe going for it that reminds me of the first couple Kate Bush albums. I can't tell you how many years I was hoping to find something with that kind of atmosphere to it, so when I discovered Judie Tzuke less than two years ago, I was sold right away.

Welcome to the Cruise has some really neat use of strings, with a great sense of crescendo in the second half of the song. Few of Tzuke's songs are this grandiose, but it really works well here. This song wears the style well, and equally so when it comes to the guitar solo and slightly tricky drum and bass progression in the verse.

As always with Judie, there's a good balance between vocal centrism and musical arrangements that have something to say. It would also be a mistake to forget mentioning how much of an asset to this song, and Judie's music in general, her tendency towards a mildly melancholy atmosphere and delivery is. She's mentioned in interviews how she's struggled with depression for most of her life, so it makes a lot of sense that her music has that quietly moody side to it that I'm such a sucker for.

I think it's a gorgeous track, but it's definitely far from the last time Tzuke will appear in this thread!

Cuthbert

Subbing.

MicShazam

#9
Type O Negative - I Don't Wanna Be Me
Album: Life is Killing Me
Year: 2003


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjlNzuB-cNQ

I could see some gripes being had with me choosing to put this Type O song on my list of all songs they made - especially when I'm unlikely to put on many more, if any.

The thing is, that it's just got the sort of energy, sardonic wit and killer hooks that you can't argue with. I say "hooks", plural, because it's not just the chorus that's a hook. An even cooler hook is the heavily effects laden guitar lead that almost carries the song on its own.

Such a good song. It's both grim and buckets of fun at the same time. I'm actually kind of sad the band never made a full album of pop-rock bangers like this.

MicShazam

#10
Depeche Mode - Stripped
Album: Black Celebration
Year: 1986


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU8UfYdKHvs

British synth-pop band Depeche Mode sounded almost goth on this album, so this should fit in well after a Type O Negative track.

Stripped has a lot going for it. One of the better vocal performances of Dave Gahan has him brooding and crooning erotic/metaphorical lines about wanting to "see you stripped down to the bone".

The wheels-on-train-tracks sound sample used as part of the rhythm section in the beginning sounds really great and the brooding, low frequency synth chords and bass add a thick layer of darkness, contrasted against which the climactic mid ranged melodic synth leads almost seem to be more bright and high pitched than they really are.

I really think that this song is a triumph of mood, aesthetic and simplicity. The synth lead I mentioned plays a very, very simple melody - but it's used to such great effect that it's really one of my favorite moments in the entire discography of this group.

Spoiler: Also not the last you will hear of this band in this thread.