Key

Pink Floyd - The Endless River

Released back in November 2014, this album received mixed reviews mostly due to it being a bunch of unreleased tracks. But man, if I had the chance to go back and listen to this album again for the first time and feel how I felt when I heard it the first time, I certainly would. I'm one of the rare people at this forum I think that finds this album listenable and enjoyable the more time I listen to it. It's great. It's nothing over the top or fantastic or even ground breaking, but it's definitely not the worst thing they've done *cough* The Wall *cough*. There are a lot of tracks to listen to, and a lot of great ones at that. One of which...



...is my favorite track on the entire album. It's got that traditional Pink Floyd sound and feel and just goes fantastically with the two songs that follow it.

I'll say it: I don't understand the hate for this album, or the negative reviews that surround it. I mean, I understand the disappointment that people felt when they heard it's not going to be an actual studio album, but come on, and I said this in another journal of mine I think, you got an album that Pink Floyd put some work into, and they did it well. I've even heard people say that it's worth only one listen to get the full feel for it, and that I also disagree with. There are a lot of things that you don't hear the first time, and it can take a few listens to get the full feel for the album. Maybe that's just me. Perhaps i'm over analyzing. I could be.

Anyway, if this album were set to release again this year, i'd have no problem paying money for it again to hear it for the first time again. I'd enjoy it.

Key

Linkin Park - The Hunting Party

So, i'm a fan of Linkin Park, sue me. I've been a fan of their ever since I heard Hybrid Theory for the first time, and fell in love with it right away. Meteora did the same thing, was in love the first time I heard it. Then of course they changed their sound to a much more electronic thing, and I kind of lost interest. Then we got an album that was described as being a "throwback to the old style", that was The Hunting Party, or that was the goal at least. I didn't see it, however. I found this album to be mediocre at best, and that's again coming from someone who was always hoping they'd bring themselves back to the rock n roll that they did so well at in the past. It just felt like they were focusing so much on trying to go back to their old sound, that they lost the touch that they had when they were still doing their old sound. The rapping felt forced, the guitar chords weren't stellar in any way, and the vocals were mediocre. With as many bad things I can say about it, there are certainly a few good things I could say. For one, the artwork is neat, it sort of had a "i'm shooting down the electronic us down" feel to it. Maybe i'm just saying that for the hell of it. As for the songs are concerned, none of them really struck me to be something i'd listen to on a regular basis, and that's a shame, because I had high hopes that i'd finally get a "classic" Linkin Park album. One song in particular really just rubs me the wrong way...



Guilty All The Same was released as a single, and man, they could have chosen something better to give people a preview for what to expect on the album. What i'm trying to say is...Guilty All The Same brought peoples expectations up, and when the album was finally released, Guilty All The Same was the only track on the album that even felt like it was something you'd find on Hybrid Theory or Meteora. So I am saying it's a good track, but the way they previewed the album was done terribly.

It really is a shame that for me that this album didn't meet my expectations. Even after a few more listens it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe after a couple years it'll become a Hybrid Theory / Meteora, but as far as it goes right now, it's just another CD that you'd expect to find in a bargain bin.

Key

I don't know how long it's been since i've posted video game soundtracks, but I think it's long overdue, especially with all the amazing games i've been hooked on recently and for most of 2014.



I recently gave Wind Waker another play with the recent release of the HD version for the Wii U and man have I forgot how much I love the music in that game. Zelda games have always had music that I absolutely love, but this one really does it well with how calming the actual Wind Waker is. For example:



This game really does well with the use of wind instruments, and Nintendo hit it out of the ballpark with how amazing every song is.

Next we have easily one of my favorite soundtracks of the entire year last year:



I have discussed this soundtrack before, but there's nothing wrong with talking about it some more, especially when I love it so much. The soundtrack is for probably my game of the year last year, and that's tough to do since there were a **** ton of games released last year that I absolutely loved, but Rebirth really did a great job at making the year perfect.



This song is up there with being one of the best songs i've ever heard in a video game. The makers of this soundtrack should feel beyond proud to have made such a fantastic soundtrack for a fantastic game.



I play a lot of Rogue Legacy last year, and still play it even this year. Man, the soundtrack is amazing. Every track fits the environments that you run into so perfectly that it makes for a very fun and rewarding experience. Just running through the castle and hearing this song in the background makes it so easy to lose a few hours of your day...



Very well done and will probably be an OST that I pick up for my own collection.

I've got many more to come, but for now, that'll have to do.

Pet_Sounds

Why, Ki, why?!

But seriously, I agree completely with what you said about The Endless River. Nice write-up.

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Everybody's dying just to get the disease

Key

^Happy to see you share the same thoughts, man. And I assume your "why"s are for my avatar. I needed a change and I think the one I have better fits my interests.

Key

Alesana - The Decade EP

"Oh god, another hipster emo kid that loves Alesana. Typical." Ok, you shut up voice I just made up for the sake of commentary. I've been a fan of Alesana since The Emptiness, and let me tell you, your constant negativity toward that is getting real old.

Anyway, all joking aside, I am a huge fan of Alesana. I remember the first time I heard The Emptiness and that just became a regular listen instantly. It was my first real introduction to that genre of music, which I am certain is considered post-hardcore, but I could be wrong, and man, I'm happy I gave it a chance because it opened up a world of possibilities for albums and bands that I still love to this day.

Alesana released The Decade EP in April 2014. It was an album that would forever be remembered as the bands 10th year anniversary together which in itself is amazing, and they really didn't lack the talent on this album, especially since this album came after the amazing A Place Where The Sun Is Silent, which to this day, is still my favorite post-hardcore album. The style and concept of that album is amazing to me and it's done so well that it leaves me wanting more every time I hear it. The Decade EP does the same thing. It's done so well in the small list of tracks that it has but it still feels like a full album that I would listen to on a regular basis. If this album is what we should expect to hear from the album set to come out in 2015, I am on board that train right now. Sign me up, because judging by this EP alone, the new album is going to sound amazing.

Every track is fantastic on this album, but I do have some favorites...



Probably the best track on the album in my opinion. It's so catchy and really captures what Alesana is all about in just this one song. There's a lot of examples of that throughout the EP, but this song does it perfectly.

It's fantastic to hear this album and still hear that sound that I came to really love when I first heard The Emptiness. They've been staying consistent with their sound for as long as i've listened to them, and the dedication they have to that really does show in the chemistry they have as a band. Being able to celebrate 10 years as a band proves that. Hoping for another great 10 years for this band, and maybe we'll get another great EP when they hit 20 years together.

Check this album out if you haven't, and if you're a fan of this music, definitely won't be disappointed.

Key

Time for some more video game soundtracks! I'm starting to believe that this is one of my favorite parts of this journal. I have a lot of favorites, but this one is a lot of fun. Anyway...



I think it's a crime that I have supposedly not even mentioned one of the best N64 games ever, Ocarina of Time. Especially since the soundtrack was blow your mind amazing. To not only make an amazing game but to make an even more amazing soundtrack that just goes so perfectly with everything about the game, it's just the work of true game creating talent.



^And that is by far the catchiest and most fantastically made song i've ever heard in a video game. It just screams adventure.



It's going to sound cliche, but yeah, Pokemon OST's seem to just get better over time, as do the games. This game in particular was groundbreaking for a few reasons, but that's not what i'm focusing on. This soundtrack is perfect. From trainer battles to the Elite Four, the soundtrack just keeps you going and keeps you pumped. Then once you've made it to the Champion, one of the best tracks hits you right in the face...



^Truly a remarkable piece for Champion music.

Yes, even more to come. Just can't think of them right now.

Key

Testament - Dark Roots of Earth

Testament released Dark Roots of Earth back in 2012, and I somehow missed it when it was released. That's most likely due to me not listening to Testament as much as I probably should. Or maybe I tried to listen to them and I wasn't in the right mood or something. I don't know. Either way, this album is fantastic. It starts off with a really nice heavy and groovy track that paves the way for the rest of the album:



^That track does give you a pretty accurate idea of what to expect out of the album as a whole, and this track alone is amazing.

Testament, like I said, are one of the thrash metal bands that I haven't paid much attention to. I think for me, they have the same "curse" as bands like Anthrax have. Great music, but sort of thrown to the side because of other bigger bands. Thing is, I would probably listen to Testament every day over bands like Megadeth and Metallica, especially with the album they've been releasing lately.

I don't know a whole lot about Testament's earlier albums, but i'll give them a listen in time. I will say that if you're looking for a good reason to listen to this band, this album will give you a really good feel for what to expect from 2012 on. Maybe their earlier albums are just as good, maybe they're not. I can't make the claim because I just don't know from experience. Either way, i'm happy I went back and listened to this album, it'll make it's way into my personal catalog, along with their other albums.

LoathsomePete

Good pick, this was easily Testament's best album since 1999's The Gathering.

I also think they kind of got screwed over by getting snubbed by the Big 4, but I also think that's partly due to their best material coming out in the '90's and '00's rather than the '80's during thrash metal's golden age.

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Last.FM
101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

Key

Yeah, it's a shame that I took so long to get into them as much as I am now. Lyrically they're pretty good as well, from what i'm noticing. Definitely some good songwriting going on.