Category: Music

I had briefly considered doing an Obama victory-themed installment, but then decided against it as way too cheesy.

I did include one track, though, that John Legend performed on Bill Maher’s show last week, and which he also made available as a free download from his personal page at Obama’s website. When I heard him perform live on Maher’s show, I got chills. John Legend – “If You’re Out There.”

Here’s a new song from a new artist — Swiss singer-songwriter Sophie Hunger. Not sure what to write about this, so just listen: Sophie Hunger – “House Of Gods.”

My favorite track from The Smiths — and not one of their better-known ones. The Smiths – “London.”

A lot of people claim that “The Final Countdown” has the best over-the-top cheesetastic synth riff. I humbly disagree. The true king of that particular category is this mid-80s track from Emerson, Lake and ….Powell (They couldn’t get Palmer for this one album, so they found another P….sad, really.) Behold the might: E.L.P. – “Touch & Go.”

The best Bond-theme rework EVER. The Propellerheads and David Arnold rip it up (and, during the bridge, add in *another* bit of Bond music — the space theme from “You Only Live Twice”): The Propellerheads and David Arnold: “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.”

Again, with the cheese — overly long intro? Check. Goofy Sci-Fi lyrics? Check. Still, love this, in a Heavy Metal (the animated film) sorta way. Billy Thorpe – “Children of the Sun.”

Enjoy. Remember, if any link gives you trouble, try copy-and-paste.

Yeah, I know — I almost never do holiday-themed entries. Sue me. I’ve got some fairly good finds this year:

First up, the best track from Rob Zombie’s most recent album — he opened his show with this one when I went to see him last year. Rob Zombie – “American Witch.”

A new horror-themed electro-industrial act, which I’ve only just discovered and like quite a bit. Plus, gotta love the song title. Zombie Girl – “Blood, Brains & Rock n’ Roll.”

Saw this performer at the Scream Awards on Spike TV last week — kind of a gothy-electro-pop chick from Estonia. It’s a brainworm: Kerli – “Walking On Air.”

Speaking of goth chicks — the original and still the best: Siouxsie & the Banshees – “Spellbound.”

The man behind the theme to Mad Men works his magic on a spookier vein: RJD2 – “The Horror.”

I was pointed towards this by , so blame him. Tragedy is a NYC-based tribute band that does all-metal covers of Bee-Gees tracks. Let that sink in a bit. Here’s the best, featuring the most intentionally-hilarious ‘occult-metal spoken word bridge’ EVER towards the end: Tragedy – “You Should Be Dancing.”

…and lastly, because this is the last entry before Election Day, and this is the scariest thing in the world to the conservatives out there: I give you the famous track from the viral video: will.i.am – “Yes We Can (Obama for America).”

First up: I’m not actually linking to the song with this one, but rather the site where you can hear the song, download it for free, and read the lyrics. Because believe me, it’s the lyrics that make this song. Released for free by the band, here’s Everclear – “Jesus Was A Democrat.”

Here’s the end credits theme to Takashi Miike’s Sukiyaki Western Django, that I talked about earlier this week — they took the classic Luis Bacalov theme from the 60s, translated into Japanese, and added bits of asian instrumentation. I love this: Koji Endo – “Django.”

Speaking of themes, here’s a theme to a book. The publishers of the newest James Bond novel (“Devil May Care” by Sebastian Faulks) held a contest for bands to submit a theme song, which now appears on the audiobook version. I like this — a Cardiff-based rock outfit named Sal, who didn’t go for the traditional “Bond sound”, but kept sneaky elements (listen to the notes of the guitar walk up, for example) — and their female lead has a very Skunk Anansie vibe, which blows me away: Sal – “Devil May Care.”

Another theme — and one I’ve posted before. The theme to the 80s miniseries Shaka Zulu. I was thinking of this one because the wife hummed a few bars of the signature opening when I was telling her about Adamant’s new D&D product, the Linotaur, a race of lion-centaurs whose culture I based partially on the Zulu. Margaret Singana – “We Are Growing (Theme From ‘Shaka Zulu.’)”

Still more themes. I’m detecting a theme with this post, and it’s themes, apparently. Phillip Glass has released the music that he did for the supremely creepy horror film Candyman (the original, not the sequels.). This is probably the most recognizable track, presented here for you as an early Halloween goody: Phillip Glass – “Candyman Suite – Helen’s Theme.”

And we break the theme for the last two tracks: First up, one of my favorite songs from the mid-80s smash album Songs from the Big Chair, which didn’t get nearly as much attention as some of the other singles: Tears for Fears – “Mother’s Talk.”

And finally, a supremely chill bit of neo-soul which never fails to bliss me out. Jill Scott – “A Long Walk.”

There you go, kids. Enjoy your weekend.