Mullet with Headlights

Some of my co-workers and I have been sharing some of our favorite music, rating them, reviewing them and sharing those reviews with one another. I thought I’d share my thoughts on their suggestions (and their thoughts on mine) with you here.

Since this work week is short, and kind of a throw away, we decided to share something oddly entertaining and strange. Which just turned into different interpretations on the idea of a music video.

Back when Tim owned and operated a comic book shop, they used to play Japanese anime music videos set to popular music. Think of a traditional music video but instead of original film, someone has edited an anime to sync with the music. Although, I have never seen an entire anime episode/movie so forgive me if I sound like I don’t know what I’m talking about. Anyway, you get things like this:

Being a fan of the video game, of course I have run across Rabbit Joint’s The Legend of Zelda before. But when combined with the visuals of Record of Lodoss War, it actually works better than the original The Legend of Zelda TV show.

Feeling More Human

Lately most of my posts have been based on a weekly music sharing conversation with my coworkers. Of the five of us who started that conversation, one has since left the company and another is now just too busy to participate. We’ve tried including other coworkers, like my boss or my brother, but they only recommend one album the first week  we invite them and that’s it.

But from time to time, while waiting for a meeting to start or riding in the elevator, someone who knows I’m into music will suggest I look into a band. Months ago my boss suggested I look into Hozier’s self-titled debut album.

Like a Rolling Stone

Some of my co-workers and I have been sharing some of our favorite music, rating them, reviewing them and sharing those reviews with one another. I thought I’d share my thoughts on their suggestions (and their thoughts on mine) with you here.

This week we decided each of my participating coworkers and I would share an album from Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time that we never gave a chance. Or rather, the top 100 albums up until May 2012. These are in ascending order, like how Rolling Stone had them, and after my review I’ll put my coworkers’ before I move on to another album.

Here’s how I rate things. If I give something one star, it means I don’t think it qualifies as music. Five stars mean I wish I wrote the thing. Most music for me is a three.

Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) – Number 43

One of my favorite things about Pink Floyd has always been David Gilmour’s simple guitar solos. As I’ve played more fast banjo licks and done more improv solos on trombone, I’ve gotten better at my improv guitar solos, but I’ve never played a guitar solo to melt one’s face. Gratefully, Gilmour provides justification that I don’t have to play lightning-fast, gut-busting guitar solos. Sometimes less is more.

Specifically, the solos in Time and Money are great. In 2006 Gilmour said, “[My] fingers make a distinctive sound … [they] aren’t very fast, but I think I am instantly recognizable.”

When the Rain Sang to Me

Some of my co-workers and I have been sharing some of our favorite music, rating them, reviewing them and sharing those reviews with one another. I thought I’d share my thoughts on their suggestions (and their thoughts on mine) with you here.

This week took on a rather international flare with two Russian bands and a Japanese band. At least, it’s not American, British or Australian as has been the majority of things covered so far. Although, I guess there has been some French, German, Hebrew, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish music before….

Anyway, thanks to friends who lived in both countries, I know phrases in both Russian and Japanese. But couldn’t hold a conversation in either, so song lyrics are beyond me.

Here’s how I rate things. If I give something one star, it means I don’t think it qualifies as music. Five stars mean I wish I wrote the thing. Most music for me is a three.

Distemper – Ska Punk Moscow (2004)

These guys are from Russia. And I have no idea what they’re singing about. But the vocalist seems to take inspiration from the Mighty Mighty BossToneS. Musically, these guys remind me of the Mad Caddies. Or Spain’s Ska-P.

When the People Start to Move

Some of my co-workers and I have been sharing some of our favorite music, rating them, reviewing them and sharing those reviews with one another. I thought I’d share my thoughts on their suggestions (and their thoughts on mine) with you here.

Here’s how I rate things. If I give something one star, it means I don’t think it qualifies as music. Five stars mean I wish I wrote the thing. Most music for me is a three.

Washed Out – Life of Leisure (2009)

My coworker told me this was made to sound dreamy and nostalgic, like it was being played from an old cassette deck. “Like ’80s beach music,” he said. Whatever that means. Actually, it means this. I would also add synthpop to that description, just so you know. You could assume so from likening it to the ’80s, but there was other stuff going on then, too.