Guitar Hero 2 Bundle [game]
ROCK!!!
to guitarhero music game by descolada99 on 4-3-07 ... log this

Tales of Creation by Candlemass [music]
Since the 80s, Candlemass has brought Doom to the world from the country of Sweden. They have a very heavy sound that is influenced most closely by Black Sabbath, and lyrics sung by a man who at times looks like Friar Tuck with an afro. The vocal delivery is quite strong, and the vocalist has a good range that stays mostly in the middle to high end of the spectrum but without ever sounding like a castrato as is so often the case with metal from the 80s.

This particular album contains songs that were written years earlier, and that have to do with themes of cretaion. New worlds, states of being, and revelations. Not all of them are pleasant of course, since Candlemass has always had quite a penchant for songs about death, dying, about-to-be dying, and suicide.

Overall, this album is full of quality music that influenced generations of young musicians to come.
to candlemass doom-metal metal music by drexle on 2-12-06 ... log this

Sagovindars Boning by OTYG [music]
The second and to date final album of Otyg. In ways, the music on this album is more polished than its predicessor, but overall the two stack up pretty evenly in terms of quality. There are fewer songs that feature the kind of repetative lyrical structure on this album, which in some ways can be considered a positive, but not to a great extent.

A fun album overall.
to Otyg Vintersorg Folk Metal Folk-Metal Rock Folk-Rock music by drexle on 2-12-06 ... log this

Alvefard by OTYG [music]
Being that I'm not a Swede, I don't really understand the lyrics of Otyg. Then again from what I've heard, most Swedes don't either.

Otyg is a very folk-influenced rock/metal band with a bombastic sound that prominently features a violin and a jew's harp alongside the electric guitars and drums that we have come to expect of rock. While the songs are certainly not all happy, they all have a sort of playful spirit to them that is completely infectious. The standout on this album is the outro track, "Skymningsdans." A sorrowful tune, and one in which the vocalist probably sounds his finest.

The vocalist for Otyg is also the vocalist for the band Vintersorg, which also produced folk-influenced metal back in its first two albums.


to otyg vintersorg folk metal folk-metal rock folk-rock music by drexle on 2-12-06 ... log this

Nattfodd by Finntroll [music]
Let me say upfront that there are numerous standout moments on this CD, and that I personally found it worth every penny. Having said that, it is not without its faults, and I think that has mostly to do with the fact that the old chemistry present in the previous lineup is gone. While it is true that the old lineup seemed destined to implode, and very little was being produced for a long time, what they did make was truly special. I don't want to say that all of that has been lost here, but it is definitely not what I would have hoped for all in all.

The band has a harder edge to their music in this release than they have had since their very first album, which is not a bad thing, of course. Also, while their new vocalist is certainly good, there is just a certain quality that the old vocalist had which the new one cannot replace.

While the song Grottans Barn is truly outstanding, and others such as Manninskopesen, Trollhammaren, and the title track are excellent, none of the others really compel me to come back to them for another listen on their own... and I think that is the main downfall of this album.

Overall, a wonderful album that could have been so much more.
to polka-metal polka metal folk folk-metal music by drexle on 2-6-06 ... log this

Visor Om Slutet by Finntroll [music]
This EP is a bit of a different experience from the normal Finntroll, given that they eschewed their normal metal influence, and decided to make a mostly acoustic compilation of "Troll Music." The CD is sadly rather short, with about half the songs being instrumental/ambient interludes that make use of synths and nature sounds. The songs tend to have an old-world "around the campfire," "around the dance-floor," or "around the bar" feeling to them, and are truly a stroke of genius. Notably, this is the final work that included both "Somnium" (RIP) and "Katla" (who only sings on the song "Den Sista Runans Dans"... not coincidentally, this is also the best song on the CD), and with their departures marked the loss of the two founding members of the band.
to finntroll folk metal folk-metal music by drexle on 2-6-06 ... log this

Jaktens Tid by Finntroll [music]
Before I discovered Finntroll, I already knew that I liked metal... and I already knew that I liked Weird Al Yankovic. Therefore, when I found a band that combined metal with polka, it was probably a given that I'd fall in love with the music. This particular album was my first introduction to such madness, and it has stuck to me for several years.

Particularly, I'm fond of songs like Aldhissla, Slaget Vid Blodsalv, and Vargtimmen (which is actually a cover of a song by the folksy-rock band Hedningarna)
to polka-metal polka metal folk folk-metal music by drexle on 2-6-06 ... log this

Ogre Tones by King's X [music]
Great album from a great band!
to music rock kings_x by philroy on 1-30-06 ... log this

Diamonds on the Inside by Ben Harper [music]
Great album, reminds me of Jimmy Cliff
to music reggae acoustic rock by nonsense on 1-22-06 ... log this

O by Damien Rice [music]
Superb chill out album from the extremely talented Damien Rice. Beautiful acoustic guitar and vocals.
to music chill acoustic by nonsense on 1-22-06 ... log this

Catching Tales by Jamie Cullum [music]
I haven't listened to the whole album, but based on the strength of the single, <i>Get Your Way</i>, I'm very impressed. This song sounds like something new, but with a lot of elements of waht sounds to me like 'Old Hollywood', making me think of Brat Pack, and martinis, and stuff like that. (finished)
to music by missakins on 1-22-06 ... log this

Apologies to the Queen Mary by Wolf Parade [music]
(finished: January 1, 2006)
to music 2005 by jandevries on 1-21-06 ... log this

Upgrade & Afterlife by Gastr del Sol [music]
Moody, like Shellac on cough syrup
to music by imjustrick on 1-20-06 ... log this

The Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. (33 1/3) by Bill Janovitz [book]
to music by jamieanderson1968 on 1-20-06 ... log this

Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures (Thirty Three and a Third series) by Chris Ott [book]
Could have been better, but still interesting (finished)
to music by jamieanderson1968 on 1-20-06 ... log this