A Cup of Tea & Biscuits

Heavy metal, or simply metal, is a misunderstood genre. While there is very little of mainstream music I admire or even listen to, metal has been a good friend through my teenage years and has followed me into adulthood.  There is an element of metal music that hits home. It's not just the loudness and the bass and distortions. There is feeling in it, the lyrics are more intense, the music conveys a far deeper meaning. It's not noise. It's larger than that. I'm an 80's child that grew up in the 90's so I know what pop music is supposed to be and I've enjoyed my share of boy bands and solo artists. But most of the artists I like and songs I bobbed to were before my time. They were from the 70's and 80's. I couldn't enjoy a lot of the late 90's music because of the importance given to performance than actual singing or music. It became more about the 'oompf' factor. Metal, on the other hand, goes for the subtle bang. Yes, most to all me...

I have a habit of stumbling upon the nicest of songs/artist while on Pandora! My latest trip was over a German metal band called  Agathodaimon , sub-genred in gothic and black metal. I heard them on an instrumental metal radio channel on Pandora and am now very please that I did! I expected them to be an instrumental metal band, but was pleasantly surprised to their songs hovering between gothic and black metal (I'm not big on black metal), with harsh and soothing vocals. Yesterday's Reprise  from  Chapter III  (the instrumental song) Alone In The Dark  from  Phoenix To Our Ashes  from  Phoenix  (one of my favorites)

I never realized how much I liked and appreciated history, ancient and modern world, for a very long time. I hated studying for history tests at school, but the stories stayed with me. I admit that I do not recall dates and periods, but I remember, quite accurately, the happenings and most particulars surrounding it. So when I found a bunch of songs relating these tales, I was positively delighted. The first is an instrumental project - E.S. Posthumus . Brilliant compositions, moving sounds. I've listened to and falled in love with all of their compositions, possibly because they are classical and epic! Tikal  - from their debut album  Unearthed On to power metal and Sabaton , not the foot covering of an armor - I didn't have to look on Wikipedia for that :P, I just happen to know it! - but a Swedish metal group that focuses its musical and songwriting abilities on historical wars. Lyrically they cover the World Wars, but there are some other battles too. From their album The...

I await, with bated breath, this movie. Its trailer had me sighing (swooning and drooling too - for Thorin Oakenshield ) because I can go back to Middle Earth!! Yes, it's The Hobbit !!! And the dwarves sing!! Which is the whole point of this post :) Here's the complete poem , as written by Tolkien and below is what appears in the trailer of The Hobbit. Far over the Misty Mountains cold, To dungeons deep and caverns old. The pines were roaring on the heights, The wind was moaning in the night, The fire was red, it flaming spread, The trees like torches blazed with light. The Hobbit Making Of The Hobbit - Trailer

I haven't watched a lot of musicals, truth be told, but those I have watched I have loved! The Sound of Music, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Oliver!, Grease, Chicago,and  West Side Story being some that I can recall at this moment. My most recent flirtation with a musical was Jane Austen's Persuasion. Funky, right? :) Anyway, a few days back, I said the words, "reviewing the situation" to someone and it set into motion this particular series of memories and I, being one of those that loves almost anything to do with books, went on a musical spree. Here are some of my favorites. Reviewing the Situation - Oliver Twist Ron Moody, who played Fagin in the 1968 movie, made me love Oliver Twist - which isn't, if you come to think of it, a very endearing read for an eight year old! Be Prepared - The Lion King Jeremy Irons' voice send shivers down my spine whether he's talking or singing, and he deserves due recognition for being the perfect ...

I've been reading quite furiously of late. And watching a lot of Sherlock Holmes and Peter Wimsey movies. Sherlock Holmes, here, refers to the 2010 BBC miniseries with Benedict Cumberbatch (ah, the voice) as Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr. Watson . I loved it! The new, updated Sherlock Holmes is as every bit enjoyable as the Edwardian detective! Rupert Graves , who plays D.I. Lestrade, soon became my fixation. And so, being the fan girl that I am, I went on to YouTube and while browsing through fan videos, came across Skillet , a band whose name I was familiar with, but knew little about their music. Anyway. I loved the song 'The Last Night' and listened to a bunch of their songs on Spotify and found Comatose. Here they are for you hearing pleasure. Quick note on the Jace Everett song - I don't watch True Blood. I stumbled upon this song on a Lestrade/Mycroft Holmes fan video. This may be the beginning of my rock flirtation phase - when I tend to listen to old m...

As I begin the fun process of reorganizing my music, I've been listening to some of the older stuff... things that I listened to when I was a child, growing up. They were fun, and still remain some of the best songs ever! Here's a sampling of what I've been subjecting myself to over the weekend. It's Raining Men by The Weather Girls I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor Walk Like An Egyptian by The Bangles And just for the heck of it, and because the song is rather catchy: Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5 (feat. Christina Aguilera)

Still on my instrumental/sentimental phase, also experimenting (because of a friend) with some indie rock, so here it goes! Noir - Solitude by the Window Something of an End - My Brightest Diamond I heard Shara Worden live last week, she played at one of the radio stations for select audience and I went along because of a friend and fell in love with her voice. This song and another (She didn't brave the war, but she saved the day) made me cry.

Sticking with my current phase of instrumental music, I was listening to one of Pandora stations - I forget which one though - and heard this darkish, strong, subtle music waft into my ears and I fell in love. It was Die Verbannten Kinder Evas - which I guessed to be the 'discarded' children of Eve from my limited knowledge of German and turns out I was close enough (it's translates to 'the exiled children of eve')! As soon as the song was done, I went on YouTube, found their YouTube playlist, which I created my own 'Darker Instrumental' playlist , and have been listening to it since. This was three days ago and I am hooked. They are wonderful! The music caters to my metal and classical preferences, and it just leaves me breathless every time! So, here are some of their compositions that have got me begging for more :) Cease to Breathe Catharsis The Serpent's Voice

As one normally does, I go through phases of music. It generally varies between classical, sub-genres of metal, instrumental - mostly piano or violin. I'm very selective in what I listen to so while this doesn't seem like too much of a variety, I can assure you that there's enough music in all of these put together to last me a life time and a few more! Anyhow, my current phase is a piano instrumental one. It has been recurring, but of late it seems to have gone on for a little longer. This meant that I was able to understand what exactly I like about the sound of a piano being played. I noticed that I preferred the more mellow, subtle sounds that the overtly happy ones. Like this one by David Nevue called The Vigil. And the simple beauty of Just You and Me by Michele McLaughlin. This just follows my liking of epic music, either the emotions/feelings are represented in massive strength, or take time in presenting themselves. I...

Bible Black by Heaven & Hell from The Devil You Know (2009) Last year at this time I was reveling in the victory of my favorite football club - them winning the Premier League was the highlight of May 2010 - and all I listened to for weeks were Chelsea FC songs . While they mean a lot to me, they don't qualify as my favorite songs. Going back into my blog by a year, I realized that it was also my Black Sabbath (and all related) phase. I listened to their entire discography and if I remember correctly, Bible Black was an obsession for me. Ronnie James Dio is one of my metal idols. His voice! Ah! I would've given anything to watch him perform live, but when he was performing I was too young, and then I never had the opportunity! But his music shall live on! At last alone, his fire's dying, burned another day Now to pretend and make up an ending, somewhere far away He reached for a book all bound in leather Something that he knows he's never...

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 by Franz Liszt Tom & Jerry is an all time favorite cartoon. I have, from a very young age, enjoyed and admired the creativity in each of these shorts that dominated my TV watching. This being a cartoon from the early 1930's there were a lot of classical elements to it, musically speaking, and I was delighted to note that one of my favorite rhapsodies was used in this cartoon! Tom's and Jerry's rivalry takes a musical twist in this one, with Jerry trying to get back at a Tom, a concert pianist, for not letting him sleep in peace in the piano! I love how their rivalry, the need to beat and hurt each other, is integrated into this absolutely beautiful song! Liszt was genius and this is my favorite composition of his - probably because of the cartoon I associate with it, but it's still my favorite and definitely one of the highlights of my childhood!

Don't Say A Word by Sonata Arctica from Reckoning Night (2006) I don't recall a song that has actually made me feel guilty. I've cried to songs but not out of guilt. I suppose the only song I can think of in terms of guilt is this one. A bit of a creepy song, actually, meant to frighten the wits out of you! But the lyrics are aimed to make one feel guilty, to hurt and anger them even. I think one of the main reasons I thought of this song is because when I put myself in the shoes of a character that I wrote, I saw through her eyes and felt her guilt because of certain events. The blame placed at her door were along the lines of those described in this song - not literally but figuratively. So yes, I guess this song does make me feel guilty! Written by: Connell, Andrew; Drewery, Corinne I am your poison candy gram, the love that's meant to fade away Vade retro, alter ego, move aside, I'm choking on this life I think I tolerate your hate, as...

Rock Prelude by David Garrett from Encore (2008) My yearning to properly learn to play the piano still burns high, but I've been playing the air guitar and air drums from a while now and there are several songs that I wish I could play for real. David Garrett's songs are definitely high on my list for this. He's the world's fastest violinist, he's cute, can speak German, can play the violin, smile, walk and entertain at the same time. I particular love this composition of his, the violin parts are amazing - you can dance to it, almost head bang to it or just listen to it and smile.

Lux Æterna by Clint Mansell and the Kronos Quartet from Requiem for a Dream (2000) I've wanted to learn how to the play the piano from even before I wanted to sing. Unfortunately, it has never really taken shape in the way I wanted it, but I did manage to teach myself to some extent! My Dad bought me a miniature Casio, one of those kiddie ones with about 15 keys, and I began to play by ear. Any and every song that I loved, I would play. In more recent times I've been playing full length songs off of my favorite albums, even if just with a single hand and no sheet music ( I can't read music :P) One of the best leitmotifs composed, this is a song I've obsessed about since I heard it. I think I have some 5 different versions of the song, including the one used as Requiem for a Tower in the trailer for The Two Towers (LOTR), an orchestal version and a live version by the Quartet. My point is, I love this track! It's brilliantly epic and I can see a whole battle, o...

Detharmonic by Dethklok from The Dethalbum (2007) Songs that make me laugh? Being the picky musical cynic I think I would laugh anything that passes for music these days - I'm talking about those with no creative lyrics - it's just always about love, partying and sex, and it's generally a set of 3 words repeated in a sentence that is repeated throughout the song; no real singing - very few artists actually attempt at doing anything more than speaking the words these days even if they have the ability to do so!; dance beats or the same old ballad like tunes. But I can't laugh at these songs, I merely get annoyed. The other way of being amused by a song is by its music video, but I gave up watching videos to songs a very long time ago - I watch the live performances but very rarely the official music video associated with the song. But it's music. It's supposed to cater to every mood, right? Metalocalypse happened. A friend recommended that I listen to some of ...

Ruska by Apocalyptica from Apocalyptica (2005) Again, something that I haven't given thought to, but something that crosses my mind when I'm reading of, listening to or watching some grand departure. I'm not sure I would ban crying, because whatever is said, you do want someone to grieve for you at least a little bit. Because when you lose someone close and important to you, there is a void that gapes in your heart and soul and you know that it cannot be filled. I suppose for me, in this case, I would prefer a song that speaks of that void. The path to its healing come after, but at my funeral I believe I would like to listen to Apocalyptica. This song, whose title means 'autumn leaves' in Finnish, has all of the elements of sorrow and distress oozing out of it. The 'crescendo' always makes my heart wrench, always. It can be interpreted in many ways - like in this video for LOTR. I think it would be apt for me - it personifies my taste in music, my love fo...

For the Love of a Princess by James Horner from Braveheart (1995) Every girl dreams of her prince charming, riding up to her and sweeping her off her feet, gazing into her eyes and telling her that his heart his hers. She also dreams that she's a princess... I'm sure most girls are called princesses by their parents, a title generally bestowed upon the baby girl by her father... So wishing that one of the songs at her wedding be this heart warming soothing score by James Horner is natural, I would think. I'm a romanticist at heart, despite my public opinions on several other things. I find beauty in small simple matters. And while I have not given much thought to my wedding, I do know what songs I would like to hear on the day - most of them rock and metal ballads/classics, but several epic instrumentals as well. This song came to mind in a dream... I was writing descriptions of two of my characters and was trying to find a song for them, this one happened most inadverten...

Main Theme from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 by Hans Zimmer (2009) I play video games, much to the astonishment and slight chagrin of most of my male friends, because they are interesting and keep my mind off the mundane things in life. I prefer strategic games or ones with a decent storyline to it. So, I suppose it's quite obvious, like several other obvious things, that I should like the Call of Duty series. The theme music in all of them are amazing, but this particular composition by Hans Zimmer caught my attention as I finished up the game and watched the credits roll in. I bought the CD soon after and found that I've listened to this theme in moments of sadness, when I've been upset and when I'm thinking and plotting of how to deal with it. Mr. Zimmer doles out beautiful themes every single time and this is no exception. It's serious, sensitive and apt for the theme of a war game and I love it! It doesn't make me cry, but it goes so well with those mom...

Symphony No. 9 in E minor: From the New World by Antonín Dvořák This is probably Dvořák's most famous composition and I'm sure most would've heard it somewhere because it figures significantly in modern repertoire. I've loved the romantic movements of the period so it's rather obvious that I should like this one. I associate this composition with happiness because I think the first time I heard it I was happy about something a friend had told me and I felt my senses being elevated with the surges and drops in this symphony. It has an epic feel to it and yet it soft and soothing enough to allow me to let my feelings unfold. I'm putting up only the 4th Movement 'cause it is my favorite part of the whole composition, but I do love the whole set!