What Am I Doing Here? Twisted MixTape

I am very, very tired. It's been a rough day, so I'm just going to jump into this weeks invite by Jen, for a Twisted MixTape. The challenge this week is to choose five songs outside your comfort zone, stuff from any genre which is not on your usual playlist. The original idea was five from the same genre, but that's not gonna happen tonight, so I'll mix it up.

Now I'm a rocker, don't think there's many of you who don't know that, but the blues always set me free. So I'll try to stay away from those two styles, but no promises. Like I said, I'm really tired.. and cranky, so zip it with the comments.

Let's start with Classical. Yeah, I said it. Now I don't know shit about Classical music for the most part, just a few pieces here and there. This piece is one I first heard a long time ago when "the other" would play it non-stop as he conducted an imaginary orchestra. Oh hell, we've all done it. It's been used for commercials, the Olympics, anytime you need a grand statement. The entire piece was derived from the poems of Benedictine monks in the 11th or 12th century. By the way, most of the poems were a little... erotic. Fun times. Written by Carl Orff, this is one piece of it, don't ask which piece, I'm to tired to go any further with it. Let's just say it's one of the better know sections of the composition.

Carmina Burana

Jazz, not my strong suit. But older Jazz I like. A little something from 1959. Miles Davis.

"So What"

A little country, not old country, but not new country either. Sometime during high school, I got into Kris Kristofferson. Then I got a bunch of my friends into him as well. That guy with the rough voice, who sounded like at age 30something, he had inhaled the fires of hell. Great lyrics and back in the day, not too hard on the eyes. From the album The Silver Tongue Devil and I, an album I may have played the grooves off...

"Lovin Her Was Easier"

Metal, or as far as I usually get into metal. Def Leppard. If they come on the radio, I won't turn them off, but I'm not playing them at home.

"Bringing On The Heartbreak"

Last up, a little country rock. It's fairly new, by an artist I interviewed this year, You can read it here on MusicStarUniverse.com. It's rocking, got some great licks, and is sexy as hell. From the album, The Road Ain't Long, Mr. Dee Rock.

Don't have a video, but take a listen to the audio.

"Ripples On The Moon"

Thanks for the extra curricular workout Jen. Enjoyed tonight's exercise.

Let's Get Loud Today...Really Loud

Ok, since I've been writing this music blog there is one genre of music I have yet to feature. And yes, I will admit it now. While I can appreciate its form, the skill involved in it and the legions of its fans...I AM NOT A METALHEAD. There I've said it.

Yes, I do enjoy the occasion head banging moment just like the rest of you, but I am a writer...for me I need to enjoy the lyrics as well as the music, and it's just too damn hard to get past the...well loudness. Granted there are some great metal lyrics starting way back with "I like smoke & lightning...heavy metal thunder"... unofficially the first time metal was actually given a nod in a song. But some of the writing is a little too much "in your face." That's fine, to each his own and all that.

Today though is Easter Sunday..all peace and quiet and...yeah cause I like to push the limits at all times, just the perfect time for some knock-the-paint-off-the-walls music.

Firing it up today, German metal band Primal Fear. Led by the vocals of Ralf Sheepers, he is definitely a man not only with the full-balls-on delivery needed to front this power band, but he also has an unbelievable quality to his voice as well. Randy Black smokes on drums and his rhythm partner Mat Sinner has a resume of playing bass and producing albums forever. Finish it off with the dueling guitars of Magnus Karlsson and Alexander Beyrodt and if you're standing, chances are they are gonna knock your ass down.



Heavy tasting today...

"Riding the Eagle" 
"Killbound"
"Angel in Black"

Turn the volume way the hell up...or really, what's the point.

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