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Hey y'all, it's another playlist for music lovers everywhere. This month's playlist is loaded with rap, indie rock, and the inescapable ballads. Hopefully, you'll enjoy it as much as I did. For those wondering why posts have been so few and far between, come visit us over at Facebook or Twitter where we have daily song selections. Enjoy the playlist!

Full Tracklist

1. We Never Went To Church – The Streets – The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living - 2006

Per Wikipedia, “Never Went to Church is the second single to be taken from The Streets’ third album, The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living. Never Went to Church is a tribute to his recently-deceased father. The piano line is a sample of a chord progression from the song "Let It Be" by The Beatles.”

2. Dear Bobbie – Yellowcard – Paper Walls – 2007

One of the most touching songs on Paper Walls, Dear Bobbie is about the 58-year relationship between vocalist Ryan Key’s grandparents. The track features recordings of his 87-year-old grandfather reading a love letter to his wife. “It’s coming from a man who has been in World War II, traveled the world and seen and done it all. He’s been married and in love with the same woman for 58 years, and you can hear it in his voice,” says Key. The video below unfortunately doesn’t have his grandfather’s recordings since it is a live performance. I definitely recommend listening to the album version of the track.

3. Cleaning Out My Closet – Eminem – The Eminem Show – 2002

Cleaning Out My Closet is the second single from Eminem’s fourth album, The Eminem Show. It became the album’s second top-ten single, reaching #4 on the United States Billboard Hot 100.

From Wikipedia: “In the song, Eminem introspectively examines his life reflecting on such topics as his troubled childhood, marital conflicts, and resentful feud with his mother. Eminem underscores his animosity towards her by chanting a hauntingly sarcastic apology in the chorus, claiming "I never meant to hurt you".”

4. Learn You Inside Out – Lifehouse – Who We Are – 2007

Learn You Inside Out is a classic Lifehouse ballad and one of the rare songs that frontman Jason Wade wrote on a piano. One of my favorite tracks from Who We Are.

5. Strawberry Swing – Coldplay – Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends – 2008

Strawberry Swing is the fifth and final single from Coldplay’s Viva La Vida. It contains influences from afro-pop and highlife music, and is built around finger-picked, distortion-free guitars with a heavy bassline and psychedelic synths. Lead singer Chris Martin explained how the song's musical style came into existence: "My mum comes from Zimbabwe, so I spent a lot of time there. I used to work in a studio where people played that." The overall sound of the song was also inspired by Delakota song "The Rock," which utilizes a backward guitar loop.

Coldplay - Strawberry Swing (Official Video) HQ
envoyé par wonderful-life1989. - Regardez plus de clips, en HD !

6. WTF? – OK Go – Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky – 2010

Inspired by Prince, WTF? Is the first single from OK Go’s latest release. It was featured in commercials for the TV shows Bones and Fringe.

7. Evil Eye – Fu Manchu – The Action Is Go – 1997

Our first from the late 90’s, Evil Eye featured on the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater videogames series.

8. Always All Ways (Apologies, Glances and Messed Up Chances) – Lostprophets – Liberation Transmission – 2006

The title says it all. Always All Ways is a mainstream-friendly love ballad which brought a perfect close to Liberation Transmission.

9. I Drove All Night – Roy Orbison – King Of Hearts – 1992

Orbison first recorded I Drove All Night in 1987, but his rendition was not released until 1991, after the song had become a Top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic for Cyndi Lauper in 1989. I first heard it in the Australian movie Paperback Hero and immediately fell in love with it.

10. Speak Now – 7L & Esoteric ft. Vinnie Paz and Apathy – Dangerous Connection – 2002

Featuring Esoteric, Vinnie Paz, Apathy on the mic, and 7L on the beat, there's no way that Speak Now can fail. It’s a great track, made even greater by the last verse superbly delivered by Apathy.

11. Stranger In Moscow – Michael Jackson – HIStory – 1995

Stranger in Moscow is the fifth and final single from Michael Jackson's album HIStory. The track was written by Jackson in 1993, at the height of the highly publicized child abuse accusations made against him, while on tour in Moscow. Today, it remains one of his most critically-acclaimed pieces.

12. Nothing Else Matters – Metallica – Metallica – 1991

The third single of Metallica’s Black Album, Nothing Else Matters is one of the band’s most well-known (and also most mainstream-friendly) tracks. It is one of the few Metallica songs in which Hetfield, rather than Hammett, plays the guitar solo. Given that Hetfield recorded all rhythm and most harmony tracks on the band's first five albums, it is therefore the only Metallica song that does not feature Hammett's playing.

13. Jet Pack – The Flobots – Flobots Presents... Platypus (EP) – 2005

I first discovered The Flobots when downloading bands selected at random (it’s something I do every three months to find new artists). The best way to describe their style would be "Alternative Rap Rock." Jet Pack is the second track of their 2005 EP Platypus.

14. If You’re Gone – Matchbox Twenty – Mad Season – 2000

If You’re Gone is the second single from Mad Season. The song became a hit on adult contemporary radio, spending two weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. It also reached #5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Matchbox Twenty - If You're Gone
envoyé par AtlanticRecords. - Clip, interview et concert.

15. Starlight – Snowgoons ft. Viro the Virus – Black Snow – 2008

Sampling The Alan Parsons Project’s “Some Other Time” (from the I Robot album) the Snowgoons came up with a brilliant instrumental for Starlight including a softly sung chorus. Viro does well on the mic as well, making Starlight an excellent rap track.

16. Think About You (I Like It) – Kaiser Chiefs – Lap Of Honour (EP) – 2005

Think About You is a Kaiser Chiefs B-side, appearing on the “Oh My God” CD single, as well as the Japan-only EP Lap of Honor. In terms of sound, it’s pretty similar to “Caroline, Yes” which features on the Employment album.

17. Old Timerz – M.O.P – Warriorz – 2000

Just a nice little rap song that I felt was good enough for the playlist. The lyrics are quite repetitive though.

18. Carry Out – Timbaland ft. Justin Timberlake – Timbaland Presents Shock Value II – 2009

Carry Out is the third single from Timbaland’s Shock Value II. Featuring Justin Timberlake, the track is easy to sing along to and gets quickly ingrained in your head.

19. Attics Of My Life – Grateful Dead – American Beauty – 1970

The ninth track of American Beauty, Attics Of My Life is lyrically structured like a prayer and sung with harmonic, slow and revent vocals. It is a great track to relax to.

20. Lullaby For The Summer – Jimi Hendrix – Valleys Of Neptune – 2010

Lullaby For The Summer is the second instrumental from Jimi Hendrix’s posthumous Valleys Of Neptune. It sounds like a remaster of “Ezy Ryder” from The Cry Of Love, making the track not-quite-new material.

21. The Ghost Of Tom Joad – Bruce Springsteen – The Ghost Of Tom Joad – 1995

The Ghost of Tom Joad is the title track of Springteen’s eleventh studio album. The character Tom Joad, from John Steinbeck's classic novel The Grapes of Wrath, is mentioned in the title and narrative. Recorded as a quiet folk song, The Ghost of Tom Joad has also been recorded in a radically louder and harsher arrangement by Rage Against the Machine.

Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost Of Tom Joad
envoyé par goldrausch. - Regardez la dernière sélection musicale.

22. Blinded In Chains – Avenged Sevenfold – City Of Evil – 2005

The third track of Avenged Sevenfold’s critically-acclaimed City Of Evil, Blinded In Chains features great guitar work by both Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance.

23. Rain – Abs – Abstract Theory – 2003

Rain is one of the few slow songs on Abs’ debut solo record. It’s about moving on from a bad break-up. “Let the rain wash the pain away.”

24. Dance Floor Anthem (I Don’t Want To Be In Love) – Good Charlotte – Good Morning Revival – 2007

Dance Floor Anthem is the second single from Good Morning Revival. Moving on from their pop-punk sound, the track is more of a dance-rock/electronic-rock sound with a slight resemblance to Swedish pop group ABBA.

Good Charlotte-Dance Floor Anthem(I Don't Wanna Be In Love)
envoyé par gcbg. - L'info video en direct.

25. Come On Feet – Pete & The Pirates – Little Death – 2008

Come On Feet was Pete & The Pirates’ debut single. Its popularity grew after an appearance on the UEFA Euro 2008 videogame soundtrack. It’s a great indie rock song.

26. Eat That Up, It’s Good For You – Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History – 2010

Like “Come On Feet,” Eat That Up is another great indie rock track by Nothern Ireland newcomers Two Door Cinema Club. I definitely recommend their debut album to anyone looking to add some good music to their collection.

27. Burning For Love – Bon Jovi – Bon Jovi – 1984

Burning For Love is the typical Bon Jovi crowd-pleaser. Memorable chorus, great guitar work. It’s just a fun song to listen to.

28. Rain – Breaking Benjamin – We Are Not Alone – 2004

One of my favorite tracks from Breaking Benjamin, Rain is a great acoustic ballad. Perfect for lonely train rides.

29. Hand Of Blood – Bullet For My Valentine – Hand Of Blood (EP) – 2005

Like “4 Words (To Choke Upon)” from one of our previous playlists, Hand Of Blood is a great track musically but the lyrics are quite repetitive.

30. Kissing A Fool – Michael Buble – Michael Buble – 2003

Kissing A Fool is song written and originally performed by George Michael in 1988 and was then covered by Michael Buble on his self-titled album.

31. Hot Love Drama – MGMT – Climbing To New Lows – 2005

We conclude this month’s playlist with some psychedelic rock from MGMT. Hot Love Drama is a relatively quiet track from their indie debut Climbing To New Lows. The song makes for great background music or for when you just need to relax.

And that's it for this month (or last month, however you want to look at it). Look out for an album review from fellow writer Alain which should be posted sometime this coming week.

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: Playlists, Rock, Rap / Hip Hop, R&B, Pop

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Hey June

June 30th 2010 18:11

Apologies to the readers for the lack of posts during the past couple of months. We were in the middle of a move and are only now fully settled. We come back with June's playlist featuring lots of pop songs to start off the summer. Enjoy!!!

Full Tracklist

1. Somewhere In My Memory (Home Alone Main Title) – John Williams – Home Alone Soundtrack – 1992

Pretty weird to begin the summer with a Christmas song but that's what popped out of my randomizer. Somewhere In My Memory was nominated for Best Original Song in the 1990 Academy Awards. Composed by John Williams, it bears some resemblance to the Harry Potter main theme ("Hedwig's Theme") also composed by Williams.

2. Southside – Common ft. Kanye West – Finding Forever – 2007

Southside is the sixth track on Common's seventh album. It was produced by Kanye West who also raps on the track.

3. Island In The Sun – Weezer – Weezer (The Green Album) – 2001

The summer track by excellence, Island In The Sun is the second single from Weezer's third album. You may have heard it in several movies and some commercials. Two videos were made for the song, one during a Mexican wedding and the other with animals. The latter has had more airplay on television but I got both right here for you to enjoy.

4. All That Shit Is Gone – Carolina Liar – Coming To Terms – 2008

I've mentioned Carolina Liar in a previous playlist and I definitely think that their debut (Coming To Terms) is a must-have album. Chad Wolf's singing is flawless on every track and the instrumentals are solid.

5. Blurry – Puddle Of Mudd – Come Clean – 2001

The second single from the album Come Clean, Blurry is arguably Puddle Of Mudd's biggest song. It reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks and Hot Modern Rock Tracks as well as reaching the #5 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

6. Theme For Young Lovers – Percy Faith – Ocean's Eleven Soundtrack – 2001

The second song from Ocean's Eleven Soundtrack to make an appearance, Theme For Young Lovers is a relaxing track and will send the oldie-lovers swooning.

7. Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution – AC/DC – Back In Black – 1980

The final track of an all-time classic album, Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution is the perfect statement song against rock haters. As usual, the guitar intro is excellent and the rest of the track is simply awesome.

8. Valentine's Day – Linkin Park – Minutes To Midnight – 2007

Many fans were disappointed by Linkin Park's third effort (fourth if you count Reanimation). The rap-rock component of their music which had been a large part of their success was suddenly gone, replaced by more alternative rock led by Chester Bennington's vocals. Still, Minutes To Midnight is a solid album. Valentine's Day is one those tracks hated by some fans but loved by others. Personally, I love its simplicity and softness.

9. It's Goin' Down – X-Ecutioners ft. Mike Shinoda & Mr. Hahn – Built From Scratch - 2002

From “new” Linkin Park, we move to “old” Linkin Park. Although the band itself had nothing to do with the X-Ecutioners' track, It's Goin' Down feels like a Linkin Park track with LP frontman Mike Shinoda on the mic, Phoenix on bass and Rob Bourdon on drums. Wayne Static from Static-X features as guitarist.

10. The Saints Are Coming – U2 ft. Green Day – U218 Singles – 2006

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, U2 and Green collaborated on The Saints Are Coming, a cover of the Skids' track. After its release, the song became the unofficial anthem of the New Orleans Saints, playing in the Superdome before the team's entrance.

11. Stop Crying Your Heart Out – Oasis – Heathen Chemistry – 2002

The second single from Heathen Chemistry, Stop Crying Your Heart Out is the staple song for hardship times in movies. It's the perfect song to listen to when going through tough times.

12. Straight Through My Heart – Backstreet Boys – This Is Us – 2009

The first single of the Backstreet Boys' latest release, Straight Through My Heart is a return to the dance-pop sound that was at the Boys' origin. The chorus is catchy and easily memorable while the performance part in the video is reminiscent of their first-ever music video for “We've Got It Goin' On.”

13. I Hate Everything About You – Three Days Grace – Three Days Grace – 2003

Three Days Grace broke out of nowhere in 2003 with their punchy debut single I Hate Everything About You. The song is the perfect anthem for angsty teenager with its straight-forward chorus and simple instrumental.

14. Mad World – Michael Andrews & Gary Jules – Donnie Darko Soundtrack – 2002

Originally, Mad World was a song by the British band Tears For Fears which became a worldwide hit in the early eighties. Twenty years later, the song surged back to the top of the charts thanks to Michael Andrews and Gary Jules' cover of the song on the Donnie Darko soundtrack. It became even bigger when it was included in the commercial to the videogame Gears of War for the Xbox 360 in 2006.

15. Meant To Live – Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown – 2003

In 2003, Switchfoot broke into mainstream consciousness with this single. The first track of major-label debut album, it peaked at #5 on the US Modern Rock chart and #18 on the US Hot 100. There we three videos made for this song: a live performance footage mash-up, a classic music video, and a video for the movie Spiderman 2. You can see all three below.

16. Set The Fire To The Third Bar – Snow Patrol ft. Martha Wainwright – Eyes Open – 2006

One of my favorite songs from Eyes Open, Set The Fire To The Bar is a slow ballad about long distance relationships. It is the fourth single of the album and came back to the US Billboard Top 100 this year thanks to an appearance on the Dear John movie trailer.

17. I'm An American – La Coka Nostra ft. B-Real – A Brand You Can Trust – 2009

I'm An American was the first song that got me into La Coka Nostra. A simple piano loop serves as the main component of the instrumental. Cypress Hill's B-Real makes a nice appearance on the last verse while Sicknature gets co-credit as producer.

18. Swear It Again – Westlife – Westlife – 1999

Swear It Again is Westlife's first-ever single. It peaked at #1 in the UK and is Westlife's only single to have charted in the USA, peaking at #20. Pop fans will notice that the concept for the UK video was later copied by the Backstreet Boys for their video of "Shape Of My Heart." The US video was directed by Nigel Dick, a frequent director of boyband music videos.

19. Cyclone – Dub Pistols – Point Blank – 1998

Fans of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater videogames series will recognize this song as it featured on THPS2. Great beat, great song.

20. Southside Revival – Blue Scholars – The Long March EP – 2005

Like “Cyclone,” Southside Revival has a great beat but its message is even better. Geo is a great lyricist who makes songs even better thanks to his great delivery.

21. Sorrow – Box Car Racer – Box Car Racer - 2002

Sorrow is the ninth track on Box Car Racer's great debut album. Like most of the songs on the album, it's a solid track led by Tom DeLonge's unmistakable voice and Travis Barker's drumming.

22. Running Out Of Days – 3 Doors Down – Away From The Sun - 2002

The title of this track is self-explanatory: it's a song about running out of days. As in most of 3 Doors Down's discography, Brad Arnold's vocals are perfect. The video below is a live performance of the song.

23. Play That Country Tuba, Cowboy – The Vandals – The Vandals Play Really Bad Original Country Tunes – 1999

Play That Country Tuba, Cowboy is a hilarious song featuring a tuba as the lead instrument. I was surprised to find a cover of the song on YouTube and was impressed by the tuba player so I thought I'd put the video below just to give you an idea of the song.

24. The Beginning – BBMak – Into Your Head – 2002

The Beginning is the final song of BBMak's second – and last – album. It's a nice slow song with emphasis on harmonies between the vocalists.

25. Invincible – Five – Invincible - 1999/2000

Another ballad to please pop fans, Invincible is primarily piano-driven with a Spanish guitar weaving in and out of the instrumental. As usual, Rich and Scott share the vocals on this one, leaving the others to backing vocals.

26. Gung-Ho – Anthrax – Spreading The Disease - 1985

I had several Anthrax tracks to choose from for this month's playlist. I picked Gung-Ho simply because of its insane rhythm.

27. Take My Hand, Precious Lord – B.B. King & Friends – Night Of Blistering Blues – 2005

This classic gospel song was covered by Etta James, Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight on B.B. King's Night Of Blistering Blues live-album. This American classic was Dr. Martin Luther King's favorite song and was often sung at civil rights rallies.

28. This Side Of Paradise – Bryan Adams – Room Service – 2004

This Side Of Paradise was the fourth single from Bryan Adams' ninth studio album. It peaked at #20 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary Chart.

29. Blood Of Heroes – Megadeth – Youthanasia – 1994

Youthanasia was one of the few albums we reviewed in our now-defunct Blast From The Past column. There are several good songs on it but Blood Of Heroes was this month's choice.

30. Growing – CYNE – Evolution Fight – 2005

Growing is a nice track to chill to thanks to its floaty instrumental. The lyrics aren't bad either.

And this concludes this month's playlist. Stay tuned for mini and full reviews. Also, don't forget to follow us on Facebook (just click on the Facebook box on the left column) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/MuzikalMafia) for daily updates.

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: Playlists, Rock, Rap / Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, Movie Soundtracks

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April's Finest Music

May 1st 2010 21:53

Hello folks, first of all I'd like to apologize for our lack of reviews this month. We both have been pretty busy with school and other stuff. We got some reviews on the backburner so we'll get them posted as soon as we can. Now, the monthly playlists still go on. We didn't post anything for Easter since we were out of town but I think you will get plenty of satisfaction with this month's list. It has numerous classics as well as great indie bands and underground rappers. In my opinion, this is our first truly “balanced” playlist in terms of worldwide hits and indie stuff. I hope you'll enjoy it.

Full Tracklist

1. The Ice Covered Everything – Shearwater - Everybody Makes Mistakes – 2002

This month's playlist begins with a relatively recent indie band, Shearwater, which was formed by Okkervil River members Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff. “The Ice Covered Everything” is the seventh track of their sophomore album, Everybody Makes Mistakes. The song's structure is pretty simple: just three verses with the final line of the first and third verse - “you know” and “you knew” - acting as a chorus. It's basically a sung poem. The instrumental reflect its simplicity with only an acoustic guitar and orchestral strings as accompaniments.

2. Cold Desert – Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night – 2008

“Cold Desert” is the final track of King of Leon's Only By The Night. Led by a continuous bassline, the song rips at your heart as Caleb's voice reeks of pain. Like “The Ice Covered Everything,” “Cold Desert” has no chorus but follows a AABB rhyme pattern reminiscent of a poem.

3. Eyes – Rogue Wave – Just Friends soundtrack – 2005

You might not know the band, but I bet that many of you are familiar with the song “Eyes” which was featured in the movie Just Friends and made an appearance the TV shows 90210 and Heroes. Like Shearwater, Rogue Wave is a relatively recent band but their music have been heavily featured in movies and TV whether it's TV shows or commercials. It's only a matter of time before they blow up as several bands did before them.

4. Ramblin' Man – The Allman Brothers Band – Brothers And Sisters – 1973

A Southern classic, “Ramblin' Man” by the Allman Brothers Band is a masterful song. From the catchy chorus to Dickey Betts' superb solos as lead guitar, the track is all-around solid. I was happy to find a live performance video of the song since they rarely play it in live shows. For videogames lovers, the song is also playable in Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour.

5. Enough For Now – The Fray – The Fray – 2009

In my review of The Fray's sophomore effort, I often criticized Isaac Slade's poor vocals. I still stand by my opinion but after listening to the album several times since then, I have to admit that his voice works in the grand scheme of things. “Enough For Now” was one of my least favorite songs of the album (mostly due to Slade's vocals) but it has turned into quite a guilty pleasure. Of course, I still think that The Fray are nothing more than a cheap copy of Lifehouse but I'll let you enjoy this one.

6. Carolina Rain – Ryan Adams – 29 – 2005

“Carolina Rain” is a great alt-country song and makes a perfect introduction to the genre for country haters. Ryan Adams' drawling voice and the slide guitar give the song a nice “Southern” feel while still being accessible to average rock fans.

7. Enter Sandman – Metallica – Metallica – 1991

The opening track and lead single of Metallica's self-titled album, “Enter Sandman” is probably the most recognized song of the band's catalog. While many hardcore Metallica fans spurn the song for being too commercial and simple, I personally feel that “Enter Sandman” is the doorway to metal. If you want to convert a rock fan to metal, “Enter Sandman” - and “Nothing Else Matters” to a certain extent – provides the smoothest transition between the genres.

8. Jerry Was A Race Car Driver – Primus – Sailing the Seas of Cheese - 1991

Players of the first Tony Hawk's Pro Skater videogame probably recognize this funky song from the game's soundtrack. A perfect mix of intriguing vocals, a sick bassline and a weird but effective guitar solo, “Jerry Was A Race Driver” was arguably Primus' biggest hit, peaking at number 23 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1991.

9. Freestyler – Bomfunk MC's – 2000

In the year 2000, the song “Freestyler” by Bomfunk MC's was all the rage in Europe, peaking at number 1 in several countries. It was largely ignored in North America – its only notable appearance being in the Matt Hoffman's Pro BMX 2 videogame. I definitely recommend to check it out.

10. Enjoy The Silence 04 – Depeche Mode [Reinterpreted by Mike Shinoda] – Remixes 81-04 – 2004

“Enjoy The Silence” is one of Depeche Mode's most popular songs, charting in the Top 10 in both the UK and US. Mike Shinoda's reinterpretation of the song brings the Linkin Park sound in the mix to great success. This version of the song was stuck on “repeat” in my MP3 player for quite a while. A great, energetic track, perfect to start the day.

11. The Revolution – OuterSpace ft. Celph Titled – Blood And Ashes - 2004

Giants of the underground, OuterSpace and Celph Titled, unite on this song to add another great track to their respective catalogs. There is no question that all three rappers have skills but it's the smooth instrumental that allowed the track to be in this month's playlist.

12. How The Leopard Got Its Spots – Portugal. The Man – Waiter: “You Vultures” - 2006

“How The Leopard Got Its Spots” is the opening track of Portugal. The Man's debut album, Waiter: “You Vultures.” It's a great upbeat song with excellent vocals, a sharp bass on the chorus, and a stellar instrumental overall.

13. Brothers On A Hotel Bed – Death Cab For Cutie – Plans – 2005

“Brothers On A Hotel Bed” marks the second appearance of Death Cab For Cutie on our playlists and it is a masterpiece. The melancholic tone of piano plays well with the song's lyrics – a tale of a couple growing distant as time goes by to the point of sleeping like “brothers on a hotel bed.” A superb song.

14. Shook Ones Pt. II – Mobb Deep – The Infamous – 1995

A hip hop classic, “Shook Ones Pt. II” marks the second appearance of Mobb Deep on our lists. The laid-back instrumental is the perfect counterpart to the lyrics dealing with making money and surviving the violence in the streets. Every hip hop head knows or should know this song. It's been in movies and videogames.

15. Thinkin' – Apathy - Wanna Snuggle? - 2009

The second album of the year 2009 in my opinion (it was narrowly beat by Get Busy Committee's Uzi Does It), Apathy's Wanna Snuggle? finally features on our playlist with the song “Thinkin'.” Using a sample from what seems like 50's music, Ap makes a great track about women's suspicious nature. The *boom-boom* of the drum serves as great support to Apathy's delivery and the voice samples are subtle enough to bring a nice touch to the track.

16. Come Back Down – Lifehouse – Lifehouse – 2005

“Come Back Down” is the opening track of Lifehouse's self-titled third album. As most Lifehouse songs from that album and on, “Come Back Down” is slower in pace than the tracks from previous albums. I mentioned Lifehouse earlier when talking about The Fray and listening to both bands, you can clearly see that there's no contest. Lifehouse is the superior band by far.

17. 13 And Good – Boogie Down Productions – Sex and Violence - 1992

I have KRS-One's entire discography but I never felt that his songs were catchy or solid enough to be on our playlists. “13 And Good” changed all that. A song about statutory rape and its – unpredictable – consequence. Two things make this song a great track: first, the bassline is simply perfect and, secondly, KRS-One's storytelling skills truly shine on that track.

18. 4 Words (To Choke Upon) – Bullet for My Valentine – The Poison – 2005/2006

“4 Words” was one of the first Bullet for My Valentine tracks that I heard. Although the song is basically one part repeated twice, it doesn't make it any less great. The guitars are great - I especially liked the long sustain at the end of the first part – and the vocals are impeccable. It might have too much screaming for some but the screams just add to the energy in my opinion. Furthermore, a lot of people can identify themselves with the song lyrics which are basically about overcoming the odds and showing everyone how they were wrong.

19. Papa Loves Mambo – Perry Como – Ocean's Eleven Soundtrack – 2001

From metalcore, we jump into mambo. Perry Como's “Papa Loves Mambo” is a classic for all ages. I first heard it on Ocean's Eleven soundtrack but a quick check on Wikipedia will show that it has played in almost every kind of visual entertainment whether it's movies, TV, commercials or viedogames. The song is quite catchy, you'll find yourself singing along after a couple of listens. Everything is perfect on this track.

20. Ace of Spades – Motörhead – Ace of Spades – 1980

What rock fan doesn't know Motörhead's classic “Aces of Spades?” Even if you're not a fan, the song has been everywhere and even featured as a playable track in both the Guitar Hero and Rock Band videogame franchises. Like Metallica's “Enter Sandman,” “Ace of Spades” is a band-defining song. Motörhead wouldn't be Motörhead without that track. The relentless pace of the instrumental along with Lemmy's unmistakable voice is the perfect illustration of rock as the ultimate badass' genre.

21. 2 Minutes To Midnight – Iron Maiden – Powerslave – 1984

Where “Ace of Spades'” magic was in its musical and vocal pace and power, “2 Minutes To Midnight” is all about the chorus and the superb guitar work by both Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. The bass is not too shabby either, giving a nice rhythm to the track.

22. Eye of the Tiger – Survivor – Eye of the Tiger – 1982

“Hey, it's the Rocky song!!” That's usually the comment you hear when “Eye of the Tiger” comes on. Few songs define a movie like “Eye of the Tiger.” Even by itself, the song gives a nice message of perseverance. It's the ultimate underdog's song.

23. Heartbreaker – Airbourne – Runnin' Wild – 2007

With so many classics on this month's list, AC/DC fans may be wondering where their band is. Unfortunately, the Aussie giants didn't come up this month. Instead, I give you their closest imitators, Airbourne who are also from Australia. “Heartbreaker” sounds like what AC/DC would release minus Brian Johnson's trademark voice. It has it all: a catchy chorus, fast and furious guitars and a decent solo. All that's missing is the man with the cap.

24. Slow Life – Grizzly Bear with Victoria Legrand – The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack – 2009

Readers of this blog know how much I loved New Moon's soundtrack and today I include one of the album's tracks, “Slow Life” performed by Grizzly Bear with Victoria Legrand. The song is slow but beautiful. Having Legrand on the verse while Droste took care of the chorus was a stroke of genius as it's usually the other way around. The instrumental's quietness on the verses allowed Victoria's voice to shine through while Edwards' fit perfectly with the music as it picked up in intensity.

25. Take That – DJ Green Lantern with Styles of Beyond – Razor Tag – 2007

“Take That” is the second underground rap song in this month's list and it's performed by Styles of Beyond. The two rappers shine equally on this track but I really liked Ryu's fast-paced delivery on the first verse. It's a great track.

26. A Little Piece Of Heaven – Avenged Sevenfold – Avenged Sevenfold – 2007

Avenged Sevenfold make another appearance on our lists, this time with “A Little Piece Of Heaven.” I never realized the song's dark subject matter until I saw the video and read the lyrics a couple of weeks ago. The orchestral instrumental combined with the drums and guitars' furious pace makes the song even more sinister.

27. Feel The Velvet – 7L & Esoteric – A New Dope – 2006

We complete the Demigodz round-up with “Feel The Velvet” by 7L & Esoteric. The latter recently went solo, releasing four records in the past three years but none his work compare to the duo's releases. 7L's ambient-electro-almost-techno beats on A New Dope are a perfect match for Esoteric's unique flow.

28. Rhinestone Eyes – Gorillaz – Plastic Beach – 2010

“Rhinestone Eyes” is the most recent song to make an appearance on one of our lists. The smooth rapping goes very well with the sharp electro beat.

29. Roter Sand – Rammstein - Liebe ist für alle da – 2009

“Roter Sand” is probably my most favorite song on Rammstein's latest album along with “Frühling in Paris.” It is a slow song similar to “Ohne Dich” and “Amour” and deals with two guys squaring off for a girl. The whistling part after the chorus was a nice touch to the song.

30. Metamorphosis Five – Philip Glass – Metamorphosis for Piano – 2008

We conclude this playlist with a piano instrumental: “Metamorphosis Five” by Philip Glass (performed by Branka Parlic in the video). Fans of Battlestar Galactica probably remember this song from the episode “Valley of Darkness” when Starbuck and Helo hide in Starbuck's apartment on Caprica. It makes for great background music.

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: Playlists, Rock, Rap / Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, Movie Soundtracks

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March Music Madness

March 31st 2010 22:16

Snow is melting, the sun is shining an the birds are slowly coming back. Yep, it's the end of winter and with it comes another Muzikal Mafia Playlist. This month features more pop artists (Backstreet Boys, Westlife, NSYNC, Daniel Bedingfield, Michael Jackson), a couple of indie bands (Look See Proof, Carolina Liar) as well as some punk and blues-rock. Of course, there's also the ever-present rock and hip hop songs. So, read, listen, learn, and most of all, enjoy!!!

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: Playlists, Rock, Rap / Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, Movie Soundtracks

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28 Songs Later...

February 28th 2010 21:27

Well, here we are at the end of another cold and snowy February made only less depressing by some good music. After two 'holiday'-themed playlists, we introduce our first full-month playlist today. I've changed the format a bit to get rid of the cluster of YouTube videos. So this time around, there's a widget to listen to clips of most of the songs and the full tracklist where I put a good mix of live and official music videos.

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: Rock, Rap / Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, Movie Soundtracks

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My Valentine's Day Playlist... What's Yours?

February 14th 2010 21:27

Love has always been a prevalent theme in music no matter the genre. Well, what other perfect day there is to make a love songs compilation? As promised, here are 14 songs to celebrate Valentine's Day with your significant other. As always, this isn't a list of the best love songs to date - I leave that choice up to you in the comments section. There are some classics on it as well as more recent tracks that you aren't familiar with. It's for everyone, young and old, male or female, whoever you are, there will be a song that speaks to you on this list. As for those who can't stand Valentine's Day, there is a little present at the end for you guys. You see everyone gets presents today. Enjoy!

1. "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" – Bryan Adams – Waking Up The Neighbours – 1991

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: Rock, Rap / Hip Hop, R&B, Pop

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Follow Muzikal Mafia On Facebook!!

January 26th 2010 19:28

Got an album that you would like us to review? Or maybe you have a suggestion for our music playlists?

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Posted By: Ann 2 - Category: Rock, Rap / Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, Movie Soundtracks

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18 Songs for Martin Luther King Day

January 18th 2010 22:36

Hello all and welcome to the first edition of Muzikal Mafia's holiday playlist. In case you missed it, we, here at Muzikal Mafia, have decided to publish monthly playlists in order to introduce our readers to new (and old) music. Basically, every month – andon the occasional holiday – we'll post a random list of songs which we feel people should check out. On those lists, there will be both mainstream and non-mainstream tracks.

We start today with 18 songs for Martin Luther King Day and I gotta tell ya, making that list wasn't easy. A first, I wanted to put only rap songs but I quickly realized that taking this approach led me away from my goal, which is to broaden everybody's (rap lovers and rockers alike) musical horizons. I then decided to list political songs but I came to the conclusion that other dates were more fitting for the political stuff. Then, I thought about putting any song which had a title, lyric, or vibe that could be associated with MLK's death and/or the South in general. The final result is a mishmash of all those ideas put together. You got some rap songs, some rock, some political stuff, some random stuff, and three french songs to add some international flavor. Keep in mind, I didn't want this list to be only about MLK, but about hope, life, love, social justice, and so on. Enjoy

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