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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!!!

Full Tracklist

1. Enemy – Scars On Broadway – Scars On Broadway – 2008

Although Scars on Broadway fell way short of matching System Of A Down's success, their debut album compiled a nice amount of experimental rock tracks. To me, “Enemy” sounds like what a modern-day hippie would listen to.

2. The One – Backstreet Boys – Millenium – 1999

If I had to name my top ten favorite albums from the 90's, the Backstreet Boys' Millenium woud be close to the top. Ten years later and it still sounds as great as it did when it first came out. “The One” was Millenium's fourth single and although it didn't chart as high as “I Want It That Way,” “Larger Than Life,”and “Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely,” it is still a solid track.

Backstreet Boys - The One (Official Music Video) - A funny movie is a click away

3. A Different Kind Of Pain – Cold – A Different Kind Of Pain – 2005

“A Different Kind Of Pain” was the second single of the album of the same name. Unfortunately, no video was made for the song. Many critics dislike Cold's softer side, but their slower songs are usually my favorites. “A Different Kind Of Pain” is no exception.

4. Please Forgive Me – Bryan Adams – So Far So Good – 1993

The second appearance of Bryan Adams on our playlists is another classic. “Please Forgive Me” is one of my favorite Bryan Adams tracks, just the way he sings it and the great guitar-work – it's all breathtaking.

Bryan Adams - Please Forgive Me - The most popular videos are here

5. Suicide – M.O.P. ft. Teflon – St. Marxmen – 2005

“Suicide” is a great rap song in my opinion if only for the excellent beat by the one and only DJ Premier.

6. Last To Know – Three Days Grace – Life Starts Now – 2009

“Last To Know” is the perfect illustration of Three Days Grace's new sound. A ballad dealing with first love break-up, it's a far cry from their original alternative metal sound.

7. Here & Now – The Ernies – Meson Ray – 1999

“Here & Now” reminds me of the good old days, firing up the Playstation to play some Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Good times.

8. In These Arms – Bon Jovi – Keep The Faith – 1992

“In These Arms” makes the third appearance of Bon Jovi on our playlists and you'll probably see the band several times on future playlists. Their songs are simply infectious and fun to listen to.

9. I've Got News For You – Gregg Allman – Searching For Simplicity – 1997

“I've Got News For You” is a blues classic. Just a great song to listen to when relaxing at home.

10. The Racing Rats – Editors – An End Has A Start – 2007

I discovered the Editors after reviewing Twilight's New Moon soundtrack. “The Racing Rats” is the third single from their sophomore album An End Has A Start. The song reminded me of Mike Shinoda's remix of Depeche Mode's “Enjoy The Silence.”

Editors - Racing Rats
envoyé par wonderful-life1989. - L'info video en direct.

11. American Psycho – D12 – Devil's Night – 2001

Get a haunting instrumental, six rappers who each have their own style on a track that starts off with Eminem in his prime as well as having him on the chorus and you've got “American Psycho” – a psychotically brilliant rap song.

12. Blame It On The Tetons – Modest Mouse – Good News For People Who Love Bad News – 2004

I discovered Modest Mouse in the Rock Band 2 videogame with the song “Float On” from their Good News For People Who Love Bad News album. “Blame It On The Tetons” is an acoustic ballad from the same album. Just a fine track to listen to.

13. Save The Last Dance For Me – Michael Bublé – It's Time – 2005

Like Westlife, Michael Bublé has made a career of covering classic jazz, swing, blues, rock, and pop classics. “Save The Last Dance For Me” is no exception. Originally a R&B/pop song by The Drifters, Bublé turned it into a semi-salsa/pop hit.

14. Swallowed In The Sea – Coldplay – X&Y – 2005

Coldplay are world-famous for their hits such as “Yellow,” “Clocks,” “In My Place,” “The Scientist,” “Speed Of Sound,” “Fix You” and “Viva La Vida” but it's songs like “Swallowed In The Sea,” “Til Kingdom Come,” “Warning Sign” and “Sparks” that make me count them among my favorite bands. For this list, I had to make a choice between “Sparks” and “Swallowed In The Sea.” I chose the latter because unlike many people who worship A Rush Of Blood To The Head, X&Y is my favorite Coldplay album.

15. Michael Nobody aka Poetic Death – Snowgoons w/ Savage Brothers & Lord Lhus – A Fist In The Thought – 2009

I didn't think much of this song when I first heard it. It felt like just another “story from the streets” kind of song. The video gave me a new appreciation for the track. Although the video's story isn't really related to the song's story, the two combined together bring a tear to my eye every time.

16. The Violet Hour – Sea Wolf – The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack – 2009

Sea Wolf is one of those indie bands who are quite good but haven't been propelled into the mainstream just yet. Maybe things will change after this gem which was on Twilight's New Moon soundtrack.

17. Angel – Westlife – World Of Our Own – 2003

Originally sung by Sarah McLachlan, “Angel” is a deep and emotional song often played after national tragedies and frequently used in TV dramas. Believe it or not, I was only familiar with Westlife's version until I heard McLachlan's version on a ASPCA commercial last year. I think the boys did a great work especially the leads, Shane Filan and ex-member Brian McFadden.

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18. Furious Angels (Instrumental) – Rob Dougan – The Matrix Reloaded: The Album – 2003

I'm not really a fan of electronic music but Rob Dougan's songs which featured in The Matrix trilogy are among the best non-traditional (non-orchestrated) film score tracks that I've heard. Although “Clubbed To Death” is my favorite, I picked the less gloomy “Furious Angels” to feature on this month's list. Per Wikipedia, “Furious Angels” “features big beats, strings and other orchestral overtones. From The Matrix Reloaded initial fight scene between Neo against several agents, to buy time for the other Zion captains and crew (such as Morpheus and Niobe) to escape.”

19. Thriller – Michael Jackson – Thriller – 1982

Is there anyone on this planet who hasn't seen the famous zombie choreography from Thriller's music video? A true classic, this song is appreciated by young and old alike. When studying it however, you come to realize how simple and repetitive the whole instrumental is. Michael Jackson's voice turns it into magic and the video's choreography made it even more unforgettable and this how you get a timeless song.

20. I Was Wrong – Social Distortion – White Light, White Heat, White Trash – 1996

I first discovered this track in the videogame Rock Band 2. After playing it countless times, I fell in love with the sing-along chorus and the lyrics themselves.

21. Gotta Get Thru This – Daniel Bedingfield – Gotta Get Thru This – 2002

British singer Daniel Bedingfield flew to the top of charts all across the globe in 2002 with this catchy dance-tune. Although Bedingfield has somewhat faded from the spotlight since then, the song is still as good as when it was released.

22. Have You Ever Loved A Woman – Derek And The Dominos – Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs – 1970

When I originally conceived the playlist idea, I promised myself that I wouldn't put the same artists on consecutive lists unless one of the lists had a theme such as the St. Patrick's playlist. This is the first appearance of Derek And The Dominos so technically I'm holding my promise even though both Eric Clapton and Duane Allman (of the Allman Brothers Band) featured on the February playlist. I simply could not ignore this track when it came up as a choice. Superb work by the two masters and the vocals were also well done.

23. Good Money – Move.meant – The Good Money EP

You would expect that a rap song titled “Good Money” would be about mansions, fast cars, jewelry, and all the benjamins. Instead, Move.meant give us a song about working hard to be able to live comfortably instead of struggling to make ends meet. As the man in the video says, “you're trying to make good money, you're trying to make money that will last you a lifetime.”

24. The Difference – Matchbox Twenty – More Than You Think You Are – 2002

There are so many great Matchbox Twenty songs. “Bright Lights” is my favorite by far but it unfortunately didn't come up this month. Instead, it's “The Difference,” the last track on More Than You Think You Are. Here's an acoustic performance of the song.

25. Faust, Midas And Myself – Switchfoot – Oh! Gravity – 2006

“Faust, Midas And Myself” is a great song by Switchfoot. The song's message is open to interpretation but I'll just write the final lines:

“You've one life
You've one life
One life left to lead.”

26. When You Are Near – Carolina Liar – Coming To Terms – 2008

I first discovered Carolina Liar on the soundtrack of Electronic Arts' UEFA Euro 2008 videogame as their song “I'm Not Over” constantly played in the demo's main menu. “When You Are Near” is a great ballad from a great album that I recommend to every music fan.

27. Casualty – Look See Proof – Between Here And There – 2008

I discovered Look See Proof in the same video game as Carolina Liar. “Casualty” was the first track I heard by them and I still get a silly smile on my face when it comes up in my Zune's “shuffle” mode.

28. I Thought She Knew – NSYNC – No Strings Attached – 2000

The main knock on boy bands was always that they were a bunch of pretty boys who didn't write their own music and relied on obsessed teenage girls to buy their records. Most of the boy bands vehemently denied these claims and often found different ways to prove that they were actually talented. Both the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC put out acapella tracks on their records to show that they could sing to great success.

“I Thought She Knew” is the last track on NSYNC's blockbuster album, No Strings Attached, and is the only song on the album to have four leads as Justin, JC, Joey, and Chris each get a turn to shine. Joey in particular impressed me on that track. He had a nice voice and it's a shame that he had to be in the shadows of Justin and JC for most of his career. Below is a live performance video of the song.

29. Superhero – Anthrax – We've Come For You All – 2003

Anthrax are the lone representants of metal in this month's list. "Superhero" was my choice among the vast number of picks simply because I like the lyrics.

30. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss – B.B. King – The Ultimate Collection – 2005

What needs to be said about a song featuring the King of Blues? I'm just glad that I managed to find a live performance video of this track.

31. Libérez-nous des Libéraux – Loco Locass – Amour Oral – 2004

We conclude this playlist with Quebec rap group Loco Locass and their massive hit, political song “Libérez-nous des Libéraux” (Liberate us from the Liberals). The tree rappers show off their mastery of the French language in this anti-Liberal track which denounces the views of Quebec Prime Minister Jean Charest.

So that's it for this month's list. Did you discover a new band while listening to it? Or do you have some recommendations of other interesting bands? Let your voice be heard in the comments!

By the way, you can now follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/MuzikalMafia. Hope to see you there.

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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.

[ Click here to read more ]

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