Category: Music

S͟k͟e͟t͟c͟hy b͟e͟g͟i͟n͟n͟i͟n͟gs

I didn’t begin liking the heavy stuff until much later. I knew of AC/DC, Def Leppard’s Hysteria, ZZ Top’s ‘greatest hits’, and a smattering of other rock groups like Kim Mitchell & April Wine for the longest time. I would have been seven-ish when I first fell in love with The Backstreet Boys. It wasn’t until I was ~12 when I really took to my parents’ music collection, as aforementioned. My first introduction to metal metal was Venom’s Bloodlust.

That was really something else. I knew of Metallica’s S/T, and I do believe I knew Number of the Beast (the song). I do even find it surprising to this day that there was a time when ‘Stained Glass [sic]’ wasn’t music I was too interested in. That was all about to change, however; and it all began when I was ~15.

Yes, by the time I was 15, I was a budding music buff. Tool is metal too, right? They were my favourite band by a longshot! I had lots of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, for I had assumed ownership of both my mother’s and father’s CD collections. (Well, really that isn’t too accurate, but I don’t care to correct myself.) There was a lot of other music, obviously, but that isn’t what we’re talking about today. I had all of Tool’s albums except Salival. (I still remember when 10,000 Days came out, and they were playing Vicarious on the radio…. Yea, I really didn’t like that song. I did still rush out to grab the album though!)

Fast forward to the age of 23: I was listening to as much music as I could (still), but this time it was different! I heard Atheist—oh yea, I had all the Black Sabbath albums up until Mob Rules back in the previous paragraph too. But yea, Atheist…. 𝘔𝘢𝘯! I couldn’t believe people could make music like that. I knew Tool was pretty technical, but Atheist was fast too! By this time, I had heard quite a bit of Voivod and had certainly listened to Pyromania, On Through the Night, Holy Diver (course I had owned The Last in Line too way back when). (I am really not doing a great job at getting the timeline perfect, but whatever.)

A paragraph dedicated to Voivod

I would have been ~17 when I first heard Nothingface. That was another in-awe-of-musicianship moment. Of course, Killing Technology … Dimension Hatröss were excellent listens, and I struggled to like much off War & Pain – but I still sought out to purchase Rrröööaaarrr. (I literally couldn’t get Nothingface nor Angel Rat on CD through A&B Sound.) Clouds in my House is some amazing music. (I actually really want an Angel Rat album patch: maybe one day.)

M͟o͟re e͟s͟s͟ay

Yea, so ~23 was when I first heard Atheist. This was about the time when I began wondering if I actually did like Venom’s Bloodlust. It was just so different from anything I had ever heard before; however, it wouldn’t be until I was 28 that I really gave Venom a listen. But with Venom came the surge of metal catalogue that came to be familiar to me, especially thanks to YouTube and Discord metal guilds.

I thank the gods a decent chunk of music publishers put music on YouTube. I have a couple decently sized playlists there (bonus points if you can find them). (This isn’t one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL7Izflqn2s&list=PLTpIRIbr6VJ8s0sXvfpO1uDSTOQE-Vj_p)

I would like to mention, I did know of a bit of alt. metal like Sevendust back when my person was ~12 years of age. Now, my favourite metal bands are as follows:

①　Voivod
②　Venom
③　Possessed
④　Queensrÿche
⑤　Judas Priest

It’s almost crazy to think about how much music a person can potentially listen to in their lifetime. But just metal? Kids these days can begin their lives with a helping of the heaviest stuff ever recorded. It’s almost enough to make one envious, really, though I try not to think too heavily about how much music I could have listened to, if I hadn’t spent so many years just gaming out.

Here’s a tweet for posterity: https://twitter.com/expcurtis/status/1537152865352839168. These tweets don’t mention my latest discoveries: Asunder (2003), Grime (2012), Noothgrush (1997 + 1998), Fistula (2016). Listening to Grime was the first time I’d ever been scared while listening. That was new!

Not sure what else there is to say. I listen to a varied tinge of music. Definitely more than a lot of people, but less than the other portion of people that listen to more.

Metal is life.

Note: This is by no means a comprehensive story of my metal experience.

Note: This may be the last in the ‘Favourite songs’ series. I am struggling to bring to the front what else I really enjoy. There are a handul of hip-hop and gangsta rap songs I simply cannot remember; if I ever track them down, I’ll post them to my Twitter (just to make it a pain for those that are curious).

Alt. rock > Surefire & Blunt or Wicked by Econoline Crush, The Messenger by The Tea Party
Metal > Pre-Ignition by Voivod
Rock > In the Gallery, Private Investigations, or Down to the Waterline by Dire Straits
Reggae > Higher and Higher rendition by The Pioneers
Pop > I Would Die 4 U by Prince and the Revolution
Hair metal > Rock the World by Kick Axe

Sorry in advance for any repeated mentions across platforms. (I am not really trying my hardest to keep hits segregated.)

Rock > Natural Life by Breaking Benjamin
Alt. rock > Release by The Tea Party
Classic rock > Tarot Woman by Rainbow
Electro > Time Machine by 1st Light
Easy listening > Iodine by Leonard Cohen
Blues > Don’t Laugh at Me by Howlin’ Wolf, Put the Shoe on the Other Foot by Albert Collins
Industrial > Can’t Sit Still by Revolting Cocks
(less modern R&B) Soul/funk (with a little disco) > I‘m Caught Up (in a One Night Love Affair) by Jocelyn Brown, Western Union Man by Jerry Butler, Coolin’ Out & State of Limbo by Dennis Edwards, Candy by Cameo, Tears in My Eyes & Nothing to Lose By Trying by Con Funk Shun, Let’s Celebrate by Skyy, I Want you (All Tonight) by Curtis Hairston
J-alt. rock > 幸せが溢れたら by indigo la End
New wave > Rip Her to Shreds by Blondie, Mirror Man by Talk Talk
Prog. rock > The Night Watch by King Crimson
Reggae > Too Experienced rendition by Owen Gray
Dancehall > Fire Ago Burn Dem (feat. Gentleman) by Capleton

More on the way! Yippee!

Rap > Just Clownin’ by WC, Toxic Love by ICP
Hip-Hop > A Rollerskating Jam Named Saturday’s by De La Soul
Grunge > I Stay Away & Junkhead by Alice in Chains
Rock > The Pleasure and the Greed by Big Wreck, White Like That by Filter, Body by Bush, Panic by Beatsteaks, No Real Pain & Communicating Via-Eyes by Priestess
Hair metal > Another Day by Fastway, Dead End by Great White
Black metal > Live Like an Angel (Die Like a Devil) by Venom, Inno A Satana by Emperor
Tech. metal > Air by Atheist
(more modern) R&B > Where Do We Go From Here by Alicia Keys
(less modern R&B) Soul/funk (with a little disco) > Straight From the Heart & How Good Is Love & Last Chance to Dance by Fat Larry’s Band, Who Has the Time by Con Funk Shun, Be My Baby by Fonzi Thornton, Saturday Love by Cherrelle, Have You Seen Her [1980] & Try My Side of Love by The Chi-Lites, Magic by Carl Anderson, It’s Magic by Kleeer, My Secret Fantasy by The Controllers, Put Your Trust in Me & Bring It Down by One Way, La-De-Da & Feelings rendition by The O’Jays, Ecstacy by Ohio Players, Red Light Spells Danger by Billy Ocean, Mystery Girl by Atlantic Starr
Reggae > Walkey Walk Tall by 10ft. Ganja Plant, I’m Trying by Alton Ellis, Mountains by Midnite w/ I Grade, Nana by The Congos, Treasures of the World by Keith Hudson, Sunshine People by Zap-Pow, Baby Can I Change My Mind by The Pioneers, Chalice in the Palace by U-Roy
Blues > Mad Man Blues by John Lee Hooker, Pretty Baby by Buddy Guy
Rocksteady > I Wear My Slanders by The Gaylads
J-electro > 我亲爱傀儡 from Studio “Syrup Comfiture”, アナタガモトメルモノ from ShibayanRecords, Crescent Moon from Alstroemeria Records
J-indie/pop > ムーンライト銀河 by 相対性理論
J-rock > 本当 by クリープハイプ
Easy listening > I’m Your Man by Leonard Cohen
Pop > Blood on the Dance Floor by Michael Jackson, You Look So Fine by Garbage, Mystery Boy by Culture Club
New wave > The Wild Boys by Duran Duran, Pulled Up by Talking Heads, It’s So Serious by Talk Talk
Prog. rock > Lizard by Yes
Synth-pop > Manhattan Skyline by a-ha, Living In a Box by Living In a Box
Classic rock > Foyers of Fun by Tempest, Turn Me Loose by Loverboy, Pale Blue Eyes by Velvet Underground, The Great Deceiver by King Crimson
Oldies pop > Play That Barber Shop Chord rendition & Grizzly Bear rendition by Arthur Collins
Punk > Filler by Minor Threat, Big Takeover by Bad Brains, Wild In the Streets rendition by Circle Jerks, Despicable by Sick Shift, Lemmings by Belvedere, New Day Rising by Hüsker Dü

… Kinoko Teikoku’s〘きのこ帝国〙first two albums….

Honorable mentions: Wardance & Money is Not Our God by Killing Joke, We N’ Love [acoustic] by Stray Cats, Talking to No One by Kevin Coyne, Life Without You (especially the ’85 Montreaux performance) by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Mothers Talk by Tears For Fears, Death Metal by Possessed, Evil Dead by Death, Night Goat by The Melvins, No Fun by Local H, Shade by Silverchair, A Cloak of Elvenkind by Marcys Playground, All We Are by Kim Mitchell, 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six & Oily Night by Tom Waits, Truly Yours by The Spinners, Putting Up Resistance by Beres Hammond, State of Limbo by Dennis Edwards

Have some anime OPs and EDs too!

LoSe±CoNtRoL, Hacking to the Gate, Asayake no Starmine〘朝焼けのスターマイン〙, Owaranai Melody wo Utai Dashimashita.〘終わらないメロディーを歌いだしました｡〙, Agony, Million Love, Ienai Ienai〘言えない言えない〙, Sakebe〘叫べ〙, いつか溶ける涙, Ano Mori de Matteru〘あの森で待ってる〙, Futari Shizuka〘二人静〙, Touch Tap Baby, yes,prisoner, アイニー, One Room Sugar Life, My dear friend, (LOVE)∞, Bakemono to Yobarete〘バケモノと呼ばれて〙, EVERYBODY! EVERYBODY!

Favourite singers include 3L, Ian Thornley, Dan McCafferty, Ian Anderson, Morten Harket, Geoff Tate, Rob Halford