Saturday, December 24, 2011

Is Your Love Strong Enough


If you didn't see Ridley Scott's film Legend back in 1985 starring Tom Cruise, Mia Farrow, and the incomparable Tim Curry and you weren't a Bryan Ferry fan then you may have missed this song. If you do see The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo then stay as the credits roll and you will hear a very good remake of Is Your Love Strong Enough done over by How To Destroy Angels. Their interpretation of Bryan's classic isn't a straight ahead remake. It's fashioned in a brand new and refreshing way.

If the groups sound is familiar it's because HTDA is comprised of Trent Reznor, his wife Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross. Trent and Atticus won the Oscar for their score to the social network and Trent was the frontman and creative force behind Nin Inch Nails. Atticus Ross did the score to The Book of Eli that starred Denzel Washington.

Their version starts off with vocals only which I think is brilliant, then the keys come in along with the bassline. The song has an eerie feel to it and when the song opens up with the full instrumentation, it takes off. It's a head bobber and if HDTA is the evolution of Trent Reznor from his NIN days then I'm looking forward to the future. Give it a lesson and let me know what you think.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Hey Sexy Lady (remix by Skrillex)


Look, if you haven't heard of Skrillex by now then prepare yourself. You will either absolutely love what they do or you will most assuredly hate it with every fiber of your being. Me, I love it and can't get enough of their sound and music. They have taken the formula of music and thrown up all over it. They have taken songs you would otherwise recognize and turn them completely on their heads. The intro to them I bring to you is a remix by them by the new Bad Boy/Puffy machine group known as iSQUARE and their song Hey Sexy Lady. No never hearing the original version (I found the remix by accident), after hearing Skrillex's version of this song I have absolutely no desire to hear the original and maybe you won't either.

Now I will admit that Skrillex's sound isn't for every ear and while mine finds it tasty, yours may not agree. Their stuff could take some getting used to but if you throw their stuff on your stereo with your "big boy" speakers pumping you may just become a convert. I won't break down what I love about this song, listen to it and you'll hear it for yourself. I will say this though, while I was going through my shit earlier this year, it was Skrillex (along with some other artists) that kept me going, kept my head on straight and allowed me to push through my issues. For that, I will always be a fan.

And if you like this song (or what they've done to it) then you should check out their original piece First of The Year. That is only if your ears can take it of course. Enjoy.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3-III Allegro


Without question one of my all time favorite classical pieces of music is this, the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major: Allegro. It's pretty, lyrical, very rhythmic, and full of breathless energy. It's one of a few Bach pieces that pulled me in and made me an unapologetic fan of this composer (hear Toccata and Fugue for a few of the other pieces).

This piece is also rife with drama and darkness which is almost immediately offset with playfulness and light. It starts off like an avalanche coming at you (albeit a playful one)and it never slows down. It never gives you a chance to catch your breathe and I liken it to someone rushing to catch a plane home for Christmas or the last train. Running through a crowded depot or airport with nothing but obstacle after obstacle in his or her way. Spinning, jumping, whizzing past someone all the while apologizing and saying "Excuse me".

This is a fun classical piece of music and one hard not to like. Bach isn't my favorite composer by any stretch of the imagination (see Vivaldi, Mozart, and DeBussy first) but this piece, which always puts a smile on my face when I hear it and others by him definitely lands him in my top five. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do and Happy Holidays.