William's Song a Day Blog - est. September 2007

From: Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Original Soundtrack , Year: 2010; Genre: Latin Rock/Surf Rock Halloween again... I suppose I should pick something appropriate; this is one of the first ones that came to mind, so I'm picking it. This was the final track off the Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Soundtrack and is another spooky surf rock track; great music for the atmosphere. Hear Stinking Zombies on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Helloween - Halloween My song pick two years ago today: The Jimmy Castor Bunch - Dracula Parts 1 & 2 My song pick three years ago today: Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers - The Monster Mash My song pick four years ago today: Kreeps - Dead Men Walking My song pick five years ago today: Dick Dale - Riders In the Sky My song pick six years ago today: Andrew Gold - Spooky, Scary Skeletons My song pick seven years ago today: Rammstein - Mein Teil My song pick eight years ago today: Rus...

From: Under Wraps ; Year: 1984; Genre: Synthpop/Electronic Rock Jethro Tull was in town last night and I got to see them again; it was excellent. I haven't gotten to see a lot of concerts in recent years, so it was definitely a treat. I thought I would wrap up my early 80s pop/rock theme week with one of their songs. This is one of the most "un-'Tull" songs and albums in their catalogue, and whilst it's definitely not one that a lot of fans of the band like, (quite a few revile this very "synthpoppy" album), on its own merit it's an okay album and definitely has its gems. If you've heard any songs off this album, a good chance it was Lap of Luxury ; if you like keyboard synth and blazing lead guitars this one is right up your alley. Hear Lap of Luxury on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Victor Wooten - You Can't Hold No Groove If Ya Ain't Got No Pocket My song pick two year ago today: The Spooks - The Spook Walks ...

From: Fascination! ; Year: 1983; Genre: New Wave/Synthpop I heard (Keep Feeling) Fascination last night while playing a video game and I knew it was the next pick in this impromptu theme week. There's a noticeable disco feel to this synthpop classic; it's quite catchy as well, but in a good way. Hear (Keep Feeling) Fascination on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Emerson, Lake & Palmer - The Endless Enigma (Part 1)/Fugue/The Endless Enigma (Part 2) My song pick two years ago today: Hawkwind - Lost Chances My song pick three years ago today: Elton John - Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time) My song pick four years ago today: Béla Bartók - BB 52 - String Quartet No. 1 in A minor My song pick five years ago today: Victor Wooten - Us 2 My song pick six years ago today: The Sons of the Pioneers - Cool Water My song pick seven years ago today: Norman Greenbaum - Spirit in the Sky My song pick eight years ago today: Electri...

From: Joystick ; Year: 1983; Genre: Funk/Electronic Since I've been picking so much early 80s music I thought I would not only continue doing so with this piece of very '80s sounding "electrofunk" and being able to keep my streak of Funky Fridays going too. So, even though I started back on Monday instead of Sunday, why not make it official and call it an "Early '80s Theme Week;" (even though the Japan's Quiet Life was released in December of '79). Hear To the Roof on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Jan & Dean - The Little Old Lady from Pasadena My song pick two years ago today: Buddy Holley and the Crickets - Maybe Baby My song pick three years ago today: Lou Reed - Satellite of Love My song pick four years ago today: Alestorm - Barrett's Privateers My song pick five years ago today: Sly and the Family Stone - Sing a Simple Song My song pick six years ago today: Miles Davis - So What My song pick sev...

From: Mike + The Mechanics ; Year: 1985; Genre: Rock I heard this track come on the radio this morning and thought it would be a great pick; so, I guess I'm picking some more '80s popular music, why not? This song, which is probably Mike Rutherford's side project's most noted hit, is another one that exemplifies that mid 1980s sound pretty well. Although overall more pop oriented and commercially targeted than what he was putting into Genesis, it still bled into and had an impact on their sound. Hear All I Need Is a Miracle on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Led Zeppelin - Ramble On My song pick two years ago today: Cream - I Feel Free My song pick three year ago today: Eddie Lang - Pickin' My Way My song pick four years ago today: Sergei Rachmaninoff - Op. 27 - Symphony No. 2 My song pick five years ago today: AC/DC - Big Balls My song pick six years ago today: The Guess Who - Hand Me Down World My song pick seven years ago today:...

From: Lament ; Year: 1984; Genre: Synthpop/New Wave Got another '80s tune on my mind, as it seems, so whatever. Anyway, while always a song I've liked quite a bit, I thought of it as a brooding "lost love" song with some excellent music that has some broad appeal. It wasn't that long ago I started listening to the lyrics very close and to my surprise discovered how heavy it actually was. One of those songs that tapped into the Cold War feeling of impending doom and living out the last few minutes of your life. Although it doesn't in the song give an actual name as to what the "storm" that's approaching is, but in the video it was depicted as a nuclear meltdown. Though I cannot help but think, as a child who grew up in the 1980s being told by public service announcements about nuclear war to duck under something if you heard the air raid siren, that it was a song about "the button" being pushed and the world as we know it coming to ...

From: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) ; Year: 1983; Genre: New Wave/Synthpop/Electronic Rock I absolutely cannot believe that I've picked this one yet; it's one of those songs that whilst is bathed in that sound of '80s synth there is something timeless about it. It is difficult to believe that this song is well over 30 years old now; I can remember when it was brand new, it doesn't seem that long ago. Hear Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Judas Priest - You Got Another Thing Commin' My song pick two years ago today: Van Halen - Right Now My song pick three years ago today: Larry Graham & Graham Central Station - Tell Me What It Is My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Mr. Soul My song pick five years ago today: Megadeth - How the Story Ends My song pick six years ago today: Sethian - Epitaph My song pick seven years ago today: Marcus Miller - Frankenstein My song pick eight years ago t...

From: Quiet Life ; Year: 1979; Genre: New Wave/Synthpop After hearing this song last night it was still on my mind come this morning, so I thought I would pick it. This one's very early '80s in sound and definitely has that sound that Duran Duran made famous and that some claim they got it from. But whatever the case it's an excellent song; especially if you love '80s synthpop/new wave. Hear Quiet Life on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Maddy Prior - Rosettes My song pick two years ago today: Funkadelic - Funky Dollar Bill My song pick three years ago today: Sky - Westway My song pick four years ago today: Asia - Wildest Dreams My song pick five years ago today: Don Henley - Dirty Laundry My song pick six years ago today: The Scorpions - Big City Nights My song pick seven years ago today: Graham Central Station - Earthquake My song pick eight years ago today: John Denver - Season Suite - Fall My song pick nine years ago today: Kyu...

From: In Absentia ; Year: 2002; Genre: Progressive Rock/Hard Rock I had an incline to pick something from Porcupine Tree this morning; don't know why, just did. Anyway, I still really love Steve Wilson and company's early 2000s material. This is simply an amazing song; I love the dynamics between the different sections. Hear Trains on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Three Dog Night - Feelin' Alright My song pick two years ago today: Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band - Like a Rock My song pick three years ago today: The Coasters- Poison Ivy My song pick four years ago today: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones - Earthling Parade My song pick five years ago today: Stuart Hamm - Kings of Sleep My song pick six years ago today: Steeleye Span - Lovely on the Water My song pick seven years ago today: Crosby, Stills & Nash - Just a Song Before I Go My song pick eight years ago today: Robert Mitchum - Ballad of Thunder Road My song pick n...

From: Big Towne, 2061 ; Year: 1976; Genre: Rock/Hard Rock For about a week now I've had a bunch of Bob Welch's music on my mind, so I thought it would be a good choice on this Saturday. This is the opening track from the second and final album of the supergroup Paris. It's not the best song on the album, but it's definitely an attention getter and a good straight up hard rocker. Hear Blue Robin on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Dick Dale - Third Stone From the Sun My song pick two years ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - The Revenge of Vera Gemini My song pick three years ago today: Queen - Ride the Wild Wind My song pick four years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Enter Maurice My song pick five years ago today: Mastodon - Capillarian Crest My song pick six years ago today: Hot Chocolate - Brother Louie My song pick seven years ago today: Rammstein - Frühling in Paris My song pick eight years ago today: Jethro Tull - A Small Cigar M...

From: The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein ; Year: 1976; Genre: Funk/R&B I was enjoying this album a lot this morning, and since I intend to keep my streak of consecutive Funky Fridays going, I am picking a song from it. This one has that fantastic grooving "bump" and out of this world lyrics/style that George Clinton and company are known for; a fun track to take with you on a trek through space. Hear Children of Production on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Huey Lewis and the News - Power of Love My song pick two years ago today: Black Sabbath - Paranoid My song pick three years ago today: The Cult - Painted on My Heart My song pick four years ago today: Scott Joplin - The Entertainer My song pick five years ago today: Maktub - So Tired My song pick six years ago today: Dizzy Gillespie - Manteca My song pick seven years ago today: Iron Maiden - Sun and Steel My song pick eight years ago today: Deep Purple - Knocking At Your Back Door My...

From: A Gentleman and His Music ; Year: 1986; Genre: Swing Jazz/Cool Jazz/Hard Bop Jazz I had an incline to pick something from the jazz maestro legend today. This rendition of the classic standard, which includes sounds and ideas from not only swing, but hard bop and cool jazz as well, just felt amazing for today's pick. Hear Things Ain't What They Used To Be on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: The Kinks - Destroyer My song pick two years ago today: Band of Horses - The General Specific My song pick three years ago today: Nightwish - Song of Myself My song pick four years ago today: Gustav Mahler - Symphony No.4 My song pick five years ago today: Saigon Kick - Chanel My song pick six years ago today: Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out My song pick seven years ago today: Return to Forever - Vulcan Worlds My song pick eight years ago today: Victor Wooten - Me and My Bass Guitar My song pick nine years ago today: Pink Floyd - Welcome to the Machine...

From: Night in the Ruts ; Year: 1979; Genre: Hard Rock/Blues Rock I've had Aerosmith on the brain most of the morning and thought I should probably pick one of their songs. I hadn't heard Aerosmith's amazing hard, bluesy cover of the hit '60s pop song by the Shangri-Las for a long time now, but it was one that came to me when thinking about which song to pick. Hear Remember (Walking in the Sand) on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: AC/DC - Money Talks My song pick two years ago today: The Doors - People are Strange My song pick three years ago today: Django Reinhardt & Stéphane Grappelli (Quintette du Hot Club de France) - Minor Swing My song pick four years ago today: Van Der Graaf Generator - A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers My song pick five years ago today: Asia - Only Time Will Tell My song pick six years ago today: British Whale (Justin Hawkins) - This Town Ain't Big Enough For the Both of Us My song pick seven years ago toda...

From: The Game ; Year: 1980; Genre: Rock/Disco Hard to believe that this was number one on the charts at this time 36 years ago; such a timeless classic it is. Hear Another One Bites the Dust on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: U.K. - In the Dead of the Night My song pick two years ago today: Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop My song pick three years ago today: Funkadelic - Cholly (Funk Getting Ready To Roll) My song pick four years ago today: Scott Joplin - Maple Leaf Rag My song pick five years ago today: Jethro Tull - Play In Time My song pick six years ago today: Exile - Kiss You All Over My song pick seven years ago today: Rush - Show Don't Tell My song pick eight years ago today: The Four Tops - Bernadette My song pick nine years ago today: Devo - Some Things Never Change

From: Hunting High and Low ; Year: 1986; Genre: New Wave/Synthpop One of the lesser known hit singles from the record, whilst being eclipsed and overshadowed by other timeless songs on the album, it's still an excellent song and one that deserves a lot of attention. Especially from people who are into '80s music and new wave. Hear Train of Thought on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Motörhead - Motorhead My song pick two years ago today: Leon Mitchison and the Eastex Freeway Band - Street Scene My song pick three years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) My song pick four years ago today: Jane's Addiction - Been Caught Stealing My song pick five years ago today: Rush - Leave That Thing Alone My song pick six years ago today: Jim Croce - Photographs and Memories My song pick seven years ago today: Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) - Turn To Stone My song pick eight years ago today: Sniff'n the Tears...

From: Master of Reality ; Year: 1971; Genre: Metal Was wanting to pick this song after binging on this album the other day. This one has that slow, deep, grinding groove that would become popular years later. Master of Reality has become one of my absolute favourites from Black Sabbath; Into the Void is an excellent track to finish the album with a thunderous bang. Hear Into the Void on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Stanely Clarke - Vulcan Princess My song pick two years ago today: Black Flag - Annihilate This Week My song pick three years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) My song pick four years ago today: Hawkwind - Hurry on Sundown My song pick five years ago today: Steeleye Span - New York Girls My song pick six years ago today: The Steve Miller Band - Living in the U.S.A. My song pick seven years ago today: Three Dog Night - Shambala My song pick eight years ago today: Diesel - Sausalito Summernight M...

From: Later That Same Year ; Year: 1970; Folk Rock/Jazz Rock I heard this version of the classic counter-culture anthem, written by Joni Mitchell and really made famous by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, for the first time the other day; I have to say I really like it. This one was released the same year as the other two and made it to number one on the British charts. Apparently Iain Matthews and the band were not intending on covering it, but had to get a fourth song for a broadcast and threw it together; everybody liked their live version of it, so they recorded it and the rest is history. To me this interpretation is somewhere in between the Joni Mitchell original and the CSNY version. More smooth and jazzy; reminds me a lot of a folky Steely Dan. I love the guitars throughout and especially Gordon Huntley's steel guitar; it adds so much. Hear Woodstock on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: King Crimson - Lament My song pick two years ago today: Steve Vai...

From: Rhythm Machine ; Year: 1976; Genre: Funk/Soul Another Funky Friday pick today; I felt like picking something a little less obvious I guess. Couldn't go wrong with something from the Rhythm Machine. It's too bad this is apparently their only album; I absolutely love their brand of funky soul; awesome band. Hear Everybody's Chippin on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Blue Öyster Cult - Fallen Angel My song pick two years ago today: Foo Fighters - These Days My song pick three years ago today: Hawkwind - The Aubergine That Ate Rangoon My song pick four years ago today: Oasis - All Around the World My song pick five years ago today: The Smashing Pumpkins - The End Is the Beginning Is the End My song pick six years ago today: Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells a Story My song pick seven years ago today: Louis Armstrong - Red Sails in the Sunset My song pick eight years ago today: Jim Croce - Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy) My song pick nin...

From: Sunset on the Golden Age ; Year: 2014; Genre: Power Metal/Folk Metal Was thinking about picking another one from Alestorm and their newest album today; I have not picked one from them for a bit now. As with their normal sound, this track is very upbeat and rousing; quite a bit of fun. Hear Walk the Plank on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Sky - Sahara My song pick two years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Trouble No More My song pick three years ago today: Simon & Garfunkle - Mrs. Robinson My song pick four years ago today: Rare Earth - Get Ready My song pick five years ago today: Trio of Doom - Continuum My song pick six years ago today: Jethro Tull - Aqualung My song pick seven years ago today: Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys - Wayfaring Stranger My song pick eight years ago today: Billy Squier - In The Dark My song pick nine years ago today: Jethro Tull - Steel Monkey

From: Full Circle ; Year: 1970; Genre: Folk Rock I heard one of their songs this morning from Full Circle , which is probably my favourite of their albums, so I thought I'd go ahead and pick another one from it. This is a very dark and brooding track with great music throughout; especially on the piano. It's definitely a song to behold. Hear The Midnight Hanging of a Runaway Serf on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Ellis Paul - 3,000 Miles My song pick two years ago today: Procol Harum - Homburg My song pick three years ago today: Faces - Stay With Me My song pick four years ago today: Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Oh Susannah My song pick five years ago today: Miles Davis - Freedom Jazz Dance My song pick six years ago today: Boston - More Than a Feeling My song pick seven years ago today: David Bowie - Suffragette City My song pick eight years ago today: Slade - Mama Weer All Crazee Now My song pick nine years ago today: Electric Light O...

From: Gene Pitney Sings World Wide Winners ; Year: 1963 (1962); Genre: Pop/Country Western I don't know why, but for most of yesterday evening I had this rather story-driven classic track on my mind. Even though it comes a bit from the commercial side of music there's always been something special about it. Interestingly enough, the song has no apparent connection to the John Wayne/Jimmie Stewart film from the same time, which shared the title. I'm not sure why it was not used for the film, but from what I understand it was intended to be used in the film and some weird dispute happened and the rest is history. But, if nothing else you get condensed version of the film in a very descriptive song, so a bonus I guess. For me personally though, it's the music, especially the oriental sounding violin that's a big draw. Hear (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Genesis - A Trick of the Tail My song pick two years a...

From: Streets: A Rock Opera ; Year: 1991; Genre: Progressive Metal I had Savatage on my mind since hearing them yesterday; Streets is always among my favourite albums from the band. In the concept of the rock opera this song is the introduction to the main character, DT Jesus, and is among the heavier tracks on the album. Hear Jesus Saves on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: England Dan & John Ford Coley - The Prisoner My song pick two years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Funky Way My song pick three years ago today: Louis and Bebe Barron - Main Titles (Overture) from Forbidden Planet My song pick four years ago today: Rush - Anagram (for Mongo) My song pick five years ago today: Sky - Troika My song pick six years ago today: Mason Williams - Classical Gas My song pick seven years ago today: Alexi Murdoch - Breathe My song pick eight years ago today: Bad Company - Shooting Star My song pick nine years ago today: Ella Fitzgerald - Blue Skies

From: Living the Blues ; Year: 1968; Genre: Blues Rock This is another one of those bands I haven't revisited in some time, but for this one I have not picked one from in nine years . So, borrowing an idea from an old theme week I did quite a while ago , I guess I could call this one a "...and about 3400 days later..." pick. I really should do another one of those theme weeks, I haven't done a theme week in a whilst instead focusing on keeping my string of consecutive Funky Fridays going. Anyway, this is without a doubt the second big hit from Canned Heat with only a few other songs of renown. It was actually based on Henry Thomas ' Bull Doze Blues ; borrowing the melody you hear on the flute amongst other aspects of the song. It has a bit of an aged sound, but the blues aspects make it much more timeless and unique. Hear Going Up the Country on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Jaco Pastorius - Soul Intro/The Chicken My song pick two years...

From: 52nd Street ; Year: 1978; Genre: Rock The other day whilst looking through a bunch of records at the local thrift store I happened upon a copy of 52nd Street , which immediately brought a bunch of the music from it to my mind. Of course My Life is one of the main ones that comes to mind when thinking about the album; it was frankly surprising that I apparently had not picked it yet. Among his best in my opinion; I love the bass and rhythm on the piano. Hear My Life on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Creedence Clearwater Revival - I Heard it Through the Grapevine My song pick two years ago today: The Four Tops - Standing in the Shadows of Love My song pick three years ago today: Asia - Here Comes the Feeling My song pick four years ago today: Sol Ho'opi'i - St. Louis Blues My song pick five years ago today: The Allman Brothers Band - Les Brers in A Minor My song pick six years ago today: Puhdys - He John My song pick seven years ago today...

From: Mothership Connection ; Year: 1975; Genre: Funk If there was ever a day I needed some uplifting funk, this would be it. This is one of the great space themed funk pieces from the 1970s; I really wish there were songs like this today. I guess there's one and only one Parliament-Funkadelic and their music definitely transcends time anyway. Hear Mothership Connection (Star Child) on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Joni Mitchell - Furry Sings the Blues My song pick two years ago today: Paul Revere & The Raiders - Kicks My song pick three years ago today: C.W. McCall - Ghost Town My song pick four years ago today: Stevie Nicks - Stand Back My song pick five years ago today: Jigsaw - Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind My song pick six years ago today: U2 - Mysterious Ways My song pick seven years ago today: Iron Maiden - Seventh Son of a Seventh Son My song pick eight years ago today: The Who - Behind Blue Eyes My song pick nine years ago today: J...

From: Vampires, Cowboys, Spacemen & Spooks: The Very Best of Joe Meek's Instrumentals ; Year: 2007 (1960); Genre: Surf Rock Was drawing a blank today about my song to pick, so I just randomly picked a letter in my collection, which happened to be "F" and this song by The Fabulous Flee-Rakkers popped on. This instrumental is a surf guitar rock rendition of the well-known traditional piece Greensleeves done with all the hallmarks to Joe Meek's production. Hear Green Jeans on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Aerosmith - F.I.N.E. My song pick two years ago today: Coven - Lost Without a Trace My song pick three years ago today: Fairport Convention - Autopsy My song pick four years ago today: The Police - Every Breath You Take My song pick five years ago today: Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone My song pick six years ago today: The Moontrekkers - Night of the Vampire My song pick seven years ago today: Maddy Prior - Cold Flame My song pick...

From: War Child ; Year: 1974; Genre: Progressive Rock I just had this one pop in my head today whilst I was getting ready to pick, so what the heck. If there ever was a "filler track" for an album this would be it. Basically takes almost all of the lyrics from the album's title track and also reuses some of the melody as well, but sped up and in a major key. I suppose you could look at it as a reprise to War Child , or mayhap a rallying call to action concerning the subject matter of the song and album. Hear The Third Hoorah on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost of Tom Joad My song pick two years ago today: Yes - I Would Have Waited Forever My song pick three years ago today: Normaal - Vulgaris Magistralis My song pick four years ago today: Audioslave - Jewel of the Summertime My song pick five years ago today: Megaherz - Himmelfahrt My song pick six years ago today: Coleman Hawkins - Stardust My song pick s...

From: The Gypsies ; Year: 1975; Genre: Flamenco Rock/Progressive Rock When waking up this morning I had this one running through my mind, so, as normal and since I like it a lot, I'm picking it. I love the way they utilize the somewhat traditional flamenco style and the samba beat with hard, driving rock. Hear Flamenco Fever on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Ian Anderson - A Change of Horses My song pick two years ago today: Wilson Pickett - Hey Joe My song pick three years ago today: The Cosmic Sound Orchestra - Listen to the Beat My song pick four years ago today: Jethro Tull - Overhang My song pick five years ago today: Hawkwind - Uncle Sam's on Mars My song pick six years ago today: Al Di Meola - Suite – Golden Dawn My song pick seven years ago today: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones - Sex in a Pan My song pick eight years ago today: David Bowie - Space Oddity My song pick nine years ago today: The Guess Who - No Sugar Tonight/New Moth...

From: Hoodoo ; Year: 1976; Genre: Rock Got in the mood for something from John Fogerty today, so I am. This is one that was supposed to be the main single off of "the album that didn't happen," but it was released by itself at least. Apparently John Fogerty didn't like how the album turned out and permanently shelved it and ordered the masters destroyed, but the songs made it out anyway as bootlegs. Hear You Got the Magic on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Pink Floyd - Pigs (Three Different Ones) My song pick two years ago today: Larry Graham and Graham Central Station - Boogie Witcha, Baby My song pick three years ago today: Bachman-Turner Overdrive (BTO) - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet My song pick four years ago today: The Moody Blues - Don't You Feel Small My song pick five years ago today: Depeche Mode - Stripped My song pick six years ago today: Sammy Davis Jr. - Mr. Bojangles My song pick seven years ago today: John ...

From: The Midnight ; Year: 2014; Genre: Rock/New Wave/Synthpop A friend introduced me to this band the other day; I really dug the retro, but still fresh sound. To my ears it reminds me of something like an A-ha/Duran Duran meets mid 80s Blue Öyster Cult. Certainly a unique song and album from just a couple of years ago; good for anyone wanting a "new" nostalgic sound or some smooth synth based music to dance to. Hear Days of Thunder on YouTube. My song pick one year ago today: Ohio Players - Fopp My song pick two years ago today: Asia - Go My song pick three years ago today: Pallas - March on Atlantis My song pick four years ago today: Mastodon - Oblivion My song pick five years ago today: Van Morrison - Wavelength My song pick six years ago today: Lee Michaels - Do You Know What I Mean? My song pick seven years ago today: The Who - The Ox My song pick eight years ago today: Rush - Cygnus X-1 My song pick nine years ago today: Joni Mitchell - Ame...

From: The Astonishing ; Year: 2016; Genre: Progressive Metal I know it's nine months late since it was released, but I've finally got around to listening to Dream Theater's new album; I have to say, I like wot I hear. The album is 2 CDs and 24 songs in length, but The Astonishing part, (pun intended), is that the majority of the songs are under 5 minutes in length and only a single on is over 7 minutes. As you probably could guess, The Astonishing is a rock opera set in a future bereft of music in a totalitarian state and the struggle to bring freedom and music back, of course. In that way thematically it's of course very similar to concept albums like Styx's Kilroy Was Here , the unreleased The Who concept Lifehouse , and Rush's 2112 , which is of course one of Dream Theater's main influences. Whilst having a similar theme that's been used a lot, they keep it very original both in the narrative of the general epic and of course there's no othe...