[Mikitivity]

I guess we can all start new. This is just pure fluff, no formats ... really just an excuse to ramble.

n.p. gridlock :: formless {US}

Without looking, I'm guessing I had this album listed before. It is among one of my favorite albums, and from an incredible local band. My favorite track is called "return", and for some unknown reason it reminds me of "Twin Peaks", but when thinking back I think not. This is so much better.

[Mikitivity]

n.p. wumpscut :: evoke {DE}

I just bought this album this afternoon. I tried to pick it up this morning, but the store was closed and I needed to get to work (yes, on a Sunday), so I went to work and rewarded myself afterwards. I'm not sure what to think yet. I like some of the tracks, like "Hold" and the "Maiden" (nersoton rmx). But others I'm kinda eh at this time. Wumpscut used to be much harsher, but I'm amazed at how prolific he (Rudy R.) has been. Anyways, the music is an acquired taste, but I think people may like "Maiden".

[Mikitivity]

n.p. black lung :: the grand chessboard {AU}

current track --> despotic heroic diversion

[Mikitivity]

n.p. noisex :: serious killer {DE}

This is a band I saw for the first time years ago kinda by accident. The girl I was dating at the time just decided we should go out sort of on the spur of the moment, so she and her friend hoped in my car and we went to a weekly dance club. It was empty, and I remember she and her friend were angry (teed) that the band (a softer power noise act) were playing.

Prior to the band coming on stage I accidently was swinging my fists around and managed to rack the keyboardist and sent him to the floor. His face turned purple, but when he caught his breath he just started laughing (in a very high pitched tone though).

It was a good show, and I've since seen the band twice since.

[Mikitivity]

n.p. project pitchfork :: early years 1989 - 1993 {DE}

current track --> corps d'amour


The link should (hopefully) jump you to amazon.com's entry for PP. Generally I like amazon, as the shopping is easy and I like reading (and writing) reviews. I'd describe PP as being pretty upbeat. While their newer music is popular in the US, I personally like their older music.

[Sober Thought]

I confess my musical interests are odd to most people, including myself, but I just had a pair of unusual experiences:

I contacted one nation called Mr Richard Cory, named after a Simon & Garfunkel song and E.A. Robinson poem. We exchanged lyrics, and then I was contacted myself by A Most Peculiar Man, another S&G song.

My main interest is in comedy, humour, novelty and strange music. It represents about a third of my collection. I'll share some of my faves if there's interest.

What the format you've adopted for your song entries?

n.p. project pitchfork :: early years 1989 - 1993 {DE}

I get "now playing," but not sure why the band is underlined and what the {DE} means.

[Mikitivity]

People should list (if they'd like to) what they are reading, listening to, or watching! It gives us insight into the individual, and better yet, something to connect to!

My format:
n.p. :: artist - album {international country code}

I include the country code, because I tend to have a larger amount of European music than most Americans. Not that this is good or bad, but I think it is fair to say that this diversity (in thought) is something that I like -- so it is important to me.

AU :: Australia
BE :: Belgium
CA :: Canada
CH :: Switzerland
DE :: Germany
FR :: France
IT :: Italy
MX :: Mexico
NL :: Netherlands
UK :: United Kingdom
US :: United States

Those are the countries where most of my music is from.

[Sober Thought]

Mikitivity --

Thanks. I was just listening to Rammstein's "Amerkia" on Launchcast. Rather heavy duty, but if you go for the hard stuff, interesting to see the cultural interplay. My brother lives in Germany and occasionally will send or play some of his music.

[Mikitivity]

I am in fact familiar with Rammstein, and I'd consider it fairly heavy / intense stuff! They also are one of the more established German industrial projects / bands, and tend to have a good distribution in the US (meaning you can probably order their CDs on amazon.com with little problem).

[Mikitivity]

n.p. feindflug :: feindflug {DE}

current track --> alptraum

OK, this is their first full length album, and frankly it is my favorite Feindflug (the English translation is not good, as it was used in the war to describe air strikes). The way they were introduced to me was as sounding like Mesner Tracks era Wumpscut, and it is a good fit for Wumpscut fans. But in common English, militant sounding electronic music. I believe the track translates to "nightmare". Anyways, this band had one of the best shows I've seen ... though at the same time the band and the crowd really kinda had me shaking in my boots! I'd describe their style as being "Terror EBM", meaning their music (and images) are supposed to invoke fear. Sometimes it does, but being beat driven and devoid of lyrics it often is just fun to dance too. The think I like the most about the band is they typically close with vague statements like "Use Your Brain and Think About It!" -- meaning they aren't trying to make their own statements, but encouraging others. Anyways, they are one of the more contraversial bands I listen to.

[Mikitivity]

n.p. in strict confidence :: holy {DE}

current track --> Babylon

I got this CD "free" for contributing to my local college radio station.

[Mikitivity]

n.p. collection d'arnell-andrea :: the bower of despair {FR}

current track --> Before I Die

This is a new heavenly voices (a genre of music) CD I picked up while in Germany this year (yes, the band is French, and they are AMAZING live).

The English lyrics are also really quite interesting.

The trees I leave before I die
watch over silent meadows, waiting for the rain
a rain of leaves and sorrow veiling all the sky
until the breeze of daylight liberates my name.
Forgotten voices whipser: "heaven's not a lie"
wandering shadows lead me to the land of pain
a land where hope and roses keep on passing by ...
The way I try to resist seems a fight so vain

Because my life is buring into my heart, into my soul
Into my mind, into my heart, into my all
Into my heart, into my soul, into my ...

The voice I miss before I die
finally lulls my fear to sleep again, again
My final breathing blows off, under Autumn's eye
now I know dawn forever, will never be the same

The trees I leave before I die
watch over silent meadows, waiting for the rain

[Now imagine this being sung by two women and one man!]

[Federation of Disjunction]

n.p. RUSH :: Hemispheres {CA}

current track --> The Trees

I know I'm one of the old guys here but I guess I'm really showing it with my music choice. Growing up in the 80's I found it invigorating to discover the immense quantity of talent and meaning in the works that were already out there. When it came to music that was made in the 80's and early 90's I also went for the heavy stuff and songs with meaning in the lyrics.

Currently I believe that the music industry in the US has become so corporate that only that which can appeal to the largest portion of the masses gets any airtime. Because of that I don't really like much that is considered to be popular and current. I would be curious to hear from others on this especially my European friends as to what goes on there or anyone who agrees with me but also has some suggestions for finding interesting new music. I have a feeling that there is a bit more going on these days through the viral tendancy of the web and being able to download music. Maybe the meek shall inherit the earth - at least musically anyway...

Miktivity, you seem to have kept this going. I commend you on it and am sorry I haven't been here sooner to join in the discussion.

D

[Sober Thought]

Disjunction --

I'm a geezer too, and oddly enough I was listening to the first part of Rush's de facto greatest hits collection.

Oddly, I didn't like them much at the time (except for Geddy Lee's "Take Off" on the McKenzie Bros. CD, but I don't think that counts). It's hard not to miss "Closer to the Heart," which seems to get all the airplay, but it was hearing "Freewill" for the first time being broadcast from SARSstock that got me into it.

I was a big fan of the Payola$, Rock & Hyde and Paul Hyde, so I wrote the Wikipedia article on the band. Eventually, I'll get around to doing Hyde's entry.

[Mikitivity]

I completely agree with your view on the direction the US music industry has taken. It would be fun to come up with a NationStates equivalent that would protect the rights of small artists. I just don't know how we could do this.

[Federation of Disjunction]

Mikitivity; Thanks for the feedback and I love your idea. I wish we could write our own issues specific to our region. We could establish a free market. We have a large Pizza Delivery sector. Maybe my government could subsidize Ipods and partner with the Pizza companies to deliver them and give free song downloads with purchase. Not typical of my government to have a public/private partnership but when it comes to music maybe we can make an exception. Crazy ideas aside, I'd be open to discussion.

Sober Thought: nice to hear another Rush fan. It's so funny I was a big fan of the Great White North but I guess I didn't put 2 & 2 together to realize Geddy sang that until you told me. It makes sense now. Beauty eh?

D

[quentoni]

n.p. Capitol Public Radio via Web.

Geesh, I guess I must be classified as one of the old dudes here. Its good to see what people listen to. Here in the US, I guess the music that people are exposed to is pretty limited overall. Okay, to qualify I guess I mean we don't get much of what is produced elsewhere. I like to listen to just about everything, so its good to be able to look for music that I wouldn't normally hear.

Oh, ya, the Rush discussion got me interested in this topic. Love the band and have seen them twice in concert.

[Mikitivity]

n.p. pain station :: cold {US}

I suspect that over time, the internet will really change how people are exposed to music. More and more artists are promoting their music via bulletin boards and on-line forums. You can also now go to amazon.com and download samples of tracks when curious. I've started writting a series of my own amazon.com reviews for albums I like.

For example, pain station, aka Scott Sturgis, has the current album, Cold, for review ... but sadly this particular album doesn't have any tracks to sample!

But a different album, Disjointed, by the same artist, I did leave a review and has tracks you can listen to!

That said, as I get a better feel for what people here like, I'll see if I can find specific tracks that might be more in line with your individual tastes. No promises!

[wondervolle]

Currently listening to:
S.O.A.D - Mezmerize
Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction
ACDC - Highway to Hell
and Muse - Origin of Symmetry

Reading the LOTR books atm, just started The Two Towers.

Saw The War of The Worlds last week. Is good but not one of Spielbergs bests.

[Mikitivity]

I've actually never seen the original War of the Worlds, and want to watch that one first.

[wondervolle]

Original war of the worlds had the best looking UFOs ever.

[wondervolle]

N.P - Rage Against The Machine's - self titled.

I've just got Rush's 2112 and Chronicle's, but I haven't listened to them fully yet.

[Sober Thought]

If it's the title I think, Chronicle comes in two volumes. Several months ago I bought Vol. I because it seemed to have the songs I liked by Rush. I'm not really a fan per se (bad Canadian!), but there are a few interesting songs that I like, "Freewill" being the best in my estimation.

2112 is a concept album, so it stands or falls on the concept. Except for a couple of years in my mid-teens, I was not a fan of Ayn Rand, so 2112 fails for me. And while Pink Floyd's The Wall concept album does have some problems, it really has held up over time in a way that 2112 hasn't. Even Geddy Lee backed away from it a little, mentioning that the album was too ambitious.

You might try chatting with Rush-ia, a former IDU member and hardcore Rush fan (with a 2112 cover as a flag).

And I liked the bizarre album art of Jeff Wayne's Musical War of the Worlds -- quaintly futuristic in a 19th century way. Yet another concept album that had some success with the single "Forever Autumn" and "Thunderchild," the former a special favourite which can be appreciated even outside the context of H.G. Wells' story. Hauntingly lovely, IMHO.

[Mikitivity]

wondervolleJul 7 2005, 09:25 AM Original war of the worlds had the best looking UFOs ever. [/quote]
I completely agree with that.

[Baranxtu]

n.p. Wir Sind Helden - Nur ein Wort

current cd:
Wir Sind Helden - Von Hier An Blind
(my current Favorite Album Ever)