This is no longer applicable as of 09/05 but I'm leaving this here just in case I ever revert back to it. :)

I manually selected my eight "Library" artists to illustrate my extensive tastes. I tried to pick my favorite representatives out of several genres that I like. They are in alphabetical order... because I am a dork like that... (hey, I'm an English grad).

Chris Brown - hip-hop, rap, r&b
Enya - ambient, new wave
Nox Arcana - darkwave, neoclassical
OneRepublic - alternative rock
Owl City - electronic, indie
Saosin - post-hardcore, rock
Styx - classic rock
The Prodigy - electronica, industrial, techno

Ideally, I'd like to put a "soundtrack score" artist in there (e.g., Hans Zimmer or Thomas Newman) but, alas, there were only eight spots. Also, I s'pose they're neoclassical, so they are represented by proxy. ;)


Pet's Name: Herman
Adopt your own!

A Campingflight to Lowlands Paradise 2008

Vooraf was ik behoorlijk sceptisch over het programma, en was ook erg verbaasd dat het zo snel was uitverkocht. Veel grote festival namen stonden er niet tussen, maar Lowlands is niet compleet zonder de bands van morgen. Het is alleen de vraag of al die bands van morgen voor een geslaagd weekend kunnen zorgen, oei dat rijmt….sorry.

Nadat donderdagavond die @#*&%-tent eindelijk stond en de BBQs nog aan het nasmeulen waren, zijn we zoals gebruikelijk naar de 24 uurs tent gegaan. Het lijkt wel alsof het elk jaar steeds drukker wordt op de donderdag avond.

Vrijdag
Lekker de dag beginnen met Tom Baxter was het plan. Het optreden was mooi, soms saai / soms geniaal. Naar mijn smaak gebruikte hij iets te vaak het "George Baker" tremolo in zijn stem. Ik denk dat hij ook wat meer muzikanten mee had moeten nemen, op de CD zijn sommige nummers namelijk veel beter opgebouwd. Al met al toch een goed optreden gezien van iemand die nog moet groeien in het performen. Die jongen komt er wel potverdikkie.

Op weg naar de Alpha via One Night Only (klonk wel geinig) naar The Presidents of the United States of America. Daar was ik weer even 15 jaar met het singletje van Mach 5 op repeat onderweg naar school. "This new song is for sale on our album wich is for sale after we're on sale on the place where our t-shirts are for sale" Gezellig optreden en toch zijn het goede muzikanten, ook al zingen ze zelf van niet.

Daarna naar de emocore band Thrice. Aan de ene kant heb ik respect voor die gasten omdat ze zich niet aan een genre houden en gewoon lekker spelen wat ze zelf leuk vinden, zeker in de emocore/hardcore-punk scene is dat "not done". Aan de andere kant irriteerde ik me aan hun instelling, beetje verveeld stonden ze op het podium had ik het idee. Snel spelen dan kunnen we nog in de achtbaan, zoals New Found Glory ooit. Dus ben maar in het gras gaan zitten en heb lekker geluisterd naar de mooie muziek van deze boze heren, daar kwam ik ten slotte voor.

Dan expres niet naar de Dropkick Murphys, dat zal ze leren de sell-outs, maar wachten op The Ting Tings. Gelukkig konden ze de hype waarmaken en heb ik een vermakelijk bandje gezien en gehoord.

Dan helemaal alleen naar The Kooks, want de rest ging naar Pendulum. Na de verhalen van het optreden van Pendulum had ik wel spijt dat ik naar The Kooks was gegaan. The Kooks speelde een degelijk optreden met degelijke pophits waar de degelijkheid vanaf kletterde. Het voegde dus niet veel toe helaas. Keuzes keuzes keuzes.

Na een kort rendez-vous bij de Alpha nog even gewacht op de opkomst van Anouk. Wat een goede band had ze mee! Die drummer is wat mij betreft één Des Vaderlands beste broodspelers, je komt hem namelijk nog wel wat vaker tegen zo her en der.

Erg lang hield ik niet vol bij haar en zijn we in het gras gaan zitten bij een andere diva: Rósín Murphy, lekker ontspannen op de achtergrond. Daarna nog even in de tent gestaan bij Junkie XL, maar ik houdt het nooit zo lang vol bij een DJ. Overigens niets dan goeds voor een van de meest muzikale DJ van Nederland.

Zaterdag
Jaja…jaaajaja. Vandaag stond de, inmiddels Nederlandsche, band Jaya the Cat op het program. Goed vrolijk begin van de dag als je het mij vraagt. Daarna een moeilijke keuze tussen Volbeat en GEM, maar ik heb geen spijt dat we voor Gem gekozen hebben.

Uiteindelijk nog even naar Mindless Self Indulgence, bah ik werd helemaal misselijk van het gelul van die gozert. Heel erg jammer want de muziek was eigenlijk best goed.

Dan maar wachten op Blood Red Shoes, gelukkig maakte dit alles weer goed. Heerlijk om een drummer te zien die alles geeft, veel power en ook nog zingen! Overigens zong hij even hoog als de gitariste, beetje vreemd maar wel lekker. Heb geen moment andere muzikanten gemist, en dat terwijl ik zelf een bassist ben. Leuk optreden!

Goed, eens kijken wat ze bij Tunng op de tong hebben. Bandje met een filmische sfeer in hun muziek, een soort Pink Floydian Thomas Newman als je het mij vraagt en dat bedoel ik als een compliment. Lekkere muziek om even in het gras weg te dromen. Hier gaan we maar een CDtje van zoeken.

British Sea Power was een leuke verassing. Het plan was om er voorbij te lopen en alvast op de heuvel bij de Alpha te gaan zitten, maar we zijn toch maar even blijven kijken. Lekker bandje en gelukkig niet zo slap als al die andere nieuwe Britse bandjes.

Over slappe britse bandjes gesproken, daarna even op de heuvel bij Franz Ferdinand gezeten (voor alsnog hoort Schotland bij Groot Brittannië). Klonk wel goed hoor, maar ik ben het een beetje zat zo ondertussen. En misschien de heren op het podium: Franz, Franz, Franz en Franz ook wel

Natuurlijk als ouwe punkrocker moest ik even kijken bij de Sex Pistols, nou ja Johnny Rotten + band was het meer. Het leek wel alsof de cameraploeg alleen de heer Rotten op tape mocht vastleggen van het management. In ieder geval was het een leuke kermis attractie net zoals Iggy Pop vorig jaar. Heb wel het idee dat meneer Rotten zichzelf een stuk minder serieus neemt als meneer Pop, gelukkig. “Praise Allah! Erase Bush!” was voor mij het hoogte- en tevens dieptepunt.

Voor het slapen gaan nog even langs bij de rockhelden Mark en Greg, beter bekend als The Gutter Twins. Wow, wat wat dit mooi, een van mijn hoogtepunten van dit jaar. Er waren momenten dat ik helemaal in trance was door deze muziek, en dat heb ik niet vaak. Op de een of andere manier is Mark Lanegan de enige artiest die met een dergelijke uitstraling op het podium mag staan. Nou ja uitstraling, uitstraling, Ik heb hem twee woorden horen spreken en dat waren: “Greg” en “Dulli” tijdens het voorstellen van de band, verder geen krimp….heerlijk... en wat een dromerige stem!

Zondag
Gaaap, gelukkig was het niet zo heet in de tent als de dagen ervoor, lekker uitgeslapen dus. Wel op tijd voor We Are Scientists, maar die konden mij niet echt boeien.

Dan maar kijken bij de Amsterdammers van Hit Me TV en dat bleek toch wel een goede band te zijn. De zanger had wel wat weg van de zanger van The Mars Volta. Over het algemeen hadden de nummers een lekkere feel.

Een van de hardere bands deze editie, Textures mocht het podium op na Hit me TV en ik moet eerlijk zeggen dat ik in slaap ben gevallen in het gras vlak bij het podium. Ik weet niet wat het is maar op de een of andere manier word ik heel rustig van snoeiharde metal.

Langzaam sjokkend zijn we op weg gegaan naar Gogol Bordello. Ze stonden, helemaal terecht, in een volle Alpha-tent. Wat een feest, ik was weer helemaal wakker na dit optreden. Leuk om te zien dat ze op het podium ook lol hebben, dat lijkt vanzelfsprekend maar dat wil ik graag zien bij bandjes.

Ik was meegesleurd naarTricky en verwachte het ergste: een DJ met Tricky als MC/zanger. Maar eigenlijk viel het allemaal heel best mee, er was zowaar en hele band aan het spelen. Rustige een sferische muziek, vooral de cover The Love Cats vond ik erg goed.

Het mocht allemaal niet lang duren, want ik moest en zou Elbow zien. Ik was uiteindelijk nèt voor de regen in de Grolsch tent. Bij Elbow stond het hele podium stond vol met van allerlei muzikanten. Mooie muziek om bij weg te dromen, ver van alle regen en onweer van buiten de tent. Kortom: alweer een blije verassing erbij.

Toen opeens stond ik in het eerste vak bij dEUS, verwachte veel van deze band maar op de een of andere manier had ik geen connectie. Ik zat blijkbaar op een andere frequentie als deze Belgen en ben maar rustig op weg gegaan naar Anti-Flag, de enige ECHTE punkrock band van dit festival.

Anti-Flag klonk zoals ze altijd klinken, goede punkrock band met goede songs. Zo te zien hadden ze het goed naar hun zin/

Als een van de weinige festival acts hadden de Editors de eer om het hoofdpodium te sluiten. Ze stonden goed gechoreografeerd op te treden, misschien iets te goed want het leek wel erg op eerdere shows die ik van ze heb gezien. Maar je kan niet altijd alles hebben. Het blijft een goede band. Maar ik denk dat het geen kwaad kan als ze dezelfde producer nemen voor de nieuwe CD als die van de nieuwe CD van Coldplay. Een nieuw geluid kan geen kwaad.

Om terug te komen op de vraag of de bands van morgen ervoor kunnen zorgen dat ik een leuk Lowlands zou hebben: Jazekers wel, ik heb een aantal goede bands gezien waar ik in het normale clubcircuit niet gauw naartoe zou gaan.

Tot volgend jaar !

I'm extremely fond of statistics, thus I want to list here special play numbers of my last.fm account and the song that went with it:

• Song 34'000: Drunken Sailor by Captain Bogg & Salty on (September 5.)
• Song 33'333: Would? by Alice in Chains on (August 23.)
• Song 33'000: Il canto del suicida #1 by The Vad Vuc on (August 12.)
• Song 32'000: W. Nuss vo Bümpliz by Patent Ochsner on (July 22.)
• Song 31'000: Loch Lomond (live) by Runrig on (July 4.)
• Song 30'000: Travelling by Marylane (on June 6.)
• Song 29'000: What Are You Waiting For? by Coldeve (on May 9.)
• Song 28'000: Forever And A Day by An Lár (on April 12.)
• Song 27'000: Vondern in Not by Duivelspack (on March 19.)
• Song 26'000: The Encounter by Tan Dun (on March 2.)
• Song 25'000: Sabrina by elfish (on February 7.)
• Song 24'000: The Only Living Boy in New York by Simon & Garfunkel (on January 15.)
• Song 23'000: Man on the Moon by R.E.M. (on December 21.)
• Song 22'222: Saving Us by Serj Tankian (on December 4.)
• Song 22'000: Mad World by Gary Jules (on November 30.)
• Song 21'000: The Tide Turns (Suite) by Danny Elfman
• Song 20'000: Der Schneck by Die Streuner
• Song 19'000: This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm on This Song by System of a Down
• Song 18'000: Amerika Git's Nid by Züri West
• Song 17'000: Off To California, The Silver Spire by Rapalje
• Song 16'000: The Waiting Room by Sixpence None the Richer
• Song 15'000: Dead Already by Thomas Newman
• Song 14'000: i can't stand many things by grandmother's groove
• Song 13'000: Hide me by Coldeve
• Song 12'000: Herr Mannelig by In Extremo
• Song 11'111: Without a Trace by Labia
• Song 11'000: Kinky Kamikaze by P.M.T
• Song 10'000: Bohemian Polka by "Weird Al" Yankovic
• Song 9'000: Afrikaan Beat by Bert Kaempfert
• Song 8'000: Plan B by Henchman
• Song 7'000: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Marilyn Manson

So I've created a new playlist, I'm not sure how it works now can non subscribers still listen to created playlists? Anyway take a listen you may find some stuff you really like and feel free to leave any comments on it, whether it might be to tell me I have created the greatest playlist ever or just to recommend me a band!!

Hope this works:

Click Here

If not just click on the playlist section of my page. Hope you enjoy it.

Artists on the playlist:


*shels
Giles Corey
Gate
Sólstafir
Have A Nice Life
Drudkh
Kroda
Coldworld
Jesu
Cult of Luna
Isis
Dargaard
The Angelic Process
Fuck Buttons
Venerean
Ulver
Agalloch
October Falls
Shining
Sol Invictus
Tenhi
Thomas Newman
Wongraven
Eluvium
Primordial
Obtest
Alcest
Moon Far Away
Anaal Nathrakh
Boris
John Murphy
Brian Eno
Clint Mansell
My Dying Bride
Opeth
Love Is Colder Than Death
Paradise Lost
Gallhammer
Dimmu Borgir
Isole
Khoma
Lifelover
Black Sabbath
Ludwig van Beethoven
Swallow the Sun
Nachtmystium
Joy Division

1. How did you get into 29?
Goldfrapp - through my mum

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?
Madina Lake - House Of Cards

3. What’s your favorite lyric by 33?
Thomas Newman - His music is instrumental

4. What is your favorite album by 49?
Iron Maiden - I don't have one

5. How many albums by 13 do you own?
Various Artists - a few lol

6. What is your favorite song by 50?
Michael Bublé - It's Time

7. Is there a song by 39 that makes you sad?
Tenacious D - Naa all their music is hilarious =)

8. What is your favorite album by 15?
Tangerine Dream - Legend: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

9. What is your favorite song by 5?
Coheed and Cambria - Mother Superior

10. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?
30 Seconds To Mars - The Kill

11. What is your favorite album by 40?
Richard O'Brien - Rocky Horror Picture Show

12. What is your favorite song by 10?
George Michael - Spinning the Wheel

13. What is a good memory you have involving 30?
[artist]Brand New[artist] - Listening to them =)

14. What is your favorite song by 38?
Blaqk Audio - Stiff Kittens

15. Is there a song by 19 that makes you happy?
Poets of the Fall - Stay

16. How many times have you seen 25 live?
From First to Last - None, but I'm seeing them in October.

17. What is the first song you ever heard by 23?
Cradle of Filth - Nymphetamine

18. What is your favorite album by 11?
Funeral for a Friend - Hours

19. Who is a favorite member of 1?
Mindless Self Indulgence - Kitty

20. Have you ever seen 14 live?
Type O Negative - Na. Wouldn't mind it though =)

21. What is a good memory involving 27?
DragonForce - Listening to them on the coach to Scarborough years ago and getting told off for having the volume up too high =)

22. What is your favorite song by 16?
Cute Is What We Aim For - I Don't Care if it's the Moon

23. What is the first song you ever heard by 47?
We The Kings - Check Yes Juliet

24. What is your favorite album by 18?
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus - Don't You Fake It

25. What is your favorite song by 21?
The Faint - Symptom Finger

26. What is the first song you ever heard by 26?
Aiden - One Love

27. What is your favorite album by 3?
Fleetwood Mac - Tango in the Night

28. What is your favorite song by 2?
Death Cab for Cutie - Your New Twin Sized Bed

29. What was the first song you ever heard by 32?
Fightstar - Paint Your Target

30. What is your favorite song by 8?
The Smiths - How Soon Is Now?

31. How many times have you seen 17 live?
ABBA - None but I've seen a tribute band =)

32. Is there a song by 44 that makes you happy?
David Gray - White Ladder

33. What is your favorite album by 12?
Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory

34. What is the worst song by 45?
Hans Zimmer - Not sure there's lots lol

35. What was the first song you ever heard by 34?
Lacuna Coil - Heaven's a Lie

36. What is your favorite album by 48?
Boys Like Girls - Don't have one

37. How many times have you seen 42 live?
Vangelis - None

38. What is your favorite song by 36?
Lifehouse - Everything

39. What was the first song you ever heard by 28?
Coldplay - Clocks

40. What is your favorite album by 7?
Enter Shikari - Take To The Skies

41. Is there a song by 31 that makes you happy?
Porcelain and the Tramps - Sugar Cube

42. What is your favorite album by 41?
Andy McKee - Art of Motion

43. What is your favorite song by 24?
Enigma - Principles Of Lust - Sadeness/Find Love/Sadeness Reprise

44. What is a good memory you have involving 46?
Prince - Seeing him live at the O2

45. What is your favorite song by 35?
The Police - Message in a Bottle

46. Is there a song by 9 that makes you happy?
Rammstein - Los

47. What is your favorite album by 4?
Placebo - Meds

48. Who is a favorite member of 37?
Pink Floyd - David Gilmour

49. What is the first song you ever heard by 43?
My Chemical Romance - Helena

50. How many albums do you own by 20?
Damien Rice - One. O

FEATURING ORIGINAL SCORE BY ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINATED COMPOSER Thomas Newman WITH AN ORIGINAL SONG WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY Peter Gabriel

**ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK TO BE RELEASED ON AUGUST 30TH ON WALT DISNEY RECORDS**

Walt Disney Records will release the original soundtrack for Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios WALL•E on August 30, 2008. The recording features score written by 8 time Academy Award®-nominated composer Thomas Newman (“Finding Nemo”, “American Beauty”) and the original song “Down to Earth” written and performed by Peter Gabriel (with music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman). The soundtrack also includes two songs from “Hello Dolly” performed by Michael Crawford (“It Only Takes A Moment” and “Put On Your Sunday Clothes”) and Louis Armstrong’s “La Vie En Rose”.

Academy Award®-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo”, “A Bug’s Life”) didn’t wait long to ask “Finding Nemo” collaborator Thomas Newman to compose the music for WALL•E. Stanton described, “The night of the Oscars in 2004 for Nemo, we went out for a celebratory toast at the bar in the middle of the ceremony, and right there I remember saying, ‘Okay, I’ve got this idea, and it involves Hello Dolly and science fiction.’ Wondering if he would still talk to me after that…”

The Hello Dolly reference didn’t scare off Newman – his uncle Lionel was the conductor for the 1969 film. Thomas Newman is member of the film-scoring Newman dynasty (his father and uncle are the legendary composer and conductor Alfred and Lionel Newman respectively, his brother is composer David Newman and cousin is composer/singer/songwriter/recording artist Randy Newman).

After studying at Yale University, Thomas Newman joined the family business and began scoring for film in 1984. It was ten years later that he would became a double Academy Award®-nominee with “Little Women” and “The Shawshank Redemption”. He has since received 8 nominations for the films “American Beauty”, “Road To Perdition”, “Finding Nemo”, “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events”, and “The Good German”. He also composed the theme music for the television shows “Boston Public” and “Six Feet Under” and the miniseries “Angels in America”.

Though he has written music for a wide range of films Thomas Newman has never composed for a science fiction film. He brought his own unique style to WALL•E. Stanton describes, “He’s got a very unique style that often involves a lot of overdubs and mixing after he’s recorded the orchestra. And it just allows this fresh palette of sounds to come in.”

“He’s really nailed an identity for not only the movie but for the characters and for the moments,” Stanton continues, “and I can’t imagine it any other way.”

Legendary artist Peter Gabriel had first contacted Andrew Stanton through a mutual friend, Gabriel’s bass player Tony Levin. Gabriel emailed Stanton seeking advice on a different animated feature. The email exchanged ended with Gabriel adding a post script offering “If you ever need a song in one of your movies, just let me know.” Stanton called in the marker, and Gabriel to collaborate with Newman on the song “Down To You,” which Peter performs. In addition, Gabriel co-composed two additional score cues with Newman.

---

What if mankind had to leave Earth, and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off?

Academy Award®-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo”) and the inventive storytellers and technical geniuses at Pixar Animation Studios (“The Incredibles”, “Cars”, “Ratatouille”) transport moviegoers to a galaxy not so far away for a new computer-animated cosmic comedy about a determined and heroic robot named WALL•E.

After hundreds of years doing what he was built for, WALL•E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realise that WALL•E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL•E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen.


WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES PRESENTS WALL•E IN THEATRES ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2008

THE WALL•E ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK IS RELEASED AUGUST 30, 2008

http://www.musichead.com.au
http://www.disney.com.au

In an effort to make this blog more interesting, I'm going to carry on something of a new tradition I started in my LiveJournal account. It makes more sense to post it here now, since this site is music-oriented Taking certain songs as they come on my iPod and describing their sonic and personal resonances. Here is an abridged and edited version of my original posts.

Jeff Buckley - Mojo Pin (Grace): A really good start to this, not to mention an amazing album opener. To the virgin listener, the marriage of the ethereal and heavy aspects of this song get you in the gut and it doesn't let you go until the song finishes. You never leave that experience the same, and better for it to the initiated of those who revere this album in the highest regard.

Pink Floyd - Biding My Time (Relics): I can count all the great Floyd songs that are sadly under-rated on my hand. Wait, actually both. Actually, I should probably include my toes as well. This is one I would point out on the ring finger of my left hand (lefty). One great thing about PF that makes them unique among progressive rock bands of that period, is that they openly incorporated the blues in their music. This is almost too perfect an example, considering it was originally conceived as part of a stage piece called The Man & The Journey they were doing two years before this album came out.

Michael Kamen - Rooftop Shootout (Die Hard): The first 20 seconds of this cue is one of the things I remember most from the film, and how it perfectly matched the on-screen action and tension.

Queensrÿche - Sign of the Times (Hear in the Now Frontier): I remember well this song being part of the soundtrack of the latter part of 7th grade. Back in 1997, before the Nu-Metal bands ruined Modern Rock radio for me, there was a bit of joy in hearing songs like this. Sammy Hagar and Collective Soul also had some cool stuff coming out at the time as well. The album wasn't too successful but I think it's one of their best songs, despite being a tad simple compared to their more complicated work.

Slowdive - Souvlaki Space Station (Souvlaki): After graduating high school, I discovered Post-Rock and the Shoegazer bands out of the UK in the early 90's at the same time and it opened my eyes to the possibility that "less is more" can be as inventive and exciting as Progressive Rock and Jazz Fusion, genres I discovered before this. This band in particular is great at just taking a riff or a rhythm, make it last for 6 minutes, and create something unique out of it. If a 5.1 mix for this album comes out, I will buy the proper systems necessary for this track alone.

Eagles - Business As Usual (Long Road Out Of Eden): In an era where acts from the 60's & 70's put out CD's with forgettable songs, it's a pleasant surprise to come across something that has material as fresh and as up to date without compromising artistic integrity. Especially considering that I wasn't even a notion in anyone's mind in 1979, when the band released The Long Run. Yes, the band sells this album exclusively at Wal-Mart. And as I mentioned to prjt2501, Don Henley was probably hitting his head on a desk somewhere when Radiohead announced the radical method they employed to releasing their new record. But none of that obscures the fact that Messrs. Frey, Henley, Walsh, and Schmidt still have it. This song has a feeling more common with Henley's solo work, but the guitar work on the track is classic Eagles.

Nathan Johnson & The Cinematic Underground - The Tunnel (Brick): The soundtrack, much like the film, is either love it or hate it. I can't imagine how a middle ground is possible, frankly. But if you love it, you can see how the sparse, yet eclectic nature of the music matches visual elements throughout the film. As close to anything I can compare it to, would have to be the score Thomas Newman did for The Salton Sea, but without the funkier elements.

Motörhead - I Don't Believe a Word (Overnight Sensation): For all the band's depictions of cheeky debauchery and two-fisted aggression, it's easy to forget that they explore deeper, personal worlds as well in some of their work. It's a Catch-22 a lot of bands face in the hard rock genre in general, and it's easy to see why. This song is the best of both worlds, because despite the bitter sentiment of the song it still rocks.

Mahavishnu Orchestra - I Wonder (The Lost Trident Sessions): It's a crime that this music wasn't released until a quarter-century after the recordings, because it's by far the best work that the original group did. This track starts out with a dramatic, gradual build-up that explodes once Billy Cobham's drums come in. For being only three minutes in length, it surprisingly manages to encompass the abilities of the soloists with the solid groove of the rhythm section.

Rick Wright - Breakthrough (Broken China): I bought this disc when I was at the tail-end of my PF purchases in terms of their complete discography. It didn't impress me a whole lot upon listening to it save two tracks. This song wasn't one of them. That is until I recently saw Rick sing it with David Gilmour's band on the In Concert DVD of David's released in 2002. Then I came around to discovering the original recording, sung by Sinéad O'Connor. Being mostly unaware of her work outside her one big hit, this song made me understand her talent more fully if that makes sense. The arrangement and instrumentation is also quite tasteful. Overall, it touched a nerve that it didn't find when I was 14. This is a good example of how maturity in musical taste evolves, and how it coincides with maturity as a whole. This song happened to find me when I was in the right frame of mind and position in life to take it in, and discover it's meaning almost instantly.

Mazzy Star - Fade Into You (So Tonight That I Might See): The story of how I discovered this band's music has a bit of a shame involved on my part. The only time I've ever been into a reality show by myself (I don't count being endlessly amused by both the Machiavellian and whorish nature of American Idol with friends) was when VH1 (pre-Celebreality) had a show called Bands On The Run. Four bands competed in a series of contests tied to the music industry, while touring several spots in the middle of nowhere, the prize a record contract. To add more shame, I remember the name of the band that won mostly due to it's unique name and catchy (at first) single, Flickerstick. To bring this back to the topic at hand, one of the contests I believe was for each band to cover a song at that night's concert (you know, to further their career) and they chose this song to cover. I heard a couple of bars of that song and was hooked. As strange as it is, not many female singers bring me in completely without some uniquely sexy and mysterious quality to it. Hope Sandoval has that, and combined with the mellow to moderate groove the band had, I was hooked.

Yes - The Gates of Delirium (Yesshows): This was the first CD I bought by them, nearly ten years ago. Two things struck out at me at the time I purchased it. One being Roger Dean's typically beautiful artwork. The other that two tracks were over 20 minutes in length, this track included. This was when I was anything but internet-savvy, and really didn't know the full capacity for available information that was around then. That's one thing I miss now, looking at a CD and having no idea what the music is but being compelled to buy it for really just the packaging and what little info I had of the bands at the time. At the time, I really only had Pink Floyd as any kind of reference point for progressive rock. Looking back, I could have gone in a completely different direction and become a full-fledged Deadhead by the time of my high school graduation. Instead I took a route which I'm sure no peers of mine took, and became a Prog Rock fan which I still am. This is the superior recording of the song, even more so than the original on the Relayer album. This rendition was recorded in '76, and the band was never probably stronger as a unit when Patrick Moraz was briefly in the group. The instrumental sections are particularly tight, as is Jon Anderson's voice. Seeing them perform this in 2000 (first concert ever) was absolutely astonishing, Jon singing "Soon" that warm August night is an experience I'll never forget.

The Who - Tea & Theatre (Endless Wire): This is such a beautiful song, simply because in it I can hear both the pain and the joy both Pete and Roger have shared through dealing with John Entwistle's death, going through the emotional hell of Pete's brief and undeserved fall from public grace, and building up the band they've shared for over four decades now all over again. The album itself is not exactly a knock-out record, but it's just the beginning of something new. And that's all a dedicated Who fan like myself can ask for.

Nick Drake - Three Hours (Five Leaves Left): I'll end tonight with a track that leaves me spellbound every time I take it in when listening to it. His voice had a warming, yet mysterious quality to it. The delivery in this song combined with the lengthy instrumental passages lends itself to images of a gypsy traveling through the desert, though I won't even begin to try and intellectualize the lyrics. A very hypnotic track.

Actor in Movie
Johnny Depp

Runners Up
Owen Wilson
Adrien Brody
Will Smith
Dustin Hoffman
Jack Black
Sacha Baron Cohen
Steve Carrell

Actress in Movies
Keira Knightly

Runners Up
Emmy Rossum
Helena Bonham Carter
Winona Ryder

Actor on TV
Zach Braff (J.D. of "Scrubs")

Runners Up
Danny Masterson (Stephen Hyde of "That 70s Show")
Matt Leblanc (Joey of "Friends")
Alan Alda (Hawkeye Pierce of "MASH")

Actress on TV
Lisa Kudrow (Pheobe of "Friends")

Runners Up
Courtney Cox (Monica of "Friends")
Laura Prepon (Donna of "That 70s Show")
Sarah Chalke (Elliot of "Scrubs")

Actor on Broadway
Michael Crawford

Runners Up
Gerorge Hearn
Len Cariou
Jason Raize(RIP)

Actress on Broadway
Patti LuPone

Runners Up
Laura Michelle Kelly
Sarah Brightman
Kristen Chenoweth

Movie Director
Tim Burton

Runners Up
Gore Verbinski
George Lucas
John Lasseter
Brad Bird

Composer (Movie Edition)
Hans Zimmer

Runners Up
Michael Giacchino
Danny Elfman
Randy Newman
Thomas Newman
John Williams
Klaus Baldet
Rachel Portman

Composer (Broadway Edition)
Stephen Sondheim

Runners Up
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Tim Rice
Alan Menkin
Mel Brooks

TV Personality/Chef
Alton Brown

Runners Up
Anthony Bourdain
Mario Batali
Michael Ian Black
Hal Sparks
Mo Rocca

Comedian
Jim Gaffigan

Play
Amadeus

Runners Up
Of mice and men
Arsenic and Old Lace
Rumors
Much Ado About Nothing
A Midsummer's Night Dream

Musical
The Phantom of the Opera

Runners Up
Sweeney Todd
Cry-Baby
EFX
Wicked
Sunday In The Park With George
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
Footloose
Mamma Mia!
Young Frankenstein
Chicago
The Lion King
Beauty and the Beast
Tarzan

Singer (Male)
Mika

Runners Up
Michael Bublé
Josh Groban
Tom Petty

Singer (Female)
Gwen Stefani

Runners Up
Regina Spektor
Fiona Apple
Corinne Bailey Rae
Lykke Li