Dying For An Angel

There's this amazing new Tobias song I've been listening to lately, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5c8M7Yxz2M

It's called "Dying for an Angel" The lyrics are a bittersweet proclamation as is usual for Avantasia. He uses tons of imagery and abstractions which remind me of RHCPs Stadium Arcadium, though with more anger-passion. The guest vocalist is the lead singer from the Scorpions when they harmonize-it's almost too much for my ears. Great sound is an understatement. Complex and dire and ancient. Klaus (scorpions) I hear, is 62+ years old. Tobias blends the pop-rock feel which he elegantly did in Lost In Space (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o26SlmROH5Q) with a hard metal core. It reminds me of a little known album by Luca Turilli - A futuristic metal opera that also mixes synthesizer and heavy guitars: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izpqDWN5iVQ). Tobias is combining aspects from all over the spectrum and flaunting them in the best way. I absolutely cannot wait for this double album out April 3 (6? imported to US). This is music unparalleled in originality, and it's catchy as all hell: I can't stop singing to it. I'm interested to see what an Avantasia version of "Runaway Train" will be like.

Track list
THE WICKED SYMPHONY: The Wicked Symphony, Wastelands, Scales Of Justice, Dying For An Angel, Blizzard On A Broken Mirror, Runaway Train, Crestfallen, Forever Is A Long Time, Black Wings, States Of Matter, The Edge

ANGEL OF BABYLON: Angel Of Babylon, Stargazers, Your Love Is Evil, Death Is Just A Feeling, Rat Race, Down In The Dark, Blowing Out The Flame, Symphony Of Life, Alone I Remember, Promised Land 2, Journey To Arcadia

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years

Why, why why why do things have to cost money?! I just played through the only true sequel to the SNES legend FF2. This was my second attempt at trying to play through it, the first time I ended up stopping because the random encounters were too many and I felt like they were butchering an old time classic. Let me first give more background real quick:

Its a downloadable Wii title for only 8 dollars (if I remember). It has the original maps and original music(!!! YES!!!) and 16bit graphics but it takes place like 20 years in the future and Cecil and Rosa have a kid named Ceodore. He's kind of the main guy the story centers around, but it's also heavily centered around Kain.
It's also possible to download additional plot lines for Rydia, Edward, Edge, Yang, Fo So Ya, Cecil, Palom, and a bunch others for about 3 bucks each. This is why i ask: Why do they have to cost extra??!!

I recommend this game to any lover of original FF games as I think it is going to grow into something awesome, and if you have $40 laying around (thats probably how much they all cost together) these would be an awesome purchase. But since I'm poor, I'm going to only have a very abridged tale for now with many many loose ends to be tied up in months to come. Sunovawhitemage!

The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

It's a kind of folk music that knows what its talking about, and doesn't mind taking steps out of bounds to illustrate a feeling. The Avett Brothers are heavy on the piano, strings, and have a good habit of letting their vocals/lyrics surface at the right moments.
I haven't listened to enough of this band, and I haven't listened to them enough. Right now it seems hard to do either, as all I have is time and liters of pent up thoughts waiting to be uncorked. This band is perfect for that. It's moody without being whiny. Lines like "I wanna have friends that I can trust, that love me for the man I've become not the man that I was" are given the right kind of attention so as not to trivialize them, or make 'em seem cliche.
There are songs on this album that are reminiscent of Old Crow Medicine Show's Wagon Wheel and vibes like Sufjan's Kashmir Pulaski's Day. A melancholy high that demands your whole heart's attention. Speaking of which, I'm going to turn them up now and tune out.

What. The. Hell?

Warren Zevon

Ever since Beaver Island this year I've been loving the best of CD called Genius. Tony kept on talking about whilst drunken like one should be up there, and I remember him talking about songs like Splendid Isolation, Boom Boom Mancini, and Certain Girl... Boom Boom Mancini is this kick ass rock song about a boxer, it was stuck in my head for a week, and it was a great week. I also really like Splendid Isolation for it's harmonica melody. And then there's this video that I'm including, just because I'm in absolute awe of how talented Warren Zevon actually was, and his music is just so damn fun to listen to, he's like a one-man The Who in my book... damn I gotta remember to listen to more of The Who now that I think about it.

WWOZ

Here is a station that's really worth tuning into on those days where life is dragging lazily by. There is anything from sweet southern blues and jazz funk, to carribean or latino folk, or New Orleans' very own crazy Zydeco. I probably sound like an advertisement, but alas. You have to try it out to know why it's great. And it's a public radio station

http://www.wwoz.org/

Dan btw I got to get that sweet sweet Devin Townsend CD from ya.

Eddie Vedder

If you never have before, check out the "Into the Wild" soundtrack by Eddie Vedder. It's an acoustic and vocal exploration of sound and space. The movie itself is filled with monumental outdoor images, which are made even more epic by the music. The lyrics are also a reflection of a youthful idealism that I think everyone has inside them.
"Society
lonely and deep
hope you dont miss me
when i leave"

Down with the man!