Random Longboard Playlist #2

Posted on November 11, 2014 by platinumal

On Sunday 2nd November I went out for a quick skate on my longboard. Luckily the weather has been fairly warm and dry, meaning that a short skate trip was possible. Usually at this time of year, it’s too cold and wet outside for cruising and carving. That skate might be the last of 2014, as the pleasant autumn has now decayed into winter.

As is often the case, the iPod went on shuffle, and here are the songs that provided a soundtrack to skate.

Napalm Death – “Blind to the Truth”
Volbeat – “Our Loved Ones”
Blaze Bayley – “Madness and Sorrow”
The Offspring – “Killboy Powerhead”
Curtis Mayfield – “Party Night”
Alice Russell – “Living the Life of a Dreamer (Mr. Scruff Remix)”
Rocket From The Crypt – “Normal Carpet Ride”
Electric Light Orchestra – “Can’t Get It Out Of My Head”
Smokey Robinson – “Being With You”
Anthrax – “Imitation of Life”
Buckcherry – “Broken Glass”
Pink Floyd – “Wish You Were Here”
Zombina & The Skeletones – “I Go Psycho!”
The Clash – “Rock the Casbah”
Screaming Trees – “Witness”
Run DMC – “Can You Rock It Like This”
Judas Priest – “Living After Midnight”

Dark Shadows Playlist

Posted on October 24, 2014 by platinumal

Dark Shadows Soundtrack – Playlist

Recently I posted my Hallowe’en Horror Fest mini-review of the film Dark Shadows. It’s a great film from Tim Burton, in my opinion. One of the best things about that movie is the soundtrack.

The film is set in 1972, so the soundtrack consists of songs from that era. Contrasting heavy rock, pop and a bit of soul, there are a few cuts that fit the Gothic mood; and others that are just cool.

I put together this playlist – utilising songs from my collection – meaning I didn’t need to buy the soundtrack album…

1. The Moody Blues – “Nights in White Satin”

This classic soundtracks the opening of Dark Shadows, chronicling Victoria’s journey to Collinwood Manor. Sets up a moody(!) atmosphere.

2. Iggy Pop & The Stooges – “I’m Sick Of You”

I love it when Iggy gets some respect. Cool tune, as heard in Carolyn’s room.

3. Donovan – “Season of the Witch”

Carolyn Stoddard plays this on vinyl. Wish I had this on wax. A Hallowe’en necessity.

4. Deep Purple – “Highway Star”

I can’t remember where this song appears in the movie. It’s in there though, apparently. One of the must-have Deep Purple tracks, find it on “Machine Head”. Or any “Best of”, for that matter.

5. Curtis Mayfield – “Superfly”

Barnabas takes a walk through Collinsport, soundtracked with this mighty slab of Mayfield funk. Not an obvious vampire tune, but so right for the era.

6. The Carpenters – “Top of the World”

“Reveal yourself, tiny songstress!”

7. Elton John – “Crocodile Rock”

Off to the pub we go, we might bump into Christopher Lee…

8. Black Sabbath – “Paranoid”

It’s the early 70’s. It’s a dark film. It needs, no – demands – Sabbath. Timeless genius from the originators of all that is dark and heavy. On “Paranoid”, of course.

9. Barry White – “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything”

The Love Machine’s tune is an apt choice for the scene it appears in. What a song!

10. T.Rex – “Get It On”

So evocative of the time, a welcome airing for this track in the movie.

11. Alice Cooper – “No More Mr Nice Guy”

12. Alice Cooper – “The Ballad of Dwight Fry”

A special mention here for Alice Cooper, who has a cameo role as himself in 1972. Two classic Coop songs are on this soundtrack. “The Ballad of Dwight Fry” is possibly my favourite song ever from Alice, so it was great to hear it in the movie.

There you go, twelve songs and 54 minutes of music. If Tim Burton chose these songs, he has great taste. Except for that awful Killers song on the end credits.

I guess I’m a bit obsessed with this this film…

You can read my review here.

Karma to Burn – Live Review

Posted on September 25, 2014 by platinumal

Karma to Burn + Desert Storm + Bad Earth

Thursday 28th August 2014

The Live Rooms, Chester

Another gig at the Live Rooms in Chester – and tonight it’s a night of stoner rock!

The first band on are Bad Earth. Unfortunately (and as per usual, looking back at my previous gig reviews!) I missed the start of the set. I saw most of their performance, however – and Bad Earth deliver a great selection of thunderous tunes in a Kyuss vein. Awesome quality for an opening band, we are definitely not in the Kansas dust bowl of amateurs tonight. These guys are professional and they rock. I’ll ensure I catch the full set next time.

Up next are Oxford based Desert Storm. Any punter would be expecting more of the same, but this band roar off in another direction. Their sound is more riff based and reminds me of Clutch. I love Clutch. Their singer looks like Shaggy from Scooby Doo, and when he opens his mouth I first detected what I thought was a Death Metal bellow. This instantly warped into a honey and bourbon drenched growl that was more Howlin’ Wolf than Napalm Death. Astonishing.

I thoroughly enjoyed Desert Storm, and happily recommend them to anyone who loves chunky, funky guitar riffs with a bluesy, earthy voice whirling around it. Wish I’d bought the CD.

The unusual aspect tonight is that I have never listened to any of the bands before, not even the headliners. I had heard of Karma to Burn, but not actually listened to them. Now what the smart 21st century kids do is check out a few tunes first on YouTube or Spotify, to see if the band in question appeals. But that’s not very stoner rock, is it? We’re talking about bands forged in the fires of Master of Reality and Volume 4, not the digital age. Also, it’s more of an adventure to take a chance!

Karma to Burn are from West Virginia, USA. They play a set that is instrumental. That’s without vocals, kids! Not an easy task to pull off – without vocals the listener doesn’t have as many clues to song structure. However there are less distractions from the mighty attack of guitar/bass/drums and the atmosphere that Karma to Burn are able to create.

With barely a breather between tracks, the riffs are constantly washing over the audience relentlessly. The band create a psychedelic assault, as if in a Grand Canyon watched over by an Olympian Billy Gibbons. It is indeed incredible, and unlike anything I’ve witnessed before.

The moral of this story is, take a chance on live music, you never know what you’re going to find. Whilst it’s always a buzz to see a band you’re already a fan of, sometimes a little adventure is what we need.

Good night, and God bless.

The Live Rooms web page is here.

Karma to Burn’s website is here.

Desert Storm and Bad Earth both appear to have Facebook pages, check ’em out.

Another Random Bike Ride Playlist!

Posted on June 2, 2014 by platinumal

A cheeky little playlist from a few weeks back. You know the score: hit shuffle, see what music provides the soundtrack for my bike ride. This adventure was around fifteen miles.

GBH – “Do What You Do”
Revolution Mother – “Runaway Train”
The B-52s – “Mesopotamia”
Big Black – “Bad Penny”
Jimmy Sabater – “La Flauta”
Elton John – “Circle of Life”
Big Chief – “Cop Kisser (Mack Fucks Up the Scene at the Freezer)”
Kenny Rogers & The First Edition – “Heed the Call”
Mudhoney – “In My Finest Suit”
Queen – “Bijou”
Machine Head – “Hallowed Be Thy Name”
Ugly Duckling – “Smack”
The Yardbirds – “Evil Hearted You”
Audio Bullys – “Take You There”
Ramones – “Poison Heart”
PJ Harvey – “Down by the Water”
Mikis Theodorakis – “Fragosiriani”
Living Colour – “Ignorance is Bliss”
Slash – “Doctor Alibi”
GangStarr – “You Know My Steez (RMX)”
Kiss – “Comin’ Home”
Corrosion of Conformity – “Loss for Words”
Iggy Pop & The Stooges – “Consolation Prizes”
Public Enemy – “Can’t Truss It”
Revolting Cocks – “Prune Tang”

Electric Eel Shock – Gig Review

Posted on May 24, 2014 by platinumal

Electric Eel Shock + Saltwater Injection

Thursday 1st May 2014

The Compass, Chester

Finally – Chester is building up a few venues to see some live music. Forget the joke that is Chester Rocks (LOLZ! etc), there is a light at the end of the tunnel. On a quiet Thursday night at the start of May, that light was Electric Eel Shock.

The Compass is an older pub/venue just outside the City centre, now reborn with a new name. I paid a measly £9 to get in and see three bands. Have a few drinks, rock out on a school night. What could be better?

The first band up were a local band in a pop punk vein. I have loads of Descendents and SNFU albums, but that whole Sum 41 thing ain’t my scene. The kids could play, but not on my shift.

Next up, we have another local band – Saltwater Injection. A two piece, you may be fooled into thinking White Stripes, before the noise starts. No chance – think more early Bleach-era Nirvana spitting out Black Flag covers, you’ll be more on the map. A great set, these guys are worth keeping an eye out for – Hardcore punk and a nice line in political scorn as well!

Funny thing about The Compass – upstairs is pretty small. And on this night at least, the back half of the room is closed off. So when Electric Eel Shock erupt onto the stage, it’s like having three tiny Japanese Metal demons go bananas in your living room. EES rock the place like they’re headlining Wembley Stadium – standing on monitors, waving the mic stands at the audience for sing alongs, throwing the horns. And the drummer is naked except for a sock to cover the family jewels.

Musically, it’s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal in the traditional sense – some Maiden, some Lizzy, some AC/DC, a little G’n’R; with a liberal dash of punk energy. It’s all the classic rock bands you love in a new, crazy head-banging package. The only song I’m familiar with (“Goodbye Peach”) is nowhere to be heard, but no matter – there’s plenty of new rocking anthems to meet and greet.

The set includes a few covers: Electric Eel Shock’s takes on “Paranoid” and The Halen’s “Hot For Teacher”; plus The Wurzels’ classic “I am a Cider Drinker”! What the living fuck??!! Believe me, this song works!

Electric Eel Shock deliver one of the most bonkers – and fun – gigs I’ve seen in a long time. It’s full-on good time rock’n’roll. The audience love it, the band love it. Check out EES if you can, and if you’re in Chester – The Compass needs to be on your list of places to visit.

The Compass website is here.

Follow Electric Eel Shock on Facebook or follow them on Twitter: @eel_shock

And follow Saltwater Injection on Twitter: @SaltWaterInject

Random Longboard Playlist

Posted on May 7, 2014 by platinumal

A longboard is, for those who don’t know, a skateboard. A very long skateboard. It’s great for just cruising around on, carving, getting a little speed. Recently I went for a skate on my longboard, and hit shuffle on Ipodicus.

I was rewarded with the following soundtrack. The random tunes varied across numerous genres and kept surprising me as I rolled around.

AC/DC – “This House Is On Fire”
Television – “Prove It”
Thin Lizzy – “Mama Nature Said”
Kool & The Gang – “In the Hood (Beat System Remix)”
Pixies – “Tame”
Dead Kennedys – “Hellnation”
Weezer – “Run Away”
Syd Dale – “Disco Tek”
Black Flag – “Out of This World”
El Cabrero with Pedro Bacan – “Con Tristeza Y Con Locura”
Volbeat – “Magic Zone”
Robert Johnson – “Cross Road Blues”
Queen – “Made in Heaven”
The Monkees – “Words”
Public Enemy – “Incident at 66.6 FM”
No Doubt – “Don’t Speak”
Yomanda – “Synth and Strings”
Viking Skull – “Beers, Drugs and Bitches”
Hysterica – “Devil in Me”
Discharge – “The Nightmare Continues”
Camarosmith – “Choker”
Britney Spears – “Boys”

There you go – some interesting choices from Ipodicus there. The highlight was Syd Dale, that is a tune!

If you’d like to read more about my longboard, you can check it out here.

New Year – New Playlist: Part 3

Posted on April 28, 2014 by platinumal

The last few songs…

OK, so I know it’s not even New Year any more. It’s almost May. But we’ve only just got round to finishing off this A – Z playlist game, so I’m posting it no matter what.

The idea was to play one song by an artist, moving alphabetically through the iPod list. No repeats. This time however, we had to repeat the artist – as there’s only one band in my iTunes beginning with X.

Al: Van Halen – “Panama”
Ness: Vile Valo & Natalia Avelon – “Summer Wine”
Al: Waylon Jennings – “Theme From The Dukes of Hazzard”
Ness: Weezer – “Hash Pipe”
Al: X-Ray Spex – “Identity”
Ness: X-Ray Spex – “The Day the World Turned Day-Glo”
Al: The Yardbirds – “Shapes of Things”
Ness: Yes – “Owner of a Lonely Heart”
Al: Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction – “Prime Mover”
Ness: Zombina & the Skeletones – “Your Girlfriend’s Head”

That’s the end, sorry it took a while to finish the list off!

The can read Part 1 here.

And Part 2 is here.

The Return of the Random Bike Ride Playlist

Posted on March 10, 2014 by platinumal

It’s back! Yesterday I went for a bike ride, the first of the year. The weather was good and I was ready to roll. For old times sake, I decided to hit “shuffle” and let Ipodicus decide what the soundtrack to the morning’s adventure would be.

Just over ten miles. Not bad.

Smashing Pumpkins – “Real Love”
Jello Biafra & The Melvins – “Those Dumb Punk Kids (Will Buy Anything)”
Queens of the Stone Age – “Quick & to the Pointless”
Sleigh Bells – “Comeback Kid”
Bob Marley – “You Can’t Do That to Me”
Blondie – “Contact on Red Square”
David Bowie – “Little Wonder”
Lieutenant Pigeon – “Mouldy Old Dough”
Hector Martignon – “Colombaiao”
Therapy? – “Stay Happy”
Viking Skull – “Double or Quits”
Samantha Fox – “I Only Wanna Be With You”
A Tribe Called Quest – “If The Papes Come”
The Melvins – “In the Army Now”
Bad Brains – “Jam”
Orange Goblin – “Lothlorian”
Muddy Waters – “I Want to Be Loved”
2Pac ft. Anthony Hamilton – “Thugz Mansion”
The Who – “Please, Please, Please”
Jello Biafra & The Melvins – “Enchanted Thoughtfist (Enchanted Al Remix)”
Neil Young & Pearl Jam – “Downtown”
Roni Size – “Trust Me”
Tiny Masters of Today – “Hologram World”

This particular playlist reminded me just how great the Jello Biafra and The Melvins collaborations are. I haven’t listened to them for a while, so cranked ’em today.

New Year – New Playlist: Part 2

Posted on February 17, 2014 by platinumal

Remember the alphabetical musical playlist game? Part One was posted a few weeks back, here’s Part Two.

The idea was to take turns playing a song from my iTunes collection, in alphabetical order by artist. You can read the first instalment here.

Below is the next session, N to U. The final few are still to be chosen…

Al: Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – “Straight to You”
Ness: Nirvana – “Heart Shaped Box”
Al: Ozzy Osbourne – “No More Tears”
Ness: The Offspring – “Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)”
Al: Public Enemy – “Harder Than You Think”
Ness: Pearl Jam – “Alive”
Al: Queens of the Stone Age – “Make It Wit Chu”
Ness: Queen – “Who Wants to Live Forever”
Al: Ramones – “I Believe in Miracles”
Ness: R.E.M. – “Nightswimming”
Al: Senseless Things – “Homophobic Asshole”
Ness: System of a Down – “Chop Suey!”
Al: Turbonegro – “The Age of Pamparius”
Ness: Tenacious D – “Tribute”
Al: Urge Overkill – “Jaywalkin'”
Ness: U2 – “One”

So I know it’s not New Year any more, but this list needs finishing off. Final part soon…

Platinum Lounge Rocks!

Posted on January 23, 2014 by platinumal

On Friday 6th September 2013, I was at the Platinum Lounge as part of a leaving do for my great friend and colleague, Ben the Swede. He was going off to be a hobo on the streets of London, begging for loose change off commuters. No doubt he would hitch down there, then spend his nights sleeping in a cardboard box with only a stray dog for company.

To celebrate Ben’s move to pastures new, we were all out and about painting the town red as only us filthy tramps know how. There was a rumour that the Platinum Lounge was having a rock weekend. The rumours were true.

Rock night at the Platinum Lounge featured the best music I have ever heard in any establishment in Chester. It left other venues in the dust as the Lounge dared to play the tunes that would rock other clubs to their foundations.

It was a truly legendary night. Here’s the playlist – or at least, what my compadres and I remember.

Run DMC & Aerosmith – “Walk This Way”
Ugly Kid Joe – “I Hate Everything About You”
Soundgarden – “Black Hole Sun”
Fleetwood Mac – “Go Your Own Way”
ZZ Top – “Legs”
Def Leppard – “Pour Some Sugar On Me”
Motley Crue – “Girls Girls Girls”
Metallica – “Enter Sandman”
Black Sabbath – “Paranoid”
AC/DC – “Whole Lotta Rosie”
Aerosmith – “Janie’s Got a Gun”
The Cult – “She Sells Sanctuary”
Rainbow – “Since You Been Gone”
Alice Cooper – “Poison”
Def Leppard – “Animal”
Guns’n’Roses – “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
AC/DC – “Back in Black”
Jimi Hendrix Experience – “Foxy Lady”
Fleetwood Mac – “The Chain”
Bon Jovi – “Livin’ On a Prayer”
Skid Row – “Youth Gone Wild”
Dire Straits – “Money For Nothing”
U2 – “Pride (In the Name of Love)”
Bryan Adams – “Run to You”
Billy Idol – “White Wedding”
Pink Floyd – “Another Brick in the Wall”
Rolling Stones – “Paint It Black”
Santana – “Smooth”
Whitesnake – “Here I Go Again”
George Thorogood & the Destroyers – “Bad to the Bone”

OK, so I know the Ugly Kid Joe song sucks, but how many top tunes are there on that playlist? I mean Soundgarden – you never hear Soundgarden played anywhere! Especially not in Chester, where that sort of thing is punishable by whipping with a designer handbag.

Thanks to all at the Platinum Lounge for a great night.

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