Category: Music

R.I.P. John Barry

In the midst of all the insanity of football transfer news over last night, I actually didn’t realise the passing of the great composer, Mr John Barry.

You won’t find me blogging much about music news as I know nuts about this subject, but Mr Barry is kinda different.  Probably best known for his works in the James Bond films, John Barry probably created what is best described as the “Bond Sound”.

Mixing a blend of horns, jazz, strings, brass (I’m not entirely sure what I’m listing here is even correct, so don’t get pissed if I got them wrong), his influence in the soundtrack of future Bond films which he does not even contribute can be felt.  (Don’t believe me? Check out the Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace songs.)

I guess I would probably want to list down one of my favourite soundtracks of all time. One that I actually bought (in cassette tape, no less) because I had a thing for a-ha when I was a boy, but ended up loving for the rest of the instrumental tracks when I grew up.

The album, as you would have guessed correctly by now, is “The Living Daylights” (1987).  The soundtrack would turn out to be Barry’s last contribution to the Bond franchise.  Fusing a bit of disco, a bit of classical music and  lots of that ‘Bond Sound’, this soundtrack when listened today brings a very retro-futuristic vibe to it.

I have included my favourite track of the movie’s soundtrack below, which I just found on youtube, which is I guess my way of honouring the passing of the great composer.

Barry – The Ice Chase (from The Living Daylights OST)

JAMES BOND - ICE CHASE ( The Living Daylights )

Published
Categorized as Movies, Music

Likely the silliest thing I’ll read all week

The classic tune “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits has been deemed unacceptable for play on Canadian radio by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council because of the word faggot. Ridiculous. Of course it is an offensive word but consider the context it is used in. This is as moronic as replacing the so-called “N-word” in Huckleberry Finn with “slave” of all words. The Daily Show treats it with the scorn it deserves.

I’ll listen to that fantastic guitar riff any chance I have, so, presenting the groundbreaking video:

Dire Straits - Money For Nothing (Official Music Video)

Mr Big. – Shine

Mr. Big - Shine (Acoustic)

Of course I’m a fan of the original edition of the band, but you have to admit Richie Kotzen pens some fantastic tunes. Shine off their 2001 album Actual Size in particular compares favourably to anything else they have in their canon, and this acoustic version is even better than the studio album track.
Published
Categorized as Music

Devin Townsend — Addicted Teaser

The second album in his four album Devin Townsend Project cycle.

Devin Townsend Project - Addicted Teaser

It is said to be “commercial, yet heavy”. I’m not sure about that, but I do know the teaser sounds phenomenal.

Published
Categorized as Music