I've been enjoying folk metal a lot recently, a couple of examples:
What do you get when you combine Switzerland, Scotland, flutes and heavy metal? Eluveitie. This is probably their greatest single, Inis Mona.
Here's a piece of music that should be included in Skyrim's soundtrack. Anyway, Ensiferum is up next with Lai Lai Hei. Interestingly, it combines Finnish and English lyrics.
Here's another question: What do you get when you combine ancient Finnish folklore, old men with long beards and antlers? Of course, Korpiklaani. Their songs involve various topics, like slaughtering, drunken slaughtering and slaughtering for ancient Gods. Also, occasionally poetry. Here's one great song from them, Ukon Wacka.
And finally, well, this is more power metal than folk metal but it's a good song nevertheless. Here's some Italian music that's actually enjoyable, Rhapsody with Dawn of Victory.
Listening to Fun doing their Queen impression on Some Nights, and just amazed by how awesome Queen was. They were able to layer track after track after track to tape, fully analog, 30 years before auto tune was invented, and STILL be pretty much perfect. THAT is talent.
And holy crap someone needs to swift kick auto tune out of the hands of some artists. Pretty much ruins good songs.
Listening to Fun doing their Queen impression on Some Nights, and just amazed by how awesome Queen was. They were able to layer track after track after track to tape, fully analog, 30 years before auto tune was invented, and STILL be pretty much perfect. THAT is talent.
I was really disappointed by Fun.'s new album. I absolutely loved their first album, and every song on it, but this one there's maybe 3 or 4 songs that I enjoy.
They took the electronic-influnced idea too far on some songs, to the point where with the autotune and robo-voice I'm not sure if its a serious sound or supposed to identify the ridiculousness of the whole technique.
And I'm not saying that I wanted the 2nd album to be just like the 1st, its just they completely changed their sound and the 1st album felt like it had more heart, this one seems very removed.
And I don't say that as a way to justify some hipster ideals, where I don't like them because their new album has gotten a ton more attention than their first, I mean I liked matt and kim from their first album, and every album after that was just as good, and they managed to try out new sounds and ideas while retaining what made them great in the first place, and managed to gain a lot of popularity too, which is great.
Listening to Fun doing their Queen impression on Some Nights, and just amazed by how awesome Queen was.
When the gal put their CD in when it came out, my first thought was why they were trying to sound like Queen as well.
Hasn't really been that great of a year for albums so far. Favorites probably being Cloud Nothings, The Shins (solid but not great), and I do actually like Of Monsters and Men so far (even if I've already grown tired of their single).
