@Cynder Granted probably not one of the better linkin park songs to do it with. XD

@Shorticus Am I little scared to hear what Celtic music you were listening too...There's plenty that exists that isn't fake sounding at all, especially genre mixing like Celtic metal or rock. Even stand alone, I'm not sure if I've ever heard fake Celtic instruments beside maybe like electronica used for pop or rap songs. o.

How can I put it...

Okay:

THIS is a traditional Nordic music excerpt I can find pretty easily. It sounds natural, because it IS natural. It's traditional. It's got real instruments. Love it.

But when I type in "Celtic music" into Google, or try to find Irish music, or w/e... I get synthetic stuff that's made from what was ORIGINALLY normal stuff. Like: someone took a sound program that has the sounds they want, then just put it together and decided that makes this Celtic music. Which, okay, that piece isn't horrible. But then we start to get to, say... THIS GUY. I want to punch this guy and his brother. Holy moly, they muck up my searches for REAL Celtic music so much.

It sucks doubly hard because I'm running a roleplay based around Irish-inspired clans.

<Snipped quote by SleepingSilence>

How can I put it...

Okay:

THIS is a traditional Nordic music excerpt I can find pretty easily. It sounds natural, because it IS natural. It's traditional. It's got real instruments. Love it.

But when I type in "Celtic music" into Google, or try to find Irish music, or w/e... I get synthetic stuff that's made from what was ORIGINALLY normal stuff. Like: someone took a sound program that has the sounds they want, then just put it together and decided that makes this Celtic music. Which, okay, that piece isn't horrible. But then we start to get to, say... THIS GUY. I want to punch this guy and his brother. Holy moly, they muck up my searches for REAL Celtic music so much.

It sucks doubly hard because I'm running a roleplay based around Irish-inspired clans.

I'm not sure who Derek's target audience is. I mean, it looks like he has a lot of those songs released in sheet music form as well. But looking at his videos, there's nothing but midi/sampled pieces. I'd say he's just a young composer, but it looks like he's been doing that for a while. Everything just sounds really samey. Like, really samey. Nothing harmonically distinct about any of it. It's really hard to listen to, and it's not just the shitty midi.

All this talk of celtic music and celtic inspired music reminds me of a great Michael Brecker piece, Itsbynne Reel. Man, Brecker was just a beast.

I always acknowledged Octavarium, but never really gave it enough respect until recently. I passed it off as being too mainstream sounding, which on the surface it was. It's not until you actually take the time (hurrdurr) to really listen to it that you start to understand how much more complex it is.
And yes, These Walls was one of the first tracks on that album that made me take notice.
Although, I gotta say, a lot of Dream Theater's latter day stuff didn't grab me at first. Train of Thought, Octavarium and Systematic Chaos took a while for me. So did Six Degrees (despite The Glass Prison being my favourite DT song).

My absolute number 1 is still Awake though. That to me is probably the most encompassing album, and the strongest in terms of songwriting and performances. It was heavy, it was dark, but it was still melodic and it pushed their sound further outwards.
Then it's Images & Words, and then Scenes From a Memory.

You and I are in agreement about Awake. It's definitely one of their strongest efforts. And I did happen to listen to Learning to Live earlier today. I agree with you on the point that it's beautifully written. Not sure I would call it their best written song, but that might just be me. Lyrically, I really like The Silent Man. And Glass Prison, now that you mention it, was really well-written, I must say.

Also, anyone here fans of Machine Head? I had mentioned in a previous post that I wasn't really into much metal(or good music) in my early teens, but I found them(along with a couple of other bands) through some friends and youtube. They are a band that I find you either love them or hate them In my case, I went up and down on that particular roller coaster. Some of their studio album efforts were great and others not so much. Unto the Locust is definitely my favorite effort from them. Track-to-track, that album didn't waver. To be quite honest, I think it got better as it went on. I am Hell and Who We Are are definitely the strongest tracks off that record for me.

All this talk of celtic music and celtic inspired music reminds me of a great Michael Brecker piece, Itsbynne Reel. Man, Brecker was just a beast.

I never heard that! Nice. Nice.

Man, though, I get frightened that one of his instruments is about to break at points. That's fun to listen to, though. I couldn't listen to it all day, but it's definitely enjoyable.

<Snipped quote by Gelatinous Cube>
Also, anyone here fans of Machine Head?

Have yet to give a full album of theirs a try. But I love Now We Die. Any album suggestions? :3

@Shorticus Apparently I am too Irish, because I kind of enjoyed all three of them. >-< (Though that last one was fairly simplistic.)

@SleepingSilence
I'll be sure to buy their latest effort and tell you what I think. As for which of their other albums, I gave my favorite one, Unto the Locust, but I also like The Blackening. There are some good tracks on that one as well, like Clenching the Fists of Dissent.

A. You listen to a song for the first time and dislike/hate it but after repeated listens you actually end up liking/loving the song.

I used to be the sort of kid who never really liked newer music. I don't have any specific examples to give, but I wasn't a fan of newer artists or very much hip-hop when I was growing up or coming into that age of musical consciousness. I much more preferred the realm of "classic rock" which is strange because...

B. Music you used to listen to and enjoy, but for some reason or another, can no longer stand it/hate the song.

... Now I don't actually care for classic rock. Or most of it, rather. I still do really enjoy bands like Pink Floyd, but all the rest of the genre has been met with associations of corporate dullness and terrible radio DJs. This I think might actually be a major point in my late aversion to classic rock and pop: every radio station here plays it and all the DJs suck. And for bands like ACDC - which I performed a total about face on - once you listened to one song of theirs, you've listened to them all. And the whole world of music from the 60-80's isn't growing anymore so there's no fresh material, save for weird stuff you find in the deepest corners of the closet.

Everything else though is shit I'll call re-discovery. Songs or artists I used to listen to but not in the same way as I did Pink Floyd where I knew the entire background and what not. I've come to like Big Yellow Taxi again.



And the Counting Crows version ain't bad either.

Also:

celtic music

Don't you be fukkin' posting nonna' t'aht internet composer shite.

Lemme' get ya some good gaelige music.



Up t' fukkin' 'Ra.

An'

@Dinh AaronMK Thank you.

But yeah, typical internet composer shit is what I find most often when I search using keywords instead of actual band names. I try to find stuff that'd fit in the Medieval era because I listen to themed music when I write.

I knew about Flogging Molly already, but I'd... I'd forgotten the name. So that link was incredibly helpful.

@Dinh AaronMk Actually I'm kind of similar, though I always much preferred modern music to oldies. I tried listening to really old metal and rock albums via an all day music binge, and not a lot of it sounded very good to me. :/ Same for other genres too really, though not including everything.

@Dinh AaronMK

Also, here's some weird stuff from the 60-80's era that a friend of mine introduced me to: Country Funk.

@Shorticus

Here's the original:



Long may the voodoo shaman of New Orleans reign over his netherworld of N'awleans funk and caijun jive.

But all in all Dr John is a pretty great in the world of New Orleans jazz, including all the glitz and mysticism of the voodoo culture and Mardi Gras traditions.

Here's more:



Covering Louis Armstrong:

JUST started listening and DAMN do I love the sound of that first song. I'll check out the other links as I get time.

I love both versions, though - they've got very different emotions they rise up. But now I've got some ideas flowing...

Yeah, I can't say I prefer one over the other too much. They're both great for very different reasons.

I never used to like all the "old" music, then the Fallout games saved my life.

I'm also an opposite of @Cynder - I used to absolutely hate nightcore, but now I love it.

One thing I've definitely flipped on is Bon Jovi. I mean, I used to like him, but now... eh... meh. It's the same for Guns 'N' Roses.

@Shorticus

New Orleans is the home of a lot of great musicians. Dr John among them.

One of his early inspirations and people he performed with when Dr John was just a kid playing on stage with local stars:





And I think while my head's in the south, then the recently passed Allen Toussaint needs to be brought up.



Rest in peace.

One thing I've definitely flipped on is Bon Jovi. I mean, I used to like him, but now... eh... meh. It's the same for Guns 'N' Roses.

Funnily enough, I'm just getting back into Bon Jovi and Guns N' Roses.

@Altered TundraWhile I have never really given them a proper go, I will say one thing. Rob Flynn is a top bloke. I've got a lot of respect for him, because I think he's a really intelligent, compassionate and well-informed guy. So because of that, one day I will give Machine Head some time.

Their cover of Hallowed By Thy Name is pretty good. Iron Maiden are one of my absolute favourite bands, and I usually don't like people's covers of them (especially "extreme" covers), but they did well. Especially on such a beloved track.