Recent comments

  • Greatest Classical Works [under reconstruction - nothing to see here]   2 weeks 5 days ago

    Don't worry, I will!

    [In a reply to MJongo's post earlier on this thread, I explain why I frequently remove my list. I hope you can understand where I'm coming from.]

  • Greatest Classical Works [under reconstruction - nothing to see here]   2 weeks 5 days ago

    Damn... :( Hope you repost :)

  • Greatest Classical Music Works of All Time (in-progress)   2 weeks 5 days ago

    I've now almost revisited everything that was already listed here as of a couple weeks ago. Just have the following left:

    Symphony of Three Orchestras-Carter
    Requiem-Verdi
    Ostrobothnian Symphony-Balakauskas
    Glagolitic Mass-Janacek

    It's already been an incredible experience returning to classical (so many amazing works!) -- it's been the icing on the cake after the last several years have mostly been spent with rock, jazz and film -- almost like those were all building up to returning to classical and getting more out of it than ever. I still have so many left to revisit, and tons to newly discover.

  • Top 10 Movies & Albums of the Week (2013)   2 weeks 5 days ago

    Guess we'll have to agree to disagree re: diversity on his 9th :) ...though admittedly, I don't have his 4th as a comparison, so maybe I'd agree with you relatively speaking, if I listened to it -- though I consider very few (if any) works as or more diverse than Mahler's 9th (Off the top of my head, Escalator Over The Hill is within that range). Sorry, also not familiar with any sluggish/repetitive sections ... Do any lines exactly repeat themselves over the entire symphony; there's usually/always a variation, I believe...

    Anyway, you mentioned Walter and Mozart and I've gotta say he must have the greatest rendition of Mozart's Requiem I've ever heard :)

    Jussi Bjorling's aria from Eugene Onegin... Thanks! Have no clue when I'll get to it but I appreciate the recommendation. Feel free to remind me later on down the line if I've never posted anything about it (just SO MUCH to listen to these days!)

  • Top 10 Movies & Albums of the Week (2013)   2 weeks 5 days ago

    Yea but it's been 7-10 friggin years! There's so much to revisit, not to mention all I need to discover, but I do plan on getting to it soon -- from memory it's probably 9.3+ for me too!

  • Top 10 Movies & Albums of the Week (2013)   2 weeks 5 days ago

    Have you listened to Beethoven's Missa Solemnis yet? Imagine choral writing with all of the glory and grandeur of his Ode to Joy extended to 80 minutes. I'm seriously considering it to be his 2nd greatest work - though I still need to listen to it more. Give Klemperer's recording a shot if you haven't already.

  • Greatest Albums of All Time (Rock & Jazz)   2 weeks 6 days ago

    Lol, it was a joke :) My list does look a lot like Scaruffi's and from time to time I receive comments from others showing up on listology to tell me so -- as if I'm not aware of it :)

    "How often do you usually listen to a new album before you feel you given it a proper listen?" It depends on the album but usually once or twice before I feel I can rate it confidently, occasionally more. I've thoroughly devoured a lot of rock/jazz/classical for years though, so I would recommend more listens if you're not so familiar.

    The most important thing with Slint is that, during its "verses", it's both a quiet, searching stream-of-consciousness, detailing accounts macabre and suspenseful, and, along with its jagged rhythms, brooding bass and introverted vocals, also sounds/feels as if the protagonist is contemplating, calculating, and unraveling a series of mathematical theories. The choruses/climaxes are charged by sudden, overwhelmed noise and violence. The album keeps getting increasingly harrowing and suspenseful all the way up until its helpless, terrified, tragic conclusion.

    I'll write a snippet on Blonde On Blonde when I have a few more minutes :)

  • Greatest Classical Works [under reconstruction - nothing to see here]   2 weeks 6 days ago

    "Ljubica Maric has used en entire arsenal of contemporary music in order to achieve a high goal. She speaks from the depth of her soul with clear and impressive language..." - Dmitri Shostakovich
    I am fascinated with Ljubica Marić's very dark and mysterious music. I may even upgrade my rating of her Byzantine Concerto. I also plan on investigating other female composers such as Sofia Gubaidulina.

    Also, aside from Mozart and Bach, I haven't listened to much Pre-romantic music, so thanks for all these links!

  • Most Haunting/Nightmarish Films (mid-revision)   2 weeks 6 days ago

    Thanks, I haven't had much, if any, desire to see Salo. If I get convinced that it is truly artistically redeeming of its content (as in, intellectually/emotionally rewarding and not just a "novelty act"), then I may give it a go. Haven't seen Safe or Audition, but I've been interested in both of them before.

    Thanks for the correct title -- I'll fix it :)

    Note: this list needs to be updated...

  • Greatest Albums of All Time (Rock & Jazz)   2 weeks 6 days ago

    Sorry, i don't understand the comment you on my list.

    Scaruffi really is quite an influence on you. If i recall rightly he also rates most of these highly. Maybe i'll follow your guide. Although i've liked weird stuff instantly (Gnaw Their Tongues, Captain Beefheart, Sun Ra) and found some easy stuff just doesn't get me first time round (Bob Dylan, Slint). How often do you usually listen to a new album before you feel you given it a proper listen?

  • Most Haunting/Nightmarish Films (mid-revision)   2 weeks 6 days ago

    Have you seen Pasolini's Salo? I think a little part of my soul died after seeing that. Not the best film of his films to start with really. Takashi Miike's Audition had me shaking by the end. Todd Haynes' Safe is probably the film that most haunts me (and it doesn't contain any violence). The film that i've found to be the most nightmarish is on your list - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre*.

    *Sorry for being pedantic but that's the correct title. The director spelled it wrong for the copyright.

  • Greatest Classical Music Works of All Time (in-progress)   3 weeks 35 min ago

    Totally understood :) These days, mine are usually pretty stable (been a long journey though), but if any work deserves continual reassessment, it's that one, along with several of Beethoven's other late works (15th String Quartet anyone?).

    I'll be listening to it again soon, and I won't be surprised at all if I upgrade it. It's been 8.5+ several times for me.

  • Every single way to say "Goodbye"   3 weeks 6 hours ago

    Peace n chicken grease!

  • 100 best PS3 games released during the last three years   3 weeks 7 hours ago

    Out April 2013 (April 2010 releases):
    Super Street Fighter IV
    Grand Theft Auto IV: Liberty City Episodes
    2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa


    Out March 2013 (March 2010 releases):
    God of War III
    MLB 10: The Show
    Battlefield: Bad Company 2
    Final Fantasy XIII
    Just Cause 2


    Out February 2013 (February 2010 releases):
    BioShock 2
    Heavy Rain


    Out January 2013 (January 2010 releases):
    Bayonetta
    Darksiders


    Out December 2012 (December 2009 releases):
    none..

    Out November 2012 (November 2009 releases):
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
    Assassin's Creed II
    Dragon Age: Origins
    Buzz! Quiz World


    Out October 2012 (October 2009 releases):
    Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
    FIFA Soccer 10
    Demon's Souls
    Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
    DJ Hero
    NBA 2K10
    Borderlands
    Brutal Legend
    WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2010
    NBA Live 10


    Out September 2012 (September 2009 releases):
    The Beatles: Rock Band
    NHL 10
    DiRT 2
    Guitar Hero 5
    Need For Speed: Shift
    Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
    IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey


    Out August 2012 (August 2009 releases):
    Batman: Arkham Asylum
    Madden NFL 10


    Out July 2012 (July 2009 releases):
    BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

    Out June 2012 (June 2009 releases):
    Fight Night Round 4
    Red Faction: Guerilla
    Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10


    Out May 2012 (May 2009 releases):
    Infamous
    UFC Undisputed 2009


    Out April 2012 (April 2009 releases):
    none..

    Out March 2012 (March 2009 releases):
    MLB 09: The Show
    Guitar Hero Metallica
    Resident Evil 5


    Out February 2012 (February 2009 releases):
    Street Fighter IV
    Killzone 2


    Out January 2012 (January 2009 releases):
    Skate 2

    Out December 2011 (December 2008 releases):
    Prince of Persia

    Out November 2011 (November 2008 releases):
    Resistance 2
    Valkyria Chronicles
    Call of Duty: World at War


    Out October 2011 (October 2008 releases):
    LittleBigPlanet
    BioShock
    Rock Band 2
    Fallout 3
    Dead Space
    FIFA Soccer 09
    Far Cry 2
    Guitar Hero World Tour
    Midnight Club: Los Angeles
    MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
    Saints Row 2

  • Greatest Classical Music Works of All Time (in-progress)   3 weeks 13 hours ago

    Just my opinion, but I definitely rank it higher than any single movement from anything, and that includes those from any of Beethoven's or Mahler's symphonies. But then again my ratings change wildly every five minutes or so :)

  • BEST 1000 DANCE TRACKS [1984-2009]   3 weeks 15 hours ago

    Hi DJ_1337,

    Yeah check it out. I love the 80s disco/soul tracks.

    Safri Duo is already on the list. And yeah the Red Carpet track is a really good track. I might put it on the list when I have some time.

  • Greatest Classical Music Works of All Time (in-progress)   3 weeks 21 hours ago

    On second thought: think I might try Grosse Fugue as the final movement to Beethoven's 13th String Quartet. Just did a little research and hadn't known before how accepted this was. I've listened to it this way but it's been over 10 years since...

  • Piero Scaruffi's Best Rock Albums   3 weeks 21 hours ago

    Wow, this Piero Scaruffi's list is A LOT like mine! ;)

  • 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (combination list including all 3 editions)   3 weeks 21 hours ago

    • Titles read as of September 9, 2011: 90
    • Titles read as of September 15, 2011: 92
    • Titles read as of October 22, 2011: 94
    • Titles read as of December 18, 2011: 96
    • Titles read as of December 20, 2011: 97
    • Titles read as of May 17, 2012: 98
    • Titles read as of May 20, 2012: 99
    • Titles read as of May 26, 2012: 100
    • Titles read as of June 29, 2012: 101
    • Titles read as of July 16, 2012: 102
    • Titles read as of August 20, 2012: 103
    • Titles read as of August 23, 2012: 104
    • Titles read as of April 16, 2013: 105
    • Titles read as of April 28, 2013: 107

  • Top Albums of 1980s   3 weeks 22 hours ago

    How I got into Joy Division was one time I was listening to Nine Inch Nails-- and right before NIN's cover of Dead Souls came up he said that it sounded a lot like Joy Division.
    I especially enjoy the light/blindness(Licht und Blindheit) contrast of that sort of concept-single Atmosphere/Dead Souls.

    There are a bunch of versions of Ceremony. The New Order single being the most cleaned up version-- I'd go so far as to call it still Joy Division at that point since it's basically the Ian-Curtis-Memorial-Release. It also happens to basically be his suicide note (Ceremony, Twenty Four Hours, and She's Lost Control I think are some of his best poetry).
    The still-alive-Curtis recordings that exist all have major botches, but they're also all heartbreaking as hell
    From the final studio rehearsal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYDXBI5ydxM
    From the last concert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtsFFcIsefc

  • Greatest Classical Music Works of All Time (in-progress)   3 weeks 1 day ago

    :-) Hahaha, okay... time to take it down now before someone actually takes me seriously!

  • BEST 1000 DANCE TRACKS [1984-2009]   3 weeks 1 day ago

    yop,

    "Rene & Angela - I'll Be Good.."

    cool, ill check original, i should like it ^^

    2 more tracks
    Safri duo - Played A live (2000)
    Red carpet - Alright (2003) (original mix = trance)

    cu

  • Greatest Classical Works [under reconstruction - nothing to see here]   3 weeks 1 day ago

    It depend on the mood. Lately I'm more motets, harp concertos and medieval music, but I will take a look on them on YT or else, when I want something different.

    I was happy that on a less than 100 list you put a female composer, in most of the other lists I didn't seen any. The last I discover is baroque composer Bianca Maria Meda:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpvunoRv00Y

  • Greatest Classical Works [under reconstruction - nothing to see here]   3 weeks 1 day ago

    Carter's music is not for the faint of heart. It is very complex and toweringly technical. However, if you are already acquainted with thorny atonal music, you should have no problem with it. Ljubica Maric's music, on the other hand, is more accessible.

  • Greatest Classical Works [under reconstruction - nothing to see here]   3 weeks 1 day ago

    Yes, I've seen your list. Very impressive. And the fact that you linked everyone to a YouTube video is no small feat either! I will give those recordings a listen.