July 1, 2021

Well, I think I got all the record in the jukebox in order again! Let’s continue! On to the next stop of our Arkenstone Journey!

Quest of the Dream Warrior is the next album I wanted to talk about. It was centered around a story written by Mercedes Lackey. The story is epic, and it is hard to pick only a few songs to highlight this work.

One way this album is different than the last is that Arkenstone has included some vocals on some tracks. Two of those chosen today have lyrics.

Prelude starts us out on a journey. It is full bore ahead towards adventure.

The Voice has an air of angsty hope about it, as strange as that sounds. The journey is harder than expected, but keep going. New Age, with Electric guitars. Very stirring.

Wings of the Shadow starts slow, and builds to an epic crescendo of victory.

  1. Prelude: Tallis the Messenger Youtube
  2. The Voice Youtube
  3. Wings of the Shadow Youtube

Next time in the Jukebox, the last of the three: Return of the Guardians…

May 27th, 2021

Today I wanted to introduce you to something a little different. This is music that is good for RPG questing (table top or electronic), as well as when you are looking for a little storytelling lean in your music. A number of artists write albums as stories, and David Arkenstone is among them.

David Arkenstone is a extremely prolific World/New Age artist. You may have heard some of his music in World of Warcraft. I wanted to focus on three of his albums (a trilogy from the 90’s), that tell a story; Each album has its own story arc in the music, and they are wonderful for background music for your own experiences. This will be a multi-week theme, so as the give you the best representation of the trilogy. In the Wake of the Wind will be first.

In the Wake of the Wind was released in 1991, follows the story of a youg mantrying to vanquish The Lion’s Breath, a strange wind.

I like the sense of mood created in this album. The songs largely have a hopeful sound, somtimes playful, and a sense of movement toward something. It bring images of Epic Adventures to be had, a there is more than a little nod to the nautical.

  1. Papillon ( On the Wings of a Butterfly) Youtube
  2. The Stardancer Youtube
  3. Through the Gates Youtube

To Be Continued…

Jukebox Reloading…

Sorry for the break, I have been thrown into the Neverending task that is moving house. The jukebox will be up and running again hopefully by next week.

Let me know what your favorite tracks so far in the jukebox, and maybe some of you favorite songs in the comments.

March 18, 2021

This week at the Jukebox we have some stunningly atmospheric melodies to inspire you

  1. Finally I – Peter Nooten, Michael Brook Youtube
  2. Shaman of Chaos – OMNIA Youtube
  3. Valg – Neun Welten Youtube

Bonus: A poem that has always resonated with my little goth heart. What do you think he is talking about? Let me know in the comments!

Nothing – Rene Halkett & David J Youtube

March 4th, 2021

Here are a few songs from some areas of Spotify that you may not have visited before. They also vary in genre, so there is something for everyone! Take a listen and let me know what you think in the comments.

  1. Fearest the Night – Pine Barons Spotify | Youtube
  2. Slavhammer 10k – Uamee Spotify | Youtube
  3. Witch Hunt – Abney Park Spotify | Youtube
  4. Ori Ori – Manntra Spotify | Youtube

Feb 18 2021

I hope things are looking up in your little corner of life. Spring is coming, things are changing. So many people have had to change what they were doing or how they were doing it, and to me, that means a sense of possibilities opening up, like a tree coming back to life after the winter slumber. So that is the theme of this post. Possibility and Choice. Songs you can sings out loud when you are feeling like you can do anything.

  1. A little Wicked – Valerie Broussard (Vocal/Lounge) Spotify | Youtube
  2. Free – Powerman 5000 (Industrial) Spotify | Youtube
  3. Choice Millionaire – Poets of the Fall (Electronic/ Rock) Spotify | Youtube
  4. The Bardcall – Van Canto (Vocal/Metal) Spotify | Youtube

Feb 4, 2021

Last week I got nostalgic, and this week won’t be any different. We are moving up to High School.

High School was an important time for me, as it was when I discovered how much I liked Metal, and more importantly Industrial Music. I was searching for something though Junior High, and had tastes of it, (like Marilyn Manson, who can be Hard Rock or Metal, in my opinion), but had not know where to look. Funnily enough, I was really into Dance music at the time, but really liked what I now know skews toward EBM; But I was looking for that harder sound. Then I was introduced to Orgy.

In my group of friends, Orgy was THE THING. They had just released Vapor Transmissions, and we could not get enough of it; or of the previous release, Candyass. You have probably already heard their cover of Blue Monday ( Amazing!), but I thought I would feature some of their other stuff from those years.

  1. Stitches Spotify | Youtube
  2. Fiction ( Dreams in Digital) Spotify | Youtube
  3. Dissention Spotify | Youtube
  4. Eyes-Radio-Lies Spotify | Youtube
  5. Chasing Sirens Spotify | Youtube

Orgy went a little more Punk-ish after this, and it was Ok, but it didn’t have the same impact on me that way the first two did. The guitarists later formed their own project called Julien-K, which is really good, and a post for another time.

How did High School impact your taste in music? Did it change? Expand? Narrow? Let me know in the comments!

Jan 21, 2021

Big Shiny Blog Post! Here is some solid, and nostalgic, rock for your ears this week!

There used to be a CD called Big Shiny Tunes put out that featured bands like these (and some of these exact songs!). I remember being in Junior High when the series first came out, and how important it was to own it.

  1. Hollow point Sniper Hyperbole – USS Spotify | Youtube
  2. Animal I Have Become – Three Days Grace Spotify | Youtube
  3. Give Me Love – The Used Spotify | Youtube
  4. Silver and Cold – AFI Spotify | Youtube

Do you remember those bands you listened to when you were younger? Who were they? Let me know in the comments! Next Stop, High School!