End of the Year Slashup

(note: this has nothing to do with Slash. It just worked with the title, and he is funny looking)

Well, I haven't been very attentive nor involved with my blog. It really saddens me, actually. But here goes a new year, with new hopes of continuing to write about music. Here is my 2011 slash-up meltdown, a.k.a the songs that grabbed me by the ears this year.

1.) Rush- Freewill. My new-found love for this band was pivotal this year.

2.) The Ergs!- Saturday Night Crap-o-Rama.

3.) Martin Sloveig ft. Dragonette- Hello

4.) Nicki Minaj- Superbass. (How could you not?)

5.) Toto- Hold the Line (A revisit...best played at inappropriately loud volume)

6.) Leo Dan- Desencadenda Mi Corazon (for so many reasons)

7.) Curtis Mayfield- Move on Up

8.) Judas Priest- Victim of Changes

9.) Nazareth- Miss Misery

10.) Ini Kamoze- Here Comes the Hotstepper

Don't Bring Me Down..

I have entered a dangerous affair after a long hiatus… an affair with the Electric Light Orchestra. Everyone has heard one of their songs… Mr. Blue Sky, Don’t Bring Me Down etc etc. I never really paid attention, to be honest with you, until I heard this salty little tune called “Strange Magic”. Suddenly, the 1970’s were brought to life for me…in some ‘strange’ way (heh).

Sure, I’ve heard plenty of music from the 70’s…so I like to think I have some idea of how they operated. But then “ Strange Magic” came on…

Suddenly all of the cheesiness, all of the backrooms with shag rugs and mood lighting, all of the bearded nonsense, became a reality to me through this song.

Pure Gold: everything from the dramatic orchestration intro to the high-pitched male harmonies. Add soft electric guitar, steady piano backing and a soaring chorus…and last, but not least, lyrical content that is completely uncalled for…and you have some very strange magic. That I can’t stop listening to. It’s like road kill for the ears.

I dare you to listen to this song…and not feel some kind of strange magic yourself.