Music Bundle #1

"Always Spring", I'm From Barelona (2011 Sweden Pop)


This song just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's just so upbeat and catchy. The chords and rhythm they use with the piano and vocals are great and well delivered. It successfully stays under the way too happy threshold, making it a bit amusing. When they add the word repetition of lyrics beginning after the second chorus, it's even better. That, and the the trumpet accents at the end of the song show are appreciated.

And the video is hilarious.

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The backing music during the chorus with the bass line is kind of lame. It's quite repetitive song and the lyrics are a bit lame. With the coda and trumpet line coming in, I really wanted the stache dude to hold the note.


Melody: 3
Arrangement: 2
Structure: 1
Emotional: 4

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Higher quality audio:



"Dancando No Paraiso", Hiromi Uehara (2003 Japan Jazz)

Such vigor. Hiromi really takes command of the piano and pumps us full of energy. There is a lot of precision, you can really appreciate when she dances between her hard authoritative notes and delicate soft notes. The transitions are kept varied and smooth, from abrupt tempo shifts, to gradual crescendos. But this song wouldn't be great without the excellent performance of both the drummer and the bassist. The bass moves just as fast at points with some intricate work. The drummer switches from the soft and hard sessions right on point, and keeps with interesting fills. His duet with Hiromi after his solo is an absolute joy to me.

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The only low point for me is the beginning of the drum solo section. It's absolutely necessary to have a break in this long of a furious song, but it's not as spectacular as the rest of the song.

Melody: 3
Arrangement: 4
Structure: 3
Emotional: 3

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"Your Darkest Hour", Evergrey (2003 Sweden Metal-Progressive)


This is one powerful and uplifting song. Not only are the riffs and vocals damn catchy, there are beautiful arrangements with the piano, and they do the angelic female interlude right (cough Light of Day, Day of Darkness from Green Carnation). The drumming is fairly well varied.

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The first verse is pretty crappy, musically and vocally. The leading keyboard sound isn't horribly bad like most songs, but I still don't find it pleasing, for the most part (though the end is decent). The structure isn't bad, although it is approaching a longer song which would definitely require more variation. The interlude is good enough to break it up.

Melody: 3
Arrangement: 3
Structure: 2
Emotional: 4

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"Aircon", Interpose (2005 Japan Rock-Progressive)

A dynamic jazzy song with many shifting moods, beautiful melodies, and angelic female vocals. The interplay between the vocals and all of instruments are excellent, my favorite being the violin. The guitarist doesn't show off and jumps back and forth from the lead lines to adding texture. Throughout the song, both the drums and bass do a great job. The fills are dynamic and shift with the moods of the song, and the bass lines are always interesting and varied.

After a soft introduction, the tempo picks up with the drum and bass backing the tasteful melodic guitar lines. The pleasant vocals come in with a nice jazzy section subtle piano accents. The violin slowly comes in the background and builds before taking over the song until it takes over with gorgeous solo. It starts out slow, but it builds up with some wonderful tones and variety of textures. After the synthesizer solo, the coda features with the vocals harmonizing with the lead melody.

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Cheesy synthesizer in the beginning and a few other parts, like the aching solo. In a few sections, the vocals struggle a tad bit, and some melodies feel forced and out of place.

Melody: 4
Arrangement: 4
Structure: 3
Emotional: 3

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"Pure", Mors Principium Est (2005 Finland Metal-Death)


Finally a song from a band that stands out a bit in this genre. Aside from the headbangingly brutal riffs and drumming punching you in the face, sprinkled throughout are melodic female vocals and sampled drums that serve a nice break. There are some very catchy melodic riffs with subtle accented keyboard. The drummer of course does a good job with the hi-hat/cymbal fills and double bass, especially during the softer and slower sections.

The tone of the guitars are nice and thick, and the harsh vocals do a good job of matching.
The harsh vocals are filled with a good amount of emotion. They aren't supposed to be understood, but rather thought of as an instrument like in the last song. I've thrown up a video with lyrics for the curious. The song is about the inhumane things done in the name of God, and the regret that followed.

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The lyrics are a tad repetitive. Some of the breaks and transitions feel a tad abrupt. Not so hot on the section after the bridge. The solo is a bit weak, and the riff underneath it is just bad.

Melody: 3
Arrangement: 3
Structure: 2
Emotional: 3

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