Last.fm Group Journal: Final Fantasy - Square Enix

The Magical Review Tour, Part 3 : Various Artists - A Clockwork Orange

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:52:38 +0000

Well, yep, the Magical Review Tour™ is back and rolling, and this time it's the soundtrack to nothing more than the soundtrack to Stanley Kubrick's dystopian masterpiece, A Clockwork Orange, based on a an ownage novel by Anthony Burgess. The novel incorporates a special kind of breed of slang known as Nadsat, created by Burgess.

The slang consists of school boy talk, russian and slavic syllables all jambled together, which would make your average sentence about the recession something like this; "During the recession, I and my starry grandfather did not get to viddy many sinnies, what with the corporate dook on our backs at all razzes. At the raz it did not matter, as I could spend my raz with like my droogs at the jolly ol' moloko bar. So it did not peet as much as you would think, oh my bratties."

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Spoiler warning! Plot and/or ending details follow!
The movie is about the character Alex (Malcolm McDowell) and his exploits in a world where violence is the only sort of entertainment around. And rape. And milk. And Ludwig van Beethoven. After one extreme spot of nastiness involving a plastic sculpture of a penis, Alex is arrested and becomes the test subject for a new cure for crime, in exchange for early release from prison. However, this cure, known as the "Ludovico Treatment", a sort of aversion therapy, not only conditions him against acts of sex and violence, but also against Beethovens "Symphony No. 9 (Scherzo)", which proves to be disastrous later on in the films. Once released, he is confronted with "evils" from his past, but ultimately receives his "absolution".
Spoilers end here.
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Err, so I'll get on with the actual review of the actual album I am actually speaking about here then shall I? A Clockwork Orange is an eclectic mix of electronic synthesizer music, courtesy of Wendy Carlos (a.k.a. the Artist Formerly Known as Walter Carlos), classical music and pop. Needless to say, while this sounds like a clusterf*ck on paper, it comes out reeeeeeeal good and can really get one into the classical groove man. Let's get on with this.
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01. Wendy Carlos "Title Music from A Clockwork Orange"

The opener is a real chillfest, especially considering the first thing you see in the film is the psychotic face of Malcolm MacDowell sitting in the good ol' milk bar with his droogs. The synthesizer really gets to show off what it can here, as it is as atmospheric as they come. Or at least something like that.

The theme is a classic, no doubt about that. And damn me if it ain't parts of the hymn "Dies Irae" in it (which would later also be featured in another Kubrick film, The Shining). So top notch stuff to get in the mood for a strange soundtrack.

10/10
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02. Gioacchino Rossini - "The Thieving Magpie (abridged)"

The theme segues into an abridged recording of Gioacchino Rossini's classic "The Thieving Magpie" (or "La gazza ladra" to you elitist operatics out there) and we all know this one right? Playful string lining going through this entire piece, which is catchy and great. And it all builds to the crescendo or whatever the term is. You know what I mean. It's a great song for beating people up...err, yeah! Seriously, flawless musicianship 'ere.

10/10
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03. Wendy Carlos - "Theme from A Clockwork Orange (Beethoviana)"

The next one is basically just the theme with performed in a more "Beethoven" ish style. I prefer the original theme, but hey. Nothing hugely special about this...although it's not "bad" as such.

8/10
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04. Ludwig van Beethoven - "Ninth Symphony, Second Movement (abridged)"

Next up is an excerpt from Ludwig Van's masterpiece, the Ninth Symphony. We all know how god-awesome this piece of fierce classical musicianship is, so out of the spirit of good taste in music and fear of looking like a mental midget, it gets a...

10/10
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05. Ludwig van Beethoven - "March From a Clockwork Orange (Ninth Symphony, Fourth Movement) (abridged)"

Up next is yet another re-vamp of the Clockwork Orange theme, this time in a chintzy march. This is the fourth movement, which I believe is also known as the Ode to Joy or something, and we all know that from somewhere. Needless to say, it's a joyous romp to say the least. This I believe is really Carlos on the synthesizer and Rachel Elkind singing in a weird electronic voice, but it's tagged as Ludwig Van for some reason. Meh. It's good enough though, although it's probably the one I listen to the least, due to its cheesiness. And not cheesy in a good, like the Cheez Doodles™ I ate yesterday.

8/10
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06. Gioacchino Rossini - "William Tell Overture (abridged)"

Next is the theme to the Lone Ranger TV series, and we all know this song from somewhere. You know, it's the fanfare that's always played in some funny british sketch. In the film, it's juxtaposed to Alex's consensual (nice one Alex!) sex with underage women, in really really fast playback speed. It's sort of hilarious and enraging at the same time, seeing as how that guy gets more action than me. He's a fictional character, goddamnit!

9/10
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07. Sir Edward Elgar - "Pomp and Circumstance March No. I"

Another song we all know from somewhere, especially to us wrestling fans - it's "Macho Man" (I say that because I am required to; "Steroid Man" is more correct. I'd even settle for "Has-Been Man"!) Randy Savage's entrance theme. And of course all you Ivy League graduates know all about this. A march unmatched. Although I miss the intro from Savage's theme, you've gotta love it for its outro.

9/10
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08. Sir Edward Elgar - "Pomp and Circumstance March No. IV (abridged)"

Next is the lesser known fourth march. I actually prefer this, as it is pretty much cooler. You can just imagine the Ivory Tower of Oxford or something eh? It's really the album's Dark Horse, if you will. Majestic to the max.

9/10
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09. Wendy Carlos - "Timesteps (excerpt)"

Following the fourth march is Carlos' original composition "Timesteps", or at least an excerpt from it. Man, this is really like an early prototype for video game music - parts of it sounds exactly like a battle theme for some mech game. It's a strange atmospheric trip through synthesizer land, impressive each time. Although the full version is preferable, this still kicks a considerable modicum of ass.

10/10
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10. Terry Tucker "Overture to the Sun"

Next up is some new blood - Terry Tucker composition "Overture to the Sun". Used in the scene where an annoying british person tries to annoy Alex the best he can - the treatment of course, disabling Alex from giving that punk ass bitch what he deserves. It's a catchy, medieval-ish tune, although quite simplistic. And it's a bit repetitive, but hey, still works.

8/10
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11. Erika Eigen "I Want to Marry a Lighthouse Keeper"

Next up is the cheesiest song I've ever heard on a soundtrack, not to mention the most anachronistic song. A strange song with a banjo accompaniment sung by some random chick. It's so inane and so weird it's good. I just like it. That's all.

9/10
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12. Gioacchino Rossini - "William Tell Overture (abridged)"

Another section of the William Tell Overture by Rossini, this features the heavy melancholy strings, almost comically sad. A theme perfectly used in two instances in the film; first when Alex arrives in prison, that descending violin "riff" exemplifying the hopelessness of Alex's situation, and again when he's turned away by his own mum and dad. It's hard to believe that this is part of the same composition as the fanfare, but there it is.

9/10
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13. Ludwig van Beethoven - "Suicide Scherzo (Ninth Symphony, Second Movement) (abridged)"

Then we have a synthesizer version of exactly the same version of the Ninth Symphony mentioned before. While it does little to expand upon that recording of the song, it's still bad-ass to hear it performed with synthesizers. It's really a testament to how good Carlos was on the synth. It's no better or worse than the orchestral one, but I don't like sort-of duplicate tracks on my albums, so it gets a bit of a lower score. Sorry there ol' chap/girl/thing.

9/10
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14. Ludwig van Beethoven - "Fourth Symphony, Fourth Movement (abridged)"

Our penultimate track here is an abridged version of what I believe is the finale of finales from the Fourth Symphony. It kicks a certain amount of ass indeed, and is one of those classic endings to a song. I'm not a big fan of choir in my classical though - go instrumental or go home.

9/10
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15. Ludwig van Beethoven - "Singin' in the Rain"

Our jouirney through Eclecticland ends with Gene Kelly's classic shownumber "Singin' in the Rain", disturbingly used in the film sung by Alex during a "surprise visit" to an elderly writer and his milf wife. You can probably guess the consequences of this visit from earlier statements about said psychotic main character, but there it is. It's lovably cheesy and will always remain that way. Its a classic nostalgia piece from the golden age of Hollywood and will forever remain that.

9/10
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Overall, like the film, it's a goddamn piece of ownage if there ever was one. The eclectic mix is executed rather well, and although it's a bit aways from perfect, it still mananges to be an extremely badass listening experience. And that's all for your humble narrator this time, oh my brothers and only blog-readers.

9.6

The Magical Review Tour, Part 2 : Carmaig de Forest - El Camino Real

Mon, 5 May 2008 19:02:30 +0000

Yup, it's more than half a year since last time, but due to boredom the Magical Review Tour is back on track! If you didn't catch us (me...) the last time, you can check out the first part of the 'Tour [URL=here!

This time around, the subject matter is the third studio album by the California-bred singer-songwriter and ukulele-guitar-harmonica-violin-and-thousands-of-other-instruments czar of the U, S & A, Carmaig de Forest. If you've never heard of Carmaig before, it's not a big surprise. He's relatively unknown, with only 56 listeners on last.fm as of press time. However, don't forget that ancient saying - listeners are useless. Errr..?

Anyhoo. Carmaig de Forest became known to me through another genius of singing and songwriting, the Quentin Tarantino of klezmer, Geoff Berner. Geoff is a bit better off with listeners. Anyway, at a lot of his live shows, Mr. Berner covers songs written by Mr. de Forest. Seeing as how Geoff Berner kicks ass, I assumed Mr. de Forest would as well. And boy hey howdy was I right.

It would seem he's just an average guy writing songs for the ukulele. Now, we're not talking random covers of Hawaii songs like "Aloha, Moe" and whatnot, these are songs that are neither over the top or under it. Somewhere in-between. What the hell is the "top" anyway? However, Mr. de Forest is far beyond a meager "average guy". Simple, catchy and goddamn groovy is the name of his game. His voice is a "real" voice, nothin' purdy about it. Wise-cracking street punk poetry at its finest. Let's get crackin' with the review people.
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01. Leavin' It All to You
The album starts off with a groovy, almost "rap"-ish fast song, where Mr. de Forest names everything that rhymes from here to the Heavens. An uptown lover with a downtown dad, a parrot, a kitchen sink, a rock shaped like a bowtie and a cherry lemon flavoured drink? All here. Too damn catchy for words. Just download it and see for yourself. The ukuele is INSANE. Just good to listen to whenever you feel like overstimulating your brain with subliminal awesomeness disguised as a random song. Too bad the second best song on the album is first...

10/10
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02. Henry & Jason

Number two is the first Carmaig song I ever heard, when Geoff performed it at Oslo's smallest live venue, Sound of MU in '05. Although I actually prefer Geoff's sing-a-long version, the original is nothing to scoff at. Basically, it's just Carmaig and his ukulele with a looping drum beat that even some kid could play and some bass stuff. A story of a father and son, and their exploits in real life. Strange, yet fascinating. The chorus is a bit scary though, listen to those "lalalalalala" things in the background. The sort of NES-ish outro is great stuff.

9/10
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03. Bad Things Happen

"Henry & Jason" fades into a ballad with the C-man on some kind of organ about losing someone and trying to get on with living. Profound. It sort of has the atmosphere of an early city morning in it, which is rare to find in music. Perhaps I'm just a strange dude who sees music for more than it is? Ahh so yeah, I like it.

9/10
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04. Sexy/Scary

...Uhh, the fourth track isn't really a track at all as much as a funny monologue about women who like it sexy and scary, but not both things at the same time or something like? Not really a song that I can rate as such, although it does not detract from the overall score of the album.
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05. Can I Die for You Baby

Carmaig's monologue segues into a rock-ish track about what Carmaig would do for love. This is my least favourite track on the album. It's too repetitive and doesn't really have a nice sound to it. But you can't get everything can you? This is one of those rare tracks that I occasionally skip.

7/10
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06. Coldwater Park

Now this may be one of his finest. A simple song about his childhood near Coldwater Park, Los Angeles, with funny lyrics and a simple undercurrent of bass, glockenspiel (?) and drums. And the ending of the song is just hilarious, I mean, I laughed when I heard it. It's not a comedy song, but man. Do I have a bad sense of humour or what? This is one of the reasons why Carmaig is eligible for Godlike status among the men of the 'uke.

10/10
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07. Canoga Park

Another song about a park...Carmaig seems to like 'em. Anyway, this is sort of remniscent of early rap. Carmaig in a regular talking voice tells the story of a drug addict and his family in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, over a looped beat in the background...weird, but I like it. Also, I've failed at every attempt to transcribe the lyrics, not only because I suck at doing that, but also because it's too damn fast. If Carmaig hadn't become a ukulele singer-songwriter, he could be one of the top rap artists of today.

9/10
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08. Hey Angel

...Wow. What can I say? This is the best song on the album. Carmaig playing a tender ballad with a strange almost creepy piano arrangement or something. I shall speak no more, just let the sample do the talking. This reminds me of Maria. Not the Maria who's my friend here though, no hard feelings :P

10/10
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09. Kiss Me Seven Times

The next song comes like a hangover after a foggy night on the town. It's almost comical how bad placing it right after "Hey Angel" is. Almost a crime. In the same strain as "Can I Die for You Baby", this is an average high-speed rock song at best. I like rock songs and all, but only when they're done properly. Sorry Carmaig, but no thanks for this.

8/10
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10. Six Young Girls

The next escapade, "Six Young Girls" is like something out of The Beatles' acid period. If they had been alive today, they'd make something like this. Carmaig, in a slow droning voice (sort of like what you get if you choose "Slower speed" in Windows Sound Recorder) over one ominous note played on an organ. I seriously don't know what to think. It's not particularly great, then again, it's not bad. Perhaps I'd like it better if I had some dope? I guess I'll never know.

8/10
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11. The Woolly Mammoth

Then comes another weird short monologue like "Sexy/Scary". It appears this is Carmaig's tryouts for an answering machine, some random stuff about a woolly mammoth lumbering across the plains. Again, I cannot rate it as it is not an actual song, just weird...stuff. It doesn't detract from the overall album this either though.
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12. Three Ships

Carmaig's understated "finale" is an uplifting piece of songwriting wonderment about a better world or something. It's a good ending to a good album I reckon.

10/10
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Well, that's the album. I like it a lot, but be warned, It's weird, so according to several lead scientists, you probably will hate it. However, give it a shot. It gets the overall score of....

9.7

Hope you enjoyed another edition of the randomly posted Magical Review Tour! This is Ben, signing out. No, I'm not a geek...I think? I'm not one of those emo bastards either. I'm me.

Poser Exposed

Wed, 4 Jun 2008 20:14:10 +0000

Sometimes, I go searching for unsigned bands and artists, just to see how others are doing. And I got to the page of one guy named Vidar Løvik.
Listened to a couple of songs, and then I noticed 'Numb (Linkin Park cover)'. So I listened to it too.
It is just the Numb Piano Instrumental. You can find it in a lot of places 'round the web. Here's an example:
http://www.trilulilu.ro/ryoxo/9aeccaec4cbd85

Ok, so this guy takes someone else's work and puts his name on it (if you never heard about this instrumental, and even you heard, just continue to read, let me tell you that the Linkin Park Piano Instrumentals are not done by LP! The guy's name is TheKen )
Ok, the song is not 100% as the versions on the web. This guy probably edited the song a little (still the same song, and I said EDIT, not REMIX... just compare his version with the one I gave you) or re-recorded it from his PC.

So, is this cool or not? As an unsigned artists, I say NAY! I wouldn't want some guy to cheat me off my work. Yeah, maybe my songs aren't great, but you know what? THEY ARE MINE (not entirely mine, but still MINE :D).

Don't get me wrong, I don't know about the rest of his songs, but... it's just not nice, not fair, not nothing...

Vidar, I really hope you will read this and do the right thing: delete the song and apologize.

EDIT:
I downloaded the Nothing Else Matters cover too... Guess what? :|
http://www.imeem.com/gerry17may06dabbie/music/0wpcifqT/scott_d_davis_nothing_else_matters_piano/
Just so you know, I played them in the same time (the Vidar version starts ~0.80 seconds later) and they are the same thing. And it's not only me, I asked some friends to do the same thing (without telling them what my result was) and they told me the two are the same song.

Final Fantasy - Square Enix Group

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:32:49 +0000

Hey everyone,

i just post this Blog because the 400th Member has joined my Final Fantasy - Square Enix Group here at Last.fm.
I'm really proud of it, and i hope that the Group will grow much more in the Future.
And i hope that there will be more activity in the Message Board of this Group.

Hope to see you all there.

Greetings from Germany to the whole wide world :)
Chris

This Is Not A Tribute, This Is The Greatest Gig In The World

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:16:53 +0000

im bored,so;

Take ten bands/artists that should play at your show and determine their set lists:

- The first one plays 5 songs.
- The second one plays 5 songs.
- The third one plays 5 songs.
- The fourth one plays 5 songs.
- The fifth one plays 6 songs.
- The sixth one plays 7 songs.
- The seventh one plays 7 songs.
- The eighth one plays 7 songs.
- The ninth one plays 11 songs.
- The tenth one plays 14 songs, with a 2 song encore.

The Offspring

Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)
Cool To Hate
Walla Walla
The Kids Aren't Alright
Get A Job

Tenacious D

Wonderboy
Rock Your Socks
Fuck You Gently
Tribute
Beelzeboss (The Final Showdown)

Tenacious D leading to Sum 41 will play Things I Want

Sum 41

Grab the Devil by the Horns and Fuck Him Up the Ass
The Hell Song
March Of The Dogs
Fat Lip
Makes No Difference

[spunge]

Girls
Kicking Pigeons
Roots
Skanking Song
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

Brand New

Sic Transit Gloria...Glory Fades
Failure by Design
You Won't Know
Okay I Believe You, but My Tommy Gun Don't
Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis
Soco Amaretto Lime

Metallica

One
Enter Sandman
So What
Creeping Death
Master of Puppets
Seek & Destroy
The Call of Ktulu

Rush

A Passage To Bangkok
Subdivisions
YYZ
The Spirit Of Radio
Tom Sawyer
Xanadu
Freewill

Led Zeppelin

What Is and What Should Never Be
Your Time Is Gonna Come
Good Times Bad Times
Immigrant Song
Stairway to Heaven
Out on the Tiles
Thank You

Blink 182

Go
CAROUSEL
Aliens Exist
Anthem
Anthem Part 2
DAMMIT
Adam's Song
Easy Target
What Went Wrong
The Party Song
Please Take Me Home

Hell is for Heroes

Hands Up
Five Kids Go
Stranger In You
Three Of Clubs
Once And For All
You Drove Me To It
Retreat
Kamichi
Only The Ridiculous Will Survive
To Die For
One of Us
Models For The Programme
I Can Climb Mountains
Transmit Disrupt

Encore
You've Got Hopes
Slow Song

The Umbrella Corporation

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 15:57:20 +0000

The Umbrella Corporation

"Obedience Breeds Discipline, Discipline Breeds Unity, Unity Breeds Power, Power is Life." - Umbrella Corp.

A Group for the famous Resident Evil / Biohazard Franchise, wether you like the Games or just watched the Movies.

Join us and face the Evil of Umbrella.

Who Can Pass Them?

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:45:51 +0000

所谓解迷过关，就是给你一个提示，文字的或者图片的，你要根据提示猜出过关密码并进入下一关（每关就是输入一个密码，不管你用什么手段获取）。主要还是考智力和解决问题的能力。

http://www.godtower.com/godtowerlevel1.htm

http://www.quest.i-poon.com/1.php

Who can pass them?

please help me !

You can write the answers below~ =V=

Thank you very much <3

Events

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 23:30:18 +0000

Ok, I'm going to try and keep this as up to date as possible,basically i will have pictures of tickets from events i have been to and will be going to,sounds kinda stupid/boring,maybe,but its different and I'm bored...so meh,we will see how this goes. I will try and keep it in date order also,just to make things easy...so this should be sync'd up with my events page :)...remember the overview of my page says some gigs are might's,this is because i might not have money yet to pay for them,or such like.

Any questions...then comment :S.

Billy Talent, 9th September 2006, Hammersmith Palais

Funeral for a Friend, 19th May 2007, Carling Academy Brixton

65daysofstatic, 20th May 2007, Koko

Hell is for Heroes, 25th June 2007, Barfly Camden

Against Me, 4th July 2007, Underworld

Zico Chain, 15th August 2007, Barfly Camden

Rush, 3rd October 2007, SECC

Bowling for Soup, 22nd October 2007, Carling Academy Brixton

Linkin Park @ ALive

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 00:33:45 +0000

Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3

photos by me, on SE k750i

my music collection

Tue, 8 May 2007 15:50:11 +0000

just click me already
when you're ready for the second half click here

Stats on the tracks and blah

Oh and i kno people will like some music that i have,and some music i dont have,and people will be dissapointed? at the fact i dont have such and such,or whatever,but hush,this is my collection AND its far from incomplete,to just let ya kno,anyhow,thats me said my piece,um...just remember sharing is caring,and when you can share what you can when you can.

Ciao folks.

xtremefx