Muzak XIX

1. Marilyn Manson • Mechanical Animals • Great Big White World

I was never a big fan of Manson’s, but his semiautobiographical triptych, despite his rather awful singing voice, has some really good songs. 7/10

2. In Thy Dreams • Highest Beauty • The Highest Beauty

Bland Gothenberg melodeath. 2/10

3. The Haunted • The Haunted Made Me Do It • Human Debris

Not-so-bland Gothenberg Melodeath, from when The Haunted were actually good (former At The Gates members, you know. 6/10

4. Live • V • Deep Enough

They peaked with 94′s Throwing Copper. By V, they tried to have a “hip-hop” influence and failed miserably. “Deep Enough” may be one of the better songs on the album, but it’s still unimpressive. 4/10

5. Nevermore • Enemies of Reality • Tomorrow Turned Into Yesterday

Boring song from a boring album. Boring and horribly mixed. 4/10

6. Modest Mouse • The Moon & Antarctica • Tiny Cities Made of Ashes

ffanatic loves them but I just can’t get into them. A little too abstract for my tastes: I’ll take some good Canadian postrock over this kind of subrock any day. 5/10

7. Edge of Sanity • Crimson II • The Forbidden Words

Finally! Some good metal! This particular track is short, but the song itself kicks all sorts of ass. Some of Swano’s best work since Moontower. 7/10

8. Jethro Tull • 20 Years of Tull • Aqualung
Great song from a great album. I couldn’t help but sing along. “Sitting on a park bench— BOM bom bom bom.” 9/10

9. Strapping Young Lad • City • Spirituality
If you’re ever angry or upset, play some old SYL and trash around like a crazy person. It’s fun, really. 8/10

10. Freddie Mercury • The Mr. Bad Guy Sessions • Your Kind of Lover (piano & vox)

Freddie Mercury did a lot of non-Queen work. And it’s fabulous. Get the box set, it’s great, including all the many versions of this song. 9/10

I should also note that my “Currently listening to” song kicks a lot of ass, also.