Critical Metrics – Finding Which Ones Are The Best Songs Ever

Posted on September 6, 2009 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Name: Critical Metrics

If we were to determine what the best songs ever are, how could we do it? Rather, is it even possible to approach such a task and ensure that the end results will be even slightly reliable and/or universal? That is, in which sense is a song “better” than other? Instrumentally? Due to some distinctive production trickery? Because the song had cultural and historical transcendence? In terms of how it performed in the charts? As you can see, it is an endless debate. Still, people being people we want to find a sort of answer to these questions. If we are a fan of a band, having such information at hand always has a sort of self-affirmative effect. And that is where a site like this one steps right in.

Critical Metrics aims to let you know which 40 songs rank among the best in history. It does so by collating a true wealth of information, including “rave reviews, playlists, year-end lists, awards, artist & celebrity picks, and other editorial superlatives” as they explain on the site. The idea, then, is to create a bibliographical database of these songs that have been recommended the most throughout history. This database goes as far as 1890, and over 60,000 songs are featured so far. They have made a deliberate effort to bypass no era or type of song, and that is where the eventual strength of Critical Metrics might truly lie. That is, if they can fire up the imagination and interest of users they could come up with an active community suggesting new songs to be added all the time, and recommending them so that they climb towards the top spots. Continue reading →

Who’s Next (The Who) – Album Review (Part 2)

Posted on September 5, 2009 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Remember to check out Part 1 in order to learn about the context in which Who’s Next was born.

Doing a quick recap, Pete’s “Lifehouse” project had failed to materialize and it had exhausted the band while driving him to a nervous breakdown. The Who decided to salvage what they could and had Glyn Johns assemble a single disc with the best of the new material.

Glyn Johns did something more than assembling the disc that we know as “Who’s Next”. He actually produced it, and his expertise was specially noticeable when we compare this record with any of the albums that Lambert had mastered. It comes as no surprise that Lambert never produced a Who album again. His lack of technical skill, his lax bookkeeping, his growing disconnection with the band… he (and partner Chris Stamp) would be out of the picture within a year. And a lengthy litigation would ensue. Continue reading →

Who’s Next (The Who) – Album Review (Part 1)

Posted on September 5, 2009 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

A Symbol Of Alienation Meets Rock & Roll

Pete Townshend was always one to push boundaries. After conceiving the first rock opera in history, it was only natural that he would continue leading The Who into uncharted territories. But this time there would be trouble ahead, for the first time in his artistic career.

As everybody and his wife knows, the album we know as “Who’s Next” is nothing but the salvage job of a project of Pete named “Lifehouse”, a project that would finally be realized in the year 2000 with Pete’s solo release of the “Lifehouse Chronicles” boxed set, and that was to resurface in several guises all through the years before that. Continue reading →

Greatest Hits (ZZ Top) – Compilation Album

Posted on September 4, 2009 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

You Are Not Going To Ask Why Their Music Is Called "Bearded Rock" by many, are you?

Two months ago I became acquainted with an American. Upon learning about my active liking for Country music, he advised me to give Southern rock a definitive look. One of the first bands he mentioned to me was ZZ Top.

I must admit that the one and only song of theirs I was familiar with was La Grange. They are not the kind of band that gets airplay in my country. This compilation is readily available everywhere, though, and I decided to give it a go.

Dynamite. The playing of these guys is pure dynamite. I have never listened to people riffing this maniacally. A prototypical ZZ Top would be “Planet Of Women”. Both lyrically and musically, it showcases their from top to bottom.

Musically, it is all about having a good time. These are the kind of songs that get any party going, and keep it running until the end. “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” indeed!

Lyrically, it is all about having a good time. Don’t look for any subtext in the songs. You will not find that. ZZ Top’s compositions mostly deal with attraction, love and sex in a direct, unfurnished way that is devilish funny. Continue reading →

Greatest Hits Volume I (Linda Ronstadt) – Compilation Album

Posted on September 3, 2009 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

The Front Cover

Linda Ronstadt’s first major collection of hits surfaced in 1976. It was to be followed by a second volume in 1980. Between them, they give you a good overall insight into a woman that set records in the history of contemporary music, and that showed that women could be up there in a scene predominantly occupied by male performers. Continue reading →

Henry Bueno (myMusicCircle) – Interview (Part 2)

Posted on September 2, 2009 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

This is the final part of the interview I conducted with Henry from myMusicCircle. Here we discuss the role music has played (and plays) in his life, along with his likes and dislikes. And don’t forget to check Part 1 (about his company) here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

I loved music all of my life. The first album I purchased with my own allowance money was Thriller by Michael Jackson (may he rest in peace). My father has video of when I was 7 years old doing the moon walk. hehehe Continue reading →

Month In Review – August 2009

Posted on September 1, 2009 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Looking back now I must admit I am very happy and reasonably optimistic ever since I officially launched MusicKO at the beginning of August.

Two events of note were being featured on Killer Startups and Startup Meme. My regards to Roger and Sardar respectively for their honest reviews.

Some of the post I wrote elicited a very positive response and these posts in particular are among the most popular so far:

Placebo – Once More With Feeling

The Clash (the introduction and the reviews of their debut album)

The Sex Pistols (again, the introduction and the review of their one “true” release)

Eddie Rabbit: Greatest Hits

And the post that has been more popular so far:

The Allman Brothers Band: A Decade Of Music

Continue reading →

Linda Ronstadt – General Introduction

Posted on August 30, 2009 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

A Young Linda Ronstadt

The number of female figures in music today makes it a bit difficult for members of younger generations to wholly grasp the impact Linda Ronstadt had through several decades before other figures such as Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson and who knows who else came along. I am not going to discuss the merits of such performers – all I am going to say is that many of them are not artists but mere entertainers. Linda, on the other hand was, is and will always be not just an artist but a person who promotes art in its purest form, and that has opened a door into music that shows the way to female artists in an industry where roles are sadly (and constantly) painted in black and white. Continue reading →

Moof – Listening To Music The Social Way

Posted on August 29, 2009 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Name: Moof

URL: http://www.moof.com

In which ways are you currently using the WWW to access these songs that you have always liked, and the ones that you want to listen to for the first time? I bet many of you are already acquainted with the concept of listening to music socially, but if that is alien to you this site is a prime example of how that is achieved and the advantages it can yield. Continue reading →