Holy cow, it’s 2018! When did that happen? Who snuck it in here when I wasn’t looking? Oh well, it’s here and I’m determined to get it started right! So, let’s pep it up with a… haunting, emotional track… from 2017. I… dangit. I am bad at this!

Daughter went ahead and created a soundtrack album to the game Life is Strange: Before the Storm, which is a graphic adventure about a girl who can rewind time. Which seems pretty rad! As per usual though, Daughter have come through with the supremely sumptuous goods, dishing out this beautifully powerful track.

Guys, I think we can all agree that 2016 has been a bit sucky. In particular, last week was just… yeesh. But hey folks, let me tell you a story. Last week, on the night of that… result, I went out to an improv comedy show and had many laffs. I went to a bar afterwards, where the patrons were all united under a song request night – all sorts of music flowed and everybody had a great time. Come closing time, one of the bartenders announced that the last song was what we all needed that night, and promptly started this one. And he was totally right! We all got into a circle – friends, strangers, staff – and sang our little hearts out.

Without getting all wishy-washy with feelings, it just proves that animosity can only stretch so far. So if you’re feeling blue, I highly recommend getting into a circle and letting two lions, a meerkat and a wart hog serenade you.

Since AJ has trouble updating his daily blog more than twice a month, I figured I’d infiltrate and post something to help him out. And how better to celebrate espionage than with a game that’s all about it? Snake Eater is the third entry in the Metal Gear Solid franchise, from the (slightly mad) mind of game designer Hideo Kojima. This track has a strong “Bond theme” vibe to it, though it’s hard to take it too seriously after you hear the lyric about eating wildlife. This song notably appears in the game during one of the best scenes I’ve ever seen. If that doesn’t make you want to play it, then I don’t know what will!

Did you stop after reading one of my posts and think “This is brilliant, but I sure wish he wasn’t so gosh-danged silly with his writing! And also, I wish the writing was about video games and movies and stuff”. Then, my friend, you are overflowing with luck today! Perhaps you ought to buy yourself a lottery ticket, or gamble away your life savings?

Yes, it’s true: I have other websites. I am an internet whore, apparently. A redesigned version of Invert-x has just gone live with a post about the film this here track was written for! Isn’t that exciting? Anyway, that post is all serious and full of crazy words like ‘magnum opus’, whereas this post is all about how this track sounds kind of heroic and also sad and also metallic-y as well (because it’s a film about robots). Enjoy!

Today, we lost one of the finest talents the world has ever seen. I will remember him for so many different things, but the first thing that sprang to mind when I was thinking of something music related was his manic turn as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin. His exuberance and wit was front and center in this film, and you can just tell that so much of what ended up in the animation of the Genie came about as a result of his creativity and spark.

So in honour of Mr. Williams, I present Friend Like Me from the aforementioned film. A stunning and vivacious introduction to the character of the Genie, yes, but also a beautiful snapshot of his unbridled talent and enthusiasm.

You will be missed, Robin.

Awwwww yeah, it’s time to get all up and funky! I am quite the fan of the Ocean’s films, all of which feature insanely brilliant soundtracks. When you’ve got a fun, smart series of heist films, you need a suitably funky soundtrack to go with it. Heck, I’d become a master thief just so I could have these soundtracks playing in my ear when I carry out jobs. Jail time is but a detail to me!

Harold Ramis, probably best known for his role as Dr. Egon Spengler in the Ghostbusters film series (some of my favourite films ever) passed away earlier today. In honour of his memory, I bring you the most quintessentially 80s theme song ever, from the aforementioned film series.

I don’t know a single person who doesn’t know the Ghostbusters theme song. It’s one of the most iconic film themes ever created, and so very obviously a product of its time. Yet, 30 years later (!), its synthesised sound effects, funk guitar, the call and response vocals and lyrics are as indelible as ever. It captures the perfect middle ground between spooky and absurd fun that the films nailed.

I got around to watching the much maligned film adaptation of Cloud Atlas the other day, and I quite liked it. I suppose that makes me a hipster, because popular consensus suggests that the film is terrible. Silly people!

Anyway, one of the central components of the story is the Cloud Atlas Sextet, a piece of music written in one of the stories. The music is carried on throughout the film, and is entirely beautiful. It is soaring and majestic, with a free-flowing spirituality that’s counterpointed with a touch of melancholy. It all conspires to create a perpetually interesting and incredibly wonderful piece, as demonstrated in the end credits version of the composition. Even if you didn’t like the film, or don’t care to watch it, you can surely appreciate the music.

Do we have a bit of a Hobbit week happening here? Not even slightly. But seeing as how the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit popped up in a conversation today, why not honour some more of Howard Shore’s fine work?

I could, perhaps, bemoan the lack of iconic themes in a lot of big ticket films these days. Gone are the days of mesmerising, memorable scores from John Williams and Danny Elfman that you could hum from the day you first heard it to the day you die. Most action films tend to just slap in generic symphonic action music and call it a day. Not the Lord of the Rings! Opening this piece is one of the most iconic motifs I’ve heard in years, followed by an extended period of ominous gloom. And then a sad bit! If you’ve not seen Fellowship of the Ring, basically this piece is used when things aren’t going terribly well.

I have read The Hobbit more times than I can count, but I can’t say I’ve ever set the Far Over the Misty Mountains Cold lyrics to music. Fortunately, Howard Shore (care of Peter Jackson) has done the job for me, with this fantastically moody rendition. Sure, it’s a bit shorter, but who cares.

There is a particular name given to this style of singing, beyond it being an acapella, but it’s name escapes me for the moment (edit: it’s gregorian chant!). All you need to know is that it is achingly beautiful, majestic and amazingly otherworldly, and quite a good fit for the elegance of the lyrics.