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Welcome to the mp3 page including links to download pages, recommendations, forgotten gems, funny parody tracks and a special feature called What If? - bloated records that should be edited to a respectable length.

CONTENTS:
Random Song Reviews
Free MP3 Downloads
Parody MP3 Songs
Metallica Special
Guns N' Roses Special
MP3 Listening Booth (Parts 1-4)

Random Song Reviews

The rules:
1) Open iTUNES
2) Select a song at random
3) Review the song as briefly as possible before the next song starts

Nirvana - Come As You Are (Boom Box)
Taken from the Sliver box set, this rough n' ready mix is inessential and adds nothing new to the recording. It's an interesting timepiece, showing how the song developed from this demo to the slicked out unit shifter off the Nevermind album… let's see what's next.

PJ Harvey - We Float
Slow, moody and quite passive, PJ Harvey fails to keep my attention on one of Stories from the Sea… lesser known tracks.

Outkast - Flip Flop Rock
As one of the very few modern hip-hop act that I immensely enjoy, Outkast pepper their music with wit and intelligence and Flip Flop Rock is no exception. Jay-Z, the guest rapper for hire lends his distinctive voice to one of the better songs off the Speakerboxx album.

Janet Jackson - That's The Way Love Goes
Man, this song takes me back to 1993, when Janet Jackson was just called "Janet". Very smooth production and subtle melody, the song still holds up today. I hope there is a death metal song next …..

Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me
Damn, no such luck with death (metal) wish, instead we have one of Boy George's most well known hits. Again, it can't be faulted from a song writing perspective; it just brings back cheesy memories of the eighties. Wow, I'm not really offering much insight into these songs, but plough on I shall ….

Faith No More - Introduce Yourself
Fronted by the vaguely remembered Chuck Mosely, this early incarnation of FNM was funky AND spunky. The self titled song from Introduce Yourself was pretty much the blueprint for The Real Thing and lasts for nigh on a minute; the lyrics introducing the band members to their, at the time, fresh audience. Somewhere in Californication, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers were taking notes.

DJ Shadow - Stem, Long Stem
The number of times I heard this menacing trip hop piece in television documentaries is increasing all the time. The underlying sense of danger steadily builds into a crescendo of heavy beats, interlaced with beautiful string arrangements. The debut album Entroducing was never bettered, which was rammed home for anyone who heard The Outsider.

Ten Masked Men - Beat It
I always had a soft spot for Ten Masked Men - classic pop songs in the style of death metal with cookie monster vocals. Cover versions range from their frankly terrific take of Michael Jackson's Beat It through Papa Don't Preach and Wonderwall. Somehow it works.

AC/DC - Can't Stand Still
The day AC/DC write a slushy ballad is the day their fans will probably kill the band. It just ain't gonna happen. Taken from their recent (if 7 years ago is recent) album, this boogie woogie has all the hallmarks of the classic AaaCee-DeeCee blueprint - clean production, slow tempo, a simple yet infectious guitar line and hoarse vocals.

Okay, there you go - a random look at my mp3 collection with comments. Here is a totally random song list for no reason other than my amusement:

Jack Johnson - Lullaby - mmmm, mellow
The White Stripes - Screwdriver (live 2001) - raw white magic
Manic Street Preachers - Found That Soul - actually, quite a good song off an average album
Cinderella - Long Cold Winter - there goes any credibility I had left
REM - Hyena (Demo) - oh, I got my credibility back
Depeche Mode - I Feel You - classic Mode track
Muse - Bliss - nice piano intro!
Led Zeppelin - The Ocean - the Beastie Boys nabbed the riff!
The Beach Boys - Sloop John B - can't knock this masterpiece
Lionel Dancing - On The Ceiling - I think this is a hint to stop before more cheese is found in my collection!

Free MP3 Downloads

There are many sites hosting free mp3 downloads, that are mostly legal (unlike Kaaza). Here are some favourite download pages.

Team9.net - Soundclashes
This is a successful attempt at splicing together well known songs to create a wholly new experience. The artist Team9 gives us free mp3 remixes such as: 'About A Girl In My Dreams' - combining Nirvana's About A Girl' with Depeche Mode's 'Dream On' or the jaw-dropping nerve of 'Me Against The Monkey' using The Pixies 80's classic 'Monkey Gone To Heaven' with the commercial sheen of Madonna and Britney's 'Me Against the Music'. Somehow it works.

PartyBen.com - Soundclashes
Along with Team9, remixer Party Ben does soundclashes of popular tracks and twists them into new shapes, sometimes making the song better than the original in the case of Daft Queen - "Another One Bites da Funk" Some gems worth downloading for free include Nine Inch Queens - "Insane, Medicated Hand" which uses the vocals from 'The Hand That Feeds' and uses the QOTSA album tracks "Medication," and "Everybody Knows That You Are Insane" to creates a blurry of punk fused brilliance. The way Fugazi vs. Destiny's Child - "Independent Room" works is another treat turning 'Independent Woman' into a steady rock groove.

Bootleg Browser
Extensive link webpage logging onto all the best Bootleg websites on the Internet. Plenty of audio & video of live music shows from 2 MANY DJ's to ZWAN with NIRVANA, BURNING AIRLINES, IN FLAMES, KEANE, MARS VOLTA, NEW ORDER etc, etc inbetween.

MP3 Fusion.net
Snazzy looking site with your typical modern rock tracks on offer, pretty much does what it says on the tin. Quite enjoyed the Babe Of The Month d/load feature, although what it's got to do with the music is another thing...

MP3 Miracle.com
MP3 songs by a variety of mainstream artists, the most popular artists searched were EMINEM, SHAKIRA & KYLIE MINOGUE at my time of visiting. Loads of modern rock tracks from SLIPKNOT & AUDIOSLAVE can be downloaded for free.

emp3world.com
Huge database of mp3 songs from a wide variety of artists, from PEARL JAM to EMINEM

CenturyMedia.net Downloads
An ideal place to listen to several top METAL tracks, ranging from blistering THE HAUNTED to the gothic MOONSPELL. The artists are sorted alphabetically, with the S's being especially stellar including STAMPIN' GROUND and STRAPPING YOUNG LAD.

VictoryRecords.com Sounds
A comprehensive list of mp3 tracks for free download, artists of interest include the hardcore fury of TAKING BACK SUNDAY, THURSDAY and SNAPCASE, the aural destruction of MINUS, fun times of VOODOO GLOW SKULLS and metal edge of EARTH CRISIS.

RoadrunnerRecords.com - The Vault
The well-respected metal record label who over the years have released albums by Machine Head and Fear Factory hosts a great download page where you can listen to the newest releases from the label. Under the heading "Prime Cuts" there are songs by SLIPKNOT, CRADLE OF FILTH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, TYPE O NEGATIVE and SOULFLY amongst others.

By Artist:

Smashing Pumpkins - 'Machina II/The Friends and Enemies of Modern Music' FREE mp3
When the Pumpkins decided to call it a day back in 2000, one last album was released and became freely available on the internet free of charge. It's a really inconsistent album in terms of both song and sound quality, but there are a few gems in 'Cash Car Star', 'Innosence' and a clear sounding 'If There Is A God (piano/vox)' version. However, 'White Spider' is pretty much unlistenable and the James Brown cover ill advised, but hey it is FREE!

Nirvana Bootlegs
Loads of live Nirvana concerts listed, posted as .zen extension files which can be converted into.mp3 files using the site's bat program. I even managed to find the full-length LATE! - "POCKETWATCH" album that Dave Grohl recorded before forming FOO FIGHTERS on this site.

Nine Inch Nails - 'With Teeth' Promo mp3 Pack
With the release of NIN's first studio album in 6 years, a short promo pack can be downloaded from http://right-thoughts.us containing short samples of every track on the album plus two full length songs in 'Getting Smaller' and lead single 'Hand That Feeds'. A bite sized taster before you make your decision if this album is worth buying.

System Of A Down - 'Cigaro'
Exclusive System song located at www.srcswccbi36.com available for download. Taken from the forthcoming 2005 album, 'Cigaro' contains the unforgettable opening line "My cock is bigger than yours". It's sounds like standard SOAD, with rapid fire delivery and hyper time changes.

Illegal-art.org - 'The Grey Album' Downloads
The highly publised merging of Jay-Z's 'The Black Album' and the Beatles' 'White Album' into one "grey" album can be heard for free from www.illegal-art.org. Experiencing legal troubles from EMI and Sony over the illegal use of Beatles music, the album remains available as mp3's so get the mixes while you can.

DragonNinja.com Lostprophets Downloads
The Welsh rockers are on their way to become the most successful UK hard rock band to break America since Bush. And to find what the fuss is all about, the fan site DragonNinja.com host a few mp3 downloads, covering B-Sides, Covers and acoustic rarities. The eighties influences are apparant in the band's choices of cover songs - The Cure's 'Boys Don't Cry' and Duran Duran's 'A View To A Kill' - and are fairly faithful versions. And then there is the Justin Timberlake cover of 'Cry Me A River', which surprisingly does not suck.

BrainKiller.it Prodigy Downloads
A wealth of Prodigy non-album dance songs can be downloaded for free. The "rare stuff" is definitely worth a visit; as it contains the band's first release called 'Where Evil Lurks' E.P. The "Remixes" section is huge with new interpretations of 'Firestarter' and 'No Good (Start The Dance)' breathe new life into over played songs. The SECOND DIVISION REMIXES are the best quality mp3s. Possibly the most intriguing section are the "Covers"; collecting the numerous Prodigy covers over the years. Highlights include the REFUSED punk take on 'Voodoo People' and SMASHING PUMPKINS bootleg live version of 'Firestarter' at Brixton Academy back in 1996.

WhiteStripes.net Downloads
A very generous offering of the two-piece garage band's live recordings, you can downloads ENTIRE albums for free. I once downloaded three John Peel Performances from the site and burned to a CD-R, and ranks up there with the studio albums as Jack White and his sister Meg put in sizzling energy into the songs. Check out 'Live in Minneapolis, Minnesota 07.13' - 23 tracks of Stripes bliss.

Parody MP3 Songs

Dokaka.com - Metal Acapella Remakes
Now this is weird with a distinctive novelty factor, metal classics done in acapella style by mad Japanese men. All the "music" is voice only, certainly funny on first hearing. Timeless songs including 'Angel Of Death', 'Electric Funeral' and 'Creeping Death' are "honoured" alongside the best version of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' you'll ever hear.

Beatallica.com - Parody Downloads
Anyone scouring the net might have come across this wry parody of Metallica covering The Beatles. Of course it's not really Metallica but two musicians who wish for their identities to remain secret. It's pretty funny and the James Hetfield impression is very convincing - certainly worth a chuckle. Due to legal reasons, the band cannot sell their albums, so as a sign of kindness; 'A Garage Dayz Nite' and the self-titled 'Beatallica' albums can be downloaded in full for FREE along with album covers, lyrics and liner notes. The best songs include 'Hey Jude' and 'Blackened In The USSR'.

Matt Smith - 'St. Anger Tribute'
With Metallica's 'St Anger' album receiving a love/hate response, Matt Smith's parody track is absolutely spot-on and hilarious take of the limitations of said album. The "sewage pipe" drums, muddy guitars with deft lyrics like "Back to our roots, These songs are long, And there are fast parts, So that automatically means that they're good!" are all in tact. Unfortunately, the unofficial St. Anger Parody Shrine has been closed down, but sinister.com.au still displays the funny lyrics.

Side Project - Princess (Nu Metal Parody)
It had to happen, the recent Metal Genre of Nu has bred a biting and sarcastic take on the Limp Bizkit styled chugging guitars and rap whine ala Fred Durst. The band say it's a song about blowing up Nu-metal. The mp3 from the site is only short but is very immediate and funny.

50 Pence - 'In Da Pub' Remake
There's loads of spoofs and re-workings of 50 Cent's huge dance hit 'In Da Club' but this is so distinctively English, with tales of Watford nightlife where "you'll find me in the pub, with a pint of Bud, I've got a fiver, if you let me see your jugs". A flash-in-the-pan novelty tune maybe, but still funny.

Metallica Special

Metallica - "Re-Load Re-edited" (Edit - single 80min disc)

One of the most loathed recordings by hardcore fans, the mid-nineties Load recordings by Metallica caught the fans off-guard continuing in The Black Album's more commercial and straight-forward leanings. The Southern Rock produced by Bob Rock was at times catchy, strong grooved and vocally accomplished, but at others bloated, over-long and too simplistic for such a once complex and intelligent thrash band. So I approached the Load recording the same way as Guns N'Rose's similarly over-stretched 'Use Your Illusion" double set - with my "editing scissors". It seemed like during the five year period between studio albums, Metallica released every single song they recorded rather than what a typical band does and comb through 30 songs to release 10 to 12 for the final track-listing - shame Metallica forgot that the general public couldn't take the excessiveness. The second half of Load is far weaker than the first whilst Re-Load had a few gems scattered amongst the dross. 'Poor Twisted Me', 'Ronnie' and 'Attitude' are blatant B-Sides. So without further ado, the following track listing is the one I created for an 80 minute CD-R.

01 - King Nothing
Opening with the crunching 'King Nothing', it's one of the most realised tracks off Load, one of the few decent choruses of the mid-90s period.

02 - Until It Sleeps
The first single released from Load is very commercial by previous Metallica standards, a memorable performance that keeps the album chuggering along.

03 - The Memory Remains
I've grown to like the first single off Re-Load over the years, except the irritating Marianne Faithful na-na part, which sounds like a frog croaking it's last. Despite the guest performance flaw, a towering classic rock track.

04 - Ain't My Bitch
One of the heaviest tracks from Load, the opening guitar riff shows that Metallica haven't gone "Alternative" as so many fans claim. Slightly superior to the similar '2x4' off Load, so this makes the final cut whilst '2x4' is used as an imaginary B-Side instead.

05 - Fuel
To maintain momentum, the full-forced ode to er… petrol keeps my customised CD moving along, without suffering a dip in form.

06 - Bleeding Me
After the commercial singles and dirty Blues rockers, it's time to drop in one of the slower, controlled tracks and it was a toss-up between this and 'Cure' to make the final cut. James Hetfield's vocals are especially notable, proper singing instead of the trademark growling of yesteryear. Over 8 minutes in length, if was a shorter length then would be a definitive highlight.

07 - Devil's Dance
I'm quite fond of the introduction to 'Devil's Dance', it's the most groove-based track from Re-Load with duel guitar inter-play and later on has Hetfield's humorous "I Am The Snake!" proclamation.

08 - Fixxxer
I want to include both closing epics (The Outlaw Torn and Fixxxer respectively) on my customised version as they are amongst the best tracks, so at this point Fixxxer becomes track 08, a dense workout of "jabbing another pin in me" and "can you tell what's father's done". Nice guitar breakdown at the 4:12 minute mark clinches it.

09 - Hero Of The Day
After such an epic track, the following track is Metallica at their most poppy and commercial. Like 'The Memory Remains' beforehand, 'Hero Of The Day' has grown on me over the years especially after hearing the S&M live version with add strings.

10 - Mama Said
Possibility the most controversial song of Metallica's entire career, the "dreaded Country song" is actually one of the strongest songs in terms of songwriting once you get over the initial shock of Metallica gone Country. Well I like it anyway…..

11 - Where The Wild Things Are
One of the most underrated recordings, it has a dark Nick Cave vibe in the "wake up sleepy one" part before launching into a sturdy and interesting rock song. This makes the songs off "St Anger" sound amateurish in comparison.

12 - The Outlaw Torn
Couldn't really end the record with anything else (oh, except Fixxxer of course), another one of those underrated tracks that display a fine grasp of dynamics and at nearly 10 minutes long, one of the few epic tracks to justify it's length.

In summary, that's 12 tracks at approx. 72 minutes long. If Metallica released this album as the follow-up to 'The Black Album' then I'd be more satisfied. I wouldn't think the shortened version would change the opinion of many hardcore fans that fell out of love with Metallica upon Load's release in 1996, but it sure would be a more consistent Blues- based hard rock record. All my talk of length remind me that during 1996-99 Metallica were possibly the most prolific bands in existence releasing SIX near 80 minutes discs (2 single length, and 2 double-length albums) so your sure got value-for-money; downside being too exhaustive for repeat listening.

Just missed the final cut: 2x4, Cure, The House That Jack Built, Low Man's Lyric, Prince Charming
Pure filler and never considered: Poor Twisted Me, Ronnie, Wasting My Hate, The Unforgiven II, Slither, Bad Seed, Attitude

Guns N' Roses Special

Guns N'Roses - 'Use Your Illusion' (Edit - single 80min disc)

With the release of GNR's Greatest Hits record it has brought a new surge of popularity and column inches to a band pronounced dead despite Axl Rose's insistence that a new record will come out….soon…maybe…..well who knows! Anyway - 'Use Your Illusion I & II' were the first big rock albums I got into whilst a teenager discovering rock for the first time. Pretty soon after I bought 'Appetite For Destruction' leading onto other more diverse bands.

Re-evaluating the double-length, excessive chore of - 'Use Your Illusion I & II' again made me realise just how much filler (especially UYI I) was on these records. Most frustratingly was that if GNR trimmed the fat and made a lean no-filler album, it would surely rank amongst the Nineties best albums. So armed with a CD ripper and CD-R burner I set upon re-sequencing and editing the Single Length version of UYI, that I would listen to straight through without suffering fatigue. It wasn't just GNR who lost their editing scissors, Metallica, Smashing Pumpkins (mainly Adore) and countless other big rock bands made far too long records.

Here's the final version >>

01 - Civil War
Well, it's a great opener to UYI II, so remains as the opening track to the "Customised Record".

02 - You Could Be Mine
Here the band need to bring out a full-throttle rocker and the Terminator 2 song is the best one GNR did. Need to keep the listener's interest at this point.

03 - Double Talkin' Jive
This dark and moody number has always been a personal favourite, a genuinely thrilling first half followed by Spanish guitar coda.

04 - Locomotive
Another lengthy number (nearly 9 minutes) but GNR excelled on the likes of Locomotive, November Rain, November Rain and Civil War more than the generic types 'Bad Obsession' and 'Back Off Bitch'.

05 - Don't Cry
Time for the big ballad, I've actually grown to enjoy this over-the-top rock ballad over the years and ranks as one of GNR finest UYI singles.

06 - Knockin' On Heaven's Door
This was the hardest choice to include - the Bob Dylan cover is excessive and bloated with a pointless telephone message, overlong ending and Axl whining reaching breaking point - but the opening 2.30 minutes is really superb before the second half over-reaches itself. A short 3 minutes version should be included.

07 - November Rain
Half-way through and the album centre-piece is dusted off, probably the best track on the entire UYI albums and one of the very few times Axl came across as a credible songwriter in the Elton John mould.

08 - Live And Let Die
OK, another bloated cover and many hate this version, but this is my guilty pleasure, a dramatic and rocking songs all told. It's staying.

09 - Estranged
Yet another epic number but possibly the most underrated GNR song - nearly 10 minutes of progressive rock and alongside November Rain as a definite highlight.

10 - Right Next Door To Hell
After the ballads, covers and epic tracks we need a fast rocker to give the juices pumping. Right Next Door To Hell has such a great guitar sound and lives on pure attitude. Wipes the floor with similar rockers 'Garden Of Eden' and 'Bad Apples' which should have been B-Sides at best.

11 - 14 Years
Nice piano led rocker which many might disregard as weak GNR but I really like it and it made the Greatest Hits record, so it makes the cut.

12 - Coma
What other track could end UYI except Coma, 10 minutes of inventiveness and several great ideas throughout.

That's a total of 12 tracks, many are over 7 minutes but none are boring except the ending to Knockin' On Heaven's Door. Now if THIS was GNR's follow-up to 'Appetite For Destruction', it would be still make the best album polls instead of being considered as two very long records from a band on the verge of losing the plot.

Tracks just missed out include: Yesterdays, Pretty Tied Up, Dust N'Bones and The Garden.
Tracks that are pure filler and never considered: 'Garden Of Eden', 'Bad Apples', 'Bad Obsession', 'Back Off Bitch', 'My World', 'Get In The Ring', 'Shotgun Blues', 'So Fines' and 'Don't Cry (Alt Lyrics)' - why need 2 versions?

NEXT: Metallica - 'Load/Re-Load' Single Disc
Similar idea to GNR disc as Load sessions produced some great tracks. Note the emphasis on the word 'some', not nearly 3 hours worth of generic Southern rock in the vein of Corrosion For Conformity.

MP3 Listening Booth (Part 4)

Neil Young - Winterlong
Courtney Love - Mono
Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
Lostprophets - Last Train Home
Outkast - Hey Ya!
Run DMC - It's Tricky (Original Version)
The Ease - 'Gravy'
Frank Black - Los Angeles
Weezer - The Christmas Song
Faith No More - Anne's Song
Aphex Twin - Next Heap With
Mad Season - River of Deceit
Fugazi - Merchandise
Rolling Stones - Street Fighting Man
Pantera - Cemetary Gates
Beach Boys - Sloop John B
Ween - The HIV Song
Knack - My Sharona
Iron Maiden - Rainmaker
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul To Squeeze
Blink 182 - I'm Feeling This
Missy Elliot - Pass That Dutch
Tears for Fears - Mad World

MP3 Listening Booth (Part 3)

The Strokes - '12.51'
The first single off the New Yorker's hyped 2nd record, 12.51 is perhaps not the masterpiece we come to expect/demand, but still outshines all those "garage-revival" acts clogging up the scene. Not as hooky as Hard To Explain or Last Nite it's certainly under whelming but as with most Strokes songs, 12.51 does eventually show its worth despite the short length. A strange choice of leading single from 'Room Of Fire'.

Weezer - 'Tired of Sex'
Taken from Weezer under-appreciated (at the time) Pinkerton record, the opening number is the grittiest song in the band's catalogue, a tale of a stud fed up with sex.

Massive Attack - 'Special Cases'
It's fair to say '100th Window' failed to live up to expectations set by 1998's dark and menacing 'Mezzanine', but take tracks in isolation and you will find some creepy and seductive moments. 'Special Cases' is a case in point, deep bass lines and Eastern strings that will be used as a backing track to many advertising campaigns in years to come.

Moby - 'Thousand'
I had to mention Moby's record-breaking track sooner or later. A thumping beat starts up, gradually raising the tempo notch by notch until a full-on mental tempo is reached as it descends into blurred madness. Quite unlistenable especially is you are suffering from a splitting headache.

David Bowie - 'Cactus'
David Bowie is cool - fact. And Factor #245 to back up the case is his cover version of The Pixies, a justifiable exercise that doesn't pale too much in significance to the original. The key line "Bloody your hands on the cactus tree and send it to me" is especially captivating.

Nine Inch Nails - 'Something I Can Never Have' (Still Version)
For those who purchased the 2002 live NIN album with the bonus disc will have found a number of "quiet" re-workings of studio songs alongside some new material. The lead-off 'Something I Can Never Have' strips an already minimal (by Trent's standards) NIN track into a raw and caustic outlet of emotion using a piano and acoustic guitar. The recording is so raw you could almost be in the same room. I'm still torn in opinion if the Still re-working is actually the best version of an already classic track.

Fantomas - 'Rosemary's Baby'
Taken from Mike Patton's many side-projects, the theme song to the horror flick 'Rosemary's Baby' is quite frankly disturbing in places. Once again, Patton demonstrates why he's possibly the most diverse and respected vocalist in rock as he goes through so many shifts you can only sit back and marvel. That the cover also rocks makes it too damn good to miss.

Sean Paul - 'Get Busy (Diwali)'
I'm including a Sean Paul track simply because his music seem to be everywhere at the moment. Every club I venture inside plays 'Get Busy' to death and gathers the most positive reaction from the crowd. Takes the current fascination with the Diwali music and turns it into a highly commercial, dancehall crowd-puller.

MP3 Listening Booth (Part 2)

Aphex Twin - 'Windowlicker'
This is one of my favourite "electronic" songs of all-time. The Cornish manipulator uses sampled vocals to create a lush landscape, except at the end, when distorted guitars change the mood. 'Windowlicker' was even used in a UK car advert this year.

DJ Shadow - 'Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt'
I'm not fully acustomed to the joys of DJ Shadow, but own 5 tracks off the wonderful 'Entroducing' record. 'Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt' is trip-hop supreme with a lazy beat and sampled dialogue inserted at timely intervals. Nearly 7mins of great music - regardless if it's a bunch of samples spliced together in a studio. When it's pulled off this well, does it matter?

Slayer - 'Raining Blood'
Rain, thunder and lightning can be heard during the intro...until one of the impressive riffs in metal explodes into a thrash masterpiece. Taken off the seminal 'Reign In Blood' album (hmm, slightly different name) this is the stand-out track alongside the opening 'Angel Of Death'. Seriously, no self-respecting metal fan can live without this song in their collection.

Entombed - 'Rotten Soil'
Taken from the Swede's 'Wolverine Blues' album, this is high-ocatane, pure, undilluted METAL! Okay, that's a bit of an over-the-top statement, but this certainly gets the juices flowing with a insisant riff and gruff vocals.

The Darkness - 'I Believe In A Thing Called Love'
Dammit! Why do I like this song so much? As anyone living in the UK full well know, The Darkness have been the biggest success story of 2003 - gaining a Mercury Prize nomination (although the didn't win) and a #1 hit album - nice! Very ludicious vocals from Justin Hawkins - all falsetto and high-pitched, and a melody so strong, it shoudl be bottled and sold to the Nu-Metal bridage on how to write a winning song.

A Perfect Circle - 'Weak And Powerless'
The new APC single from their second album 'The Thirteeth Step' is fairly uneventful on first few listens, but because of the vast array of talent involved, it can't be dismissed off-hand. Maynerd's vocal hooks do begin to kick in after repeated listens revealing a more mellow Tool, which many critics have stated a similarilty to Disintegration-era Cure. Not as good as say, Thomas or The Hollow off APC's debut but still high quality.

Fantomas - 'Fire Walk With Me'
As part of Fantomas' film cover version, this Twin Peaks re-working is sinister and dramatic - Mike Patton croons his way through a electronic heavy grower of a track.

Johnny Cash - 'Hurt'
Cash's death gave greater emphasis of his stunning re-working of Nine Inch Nail's 1994 track, one of the most moving videos in years accompany the single showing Cash reflecting on his life and his illness.

MP3 Listening Booth (Part 1)

Funeral For A Friend - 'Juneau'
My primary reason for acquiring this Welsh rock band single was Kerrang!'s proclamation that Funeral For A Friend are the most exciting band in the world (in August). Hardly. But this is high-explosive UK post-hardcore in the vein of Hell Is For Heroes and Hundred Reasons.

Sigur Ros - Untitled 8 (AKA 'Pop Song')
The Icelanic group's final track off the ( ) album is probably the most "rock" track they've done - a slow, hypnotic build-up eventually gives way to a crecendo of guitars and almost "dolphin" wails. Well, you'd understand that last bit after you listen to the vocals....

Me First & the Gimmie Gimmies - 'Mandy'
A punk group comprises of members from NOFX and Pennywise amongst others, they play fun, irrelevant punk covers of well-know "golden oldies". The hilariously straight version of Barry Manilow's hit Mandy is a suprisingly affecting tribute the great man. Also check out the covers of R Kelly's soppy 'I Believe I Can Fly', and a brattish take of Bryan Adam's 'Summer of 69' - highly entertaining.

Muse - 'New Born'
The opening track off the 'Origin Of Symmetry' album, this is like a modern day Queen with over the top guitars and complex structures. The icing on the top is the flat-out chorus bursting with youthful energy.

Team Sleep - 'Natalie Portman'
Team Sleep is a long-term side-project of Chino of Deftones fame, displaying the mellow ambient side that doesn't fit into the Deftones hard-rock template. This is a track I found at Kazza.com, likely to be leaked from the recording sessions. But anyway, despite hardly anything happening throughout the nearly six minutes length, 'Natalie Portman' is relaxing, atmospheric crooning over a distant delicate guitar. Similar to 'Anniversary Of An Interesting Event' from the 'Deftones' album.

Interpol - 'NYC'
Critically acclaimed by the press, Interpol's strongest influence is Joy Division. A choice cut, NYC is instantly impressive.

Nirvana - 'Oh the Guilt'
A split single with The Jesus Lizard resulted in this highly addictive recording that isn't on any Nirvana long-player. Along with 'Verse, Chorus, Verse', this is an essential song for all Nirvana fans to have.

Isis - 'Celestial (The Tower)'
This instrumental rock passage has one of the dirtiest, throat-ripping guitar riffs in living memory. With no distinguishable words, vocals are screamed over a wall of guitars, fantastic stuff!

Rob D - 'Clubbed To Death'
This track has been hanging around for a few years now, featured on the Matrix soundtracks and re-released in 2002. The combination of trip-hop beats, effects, strings and piano breaks is truly inspiring, spread over an epic 7.5 minutes