Top Five: Welsh Bands

Ah, Wales. Home to one of the worlds best accents, as well as some of the best rock music that the UK is currently creating, in my humble opinion. These are my five favourites, in order, which was a harder task than you might imagine.

5. Kids In Glass Houses
Despite what I may have written in a recent blog belonging to the Music Guru, I do actually like the music of KIGH, I just find them to be a little bit samey and predictable, but you can not deny them of their ability to create high quality music.
Check these out:
Me, Me, Me (Give Me What I Want)
Saturday
Easy Tiger

4. The Automatic
Specifically the 'Not Accepted Anywhere' era. I had forgotten how much I used to be in love with this album, until one of the songs came up on a music shuffle. Back in the days when people actually listened to CDs, this album was almost constantly in the stereo, when I wasn't having a boyband moment, or at least until the next exciting CD turned up. Not so much of a fan of their later works.
Check these out:
That's What She Said
Recover
Seriously... I Hate You Guys

3. Lostprophets
Specifically, NOT 'The Betrayed' era. This band used to be awesome. Now they suck. I do not want to dwell on this any further, so lets move on.
Check these out:
Last Train Home
A Town Called Hypocrisy
Burn, Burn

2. Funeral For A Friend
I'm quite a late jumper on the FFAF train, not appreciating their true awesomeness until I saw them live for the first time. I think it is a bit of a crime that there are so many people on this earth who have no idea who these guys are, partly because of their musical genuis, but also because they seem like genuinely nice chaps.
Check these out:
Escape Artists Never Die
Into Oblivion
Streetcar

1. The Blackout
I remember the first time I saw this band very clearly - it is a day that will stick out in my mind for possibly the rest of my life. I'm not gonna lie to you all, the first time I saw these dudes live, I was about as far from impressed as you could get. However, luckily for me, the band featured as the support act for many gigs I attended following this, which allowed me to give the band a second (and third and fourth... )chance and they are now my favourite bunch of Welshies.
Check these out:
It's High Tide Baby
Children Of The Night
I'm A Riot, You're A F*cking Riot

Desert Island Discs

Going against my usual 5 for a change. 8 is going to be hard enough!

Inspired by the blogging prowess of ADHS and Langley's Blog. So go read them too.

Track One: Error:Operator - Taking Back Sunday

This song holds nothing but good memories for me. Every time I hear it, I have images in my mind of Fi dancing round the room, singing along to the track at full volume at Reading Fest while no-one else even moved a muscle... It's my personal favourite TBS track, which I promise has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the song appears on the soundtrack for the Fantastic Four. In fact, I like this song so much, I have based my twitter name on it. I do wonder what non-TBS fans think its based on.

Track Two: Sugar We're Goin' Down - Fall Out Boy

Although I had liked music of the rock persuasion before discovering Fall Out Boy, it wasn't until I heard this track that I experienced my first love of rockier music (I used to like to think that the Busted/McFly stuff counted, but it really doesn't). I remember reading about them for the first time in some random magazine aimed at teenage girls like Bliss or Sugar or something and decided to check them out, and I am beyond glad that I did. I remember how excited I was when I got tickets to see them for the first time, and then how dissapointed I was when I couldn't go because of university. Not that it did me any good. But I have righted that wrong now.

Track Three: Misery Business - Paramore

I rather love Paramore, as readers of the blog may have already gathered by now, and in particular the powerhouse that is Hayley Williams. She has a voice that can lift your heart a little even on the darkest of days, which would probably be a good quality if you were stranded on a desert island. I chose this particular track as it is one that is not only good for dancing around to, but also for those moments when you want to pretend that you too are a rock star. I know you all do it. You can't fool me.

Track Four: Could It Be Magic - Barry Manilow

Yes, Barry Manilow. I remember listening along to this in the car with my Ma when I was little on a cassette she had of Barry's greatest hits. For reasons I am not entirely clear of, I thought this was one of the greatest things I had ever heard, and I supposed to a degree I still do. He is a bit of a legend in my book. I have vague recollections of seeing him on Noel's House Party back in the day, and I used to love that show. I also clearly remember it being played at the end of mine at Fi's joint 18th birthday and no-one giving a damn. They really should bring it back. I am sure at some point of my life I will be mildly cool, but it's not looking good.

Track Five: Good Girls Go Bad - Cobra Starship & Leighton Meester

I still get a little excited whenever I hear this song, even though I have listened to it a fair few times by now, and I hope that would continue throughout my extended stay. I love Cobra Starship and I love Leighton Meester, so it's a bit of a no-brainer really.

Track Six: If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher

No, wait, come back! I can explain! When I was a little Emma, I used to love standing by the side of Ma while she did her Cher fitness videos and have a go at doing them myself. I remember there was a lot of step aerobics, and as I was only a small child and mother didn't want to kill me, I would use the floor instead. It was a proud day when I was promoted to a small step. I say step, it was probably about as high as a CD case, but at the time I felt really grown up. With it being her exercise video, there were a fair few of her songs in the background too. Like subliminal messaging or something. But I loved it. I am sure at some point of my life I will be mildly cool, but it's not looking good.

Track Seven: Feeling Good - Michael Buble

I find it almost impossible to listen to this song without singing along. I am little bit in love with The Buble (anyone who says they aren't must be fibbing), and if I have his awesome tones playing in my ear I can pretend that he is with me. I was originally going to chose Home as my choice track, but I think that might be taunting myself with that and would probably end up as a nervous wreck.

Track Eight: I'm On A Boat - The Lonely Island

Hello, My name is Emma and I am highly predictable, slightly obsessive, and have a somewhat childish sense of humour. I choose this songs for two reasons. Number One: I can pretend that I am on an actual boat, and therefore not on a desert island, and therefore can be on my way to a movie night at Hotel Fi. Number Two: I could sing/swear along to it as loud as my lungs will allow me to without the fear of someone overhearing me.

Book: This is actually more tricky than the songs, which surprised me a little. So I am decided to take the Harry Potter selection, and I am adamant that doesn't count as cheating. It's essentially the same story seven times anyway!

Luxury Item: My first thought was that I could cheat and bring an ipod, but that's not really in the spirit of the game. My second thought was to take my DS and games, but then I realised that the battery would run out pretty quick, and that would be pretty useless. Then I decided I was thinking about this far too much and really should get a life, so opted for a pillow or a puzzle book.

Because having my own blog isn't enough...

...I am now taking over someone elses!

Check out my Top 5 musical moments of the year, as featured on the epic blog 'Acoustic Dreams & Hardcore Screams'.

http://acousticdreamshardcorescreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/guest-blog-2009-lists-top-5-musical.html

And while you are at it, read the rest of the blog, follow it... you know how these things work!