My Top 100 Favourite Songs 2010-14 Edition: #36

#36. "Panic Station" – Muse

Released: 31/5/13

Album: The 2nd Law

I think I might have talked about this before but "The 2nd Law" is probably my least favourite Muse album. It felt like the "jumping of the shark" moment for the band where they took their appreciation of Queen across the line towards openly copying them. They've taken a slight backtrack from this in their most recent album "Drones". But there were times on "The 2nd Law" where Muse went into "taking the piss" territory when it comes to their "inspiration" from Queen.

However with "Panic Station" Muse didn't do that. They went in a completely different type of homage. They went into the Eighties and paid their respects to INXS. So if you're thinking I'm hypocritical of the fact that I'm "cool" with the fact that they "copied" INXS but am not "cool" with them "copying" Queen then I'd understand that to a certain extent. But the reason why I love "Panic Station" is because it's so different. It's fun. It's very very cool. And in the end, Muse going in a different direction, away from Queen is a welcome inspiration in my eyes. And it's not like INXS are a band that people talk about enough nowadays.

What I love about "Panic Station" nearly as much as the track is the video. It's just Muse having a heck of a time in Japan wearing wacky outfits. And you can tell they genuinely had fun making this video. It makes the song that much better seeing the band have fun. Because at times it's always felt that Muse took themselves far too seriously and think far too much of themselves. Check the video out if you haven't before.

Here's the video if you want to hear it!

If you missed #37 go here.

For the latest updates on my work, including all my latest radio shows, follow me on Facebook and Twitter here!

My Top 100 Favourite Songs 2010-14 Edition: #45

#45. “Out of the Black" – Royal Blood

Released: 22/11/13

Album: Royal Blood

Royal Blood's debut single was a bit of a slowburner. It didn't catch fire as quickly as a few of the other songs, but for longevity, I think it's arguably outlasted the other songs. You may or may not be a wrestling fan, but it was the theme song for a WWE pay-per-view called Roadblock only last month, which suggests that the song got a good amount of airplay in America only recently.

For me, what I love so much about "Out of the Black" is that it really, REALLY reminds me of Muse. And I don't mean arena-rock-trying-to-rip-Queen Muse, but earlier days of Muse, circa-2002. In particular the song "Dead Star". You may or may not hear the influence I hear in "Out of the Black" from this song, but either way these two songs sound very similar in certain ways to me. And I just love that. Royal Blood ooze potential, and there's a reason why they're one of the most exciting British rock bands around at the moment, and they're just getting started.

Here's the video if you want to hear it!

If you missed #46 go here.

For the latest updates on my work, including all my latest radio shows, follow me on Facebook and Twitter here!

My Top 100 Favourite Songs 2010-14 Edition: #49

#49. “Supremacy" – Muse

Released: 20/2/13

Album: The 2nd Law

This is the second song by Muse on the list after "Madness" started proceedings at #100. Supremacy, if you didn't know, was the theme song for The Mercy Side throughout the year 2015. I've now changed it to "Ninety Nine" by Slaves but that's besides the point. The song is such a great song to use as a "theme song". I got the idea because I'm a wrestling fan, and there's a wrestler called Mark Andrews (aka Mandrews) who now wrestles for TNA, and while he was on the wrestling indies here in the UK he used that as his theme song.

I've always thought that "Supremacy" was one of the best songs off the album "The 2nd Law", which is actually my least favourite Muse album. Being the first song on the album, it's job is to set you up for what's to come and it does that job perfectly. With its fantastic guitar riffs and the way it speeds up towards the end, the song is just great. There's a good tint of James Bond in there too, and I mean that in a good way.

Here's the music video if you want to hear it!

If you missed #50 go here.

For the latest updates on my work, including all my latest radio shows, follow me on Facebook and Twitter here!

My Top 100 Favourite Songs 2010-14 Edition: #100

Five years ago I revealed my 100 favourite songs between the years 2000 and 2009. If I were to do the list again I'm sure certain entries would change but it got me thinking, what were my favourite songs from the last half decade? I could wait another five years and do the full decade but I thought, well, simply that five years is a long time so I can do both lists can't I!

If you want to know what my 100 favourite songs were from the last decade click here.

Like my other list, there's a couple of rules. The first one is that the songs are singles only. There's no album tracks on here that weren't released as a single. And secondly, I've once again set a cap of three songs per artist, with the exception of if it's a duet or something special like that.

Another thing that's different this time round is that I'm not setting limits on any genres. Last time I tried to stick with mainly rock and metal, but this time round I've put whatever songs I like in the list. Put it this way, there's a lot more RnB, rap, pop and dance in here than I'd expect from myself but that's no matter!

But without further ado, for the next 100 days, here's my favourite songs from the last half decade! Enjoy!

#100. “Madness” – Muse

Released: 20/8/12

Album: The 2nd Law

The last two or three Muse albums have been underwhelming in my opinion. That's not to say they're bad but just... inferior to their earlier stuff. But one thing that's consistent is that there's always some very good singles. "Madness", even if there's a not-so subtle homage/ripoff of Queen in there, is still a very enjoyable single. It got decent airplay as well, but then again, Muse haven't exactly lost their popularity over the years, even if I don't fancy their music as much as I used to.

Here's the music video if you want to hear it!

To go to #99 go here, or to go straight to #1 go here!

For the latest updates on my work, including all my latest radio shows, follow me on Facebook and Twitter here!

My Top 100 Favourite Music Videos: #23

#23: "Knights of Cydonia" - Muse
Release Date: 2006
Director: Joseph Kahn
Fun Fact: There's LOADS of references in the video to other movies, at least 16 movies in fact, including Star Wars, The Matrix, Planet of the Apes and many, MANY more!

Joseph Kahn also directed "Without Me" by Eminem, which got to #42 in my list, as well as many MANY videos. Check out this list for all the amazing videos he's done!

What to say about this video? It has so much going on in it, and it suits the song so perfectly. I heard this song before I saw the video, when I got the "Black Holes and Revelations" album, and I always imagined what the video would look like. You just know, listening to the song, that it's going to be a western inspired video, but because Muse love sci-fi and space and shit so much, you weren't quite sure how they'd include all of that into the video.

Well... you can't be disappointed. The amount of sci-fi in the video is insane considering it's a spaghetti western themed video. And it looks just so damn great, and the way they work the band into the video is fantastic too, being jukebox holograms from the future... if that make sense! I just love this video so much, it truly is one of my favourites of all time and it's definitely my favourite Muse video.

Here is the video for your enjoyment!

Click here to see #22 on the list or here for #24!

The Mercyside 100: #25 to #11

Hi there. This is Part 6 of 7 of The Mercyside 100. In this penultimate show, posted on Wednesday, I played three songs including Josh Homme, two songs with Trent Reznor and two Static-X tracks. I also reveal another four "Songs of the Month", which means four of the 10 songs in the Top 10 were songs of a particular month. I cover from #25 to #11 in counting down the 100 songs I played more than any other on my personal media player.

The Top 10 will be posted on Saturday February 22nd at around 12pm midnight (Sunday morning). So look out for it then!

You can listen to this in DJ show format here:

The Mercyside 100: #25 - #11 (13/2/14) by Johnny Mercyside on Mixcloud

So here is Part 6 of the Mercyside 100, from #25 to #11!

#25: Structural Defect

Artist: Static-X

Album: Machine

Released: 2001

#24: Kalopsia

Artist: The Queens of the Stone Age (with Trent Reznor)

Album: ...Like Clockwork

Released: 2013

#23: Night Street in Seoul

Artist: PSY

Album: PSYFIVE

Released: 2010

#22: Hey Man, Nice Shot

Artist: Filter

Album: Short Bus

Released: 1995

#21: Blurred Lines

Artist: Robin Thicke (feat. T.I., Pharrell Williams)

Album: Blurred Lines

Released: 2013
Most played song of July 2013

#20: Panic Station

Artist: Muse

Album: The 2nd Law

Released: 2012

#19: Nobody to Love

Artist: Josh Homme and David Sardy

Album: End of Watch Soundtrack

Released: 2012

#18: Black Skinhead

Artist: Kanye West

Album: Yeezus

Released: 2013
Most played song of September 2013

#17: Get to the Gone

 
Artist: Static-X

Album: Machine

Released: 2001

#16: Carry On My Wayward Son

Artist: Kansas

Album: Leftoverture

Released: 1976

#15: Church

Artist: T-Pain

Album: Epiphany

Released: 2007

#14: Came Back Haunted

Artist: Nine Inch Nails

Album: Hesitation Marks

Released: 2013
Most played song of June 2013

#13: Smooth Sailing

Artist: The Queens of the Stone Age

Album: ...Like Clockwork

Released: 2013

#12: Do I Wanna Know?

Artist: Arctic Monkeys

Album: AM

Released: 2013
Most played song of October 2013

#11: Zerstoren

Artist: Rammstein

Album: Rosenrot

Released: 2005

Next week, on Saturday February 22nd at midnight, I'll be posting the Top 10. A few days after I'll post the website entry, but to hear the radio show, go to www.mixcloud.com/johnnymercyside on Saturday!

The Mercyside 100: #25 to #11: 13/2/14
Track listing:
Structural Defect - Static-X
Kalopsia (with Trent Reznor) - The Queens of the Stone Age
Night Street in Seoul (feat. YDG) - PSY
Hey Man, Nice Shot - Filter
Blurred Lines (feat. T.I., Pharrell Williams) - Robin Thicke
Panic Station - Muse
Nobody to Love - Josh Homme and David Sardy
Black Skinhead - Kanye West
Get to the Gone - Static-X
Carry on My Wayward Son - Kansas
Church - T-Pain
Came Back Haunted - Nine Inch Nails
Smooth Sailing - The Queens of the Stone Age
Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys
Zerstoren - Rammstein
Total running time: 01:17:31

See other parts of this listing!

#100 to #86 | #85 to #71 | #70 to #56 | #55 to #41 | #40 to #26 | #25 to #11 | #10 to #1

Other entries you might want to read:
Big News Regarding My DJing - Personal Blog
The Metal Hour Show (20/1/14) - DJ Show
My Top 50 Favourite Video Game Villains - Listing

For the latest updates on my work, follow me on Facebook and Twitter here!

The Mercyside 100: #100 to #86

Hey there. Welcome to the Mercyside 100. This is both a DJ set and a listing; you can listen to each individual section of the Mercyside 100 over the next seven weeks, but I will also be revealing them on this site a few days after each show.

What is the Mercyside 100? It's the 100 most played songs on my personal media player. I'll hopefully be doing this every year going forward. So this is the first one, covering last year's music. So the 100 songs on this list are the 100 songs I played more than any other from January 1st to December 31st 2013.

So before we get started, here's the link to the show, if you want to listen to the tracks and what I have to say about the tracks.

The Mercyside 100: #100 - #86 (9/1/14) by Johnny Mercyside on Mixcloud

So without further delay, he's the first part of the Mercyside 100, from #100 to #86!

#100: Hey, Cruel World...

Artist: Marilyn Manson

Album: Born Villain

Released: 2012

#99: Dead City Radio and the New Gods of Supertown

Artist: Rob Zombie

Album: Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor

Released: 2013

#98: My Curse

Artist: Killswitch Engage

Album: As Daylight Dies

Released: 2006

#97: Babylon

Artist: Skindred

Album: Babylon

Released: 2002

#96: Supremacy

Artist: Muse

Album: The 2nd Law

Released: 2012

#95: Ayo Technology

Artist: 50 Cent (feat. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland)

Album: Curtis

Released: 2007

#94: 212

Artist: Azealia Banks (feat. Lazy Jay)

Album: 1991

Released: 2011

#93: Right Now

Artist: PSY

Album: PSYFIVE

Released: 2010

#92: YYZ

Artist: Rush

Album: Moving Pictures

Released: 1981

#91: Free Bird

Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd

Album: Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd

Released: 1973

#90: Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll

Artist: Blue Oyster Cult

Album: Blue Oyster Cult

Released: 1972

#89: I Put a Spell on You

Artist: Screamin' Jay Hawkins

Album: At Home With

Released: 1956

#88: Verta Ja Lihaa

Artist: Turmion Kätilöt

Album: Hoitovirhe

Released: 2004

Most played song of November 2013

#87: Get Up!

Artist: KoRn (feat. Skrillex)

Album: The Path of Totality

Released: 2011

#86: Low Hangin' Fruit

Artist: Tenacious D

Album: Rize of the Fenix

Released: 2012

...look out for #85 to #71 next week!

The Mercyside 100: #100 to #86: 9/1/14
Track listing:
Hey, Cruel World… - Marilyn Manson
Dead City Radio and the New Gods of Supertown - Rob Zombie
My Curse - Killswitch Engage
Babylon - Skindred
Supremacy - Muse
Ayo Technology - 50 Cent feat. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland
212 - Azealia Banks (feat. Lazy Jay)
Right Now - PSY
YYZ - Rush
Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll - Blue Oyster Cult
I Put a Spell on You - Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Verta Ja Lihaa - Turmion Kätilöt
Get Up! - KoRn (feat. Skrillex)
Low Hangin' Fruit - Tenacious D
Total running time: 01:08:11

See other parts of this listing!

#100 to #86 | #85 to #71 | #70 to #56 | #55 to #41 | #40 to #26 | #25 to #11 | #10 to #1

Other entries you might want to read:
My Top 50 Favourite Video Game Villains - Listing
The Rock and Metal Double Feature Show Christmas Special (20/12/13) - DJ Show
Mercy Licks - March 2013 - Listing

For the latest updates on my work, follow me on Facebook and Twitter here!