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♪ ♫ ♪ My music tastes are questionable
I have to admit: I still like Ville Valo's music. At least, his older music.
It's been years since I've given him much thought, because it's been years since I listened to HIM - I was a fan for a while, but my tastes changed pretty quickly. These days, I don't hear people talking about HIM much, but I've shifted genres a lot so it's possible that this is because I don't listen to that kind of music much, and my social circle doesn't listen to it much, that's all.
Anyway, I became re-aware of his work because I became re-aware of Apocalyptica as well. Specifically the reason was a song he did with Apocalyptica several years ago, "Bittersweet", released on Apocalyptica in 2005.* Took a few listens to grow on me, but now I can't stop listening to it. Ville has such a nice deep voice, and with those cellos accompanying him, it's just so cool! Unfortunately, this is the only song he's done with them as a guest vocalist. Bummer.
My favourites from HIM don't really seem to have any specific pattern in terms of album or year. There's "Join me in Death" (1999), In Joy and Sorrow (2001), and my top love - "Funeral of Hearts" (2003). Though I must say, the album that "Funeral of Hearts" is on, Love Metal, is pretty decent overall. Let's see, they released an album a couple of years ago, Tears on Tape in 2013... I wonder how that is?
The three singles were "Tears on Tape", "All Lips go Blue", and "Into the Night". Well... I don't hate it. But I'm not crazy about it, either. I can't put my finger on it, but whatever they're doing here, it doesn't have the same kind of stuff that I love about their older music. It makes sense that they've changed a bit - Love Metal was released ten years ago. But it's kind of disappointing. One of the non-single songs from Tears on Tape, "Hearts at War", comes closer to what I like from HIM, but it's still not quite there.
So, their new music is a bit of a let down, as far as I can tell from some cursory poking around - but there's still a lot in the 1999-2005 era that I never did explore thoroughly, so at least I can still appreciate that. And maybe there's something in the gap between 2005 and now; I just need to go looking for it. Also, I must admit that I like that Ville is still rocking the excessive eye makeup ten years later. I've always been a fan of that look. (I have never claimed to have good taste in that regard, though.)
*Okay, I'll admit, it's not just Apocalyptica that made me remember him. It's also because of Ville from A Redtail's Dream. I can't help but associate the name "Ville" with Ville Valo. The contrast between the musician and the aRTD character is pretty funny to me.
It's been years since I've given him much thought, because it's been years since I listened to HIM - I was a fan for a while, but my tastes changed pretty quickly. These days, I don't hear people talking about HIM much, but I've shifted genres a lot so it's possible that this is because I don't listen to that kind of music much, and my social circle doesn't listen to it much, that's all.
Anyway, I became re-aware of his work because I became re-aware of Apocalyptica as well. Specifically the reason was a song he did with Apocalyptica several years ago, "Bittersweet", released on Apocalyptica in 2005.* Took a few listens to grow on me, but now I can't stop listening to it. Ville has such a nice deep voice, and with those cellos accompanying him, it's just so cool! Unfortunately, this is the only song he's done with them as a guest vocalist. Bummer.
My favourites from HIM don't really seem to have any specific pattern in terms of album or year. There's "Join me in Death" (1999), In Joy and Sorrow (2001), and my top love - "Funeral of Hearts" (2003). Though I must say, the album that "Funeral of Hearts" is on, Love Metal, is pretty decent overall. Let's see, they released an album a couple of years ago, Tears on Tape in 2013... I wonder how that is?
The three singles were "Tears on Tape", "All Lips go Blue", and "Into the Night". Well... I don't hate it. But I'm not crazy about it, either. I can't put my finger on it, but whatever they're doing here, it doesn't have the same kind of stuff that I love about their older music. It makes sense that they've changed a bit - Love Metal was released ten years ago. But it's kind of disappointing. One of the non-single songs from Tears on Tape, "Hearts at War", comes closer to what I like from HIM, but it's still not quite there.
So, their new music is a bit of a let down, as far as I can tell from some cursory poking around - but there's still a lot in the 1999-2005 era that I never did explore thoroughly, so at least I can still appreciate that. And maybe there's something in the gap between 2005 and now; I just need to go looking for it. Also, I must admit that I like that Ville is still rocking the excessive eye makeup ten years later. I've always been a fan of that look. (I have never claimed to have good taste in that regard, though.)
*Okay, I'll admit, it's not just Apocalyptica that made me remember him. It's also because of Ville from A Redtail's Dream. I can't help but associate the name "Ville" with Ville Valo. The contrast between the musician and the aRTD character is pretty funny to me.