Some old opinions I wrote on Ciao

Anyway I decided that music would maybe be a good place to start, seeing as I’m obsessive about it. This one though I have to say is quite difficult; pick my top ten songs out of the mass. Wow, well here I go.So what songs…...
In no particular order, for just now.Nirvana – Heart-Shaped Box
Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
Gary Moore – Parisenne Walkways
Pink Floyd again – Money
Something Corporate – Konstantine
Alice Cooper – School’s Out
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Around The World
Marilyn Manson – mOBSCENE
 

Ok so now the reasons why I like these songs and I've managed to think up an order for them.So in at number ten is……..Metallica – Enter Sandman
This song, although the most well known Metallica song, always gets me singing at the top of my lungs. It starts off slowly, then suddenly the raw guitar sound that we are all used to kicks in. The song is about nightmares. And those horrible thoughts we used to have as children about monsters under the bed. This song is an anthem also. It’s not as heavy as much of the Metallica sound but it still has some seriously great solos and riffs the whole way through. I personally feel that James Hetfield's voice is quite creepy in this song. It’s only recently that I have really started liking Metallica and this is because of the Leeds Festival this year. They headlined on the Friday and ended their set with this song. Trust me when I say that a song becomes phenomenal when you hear 100,000 people singing along with the band. A true anthem of rock if you ask me.
Number nine……….Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Around The World
Personally I feel that all of the chilli’s songs are great, simply because of the pure funk sound. Catchy lyrics and bass-lines are a well known trademark of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. This song in particular is very funky and upbeat. Around the World is the first song on the Californication album, which has been their most successful album to date. And what a way to start an album off. The songs starts with quite heavily distorted bass, just a few beats on flea’s bass then in comes the funky bass-line that we all love. This goes for about four bars and in comes the guitar skills of Dave Nevaro and then Anthony Kedis (spelling) on vocals. The vocals don’t make sense, but then that’s part of the fun of listening to the song. I mainly just love the chillis for the bass skills of Flea. I recommend getting this song if you want to hear the real chilli peppers, or get something off the first few albums. Truly funky.
Number eight………..Something Corporate – Konstantine
Ok this song isn’t too rocky, in fact it’s a ballad by recently formed Something Corporate, their first single was Punk Rock Princess, you should know it; it was played often enough. Anyhow, that’s not the song I’m talking about. Konstantine is a song about a girl, aren’t they all. It is mostly piano based, but it’s such a beautiful song. There is some guitar and very quiet drumming. The first time I read the lyrics along with the actual song I was crying like a little girl. That’s about the only thing I can say about this song is that it is a gorgeous song and well to be honest it reminds me of my boyfriend. God I’m so sad. The only thing with this song is that it is just under ten minutes long.
Number seven……….Marilyn Manson – mOBSCENE
Ok so yeah most people would probably disagree with me when it comes to anything by Marilyn Manson, because he is so controversial but this is one of his most recent songs and I love it. It has a plinky keyboard sound, with bass and guitar. It’s just a really catchy song. It’s absolutely brilliant to dance to at rock clubs. Some mighty strange looks when my friend and I dance to this tune. The video for this song is a bit strange; Manson has taken on a whole sort of 30’s style, wearing pinstripe suits and old army uniforms. It’s almost as if he has gone for a rich Nazi look, but he isn’t a Nazi. It’s bizarre, suits him perfectly really. It is a rock song with a jive feel to it. This I would have to say is one or his better songs. In fact I feel that the style he has went for with the music suits him down to the ground.Hmm this definitely isn’t a short opinion. So to continue.
 

Number six……..Alice Cooper – School’s OutSo again this is one of the most popular and well known songs and it may mean you all end up thinking that I have only been into music for a short time, you would be thinking wrong, these are just songs that to me are worthy of top ten. This song is just rock, maybe not at its best but it’s a great song. Another anthem if you ask me. Every year when school finished up I just sang this to myself, while ripping up old notebooks because I knew I wouldn’t need those notes ever again. The week before the school’s closed their doors for summer I would be on top of the world Hey I like learning but oh the thoughts of summer. I personally feel that this song is universal, it doesn’t only involve schools, and you could quite easily apply this song to work. Especially if work is a desk job, just change the line Schools Out forever to Works our forever. And you still use pens and paper at a desk job so when he says No More Pencils, No More Rulebooks. Hey it all works. Again another anthem one that is for everyone.
 

Number five…….Pink Floyd – MoneyI am in love with this song to be honest. Partly because it was the first song I ever learned to play on bass, now admit it, the bass in this song is brilliant. It’s funky, it’s smooth and it’s just downright great. It’s a fair task to play as-well, which makes it all the better. I’m a huge Pink Floyd fan so maybe I’m biased. They are just one of those bands you either hate or love there is no in between. What I find really funny also is that in the film The Wall, the teacher gives the boy into trouble for writing poetry and it turned out the poetry he was writing ended up to be one of the biggest songs by Pink Floyd. True talent that’s what is attractive about Pink Floyd. This song has a great catchy bass-line, it has guitar solos, it has great but slightly odd lyrics and it has a saxophone solo. What else can you ask for? This song is five to six minutes of genius. New Car, caviar, four star daydream, I Think I’ll buy me a football team. And it continues pretty much like that the whole way through. Brilliant.
 

Ohhh getting close now…….Number four – Queen Bohemian RhapsodyYes it’s obvious, but it’s simple. It’s possibly one of the best songs on the planet and everyone knows it, lyric wise I mean. It’s the best song to sing at karaoke, it’s good just to bounce about to, it’s good to sing when there is any alcohol involved and it’s just brilliant. Starting off slow and melodic, jumping into a strange guitar sound, then it goes heavy and seriously who can resist the head banging urge when Freddy Mercury starts, I’m Just a poor boy. You can’t its not possible; you just get taken away with it. A comedian I watched once managed to do a country version of the song…fab! That’s another admiral trait of the song; it’s so easy to make fun of. Like all queen songs they hit the right notes. Whether it is a very random song, like Bohemian Rhapsody or Bicycle Race or whether it is a song like Who Wants To Live Forever, they all touch the soul. It’s simple. Queen were and always will be one of the greatest rock bands in the history of our time. Freddy Mercury will always be loved.
Now for my top three songs.
Number three…….Gary Moore – Parisenne Walkways
Gary Moore, who used to be a guitarist for Thin Lizzy, progressed on to be one of the best blues/rock ‘n’ roll artists ever in my opinion. The way he makes that guitar squeal amazes me, and he is even better live. Now I have to say that although this song again is probably his most well known, I think it is one of his best. That guitar becomes a part of him. The song is about remembering a time with a partner. It is soulful and I could honestly listen to it for hours on end and never get bored of it. That note that he holds about half way through, hits home with me every time. You know, trivial fact, that note was in the world record books at one point for being the longest held note, so there you go. Such a powerful song. So typically blues and just so great to listen to especially when the only light in your room is candle light.
Number two……..Nirvana – Heart-Shaped Box
I couldn’t not put a Nirvana song in my top ten because next to Pink Floyd they are my favourite band. So you have probably noticed that my favourite is not Smells like Teen Spirit, even though I accept that it was their biggest song. This song is just brilliant. The lyrics are a little strange, but then most of Nirvanas lyrics were. Kurt never wrote to make sense or to be popular; he wrote what was in his head. The song was written after Courtney gave him a box shaped like a heart funnily enough. This song is just powerful, the guitar riffs and lyrics all fit in so well. This song reminds me of lots of people and lots of events. There really is no need to explain.
And finally my Number one song is…..dum de dum dum…….Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb
Ok again with the Pink Floyd, but this song is 6 minutes of brilliance, there is nothing else to it. This song has two guitar solos in it; both send shivers up my spine. This song is absolutely amazing and when you see being played in the film it reaches down and just grabs your soul. The lyrics again are strange but they mean a lot. This song is also one of those songs that sound even better in the dark or when your under the influence….I’m not suggesting you all go out and get drunk to appreciate the song, you don’t need to you can get drunk on the song itself. It’s so mellow but yet the meaning behind it is not. In fact you know there are no words that can describe why I love this song so much. Just listen to it.
So there you have it, my list of top ten songs. I have to say though that a lot of the ops I read I agreed hugely with, especially all the references to black Sabbath, kiss, ac/dc, iron maiden etc etc etc. Sorry if I bored you.
 

Ranger's Apprentice 1: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

So I figured it was about time for another review. This time I am composing it straight after reading the book. Apologies if it is a little rough around the edges, it has been a while since I wrote anything remotely meaningful. Please note I may edit this later, as I am writing it straight off the top of my head. Either way I hope you enjoy.

Initially I bought the Ranger's Apprentice series for my partner to read, I wasn't overly interested in reading it. However, after seeing not only my partner, but two of his friends read and love it, I figured I would give it a go. Can't hurt, right?

Book one follows the adventures of Will. Will is small for his age, but fast and quick-witted. All his life, he has dreamed of becoming a great knight like the father he never knew, so he is devastated when he is rejected by Castle Redmont's Battleschool. Instead he is apprenticed to Halt, the mysterious Ranger whose uncanny ability to move unseen is thought to be the result of black magic. Reluctantly, Will learns to use a Ranger's secret weapons: a bow and arrows, a mottled cloak and a stubborn little pony. It may not be the sword and battlehorse he longs for, but when Will and Halt set off on a desperate mission to prevent the assassination of the King, will finds that a Ranger's weapons are not so useless after all.

To be honest, I initially found the book quite difficult to read. The first sentence does not instantly grab the reader, but I persevered and continued to read. After that initial hurdle, I found myself hooked. The book actually introduces the bad guy, Morgarath, in the prologue and within the first page you want to know what he is up to and you instantly dislike him. This brings us to the first chapter of the 33 chapter book where we are introduced to our main character, Will, who incidentally is extremely nervous about the upcoming Choosing ceremony. As I read, I found myself immediately on Will's side. He is the sort of character that even at the beginning you know you are going to get attached to, the character that will inevitably stand out in your memory. In this initial chapter, we are also introduced to Will's circle of friends who make up an integral part of the story. There is Jenny, the friendly and cheerful, slightly plump soon to be cook; there is Alyss, the tall, elegant, blonde diplomat and there is also George, the weedy, nervous lawyer type. These three characters show sympathy towards Will and each of them makes an attempt to comfort him in his hour of need, which is more than can be said for Horace, the brutish bully who incessantly picks on Will. Horace and Will have a long standing rivalry that plays a pivotal part in who they both become further in the book.

So our characters all progress onto their chosen apprenticeships and our main character grudgingly accepts the invitation from Halt, to be a Ranger's Apprentice and from here I found it impossible to put the book down for any other reason than the call of nature.

 Throughout the novel John Flanagan takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I found myself laughing, crying and even holding my breath in fear at some points. I believe that the sign of a good book is in its ability to transport the reader 100% into the written world and in its ability to make you feel what the characters are feeling. If you find yourself blinded by tears because of some incident in the book, or if you find yourself uncontrollably laughing out loud then the author has done exactly what they set out to do. The Ranger's Apprentice 1: The Ruins of Gorlan does this and it does so with ease. The use of descriptive language puts John Flanagan up there with the likes of Robert Harris and Charles Dickens. You see, hear, taste and feel the atmosphere of the dark and looming forests, you shiver at how desolate the Solitary Plain is and you find yourself cringing, along with the characters, at the sound of the Stone Flutes.

During Will's adventures he gets given his very own Ranger's horse, Tug. Ranger's horses are a very special breed, they are small and stocky, nothing in comparison to the regal Battlehorses, however they are known to be able to canter for a significantly longer time period than the well groomed battlehorses. When we are first introduced to Tug, there are many comedic moments between him and Will, as the young apprentice tries to get used to the creature. Ranger's horses are peculiar in that they seem to understand language and as a by product have developed their own means of communicating. Tug appears to have a stubborn and rebellious personality and tends to clash with Halt, the senior Ranger, over how many apples he should be allowed. As the reader you simply cannot help but fall in love with the small pony and when he seems to be in danger you are fearful for him.

As an opening book for a series of ten The Ruins of Gorlan definitely sets the mood and leaves the reader raring to read the next installment. One great advantage to this book, despite it's 30 or so chapters, they are short, well written and incredibly well paced. I started reading this novel after midnight last night and finished it at about 4.30pm this afternoon. It is a must read book and I am glad I put my original cynicism aside. I look forward to reading the next nine installments.

Rating: 4/5 purely because the first line didn't instantly excite me

Recommend: Definitely

For further information visit www.rangersapprentice.com.au


Thanks for reading, please feel free to leave any comments below.