This weeks’ song is The Highwayman by Loreena McKennitt from the album The Book of Secrets. If you really like this song, another very popular song from that album is The Mummers’ Dance, in case you go looking around on iTunes.

This song fits in my raiding playlist as one of my background songs while taking care of the pulls between bosses.

There is a LOT of Loreena McKennitts’ music that I love for playing in general. If I were to recommend only three songs for you to enjoy, however, I would have to go with The Mummers’ Dance and The Highwayman from The Book of Secrets, and The Lady of Shalott from the album The Visit.

If you like this music, and know of any other music you really enjoy that is of this same kind of elemental celtic-influenced romantic type of thing, please mention it in the comments. I know I’d love to find more artists as wonderful as this.

As an aside, I was talking to some guildies, and a few of them seemed surprised that I listened to music while raiding, what with all of the directions and conversations that go on over Teamspeak. Especially since they don’t hear music in the background when I talk. What I do, of course, is use a headset with a sound canceling microphone, and I have the sound on my music player turned a bit down so it doesn’t interfere with hearing commands.

Just as an FYI, I use a Plantronics .Audio 90 Headset for my raiding and chatting. It isn’t USB, although most of their newer headsets come with a USB adapter so you can use regular analog OR USB connections. If they had that option when I was shopping around, I would have gone with that. I have found the .Audio 90 to be perfectly comfortable and cushiony soft, while at the same time so incredibly lightweight that I can wear it, literally, for hours and hours without any discomfort. It is way outside my normal price range for personal electronics… I’m one of those guys that sneers at the cost of an iPod, when I can buy a knockoff ram-based mp3 player that’ll hold hours of songs for $50. But every other headset I’ve ever worn, whether for music or for chatting, would hurt the top of my skull or be too heavy to wear long, and would give me a massive headache. This thing… even for $50 at the time, it is the awesome. If Plantronics were ever to seek endorsements, I’d fricken sell out and do one, because I swear by the product, instead of AT it. Oh yeah… and no, I didn’t get paid for that plug. I just love my headset that much. I’m pretty sure no one at Plantronics has any idea I exist.

Although, if any of Plantronics’ PR guys read this and want to send me one of their awesome wireless headsets to write up a review for them, send me an email.

And welcome once again to my weekly attempt to drive my readers away.

This week I bring you a song whose complexity, depth and maturity, despite it’s mellowness, just fascinates the living heck out of me. When I was younger (much, much younger) the ‘Thick as a Brick’ album was like unto a god to me in it’s entirety… I blasted down the roads of Southern California in my mustang blaring ‘Locomotive Breath’ at max volume, chuckling at the wittiness of ‘One White Duck_0^10=nothing at all’. Yes, I was a Jethro Tull fan, and when Tull beat Metallica in the awards that infamous year, I laughed and laughed and laughed.

Yes, much has changed in the years that have followed, but this one song still amazes me. And so, every week when Karazhan begins, I queue it up out of nostalgia, as we tromp down the stables towards Midnight, killing the Heavy Horses as we go.

For those few of you whom I have not chased away with ym musical craziness… I hope you enjoy.

If you’re VERY nice, I’ll share ‘Broadsword’ and ‘Cold Wind to Valhalla’ with you later today.

I apologize if this song seems either too new, or ‘flavor of the month’ on your local radio station to be on the Raid Song list, but it’s become my new ‘it’s stuck in my head’ song, and I’m loving it for the raidage. Or, as Mrs BBB said, “What did you buy on iTunes THIS time?”.

Maybe after a week or two of overplaying it, I’ll hate it, but for right now every time I hear Paralyzer by Finger Eleven, I think of the fight against Maiden of Virtue.

Well I’m not paralyzed, But, I seem to be struck by you; I want to make you move, Because you’re standing still.

Yes, I know, I’m sad. I hear a song on the radio, and my mind tries to see where it would fit in WoW. The more I think about that, the more I think I need to get out more.

I’ve been wondering if folks are actually enjoying the Raid Song of the Week feature, and if there is some way I can make it more fun. The only idea I have so far, is to put up a poll with three song choices on Wednesday, and let you guys decide who goes up Friday. Any other suggestions would also be helpful.

If I don’t see you, have a great weekend!

This week, we have some old school action courtesy of Whirlish the Hunter of Kael’thas, a stone punk if I’ve ever seen one. Lately he’s mostly been seen on his bear Fandamn, so clearly he can admit when he’s made a mistake in picking main classes, so we’ll cut him some slack.

Now, the version I have always listened to is by Megadeth, but out of respect I just had to give you the original Anarchy in the UK by the Sex Pistols. I hope you enjoy.

And since we’re on the subject of Anarchy…. and since I enjoy linking two great things that go great together…. I give you the end credits for Portal. And this is the most incredible Awesomeness that has ever existed in a video game. Bless Oingo for posting this on his blog!

“I’m doing science and I’m still alive…..“

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBj4ENBVP94&rel=1]

Dragonforce takes the stage this week for two reasons. One, the song Through the Fire and the Flames is hard pounding ‘kick curators’ ass’ goodness.

And secondly, it is apparently one of the end songs of Guitar Hero 3, and some youtubes are making the rounds of folks playing it on expert mode… and if Dragonforce playing it is awesome, seeing other peple trying to keep up the pace on a GH controller is priceless.