Friday, December 12, 2014

The 2014 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #9

#9 - Aurelio Voltaire - Captains All

My admiration for Aurelio Voltaire is well documented, from this blog to my personal pages and into my own personal circles. After seeing him live for the first time several years ago, I looked up his catalog and have not been disappointed. And while his 2012 disc "BiTrektual" failed to garner any hits on that countdown, he has truly outdid himself with 2014's "Raised By Bats". From the opening title track to the very final effort, it's chock full of what makes Voltaire great. Humor, spooky sounds, creepy lyrics, and above all a true respect for all creatures. In this album, he put together another great conglomerate of stellar musicians, including Brian Viglione, Ray Toro, Julia Marcell, and more. Standout tracks (all 10, please) include "Oh My Goth!", "Raised By Bats", "The Devil and Mr Jones", "Sacrifice"... okay, I need to stop.

Number 9 this year is one of my favorite sing-a-long songs about being yourself and not letting the world get you down, no matter how different you are. Voltaire has always preached in favor of the outcasts, freaks, and the general goth crowd in his life, and he has been found on major news outlets as well as the smaller circuits. When we saw him live, he announced that this song with his "Ode to Adam Ant" and the song "Prince Charming", where Ant reminds others to "Respect yourself and all of those around you". It's a great fun track that bounces around and is tailored to the crowd of strange. It resonates well with me, and could possible be a hit even if it weren't recorded by one of the all-time greatest recording artists. Yo ho oh oh! Enjoy!











Title: Captains All
Artist: Aurelio Voltaire
Album: Raised By Bats


Previous #9s
2013: Deadlock - The Arsonist
2012: Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks
2011: The Limousines - Internet Killed The Video Star
2010: Dan Black - Symphonies
2009: The Killer and the Star - Living With Musicians

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