"Gatekeeper" by Within Temptation from Enter

Before I looked up this song, I'd heard one song that I was aware of from this album. Enter preceded Within Temptation's skyrocket to fame with Mother Earth. For a hearer only used to The Heart of Everything, the difference in sound is palpable.

Enter, as Within Temptation's first album, is heavily gothic rock, which their later albums progressively start shifting into symphonic metal. In fact, the songs are mostly instrumental, causing an impression that Enter (or at least "Gatekeeper") should be on a fantasy soundtrack. The music is gorgeous if overextended.

Or should, at least, until the growling starts (I think from Robert Westerholt). Excuse me while I grimace. I've come to tolerate growling thanks to the intentional tastes of it used in some songs I otherwise like greatly (like "Tenth Man Down"). Sharon Den Adel sings a slight bit, but it's atop the growling and annoys me personally, but if you like growling, I suspect you'll be happy.

Some people won't like the dark lyrics, which remind me of the (much newer song) "At the Back of Beyond." "One by one they died," sings Sharon, "a massacre that took all night…" In this and other lines, "Gatekeeper" seems to be talking about the "Gatekeeper" Death, but it could use more development.

With so few lyrics, did "Gatekeeper" have to be almost seven minutes long? End, already!

The various segments of the song were certainly lovely, but… I suspect it would've been more effective if used to make different songs.

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Lyrics: 3/5
Music: 4/5
Voice: 3/5
Overall: 6/10

"You're Still the One" by Shania Twain from Come on Over

"You're still the one I want for life… You're still the one I love, the only one I dream of." When a myriad of songs declare heartbreak, cheating, and how to get in bed, this is a bit refreshing.

Though they "took the long way" and others "bet they'[d] never make it", they continue to hold on, "going strong". But the lyrics have a lot of repetition. Some of that's the point to the song "You're Still the One", that her boyfriend—fiancé?—is "still the one [she] want[s] for life". There's not much outright said in the song, though that they're living together in implied (since he's "still the one [she] kiss[es] goodnight").

Still, for country, Shania Twain's nicely in control of her vocals, making her voice above average even if it's not my preferred style. The music, also, is more involved than much country with a very pretty bridge. Unfortunately, the overall average music of the song lowers that rating.

Would I buy this song? No. Would I mind listening to it once in a while? No. Do I suspect country fans will like it? Yes.

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Lyrics: 3/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 3/5
Overall: 6/10

"Good Riddence (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day from Nimrod

If my brother's in Mom's car when Green Day comes on, I have to resign myself to not hearing it. He complains till Mom changes the station; and if Mom doesn't to tease him, I still don't get to hear much over his whines and groans. While I can hear why someone might find the band's sound annoying, I can also hear why they're one of a friend's favorite bands.

"Good Riddence (Time of Your Life)" was an experiment as a pop ballad. The guitar, accented by violin, reminds me some of Jars of Clay's "Art in Me", or at least Jars of Clay's musical style in their original CD. It's a very pleasing, soothing sound.

Billy Joe Armstrong provides vocals that you'll likely either hate or appreciate. Like Flyleaf's Lacey Mosley, he sings in an unusual style that accents his band's distinct sound. You've probably heard it at some point; Green Day's been around since I was a toddler.

As one of the less psychotic songs by Green Day—to borrow an adjective some of my friends use to describe the band—"Good Riddence (Time of Your Life)" speaks of how situations suddenly crop up in life that require change. The band's language is clean in this song—for once—though parents might not want their younger children exposed to the imagery of "tatoos of memories and dead skin on trial".

It's a soothing song with an interesting encouragement to make the most of the opportunities for change.

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Lyrics: 4/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 4/5
Overall: 8/10