We have the 1997 Happy B You Dumb Mofo Playlist!
Dream Theater: already picked. Hell's Kitchen / Lines in the Sand it is. Cheating, I know. Speaking of which, where is older bro #4?
Metallica: Fuel. Gotta be.
Bruce Dickinson: Omega (over half the album). Need a ballad, this one is excellent.
Savatage: Turns to You, though I could pick the whole focking album. Place assured on the playlist.
Rammstein: Du Hast. No doubt.
Foo Fighters: Monkey Wrench, no questions asked.
Children of Bodom: Lake Bodom. Would make my playlist as well without the kobold vocals. It clinches a berth nonetheless.
Gary Moore: Business as Usual. He needs this song at this exact stage of his life.
Testament: Demonic Refusal: I don't even need to check.
Judas Priest: Jugulator. Ditto and then some. The man just loves JP.
Faith No More: Ashes to Ashes, by royal decree.
Machine Head: Take My Scars. Like a glove.
Gamma Ray: Beyond the Black Hole. We have been two kids praying at the altar of Kai.
Queensryche: Anytime / Anywhere (over Spool). Weak sauce though, not sure it makes the next cut.
Megadeth: Trust (over She-Wolf). Not our young days' Megadeth for sure.
Symphony X: The Accolade (over Sea of Lies). Everytime I listen to SX I'm reminded how DT's uncanny songwriting skills are never praised enough.
Hammerfall: The Dragon Lies Bleeding (over Hammerfall). First time I listen to a song of theirs. I feel unchanged.
Yngwie: Only the Strong wins - after a fierce mano a mano against My Resurrection - due to pearls of tasty bluesy licks inside an ocean of phrygian dominant runs. Gotta love Yngwie.
Stratovarius: Black Diamond, because harpsichord! Not Totally Unrelated Question: what do DT and Helloween have in common?
In Flames: Episode 666. My throat hurts.
Pain of Salvation: Nightmist, but it's a longshot. My bro doesn't like wankers, mainly because he has lived with one for 18 years.
Royal Hunt: River of Pain. Another longshot, banking on my copy of The Final Countdown LP being actually my brother's.
The Offspring: All I Want, by executive decision. I know, wasn't submitted, but its Motorbreath vibe gives it the best chance.
Threshold: Eat the Unicorn, by a landslide. Great riffage offsets a general sense of boredom.
Vanden Plas: You Fly, but it's in on the cusp.
Silverchair: Freak (over Abuse Me), but on veeeeery shaky ground.
Grimspoon: DCx3, without a second thought
Strapping Young Lad: Oh My Fucking God (over All Hail the New Flesh). Oh my focking god.
Fates Warning - APSOG #6 (We're Not Children Anymore): I want him to listen to those lyrics
Mogg / Way - History of Flames: If this doesn't make it, nothing else makes it.
Y&T - Still Falling: Very good, and can't displease the bosk.
Jag Panzer - Judgement Day: Old school has its place in this playlist.
UDO - Preachers OF The Night: like there's a reason to leave this out.
KISS - I Confess: Only if at least five songs aren't fit
Aerosmith - Falling In Love (Is Hard On The Knees): Don't think so, but saved by Ulver.
Nightwish - The Carpenter: He might get bored
Rhapsody - Land of Immortals: Perchè no?
Dimmu Borgir - Mourning Palace: Only because he's gonna get super excited when tha first AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGHHHHH hits.
Deftones - My Own Summer: Wins the prize for #1 song I can't stand but gotta pick because the man may like it.
Edguy - Wings of a Dream: Can't see no reason why not.
Iron Savior - Atlantis Falling: Can I have this in MY playlist when I turn 50?
WASP - KFD: Kan't Focking Discard
Galactic Cowboys - Evil Twin: Almost the opposite of what he likes
dredg - Kayasuma: Among the worst four minutes stretches of my life, but I can't guarantee the bro won't dig it.
Ben Folds Five: Song for the Dumped: Last minute sub.
Magellan - Gameface: Loving this, must smuggle it in.
Soundscape - The God Inside: du-bee-doo, doo, doo, another one on the cusp
The Tea Party - Temptation: The Tea Party: only if we're struggling to make it to 50
Incubus - New Skin: not exactly his cup, but I'm curious
Creed - Torn: Saved by the long epics
I'm about to go on a long car trip, because - speaking of big b-days - there's dear lady going 70 today many miles from here. When I'm back tomorrow I will:
1. Gather all your fantastic 1998 suggestions
2. Tally the standings for contributors making the final cuts. I'm giving a prize at the end of this journey.
1998 is on.