@LinerNotes

Each time a new James Bond film gets closer to release and its details begin to emerge, Bond fans, myself included, begin to ponder which artist will perform the all-important opening theme song. Being the 23rd film in the official James Bond movie franchise, the theme to Skyfall has an incredible legacy to follow. But the question is: Who will perform it?

"I might as well be listening to Genesis!" - Rik Mayall, The Young Ones And so should you. Specifically, a new Chiptune cover of Genesis' Top 10 hit, "Land of Confusion," which is all kinds of brilliant.

"Woe to you, Oh Earth and Sea. For the Devil sends the beast with wrath, because he knows the time is short... Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast. For it is a human number. Its number is six hundred and sixty six." - from Revelation 12:12 and 13:18 That quote, as read by the recently departed Barry Clayton , is instantly familiar to anyone who has heard the title track from Iron Maiden's The Number of the Beast album, released 30 years ago today. It could have however sounded very different, had it been read by the actor the band originally wanted.

No this is not a tiny recreation of when Goldfinger attempted to create an amusing death for 007. It is however the coolest cover song you will hear this week and the best mash up of using high technology to create music in unusual ways. Ladies and gentlemen, Jonathan Coulton's "Still Alive", as performed by an Automated Laser Corporation 20 watt fiber laser and a stainless steel plate. Yes, really.

The Doors have released the first-ever single edit of the title cut from their final album with singer Jim Morrison. Even though the close-to-eight minute long original has long been a staple at rock radio, as part of The Year of The Doors celebration happening this year, the song has been given a radio length edit of just over three and a half minutes and a new music video to go with it.

For fans of heavy metal and guitar virtuosity who are old enough to remember, it was 30 years ago today that the senselessly tragic passing of guitarist Randy Rhoads occurred. If the story is new to you, it wasn't an event, as is with so many extremely talented musicians of a case of "death by misadventure", but of a tragic accident caused by the hand of another.

It would be tempting but still editorially accurate to post this video with the bone idle description of "Posted Without Comment". "Walking In Your Mind", created by the UK's Ithaca Audio, is a stunning example of the live multimedia mashup. Come inside for a watch and a listen but leave your mind at the door.

Fans of electronic music, classic video games and the weirdly wonderful world created when these two things come together have reason to celebrate. The Smithsonian (Yes, THAT one) are honoring video games as an art form with a new exhibition opening this weekend. "The Art of Video Games" opens Saturday at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. In a pixel perfect piece of synergy, the exhibition will feature the music of 8 Bit Weapon. I sat down with the pair to talk about their involvement with the Smithsonian, how their sounds will be a part of the program and the perils of traveling Chiptunes musicians. They even revealed the details about a new album release.

As hard as it may be to believe for children, teens and young adults of the 1980's, a full quarter century has come and gone since the release of one of the most singularly beautiful and passion-filled albums in rock music history. If ever there was an album that truly lived up to the phrase, "required listening", it is U2's The Joshua Tree.

A ukulele made from an iPad and an iPhone? Sure, why not! Lost amongst the news about today's announcement of "The new iPad" was this little gem of a tech demo of the "Futulele", which sounds uncannily like the real thing. Fretboard and body sold separately.