Archive for February, 2010

Video Jam for the Weekend: The Pipettes – Our Love Was Saved By Spacemen

The Pipettes have been through a lot in the last couple years. After some really good girl group-inspired singles, they put out an uneven and disappointing record, lost some members and generally lost whatever momentum they once had. By the looks of this new video from their forthcoming album, it sounds like they’ve done some welcome revamping of their musical approach. Gone is the slavish devotion to G-groups and the Brill Building. In its place is a bubbly, disco-y, super pop sound that owes more to the modern dancefloor than a stuffy old museum. Well, modern as in 1976, anyway….

Good job digging up Martin Rushent (who deserves hero status just for his production of the Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” alone) to produce the song and album. Good job also to everyone involved for pulling a rabbit out of a hat and making the Pipettes awesome!

A terrible misstep into rock territories for the superstar rapper.

Dwayne Carter, known to millions as Lil Wayne, has become something of a music industry mogul recently, signing the much-talked-about Nicki Minaj and Drake to his record label, Young Money. Ranked as one of the highest earning hip hop artists in 2009, it seemed like the cough syrup-supping star had finally arrived. But when time came to create his new album, Auto-Tune and rock riffs got the better of him, and not in a good way.

2008’s Tha Carter III, released to widespread acclaim, set Carter’s chosen moniker in stone as one of the best MCs heard in a very long time; it sold over a million copies in its first week. His flow was nothing short of amazing, and the production skills on show were of a comparable, complementary quality. But with Rebirth he has switched that successful formula, which catapulted him to A-list status, to one that presents him as a wannabe rock star. And one that nobody wants to hear at that.

American Star is an awful introduction, and sadly it sums up the overall sound of this album: a lot of guitars, drums and plenty of Auto-Tune usage. Guest vocals from Young Money-signed RnB chanteuse Shanell only contribute further to its downfall; she also features on the equally terrible second track, Prom Queen. Paradice, on the other hand, is a number that brings out the best in Lil Wayne: you get to hear his deep lyrics about coming from nowhere to becoming a worldwide star, and living in his own version of paradise. The track is carried by a soft drum beat, unlike much of the album, which is full of such noise that you can’t hear a word he’s trying to say.

Other standout tracks include On Fire, on which Carter samples Amy Holland’s She’s on Fire (from the Scarface soundtrack), and Drop the World, featuring Eminem. Which means that there are three tracks that make the grade – a poor return from a 14-track collection crafted by an artist who’s not simply established, but a superstar in the right circles.

There’s nothing wrong with experimentation, and a handful of rock tracks here could have worked well. But to make a whole album based around a sound Lil Wayne is so inexperienced with is simply outrageous.

Song Review

“Be My Baby” announces its arrival with arguably the most dramatic introduction in all of rock & roll — Hal Blaine’s drums are the Morse code of the gods — and somehow just keeps getting better from there; the quintessential Phil Spector production, it begins as the Wall of Sound but ends up a full-blown Taj Mahal, a gleaming sonic temple erected in eternal tribute to Ronettes frontwoman (and the future Mrs. Spector) Veronica Bennett. Hot on the heels of the classic “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Then He Kissed Me,” “Be My Baby” unveils the complete scope of Spector’s vision: a slow-burn pop symphony, it builds momentum with each passing verse, propelled by horse-gallop castanets and muted piano figures until it achieves maximum density in a majestic convergence of vocals, strings, horns, and thunderclap percussion. That Spector’s most grandiose production to date would serve the least polished vocalist in his stable might seem like perverse irony, but in truth “Be My Baby” works because of Bennett, not in spite of her. While never a singer on par with, say, Darlene Love, her voice radiates pure baby-doll sexuality — she somehow transforms the sweetly sappy sentiments of Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich’s song into a veritable siren’s call (her “whoa-oh-oh-oh” exclamations, reprised on the brilliant follow-up “Baby, I Love You,” say it all), and the plaintive longing of the lyrics aside, there’s never a moment of doubt that it’s she who is the real object of desire here. Although it’s been regularly covered in the years since, the Ronettes’ original recording has never really gone away — a staple of oldies radio, it’s also something of a fixture on film soundtracks, used most effectively by Martin Scorsese over the opening credits of his early masterpiece Mean Streets before resurfacing over a decade later in the smash Dirty Dancing. No less an authority than Brian Wilson has declared “Be My Baby” the greatest pop record ever made

Starting Out? Pick The Right DJ Equipment

Would you like to be a Disc-jockey. You wish to play towards the people along with amuse your pals. So how can you begin? One thing you must do will be gain yourself some money, arranged your financial allowance and acquire on your own on the web looking for the very best bargains in Disk jockey tools. There are thousands of diverse components of Disk jockey tools but for the novice understanding where is most beneficial to shell out your hard earned money can be challenging.
The majority of brand new DJs will not have an infinite spending budget and as a result it’s important they make probably the most with the funds they’ve. Almost all of the difficult for new DJs as they do not have got very much exposure to DJ gear and also being aware of what to pay their funds in is often rather complicated. The gear also often must complement the skill sets of the Disk jockey and occasionally the kind of music you wish to play.

The best word of advice that could be agreed to an aspiring DJ is always to save up the biggest finances that they possibly can and then have a look at as numerous distinct items of products that they are able to. Designed with this knowledge they should then be capable of find the greatest equipment for his or her cash. Declining that check this out post and also track down areas where i suggest you splash over out more income.
Tunes

The key machine for almost any DJ is audio. Getting together an accumulation the preferred paths will be tavern far the most crucial as well as hard expertise for almost any DJ. Get the tunes choice proper plus your market will usually take pleasure in everything you perform. It’s no good trading serious numbers of cash on the most effective package for those who have terrible music to listen to. The main choice which should be made by an aspiring DJ the actual format by which they will invest in his or her audio.

There are a variety of various platforms in which you should buy as well as be a guitrist. Typically the most popular with regard to DJs is just about the vinyl fabric document together with Compact disks an in depth 2nd. There are a variety of numerous important things about payday cash kinds of music format that connect with the actively playing gadget from which these are performed.
Actively playing Products

To learn the songs on the public you’ll need a audio actively playing device. DJs generally use a pair of songs gadgets in tandem to generate smooth flows between the tracks that they can play. The first device will probably be utilized to play the guitar and the next will be accustomed to signal the subsequent track along with the result will probably be switched in between devices employing a mix fader. This will develop the effect regarding sound being a individual part of music. This may help make transforming paths easier about the ear canal with the crowd.

This can be area that is important to the skills of the Disk jockey these DJs that may match bests properly along with blend tunes inside thrilling along with pleasurable ways frequently obtain a fantastic amount of success. Even though this ended up being typically used to transfer songs in between plastic information lately gadgets are actually created that will let the Disk jockey to manipulate Compact disks in a similar fashion. These units make use of decks that can be controlled personally for you to signal up Dvds. The most important thing should be to pay attention to your observe by means of earphones to help you your DJ.
Earbuds

An important piece of kit for the Disc-jockey is the headphones. The top forms of earphone filter background audio. Because of this outer earbuds tend to be better than in ear earbuds. I would recommend that if an soon to be DJ is aware that are going to a Disc-jockey for years that they can invest in a pair regarding headphones when they can understandably last their particular complete job and could be worth the investemen

A Dj Equipment Guide

If you are in the beginning stages on your road to Compact disk Jockey popularity, you should think of your Technics 1210 turn table, that is standard on the market along with highly recommended.

The most important thing for you to take into account is that the tools will not perform the particular interesting; the particular Disk jockey may be the leisure. Because you possess the latest Disk jockey tools that will not mean that you’ll be an immediate accomplishment like a Disc Jockey. I suggest you start with an allowance of at least £2000. This can allow you to obtain a subwoofer with many lighting. If you’re unable to get yourself a budget of the sizing, you might want acquiring products that’s been previously used or even leasing the products.

Purchasing a wide-ranged tunes catalogue will be of much better significance when compared with how much illumination the Disc-jockey method offers and should become your first and foremost consideration. You can eventually get to lights and also upgrade your sound system while necessary once you begin for you to establish perform.

A piece of equipment crucial that you cell DJs consist of appear downloads in a chosen moderate, which is usually disc, MP3s or vinyl fabric documents. You need two playback units pertaining to sound recordings in order to change between the two to generate a movement involving steady playback. To be able to broadcast the background music, you’ll need a subwoofer pertaining to magnifier the particular tracks. Apart from this, everything you should start your job as a Disc-jockey is often a mike and also a mixing machine.

You need earphones to listen for one particular taking although amazing . taking part in, devoid of the viewers to be able to listen to your audio. There are many additional items of Disk jockey products that you can supplment your program such as electronic functionality techniques, samplers, drum models as well as consequences processors. To educate yourself regarding acquiring the appropriate DJ equipment speak with experienced DJs, examine Disc-jockey associated publications along with check out the several Disc-jockey sites online to acquire sufficient details becoming a profitable DJ.