Caw-Caw Music

Archive for July, 2010

I listen to music all the time; at home, at work, in the car, sometimes even to help me sleep. But without the ability to find new music, I would soon get bored of the same old play lists. I’ve tried different methods over the years to expand my musical tastes, so hopefully some of these can be useful to somebody else.

1 ) BBC iPlayer Radio

Now I’m not a great fan of everything played on mainstream radio stations, including the BBC ones, but I do really enjoy using the BBC iPlayer radio. Annoyingly the BBC seems to have the habit of putting all it’s niche shows on a stupids hours of the day, when nobody is listening, but with the iPlayer you can simple pick any of these shows from the last 7 days, and re-listen to it on your PC.

2 ) Music store latest releases

I find my local music stores pretty uninspiring at times, but it doesn’t stop me walking in to check out the new releases, and staff recommendations stand. They may only have a handful of CDs in them at a time, but every few weeks I will walk in, scoop up a copy of each CD, and stroll over to a listening post to review my selection.

3 ) Last.fm

There are many social music sites about, but I seem to have made the most use of Last.fm. A simple plug-in to iTunes allows it to monitor all the music I listen to on my PC and iPod, and uploads the data to the Last.fm website. It’s very interesting to be able to see some statistics on your listening habits, but it’s most useful feature is the ability to view the listening habits of people that are deemed statistically similar to you. You can browse through your musical neighbors, looking out for bands that they listen to but you are not familiar with, and then even listen to sample tracks of them using the built in music player.

4 ) Pandora.com

Pandora is an automated music recommendation service, which allows you to input a band or track you enjoy, and it will build you a radio station of similar music for you to listen to. I used Pandora for about a year until sadly the service was restricted to only be available in the USA, although many similar services have popped up since, such as One Llama.

5 ) Go to gigs

Going to see a band you love live is fantastic, but often it’s easy to underestimate the support bands. Support bands tend to be up and coming, or local bands you wouldn’t normally run into, so are a great source of new sounds.

6 ) Pick up a music magazine

I confess I don’t often buy music magazines, as I find the articles a waste of time. It might sound cheap, but often in shops I will pick up a copy of Kerrang, or the NME, and flip through to the new releases section, have a quick read and then return it to the shelf. I make a mental note of the bands, and then look them up later on the Internet, when I get home.

7 ) iTunes

I often use the iTunes store to search for and listen to samples of bands I’m investigating, such as ones I found on Last.fm. You may only have the ability to listen to short samples, but the iTunes catalog is vast, which means you’ve got a good chance of finding what your looking for. Once in a blue moon I even purchase using the store, as I’m to damn impatient, and can’t wait for a CD to be delivered.

8 ) Magnatune

I discovered Magnatune at work, where I use an Ubuntu based Linux box for my daily tasks. The latest version of Rhythmbox that comes with the operating system, has been integrated with the Magnatune service. Magnatune allows you to listen to all the music you want for free, and even purchase songs using a “Pay what you deem fair” system. The music isn’t very mainstream, but selecting a bunch of tracks and playing them on random keeps me entertained.

9 ) Put you MP3 Player on random

I have a large MP3 collection, which played end to end would span many weeks. It’s very easy to find you have music you hardly ever, or never listen to. Putting your player on random, can often help your rediscover some hidden gems.

10 ) Ask your friends

Don’t under estimate your friends or co-workers, even if they do seem to have lame taste in music. It’s good to take interest in what other people are listening to, as it helps you diversify your listening habits, and explore something you wouldn’t usually listen to.

SOT New Single Reviewed

There aren’t any chart topping cameos on the new debut single ‘Hookah Baby’ from Denver, Colo., hip-hop experimentalists Strange Orange Tongue. However, music’s greatest innovators never get noticed right away. ‘Hookah Baby’ is a true grunge hip hop team-up; the single gives a glimpse perhaps into what hip hop mystery will arrive with the full length release, ‘The Lift’, later this year. So what’s all the hub bub about Strange Orange Tongue? No pun intended but it’s a matter of taste; which could be the reason for the band name (Strange Orange Tongue). For those that don’t know the band better known as simply S.O.T., then let me just say their somewhere between the Audio Bullys and Modeselektor. Like most of their music, it’s hard for me to tell whether this track is light or dark, perhaps ingeniously on purpose. Clearly the “Hookah Baby” is not a hookah at all, so what is it?

Hookah Baby is filled with beligerant honesty and underscored with a message about the political climate “Gaza an appeasement needs…” and cheeky allusions to “..a jug of Kool Aid that’s spiked with some booze”. At other times the lyrics are vague enough that you wonder, “well maybe he is talking about a baby hookah or a hookah baby”. Somehow the song seems rather cohesive considering one minute your talking about fountains in SoHo and MySpace followed with a mention of “Apple” being “like poison in the land of parades…”. On the Strange Orange Tongue website, the Hookah Baby ‘Apple’ lyric is with a capital ‘A’. Is it a reference to the hardware manufacturer? Either the band is deft at clever tricks or there’s truly a deeper artistic expression. Either way, it’s only the first song off the debut album so time will tell. Their antics have always kept me interested since their bootlegs were leaked a long time ago, but you’d have to think that any fans they once had would have moved on by now…right?

In regards to sound, the song revisits an old school Cypress Hill feel with the squiggly guitar background and marching tempo. The Hookah Baby dry drum sound makes the lyrics echo in a more perverted way and the odd spoken range lends to the droll impression left by vocalist Nic Rio. You feel that he may be doing more explaining to you or reminiscing than rapping. Some may wonder if Strange Orange Tongue has gone soft in favor of more mainstream topics than the typical “Silver Dollar Nips” attitude of the past. It will be interesting to see if they are overlooked as sketchy geniuses like MF Grimm or if they’ll receive kudos from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. I’m sure it will be worth checking out in December. Once again, time will tell.

The song was scheduled for release on October 28.

Getting the best from a headphone review. Listening to my music through a set of quality hi fi home studio stereo speakers is the ultimate for me…at least until the found the other option. I like hearing the mid-range vocals coming out clear and crisp. The bass is something I like to feel as well as hear.

The problem comes when everyone else wants to sleep and I still want to listen to some of my favorite music. In my quest to feed the audiophile inside me, I finally determined headphones were the answer. It was either that or go it alone. But, this presented an entirely new set of problems.

I discovered “these cans” had some a long way since the last time I was looking. I had choices and a lot of them. I could get them with open end or closed end. In my case, I determined closed end would be best so what I was listening to could not go out and disturb anyone around me. It seems with an open can, the sound is still dispersed somewhat into the surrounding area.

I found out about passive and active noise canceling. I had to choose whether I wanted the background noise canceled by just the ear pieces themselves (passive) or were those little electronics inside going to stop the ambient noise (active). This is actually a big question. Because I have a long commute to work, the active noise reducing headphones would make the noise go away. Outside sounds like people talking and appliances running would also have no affect on my streaming audio. I liked this idea. I found makes and types that allowed me to switch between active and passive mode. This was perfect.

In my quest for the best headphones, I ran into a technology I had never heard before about stereo head sets. Bluetooth. What is bluetooth? Wireless? In ear? No cords? You have got to be kidding. This wireless stuff was sounding very interesting. I could move with my music and not land on my keester because I tripped on the cord. All I had to do was buy a wireless set for my stereo and I was good to go. I could move up to 300 feet away and still enjoy my tunes. This meant I could be all over the house and listen to the radio or my favorite CD. I was REALLY liking this option. I can not stand to sit for very long.

Finding all this out about a simple set of headphones made me realize it was not a simple thing and a little more in depth than I initially thought. What else was I to discover?

Well, how about the ultimate in any audiophile’s dream…surround sound. I could get a head unit that gave me true theater quality music with the touch of a button. I have since found out many wireless sets like the Koss, Sony and Sennheiser RS-110, RS-120, RS130 and RS140 from headphonewarehouse.com all have single button surround sound. This was sounding pretty good to me. I learned I could switch from stereo sound to surround sound any time I wanted.

Because of what I was able to find out, I was able to make my choice of the headphones I wanted. They are perfect for me. I am pleased with what I bought. There is a set out there for you, too. Just do some research and some reviews like I did and you can discover a complete listening experience like no other.

New Music Billboard allows the public to listen to music for free from their favorite Indie Artist. Traditional Billboards cover mostly mainstream music, but New Music Billboards features new and up and coming Singers and Bands.

New Music Billboards features music that runs along side more mainstream or commercial music and has frequently used the term Indie music. Small labels or individuals marketing their own music often participate in the Indie Music scene. It is important to uncover unknown bands because there is so much music talent out there who simply lack ample marketing.

During the 1990s, Indie music became widespread and answered an increasingly larger market of people who were looking for alternatives to the mainstream music institutions. In the same way that “alternative” was used before it became an actual genre of mainstream music, Indie is sometimes used in place of “underground” as a term to describe music.

Becoming involved in the Indie music scene typically, and sometimes still does, require one to move to a city or town where there’s an active Indie music scene. Traditionally, hooking up with other artists and fans was a way to build your career as a new artist.

Seasoned musicians and new artists now have the opportunity to record and publish their music from the comfort of their own studio. Income can be made from building a fan base and by selling merchandise, concert tickets and traditional CDs.

While Indie music is still considered off from mainstream music scene, it is a place where new artists can build a fan base and begin many of the marketing components that they are going to need to be success in the longer term.

Rihanna was scheduled to perform in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia for a crowd of 6,000 on Nov. 14 but had to cancel the tour over security concerns. A spokesperson for the event organizer Show Master Live, Dive Purnomo, said the 20-year-old singer was scheduled to perform for a sold-out crowd but changed her mind while in Australia. The nation was among several that issued a travel advisory to citizens in Indonesia after the executions of three Islamic militants convicted in the 2002 Bali bombings. The warning issued while Rihanna was down under came after the men called on followers to carry out revenge attacks if they did in fact receive the deaths by firing squad sentenced to them. Purnomo said she hoped Rihanna will come back to Jakarta to perform for her many fans in January.

Before “Umbrella” propelled Rihanna into the realm of major stardom, the singer was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty in 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados and despite winning various beauty and talent contests at a young age she assumed that fame was well beyond her reach. Pop producer Evan Rogers, who has produced for stars like Christina Aguilera, Jessica Simpson and others, was vacationing on the island when he met Rihanna and sent her to the studio with his partner Carl Sturken to make some demo tapes. Newly appointed Def Jam president Shawn Carter (aka Jay-Z) heard Rihanna’s demos and was instant enthralled, signing her on the spot and Def Jam released the single “Pon de Replay” off the album Music of the Sun in 2005. The song peaked at number tow on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned another popular single, “If It’s Lovin’ That You Want.”

After a successful debut album, Rihanna continued her trajectory to the top with an even more successful sophomore album, A Girl Like Me, which spawned popular singles “S.O.S.,” “Break It Off” and “Unfaithful.” For her third effort, Rihanna chopped her signature long locks and dropped the good-girl image promoted by stereotypical Caribbean lingo and sugar-coated ballads. The aptly-titled Good Girl Gone Bad was a dance/pop album led by the number one single “Umbrella.” Good Girl Gone Bad also featured collaborations with Timbaland, StarGate and Jay-Z and boasted hit singles “Disturbia” and “Take a Bow.” Rihanna recently made another notch on the Billboard charts when she was featured on T.I.’s smash single “Live Your Life.” The career of Caribbean sensation Rihanna is still young (and so is she, at just twenty-years-old!) but with the backing of Jay-Z and a unique vocal style that blends her heritage with urban pop, she is sure to be around for a long time. Rihanna hit the rod this last year as to open for rapper Kanye West on his Glow In the Dark tour and will most likely be touring again so be sure to get your Rihanna tickets soon!

DJ Headphones preference is truly subjective. Each person looks for something a little bit different based on where they use them (ie bedroom versus club) and what they use them for (ie. DJing versus production). Preferences for portability, shape, and sound vary as well.

Since there are many important things to look for in a pair of DJ headphones, here is a breakdown of some things to consider before you choose:

Sound Quality

Naturally… it’s all about the music. Great DJ headphones will feature powerful drivers that reproduce crystal clear lows, mids and highs so you don’t miss a beat. Make sure you choose a pair that’s loud, clean and puts you right in the music. There’s nothing more important than this.

Noise Isolation

Being a DJ means finding yourself in loud environments. To ensure that nothing distracts you from your music, choose a pair of DJ headphones that provide much needed sound isolation to ferret out background noise. You’ll want to look for a closed ear design that separates what’s going on inside your DJ headphones… from what’s going on around you.

Strong Construction

DJ headphones undergo a lot of wear and tear. If you choose a pair that has inferior parts, weak connections, or a less than sturdy build, they won’t be able to withstand the rigors of DJing. Be sure to consider what goes into the build of a pair you’re considering and how it stacks up against other models. Quality parts make quality headphones.

Portability

Do your headphones feature folding design for easy storage? Do they come with a convenient or protective case that will keep them in better condition longer? These are good things to consider.

Comfort

Good DJ headphones feel good on your head. And not just for a few minutes… but possibly for hours on end. Make sure the fit is good, the pads are soft and secure and one ear monitoring is comfortable before you buy.

Price?

When it comes to DJ headphones, price is an important factor… but it shouldn’t be the most important factor. In general a higher price is going to mean better materials, a better build, better sound, and better features but there are certainly exceptions to this rule. The key is to use a guide, but to look within your range to make sure your other important factors are being met.

Bottom line? If you’re a DJ you’re going to need high quality DJ headphones that will last long, feel comfortable, and help you catch each beat so you can do what you do best. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune. But it does mean you should do your due diligence, consider what’s most important to you and seek out the pair that offers the best combination of attributes within your budget. Happy shopping!

Not sure what’s happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better Soundtrack To Your Escape gets. Soundtrack To Your Escape stated simply is one of their best CDs to date.

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

Overall Soundtrack To Your Escape is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Rock collection. Truly an outstanding Rock CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While the entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 5 – Like You Better Dead, track 10 – Superhero Of The Computer Rage, and track 12 – Bottled

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – F(r)iend. What a nice track!

Soundtrack To Your Escape Release Notes:

In Flames originally released Soundtrack To Your Escape on April 6, 2004 on the Nuclear Blast Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. F(r)iend 2. Quiet Place, The 3. Dead Alone 4. Touch Of Red 5. Like You Better Dead 6. My Sweet Shadow 7. Evil In A Closet 8. In Search For I 9. Borders And Shading 10. Superhero Of The Computer Rage 11. Dial 595-Escape 12. Bottled

In Flames: Anders Friden (vocals); Bjorn Gelotte, Jesper Stromblad (guitar); Peter Iwers (bass); Daniel Svensson (drums). Recorded in Denmark. In Flames: Anders Friden (vocals); Jesper Stromblad (guitar); Peter Iwer (bass instrument); Daniel Svensson (drums).

Bell Time Records – we have discovered quite a few ways to promote our independent record label, new released music and new artists. Having your business information available to your targeted audience is the main key. There has to be visibility!

One of the best ways to make your business information visible and available, is to connect with others who are already visible and available! That’s right, seek and search out other websites that will allow you to become linked to their website…it works! For every person who comes in contact with a website you are connected to, will definitely boost the chances of your website being viewed also.

I found that by asking various website owners permission to link their website to yours will often time cause a website link exchange to take place…good deal huh? You bet it is! Just remember this, it’s all about visibility! You will be surprised how many other website owners are willing to exchange links.

So let’s get on board and start seeking out friendly website owners who wants the same accomplishments for their website as you want for yours. Just think about traffic, visibility, and new website links all linking back to your website…Wow! I wish somebody had of given me insite on this information a long time ago.

You can find a tone of potential websites that will link up with you by seaching the various Article Directories easy to find through just about any search engine.