Sunday, June 22, 2008
Brandon Butler - Sparks
If you ever wanted to learn to play the guitar, why not start to learn it now. Famous musicians and rock stars all had to start somewhere, right? No one was born with a guitar in their hands.
If you are serious about learning how to play the guitar like the pros, a good guide training is the way to go. Although some people have tried to learn this themselves, it would be a better idea to get some sort of a guide that will help you get started and on the right path to playing the guitar well.
In order for you to play the guitar, there are about 4 things that you must master first. The 4 things are:
1. The Chords
2. Tuning
3. Picking
4. Strumming
When you play the guitar, you will be either strumming the guitar or picking the strings. When you first start, don't try to do both. Take your time and master the first step. Doing this is like when you teach your child how to play baseball. You first teach them how to catch the ball with a glove. Once they start to master that, you then teach them how to hold the bat and hit the ball.
Once you start to feel that you got the hang on strumming the guitar, you can then start to learn to pick the strings. Either way, you have got to take it step-by-step.
Strumming involves raking your thumb across one or more of the guitar strings gently and this causes the guitar to make a sound. Picking is all about when an individual string is held down with your fingers to make a different sound.
If you already know to play the guitar and just know the basics, you can improve your skills and confidence when you actually bring in some of you friends or family and show them what you can do. Doing this will make things much more fun for you and give you more confidence.
If you are new or have been playing the guitar for a while and you want to learn from a real pro, I suggest that you visit my website below. What I have included there is a step-by-step Guitar System that will show you exactly how to play like the pros.
To learn more about guitar playing, grab your copy of the "Insider Secrets to Playing the Guitar!" system right now: http://www.guitar-playing-guide.com/
TheHaunted - Hate song
The essential driving force of a drum set is the bass drums. These are physically at the heart of the set with all hardware resting upon them. The bass also provides the underlying beat to your drumming. Without an adequately set-up and tuned set, your playing and rhythm section can be compromised and your equipment can suffer slow-building damage.
If you aren't getting the best sound of your set consider several of the following possibilities which compromise sound. For starters, keep in mind a bass set has a tendency to creep or move during practice and playing. This happens as you continue to use the kick pedal. One way to keep your kit from moving is to use a rug or small carpet under both the set and your seat. You can also keep your bass drum at a steeper angle by raising the front drum legs. If your set has spikes on the drum set, utilize them to keep your set in place. Sturdy drum kits tend to provide a reliable and unique sound.
When cleaning your kick you can use compressed air for those small crevices and hard-to-reach areas. Too much contact in these areas can cause unwanted shifting and movement, so compressed air alleviates any of these problems while keeping your set clean. However, some old-timers swear by the grim and grit built up on their cymbals, so consider leaving those cymbals alone or ask around before getting started on cleaning them. If you do like to clean your cymbals, look for abrasive-free polishes.
A bass cover might also serve you better than using a pillow. A cover can come in handy later especially while touring and has better sound mobility and flexibility. Although, not all drummers choose internal muffling. When tuning your bass, remember you can't tighten heads too much; you won't ever get a high pitch out of them.
Don't forget extreme weather can also damage a drum set, so watch out for humidity and cold weather. If you aren't getting the sound you want, check for warped or cracked heads. A great tip for keeping the sound you want is to carry a small took kit around with your set for any unforeseen problems and basic maintenance.
If all else fails, prop up a camera and videotape yourself practicing. You might notice some form problems that aren't always detectable even with the most attentive drummers. You may find your physical proximity, drumstick length, or basic set placement are more of a hindrance than you think. After the initial set up of your kit, always remember to make it your own. Adjustments can be made for the best possible sound and playing ability out of your bass drums.
Other tips for great drumming include keeping notes and/or a journal, write down those song and beat transcriptions that work best for you and which ones you need to visit again. Always listen to drummers and new music (not just favorites) and get creative.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on percussion, please visit Drum Sets, supplier of a wide range of drum sets, drum kits, drum heads, stands, and more.
[NEW RELEASE] LACOSTE - ECLAIR
Another re-issue from Lacoste's stable of early '80s performance tennis shoes, the Eclair features an outsole designed for hard court use and a chunky as hell midsole that is reminiscent of the Puma GV. If you squint hard enough, it might even tempt AF-1 lovers looking for a spring fling. The upper features suede overlays linked into the lacing for support and the tongue branding is an authentic replication of the Lacoste Crocodile from this era. As part of a triple pack, this jaffa is only a hint of what's to come – if it had a cream centre and choc icing, we'd be in heaven. Smash!
When I hear the name John Denver, I always think of Colorado. John Denver is a talented American singer, musician, and song maker. John Denver is famous all over the world. His music is known to have been inspired by his home state and the beautiful Rocky Mountain landscape. When Denver was born, he was named Henry John Deutscendorf. The singer/songwriter began his career as a folk rock singer in the early 60s.
Soon after that, Denver joined The Mitchell Trio and become their vocalist. He managed to become a real celebrity when Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded his song Leaving On A Jet Plane. This song was their first and only Number One single ever.
John Denver stayed with the Mitchell Trio as their vocalist for four years. After the members of the group are separated, John Denver realized that he had got to the top of the Pop charts and he is one of the best selling artists. Rocky Mountain High, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Sunshine On My Shoulders, Thank God Im A Country Boy, Back Home Again, and Annies Song are just some of his most popular songs.
Denver had not only been a talented musician but also an environmental and humanitarian activist. In his lyrics, John Denver used to support people to get closer to the earth and nature. The artist freely expressed his views in his songs in a peaceful but compassionate manner. His lyrics were inspired by the beauties he had seen living in the Rocky Mountains near Aspen, Colorado.
John Denver had enjoyed watching the snow, the sunshine, the beauty of all of nature. If John Denver had never seen the beauties of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, probably he would have never written his songs.
John Denver had often worked together with Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets. Denver even recorded many songs with the cast of the Muppets. He even played a role in a movie the film was Oh God! with George Burns. During the twentieth century, John Denver has continued to be one of the most famous singers.
John Denver passed away suddenly and tragically while he was piloting for the first time his new plane. The aircraft was caused by low fuel.
All his life had been spent close to nature. John Denver had devoted himself to his work, spending all his time singing and songwriting. John Denver had contributed a lot to many environmental and humanitarian organizations. John Denver will last in the hearts of his fans forever although he is not yet among us. Everyone who is interested can learn more about John Denver at www.johndenver.com, or www.john-denver.org.
Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning entertainment. Get more information by visiting John Denver
Today's Blog Music - The Hype Machine
Learning to play an instrument can be very rewarding and satisfying. The only real problem is what musical instrument to learn as there are so many available.
Learning an instrument is a fun personal challenge. The ultimate satisfaction is mastering a piece of music is the accomplishment of finishing, in some peoples eyes. The joy and satisfaction of being able to play a piece proficiently and thoughtful helps create the feeling of accomplishment.
But where to start with learning to play the piano. Actually playing the piano can be quite easy. The tone of the note only comes from pressing a key on a string. Most pianos contain 88 keys, separated between black and white. Piano keys are generally made by Ebony and Ivory, and the harder the player presses the key the louder the sound. The volume can also be controlled by two pedals found on most pianos. The right hand piano pedal is called the sustain pedal. When pressed simultaneously with a note, the sound created resonates and remains when the finger is removed from the key. This happens because inside the piano the dampers on the strings are removed when the pedal is pressed down thus meaning that the string will continue to resonate resulting in the sound continuing.
The sustain pedal can also be used to help create feeling and atmosphere. Often the pedal is used in quiet parts of the piece to help create this atmosphere, so please don't think that the sustain pedal is only used when playing loudly. Use of the sustain pedal is a skill that all pianists will gain through regular practice. Over use of the pedal will effect the performance considerably.
The other pedal is sometimes used but more often than not, as much as the right pedal. This other pedal is used to help control the volume, helping to create a much quieter sound. For this to happen with the use of the pedal, when it is pressed down, the hammers inside the piano that strike the strings only strike one of the 2 or 3 strings inside the piano. The theory is, 1 string resonating is going to be quieter than 2 or 3 strings resonating. This said, pianists shouldn't use the left pedal for soft playing and the right pedal for loud playing. You can still play quietly with the right pedal and loudly with the left pedal. For the ability of controlling volume you can not get better than your fingers which strike the note in the first place.
Learning to play the piano at home can be beneficial, however it, like any other self teaching method, will require an amount of perseverance. There are many resources available on the internet for those people who want to learn how to play the piano. I would suggest the below link as a good enough place to start. The main reason being is that this is written by a classically trained pianist and provides more than one suggested resource for learning the piano online. The resources also give other good pianist techniques such as improvisation, chords, sight reading, playing by ear etc. These are skills that all musicians should aim to perfect as well as their own instrument.
Chris Gilmour, a classically trained conservatoire pianist and teacher who recommends http://www.pianoplayingtips.info
[NEW RELEASE] LACOSTE - ECLAIR
Another re-issue from Lacoste's stable of early '80s performance tennis shoes, the Eclair features an outsole designed for hard court use and a chunky as hell midsole that is reminiscent of the Puma GV. If you squint hard enough, it might even tempt AF-1 lovers looking for a spring fling. The upper features suede overlays linked into the lacing for support and the tongue branding is an authentic replication of the Lacoste Crocodile from this era. As part of a triple pack, this jaffa is only a hint of what's to come – if it had a cream centre and choc icing, we'd be in heaven. Smash!
For a singer to survive there will need to be a booking for several gigs, you need an audience to offer your heartfelt songs too. To survive in the field of music, you must have successful gigs. Every singer lives and breathes gigs; it is an essential aspect of following the path that leads to stardom.
So how do you find singing gigs? You need to simply follow these steps and let your imagination run free.
- Find an agent. Once you prove your talent you will taken in. Agents find gigs for you. Then you simply practice your singing and live life, while managing your schedule.
- Look through the advertisements in such places as newspapers, magazines and newsletters that relate to music. You should find listing for such places like a music lounge or bar. You will also be able to find television and radio announcements online. If you do the research, you will find opportunities to make the most of your talents.
- Advertise yourself. There is nothing wrong with singing your own song, so to speak. Singing skills are sell able. Remember to include your contact information on all your promotional material, since there is no telling who may be interested in hiring you.
- To be successful in the entertainment field, you must be active. Affiliate yourself with others, by joining music and singing associations and groups. There you will have the opportunity to meet others who can help you now as well as in the future.
- Package yourself and your talent. Build an official you website, to sell yourself and your talent and other comparable means of advertising your talent. For instance, you could record a sample song to provide to a variety of recording companies, as audition material.
- Bring together all your potential contacts. When you have the option to change from one music label to another, take the chance if it sounds good, while putting those companies that hold auditions on a regularly. Be sure to check out any entertainment establishment such as hotels, since they also employ singers.
If you have the talent, you only need one regular big gig to uphold you. Before you know it, people will be searching to find you, rather than you finding them. Practice your singing and relax - the best singing gig for you may soon be found in one of these steps to finding a singing gig.
Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development.
My Morning Jacket - Just One Thing
It was a year that saw pop music decline, music sites prosper and a Sheffield act take complete domination; 2006 was a productive year for everyone involved in British music. Bands were reforming & reintroducing themselves, and whilst most collected music awards few gained entrance to the annual Hall Of Fame event at Earls Court. Whether it was on television, on the internet or at festivals all year round bands were propelling themselves towards stardom.
And none other so than the Arctic Monkeys, headed by Alex Turner, showed how a band could gain national attention; collect the Mercury Prize, and have two no.1 singles all whilst sparking a guitar-rock revival. Their unique take on college-life for a teen gained them a wide audience leading to the no. 1 fastest selling album: ever. And spearheaded by the successes of The Kooks, Snow Patrol, Fratellis and Kasabian they all began to eat away into pops inner sanctum - the U.K. Top 40. Aided by the fall of Top Of The Pops and the crumbling of Smash Hits!; overall 2006 was a bad year for pop. Girl groups like Sugababes and Girls Aloud found the shoes were too big to fill, and despite desperate reforms of Take That and All Saints, pop had been struck a belting blow from rock both commercially and nationally in 2006.
In fact the biggest punch may have been by the under-estimated power of the Internet. As Pete Doherty had already exploited with The Libertines the Internet was a powerful tool for communication. Yet the rise and rise of sites like Myspace and Youtube added with the increased use of peer-to-peer illegal software have had just as critical affect on the music scene. On one hand, it was a major gain for unsigned acts who could post free demos online (sound familiar Arctic Monkeys?) in hope of a label catching on. And though the contribution of mp3 players sales supplemented the success of downloading, more and more people became aware of the phenomenon as the year grew on. Regardless of this, the more negative effect of downloading has lead to heavy losses for the four biggest labels (Universal, Sony, EMI and Warner) as people became more selective on what music they listen to in 2006. Yet although counter-measures have been put in place stricter laws and download charts - at the moment the Internet is winning its battle against the CD. However 2007 will be the only ground to find out whether digital music stays on course and win the war to kill off the CD.
Nevertheless dont go thinking that 2006 was all doom & gloom, because as the B.P.I. got to work over the summer, the rest of us were out gigging across the whole country. Whether it was at - Oxygen, V Festival, T in the Park, Isle Of Wight or the Carling Weekend none were short of living up to expectation. Supported by global acts like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Pearl Jam along with local headliners such as The Who and Kaiser Chiefs, gigging had a whole new meaning in 2006. Furthermore helped by the BBC and MTV, television (and radio) brought yet more extensive coverage for live music as well as for over-seas excursions like Benicassim and SXSW. Nevertheless back in the U.K. bands were touring to their fullest extent, and even Bob Dylan restarted his Never Ending Tour with gig no.1811 through to 1912. Though the sold-out scene of Brixton Academy became as frequent as the number of times Pete Doherty had been in rehab, sites all over the U.K. were to witness new talent spawning from the modern age of music.
In part this has been down to the variety of music that has become more popular throughout the year. Emo (short for emotional) defined as a sub-genre of punk has become contagious amongst adolescents and whilst parents are alien to it, it is creating real divisions. Fronted by acts like Taking Back Sunday and My Chemical Romance, whom speak of cut my [their] wrists and black my [their] eyes talk about the portrayals of love mixed with violent actions. And as well as affecting haircut, appearance and fashion emo was not the only genre to have affected us in 2006. Although not as commercial, goth under-went a mini-revival in the form of The Horrors whilst The Klaxons even front lined the creation of their own genre new rave. The London quartet armed with glow sticks + red bull created havoc inside the Carling Tent at Reading and Leeds, have released four singles on Marok Records even cracking the U.K. top 40 showing just any type of music was breaking into the charts. Yes, it seemed everyone on the alternative music circuit was trying to create their own gimmick. And with The Long Blondes adding a retro 50s fashion look, Wolfmother reviving 70s heavy metal (accompanied with big fro) 2006 was all about one thing gettin noticed.
Indeed whether it was to accessorize, to fashionize, or in many cases to plagiarize 2006 was full of surprises. Whether it was The Libertines re-uniting (only for a drinking session) or Bono going to Africa, one thing was clear in 2006: ships are ready to set sail. Despite what lies ahead for many, most paths being unwritten, tails of fame and fortune are going to lead some into the life of showbiz. Although the perception on the rise to fame is a pleasant one, the demise can often be overlooked and for 2007 inevitably some ships are just going to sink.
By Joel Girling
[NEWSFLASH] HAROLD HUNTER x ZOO YORK
On May 17th the 2nd Annual Harold Hunter Day brought together NYC’s skateboarding community for a positive day of shredding in honor of the late, great Harold Hunter. More than five-hundred skaters and spectators swarmed the Manhattan Bridge Skatepark for a heated six-hour session with beats provided by New York’s finest, Pete Rock. Afterward, the masses flocked to KCDC Skateshop where, in true Harold form, the party bumped late into the night.
In celebration of this noteworthy occasion and to keep Harold’s spirit strong, the non-profit Harold Hunter Foundation has teamed up with The Zoo York Institute to release a limited edition HH Day II commemorative deck and t-shirt featuring Harold pics by long-time friend and acclaimed photographer, Giovanni Reda.
Both items are now available only at select New York shops including Rival, Autumn, Everything Must Go, Richmond Hood Company, Blades, DQM, and Homage. Additionally, a special bundled kit including a deck, t-shirt and signed copy of Reda’s “Harold Hunter: The Book” is available exclusively at KCDC. Proceeds from the sale of all HH Day II commemorative gear will be donated to the Harold Hunter Foundation which will use the funds to send six underprivileged NYC kids to Camp Woodward this summer.
A complete event wrap-up is available at hhday.blogspot.com, and a Harold Hunter Day II podcast shot and produced by RB Umali will release in late June.
The population in the United States is hovering around 250 million. Of those, approximately 25 million play some type of instrument. For many people, playing an instrument as an adult started back in school days. Music is magical, the heart of the world, and the unspoken universal language. Two of the most popular instruments played are the piano and guitar although we see the number of people learning to play guitar on the rise due to convenience, affordability, and pleasure.
Because of the growing demand, many professional guitarists have created some type of guitar instruction DVD, bringing their skill directly into your home. Although you could learn to play guitar from books or even by being self-taught, the bottom line is that one of the most effective ways of learning guitar is with a high quality, guitar instruction DVD. Keep in mind that the two most important aspects of playing guitar include understanding the instrument itself associated with your body, and learning to play the right way from the very beginning.
The benefits of learning from a guitar instruction DVD are tremendous. You will have the opportunity to visually, see a professional in action, learning things such as holding the guitar the right way, finger positioning, chords, strumming, and much more. Whether you are a novice who has never picked up a guitar before, an intermediate player who wants to advance skills, or even a professional interested in learning new techniques, you can be sure there are many instruction DVDs on the market to help.
Another huge benefit of working with a guitar instruction DVD is the convenience. Instead of locating a private teacher and then paying the high cost to learn to play guitar, you can sit down in the comfort and privacy of your own home to learn at your own pace. Studies show that people who use a guitar instruction DVD actually learn quicker and retain information better due to the huge reduction of stress.
Keep in mind that in addition to different types of music such as acoustic, classical, or heavy metal, the instruction provided in each guitar instruction DVD will also vary somewhat. In other words, while the guitar is played virtually the same way, the techniques and styling would vary depending on the music being taught and the teacher him or herself. For this reason, if you know you want to learn classical guitar, we recommend you purchase a high quality guitar instruction DVD but also consider buying several from different artists so you have a broader range of teaching.
Make sure the guitar instruction DVD you choose fits your current skill level, as well as the level you want to reach. If you were a beginner, then you would need to know the basics such as positioning and guitar tuning. However, if you have played for years but want to learn some of the newer techniques of playing, then you need an intermediate DVD. Of course, many of the better products on the market today are bundled, meaning they provide hours of lessons for various levels of guitar playing. A good guitar instruction DVD would be packed with helpful information while providing easy-to-follow and fun instruction.
Nick Siegal is a professional guitarist and has been a private guitar instructor for over 15 years. To read his own in-depth Best Guitar Software Reviews, head over to his site at http://www.bestguitarsoftware.com. You can see video reviews of all the popular guitar programs and also grab some cool free guitar software while you're there.
Drum Sets Buying Guide
When it comes to buying a drum set, you can spend as little as $200 and as much as $600 on just the basics. Adding accessories and name brands can add hundreds (even thousands) to the price, but no worries: kits are always a great investment. Whether you're playing with your buddies in the garage, getting started with lessons or playing regularly, a great drum kit never collects dust. A basic set will include a snare and bass drum as well as tom (or tom-tom) drums and cymbals. Tom drums usually consist of three drums: a high, mid, and floor drum. Ride, crash and hi-hat cymbals are all common, but an individual can learn on just a ride cymbal along with a snare and bass drum.
Name brands drum sets include:- Ayotte
- CB700
- DW
- Gretsch
- Ludwig
- Mapex
- Pearl
- Premier
- Remo
- Slingerland
- Sonor
- Tama
- Yamaha
When buying a drum set, keep in mind the cheaper kits will not be as sturdy or have the same sound quality as more expensive sets. The price of the set can often suggest the longevity of it as well. Ultimately, your price range and needs can be met through discounted kits and online shopping. Keep in mind all sets can be upgraded. Accessorizing your set can include any and all of the following:
- Cymbal Stand
- Snare Stand
- Hi Hat Stand
- Hi Hat Clutch
- Foot Pedals (for the bass)
- Seats (also called thrones)
- Legs (for the floor tom)
- Tom Mounts
- Rack Systems
- Drum Key
One problem beginners might have with their new drum set is knowing where to start. One of the first things you might want to do is get comfortable with your new set. Set some time aside to be surrounded by the set and to get comfortable with gripping your new drumsticks. On television and movies, you might see characters carrying their drumsticks around. Although a stereotype, this practice allows a beginner to become familiar with their new equipment in order to get the best out of one's drumming experience.
While listening to your favorite music and playing along might be a great way to learn for the trained ear and those with inborn rhythmic abilities, don't be afraid to reach out for lessons and experience. Private lessons can be a great way to learn the basics and beyond on your new drum set. The best approach to private lessons is to select material that you enjoy and by providing it for your instructor. Let them know what you are interested in and what you expect. Because it is easy to pick up bad habits from private lessons, consider trying out several teachers and be willing to change up your style while incorporating different techniques.
Instructional videos and DVDs can be great tools as well. You can replay footage and go at your own pace with media sources. They also aren't as expensive as private lessons and you can trade up different video lessons as you please. Online drum lessons afford the same freedom. These lessons provide the basics to proper drumming techniques and give great tips on how to practice effectively.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for Web sites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background also includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles on percussion, please visit Drum Sets, supplier of a wide range of drum sets, drum kits, drum heads, stands, and more.
Being Scared in a Music Soundtrack
The most effective and frightening soundtrack example I can think of is from Alfred Hitchcock's movie Psycho. Famed soundtrack composer, Bernard Herrmann, created a chilling effect using piercing and screeching violins played in their highest registers. As the film progresses, when you hear that sound cue repeated, you know something really bad is going to happen. Another famous cue that works in a similar way is the 3-note phrase in the low string orchestra that announces the presence of the killer shark in the first Jaws film.
Soundtracks moments like the one in Psycho are great for portraying outright evil and horror but underscoring the feeling of fear can be done in subtler ways too.
Ordinary Actions Become Extraordinary
Sometimes the soundtrack notifies the audience that what they are seeing has a darker meaning. The movie Michael Clayton, which I saw this past weekend, does this a lot. The on-screen events are quite ordinary - a women is getting dressed for work - yet she is accompanied by a chilling soundtrack.
The music acts against the scene, contrary to it. It is telling us that these events are not ordinary and have importance beyond their actions. In fact, the music is telling us that these normal events are somehow scary. Something terrible is going to happen.
The Audience Knows a Secret
Sometimes the audience is let in on a secret, maybe a dark secret, that the central characters in the story don't yet know about. You watch as events unfold and you see them getting further and further into trouble. Here again, a dark or suspenseful underscore can work wonders by building the tension against what is happening on screen.
The Inner Struggle
Lets say, in your story, your main character, a salesman, is boarding an airplane but we in the audience already know he has a terrible fear of flying. The flight attendants are welcoming families and other travelers on board the plane. The airplane cabin is filled with rather innocuous, but pleasant background music. Then we cut to the main character boarding the plane. Now the music changes to full-on frightening, horror soundtrack. The music portrays his inner psychology - his feelings of fear.
News Event/World Crisis
If you create documentaries or news programming, then you may need, at times, to show painful footage from current world events. This is another time where dark underscore works well. It sets the underlying emotional atmosphere for the accompanying footage.
Part of every media producer's soundtrack arsenal includes the ability to underscore fright, fear, and events that are difficult or harrowing. Horror music tracks are like the dark colors, the dark shades in your soundtrack toolkit. Using them paints a chilly or terrifying picture.
Zack Fair is author for UniqueTracks.com, a royalty free music provider offering classical, background and production music, royalty free.
Forward Russia! Life Processes - Album Review
So a review of the new Forward, Russia! album from a self proclaimed obsessive? Not exactly going to be scaling the dizzying heights of impartiality? I will try to do my best, but maybe you might want to shave of .5 of a point from the final score, and I think if you read through, this isn't going to be the "OMG, this album is the roxxor!" that you may assume it to be.
The album opens with a quick build and a burst "This is a problem. There is no solution." If you are familiar with Tom's "singing" then you know the fevered urgency with which he screams the lyrics home. Guitar hooks a plenty, an amazing baseline, and a breakdown just after a minute, this truly is the excellent start to the album that Forward Russia needed to assure everyone that the next 50 minutes will be a glorious one.
Track one fades into track two, We Are Grey Matter, and the jolt of the intro track pulls back to let you gasp for breath in anticipation of what is going to happen with the rest of the album. The first chorus assaults you with "let me make this fucking clear!" in the most screechy voice Tom has achieved. It is a little unnerving to hear, even from him, but he just about pulls it off. The hooks are coming thick and fast, with the sound that we have come to know from the first album, Give me a Wall. And indeed, the bridge of track two is reminiscent of Seventeen from that record.
Track three, A Prospector Can Dream closes the opening segment of the album. Its opening time signature comes a little out of left field for anyone not expecting it, but it is well within FR's remit. The lyrics of this track are also a bit hit and miss, but the lynchpin of "we could be something in a new location" is dripping in second meanings and wild interpretation. The track builds to its close with a section that is sure to become a live favourite. I hope FR are bold enough to release this as the next single, because even though it is a bit strange, it really does sum up what this bands sound is, especially when compared to the recent single, Breaking Standing.
Spring is a Condition brings the album into its second phase, and is also the first song on this record to truly play with the idea of fluctuating time signatures, in the vain of Twelve from Give me a Wall. It just about works; by no-means is it a bad song, it just can't deal with the responsibility of having to follow A Prospector... but again, the melodic bridge is very good, and the chorus ain't bad either.
Track five is unfortunately album filler and doesn't showcase anything other than a love for 3/4 time, something which this album features heavily.
Some Buildings... starts slow in a time signature that I just couldn't pin down (not an expert on these things), and found to be deeply irritating, but soon settles into something alot more managable. At almost 7 minutes, and being the very middle track, it has a tough job, but it does extremely well. "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Jesus Christ and Lazarus" is an excellent chorus with a sublime hook. This is the kind of sound that I think FR will want to develop further; not being afraid of long songs with repeating lyrics. However, the liberal use of unorthodox time signatures may have caused the casual listener to become nauseous by now. The thing with 4/4 timing is that because it is so widely used, people who perhaps listen to a more commercial brand of music, hear a song that is 7/4 for example, and it just sounds wrong to them. It sounds broken or missing bits.
Some Buildings... has the unenviable task of flowing into the current single, Breaking Standing. I don't know if it's because I've listened to it a lot away from this album, but Breaking Standing seems like such a lame song within the confines of these other tracks. It does not represent the album as a whole, it relies exclusively on 4/4 time, is very clean and Tom could probably sing this in his sleep. But I guess they wanted some radio airplay. The song mirrors Eighteen from the previous album, but would fit there a lot more than it fits here.
Gravity and Heat is a tour de force, which features a heavy muse-esque section that works very well. Another long track, this song signifies the closing stages of the album. This song plays with the idea of doing a slow ballad, but decides to fuck that idea pretty swiftly, probably catching the listener unawares. This song moves very fluidly between a range of sounds and time signatures, and is definitely the latter half's high point.
Two relatively short tracks follow, which are surprisingly unremarkable: The ballad which was denied previously, and the urgent A Shadow... which is heavy, but ends up sounding more than a little like Gravity and Heat, from no less than 4 minutes ago. They lead into Spanish Triangles, the band's self proclaimed magnum-opus. Just shy of nine minutes, it never really builds to the heights that you would hope it to considering the rest of the album. Having listened to previous tracks which dart and dive through various melodies and time signatures, Spanish Triangles stays almost disappointingly similar throughout. That isn't to say it isn't a fantastic journey, it is still one of the album highlights, has a great melody and I'm sure live it will be a spectacular closing, especially if the audience participate to the level I'm sure the band is hoping.
All in all then, an excellent album, an excellent follow up, and proof that this is a band that know what they are doing with music. They are a true Indie band, doing things their own way, making the music they want to listen to. Who cares if the album doesn't break the top 20? They love what they are doing, and this definitely comes across in an album that was clearly slaved over until it was just so.
I was not disappointed.
8.5/10
From the mouth of Fenton Bailey. Find his blog at http://fentonbailey.blogspot.com
[ARTICLES] TOP TEN SNEAKERS IN CRIME!
The number of shoe print patterns out there is huge. Shoe print indices and databases have been developed in various countries. Commercial company Foster and Freeman have a range of software tools to identify shoes, including SICAR and SoleMate. Forensic Science Services (FSS) is a UK Government owned company that released an online footwear coding and detection management system this year, entitled Footwear Intelligence Technology.
I contacted Laura Mackin at the FSS who informed me that they have records of more than 20,000 shoe prints of which approximately 90 per cent come from sneakers. I was intrigued as to how the database was compiled; were they getting shoes from the manufacturers? From shops? As it happens, all of the prints come from shoes given to the FSS by the 43 police forces around the UK, either from marks left at a crime scene or from sneakers confiscated from a suspect. Interestingly, the FSS don’t have any special agreements with manufacturers. This was a bit of a disappointment as I was hoping to learn that the most comprehensive sneaker collection in the UK was at the FSS.
The FSS also offer the fantastically named ‘Cinderella Service’, which helps identify personal information about suspects including the angle of their footfall and weight distribution. Facey wrote in the journal Pattern Recognition that ‘shape and extent of the the general wear apparent on a shoe sole contains information about the foot function and gait of the wearer.’ The use of US Army anthropometric databases has allowed models to predict height based on shoe size. English tabloid newspaper The Mirror reported this June, with perhaps a hint of schadenfreude at the shoe manufacturer’s expense, that sneakers are the most popular shoes used by criminals as evidenced by shoe prints, and listed the top ten shoes for English crims.
The list I received from the FSS was exactly the same; so there haven’t been any changes in the sneaker buying habits of the criminal world in the last few months. Whilst this list may provoke some tittering amongst tabloid readers or annoyance for the manufacturers PR companies, no mention is made of what the top ten sneakers sold are, and whether the two lists are significantly different; ie most bad boys may wear the top ten listed but perhaps so do the general population in England. It would be interesting to see how these lists vary between countries. The data is also for all crimes, rather than category of crime. The FSS doesn’t store this info, and I can imagine the manufacturers are at least grateful for that.
As with any forensic test, the shoe print is not a tool to be used without caution. A survey in the 1996 issue of Forensic Science International demonstrated ‘remarkable variations’ in conclusions of shoe print reports from different laboratories examining the same cases! Hopefully computer databases have reduced the error rate. Miss Mackin (FSS) informed me that ‘footwear is the second most common evidence type after DNA and is capable of definitively putting someone at a crime scene, particularly thanks to the unique wear marks that each pair will have’.
The Mirror’s article has a quote from someone at Nike who said (in response to their shoes being six of the top ten worn in British crimes): ‘We are Britain’s best-selling trainer manufacturer so we’re not surprised we feature. We’ve no further comment.’ Whilst this indeed is common sense as previously noted, perhaps they should consider another approach; embrace it. I see it now, The Prisoner Pack; all orange Air Max 90s, black and white striped Air Max 95s. And why not cash in on the whole ‘all over print’ phenomenon and do some hyperstrikes that have an all over arrow motif!
This has been Nikolai for Sneaker Freaker
reporting from the Crime Lab.
Huge thanks to Laura Mackin at the Forensic Science Service Labs and Prof James Fraser at The University of Strathclyde.
A blog was recently written on how to find Ipod Downloads. Reading through the blog, one gets an idea that it does not have to be as hard as everyone thinks it is. The author of the blog takes us through his agonizing journey, until he hits his pot of gold (so to speak). It's a very interesting, and whimsical article. I found myself empathizing with the author. In the end, I too visited the links in his blog to check them out for myself. It is great reading for anyone who has ever found themselves in the same place searching for Ipod Downloads.
This poor guy searched through so many sites, while trying to find the perfect one for downloads to put on his Ipod. One gets the feeling that he spent many lonely, exhausting hours looking, only to get shafted by many sites. He even tells how he tried to contact several sites just to make sure that they were legitimate companies, and that they were looking out for his best interests.
Customer service, and the quality of the downloads turned out to be the main factors in his decision. In the end he decided to go with one site in particular that seemed to have it all. He even went as far as to reject all of the free download sites that give away inferior files. I truly have to commend him on his effort, and I for one am happy that he finally found his match for downloading content.
If anyone is interested in checking out the blog for themselves just Click Here!
To view the site talked about, please click here!
Brian Cook
