Welcome to Playground Music's second edition of Weekend Music Links. If you have any favorite blogs, message boards, videos, or sites you wish more people knew about send them our way. We love to get your feedback!
YOUTUBE TALENT
Beatboxing Flute
World's Fastest Guitar Player? - According to the Guinness Book of World Records-Yes. (admittedly not a Youtube link, but still video).
LINKS
If you're interested in forming a band, but don't know where to start check out Band Mix. Functioning like a classifieds or personals page for potential band members, the site could be a useful addition to your networking arsenal.
For trumpeters: Dave Douglas, a composer and famed trumpeter, maintains a blog with entries that span everything from Dave Grohl's latest project to brass happenings and composer news. Check it out at Green Leaf Music.
NEW ALBUMS
We're new to the music review scene, so we'll probably just be linking to other sites for the most part. If you consider yourself an expert on the topic, we'd love to have your input. The CD's this week have been getting some pretty favorable reviews on the whole, so if you have heard any of the below albums and disagree, we'd love to hear your thoughts.
Also, if there are albums you'd liked to see plugged here, let us know ahead of time. You can always visit Billboard to see what albums are being released, or if that list is too long (which it is), you can take a look at Metacritic's List.
Hard Rock
Killswitch Engage - Self-Titled (2009)
Fans of melodic metalcore should be pleased with KE's fifth album. Reviews on Ultimate Guitar.com are solid. Sonic Dice says that this album is definitely worth taking seriously and gives it a 5 out of 6. Hear their stuff on their MySpace page.
Alternative Rock
Wilco - Self-Titled (2009)
Wilco's new self-titled album is getting generally favorable reviews according to Metacritic. The consensus seems to be that though the album is not earth-shaking, it has enough in it to keep fans of the genre happy. A chances are, if you haven't heard of Wilco, then you are probably not a fan of the genre, but take a listen just the same at their MySpace page.
Electronic/Eclectic
Moby - Wait for Me
Moby's latest is also receiving fairly favorable reviews according to Metacritic. Moby says that he wanted to get back to the basics with this album, shooting less for commercial success than for artistic expression, so he recorded the album in his home. You can hear the album and read some of his musings on his website: Moby.com.
Country
Brad Paisley - American Saturday Night
The Washington Post extols American Saturday Night as being filled, for the most part, with songs that showcase Paisley's stirring delivery that is "full of feeling and fine-tuned to its emotional core." The Dallas News gives the album an A-. For samples and news visit Paisley's Blog.
Pop Rock
Rob Thomas - Cradle Song
Rolling Stone and the L. A. Times have praised Cradle Song as a surprising success in its attempt to merge various styles and appeal to a broad spectrum of listeners. Mikael Wood of the Times says, "What's surprising about "Cradlesong" is how rarely Thomas' please-'em-all attitude saps his music of its distinctive vitality." Visit Thomas' MySpace page to hear some sample songs.
Showing posts with label youtube. Show all posts
Showing posts with label youtube. Show all posts
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Weekend Music Links: Issue 1
Greetings, and welcome to Playground Music's first edition of Weekend Music Links. We'll be taking a brief look at what's happening in the world of music.
Just a reminder to our patrons and fans: the Panama City store will be closed the week of June 29-July 4. But remember that our website is always open for business!
Youtube Talent
Admit it-we probably all cave in to those "you gotta' see this" moments in which we try to one-up our friends with our Youtube discoveries. In case you're running low on videos in your Youtube quiver here are a few with some wow factor, all of which will hopefully prompt the instrumentalists among us to get back in the practice room.
Ronald Jenkees on Keyboard
Flight of the Bumblebee...on accordion?!
Yes, Solovakia has talent (start @ 1:32)
Musings
In case there was any doubt that "classical" music is here to stay, have you ever listened to any Philip Glass? If you have, you may have found more than a passing resemblance to a prominent band frequented by listeners who are growing tired of Coldplay, but perhaps not quite ready for Radiohead.
Listen to Glass' "A Rubric" and then listen to this.
We're definitely not the first ones to notice the similarity: my blank page
It turns out that this band was in fact influenced by Glass' work in the making of two of their albums according to this source.
So, kids, start practicing those arpeggios-they may be useful one day!
New Albums:
Dinosaur Jr. - Farm : While reviewers are giving it passing ratings, The Onion makes it clear that you will have an early nineties flashback, but in a good way.
Check their stuff out here
Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings: Ever since the late eighties Dream Theater has been pushing the limits of virtuoso performance. On this, their tenth album, Petrucci, Portnoy and co. balance their technical wizardry with some more approachable metal hooks, but there are still a couple of 10+ minute songs for the guitar heroes out there to geek out to. Check them out here
Regina Spektor - Far : Considerably more approachable than Dream Theater's offering, Spektor's new album is receiving pretty solid, though not stellar, reviews according to Metacritic. Her piano-based tunes are whimsical and relaxing. Her song Laughing With gives you an idea of what to expect.
Developments:
Low Notes - If you like the sound of the cello, but don't relish the thought of toting a cello around, a violinist named Mari Kimura has discovered a way to make deeper sounds on a violin that sound eerily cello-ish (you just have to hear it to believe it).
Kimura discovered these new tones (subharmonics) while practicing an advanced bowing technique. It fascinates me that people are still discovering new tricks on an instrument that is over 400 years old.
Visit Kimura's page for more information about this stunning development.
Electricity + Air + a little programming love = Music? - If technological advances are more your speed check out these singing tesla coils also known as Zeusaphones
Just a reminder to our patrons and fans: the Panama City store will be closed the week of June 29-July 4. But remember that our website is always open for business!
Youtube Talent
Admit it-we probably all cave in to those "you gotta' see this" moments in which we try to one-up our friends with our Youtube discoveries. In case you're running low on videos in your Youtube quiver here are a few with some wow factor, all of which will hopefully prompt the instrumentalists among us to get back in the practice room.
Ronald Jenkees on Keyboard
Flight of the Bumblebee...on accordion?!
Yes, Solovakia has talent (start @ 1:32)
Musings
In case there was any doubt that "classical" music is here to stay, have you ever listened to any Philip Glass? If you have, you may have found more than a passing resemblance to a prominent band frequented by listeners who are growing tired of Coldplay, but perhaps not quite ready for Radiohead.
Listen to Glass' "A Rubric" and then listen to this.
We're definitely not the first ones to notice the similarity: my blank page
It turns out that this band was in fact influenced by Glass' work in the making of two of their albums according to this source.
So, kids, start practicing those arpeggios-they may be useful one day!
New Albums:
Dinosaur Jr. - Farm : While reviewers are giving it passing ratings, The Onion makes it clear that you will have an early nineties flashback, but in a good way.
Check their stuff out here
Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings: Ever since the late eighties Dream Theater has been pushing the limits of virtuoso performance. On this, their tenth album, Petrucci, Portnoy and co. balance their technical wizardry with some more approachable metal hooks, but there are still a couple of 10+ minute songs for the guitar heroes out there to geek out to. Check them out here
Regina Spektor - Far : Considerably more approachable than Dream Theater's offering, Spektor's new album is receiving pretty solid, though not stellar, reviews according to Metacritic. Her piano-based tunes are whimsical and relaxing. Her song Laughing With gives you an idea of what to expect.
Developments:
Low Notes - If you like the sound of the cello, but don't relish the thought of toting a cello around, a violinist named Mari Kimura has discovered a way to make deeper sounds on a violin that sound eerily cello-ish (you just have to hear it to believe it).Kimura discovered these new tones (subharmonics) while practicing an advanced bowing technique. It fascinates me that people are still discovering new tricks on an instrument that is over 400 years old.
Visit Kimura's page for more information about this stunning development.
Electricity + Air + a little programming love = Music? - If technological advances are more your speed check out these singing tesla coils also known as Zeusaphones
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