Blog Archives
It’s been a while…
inuit sunglasses by earthpages via Flickr
Sigh. I’ve been unusually busy over the past few days so haven’t updated here. But I haven’t been totally off the web. Nope. Along with some earthpages updates I did a volunteer question at allexperts.com, a really interesting one. But unfortunately the questioner wanted it to be private. And I have to respect that.
I’ve also been tweaking my songlists at songza. So far they haven’t really caught on but I think that’s only a matter of time. Because they’re great! (If I do say so myself). Songza is like the poor man’s chance to be a DJ. So now when I hear a song on the car radio that I haven’t added, I make a mental note: “Under the Boardwalk Under the Boardwalk Under the Boardwalk”…
It’s crazy, I know, but I love it. I’ve actually added quite a few new songs to most of my songlists. So do check them out!
http://songza.com/user/11594994/ (click the FAVORITES button to get my playlists).
As for my photography, it seems that I get the highest number of “likes” when I post my original pics. Well, now that it’s warming up I should be getting out more with the camera. But my private life is making it pretty hard to get out of the city these days. So they’ll mostly be urban shots. For a while, anyhow. In the meantime, here’s a pair of Inuit sunglasses that my parents used to own. I took this photo (above right) a few summers ago. Cool huh?
Well, that’s about it. Just wanted y’all to know that I haven’t dropped off the face of the Earth. Not yet! 
Related articles
- Songza Music Streaming App for Windows 8 in the Works (news.softpedia.com)
- Songza v2.91 for iOS Review – Play Music Based on Your Activities and Mood (thegamerwithkids.com)
- Songza v1.1 for BlackBerry 10 Review (thegamerwithkids.com)
- Why Songza Is Exploding (And Being Shamelessly Ripped Off By Others) (onlykosherbacon.wordpress.com)
- Songza: A Fun, Free, Easy Way To Listen To Streaming Music That’s Right For Your Mood And Day (makeuseof.com)
- Songza skips to next song midway through (forums.crackberry.com)
- Workout Beatz: Songza Radio – Electro House Hits (Radio Station) (readysetbeast.com)
- Songza Playlists are Simply Perfect (shwetasays.com)
- Songza music streaming service coming to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 (wmpoweruser.com)
Some of my favorite new chill tunes
Image via Tumblr
I just pinned 4 or 5 of my favorite new chill tunes. Instead of posting only one video here, I thought I’d link to the pins - http://pinterest.com/earthpages/chill-digital-analog – so visitors can choose whatever might strike their fancy.
I’ve loved this kind of music ever since I first heard it back in the 90s. Of course, many precursors were around before the 90s, and I like a lot of the old school stuff too. But these days it seems the genre has taken a definite shape and form all its own.
The innovation is usually more subtle and slick than it was in the past. I just hope it keeps growing and doesn’t get in a musical rut, like so much new stuff does.
Related articles
- Chill Out (kmaskorner.wordpress.com)
Scientists have resurrected the dinosaur from prehistoric DNA… and they’ve called it David Bowie “Rex”
Image via Tumblr
And oh, what a cool beast he is!
Word’s out that the new David Bowie lp is good. So I had to have a listen. And yes, it is… GREAT. After years of diddling around in fashion shows and patting his movie maker son on the back, The Reverend Bowie is back, and wow, this new stuff is hot.
Excuse me for mixing metaphors, scientific and religious. But I think in Bowie’s case it’s justified. I’ve just listened to The Next Day for the first time but already I can discern some really hip 70s and early 80s FM radio influences. A bit of Jim Morrison, Chicago, The Eagles, Heart, Stray Cats, Fleetwood Mac, King Crimson, Yes, Roxy Music, you name it. All the good stuff. It’s like Bowie has run it through some huge refractor lens and bounced it back in a new way for 2013. In a word, focus. And this lp has got it in spades.
A real victory, artistic and otherwise.
—MC
Related articles
- A Daily Bit of Bowie 5 #bowiesewalong (fanbloomingtastic.typepad.com)
- Radio 6 Music celebrates David Bowie over Easter (telegraph.co.uk)
- David Bowie looks to the future with new album The Next Day (metro.co.uk)
- A Daily Bit of Bowie 1 #bowiesewalong (fanbloomingtastic.typepad.com)
- David Bowie returns with new single, album (marquee.blogs.cnn.com)
- David Bowie’s First Album In 10 Years Is Now Streaming Free On iTunes (cultofmac.com)
- David Bowie and Paul Smith collaborate on album T-shirt (fashion.telegraph.co.uk)
- David Bowie – The Stars (Are Out Tonight) (teanbiscuits.com)
- David Bowie – The Stars (Are Out Tonight) (musicofourheart.me)
- David Bowie to be celebrated in week of BBC radio shows (metro.co.uk)
Better to burn out than it is to rust…
My Fender Fender Fender by glen edelson via Flickr
I’ve busy over the past few days. It’s been a bit frustrating because when I did have some creative time, I was making great gains with my Telecaster Plus on my tune-in-progress, “Are you an evil mystik…” After cleaning off the strings with dish soap (a trick I learned to make them sound new without having to restring the guitar) I tested out some post-processing guitar effects.
I’m still undecided if I’ll put the guitar through my amp, mixer or just plug it directly into my laptop. So many options in the 21C. In the old days, the big decision was whether to go with a tube amp (like Fender or Marshall) or a solid state one (like Fender Squire or Ross). Solid state amps don’t sound quite as warm and full as tube amps, but they tend to be cleaner and tighter.
Another factor impeding the release of my tune is my 50-year-old epidermis. I actually sliced a finger on a guitar string while practicing, trying to get the callouses back on my fingertips! That would have never happened in my 20s or 30s. Oh well… I’ll keep on rockin’ as long as I can, Band-Aids and all..
And don’t laugh kids, it’ll happen to you too!
Related articles
- fender super champ x2: recording with speaker unplugged (gearslutz.com)
- Mic Tube Preamp for Electric guitar (gearslutz.com)
- Tube amp troubleshooting… (gearslutz.com)
- Evaluating an Overdrive Pedal (guitargear.org)
- Fire! Jimi Hendrix’s ‘favourite’ smashed and burned guitar returns from the dead (independent.co.uk)
- Pawn Shop Guitar (insaneeye.wordpress.com)
- Awesome Homemade Fender Telecaster Electric Guitar (techeblog.com)
- Looking for noisy, spacey, atypical guitar pedal effects… (ask.metafilter.com)
So much for my predictions…
Fender Rhodes Mark I by rockheim via Flickr
Contrary to what I said yesterday, I just updated earthpages.org and earthpages.ca. It’s nice to keep a balance among my artistic, research and publishing sides. Sort of reminds me of my student days at Trent University, especially after separating with my gf of 5 years.
I immersed myself in my books and essays, taking breaks to blow off steam with my modified Telecaster, Fender Rhodes piano, and two-track reel to reel tape deck. A lot of new songs came out of that period. I still have the guitar but the piano had to go… way too big and clunky. Now I’m using a Yamaha keyboard which, bang for the buck, suits me fine.
Related articles
- Ten Jazz Albums to Hear Before You Die (blogs.villagevoice.com)
- Isn’t it a Pity (mclark.wordpress.com)
- Fender Rhodes Sustain Test (gearslutz.com)
Change The Record – Melanie Fiona
Melanie Fiona – Change The Record (Video)
Was just watching new music videos this morning and liked this …. not on YouTube yet so will post a link to the video.
This probably speaks to anyone who’s in a situation that’s so bad they just have to distance themselves and move on to something new. It could be an old flame, an estranged friend or family member, or possibly an oppressive job…
I used to think that people who couldn’t face difficult situations were copping out. But recently I’ve come across something where I just have to… change the record. A first for me. But at least I can better understand those whom I’ve unfairly judged in the past.
http://hiphopwired.com/2012/11/08/melanie-fiona-ft-b-o-b-change-the-record-video/
Related articles
- Melanie Fiona, ‘Change the Record’ Video: B.o.B. & Singer Bash Bad Romances (theboombox.com)
- Melanie Fiona ft. B.o.B – “Change The Record” [VIDEO] (hiphopwired.com)
- Spotted: Melanie Fiona Wearing Christian Louboutin Daf Bootie To Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (shoefessional.com)
- Melanie Fiona, Chrisette Michele And Bridget Kelly ‘Decide To Be Beautiful’ (styleblazer.com)
Depthide – Tears Like Summer Rain [preview]
Tears Like Summer (Orignal)
Depthide | Format: MP3 Music
When I heard this on Galaxie I couldn’t believe how much it was like a combo of two tunes of mine that I’ve been keeping on the back burner since the early 90s and 2000s.
If only I had more time to develop my stuff. Oh well… I really do like this tune by Depthide, a Polish downtempo, chillout, undertones… whatever you want to call it band…
This is the longest sample I can find…
http://soundcloud.com/depthide/depthide-tears-like-summer
Related articles
- Azymuth… Last Summer… (mclark.wordpress.com)
- how rain refreshes like tears (writingjen.com)
Wee small hours
I think I like the poster for this tune best of all. This song came out in ’55, well before I was born. But my parents had lps from this era. And the basement in our house had a swanky old bar that would have fit right in…
The thing I like about Sinatra’s singing, and about all great singers, is that it almost sounds like he’s talking when he sings. Nothing’s put on. It just comes so naturally. And unlike pop stars who sometimes sing a bit flat or sharp – to include Elton John and the Beatles – he’s got perfect pitch. And timing… well, timing is everything and love him or not, Sinatra’s got it.
“I thought I found a gal I could trust… what a bust… this is how the story ends…”
—In the Wee Small Hours
B.B. King – The night life… aint no good life…
Got out the vinyl last night and played this very song. Hadn’t heard it since I was about 19 or 20, and even then I thought this was the best song on the lp.
You can take this tune on just about any level. It was written by Willie Nelson, but I guess it spoke to Mr. King because of his many road shows (250-300 a year) and how they disrupted his marriages. But for me, it’s more about living in the world but not entirely of it. And yes, I do tend to spark up at night when most others are getting sleepy. Me and Mozart… and a handful of others.
As the song goes… the night life… it aint no good life… but it’s my life. And it means so much more now at 50 than it did at 19 or 20.
Btw, I would have posted this last night around midnight, but just when I was ready to go online Sandy knocked out the power…
