Rhapsody Link: "1. Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down - Interpol"
I wasn't bothered to pay too much attention to Interpol since it's labelled as post-punk but not from across the Atlantic! Glad to 're-discover' them. Thanks to the Instant Playlist feature of the new Rhapsody.
(BTW, This is the first time I try blogging from the new Rhapsody client! Nice thing is that it automatically include the song title and band name!)
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Service: New Rhapsody
I'm kinda surprised by the lack of coverage of Rhapsody To Go, which was just released today, by major gadget/digital music blogs.
Well, we knew Rhapsody will release a "to-go" (i.e., portable music) product soon, since Napster released Napster-to-go a couple of months ago. I was hoping the lag (behind Napster) has to do with Real working on some much better/advanced features than Napster (maybe compatibility with iPod or Palm?) but I was wrong. Maybe this contributes to the lack of interest. Anyway, the underlying mechanism of both are the same: Microsoft's Janus (aka. PlaysForSure) DRM. So I don't understand why Rhapsody couldn't release it sooner.
For people not planning to replace or get a PlaysForSure compatible digital music player soon (like myself,) there is still something good coming out of this release: the new Rhapsody player. Like the old one, it has all the existing playlist/search feature to access the Rhapsody service. In addition, it incorporated our old friend: the Real Jukebox, which manages an integrated "local" (i.e. your hard drive) and "online" (i.e. Rhapsody) library, and supports burning and ripping CDs (MP3 up to 320Kbps! I still remember the old free version of Real Jukebox only rips MP3 to 96Kbps max) Most importantly, now it provides personalization/recommendation capability, which IMO is way overdue as Yahoo! Launch had it way back. With the knowledge of individual musical taste, Rhapsody should really make good use of it to recommend music.
BTW, AP reports Real "giving away" 25 songs thru its new free tier of Rhapsody service named Rhapsody 25. That seems to be a little bit misleading: if I understand it correctly, Rhapsody 25 users could listen to 25 songs per month (unlike paid users of Rhapsody Unlimited, formerly known as All-Access, who could listen to as much songs as they like) That's very different from giving users 25 DRM free (or even DRM-ed) files of music.
Summary: the player seems to be a good upgrade even if you just want the Rhapsody "Unlimited" service. (It hasn't crashed my PC yet >:)
Well, we knew Rhapsody will release a "to-go" (i.e., portable music) product soon, since Napster released Napster-to-go a couple of months ago. I was hoping the lag (behind Napster) has to do with Real working on some much better/advanced features than Napster (maybe compatibility with iPod or Palm?) but I was wrong. Maybe this contributes to the lack of interest. Anyway, the underlying mechanism of both are the same: Microsoft's Janus (aka. PlaysForSure) DRM. So I don't understand why Rhapsody couldn't release it sooner.
For people not planning to replace or get a PlaysForSure compatible digital music player soon (like myself,) there is still something good coming out of this release: the new Rhapsody player. Like the old one, it has all the existing playlist/search feature to access the Rhapsody service. In addition, it incorporated our old friend: the Real Jukebox, which manages an integrated "local" (i.e. your hard drive) and "online" (i.e. Rhapsody) library, and supports burning and ripping CDs (MP3 up to 320Kbps! I still remember the old free version of Real Jukebox only rips MP3 to 96Kbps max) Most importantly, now it provides personalization/recommendation capability, which IMO is way overdue as Yahoo! Launch had it way back. With the knowledge of individual musical taste, Rhapsody should really make good use of it to recommend music.
BTW, AP reports Real "giving away" 25 songs thru its new free tier of Rhapsody service named Rhapsody 25. That seems to be a little bit misleading: if I understand it correctly, Rhapsody 25 users could listen to 25 songs per month (unlike paid users of Rhapsody Unlimited, formerly known as All-Access, who could listen to as much songs as they like) That's very different from giving users 25 DRM free (or even DRM-ed) files of music.
Summary: the player seems to be a good upgrade even if you just want the Rhapsody "Unlimited" service. (It hasn't crashed my PC yet >:)
Monday, April 25, 2005
Album: Jazz 101: Introduction to Jazz Guitar
Track: Get Out of Town
Artist: Barney Kessel
You would think I've listened to some Barney Kessel's work before as I'm a huge fan of jazz and guitar but I haven't. This is indeed a good introduction to Kessel's jazz guitar works for me.
More interesting is the "roster" on this compilation: Emily Remler, Laurindo Almeida and Frank Vignola are not exactly household names (even Jmmy Bruno, Tal Farlow and George Van Eps are arguably Jazz 201.) For me, the more new names, the happier I am!
RHAPSODY Link
Artist: Barney Kessel
You would think I've listened to some Barney Kessel's work before as I'm a huge fan of jazz and guitar but I haven't. This is indeed a good introduction to Kessel's jazz guitar works for me.
More interesting is the "roster" on this compilation: Emily Remler, Laurindo Almeida and Frank Vignola are not exactly household names (even Jmmy Bruno, Tal Farlow and George Van Eps are arguably Jazz 201.) For me, the more new names, the happier I am!
RHAPSODY Link
Friday, April 22, 2005
Artist: The Strokes
Track: Barely Legal
Rhapsody didn't list "New Order" as their influence. I wonder why.
Are you guys tired of all these bands that sound pretty much like those from years ago?
The Rapture is like the Cure
The Jets is like AC/DC
Oasis is like the Beatles. (I love Oasis though :P)
RHAPSODY Link
Rhapsody didn't list "New Order" as their influence. I wonder why.
Are you guys tired of all these bands that sound pretty much like those from years ago?
The Rapture is like the Cure
The Jets is like AC/DC
Oasis is like the Beatles. (I love Oasis though :P)
RHAPSODY Link
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Track: The Three Marias
Album: This is Jazz #19
Artist: Wayne Shorter
Isn't it ironic that the previous album I blogged about was titled "What is Jazz"?
Anyway, if I don't tell you who played this, you might think it's from yet another smooth jazz guy. I'm truely surprised to hear this consider my idea of Wayne Shorter is his post-bop stuff on "Speak No Evil"
Now I won't be surprised to hear Kenny G playing avant-garde.
RHAPSODY Link
Artist: Wayne Shorter
Isn't it ironic that the previous album I blogged about was titled "What is Jazz"?
Anyway, if I don't tell you who played this, you might think it's from yet another smooth jazz guy. I'm truely surprised to hear this consider my idea of Wayne Shorter is his post-bop stuff on "Speak No Evil"
Now I won't be surprised to hear Kenny G playing avant-garde.
RHAPSODY Link
Monday, April 18, 2005
Artist: Mario Pavone Sextet
Track: Double Diamond
Album: What is Jazz? 1996
What is jazz? I think the more important question is: "What is good jazz?" This track definitely answers it as it sounds adventrous and innovative. Those are qualities of good jazz IMO.
RHAPSODY Link
Album: What is Jazz? 1996
What is jazz? I think the more important question is: "What is good jazz?" This track definitely answers it as it sounds adventrous and innovative. Those are qualities of good jazz IMO.
RHAPSODY Link
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Playlist: Covers of the Most Influential Songs in the History of Rock and Roll
Although I like the originals better, it's still interesting to listen to the covers.
BTW, I got this from the "Rhandom" link/button on Rhapsody Radish
RHAPSODY Link
BTW, I got this from the "Rhandom" link/button on Rhapsody Radish
RHAPSODY Link
Track: Goin' Down South
Artist: R.L. Burnside
Album: A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey
I am not familiar with Delta Blues and Mr. Burnside's work at all. This is such a powerful song that doesn't seem to fit the "mostly acoustic" description. In any case, the more electric the better I like it.
RHAPSODY Link
Album: A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey
I am not familiar with Delta Blues and Mr. Burnside's work at all. This is such a powerful song that doesn't seem to fit the "mostly acoustic" description. In any case, the more electric the better I like it.
RHAPSODY Link
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