If Rhapsody ever reads this blog, please properly reclassify this band from Electronica/Dance to Metalcore.
BTW, I learned this band from the "Chicks of Metal" episode of Uranium (the Fuse channel metal show) The "frontlady", Candace Kucsulain, has a really powerful voice.
RHAPSODY Link
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Track: Soul In Isolation
Artist: The Chameleons UK
Album: Strange Times
I think Rhapsody is playing this track on my station because I have Joy Division on the list. The Chameleons sounds more like the Mission (UK) to me. In any case, this is great Post-Punk/Goth.
BTW, this UK suffix definitely reflect the US-centric bias of the service. (Well, this service is currently available in US only anyway. Who knows when it'll get really successful and goes global?) The Chameleons (UK) was not only better known but also established earlier than their US namesake. Same for the Mission. IMO Rhapsody should have either suffix the US ones or at least both. The French's fear of Google marginalizing all non-US culture/literature is not totally groundless.
RHAPSODY Link to 'Untitled' instead of the above track since it is not available for on-demand listening. Too bad :(
Album: Strange Times
I think Rhapsody is playing this track on my station because I have Joy Division on the list. The Chameleons sounds more like the Mission (UK) to me. In any case, this is great Post-Punk/Goth.
BTW, this UK suffix definitely reflect the US-centric bias of the service. (Well, this service is currently available in US only anyway. Who knows when it'll get really successful and goes global?) The Chameleons (UK) was not only better known but also established earlier than their US namesake. Same for the Mission. IMO Rhapsody should have either suffix the US ones or at least both. The French's fear of Google marginalizing all non-US culture/literature is not totally groundless.
RHAPSODY Link to 'Untitled' instead of the above track since it is not available for on-demand listening. Too bad :(
Monday, March 28, 2005
Artist: Oscar Lopez
If you like Jesse Cook, Gypsy King, Strunz and Farah, you gotta check out Oscar Lopez's Flamenco guitar works.
RHAPSODY Link
RHAPSODY Link
Album: Joe Henderson in Japan
For some reason the album's title doesn't mention it's live. Joe Henderson was accompanied by top-notch Japanese jazz musicians, whose names I wasn't able to find on the web. Just like these musicians, this album should have been more well-known than it is 'coz the music on it is awesom: simply hard bop at its best.
While I'm at it, I've got an enhancement request for Rhapsody: it's OK not to have all liner notes available for every album but could you please at least list the personnel? That's especially important for jazz and classical.
RHAPSODY Link
While I'm at it, I've got an enhancement request for Rhapsody: it's OK not to have all liner notes available for every album but could you please at least list the personnel? That's especially important for jazz and classical.
RHAPSODY Link
Album: The JazzTimes Superband
Personnel: Bob Berg (tenor saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Joey DeFrancesco (Hammond B-3 organ); Paul Bollenback (guitar); Dennis Chambers (drums).
Obviously this is an All-Star lineup. I have no idea why this album flew below my radar screen when it was out in 2000. Fortunately I discovered it through Michael Brecker's similar artist link on Rhapsody.
This is made by Concord Records to celebrate the 30th anniversary of JazzTimes magazine. The magazine gotta feel really honored by such a fantastic album.
RHAPSODY Link
Obviously this is an All-Star lineup. I have no idea why this album flew below my radar screen when it was out in 2000. Fortunately I discovered it through Michael Brecker's similar artist link on Rhapsody.
This is made by Concord Records to celebrate the 30th anniversary of JazzTimes magazine. The magazine gotta feel really honored by such a fantastic album.
RHAPSODY Link
Friday, March 25, 2005
Artist: Life Of Agony
Album: 1989-1999
This band seems to be one of the many decent metal bands that went under the radar 'coz they didn't go the "Grunge" way and made it big in the early 90s. This album is a collection of their work during the 90s. Most are pretty original sounding Thrash/Alt metal.
RHAPSODY Link
This band seems to be one of the many decent metal bands that went under the radar 'coz they didn't go the "Grunge" way and made it big in the early 90s. This album is a collection of their work during the 90s. Most are pretty original sounding Thrash/Alt metal.
RHAPSODY Link
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Track: Volt Heart
Artist: The Iguanas
Album: Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart
Thanks to Mark for recommending this song. It indeed brings back the good ol' memory of listening to late night radio in bed (or by the desk, last minute studying for upcoming exam at 2am)
BTW, blogging really is one of the best feature of Rhapsody, allowing fellow Rhapsodites (sp?) sharing their thoughts.
(Slightly related news: radio giant Clear Channel is going to experiment with new strategy. Would you care?)
RHAPSODY Link
Album: Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart
Thanks to Mark for recommending this song. It indeed brings back the good ol' memory of listening to late night radio in bed (or by the desk, last minute studying for upcoming exam at 2am)
BTW, blogging really is one of the best feature of Rhapsody, allowing fellow Rhapsodites (sp?) sharing their thoughts.
(Slightly related news: radio giant Clear Channel is going to experiment with new strategy. Would you care?)
RHAPSODY Link
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Album: I Got No Kick Against Modern Jazz
Label: GRP Records
Man, looks like I'm obsessed with jazz covers of Beatles! This one is from GRP so you could imagine it's mostly smooth jazz (but not all.)
RHAPSODY Link
Man, looks like I'm obsessed with jazz covers of Beatles! This one is from GRP so you could imagine it's mostly smooth jazz (but not all.)
RHAPSODY Link
Track: A Chain of Flowers
Artist: The Cure
Album: Join The Dots: B-Sides & Rarities
Found another gem of the Cure on this box set of B-sides. This track sounds like it could have been on the Disintegration album, which is considered their best by some of their fans, including me.
RHAPSODY Link
Album: Join The Dots: B-Sides & Rarities
Found another gem of the Cure on this box set of B-sides. This track sounds like it could have been on the Disintegration album, which is considered their best by some of their fans, including me.
RHAPSODY Link
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Track: We All Stand
Album: Power, Corruption & Lies
Artist: New Order
If the only New Order song you've heard is 'Bizarre Love Triangle,' you might have been wondering why they were considered the 2nd coming of Joy Division at one point (besides having all surviving members from J.D. after Ian Curtis' suicide)
I did too, until I heard this song, from their 2nd album, which also contains 'Blue Monday.'
RHAPSODY Link
Artist: New Order
If the only New Order song you've heard is 'Bizarre Love Triangle,' you might have been wondering why they were considered the 2nd coming of Joy Division at one point (besides having all surviving members from J.D. after Ian Curtis' suicide)
I did too, until I heard this song, from their 2nd album, which also contains 'Blue Monday.'
RHAPSODY Link
Friday, March 18, 2005
Track: Night Flower
Artist: Donald Byrd
Album: Free Form
I didn't expect such a beautiful ballad from the trumpeter better known for his funk jazz stuff. Great recommendation by Rhapsody (do they really analyze what I listen to and show this album on the front page for me? That I don't know)
RHAPSODY Link
Album: Free Form
I didn't expect such a beautiful ballad from the trumpeter better known for his funk jazz stuff. Great recommendation by Rhapsody (do they really analyze what I listen to and show this album on the front page for me? That I don't know)
RHAPSODY Link
Artist: Candlebox
Track: You
Album: Candlebox
Do you notice how good grunge (or post-grunge in this case) sound, a decade after its hey-day? (Special thanks to the poster on Engadget who mentioned this being the last CD he bought before he boycotted RIAA)
RHAPSODY Link
Album: Candlebox
Do you notice how good grunge (or post-grunge in this case) sound, a decade after its hey-day? (Special thanks to the poster on Engadget who mentioned this being the last CD he bought before he boycotted RIAA)
RHAPSODY Link
Service: Napster-to-go
Previously I wrote an article about the virtue of a subscription-based music service Note that my excitement about subscription-to-go services is only theoretical as I have subscribed to Rhapsody but not Napster-to-Go for lacking compatible MP3 player. Here is a detailed review of the latter from The New York Times. Both of us brought up the same point/appeal of the low cost of experimenting with new music. It's interesting to see that the reviewer wrote 'I hit Napster thinking that maybe half of the tracks I'd want would be "buy only." To my amazement, it was less than a tenth..... even, yes, Metallica have made their entire catalogs available for subscription download.'
Side note: his comments about ditching his TiVo was equally interesting: 'I recently discovered (with some horror) that I could live without TiVo. Time Warner Cable offered a box with better picture quality at a better price - about $9 a month with nothing up front. Compared with TiVo, the new box's interface is medieval dentist painful to use, but I use it and I don't look back.'
Side note: his comments about ditching his TiVo was equally interesting: 'I recently discovered (with some horror) that I could live without TiVo. Time Warner Cable offered a box with better picture quality at a better price - about $9 a month with nothing up front. Compared with TiVo, the new box's interface is medieval dentist painful to use, but I use it and I don't look back.'
Opinion: PyMusique = your iTunes without DRM
Just when Stevie J happily pointed out a "non-hack" that allows people to record songs from Naspter-to-Go, his very own music store is running into its own problem: meet PyMusique The "hack" that allows users to buy songs from iTunes Music Store without being locked down by DRM (digital right management) It is this very DRM that restrict their songs to play on the users' own computers and iPods only. Note that this hack doesn't advocate piracy: you still need to pay for your own tracks. It's just that you will have more freedom with what you've bought. Hey, doesn't that sound like ... fair use?
Bad Karma, Steve.
Bad Karma, Steve.
Album: Chet Atkins Picks On The Beatles
Track: Yesterday
Artist: Chet Atkins
I'm on my third different cover of Yesterday! Chet Atkins is best known as a country player but he's much more than that as you could witness from this album.
RHAPSODY Link
Artist: Chet Atkins
I'm on my third different cover of Yesterday! Chet Atkins is best known as a country player but he's much more than that as you could witness from this album.
RHAPSODY Link
Track: Eleanor Rigby
Artist: Sugo Music
Album: The Beatles Instrumental Jazz Tribute
How about another jazzy Beatles' cover? This one is very upbeat, perfect for this gloomy weather :D
Don't let their name fool you into thinking they make elevator music!
RHAPSODY Link
Album: The Beatles Instrumental Jazz Tribute
How about another jazzy Beatles' cover? This one is very upbeat, perfect for this gloomy weather :D
Don't let their name fool you into thinking they make elevator music!
RHAPSODY Link
Track: Yesterday
Artist: Joe Pass
Album: Virtuoso #4
This morning I'm definitely in the mood of some jazzy Beatles' cover. What could be better than Joe Pass' version of "Yesterday"? I miss my LPs of Pass' Virtuoso Vol. 1 & 2 that I left in Hong Kong!
RHAPSODY Link
Album: Virtuoso #4
This morning I'm definitely in the mood of some jazzy Beatles' cover. What could be better than Joe Pass' version of "Yesterday"? I miss my LPs of Pass' Virtuoso Vol. 1 & 2 that I left in Hong Kong!
RHAPSODY Link
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Track: Angel
Artist: Simply Red
I've performed a search on tracks named 'Angel' on Rhapsody and there are ~1600 'Angel' available (and ~7000 including the ones not available!)
Simply Red is my favourite white soul band but this one may not be my favourite Angel (of course my favourite gotta be Jimi Hendrix's!) Anyway, it's interesting enough.
RHAPSODY Link
I've performed a search on tracks named 'Angel' on Rhapsody and there are ~1600 'Angel' available (and ~7000 including the ones not available!)
Simply Red is my favourite white soul band but this one may not be my favourite Angel (of course my favourite gotta be Jimi Hendrix's!) Anyway, it's interesting enough.
RHAPSODY Link
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Track: Another Time, Another Place
Artist: David Sanborn
Album: Closer
I'm not going to buy this CD for sure since I don't need another version of "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" but this is a good track that I'll listen again. I do see a market in selling music on a track-by-track basis when physical media is not involved and thus keeping the price of singles reasonable enough. (I did buy the DVD-A version of the Sanborn album before this for testing my new DVD-A/SACD Universal player. While that album, Timeagain, is supposed to be unplayable on some models, the music itself was not bad at all.)
RHAPSODY Link
Album: Closer
I'm not going to buy this CD for sure since I don't need another version of "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight" but this is a good track that I'll listen again. I do see a market in selling music on a track-by-track basis when physical media is not involved and thus keeping the price of singles reasonable enough. (I did buy the DVD-A version of the Sanborn album before this for testing my new DVD-A/SACD Universal player. While that album, Timeagain, is supposed to be unplayable on some models, the music itself was not bad at all.)
RHAPSODY Link
Track: Point of Many Returns
Artist: Sam Rivers
Album: Contours
I should listen to more of this now that I'm in the mood of straight-ahead jazz. Of course he's more well-known for his avant-garde works.
RHAPSODY Link
Album: Contours
I should listen to more of this now that I'm in the mood of straight-ahead jazz. Of course he's more well-known for his avant-garde works.
RHAPSODY Link
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