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
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Artist: Walls of Jericho
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
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
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
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