Music Is My Weapon
Caesar had his legions, Napoleon had his rifles, we have our music.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
DJ Review: Tracy 4Straw
Being an advid Ministry of Sound fan, and loving electronica, I scour the internet looking for original mixes, and I found a DJ I would like to share with everyone.Her name is Tracy 4Straws and she is dynamite. From her website: Tracy is bubbly, friendly and full of fun, playing music and dancing is her passion. In 1986 aged just 14, she went to Brixton Academy to see "Soul 2 Soul," she remembers the fantastic sound system and lasers. It was big, it was loud, she was hooked! In 1988 now sweet sixteen, she became part of the ever growing convoys of dance music fans seeking out those early secret raves, with a flyer and a mobile number, meeting up a various Service Stations over England to get the next set of directions. From the very beginnings of what has turned into the UK’s ever popular dance music industry, Tracy was present at some of the earliest parties including Fantasy, Sunrise and Energy.
Tracy fulfils her passion for live music by going to see live Jazz bands, religiously turning up at the UK's summer festivals, never missing Glastonbury, which she describes as the "biggest and best festival in England." Weekend’s for Tracy are never boring, from the early days she has been a regular clubber at all the symbolic club nights in the South East, her favourite clubs include, Bar Rumba, Leisure Lounge, Cafe De Paris, Heaven, Astoria, Escape, Zap and the Ministry of Sound (with it’s magnificent sound system), which she claims to be her number one favourite.
Soundtrack: Gummo
Well if you have ever been so lucking to see one of the finest movies of our generation then you have seen Gummo. How would one describe the movie? He would first say what the hell was the plot of that, or i would like the last two hours of there life back. But no matter what u have been scared for life, The Visual's are etch in your brain forever. SInce im a luckey owner of such a great film, i have watch mulitpy time and have showed it to many people from Friends to Family.Well with a great movie there always a great soundtrack to really get the point cross, not only is the movie weird and scary so is the soundtrack.He a little review i Found while searching the web.An all-star cornucopia of spinegringing, migraine inducing bands compose the lineup of this brutal, gutsy soundtrack to the independent flick, Gummo, directed by Harmony Korine, who worked on that much heralded 1995 flick, Kids. The entire soundtrack is grating and fierce. It opens with a sinister Absu cut and is followed by the mayhem of Eyehategod’s “Serving Time In The Middle Of Nowhere.” I can do without the Electric Hellfire Club’s satanically tinged cut because it messes with the ironically coherent axe-wielding series. Without it, the harrowing, brasslunged Spazz “Gummo Love Theme” would follow Eyehategod and send listeners into angry convulsions. The raw chaotic noisecore of the German outfit Bethelehem is gnawing and violent. Soul severing tracks by Bathony, Mortician, and Mystifier are also included for your deafening pleasure. An ambient, techno-inspired tune by Dark Noerd is tossed into the mix, as is a catchy and slower Sleep tune. The Gummo soundtrack is an exercise in discordant comfort. The colossal conglomeration of bands whose specialty is sadomasochistic sonic torture is reserved for the strong of mind and heart.
Working Air Guitar
Everyone remember Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (followed up by the not-so-excellent sequel)? It's the movie that launched Keanu Reeve's career, and doused whatshisnames career. Anyway, one byproduct of this movie was the air guitar, which remained a cult icon for the decade ahead.Once a fabled intrument, now the Helsinki University of Technology adds a genuine working version of the air guitar to the world of technology and instruments. The Virtual Air Guitar project adds genuine electric guitar sounds to the passionately played air guitar.
A computer is used to monitor the hand movements and comparing riffs to match frantic mid-air finger work. By responding instantly to a wide variety of gestures it promises to turn even the least musically gifted air guitarist to a virtual fret board virtuoso.
All that's needed to rock out is a video camera and a computer hooked up to an appropriately loud set of speakers.
Frenetic strumming is different than your regular 5 string strumming. The Finnish team created a library of guitar sounds based around the pentatonic minor scale – a progression commonly used for rock guitar solos – in order to create the right sound for their virtual instrument.
As a player moves their left hand along the neck of their virtual guitar, the computer will run through the scale. Holding it one place while strumming frenetically produces fret board tricks such as hammer-ons – where slapping a finger onto an already vibrating string produces a higher note – and blues bends, which give a distinctive rock twang. And a floor pedal can also be used to switch the system into mode that plays several different chords.
The project is currently being demonstrated at the Heureka Science Centre in Finland where it has been played more than 5000 times over the last month, Kanerva says. As a follow-up, the researchers are working on a version that will be compatible with a normal webcam and computer, thus giving wannabe rock stars the opportunity to practise their art in the privacy of their bedroom.
For Kanerva, who had to research different guitar playing tricks, the project has had another benefit. "I wasn't a guitarist before I started the project," he says. "But I am now."
more
RENT
Everyone is talking about Rent. We delayed as long as we could with reviewing this album, but we've been forced to, since it's been on the top 10 album sales for some time now. The reason we didn't want to talk about Rent, is that it is a long cry from the original, beautiful, Rent performed on Broadway. Look at the picture listed here: it uses the same font, the same colors, the same everything as the Broadway poster, only this has the words "motion picture" marqueed accross it's front. With this in mind, I looked forward to getting a copy of this album, so I could blast it's musical ineptness. Much to my disapointment, this version of Rent came out very, very well. To my pleasure, the original cast performed this. See, I did not know that because I refused to see the movie. Okay, so this album has two points in favor of it, and none against it...yet.
A bit of history: one of the longest-running shows in the history of Broadway, and one of its most beloved, RENT was the winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. So you can imagin my distaste at the sellout nature of going motion picture. Based on Puccini's classic opera "La Boheme," Jonathan Larson's revolutionary rock opera tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic in New York's gritty East Village. Now the powerful musical marks its 10th year on stage by coming to the big screen, accompanied by Rent The Motion Picture Soundtrack, produced by Rob Cavallo.
Okay, so it appears that this album has a full five points for it, and none against it. To my disapointment, I loved this rendition of Rent. Somehow, Chris Columbus has taken a beloved, Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical, a deeply personal and heartfelt rock musical twist on "La Boheme", and improved it.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Internet-Marketed Bands: Bucc and All That Good Shit
Bucc is an MC from Stockholm, who's claim to fame is an ablum called All That Good Shit. The first volume was a success, and he's onto volume 2. The success of the first album, which is packed tight with mainstream hiphop, can be attributed to his ear-to-the-street mentality. His lyrical style is obviouslly empirical and thought out. He's based in Sweden, but if you've ever heard New York Hiphop, then you can associate with his genious. And if you are into this Genre, then you've probably heard him. He's opened for RZA, Group Home, Sage Francis, Buck65, Declaime, and the list goes on. His popularity is growing strong. He has been invited to international venues in Lattvia, Denmark, Norway, Germany, America, Holland, and Sweden.
Though his music can be associated with NYHH, he still stands out. Like all rappers that made it big, his music has a real life story, and this is heard through the passion in his voice. Every song title and every lyric sounds like a beat from his heart, or a page from his life. "We got a story to tell. Another story than the rest," he says. Nobody hears from the Sweden scene, but here is the emessary. Here is the person who will tell you about the non-tourist destinations of his country.
He works with the labels Bout That Paper, and Junkyard Records . Listen to his music at http://www.Myspace.com/BuccSthlm or http://www.bucc.se/ Enjoy, as Bout That Paper, Scarred Knuckles, sWeedish Trees presents All That Good Shit Vol.2 -The Take Over!
Disturbed's Music as a Weapon
This CD had our namesake so we had to write a review on it. Vocals were great, music was great and seeing songs of this particular album live is great. The only thing lacking is the lyrical ability, which is geared more towards words that sound good screamed, as opposed to words that sound good together. This 2004 album was released by Reprise label, and contains juicy explicit lyrics. This may not contain the bands legacy of The Sickness, but is defintily a must have in any Disturbed fan's collection.Monday, November 28, 2005
Internet-Marketed Bands: None Hit Wonder and I Nine
We have two reviews in our Internet-Marketed Bands this week. Both have beautiful, though not similar, genre pounding beats. Today we have None Hit Wonder and I Nine.
Mike Moore leads in a band called "None Hit Wonder." Though his influences include MXPX and Greenday, they don't reflect on his sounds or writing. To this end, he remains freshly original, sometimes rewriting entire portions of his songs to make sure it isn't a copy cat of another band's work. This is a fresh relief to this reviewer. His audience ranges between the ages of 16 and 25, catering to the pre-yuppie, post-angst crowd. He barely falls into the Emo category, but only on technicalities; people see a solo guy with an acoustic guitar and he immediately gets lumped into that genre. Feel like seeing him? You can catch him in the Tampa Bay area, and if you are good enough, can snag him at the Masquerade. He's been known to play at Orpheum, Brass Mug, and the list goes on. The crowd big catch is the way uses his voice to portray his writing style, culminating in an original vocal ballet.
"I Nine" is a rock band from Atlanta, GA. Most recently, they were featured in the Cameron Crowe film Elizabethtown, performing the lead single "Same in Any Language" on the soundtrack. If you're interested, you can check out our music and our music video for "Same in Any Language" on our Myspace profile: http://www.myspace.com/inine
If you like what you hear, let them know by adding them as friends. Cheapest and most effective way to support the arts!
Previous in the series:
Internet-Marketed Bands: Alain Pernot
Mike Moore leads in a band called "None Hit Wonder." Though his influences include MXPX and Greenday, they don't reflect on his sounds or writing. To this end, he remains freshly original, sometimes rewriting entire portions of his songs to make sure it isn't a copy cat of another band's work. This is a fresh relief to this reviewer. His audience ranges between the ages of 16 and 25, catering to the pre-yuppie, post-angst crowd. He barely falls into the Emo category, but only on technicalities; people see a solo guy with an acoustic guitar and he immediately gets lumped into that genre. Feel like seeing him? You can catch him in the Tampa Bay area, and if you are good enough, can snag him at the Masquerade. He's been known to play at Orpheum, Brass Mug, and the list goes on. The crowd big catch is the way uses his voice to portray his writing style, culminating in an original vocal ballet.
"I Nine" is a rock band from Atlanta, GA. Most recently, they were featured in the Cameron Crowe film Elizabethtown, performing the lead single "Same in Any Language" on the soundtrack. If you're interested, you can check out our music and our music video for "Same in Any Language" on our Myspace profile: http://www.myspace.com/inineIf you like what you hear, let them know by adding them as friends. Cheapest and most effective way to support the arts!
Previous in the series:
Internet-Marketed Bands: Alain Pernot
Green Day's American Idiot
Aidin Vaziri gives us the scoop on the new Green Day album. For its first new set of music since 2000's Warning, Green Day tears up the blueprint and comes up with something unexpected: a punk rock concept album built around elaborate melodies, odd tempo changes, and a collection of songs that freely reference classic rock warhorses like the Beatles and Pink Floyd. "She's a Rebel" and "St. Jimmy" might sound like vintage Green Day, but the rest of the disc finds the Northern California trio trying on a variety of different guises: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is a cliché-strewn Foo Fighters-style power ballad; "Extraordinary Girl" floats on Indian strings; and the hushed "Wake Me Up When September Ends" wouldn't sound entirely out of place on a Jessica Simpson record. It doesn't always work. "Dearly Beloved" eerily resembles the Alarm's "68 Guns," while the title track eerily resembles something Green Day has already done far too many times. But, overall, American Idiot represents a promising step forward.Aidin Vaziri is a contributing author on Amazon.com
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Juno Reactor's Labyrinth
Late 2004, Juno Reactor, an electronica band, created their latest CD, proudly presented by Metropolis Records. Since the release of "Shango" in 2000, Juno Reactor has been involved in many projects including the production of several tracks for "Matrix: Reloaded" and "Matrix: Revolutions", as well as a greatest hits comp, "Odyssey 1992-2002". "Labyrinth" has nine tracks, two of which are songs from the Matrix movies. It'll rule the dance floor with its trance style elements and hard hitting beats.This CD has all the elements of the classical Juno Reactor sound mixed with some really fun new twists: flamenco-style guitars, orchestral, and brilliant choral integration. The ability to keep your established sound while adding something new and interesting to the music is something so few bands can do after an album or two, Juno Reactor is to be highly commended for their acomplishment in this album.
I fell inlove with them after hearing thier hit "Pistolero" back in 2000. Since then I've been enjoying their music more and more.
Sony BMG's Copy Protection
If you have recently bought a CD from Sony, and put it on your computer, you may have been victem to the biggest hack of the year. In what put the music industry back ten years in the copy protection battle, Sony released dozens of CD's that had a "rootkit" that took control of the root levels of your computer. To this end, it did in fact prevent MP3 distribution, but Sony had control of your entire computer. Check the list at the end of this article as reference, and see if you have in your possesion, one of these CD's.
The Associated Press describes how backlash from Sony's Rootkit CDs is causing problems for the music industry. The problem is two-fold: (1) the inherent technological problem of trying to prevent anyone from copying anything and (2) letting lawyers make technical decisions when (from the article) 'Lawyers don't have any better understanding of technology than a cow does algebra.'" More from the article: "'I think they've set back audio CD protection by years,' said Richard M. Smith, an Internet privacy and security consultant. 'Nobody will want to pull a Sony now.' Phil Leigh, analyst for Inside Digital Media, said the debacle shows just how reluctant the labels are to change their business model to reflect the distribution powers -- good and bad -- of the Internet. He believes that rather than adopting technological methods to try to stop unauthorized copying of music, record companies need to do more to remove the incentive for piracy.
But there are those in favor of this copy-protection. In a press conference held on Nov 18 Cary Sherman, the president of the RIAA, stated in reference to Sony BMG's "rootkit" software that "there is nothing unusual about technology being used to protect intellectual property." According to Sherman, the problem with Sony BMG's XCP DRM software was simply that "the technology they used contained a security vulnerability of which they were unaware". He goes on to praise Sony's "responsible" attitude in handling the problem, saying "how many times that software applications created the same problem? Lots. I wonder whether they've taken as aggressive steps as SonyBMG has when those vulnerabilities were discovered, or did they just post a patch on the Internet?" It seems that the latest spin is to portray the Sony rootkit as no more of an issue than a software coding error that unintentionally creates a security hole. This probably implies they will get away with it among the non-technical public.
Here is a list of Sony CDs include XCP digital rights management (DRM) software. Due to security concerns raised about the use of CDs containing this software on PCs, Sony has asked Amazon.com to remove all unsold CDs with XCP software from their store. If you have purchased any of these CDs from Amazon.com, you may return them for a full refund regardless of whether the CDs are opened or unopened, following our normal returns process. Simply indicate that the CD is "defective" as the reason for return.
Neil Diamond,'12 Songs'
Bette Midler, 'Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook'
Ray Charles, 'Friendship'
Cyndi Lauper, 'The Body Acoustic'
Jane Monheit, 'The Season'
Trey Anastasio, 'Shine'
Our Lady Peace, 'Healthy In Paranoid Times'
Patty Loveless, 'Dreamin' My Dreams'
Art Blakey, 'Drum Suite'
Neil Diamond, '12 Songs: Digi-Pak with Bonus Tracks'
Burt Bacharach, 'At This Time'
Celine Dion, 'On Ne Change Pas'
Chayanne, 'Cautivo'
Chris Botti, 'To Love Again'
Deniece Williams, 'This Is Niecy'
Earl Scruggs, 'I Saw the Light With Some Help from My Friends'
George Jones, 'My Very Special Guests'
Gerry Mulligan, 'Jeru'
Horace Silver, 'Silver's Blue'
Jon Randall, 'Walking Among The Living'
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, 'Foggy Mountain Jamboree'
Nivea, 'Complicated'
Pete Seeger, 'The Essential Pete Seeger'
Roseanne Cash, 'King's Record Shop'
Roseanne Cash, 'Interiors'
Roseanne Cash, 'Seven Year Ache'
Shel Silverstein, 'The Best of Shel Silverstein: His Words His Songs His Friends'
Shelly Fairchild, 'Ride'
Susie Suh, 'Susie Suh'
Switchfoot, 'Nothing Is Sound'
Teena Marie, 'Robbery'
The Bad Plus, 'Suspicious Activity'
The Coral, 'The Invisible Invasion'
The Dead 60s, 'The Dead 60s'
Van Zant, 'Get Right with the Man'
Vivian Green, 'Vivian'
A Static Lullaby, 'Faso Latido'
Acceptance, 'Phantoms'
Amerie, 'Touch'
Bob Brookmeyer, 'Bob Brookmeyer & Friends'
Buddy Jewell, 'Times Like These'
Dexter Gordon, 'Manhattan Symphonie'
Dion, 'The Essential Dion'
Elkland, 'Golden'
Emma Roberts, 'Unfabulous And More: Emma Roberts'
G3, 'Live In Tokyo'
Life of Agony, 'Broken Valley'
Mary Mary, 'Mary Mary'
Mary Mary, 'Mary Mary'
Montgomery Gentry, 'Something To Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005'
Natasha Bedingfield, 'Unwritten'
The Associated Press describes how backlash from Sony's Rootkit CDs is causing problems for the music industry. The problem is two-fold: (1) the inherent technological problem of trying to prevent anyone from copying anything and (2) letting lawyers make technical decisions when (from the article) 'Lawyers don't have any better understanding of technology than a cow does algebra.'" More from the article: "'I think they've set back audio CD protection by years,' said Richard M. Smith, an Internet privacy and security consultant. 'Nobody will want to pull a Sony now.' Phil Leigh, analyst for Inside Digital Media, said the debacle shows just how reluctant the labels are to change their business model to reflect the distribution powers -- good and bad -- of the Internet. He believes that rather than adopting technological methods to try to stop unauthorized copying of music, record companies need to do more to remove the incentive for piracy.
But there are those in favor of this copy-protection. In a press conference held on Nov 18 Cary Sherman, the president of the RIAA, stated in reference to Sony BMG's "rootkit" software that "there is nothing unusual about technology being used to protect intellectual property." According to Sherman, the problem with Sony BMG's XCP DRM software was simply that "the technology they used contained a security vulnerability of which they were unaware". He goes on to praise Sony's "responsible" attitude in handling the problem, saying "how many times that software applications created the same problem? Lots. I wonder whether they've taken as aggressive steps as SonyBMG has when those vulnerabilities were discovered, or did they just post a patch on the Internet?" It seems that the latest spin is to portray the Sony rootkit as no more of an issue than a software coding error that unintentionally creates a security hole. This probably implies they will get away with it among the non-technical public.
Here is a list of Sony CDs include XCP digital rights management (DRM) software. Due to security concerns raised about the use of CDs containing this software on PCs, Sony has asked Amazon.com to remove all unsold CDs with XCP software from their store. If you have purchased any of these CDs from Amazon.com, you may return them for a full refund regardless of whether the CDs are opened or unopened, following our normal returns process. Simply indicate that the CD is "defective" as the reason for return.
Neil Diamond,'12 Songs'
Bette Midler, 'Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook'
Ray Charles, 'Friendship'
Cyndi Lauper, 'The Body Acoustic'
Jane Monheit, 'The Season'
Trey Anastasio, 'Shine'
Our Lady Peace, 'Healthy In Paranoid Times'
Patty Loveless, 'Dreamin' My Dreams'
Art Blakey, 'Drum Suite'
Neil Diamond, '12 Songs: Digi-Pak with Bonus Tracks'
Burt Bacharach, 'At This Time'
Celine Dion, 'On Ne Change Pas'
Chayanne, 'Cautivo'
Chris Botti, 'To Love Again'
Deniece Williams, 'This Is Niecy'
Earl Scruggs, 'I Saw the Light With Some Help from My Friends'
George Jones, 'My Very Special Guests'
Gerry Mulligan, 'Jeru'
Horace Silver, 'Silver's Blue'
Jon Randall, 'Walking Among The Living'
Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, 'Foggy Mountain Jamboree'
Nivea, 'Complicated'
Pete Seeger, 'The Essential Pete Seeger'
Roseanne Cash, 'King's Record Shop'
Roseanne Cash, 'Interiors'
Roseanne Cash, 'Seven Year Ache'
Shel Silverstein, 'The Best of Shel Silverstein: His Words His Songs His Friends'
Shelly Fairchild, 'Ride'
Susie Suh, 'Susie Suh'
Switchfoot, 'Nothing Is Sound'
Teena Marie, 'Robbery'
The Bad Plus, 'Suspicious Activity'
The Coral, 'The Invisible Invasion'
The Dead 60s, 'The Dead 60s'
Van Zant, 'Get Right with the Man'
Vivian Green, 'Vivian'
A Static Lullaby, 'Faso Latido'
Acceptance, 'Phantoms'
Amerie, 'Touch'
Bob Brookmeyer, 'Bob Brookmeyer & Friends'
Buddy Jewell, 'Times Like These'
Dexter Gordon, 'Manhattan Symphonie'
Dion, 'The Essential Dion'
Elkland, 'Golden'
Emma Roberts, 'Unfabulous And More: Emma Roberts'
G3, 'Live In Tokyo'
Life of Agony, 'Broken Valley'
Mary Mary, 'Mary Mary'
Mary Mary, 'Mary Mary'
Montgomery Gentry, 'Something To Be Proud Of: The Best of 1999-2005'
Natasha Bedingfield, 'Unwritten'
Friday, November 25, 2005
The Devil is Beating His Wife
Dearest David Bazan,
Here's that long awaited sonnet
from a nippy winter '68 --
Your head (nestled) in a bonnet
against whispering winds ornate,
Swathed in the brightest summer blue:
a chill brought your cherub nose
to illuminate the dusky purlieu
(muted like the evening primrose).
In our caroling cheer, we smile
before a preemptive knock;
The door flew open meanwhile
as did our mouths in shock: (even yours)
da stand Santa mit Schlampen und Bier
"Bin am Arsch - jetzt weg von hier!"
love,
aaron & ama
(written with LOVE from Cologne, Germany)
*********************************************************
Hear the latest demos from cheery ol' Dave and TW, currently working on a new Pedro the Lion record to be released in 2006 on Jade Tree (isn't it as sweet as anything in his dreams?)
Things to Pre Order for December
Korn is releasing a new album called See You On the Other Side. It becomes avalible on December 6th, placing it at direct compitition with Eminem's new CD. The Explicit Lyrics note promises it will be everything we've expected from Korn in the past. On the other hand, we see that it is still Virgin Records, still produced by the same guys, and still written by the same people, so we wonder if there is a hint of "just another korn cd" element. Then again Korn has never been just-another as it has pioneered the Heavy Pop-Rock Rap genre for some time. No matter the result, this next notch in the Kornography collection is sure to live up to the expectations set by the previous albums. Don't believe me? Enough people have preordered this to make it #118 in Sales rank 12 days before it is released, so there's something the masses know that we don't.
System of a Down is following suit with their new album Hypnotize. This album is a very definite shove in a new direction, even from Mezermize. Most of the songs are slower and more melodic, however there's still hints of disarray in songs lik Attack. The one thing that probably bothered me the bost about this CD, was the song structure remained the same for most of the songs, and they were very uneventful at that. The vocal work itself worked out very well for both Daron and Serj, but some people have complained that Daron's work left room for improvement.The key songs to hear are "Dreaming," "Tentative," "Holy Mountains," and "Soldier Side," but make sure you listen to the entire album straight. The CD as a whole is very well put together. When you are done, make sure you have some Disney music laying around to cheer you up after listening to Soldier Side, the last song on the album.
In another chapter of Eminem's pseudo story line CD releases, Curtain Call is being released on December 6, 2005. I have not heard it yet, but everyone is pre ordering it, so it looks like it's going to be good.Thursday, November 24, 2005
DJ SCREW Screwed & Chopped
A few years ago, I worked at a gas station cashier in Clemson. While working there I came to know the customers pretty well. They came to appriciate my knowledge of music, and eventually they would ask me for more information on their favorite bands. Eventually, they were coming to me to buy bootleg cds that I had downloaded. I know people think thats wrong and such but what can you do about it, there are too many people doing it out there and no way to stop it. Well i had sold a few cd to the customer not making to much, but one thing i ofund out while dealing them cd's was a artist by the Name Dj Screw a.k.a. Robert Earl Davis Jr. The producer became renowned on the Southern hip-hop scene — and eventually around the United States — for his "screwed down and chopped" or "screwed up" versions of hit tracks, which the producer would manually slow down using the pitch control on a turntable.DJ Screw is responsible for creating the "stoner rap" style known as "screwed" or "screwed down." By slowing songs down to half speed, or slower, Screw created eerie, disturbing music similar to what the cassette in your ancient Walkman would sound like if the batteries were almost dead. Slow and draggggged out.
Screw died of a heart attack in his studio in November 2000. He was only thirty years old. Rumor's attributed the cause of death to be a codeine overdose which was later confirmed. His legacy opened the doors for others such as screwed and chopped labels Swisha House and Beltway 8, as well as countless artists including Z-Ro, Mike Jones, Slim Thug and Paul Wall.
www.screweduprecords.com/
Raising the Goblet to Doyle
Big music news on the Harry Potter front: The composer for the hits' scores, John Williams, has been replaced by Patrick Doyle, after three installments in the series. Thankfully for the Williams' fans, he never feels far away, with his main theme popping up throughout the movie. Similarly, his tracks like "Voldemort," which eloquently illustrates the soul of a blacker-than-black wizard with thunderous cymbal crashes, shrieking horns, tumultuous strings, and a stately finish, firmly belongs in the Williams mode. Overall, Doyle acquits himself well. He can do light when needed like "The Quidditch World Cup," which starts out like some kind of jig, and can accomidate the ominousness like in the same song, which ends in martial war chants. Among the highlights are the aforementioned "Voldemort," but also the frantic, overpowering "The Dark Mark.""Goblet of Fire" is a far different film from the first three Potter movies. Big things happen which demand strong themes and music and Patrick Doyle delivered well. Though having big shoes to fill, he filled them well, and will continue composing as the series progresses.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Internet-Marketed Bands: Alain Pernot
We are I are running a series on internet-marketed bands. One of the premiere websites for exposure is the Myspace community. Maybe you have heard of these bands that we are going to review or maybe you will discover a new one. Add us as a Myspace friend!
http://www.myspace.com/thismachinekillsfascits
Our first review is of an artist named Alain Pernot, who hails from Montreal, Quebec Canada. Alain's musical career started at age 17. Fresh out of high school, Alain already had is goals set: to become a professional musician.
Before saying anything else, we'd like to paint a picture of this musician. Alain can be compared to U2, Alan Parsons, and The Verve, but maintains his originality by taking a blend of 70's and early 80's, while melding in today's sound. It helps that his voice is so unique.
For the last 4 years or so, Alain has also been doing a lot of commercial studio work and playing local R N' B gigs with "Dorian Sherwood and the next". Now in 2005, Alain feels the urge to showcase his own music to the world. "Between time and space" marks a new phase in Alain's career, one that unveils is creativity, like few have heard it before.
If you are a listener fond of the 70's, then you will want to seek out his performance. Anyone from younger retro listeners to seasoned 70's authentic will enjoy it. Interested in seeing him perform? He's getting ready to promote the album live in 2006.,
Drop him a line on Mysapce at http://www.myspace.com/alpern or his personal website, www.pernotmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/thismachinekillsfascits
Our first review is of an artist named Alain Pernot, who hails from Montreal, Quebec Canada. Alain's musical career started at age 17. Fresh out of high school, Alain already had is goals set: to become a professional musician.Before saying anything else, we'd like to paint a picture of this musician. Alain can be compared to U2, Alan Parsons, and The Verve, but maintains his originality by taking a blend of 70's and early 80's, while melding in today's sound. It helps that his voice is so unique.
For the last 4 years or so, Alain has also been doing a lot of commercial studio work and playing local R N' B gigs with "Dorian Sherwood and the next". Now in 2005, Alain feels the urge to showcase his own music to the world. "Between time and space" marks a new phase in Alain's career, one that unveils is creativity, like few have heard it before.
If you are a listener fond of the 70's, then you will want to seek out his performance. Anyone from younger retro listeners to seasoned 70's authentic will enjoy it. Interested in seeing him perform? He's getting ready to promote the album live in 2006.,
Drop him a line on Mysapce at http://www.myspace.com/alpern or his personal website, www.pernotmusic.com/
Neo Soul Movement
The Neo-Soul Movement may best be illustrated with Flo'Ology 's Floetry. Blending their unique concoction of sensual sound and poetic justice, Floetry is set to return to the musical landscape with their third CD, Flo'ology. This time, songstress Marsha Ambrosius and floacist Natalie Stewart remain true to form by uniting passionate vocals and elegant spoken word with the rhythms of classic soul, funk and a little bit of island spice! But while the tried-and-true formula that worked so well for Floetic garnered praise by critics and gave the London duo a devoted fan base is the same, the pair are quick to point out the differences between Flo'ology and the themes exemplified on their six-time Grammy nominated debut album and its follow-up Floacism (Live).Floetry are ahead of so many contemporary R&B acts in a number of ways. First, rather than being within the box, like the formula many producers have crafted for R&B divas, Floetry choose to looks outside of the box, with one half devoted to pipes and the other devoted to poetry and alterative rap. Furthermore, rather than trying to sooth couples to the dance floor, Floetry look to preserve the "sanctity" of soul, an avenue that only few singers try today and successfully pull it off (for instance Angie Stone, Alicia Keys, Vivian Green, and Jill Scott).
Monday, November 21, 2005
Boards of Canada
Boards of Canada, those are the words for the day. Consider it an ambiant electronic band that has changed my life. In fact, one of my favorite songs ever is by this group...But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here goes.Boards of Canada is composed of two men-- don't know their names-- do a google on it. These two men often compose their songs in a strange ambiant fashion. With various mumbles here and there, but all in all, this band makes you feel good, let me explain.
Everything You Do is a Balloon is a ten minute story of my life. No lyrics, none at all. This is merely a monotonous beat with clever ambiance added towards it. But somehow this song connects with me. I may not do the same with everyone else, but this is the way I feel. And I know there have to be others that latch on with this style.
The rest of their songs simply add to the epic of Boards. Some make interesting statements about censorship and energy conservation. These songs are all valid words to be heard. Will someone please think of the children? For reels y'all, gah.
Where was I? Lets define ambiance. Ambiance is a fine, natural state of sound that you can experience in the darkness of a vast cornfield for example. Crickets chirping, various animals making their calls...Stuff like that. But vision also adds to ambiance....The fireflies making signals in the vague darkness. The silhouetted trees dance with the remaining light until shadows finally lengthen and disappear.
So, if you ever want to enjoy this music, I suggest you walk outside and look around at what you see. Vast farmlands are preferable if you live in the south. A large rooftop would be best if you live up north. A couple shots of whiskey wouldn't hurt either.
David Yazbek's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Brad's porn music review will be a hard act to follow, so I'm not even going to try. Instead, I will talk about the opposite end of performance arts, and talk about the much neglected genre of Broadway musicals.
To this end I will focus on the recording of David Yazbek's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. This is an original cast recording. Yazbek claim to fame is 2001's musical version of The Full Monty. Luckily for us, the score to The Full Monty made Yazbek catch the Broadway bug.
The real acheivement of this recording, is it's catchy, funny and witty catalog of lyrics. Yazbek gives us showstopper after showstopper. Most important in a Broadway cast recording is relistenable factor, which is through the roof in this album. Yazbek can be hysterically vulgar one lyric and then go into nun virginity mode the next. The music itself is very "Hollywood-ish" and it works perfectly for the show.
To this end I will focus on the recording of David Yazbek's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. This is an original cast recording. Yazbek claim to fame is 2001's musical version of The Full Monty. Luckily for us, the score to The Full Monty made Yazbek catch the Broadway bug.
The real acheivement of this recording, is it's catchy, funny and witty catalog of lyrics. Yazbek gives us showstopper after showstopper. Most important in a Broadway cast recording is relistenable factor, which is through the roof in this album. Yazbek can be hysterically vulgar one lyric and then go into nun virginity mode the next. The music itself is very "Hollywood-ish" and it works perfectly for the show.
Neil Diamond's Comeback
That explains a little of Neil Diamond's wariness in response to the strong reviews he has received for "12 Songs," his back-to-basics disc produced by musical guru Rick Rubin.
He's happy, to be sure, but a little frightened.
"There's quite a bit of pressure off if you realize that not everybody is listening, just your fans are listening," he said. "In this case, I realized that a lot of other people outside my fan base are listening. Critics are listening for the first time, and that makes it scary."
Relax, Neil. Rolling Stone gave it four stars, Entertainment Weekly an "A." People magazine's Chuck Arnold said, "Let's just put it right out there: You will be blown away by the new Neil Diamond CD."
More from the above CNN AP
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Vinyl picks for November
My favorite form of music: Vinyl trance. Here are my two picks for November.
This first LP, Ieee Mitten Menu, is by the Novamute label (great stuff) by Speedy J (great artist) and was mixed by me in DC last friday (great venue!). Okay, as usual, a deep, distorted, high speed rumble through the Speedy J insanity jungle. Speedy J defines hard techno with this tricky, hard and fast track. all mixes are great. his music is best akin to: FUSE, Sven Vath, and Autechre. If you are a fan of techno or house, then this is a must have.
Next on my list, is Daft Punk. I know a lot of people don't like their early stuff, but their new and improved selves are downright badass. Granted that Homework lacks the warmth of Discovery, it still has has a raw, live feel that its predecessor lacked. I can't believe they redid "Revolution 909" which is a tribute to the roots of hardhouse. I love the shimmering techno tracks and the sexual neuances. Despite being seven years old, Homework still holds up to this very day which is not an easy task to do because trends comes and goes in dance music but Homework is an exception to that rule and it still sounds fresh and new to me.
This first LP, Ieee Mitten Menu, is by the Novamute label (great stuff) by Speedy J (great artist) and was mixed by me in DC last friday (great venue!). Okay, as usual, a deep, distorted, high speed rumble through the Speedy J insanity jungle. Speedy J defines hard techno with this tricky, hard and fast track. all mixes are great. his music is best akin to: FUSE, Sven Vath, and Autechre. If you are a fan of techno or house, then this is a must have.
Next on my list, is Daft Punk. I know a lot of people don't like their early stuff, but their new and improved selves are downright badass. Granted that Homework lacks the warmth of Discovery, it still has has a raw, live feel that its predecessor lacked. I can't believe they redid "Revolution 909" which is a tribute to the roots of hardhouse. I love the shimmering techno tracks and the sexual neuances. Despite being seven years old, Homework still holds up to this very day which is not an easy task to do because trends comes and goes in dance music but Homework is an exception to that rule and it still sounds fresh and new to me.The Horrors of German Industrial Music.
Hello everyone, this is my first article, so bear with me if this one looks a little boring. I'll start off by talking about Einsturzende Neubauten.Neubauten is a strange band. Their sound usually consists of a mix between "unpredictable ambiance" to "Dear God, what am I listening to--this is scary!". The lead singer will often speak in German, but sometimes the listener will come across songs spoken entirely in English. This duality of spoken languages adds a diversity to their songs where none of them sound alike. Songs including NNNAAAMMM, Feurio and Die Ex are put in the strange ambient pile whilst songs like Sabrina, The Garden, and Total Eclipse of the Sun enter the beautiful and scary.
My friend Kelly first got me involved with this band when he made me listen to Total Eclipse of the Sun, which is by far the strangest song I have ever heard. Both the bass and the violins make this a wonderfully insane song to add to your collection.
The Garden is definitely not something you should listen to in a dark closet with a head full of acid. It will definitely scare the crap out of the average white man. Nevertheless, this is one of my favorite songs out of Neubauten's discography.
Sabrina has a message to be told within its strange lyrics, though I am not quite sure what that message is. The lyrics don't make a whole lot of sense to me, but it's where I got the idea for my AOL screenname.
It's not the red of the dying sun
The morning sheets surprising stain
It's not the red of which we bleed
The red of cabernet sauvignon
A world of ruby all in vain
It's not that red
Installation no1 is another one in their long collection of obscure songs, where the lyrics simply state: "Disobey, it's the law" over a catchy but monotonous bassline.
All in all this is a fun band if you're feeling courageous to try something new. I encourage anyone to give this band a try. Ende Neu and Silence is Sexy are among their most popular albums, check them out, if you dare.
Internet Radio
Internet radio is a broadcasting service transmitted via the Internet. Not every internet "radio station" has a corresponding traditional radio station. Many internet radio stations are completely independent from traditional ("terrestrial") radio stations and broadcast only on the Internet. Broadcasting on the Internet is usually referred to as streaming.
Because the radio signal is relayed over the Internet, it is possible to access the stations from anywhere in the world—for example, to listen to an Australian radio station from Europe or America. This makes it a popular service for expatriates and for people who have interests that may not be adequately catered for by their local radio stations (such as progressive rock). Some of the internet radio services offer news, sports, talkback, and various genres of music—everything that is on the radio station being re-broadcast. Listenership is no longer restricted to a hundred miles, but can stretch thousands of miles. Listenership is no longer set to five million, but instead five billion.
For instance, one of Germany's most popular real-world radio stations has become world famous because of internet broadcasting. Das Ding can be listened to at http://www.dasding.de
WSBF is another example. Colleges all over America are utilizing the Internet to get college radio out into the world. College stations are amazing at echoing the heartbeat of underground pop culture. WSBF can be heard at http://www.WSBF.net
Many privatly funded stations exist, which serve multitudes of purposes. Besides sending out subversive messages, some try to do the music community a favor and play bands many people may not have heard of, in order to get unnamed and unlabled bands, recognition. A good example of this is Mental Hostpital Radio, suitably viewable at http://www.mentalhospitalradio.com
Because the radio signal is relayed over the Internet, it is possible to access the stations from anywhere in the world—for example, to listen to an Australian radio station from Europe or America. This makes it a popular service for expatriates and for people who have interests that may not be adequately catered for by their local radio stations (such as progressive rock). Some of the internet radio services offer news, sports, talkback, and various genres of music—everything that is on the radio station being re-broadcast. Listenership is no longer restricted to a hundred miles, but can stretch thousands of miles. Listenership is no longer set to five million, but instead five billion.
For instance, one of Germany's most popular real-world radio stations has become world famous because of internet broadcasting. Das Ding can be listened to at http://www.dasding.de
WSBF is another example. Colleges all over America are utilizing the Internet to get college radio out into the world. College stations are amazing at echoing the heartbeat of underground pop culture. WSBF can be heard at http://www.WSBF.net
Many privatly funded stations exist, which serve multitudes of purposes. Besides sending out subversive messages, some try to do the music community a favor and play bands many people may not have heard of, in order to get unnamed and unlabled bands, recognition. A good example of this is Mental Hostpital Radio, suitably viewable at http://www.mentalhospitalradio.com
Lindsay Lohan's "A Little More Personal"
Let's talk about some pop culture. I'm not one who swims in the MTV world like many, but the beat of the nation needs to be talked about, even if my ears arn't pressed to it. Lindsay Lohan just came out with an album entitled A Little More Personal.As a positive, this album feels like more heart has been invested into it, then previous albums. It seems like she has coped with some sort of problem, and is trying to deal via appologies and emotional tribute, by singing some of these songs. Previouslly, her music felt forced, as if she were trying to make money. This may not be much better, but it is her attempt, and I feel it was a good attempt.
If you like this album, then chances are you'll also like Hilary Duff, Raven, Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, and Jessica Simpson. I can't stand most of them, but hey, pop culture needs to be understood and heard, even if rejected.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Noise Bands
A couple of years ago, Ama came to me and told me about a genre of music that i ahd never heard of called Noise Bands. It's naming was appropriate: it sound like a bunch of noise. But some how if you have a good ear for music you will really enjoy what is called an assualt on the ears and mind. Ama went to see some of the bands in the genre and told me about them so I figured I would pass on the information to you."There is horrible noise, and then there is horrible noise you can legitimately say you enjoy. To understand the distinction, see Lightning Bolt play live."
If there was ever any question as to whether punk is dead, this is your answer. It's dead as a door nail and as alive and kicking as you ever wanted. Or never wanted.
These are just two guys. One with a bass guitar, one with a drum kit. I can confirm this with first hand experience, I've seen them twice. I don't even begin to understand how they manage to get the sounds that they do, simultaneous driving/driven bass lines and feed back and some effect that sounds like a heavily distorted violin, not to mention drummer Brian Chippendale's inaudibly screamed vocals that at times sound like a screeching monkey from hell and at others are almost intelligible, nor to mention the most lightning paced drumming I've ever heard that can still be considered playing (I don't think he misses a beat. Literally), nor the way that together they can instantaneously erupt into blasts and bolts of sheer noise and then back again into complex rhythms, some of which border on being loops.I've never been a fan of "noise rock," and really it would be unfair to try to squeeze these guys into that category. The drumming is truly some of the best I've heard, the bass is at times hypnotizing, at others like a sonic car crash. It would also be unfair to call them metal; beyond being heavy and harsh, the sound here is about as close to "metal" as it is close to jazz.
Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane
The best selling album of November 19th is Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall. Never being a big fan of Coltrane, I didn't know why it was such a top seller so I thought I would investigate.
Lloyd Sachs from Amazon provided me with some answers. As Sachs put it, every year sees a crop of newly found jazz gems, but rarely are listeners treated to anything as special as this 1957 concert recording of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, which was accidentally discovered in an unmarked box by a Library of Congress engineer early in 2005. Until now, fans could only dream of hearing these two immortals play together beyond the three studio tracks they left behind. But here they are, hitting their stride at an all-star benefit concert, basking in the chemistry they had developed in Monk's quartet during the preceding weeks at New York's Five Spot.
In 1957, Coltrane was thrown out of Miles Davis' band for heroin use. He managed to kick his habit and now we see how truely music can clense the soul. One of the best performances to hit a concert as a result of Coltrane turning to music instead of the needle.
So there we have it. The reason for the season is pleasen' and Coletrane is what's pleasing our ears this season. Enjoy!
Lloyd Sachs from Amazon provided me with some answers. As Sachs put it, every year sees a crop of newly found jazz gems, but rarely are listeners treated to anything as special as this 1957 concert recording of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane, which was accidentally discovered in an unmarked box by a Library of Congress engineer early in 2005. Until now, fans could only dream of hearing these two immortals play together beyond the three studio tracks they left behind. But here they are, hitting their stride at an all-star benefit concert, basking in the chemistry they had developed in Monk's quartet during the preceding weeks at New York's Five Spot.
In 1957, Coltrane was thrown out of Miles Davis' band for heroin use. He managed to kick his habit and now we see how truely music can clense the soul. One of the best performances to hit a concert as a result of Coltrane turning to music instead of the needle.
So there we have it. The reason for the season is pleasen' and Coletrane is what's pleasing our ears this season. Enjoy!
Bob Dylan's Bootleg Series
Bob Dylan has always been incredibly prolific, only releasing a fraction of what he records. Such a policy has made him a prime target for bootleggers over the years, finally prompting this sanctioned 1991 triple-disc dive into the Dylan vaults.It was known that Dylan had a great deal of unreleased material, but nobody was prepared for the unbelievable range and quality of this set when it came out in 1991. The first disc is a treasure trove of old songs and early compositions, given Dylan's inimitable spin, and a great history of his development as a songwriter. The second disc contains some interesting alternative versions, plus a few new gems like "Seven Curses", "She's Your Lover Now", and "Wallflower".
Perhaps the most substantial reason to buy this album is to hear what you did not know you were missing in the 80's. There are some unbelievably brilliant performances here that were left off of various 80's albums, like Blind Willie McTell, Series of Dreams, and Foot of Pride.
Then there are some sizzling 70's performances, like the live Seven Days or Catfish, an outtake from 1975's wonderful "Desire" album. Also, the original verson of "If Not for You," with none other than George Harrison on guitar, is ten million times better than the version featured on the actual studio album, "New Morning." The "unplugged" verisons of some "Blood on the Tracks" songs are powerfully raw.
Friday, November 18, 2005
Zap Mama
The intro to Mission Impossible II got me hooked on Zap Mama. It's the song that's playing while the hero is scaling the face of the mountain. The song "Iko Iko," like most of Zap Mama's songs, has a acapella caribian feel to it. Very exotic music.The particular album I will hype is A Ma Zone. Running the gamut from soul to hip hop to drum & bass, Marie Daulne's Zap Mama is expanding the perameters once again with their fourth album. A Ma Zone marks a lyrical shift for Marie, from politics to the social shortcomings of modern society with the emphasis being placed on the dehumanizing effects of modern communication. Marie explains: "Everybody's in such a hurry these days that everything has to be done by telephone or over the information superhighway." A Ma Zone offers listeners an alternative to life at 56k. A Ma Zone signifigantly improved in lyrical ability and even instrumental, since the last CD. This CD gets lumped in with "world" music because of its african feel, but this is a slight misnomer. This is much more than the soundtrack to National Geographic. It is more like the soundtrack to an exotic vacation.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Hans Zimmer
Since Brad talked about his favorite score-composer, Danny Elfman, I wanted to talk about my favorite, Hans Zimmer. As his famous tagline reads, "They Shoot, He Scores."German born Hans Zimmer is a pioneer in the use of digital synthesizers, advanced computer technology, electronic keyboards and their successful integration with the traditional orchestra in music for film and television. Hans began by composing composing jingles for "Air Edel Associates" in London, where he teamed up with Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes as "The Buggles" to produce the worldwide hit, "Video Killed the Radio Star" and subsequent album "The Age of Plastic." By 1980 Hans was pioneering the use of computers live on stage. These methods are still used by mega-groups like Crystal Method and Orbital in their live electronic performances.
As a boy, I loved action adventure movies. As John Woo started rising to the top with his genre-defining ballet's of violence, who better to compose than Hans Zimmer. Woo picked Zimmer for movies like "Face Off" and "Broken Arrow," and more recently, "Mission Impossible II." The reason behind Woo's choice was simple: when turning action into beauty, he figured he needed music sitting in the forefront of the movie, and not just in the background. As music took a hold and acted like another cast member, Woo needed perfection: he called on Hans Zimmer.
Zimmer goes from award winning "Lion King" to award winning "Face/Off", without skipping a beat. His studio is jammed full of electronics to produce peaceful music for the Sahara Desert, to instense music for action scenes shot in L.A. He seems to have no limit on his ability or talant.
Most of his work is post-production, but he has boundry stepped, and sometimes does pre-production work, allowing directors to film their scenes around his music; an obvious compliment to the music man.Where else have you heard him recently? Gladiator, Batman Begins, Shark Tales, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Last Samuri, and Black Hawk down, just to name a few. He has written scores for 51 movies since the year 2000, comprising not even a quarter of his work.
And don't plan on booking him in the near future. He's currently working on the untitled Batman Begins Sequel (2008), Shadow Divers (2007), Dodo, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006), and The Da Vinci Code (2006).
Danny Elfman, the Music man
One of my favorite movies of all time is Nightmare Before Christmas. The musical score is done by one of the best of the bussines, he has work on many of Tim Burton films in his lifetime, he has one oscars for his role of the compser of those films. I wanted to share some info of him that i have found on the internet, I hope you all enjoy.Daniel Robert Elfman was born on the 29th of May, 1953 in the town of Amarillo, Texas. Living in a racially mixed community in the Baldwin Hillls of Los Angeles, Danny was known as 'the whitest white kid'. He spent much of his time in the local theatre, adoring the music of such idols as Bernard Hermann and Franz Waxman. Dropping out of high school he followed his brother to France, where he played his violin on the street and later teamed up with his big bro to perform with Le Gran Magic Circus, an avant-garde musical theatrical group.
After a while of life in France, Danny moved on to a new setting; Africa. He travelled through Ghana, Mali and Upper Volta, learning about many different styles of music and also how to play different instruments. One such musical style he learned of was called Highlife, which was a great influence to him for years to come. However, he caught the malaria virus during his one-year stay, and was often sick for long periods of time. Says Elfman, "pills make it less severe, but it is AWFUL. You feel like you're going to die, but you don't." Long periods of time would go by back home in America without a word from Danny, and then suddeny there'd be a message from him. Needless to say, Elfman returned home to the US, where his brother Rick was forming a new musical group called The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo. The group was to provide the music for his first feature-film, The Forbidden Zone. Danny agreed to compose the score for the film, and also did a wonderful job of acting Satan. The movie was a cult hit, as was Danny. The Mystic Knights went on to shorten the name to Oingo Boingo in 1978 went the group split apart, touring the country and releasing albums along the way.
It wasn't until the early 80's that Danny got his first big break. A young first time director named Tim Burton approached him regarding Danny's providing the score to his first film, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. A fan of Oingo Boingo, Tim believed that there was something special in Elfman for composing. And he was right. Elfman's score was a big success, and in later years have been played at Primus concerts, where people often mosh to the theme written so many years before. Said Danny, "I was more than shocked when I heard the "Pee Wee" theme playing before they came out. To see people moshing to that absurd bit of music brought tears to my eyes. Not exactly what I expected when I wrote it."
After Pee-Wee, people began to open up to Elfman. Today he has composed the scores for such movies as The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Batman, Mars Attracks, and many, many more. His televison credits includes The Simpsons, Batman, and even a Nike commercial. Danny Elfman has had a successful career thus far, but he's not done yet. He's hopefully going to be getting into directing pretty soon. He currently has three of his own scripts, two that are planned on being turned into films. These scripts include Little Demons, The World of Jimmy Calicut, and Julian. He continues to compose scores, and will hopefully be collaborating with Tim Burton on a few of new projects in the near future. Elfman also plans on creating an Edward Scissorhands ballet with a choreographer friend.
Filmography
* Composer Amazing Spider-Man, The (2004)
* Big Fish (2003)
* Hulk, The (2003)
* Barry Sonnenfeld's Intergalactic Guide to Comedy (2002) (V)
* Cosmic Symphonies: Elfman in Space (2002) (V)
* Creature Featurettes (2002) (V)
* Design in Motion: The Look of 'Men in Black II' (2002) (V)
* Men in Black Training Videos (2002) (V)
* MIB ADR (2002) (V)
* Rick Baker: Alien Maker (2002) (V)
* Squish, Splat, Sploosh: The Stellar Sounds of 'Men in Black II' (2002) (V)
* Chicago (2002) (second end title)
* Red Dragon (2002)
* Men in Black II (2002)
* Spider-Man (2002)
* Kingdom Hearts (2002) (VG) (song "This Is Halloween") (uncredited)
* Simpsons Road Rage, The (2001) (VG) ('Simpsons' theme song)
* Novocaine (2001) (main theme)
* Planet of the Apes (2001)
* Mazer World (2001)
* Heartbreakers (2001) (main theme)
* Spy Kids (2001) (main theme)
* Undone (2001) (uncredited)
* Family Man, The (2000)
* Proof of Life (2000)
* Sleepy Hollow (1999)
* Anywhere But Here (1999) (also songs)
* Instinct (1999)
* My Favorite Martian (1999) (main theme)
* "Dilbert" (1999) TV Series (theme song "The Dilbert Zone")
* Civil Action, A (1998)
* Modern Vampires (1998) (main theme)
* Simple Plan, A (1998)
* "Perversions of Science" (1997) TV Series (main theme)
* Simpsons: Virtual Springfield, The (1997) (VG) (theme)
* Scream 2 (1997) ("Cassandra" aria)
* Good Will Hunting (1997)
* Flubber (1997)
* Men in Black (1997)
* Farewell: Live from the Universal Amphitheatre Halloween 1995 (1996) (V) (from songs)
* Mars Attacks! (1996)
* Darkman III: Die Darkman Die (1996) (V) (musical themes)
* Extreme Measures (1996)
* Bordello of Blood (1996) (theme)
* Frighteners, The (1996)
* Mission: Impossible (1996)
* Freeway (1996)
* Dead Presidents (1995)
* To Die for (1995)
* Dolores Claiborne (1995)
* Demon Knight (1995) (main title theme)
* Darkman II: The Return of Durant (1994) (V) (musical themes)
* Shrunken Heads (1994) (main theme)
* Black Beauty (1994)
* "Weird Science" (1994) TV Series
* Nightmare Before Christmas, The (1993)
* "Family Dog" (1993) TV Series
* Army of Darkness (1993) (theme "March of the Dead")
* Sommersby (1993)
* Amazing Stories: Book Two (1992) (V) (segment "Family Dog")
* "Batman: The Animated Series" (1992) TV Series (from main theme of "Batman (1989)")
* Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) (song "We Close Our Eyes")
* Batman Returns (1992)
* Article 99 (1992)
* Pure Luck (1991) (main theme)
* Edward Scissorhands (1990)
* "Flash, The" (1990) TV Series (main theme)
* Flash, The (1990) (TV) (main theme)
* Darkman (1990)
* Dick Tracy (1990)
* Nightbreed (1990)
* Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990) (song)
* "Beetlejuice" (1989) TV Series (main theme)
* Oingo Boingo: Skeletons In the Closet (1989) (V)
* "Simpsons, The" (1989) TV Series (main theme)
* Batman (1989)
* Ghostbusters II (1989) (song "Flesh 'n Blook")
* "Tales from the Crypt" (1989) TV Series (main theme)
* Scrooged (1988)
* Hot to Trot (1988)
* Midnight Run (1988)
* Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
* Beetlejuice (1988)
* Teen Wolf Too (1987) (song)
* Summer School (1987)
* "Pee-wee's Playhouse" (1986) TV Series
* Wisdom (1986)
* Something Wild (1986) (song "Not My Slave")
* "Sledge Hammer!" (1986) TV Series (main theme)
* Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, The (1986) (song "No One Lives Forever")
* Back to School (1986) (song "Dead Man's Party")
* "Fast Times" (1986) TV Series
* "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1985) TV Series (episode "Jar, The")
* "Amazing Stories" (1985) TV Series (episode "Family Dog (1987)") (episode "Mummy Daddy (1985)")
* Weird Science (1985) (title song)
* Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)
* Beverly Hills Cop (1984) (song "Gratitude")
* Sixteen Candles (1984) (song "Wild Sex In The Working Class") (as Oingo Boingo)
* Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) (end title song "Goodbye, Goodbye")
* Forbidden Zone (1980)
Woody Guthrie
I'll be honest, I did not know who Woody Guthrie was until I saw this shirt. "Kill Fascists" was a shirt made by by America's own folk hero, Woody Guthrie. Supporting social change through music is the American way!
Roy Kasten gives his oppinion on an Amazon review: What's most astonishing about Woody Guthrie is the way he created a whole, complete, living world of song. People, places, great and small events, nature, poetry, visions: He was so much more than a working class spokesperson, though, as this collection shows, he was the greatest one America has known. This first volume in the historic reissues of Guthrie's Smithsonian recordings is one of the finest: Guthrie's voice and verbal brilliance were at their peak in the 1940s and songs like "Do-Re-Mi," "Jesse James," and "Jesus Christ" continue to influence songwriters a half-century later.
His super-patriot vision is still alive today. The Smithsonian staff that is saving and cleaning and re-issuing the old Folkways catalogue, which is how I heard the music of Woody Guthrie.
http://www.demockratees.com/
<