MORE RADIO PLAY IS GOOD

I just got word that Big Al's Rock & Roll Diner will be playing my music this Sunday (08/25) and next Wednesday (08/28).

Check out the show

Wednesday Nights 6-9 PM Eastern & Sunday Afternoons 3-6 PM Eastern

Here is the link: 
http://www.radiohotrocks.net/

And his myspace is here:
http://www.myspace.com/bigalhrr

Thanks Big Al for helping to spread the word

Lip Synching at the Beijing Olympics

Well it would appear that the Chinese didn't think that the girl who sang at the opening ceremonies was cute enough

So they did what our music industry did back in the 80's. They had her sing behind the wings while someone better looking lip synched in front of the camera's.

ttp://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ap-china-lip-synchedsong&prov=ap&type=lgns

After the Mili Vanilli lip synching scandal of the 80's broke a number of acts had to come clean about it. C&C music factory had to admit that it was not the hot looking girl singing in the music videos that was actually belting out Everybody Dance Now but was instead one of the groups back up singers.  Towards the end of the 80's/early 90's we had music videos where the credits read:

Song performed by:(Fill in the name of the person actually singing the song)

Song  visualized by (Fill in the name of the person lip synching)

It was certainly one of the lowest points in popular music

Of course what's really bad is that the Chinese government is defending this.

Music Worth Buying Week of 08/12/08

Artist: Beck

Album: Modern Guilt

Worth Buying: Yes, the whole album.

You might be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Blues, Pop, Rock, Folk, Electronica, 60's rock, and any kind of music that is hard to categorize or just a litte bit weird,

 

Tell me more: It’s so hard to describe Beck to someone who has never really heard him. His very first single Loser featured him doing a comical rap to a traditional blues guitar riff backed by looped beats. Since then he has never stopped blending and defying all musical genres. This latest album has him collaborating with DJ Danger Mouse (acting as producer) of Gnarls Barkley (and the infamous "Grey Album") Fame. Most of the songs seem to be echoing various pop and rock genres from the 60's, but all Beck's unique twists. Beck's lyrics continue amuse some and baffle others. His earliest CDs reflected a great deal of humor ranging from references to nightmare hippie chicks to giant dildo's crushing the sky, but those days are gone. This latest album (IMHO) features some of his most serious and dark lyric writing. There are exceptions though, Gamma Ray is a fun bit of Beck styled 60's Surf Rock with equally fun lyrics.

 

What about the packaging?The CD comes in a standard Jewell case with a lyrics booklet. Having Beck's lyrics is always helpful and appreciated, but I hate it when artists string the lyrics (and song credits) into one long paragraph (it's not very easy to read). as opposed to having them printed out in the standard poetry format. Aside from this I reccomend the album.

Listen to Modern Guilt and buy in mp3 format here
CD Format
Vinyl LP Version

What if I am not ready to buy the whole album?: Try getting Gamma Ray

CD Review Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings 100 Days 100 Nights

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings 100 Days 100 Nights

Album: 100 Days 100 Nights
Artist: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of:  Motown, Old School R&B, Funk, and Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album.
Worth Buying?: YES, The entire album.

Tell me more: Imagine if you will an album recorded by Motown during their golden years. An album where each track is just burning with groove. An album filled with tracks that should have been hits during that era. An album that for some reason was locked away in a vault and then never released.....until now. If you can imagine that album, you have good idea of what to expect from 100 Days 100 Nights. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings is the band that back up Amy Winhouse on her Back to Black album. This is the band that gave her that authentic Motown sound. But this album is no just mere imitation or emulation of the best music from that era. This is authentic. It is the real deal. 100 Day 100 Nights is one of the most enjoyable listening experiences I have had in some time.

TJR 08/11/2008

What about the Packaging? The CD version comes in a standard jewell case with a bonus disc that included a cool behind the scenes video that I really enjoyed. There is no lyrics booklet enclosed, but it doesn’t matter because you’ll be to busy grooving to this one.

listend to samples and buy as mp3 here

Buy in CD format here

What if I am not ready to buy the whole CD?: Try downloading the title song 100 Days 100 Nights.
Although there are better tracks on the album, this one is free for the time being.

How to create your own Brittany Spears

While searching for work as a musician and songwriter, I came across
this ad.

This ad is real. I did not make it up. Below is the entire ad
verbatim

Check it out and then read my follow up commentary:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We need a songwriter to write some songs for one of our singers. They
need to be either hip hop, pop, or r&b songs. Your name will be
credited and shown to other singers. You'll also get $150 per song.
You'll just need to write the song, send the lyrics to me, and if we
decide to use your song we'll send you the money however you chose.
These songs are going to be for a teenage girl. Here are the songs we
need:

1). rich & awesome (kind of about being conceited)

2). can't stop loving you (about wanting someone who doesn't want you
back but you don't want to give up hope)

3). im just me (about not wanting to change for someone else)

4). rumors (about being tired of all the rumors going around)

5). the perfect lie (about you being a mistake)

6). forever a true friend (about having one friend who's always been
there)

7). party girl (about just wanting to have fun)

8). drama queen (about being a drama queen)

9). this is life (about all the troubles life brings but also about
the good times).

If you can help with any of these songs please email me! We do not
have any samples of the singer to send but if it helps she sounds
like Christina Aguilera.
>>>>>>>>>>>

Now what struck me about this ad, besides the unbelievable and
outrageous fact that they are buying you out for $150 dollars a song,
is the formula they have presented.

Basically they want to produce a 9 track album and they already know
what each song needs to be about.

We always knew these acts where formulaic, but this ad spells out the
album formula for every Brittany/Hillary/Ashley pop princess in the
making.

Every record label owes the author of this ad a debt of gratitude for
their efforts to further the formula that is the product that we call
pop princess.

All you have to do is find a teenage girl that will do what you tell
her (Who cares if she can really sing or not, it hasn't hurt Ashley
any). Add some slinky clothes and follow this album recipe and
Walla!.... Instant pop princess.

You Band Must Have Issues

It never ceases to amaze me the ads that I see as a professional musician.

I found this one while looking for gigs. I did not make this ad up. This is verbatim:

"New show casting bands who have a member who's struggling w/something (addiction, relationship, etc. Docu-style, tons of exposure.  Email w/name, band name, description of member with issue, myspace, and phone number".

One of the things that I preach to up and coming musicians, is the importance of being professional.  Being a drug addict doesn't work in todays music industry.  Being difficult (IE: having issues) doesn't work in todays music industry environment. Here we have an ad encouraging the opposite. And offering to reward it no less.

Unbelievable!

I just want to make a good living at this so that I can keep writing and recording new songs. I just want to be the best musician and songwriter and performer that I can possibly be.

But sometimes I wonder if being a good songwriter and a good musician isn't enough to get me noticed. Sometimes I think that I will sell a lot more CDs if I shoot someone, or do something scandalous....is this what it takes? 

Of course there is no way that I am running over someone's dog just to get press. But I do wonder sometimes....What's your opinion? 

 

 

Music Worth Buying Week of 08/04/08

Life Death Love And Freedom

Artist: John Mellencamp

You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Rock, Blues, Old School Country, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Early Roots Music, Electric Folk

Worth buying? Yes, the whole album!

Tell me more: Sometimes, when an artist stops being concerned with releasing a hit, it becomes the time  when they create some of their greatest music.  For years I have only known John Mellencamp by his hits. I have never really bought or listened to any of his any of his albums.  So that opening statement may not be a fair one, but as I listened to this album, I couldn't help but feel that he doesn't care one bit anymore if he ever has a hit song again or not. John Mellencamp's latest CD is an astonishingly powerful music al statement about.......Well, life, death, love, and freedom. The title pretty much sums up what the album is about. There is a haunting sparseness to the sound of this album that just echos in your head long after you've listened to it. Like I said in the beginning, I knew his hits, but I wasn't really a fan....But with this album I have become one.

What about the packaging: The CD comes in a digipak with a nice lyrics booklet that is easy to read. What is really unique is that it also comes with a DVD version of the album that boasts a quality that is nearly indistinguishable from the master tapes. This DVD version can be played on your computer or DVD player and is a real plus for you audiophiles

Listen to the album and buy in mp3 format here

CD Version (Includes bonus DVD)

What if I am not ready to buy the whole CD? Try buying  Don't Need This Body (A song about a man accepting the end of his life).