tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64907657099360983992024-03-12T16:58:41.627-07:00DiatonicismMusic and Other Prerequisites for LifeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11211022327879792141noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490765709936098399.post-85228089697992146002012-09-14T19:40:00.001-07:002012-09-14T19:58:38.857-07:00Vicci Martinez ala Steve Vai<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">
Acoustic Vision</span></h2>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Every once in a while I’ll stumble upon an artist that
really speaks to me. Such was the case last weekend. My brother had given me a
pair of 4</span><sup style="text-align: justify;">th</sup><span style="text-align: justify;"> row tickets for my birthday to see Steve Vai at the
Morristown PAC. And while I can spend all night talking about how awesomely awesome
Steve Vai is, and yes, my bro for getting me the sweet seats- (you rock Keith!),
as a music connoisseur I am obliged to tell you about the opening act. But
first an admission of guilt.</span><br />
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I pride myself on finding those little known bands and musicians
that always seem to find their way into the “Obscuria” bin at the local music
boutique. But in this case I may be a bit late to the proverbial party. Some of
you may have already heard about Vicci Martinez and will undoubtedly roll your
eyes in disdain for my late entry. Go ahead… Give me your best <i>“Really? That’s so last year.”</i> But for the
rest of you, I offer the following.</div>
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<h3>
Setting the Seen</h3>
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Before I took my seat I glanced around the theater to see
how many people were interested in hearing the opening act. As I scanned the
audience, I noticed that <st1:state>New Jersey</st1:state>’s
own Eddie Trunk was standing directly behind me talking with someone. I gave
him a nod acceding to his local <i>and now-national</i>
(<i>thanks to “That Metal Show”) </i>notoriety.
And he was kind enough to wave back and smile unwittingly acknowledging my severe
lack of notoriety. But it was good to see him at such a small venue and even
better to see that he stayed to watch the opener. </div>
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OK- So the common thinking is that the major label bands will
choose an opening act that is musically similar to their own style and
therefore should get the audience warmed up for the “real deal”. Right? Not so
fast Sammy. We’re talking about Steve Vai here. It’s a well known fact that he
is an alien. No…he is an Alien Guitar God. And therefore you can not expect him
to adhere to normal standards. Enter Vicci Martinez. </div>
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Vicci took the stage and as she picked up her acoustic
guitar she announced that she was filling in for someone that night. Who it was
I couldn't say. I don’t remember and <b>I don’t care</b>. Because as soon as she
started to play I instantly became fixated on her style and musicianship. As a
guitarist, I tend to focus on chord selection and progression (among other
things) while a musician is playing. And Vicci was hitting all the right
chords. She opened with a song called “Come Along” which was a subtle
invitation for the audience to follow Vicci on her short opening act journey. (FYI…We’re going to revisit this song in a bit)</div>
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If you’re into the whole acoustic singer-song writer thang, there’s
no doubt you can relate to the intimate setting that can only be offered by a
small venue. You’re not just listening to music. You are feeling it. It’s that soft
reverb that is rendered by the natural acoustics of the theater. It’s that focus
that helps amplify the resonance or dissonance in each chord. Having said that,
nearly thirty seconds into Vicci’s set I leaned into my brother and said, “<i>Ga-damn. She’s good</i>!” OK. She’s got my
attention now. And I have to say that she just got better with each song that
followed. Her set included: Come Along, Jolene, Touch That Fire, In Dreams and she
finished with a song called Enjoy the Ride. So Vicci had a total of 5 songs to
reel me in and that’s exactly what she did. Each song showed a passion for her music
and a love for her need to perform. And what can I say? The girl can sing.
There is no doubt about it. </div>
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Here's a link to "Touch That Fire" as she performed it that night....<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De3O3WSbPIg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De3O3WSbPIg</a></div>
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After the show I had a chance to meet with Vicci and talk
about her young career and passion for music. We talked about how she got her
start in music and then quickly moved into philosophy, her deep seated need to “…get
out what I feel inside” and performing. She said, <i>“I love writing about things that really move me. I have a burning
desire to share these things and I hope that I can connect with my audience on
some level”. </i> And connect she did. Her
love of music came shinning through helping her to deliver on her invitation to
“Come Along”.</div>
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<h3>
What Is and What Should Never Be</h3>
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Vicci turned down an invitation to appear on American Idle after
winning the regional tryouts. She then moved on with an appearance on Star
Search in 2003 and finished 3<sup>rd</sup> overall in 2005 for her efforts on “The
Voice”. Which if you ask me, although I did not see her on The Voice, I could
state with 100% accuracy that the judges got it wrong. I am sure that whoever
may have won that year is off to a great start in music making cookie cutter
crap that the record executives just adore. My contempt for these shows is well
known. I am not suggesting that are not talented people on these shows. They
are in my opinion, incredibly talented people who are merely fodder for the big
record companies. <br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
Rock n Roll Baby</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U6e6zmnuIBuYtUUIOXs_zI4H7UDsFu6PTQmNPsZNSryY3cL_khjDnXSb_XoelhpzoNfeyFZjtYTpAzXmEN-k-5KwhyphenhyphenPCpex_Mb6s0aKVgCeIyQZPeRJh7T69dGhIjt9KeB1z8F8g7pi7/s1600/Me+and+Vicci+Martinez+9-8-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6U6e6zmnuIBuYtUUIOXs_zI4H7UDsFu6PTQmNPsZNSryY3cL_khjDnXSb_XoelhpzoNfeyFZjtYTpAzXmEN-k-5KwhyphenhyphenPCpex_Mb6s0aKVgCeIyQZPeRJh7T69dGhIjt9KeB1z8F8g7pi7/s320/Me+and+Vicci+Martinez+9-8-12.jpg" width="320" /> </a><span style="text-align: justify;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I picked up a copy of Vicci’s latest CD simply called <i>Vicci (which she was nice to sign for me) </i>and
promised I would<i> </i>do a review. Vicci
Martinez is an extremely talented musician whose lyrics are deeply rooted in
emotion and conviction. She has a strong musical background that, on first
glance, would tie her directly into a singer/song writer lineage. But Vicci<i> </i>shows that there are a few more layers to
her in this new CD. </div>
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After hearing her perform the very powerful “Touch That Fire”
in an acoustic setting on stage, I was very impressed with a broader version that
included her full band with an R&B slant. With this release, Vicci Martinez
is making great strides into both the pop and R&B arenas. With a voice that
reaches down into your soul, there is no doubt that she will go far. Give one
listen to “Let Go” and you will see what I mean.</div>
</div>
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There is an edge to this CD that is hard to define. Vicci makes
use of great guitar licks and some infectious grooves that command you to move.
Listing to “I Want Your Kiss” actually forces you out of your seat. And that’s
a difficult task for me! </div>
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If you are into more of the Singer/Song Writer aspects of her
music, I would suggest you pick up Vicci’s 2005 effort called “On My Way”. You'll get a good idea of Vicci's musicianship and guitar playing. It’s
a great CD that has taken over my iPod. I highly recommend it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11211022327879792141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490765709936098399.post-71076343562753528882012-03-27T20:10:00.002-07:002012-03-27T21:05:36.560-07:00A Signal to Noise<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOM_Rdo4PxtBwnQeOnzmslf0tOwg1YdcvL0W3f4RnDkpcgrQDRN5obkocOC2J5wNih7xC60XFtVrV0vT2mSgU0NIn4HC-tUySHlcyLnRwnP-H1yyg89j6mdZnCS0Qbe5KVLcF-9XNyQX-/s1600/signal_to_noise.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Do you hear what I hear?" border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVOM_Rdo4PxtBwnQeOnzmslf0tOwg1YdcvL0W3f4RnDkpcgrQDRN5obkocOC2J5wNih7xC60XFtVrV0vT2mSgU0NIn4HC-tUySHlcyLnRwnP-H1yyg89j6mdZnCS0Qbe5KVLcF-9XNyQX-/s320/signal_to_noise.jpeg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you hear what I hear?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
A few tips people who don't want to spend a bundle on music gear but still want great sound.</h4>
<br />
Recently I shared a few laughs with fellow Google Pus user Mari Thomas who created a post about a $300 pair of headphones. She joked about wishing she cared that much about sound. Which got me thinking..."<i>What are most people using to listen to their music</i>?" While I've always considered myself an audiophile, I never really understood the technical details of the components I purchased or how/why they made my music sound so good. I just knew I wanted the best sound I could get for my price range.<br />
<br />
A few days later I found myself in the store with my daughter who desperately needed a new set of ear buds. This is right up my ally. I can advise her on which buds would be best for her. And after all, there is some audiophile gene that gets past down in the DNA right? Wrong. She chose as set of low cost, hot pick ear buds that from a no name manufacturer. After giving my best shot of explaining why that set would not be a good choice she simply looked at me and said, <i>"Oh daddy, you just don't get it." </i>I could not overcome the power of pink.<br />
<br />
So I'm going to make an assumption that you're looking for a few tips on buying a decent pair of ear buds, become a pseudo-audiophile and that you'd want to bypass of of the technical mumbo jumbo (<i>that's actually a technical term. No really. It is.</i>) and get to the good stuff. That cool with you? Great.<br />
<br />
Looking for a good set of ear headphones eh? Well, I've got some bad news for you all. Those ear buds that your friend just bought at the convenience store for $4.99 really suck. I mean they suck so bad that it breaks several international trade laws just describing how bad they suck. So I actually can't tell you anymore. But here's the good news. With a few small upgrades you can be as cool as <i>Dan Auerbach</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> of The Black Keys </span>jammin at the Catalpa Festival. Well, maybe not <i>that </i>cool. But first let's discuss why some of those low cost ear buds do not produce the best sound.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeQh_K-z3zZk6ediIz4yzo-x6t1SwLDz4BpGho_oIFpQp_VNRu1HxYLHv1zz2IK5gx1QWKEwkOdLyT9INUPtN5-Hu1rl6y8EZtLCqRjP4XCY5amz1Olphr-K_wZ16V7-mW5enFQ3Z9QLi/s1600/331231-paradigm-shift-e3m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeQh_K-z3zZk6ediIz4yzo-x6t1SwLDz4BpGho_oIFpQp_VNRu1HxYLHv1zz2IK5gx1QWKEwkOdLyT9INUPtN5-Hu1rl6y8EZtLCqRjP4XCY5amz1Olphr-K_wZ16V7-mW5enFQ3Z9QLi/s320/331231-paradigm-shift-e3m.jpg" width="320" /></a>(A quick <b><span style="font-size: x-small;">DISCLAIMER</span></b>- I realize that the term "good" is subjective one. What might sound good to me may sound like crap to you. But for the sake of this article we need to agree that there are ways to measure the quality of sound reproduction and there's good reason why certain components cost more than others.)<br />
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Let's assume that the average person uses the ever popular Skullcandy ear buds at an average price of $19.99. They are marketed well, have killer packaging and are priced at under twenty bucks for a good reason. Without bringing up technical specs let's try to explain why a set of ear buds at this price range may not be the best choice.<br />
<br />
Say you and I are going on a long drive in your car. We both enjoy the same music and we're looking forward to some good jams along the way. But we have the windows open the entire time. What's that? You can hear the bass but not the can't hear the rest of the music over the noise from the windows? Most ear buds in this price range work in the same way. They do not filter out the noise (same as the noise from the windows) they generate simply by trying to recreate the music. As a result the music is muddled and the quality is definitely less than optimal. <span style="background-color: white;">Now I ask you, How are you going to listen to </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dw1DlCXXv0" target="_blank">Brooklyn Funk Essentials</a> with all that funky bass on a set of ear buds like that?<br />
<br />
Now let's say we have rolled up the windows. We've just removed the source of the noise and we can hear the music much better, right? Check out that kick drum....nice huh? Upgrading your current set will help you in a similar way. They are engineered to remove the signal noise, do a better job of reproducing the music and provide deep bass while delivering a nice tonal balance.<br />
<br />
I've tested some mid-priced ear buds and most of them do a fairly good job of music reproduction, have decent sound quality and bass response. There is a <i>very wide range</i> of mid-priced ear buds costing between $40-$60 on the market today and as you would expect, manufacturers offer models at all different price ranges. So the best approach is to go out and test some for yourself.<br />
<br />
Here are some brands that you may consider on your search for the perfect fit.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><b>Klipsch</b>- You really can't go wrong with Klipsch. (Sets ranging from $40-$300) </li>
<li><b>Bose </b>- Good sound quality, excellent bass. (Sets ranging from $100-$400)</li>
<li><b>Monster</b> - New to the market but places well in tests.
(Sets ranging from $70-$150)</li>
<li><b>V-Moda</b> - Not one of my favs but included a call answer button (about $130)</li>
<li><b>Sony </b>- Basic stuff. You can find them in a variety of models. (Sets ranging from $20-$450)</li>
<li><b>Sennheiser </b>- A very good set for the money. (about $45-$60)</li>
<li><b>Shure </b>- You absolutely won't be disappointed. (Sets ranging from $50-$650)</li>
<li><b>Paradigm</b> - Very, very good sound quality.
(Sets ranging from $50- $99- $130)</li>
</ol>
<br />
(<i>OK. A quick aside:</i> I use Bose IE ear buds. They are not what you would call "best on the market" but they do perform very well for the money and provide some kick ass range. As anyone will tell you, I do love my music. I listen to my iPod whenever I go food shopping and one day I happened to be listening to a live version of Peter Gabriel's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72KnhRR-icc" target="_blank">Blood of Eden</a> while I was standing in line at the check out counter. So around the 4:40 mark in the song, <i>in case you listen to it,</i> Peter sings about "a perfect moment, a moment of forgetting, a moment of bliss." And then...lets out this deep seated lamentation. I have to admit, a single tear made its down my cheek. I'm not sure I would have been so move had I been wearing a low end set of buds. And maybe I could have bypassed the inevitable awkward "Hey mister...are you OK moment with the 16 yr old check out girl.<br />
<br />
The payoff? By spending an a few extra bucks you will open yourself to a whole new level of sound and get a better groove on to your favorite tunes.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Hear's the Bad News</h4>
<div>
At this point of the game, MP3 files are used by almost every person on the planet. What you may not know is that this is what's known as a compressed lossy file format. These music files are great for reducing the amount of data needed to produce your music which allows you to store more music on your favorite MP3 device. MP3s provide a fairly good reproduction of the original uncompressed file and is largely based on what's known as "<i>Perceptual Coding</i>". Which means this file format attempts to provide the best sound quality by removing certain points of fidelity within the music which are considered to be beyond the auditory perception of the average person.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc7DAn8Y5OI3FCFx6nkZNmEL3Epmzow-jGPoV9LifJkmh0Ws9jeOgbVvSXO3czfISPFV0rfoR9rf9EbzJSKmbLomBI0L3uPQovIpsbx6ZUkwa9WPMoat6VPklwGuWuSH89Skq8XTfs43d/s1600/tape_music_desktop_wallpaper_24841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc7DAn8Y5OI3FCFx6nkZNmEL3Epmzow-jGPoV9LifJkmh0Ws9jeOgbVvSXO3czfISPFV0rfoR9rf9EbzJSKmbLomBI0L3uPQovIpsbx6ZUkwa9WPMoat6VPklwGuWuSH89Skq8XTfs43d/s320/tape_music_desktop_wallpaper_24841.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<b>Bottom line: </b>You're not hearing all of the music you are intended to hear. Think of it like watching a movie on your neighbor's old television set and then coming home and watching another movie on your brand new HD TV. You see?</div>
<div>
<br />
If you are so inclined, you may look into other digital music formats that are called "Lossless". Some of the more popular file extensions are:<br />
<br />
- FLAC ( Fee Lossless Audio Codec)<br />
- WAV (The Windows Standard)<br />
- AIFF ( Audio Interchange File Format)<br />
<br />
As mentioned these file formats require much larger disc space but do provide higher quality sound reproduction. Your iPod will not be able to play FLAC or AIFF files. So if you want to improve the quality of your music you will need to look for another portable music player.<br />
<br />
<b>So tell me:</b> What are you using and why?<br />
</div>
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<i>Signal to Noise - <span style="font-family: inherit;">t<span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;">he ratio of the </span><span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" id="itxthook0w0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; bottom: auto; display: inline; float: none; left: auto; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-top: 0px !important; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important; position: static; right: auto; top: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">power</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> or volume (amplitude) of a signal to the amount of disturbance (the noise) mixed in with it. </span></span></i><br />
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11211022327879792141noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6490765709936098399.post-59056228751677908252012-03-16T22:24:00.006-07:002012-03-23T18:02:52.764-07:002 Reasons Why Social Media is a Bitch<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6OQaITKd7zHxUA2iYN26fzb9NWk62yuv6Zdg0jPs4FVP19PLyylFIhkoCQ3DYo_K1nvss6y8JGLcVfj5QNG4QYj1pp7xgRL8WEBBMhlBiXJ94JP5RQTfmZaSc8pI2dGc7_CIeMrcYYMU/s1600/JMM_3_2_illu01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6OQaITKd7zHxUA2iYN26fzb9NWk62yuv6Zdg0jPs4FVP19PLyylFIhkoCQ3DYo_K1nvss6y8JGLcVfj5QNG4QYj1pp7xgRL8WEBBMhlBiXJ94JP5RQTfmZaSc8pI2dGc7_CIeMrcYYMU/s400/JMM_3_2_illu01.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s dark. You find yourself
sitting in a cave comforted only by the fire that illuminates the walls that
bear primitive drawings of the latest hunt. Off in the distance you hear the
faint sounds of drums beating and cutting through the darkness giving witness
the birth of the highest form of social media ever created - Music. </span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s kind of funny to think of it
that way but social media does have deep seated roots dating back to the days
of the Neanderthal. We’ve obviously come a long way since then. Radio and
television have had a huge impact on society at large. And new technologies,
coupled with the internet, are dredging deeper trenches into our lives making
sure we stay dependent on the newest trends. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Like all other art forms, music has
played a vital role in shaping our culture, the way we think and often times,
the way we remember things. And if you’re like me, music is a pretty big part
of life. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
But I have to ask; W<i>hat affect is social media, yet another element that has a huge impact in shaping our culture, having
on musicians and music today? </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
When MTV first aired in 1981, the
very first music video it played was “Video Killed the Radio Star” by the
Bungles. (Yes, at one point MTV did play music videos.) I’m not sure if this
was an extremely clever prediction of what was to come but there is a certain
irony in that title when you consider the profound impact the station had on music
and its unrelenting effects on culture. This came at a time when there was absolutely
nothing new on the social media radar and it seemed like the only way to
connect with your favorite band/musician was to listen to the radio, buy some
cassettes and pray that they made it into the next issue of your favorite music
magazine. <i>(BTW, from my perspective listening
to mainstream radio is a crime worthy of cruel and unusual punishment.) <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The bottom line? Musicians were
forced to make major changes to the way they interacted with fans. If you
didn’t have a video that was being played on MTV, you had no chance of getting
noticed. Period. While this proved to be a positive thing for musicians, it set
the stage for what would ultimately become the biggest failure of large scale
social media outlets.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Today we have the <i>privilege</i> of watching shows like
American Idol or The X Factor. While there is no doubt that there are a few
really talented people that have performed on these shows, those watching
certainly seem to be inflicted with musical vacuity. Let’s face it. The only
reason people watch reality shows like this is because it provides them with an
opportunity to feel better about their own existence and superior to the poor
schmuck that thinks he can sing and does not mind making a fool of himself on
national television. Shows like this have nothing to offer us in true musical
talent. They are simply breading grounds to anesthetize the masses into
following what the record labels and large companies like Disney or Viacom (<i>Teen Nic</i>) want us to listen to. They
inundate us with over rated, quasi talented and hyper marketed drivel that lulls
the minds of pre-teens and teenagers into thinking that there is no other
musical outlet other than what they see/hear on these shows. The “<i>music</i>” performed on these shows are
cookie cutter templates that are written and produced by the same 4 studio
musicians in some gawd awful place like Lodi, NJ and pawned off as the latest
hit by these so-called music stars. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>This is a crime.</b> This is not what
the most powerful social media outlet on the planet should be offering us. Where is the real talent? Where are the real musicians? Where is the kid
sitting in his bedroom learning his chops on the guitar or piano while all of
his friends are playing XBox? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
If you spend a few days in a large city like <st1:state><st1:place>New
York</st1:place></st1:state>, you’re likely to have an opportunity to meet
these gifted musicians. Some using nothing more than plastic pails as a drum
set and others with an acoustic guitar using an open case to collect the small
donations for their talents. These buskers are some of the best musicians
around. And man, can they kill it. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPe0-BWaToVXuzGVFDejOEIxJTl4Dc7CVpglWE5JITQUgpLMikga5EiTjc_jATiPr_469kIoGmj9WSmzP1dAzmEx9ja2UKnLbq7JKqPoicKUmqu5TR4t48Dgo_JG7axKCr1A9Ln-uNgeU/s1600/violinist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOPe0-BWaToVXuzGVFDejOEIxJTl4Dc7CVpglWE5JITQUgpLMikga5EiTjc_jATiPr_469kIoGmj9WSmzP1dAzmEx9ja2UKnLbq7JKqPoicKUmqu5TR4t48Dgo_JG7axKCr1A9Ln-uNgeU/s320/violinist.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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I can remember walking through
the subway one night after seeing a band perform in a small club. It was late
and there were no other people around. As I sat on the bench waiting for the
train, a few feet away from me a string quartet began to play. I melted into my
seat. I’m not sure if it was the natural reverb afforded to the music by the
subway tunnel or the simple experience of hearing Brahms String Quartet in C
minor being played in darkly lit, desolate area with no one else to share it
with. What I do know is that it brought me to fucking tears. These are the
people we should be hearing on national television. These are the real
musicians. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>(I should note that Guitar Center does have a series that highlights
some of today’s top musical talent with in depth interviews and live
performances where the musicians play in a very small studio with a handful of
lucky fans in the audience. I highly recommend it. Providing, of course, that
your local TV provider offers it.)</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyone that knows me well enough
will tell you that I was a pain in the ass when I was younger. I loathe
listening to the radio and if I got in your car, there was no doubt we were
listing to one of the several cassette tapes I had in my coat pocket. (<i>Today I just whip out my iPod</i>.) Even as
a young kid I knew that listening to the radio would severely limit my options
and pigeon-hole me into the musical mold in which they wanted me to fit. Back
then I was involved in a huge underground movement that traded new music the
old fashioned way. It was not uncommon to receive a cassette tape that was
originally created on the opposite coast. I was listening to bands like
Metallica, Motley Crue and even Nirvana long before they were on anyone’s radar.
<i>Yes Lars, you have to admit that you guys
were handing out demo tapes at every show and giving your music away to anyone
that would take it from you.</i> </div>
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<br /></div>
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So what does all of this have to
do with social media? A lot actually… </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Exhibit A</span></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Back in the “Good ol’ days”
musicians only needed two things. - An original sound and a great look. A
band’s popularity was based solely on the merits of their music. Fans would
hear a song, buy the CD and go see the band when they came to their area.
That’s the natural progression of things. Bands were not dependent on hit
counts and links. Today’s artists need to have at a minimum, accounts on close
to 15 websites and have the ability to maintain those accounts. While Myspace
had the best chance of offering a great outlet for musicians, it is outdated
and largely quiescent within the social media arena. Facebook, is the largest
social media outlet by far but let’s face it, its crap and it offers little in
the way of new technologies that can help an upcoming band other than a way for
people to “<i>like</i>” them. Facebook may
be great for the average Joe to follow his favorite musician and feel connected
but this is really more of a tool for those bands that have an established
following. Ever find yourself on the page of a local band or a musician that </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Is looking for an audience? Not
much going on there. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Sites like Bandmix.com,
SoundCloud.com, ReverbNation.com, Grooveshark.com and Soundclick.com offer an
artist a wide variety of tools to connect with would be fans and allow the general
public plenty of bandwidth to preview new music. But how many more sites like
this are out there? How often do you find yourself logging onto ReverbNation to
look for new music? And if the music is not accompanied by a video, how likely
are you to spend your valuable time online listening to a song you’ve never
heard before? My bet is not often. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Exhibit B</span></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Given the current economic
climate and having to deal with the always evolving music business, artists are
in constant need to find new ways to reach out and connect with people. It’s
not about the money. It never has been. If you forget about the money making
music machine that was the 80s, a time when non talented plastic bands were
being stamped out on a daily basis like cheap toys you find at the dollar
store, you’ll find that musicians are all about making a deep connection.<span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;">(BTW, a large portion of today’s
music fits the model created 80’s. )</span></span> They’re putting it all out there
for you. Raw and unashamed. They put their talents on the line for you to be
the ultimate judge and to decide if their music is worthy of your time. Maybe
it’s a band with a new groove or a singer-songwriter who is painting new
landscapes with a few simple chords but an artist’s main concern is making that
connection with you.</div>
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<br /></div>
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To show you how badly musicians
wish to make that connection, several artists have gone as far as to give free
online concerts. While I’m sure that this will soon become the standard for
today’s new musicians, I’m not sure I agree with the precedent it sets. Why
should I bother going out to see an artist if I can sit in my home and watch
him/her perform right there on my monitor? Why should I bother purchasing an
artist’s music when there’s a good chance that it will be made available to me
on a music sharing site at some point? (By no means am I suggesting that you
should download music illegally but it IS a fact of life if you are an artist.)
</div>
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<br /></div>
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Yes kiddies, social media is a
bitch. It can be an artist’s best friend or provide an avenue for his ultimate demise.
My advice? Go out and see a new band or artist. Get up off your ass and away
from your computer and get into a club that supports the music scene. </div>
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Make that connection. I await
your comments. Let the beating of the drums begin. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11211022327879792141noreply@blogger.com0