Excellent video of street musicians around the world playing the classic Ben E King hit, “Stand by Me.”  The more time I spend on social media and music research, the more I am reminded of how much musical talent there is out there. A lot of these people will never see the inside of a [...]

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This is a great example of how music technology can be used to create great artistry.

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The Problem With Music
by Steve Albini
Whenever I talk to a band who are about to sign with a major label, I always end up thinking of them in a particular context. I imagine a trench, about four feet wide and five feet deep, maybe sixty yards long, filled with runny, decaying shit. I imagine [...]

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All right that’s probably too bold a statement to make. Ars Technica among many other sources reports that Apple has passed Wal-Mart as the top US music retailer. This is definitely an indication of how much music retailing has changed in the five years since Apple launched online music sales. Apple passing Wal-Mart, which for [...]

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Went to the Manchester Library today, which is actually nicer than the institutional-looking picture they have on their website. I cleared up some old overdue book fines, restored my good name, and checked out some CD’s by Billy Idol, Miles Davis, Harry Connick Jr., Alison Krauss and Union Station, and George Winston. I [...]

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Ibrahim Ferrer passed away this past weekend. I have written about Ferrer before on this blog, mainly to register my disgust at the small minds who prevented Ferrer from attending the Grammy awards for when he was nominated for his Grammy this past year. I wish Ry Cooder could write my eulogy. Of Ferrer, Cooder [...]

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Jazz and the lack of swing Why does so much modern jazz seem to have absolutely no rhythmic or melodic center? If Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong are the epitome of jazz, then the postmodern atonal arrhythmic jazz of today must only represent the complete polar opposite. Is the purpose of modern jazz, [...]

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Live Music. Finally dragged myself out of my usual go home and do nothing mode to go out last night and check out a couple bands playing at a live showcase: Betterman’s Rule and Earthdog. I was quite impressed with both bands – they have worked on their material well and know [...]

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Yes, Justin was able to lure me into World of Warcraft. He missed his calling as a crack dealer.
Going to try to track my exercise on a daily basis. Today: 20 minutes at the track. Probably would have been better not to do it in the heat of the afternoon – [...]

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The kind owner of a message board I hang out on have a internet streaming “radio” evening on Saturdays with 45 minute blocks for the members. I decided to go against the crowd and come up with a “Love Stinks” playlist. Here it is:
Hurt – Johnny Cash – American IV
Somewhat Damaged – [...]

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