Category: Music

Probably 2 or 3 times a week, I get the meloday of John Coltrane’s "Giant Steps" caught in my head and it becomes the running theme for the next couple hours. I always loved that album. It was one of 2 tapes I listened to over and over for 6 weeks while I trekked through Australia alone in the fall of 1990*. And maybe because that was such a good time in my life, I keep remembering it. But, then again, it might be because its both a ditone and a quadratone progression between B, G and Eb. Or something like that. Check out this explanation of the melody in the song.

* the other was a mixed-tape given to me by my old friend Michelle. I listened to it every night when I went to sleep, trying to come up with the secret meaning behind the song choices, since we all know, every hand-made mixed tape (at least back in the pre-MP3 days) had a secret meaning when one friend gave it to another.

Get yer Garageband on: Basic Hip Digital Oddio.

Spin’s list of accurately rated (by the critics) bands.

I’ve been looking for a utility like this for a while. It slows down MP3 files so you can learn the guitar, bass or drum parts. I’m pretty bad at guitar, so a tool like this is a great help in learning new songs. And, can’t beat the free price!

Iron and Wine’s album from earlier this year Our Endless Numbered Days is getting heavy rotation on my Ipod. So is the cover of Peng! from an exclusive EP. So good, so simple. I first heard this guy/band on the soundtrack from the movie “Garden State”, though I had heard of him before. Well worth a listen for fans of slowcore, Low, Badly Drawn Boy, bedroom recorders and, generally, the southern gothic in Rock and Roll.

Great cover of Sunday Bloody Sunday by George W. There’s been a lot of talk about this next song, maybe too much talk.

Bill Shatner’s latest album, WILLIAM SHATNER HAS BEEN…. , comes out on October 5th. I can’t wait. Bombast be damned, toupee or not, I’ll take Shatner anyday.

Top 10 Most Ridiculous Black Metal Pics of All Time- RUTHLESS REVIEWS I’m sure all these guys thought they were really cool and that these pictures would look great and all. But this is one ugly set of snapshots of losers who love death metal.

I’ve never been a huge believer in Jack White and the White Stripes. I always thought there was too much schtick, despite the talent. But wow, that Jack White is an amazing producer. Listen to what he’s done with Lorretta Lynn on Van Lear Rose. He’s taken a cue from from Rick Rubin, plugged her in, and saved one of America’s lost treasures. Her singing and writing are put front and center, pretty (“Miss Being Mrs. Tonight”) and honest and proud (“The Story of my Life”) and yes, happy. She’s not drowning under the weight of lazy Nashville studio cheese played by wired studio sleazes, bored waiting for Glen Campell to come back with the eight ball. The band is great, rough, ragged and ready to put the pedal in pedal steel, whoever they are. It’s scary at times, (“Mad Mrs Leroy Brown”) like the blues and old country are supposed to be because of the real energy and the wild side tha’s underneath all the best rock and roll when you strip away the studio crap. It’s a straight rush of pure, pure talent, right up from the holler and you’re right there. All thanks Jack White. Remind yourself how it should be done and welcome Lorretta Lynn back. But, she never really went away, did she.

“Singer Billy Joel was involved in his third car accident in two years Sunday when he slammed into a house on a wet road on Long Island. No one was seriously injured…There was no evidence that alcohol or drugs were involved and Joel was not suspected of any crime, said Nassau County police Officer Joan Eames.” Nothing newsworthy, other than to laugh at the drunk.