Politics, Music, Bono, U2 -- building bridges in Istanbul, Turkey

Just a short note.
With Apple trying to be Facebook and MySpace combined, and Facebook trying to be MySpace, and MySpace, well, just trying to stay alive these days, it reminds me of how much music and politics are intertwined. (And big business, but we already knew that. And we also knew that music choice plays an important role in political image -- can you say Republican Country Western and not Rock and Roll?)

So instead of raging against censorship, or celebrities that push a cause as a public relations ploy, I'll simply applaud the continuing efforts of Bono from U2. Yes, this is a plug for Bono. I like U2, always have, but I respect Bono. He isn't just involved in political action for the glory or headlines. He really cares about issues.

The latest event is U2's recent concert in Istanbul. Turkish fans online and at that concert were quite upset at Bono's meeting with the Prime Minister and State Minister Egemen Bağış, but Bono realizes that bridge building involves more than rages against the machine. In this case, he received boos from the crowd when he thanked the minister for "helping his band fulfill its dream of walking on the Bosphorus Bridge between two continents, Asia and Europe". Despite this, his dedication of a song to Fehmi Tosun, who had disappeared while in state custody, reminded fans, subliminally, that not only was he and the band for human rights, (after all, they mentioned Tosun on their 1997 album "Pop"), but bridges of all kinds need to be created in order to bring about positive change.

"Then came the surprising moment: Turkish protest singer, columnist and one-time Istanbul mayoral candidate Zülfü Livaneli was invited to the stage to sing a similar elegy. Bono joined Livaneli to sing “Yiğidim Aslanım Burada Yatıyor” (“My hero, the lion, lies here”), a song that was also sung during the funerals for murdered journalists and political activists during the 1990s, to a thunderous response from the crowd." --hurriyet daily news

The evening had more in store and all and all, we should be thankful that some rich, famous people, in the even unliklier form of a rock star, are willing to fight the good fight -- and build bridges so that real change can happen.

For the full story please see,
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=politics-on-focus-at-u2s-unforgettable-istanbul-show-as-usual-2010-09-07

Kirk Kirkland Oregon's Own Master SongMeister

Kris Kirkman
This rock and pop singer has the most amazing voice. Hailing from Portland, Oregon and so a Northwest native just like me, Kris probably isn’t known much outside of his own hometown - though his former band Perusa might be. Still...he should be. This singer/songwriter is a good example of how having a MySpace Music page can bring his talent to a wider and just-as-appreciative audience. While Kris’ band Purusa broke apart under the stress of actually being a hit, looks like the musician in Kris hasn’t given up on music. Kris’ haunting, fluid vocals emote raw feeling and echo infinitely onward carried gently through on waves of simple acoustic meaning. Translation: a good listen.

You can find Kris at http://www.myspace.com/kriskirkman

I think you’ll like him.

CG Anderson

MUSIC REVIEW: A Bamboo Orchestra and rock band 'four To three'

Bamboo Orchestra

Yes, it is not a typo. For a lovely fusion percussion, acoustic and experimental with not a small amount of naturalism thrown in, do head over to MySpace and visit the Bamboo Orchestra. The band itself is a blend of France and Japan musicality. Sound rhythms, haunting tunes and perfect beats. My only compliant was the shortness of the samples.

Still, if you want to relax a bit, then transport yourself to a world of bamboo...

You can find them at http://www.myspace.com/bambooorchestra

four To three

Want something a bit peppier but not over the top? How about four to three? This rock band out of New York has a lot of potential. Snappy tunes and good raw rocker-sounding vocals, backed up by simple yet clean beats and rhythms. One or two songs that really catch on and this group could find itself in the upper rungs the rock/pop ladder. I'd say they are a band to watch, especially as they continue to mature in musicality and lyric composition.

Check them out for yourself at http://www.myspace.com/fourtothree

CG Anderson

(please excuse typos..I've been tired lately...my apologies!)

MUSIC REVIEW: Japan's Indie Rockers, Sangreal

Another week, another chance to rock and roll.

This week I was once again in the mood for some rock and I was still hunting around old sites and new sites in Japan.

An indie rock band named Sangreal caught my eye and ear. While I still can't speak, much less understand, much Japanese, this band's musicality, vocals, tonality, passion and professionalism made me take quick note.

The lead singer, omi, has pleasant vocals with great tonality, pacing and passion. The song choices were fun yet still with driving rock beats. Think a mix of pop and rock, rather than grunge or metal. But even if you prefer metal or heavier beats, give this band a try. The ability of the musicians is apparent, from their perfect timing to their virtuosity on delicate and complicated riffs.

These guys can play; better yet, they're fun to listen to...and that makes them good performers as well. I love it when a band is not only fun to listen to, but also able to carry off complicated musical feats...and if they have passion as well (which you can hear in the music and the vocals), then I'm sold. And these guys have that.

Only complaint, they have three full songs on their MySpace site...but I wanted a lot more than three!

Give them a try...their site is at http://www.myspace.com/sangrealive

And don't forget to send me pointers to your favorite bands and singers! My email is on my profile and yes, I do read it!

Best,
CG Anderson

No Music Review this week: Call for suggestions from readers! 今週の音楽レビューはなし：読者から提案を要求しなさい！

I'm too fascinated with the Beijing Olympics right now. I totally haven't been looking for bands to review or singers to review. My apologies, but the Olympics only happen once every four years (or two years, rather, if you count Winter. So the seasonal Olympics only happen every four.) :)

But I'd like to hear from readers...

Who are your top five or ten favorite bands or singers?

Any country. Any genre. Famous or Unknown. I want to know.

If I get any responses, I'll summarize the results and review some of the top contenders.

So let me know!

Email your list to cganders1 "at" yahoo.com

Looking forward to hearing from you!

CG Anderson

---and now in Japanese----I hope-------そして今日本語で----私は希望する----

私はちょうど今北京オリンピックであまりにも魅せられている。 私はまったく再検討するべき音楽のグループあるいは再検討するべき歌手を探していなかった。 私の謝罪、しかしオリンピックは４年ごとに１度ただ起きるだけである。

けれども私は読者から便りをもらいたい・・・。

あなたの５あるいは１０人の大好きなミュージシャンあるいは歌手は誰であるか？

どんな国でも。 どんなジャンルでも。 有名である。 有名でない。 あるいは未知である。 私は知ることを望む。

もし私が回答を受けとるなら、私は結果を要約して、そしてトップの競争相手の若干を再検討するであろう。

それで私に知らせなさい！

あなたのリストを電子メールで送るから cganders1 <@> yahoo.com

あなたから便りをもらうことを楽しみにする！

CG 「シン・」 アンダーソン

くるり / Quruli (Kururi) serves up some easy listening with a bit of kick

Travelling a bit to the east today (from China) we are back in Japan. I'm in an easy, slow mood today since the sun is shining and it is actually warm here in the Northwest (Seattle, WA, USA.)

So perusing through Japan MySpace music sites I find くるり or Quruli by their spelling (Kururi by other Romanji spellings of Japanese Hiragana characters.)

This duo is an easy-listening group, and yes, it's pop music but again not necessarily the outrageous J-POP that most think of when thinking of the pop music scene of Japan. This duo is simply easy to listen to, with a focus on ballads. The musical orchestrations also tend to the ballad-like side, but with complexity and emotive overtones that I also hear with ballad-pop songs of Alanis Morissette.

I like pop tunes that have musical complexity and intricacy. It's one reason I love the work of Alanis. And these guys definitely have some of that same spark.

Vocally, they seem to stay in a safe range and their music tends to be a bit more controlled than American counterparts, but it could just be the selection of tunes that I heard.

Why not see for yourself. Kick back and listen to some Japanese pop for awhile (especially if you aren't into Japanese Metal. Though the two metal bands I found, see previous reviews, are really superb.)

Their MySpace music page is at http://www.myspace.com/quruliofficial

Have an easy, "slow riding in the sun" day!

Where shall I go next on this pre-Olympics musical tour? Continue WEST to Korea, perhaps? or EASTward toward Canada and the West Coast of the US?
Hmmm...

Cheers!
CG Anderson

Alex Fong and Stephy Tang Prove Hong Kong Knows Pop Music

OK, sorry it's been awhile but as life would have it, things came up that had to be dealt with right away.

But enough of the boring details of my life.......Let's start a summer international tour, in honor of the international cooperation surrounding the Olympics. In this case, surrounding the Beijing Olympics.

And let's start with Hong Kong!
And Alex Fong ...

No headbanging this time, just some easy listening pop. The singer? Probably unknown outside of Hong Kong, maybe known in Asia, but likely not much beyond that area. Alex Fong, aka Siu Fong, aka "Little Flying Fish". He's a pop singer, a Hong Kong swimming medalist, an actor and pretty darn cute to look at, too!

As a singer, he has a nice voice, well suited to easy pop tunes as well as romantic ballads.

Do I need to know Chinese to appreciate him or his voice? Of course not, I'm always listening to more than lyrics. I listen to voice quality, which is good here, delivery and emotional impact, which is GREAT here, musicality, instrumentation and in general, how it's all put together. He is signed by a major label, so as expected, the quality is good, and the band members are first rate professionals, as is the producer.

Even given those advantages, Mr. Fong doesn't just rest on the hard work of others to make him look good. He delivers a quality song with emotional impact--and that is why I'm reviewing him today.

So if you're curious to see how pop is done in China, and done well, take a listen and look at Alex Fong.

His myspace page is

http://www.myspace.com/alexfongls


Cute Pop guys aren't your thing? Well, what about cute Pop girls?

Stephy Tang

Stephy Tang, aka Tang Lai Yun, could easily fit into the cutie-girl JPOP group, except that she is Chinese.

This "model turned singer" is unsigned but has obviously got what it takes to make it big--and I mean successful beyond her obvious visual appeal!

This girl has a lovely voice and better yet, delivers songs with emotion and impact. I like that. It tells me that the singer really feels the music and the intent of the song (and the songwriter.)

It's hard to tell her range (as difficult as it was with Alex Fong), but despite that, it's obvious that she's had some good people helping her refine her voice, her presentation and her delivery--making sure that she doesn't overextend herself AND doing that without deadening the impact of her emotive delivery.

Stephy, unsigned, has just as many MySpace hits as Alex Fong, who is signed, so once again, MySpace proves that it can be a great equalizer.

It's up to viewers (listeners) to decide if they like what the singer has to offer.

In my case, I liked both--very much--in spite of the harsh start to some of the songs.

Check them out for yourself, compare them (minus the language issues) to other singers you like, and see what you think.


Stephy's myspace page is at
http://www.myspace.com/stephytg


And if you like them, let them know!

Never mind if you don't speak Mandarin or Cantonese or English or even Martian, for that matter! Just letting a singer or band know that you like their work is an encouragement that they need.

It's the kind of acknowledgment that we all need, no matter who and no matter what we do. So why not drop a line of encouragement if you like them?
Don't just lurk -- reach out and connect!

Cheers!
CG Anderson

A Tale of Two Goth Bands - Japan's "X Japan" and "Suicide Ali"

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Three Gems from Japan--semi-polished but promising. The Pillows, Tamurapan and rockers Oboro!

Ahhh!
Where do I start? Music in Japan! Oh yes! It's there!

I promised you a music review. So yes, here it is. I decided to take a broader look at Japan bands and singers on MySpace. I wanted to compare what I found to what I'm typically finding among new talent in the US and Canada.

In many ways, criticisms of Japan's music scene may be justified. It's been called backward or scattered as well as less flattering things. I do see a wide diversity of music there, true. However, since I use MySpace as way to judge the new talent out there, or undiscovered talent out there, I'm not just basing my views on music dictated by big media companies.

Most people are limited to listening to what corporate heads and 'insider' people have decided is 'hot' or 'cool.' That's why we get stuck with garbage like Heiress Paris Hilton--Singer Wannabe.

Go out to MySpace, the Internet, other sites across the Web to get a feel for the real diversity of talent (and lack of talent) out there.

So what I find with Japan is interesting--and really no different than what I find with the US or Europe or Canada or Latin America.

There is a lot of variety. Some of it isn't very good. Others are OK (and often they are the big stars!) Some is VERY VERY GOOD and UNDISCOVERED. Those are the gems I like to find--and I find them in a wide range of genres. The fact that many do not fit the corporate media view of what is marketable is one reason why so many great talents are relatively unknown.

Japan is no different (at least on MySpace.)

I'm going to show you three selections today. I want you to notice how each is different. Each has weaknesses; I won't overlook that, but each also is a gem in its own way. I'm guessing that two are relatively well known in Japan; and one band is an unknown but with a lot of potential, like Treasure Beauty, the singer I found earlier and posted about earlier.

Like her, this unknown band has some issues to deal with. Treasure Beauty's weakness, in my opinion which is only my opinion, is her stage presentation. She doesn't have much presence. She could learn a lot about how to give a more dynamic performance from other J-POP style artists; and learn about presentation from them even if she decides to NOT be as 'out there' as J-POP artists.

But let's look at these three Japan gems first in context.

Tamurapan (Tamura Ayumi)
With half a million profile views, she is definitely known, though likely only in Japan. Here we have a great example of a J-POP style singer. Her vocals are pleasant and enjoyable. She needs to watch her choice of music, as it often shows the limits of her vocal range, but when she stays within her range; her voice is lovely. Likewise, the song choices and music choices are generally well chosen. The instrumentation is flawless. The production is exceptional. The J-POP persona is evident--did you see her in the pink piglet outfit?

Give her a listen at
http://www.myspace.com/tamurapan

The Pillows
Got a hankering for the 1950s USA and old style Rock and Roll? This band evokes the same sound as the bands of old. Save for the use of Japanese, you could literally assume this band came right out of England or the US, circa 1955. I expected to suddenly hear Dick Clark doing a commercial break. The sound is professional. The vocals clear, distinct and fun. You literally forget that you can't understand a word, assuming you don't speak Japanese. This group, given their high profile numbers, is also likely well known in Japan. I guess Japan likes the Sock Hop. Still, every now and then, a bit of the 70s and 90s heavier rock sound sneaks in, complete with the screaming, emotional tears of teen angst. For example, I heard it in their songs "Hybrid Rainbow and Scarecrow." I quite liked the mix. These guys make it work.

Take a listen and don't forget your poodle skirt!
http://www.myspace.com/thepillows

Oboro
Here is the lesser known of the three today, but a group that shows a lot of promise. They are still a little uneven; some songs work and some, to my mind, fail badly. Their vocals are probably their weakness. Their instrumentals and songs are definitely their strength. As musicians, I was impressed by the skill shown here. They have decent MySpace profile numbers but nothing that would indicate that they are in the well known range, even in Japan.

Aside from the weaknesses I saw, which can always be improved by hard work and a clever understanding of how to play to their strengths, this group proves the fact that Japan is diverse but just as 'able to rock' as any other country. These guys definitely fall within the rock and alternative range--and they have the potential to be just as big or bigger as many famous bands.

No poodle skirts or roller skates here. These guys are at home with dissonance and social unrest--just want you want in an alternative rock band!

Give them a try and see if you agree with my assessment or not:
http://www.myspace.com/oborojp



So there you have it. Three very different types of music and musicians out of Japan. Each with its own unique take on the world; and the world of music. Each with strengths and weaknesses. Some well known in Japan. Some unknown but improving.

All in all, the music scene in Japan seems rich and diverse, humorous yet perverse?, rocking and rolling, subtle yet screaming, backward and forward and always moving....yet never boring.

In other words, par for the course in the world of music.

I wouldn't have it any other way!
What about you?

CG Anderson
As for translating this into Japanese, via Machine aided translation and lots of hard work with revisions, I haven't decided yet.
This is a long review and a lot is lost when I try to do a translation.
If I get a lot of emails from Japanese speakers who want the translation, then I'll give it a try. (email listed in profile)
If not, then enjoy the bad Google Machine Translation!

I shudder to think what it will turn out, given my winding sentences!

Westcott & Rodway Release New CD

Last year, they were one of the winners of the Aha! Blogolicious! Media Innovation Awards, earning it for their amazing fusion of flamenco and classical music, creating something that transcends both worlds of music and puts them into the mainstream.

They've returned from a European tour and have released their first CD.

These guys are definitely taking off!

Check it out, these guys are worth it.

their site:
http://www.myspace.com/westcottandrodway

CG

INTERVIEW with Morgan Davis of Rallytime Records

An Interview With Morgan Davis, Owner/Founder of Rallytime Records!
Subject--the Online World and the Music Industry.

Hi, today I'm talking (via email interview) with Morgan Davis. He's the owner and founder of Rallytime Records and also performs as Esio Trot. He graciously agreed to be interviewed and share his opinions on his label, Rallytime, as well as his views on the music industry, the online world and online music.

QUESTION (CG): "Why don't we start with the basics? Could you please tell me a little bit about your label? (History, size, number of clients, location)"


MORGAN: Rallytime Records was formed in April of 2006 by myself and Gord Myren. The idea had been around since 2003, but due to time and resource issues, it wasn't until that year that anything started. Although we formed it then in order to release an EP by our friends the Terrordactyls, who we had been recording for quite some time at our studio, we have always been interested in starting a multimedia organization and the record label seemed like the best branch to start with.

Currently we have 5 artists on our roster, Animal Nation (who are from Whistler, BC), Esio Trot (who are based out of Vancouver, BC), John Dye (who is based out of Vancouver, BC), Jeremy Nischuk (who is from Edmonton, Alberta) and the Terrordactyls (who are now based out of New York City, New York). Most of our acts are from Vancouver or the general area, and we have a headquarters in the city as well as a studio we use in Langley, which is a little south of Vancouver. We also have a headquarters in Seattle, Washington. We're currently a relatively small regional label, with most of our print runs being in the 10,000 range.

CG: What made you decide to get into this business? Isn't there a lot of competition?

MORGAN: We decided to get into this business because we saw a need for better label representation in Canada and felt that there was a definite place for an organization that could offer artists fair and just treatment. I've been in the music industry for about 7 years now, playing in bands of my own, working in various studios, and also doing merchandise management. When I moved to Seattle in 2003, I worked as the booking manager and director of a youth center called the Crux (which was operated by the Vashon Youth Council), on Vashon Island. While there, I truly realized what an impact music had on people and how difficult some entities, be they corporate, government, or otherwise, made it for artists to get their work to people. It was also at that time that I got to know two artists (Pete Droge and Ian Moore) who had been through the major label process and had come out of it feeling like they had been exploited and abused. Even though these artists had been relatively successful, they remained massively in debt to their labels and had made little off of their careers.

The idea for Rallytime came out of this experience, with my intention being to form an organization that would operate in every aspect of the arts (music, film, theatre, etc.) and help artists not only succeed at what they do, but also make a living off of it and never have to deal with third parties wishing to exploit them. So, while there is a lot of competition in this industry, and a lot of people who have a very different of how things should run, we are a pretty unique operation (on the independent circuit) in that as well as running the label, we also run the management firm that represents all of our artists, the studio they record in, and we are heavily involved in film, theatre, graphic design, and show promotion. Within the next five years, we expect our presence in areas outside of music to be at least equal to our presence within this field.

CG: How has your label fared so far in the business? Successes? Setbacks?

MORGAN: The label has fared at least as well as we expected it to. We make enough in our various branches to continue putting out music we love, but it will still probably be a few years until we obtain the level of notice of someone such as, say, Barsuk. Our biggest setbacks have mainly been the level of apathy the city of Vancouver has towards its independent music scene, particularly towards hip-hop. Animal Nation and ourselves have both been incredibly frustrated with the unwillingness of the city to recognize this scene or support it, especially the booking agents in Vancouver and the media. Papers here don't review or acknowledge much of anything that isn't already successful, and venues just don't book much in the way of hip-hop period. Even national acts that come through are often forced to be on clumsily formed bills, with hip-hop acts opening for punk bands opening for alt-country bands.

Even more discouraging has been the recent (and nearly secretive) acquisition of Vancouver's largest independent promoter (Sealed with a Kiss Productions) with the Clearchannel/Livenation subsidiary House of Blues. Vancouver's apathy towards its music community has caused the city to lose many great artists who leave the city for places like Montreal, and we've been forced to encourage our artists to look towards places like Seattle for the bulk of their shows. Also, as a result, we've had to become a promoter in the city a lot earlier than we had anticipated, or wanted.

CG: When did you decide to get an online presence? And why?

MORGAN: We made this decision immediately because, quite frankly, anyone who ignores the internet now is setting themselves up for failure. The internet has had as large an, if not larger, impact on music as the punk movement did. It has shortened the divide between consumer and artist, independent and major, considerably, allowing people to experience music instantaneously and at their disclosure and to discover artists from places they may never even visit physically with minimal effort.

For labels it has meant increased exposure at almost no cost and it has also meant that they can discover artists and fans in areas they may never have been able to reach otherwise. The existence of internet-only labels, such as what 5 Rue Christine/Kill Rock Stars have been up to lately, has been especially noteworthy, as it has allowed previously impossible to sustain forms of music (such as the experimental field, which has been exploding lately) to reach wider audiences at no cost, with printing now entirely eliminated from the picture. Even five years ago, this idea would be laughable at best.

CG: Why choose to have a MySpace presence? Was there a particular reason? Or is it just one of many online presences you have, each being no better than another?

MORGAN: MySpace, regardless of what you might personally think of it, has become another necessity. We had MySpace from the moment we formed because we knew that it was a resource that could not be ignored. We've had the conversation with our artists about traditional websites versus MySpace, and despite aesthetics, it's difficult to ignore the fact that our MySpace (and those of other, larger labels) gets more hits per day than our website may get in a month...and it's free. Of course everyone hates the constant glitching, the spam, the poor fidelity of the audio, the mallrats but MySpace (and whatever replaces it) will always be more visible than an actual site, because people check their MySpace every day.

I mean, when was the last time you checked an artist or label site just because?

CG: Has the Web/Internet made any difference to your effectiveness and success as a label? If so, why? If not, why do you think not?

MORGAN: I think the easiest way to tell that it has made a difference is that we get people sending us demos from places like Brazil, or Japan, or Spain...and none of us have ever been to any of those places. Without the internet, no one outside of Vancouver or Seattle would have heard of any of our artists or the label.

CG: Tell me about some of your musical group clients. Ones you are particularly proud of and why?

MORGAN: Honestly, we're proud of all of our groups. Everyone on the label makes music I honestly love, and I will do whatever I can to get their work out there, even if no one buys it until 100 years from now. Animal Nation continue to amaze me by how much they grow with each release, their most recent EP (Timezone, which you can listen to for free on our site) floored me the first time I heard it; John Dye is easily one of the best performers I've ever seen and he puts more into shows with attendances you can count on one hand than most groups put into sold out events, and his band is one of the tightest I've ever worked with, the release he has coming this September is one we expect to make some major waves; Jeremy Nischuk is without a doubt the most innovative musician I've ever worked with and I feel that he has the potential to become one of the most influential Canadian artists in decades, we can't wait to rerelease his incredible debut, Copies of Copies, later this year; and the Terrordactyls continue to be the most imaginative duo the world has ever seen. Now if only Esio Trot weren't such bastards.

CG: Of your clients, do they also have online pages, either on MySpace or elsewhere? What has been your impressions or feedback from your clients regarding having an online presence--good or bad--and why?

MORGAN: They all have MySpaces, but none of them have websites they actually use. They just tell us how they think ours should look, haha. But I'm pretty sure they all spend more time on MySpace than they do interacting with people in real life, which is a good or bad sign, depending on how you want to look at things.

CG: Do you believe that social sites like MySpace make it easier or harder for indie or small labels to compete with bigger labels in the industry? Why? Do you think it's just having an online presence anyway or having a presence on social sites geared for music fans (like MySpace Music and how it allows users to search and listen to new bands.)

MORGAN: It definitely makes it easier to compete, but I think the main accomplishment is that it makes it easier for music that major labels will never touch reach a pretty good size audience (although how the Rupert Murdoch factor will affect things, who knows). Having a site like MySpace take an interest in music has also been a huge help, because social gathering sites will always attract people in a way stationary websites cannot. Having music available in a place that people visit daily (or in some cases even hourly) will have a much larger impact than any other form of advertising could have.

CG: If you could change anything about having an online presence, MySpace or other, what would it be and why? (If it's an issue with the technical aspects please try to be specific about what you think would improve the experience.)

MORGAN: Really it's just the technical aspect of things. I'm not personally a fan of the constant epileptic fit that MySpace can be, or the onslaught of webcam girls it often is, but I understand why that happens. I do wish they would improve their glitchy-as-hell music player, though, both in the fidelity department and in its determination to make HAL look like the epitome of zen. But I understand that when you have hundreds of millions of users logging in as often as they do, it's probably already a nightmare for your servers, and using decent quality audio/video would only make that even more awful to deal with.

CG: If you responded to the previous question with a technically oriented change, then also think about and answer here about some non-technical aspect you'd like to see modified or changed...something that you think would make having an online experience for your label and your clients more worthwhile, or more competitive.

MORGAN: I would like to see MySpace use its power to focus on "new" artists that aren't just reformed rap groups or massively popular emo bands. It aggravates me when their artist of the week section is always bands that I believe most of Earth's population have at least heard of or bigger indie bands that are already well on their towards obtaining a level of media saturation that will put them on the pop culture map. I mean, really, can anyone say they aren't at least passingly aware of the Arcade Fire by now? Or Rilo Kiley?

CG: What are your general impressions about the state of the music industry, online and offline? Do you believe that it's getting tougher to succeed in this business? Is it getting more concentrated or more expansive, allowing for more voices or making it tougher for a greater diversity of talent to succeed?

MORGAN: It has always been incredibly difficult to succeed in this business. I don't believe it has ever been an issue of talent, so much as it has always been an issue of drive and determination. I have had this discussion with every single one of my artists and unfortunately this will never change: if you are not willing to cope with constant failure, struggle at the absolute bottom for possibly the entire length of your career, and watch as other, less talented artists pull ahead of you, this is not the industry for you.

Eventually it may be possible to "succeed" in this business without losing the vast majority of your soul, and we're hoping that we will eventually be able to be a major force in making that happen, but realistically, that will not happen today or tomorrow or even this year or this decade. I do, however, believe that people in this industry need to stop clinging to the idea of the album as a means of profit. Album sales are not going to recover until the majority of the population once again are willing to devote a large amount of time to listening to one work. MySpace is certainly not going to lead to that happening, as, by definition, its existence is structured around the ADHD our generation suffers as a whole and the single (or iTunes track) is best at satisfying that.

If you are an artist and you want to make a living off of what you do, it is now increasingly more important that you focus on things like merchandise and music licensing as a way to accomplish that. The major labels are refusing to acknowledge this, but I think the independent scene in general are grasping this and no longer pretending otherwise.

I also believe that our model of business, branching out into related fields as well as operating our own studio (because people will always need to record, regardless of format) and doing our own, will become increasingly more common, because these are areas where it is not only easier to make a steady income but also areas that will continue to exist regardless of what happens to the idea of how music is listened to.

People in the industry should embrace the internet not for its ability to sell records in more places, but because it allows your music to be heard by more people in more areas, people who could book shows for you or who could be in the business of buying songs to be used in films or on tv or who could ask you to tour with their much larger band. It is important to note that all the internet has done is make this happen faster, though, and in more areas, because music has always been discovered through communication.

CG: What could be done in your opinion to make the industry better, more successful (financially and artistically), and more innovative and open to new, emerging or smaller niche talent?

MORGAN: Quite honestly, the only thing that will make this happen is if people start wanting more innovative things, if they stop listening to mass commercialized "safe" radio and demanding different, more unknown talents.

So many people I know, including so many artists, complain about how much better music was in the '60's, or in punk's heyday, or even in the '80's, and the reason why that music did so well, why weird things like Laurie Anderson's "O Superman" or the Butthole Surfer's "Pepper" managed to top charts was because people at that time were more receptive to strange ideas and were more willing to take risks. It isn't that music of that caliber or that odd is no longer being made, it's just that people as a whole don't care about music the way they used to.

Albums used to be fetish objects, they used to be important happenings. Now, music is what goes on on your iPod while you are doing other things; the things that succeed are those that don't require a lot of attention, that don't interfere with everyone's daily lives and that can just blend in with everything else.

If you want music to once again be ruled by weirdos and innovators, you have to care about it and be willing to make sacrifices to make that happen. You need to start promoting shows in your town, you need to start writing your own blog, hosting your own podcast, forming your own label, fronting your own band.

If you aren't willing to do that, to put something in even if it's just occasionally taking a risk on iTunes, or at a shop, then you can't complain. Because right now, as things are going, albums do not have much longer to live because almost no one is willing to devote that energy and effort to them anymore.

CG: Thank you so much, Morgan, for your time. I know how busy you are and I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. I'm sure the readers of this blog will agree, especially the aspiring and working musicians out there.

MORGAN: Cheers! (Morgan Davis, Founder, Rallytime Records www.rallytime.org)

CG:
Well, it's a pity that Barsuk decided they couldn't do the interview, especially since their perspective would have been slightly different (or perhaps not) from Rallytime's...with possibly additional useful insight to musicians and MySpace (if MySpace is listening.) (Barsuk initially agreed to be interviewed but then backed out, claiming scheduling issues. It happens...a lot of interviewees suddenly delay or back out entirely because of other issues, it's just part of the business.)

Still, I hope to bring you other interviews that deal with the usefulness (or not) of the online space as it applies to artistic endeavors, whether those endeavors be music, filmmaking, acting, writing, art, dance or what-have-you. The national non-profit Americans for the Arts has tentatively agreed to be interviewed as well--their mission is to promote the arts and so their opinions on how the online world plays into that mission should be quite illuminating.

As for next week, a long awaited interview. Last January, I award the Aha! Blogolicious! Media Awards to several up and coming artists/musicians with one special award going to actor/writer/director Gordon Michael Woolvett. Mr. Woolvett had been a favorite actor of mine for some time, showing quite a bit of versatility. I wrote a spoof article, satirizing the way Hollywood often "appears" to choose award nominees, with Mr. Woolvett as the subject. Well, to my surprise, a number of people thought the award was real and were disappointed to find out it wasn't. It got me to thinking that up and coming artists in all venues need recognition, if for no other reason than to keep them motivated in such a tough, sometimes even degrading business. So I created a real award this time to acknowledge those efforts, but kept the focus on the online space, since I believed that is where a great deal of opportunity for innovation will arise, and made having a MySpace page the initial entry point (since MySpace is doing more, even with its problems, for promoting new artists, than any other current online venue.) Hence, thanks to Gordon, the awards were born.

Well, Mr. Woolvett finally got his interview back to me and discusses his career, the online world and what he sees for the future.

That interview will be posted next Friday.

Thank you for reading! Hope you continue to!

CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events.....and Canada!
(what exactly does that title mean? what it says and it includes Canada in the mix, even though I'm not Canadian...life is confusing enough and full of non-sensical events, so the only thing one can do sometimes is muse it over and try to glean some meaning from the madness.)

MUSIC REVIEW: Shallow rocks! (Together or Apart, they're Good!) And What's With All the Mud SYTYCD Fans? Summer TV IS HOT!

Shallow, It Isn't--SHALLOW is a rockers rock band.
Television in the Summer Heats Up and
..."So You Think You Can Dance" Once Again Begins to Generate Controversy and Mudslinging!

Their MySpace page says that they are broken up, yet apparently they just recently played a show together. Hence, it's confusing, but this rock/pop band out of Livermore, California, definitely is worth a listen. Any Place To Say is a powerful mix of anthem lyrics, rounded vibes and angst-driven vocals--in other words, a ROCK song. Bleed starts as a ballad but quickly morphs into something demanding and driven, a ballad with a bad-boy side. How Far pushes you to the edge and Ever Absent isn't, rather it's full of alternative based vocals, soothing but moving melodies and dips into pregnant pauses that suddenly explode into full-bodied, overarching beats, riffs, bass thrums and about-to-burst drums--in the best tradition of rock.

Shallow is anything but...I hope they do decide to get back together, stay together or whatever is going on with them--this group belongs on stage. Check them out at
http://www.myspace.com/shallowrock



In other news--the world of television:

On the SYTYCD side of things, this week the dancers had time off (or so one can hope!) Meaning of course, that with the Fourth of July on their regular time slot, the show was pushed out a week. The fabulous fourteen will battle it out on the dance floor next week. And apparently, the mud is already slinging on the various message boards--as fans trash or testify for their favorite dancers against their least favorites.

It's gotten bad enough that Benji Schwimmer felt the need to defend his sister's talent on his blog and scold the naysayers. I don't follow the mudslinging, beyond what is commented on by those I watch and stay in touch with (like Nigel's comments last week on the show) but I agree that all the dancers are immensely talented and whatever advantage some of the siblings had has probably evaporated by now. Now it's up to their talent and their ability to win and keep a fan base, as we witnessed with the upsets last week.

For my part, my opinion is still that no one is safe. None of the dancers have built up enough of a fan base to really break out as a number one contender (much like last year during the midpoint.) In fact, since I judge by audience reactions and my own impressions on their emotional appeal (the dancers, that is) and image on the show, I'd say that so far, no 'stars' have emerged from the mix yet.

I mean, no dancer really has hit a level where they are so unbelievable in personality, image, dance, performance that you only focus on him or her (likely, it will be a him, considering the demographics of the show) when they are on stage--unable to take your eyes off them, even if they are with a partner.

This 'star' would be someone suddenly getting a lot of press and media attention, much like Ivan did near the end of the show, indicating that the person has some special quality that just hits right with media and public alike. It doesn't mean they are going to win, but it certainly helps--and will continue to help the dancer after they leave the show and continue to pursue their career. (You don't have to win the contest, to become the most successful! Ask any number of American Idol types...)

I haven't seen that person yet, though sadly, I saw glimpses of that quality in both Ricky and Jesus. I still see glimpses of it in many of the current dancers, but nothing that is full fledged media frenzy level yet.

I won't tell you my picks of that quality right now, since it might bias you or perhaps hurt them in some odd sort of backlash...but you can probably get an idea from how I've talked about various dancers over the course of my SYTYCD season 2 reviews.

Next week should be interesting on the show. As for upcoming things, Eureka! premiers, another fav of mine from last year (and hopefully, it won't go lame and jump the shark like Kyle XY did in its opener.) Also PainKiller Jane has fast become a fav, as has Blood Ties (Lifetime) and yes, I'm also hooked on Disney's Jetix's GET ED now, after finally having had a chance to see it. Grey's Anatomy has gotten kind of lame, especially with all the trash talk but also from the wimpy performances and whining from the characters--and so, I don't have a good feeling about next season. And the other new summer offerings from ABC, NBC and CBS (and Fox) haven't been that inspiring--some seem downright stupid, cruel or voyeuristic, especially these new reality game shows. Ugly Betty has definitely been a consistent winner though, even in reruns, they can manage to make any preposterous-looking-on-the-surface plot hang together and make perfect sense! (Kyle XY should take notes.)

I definitely like this new trend of putting on new (and often edgy or risky) shows during the summer months. The west and southwest are currently experiencing a heatwave...luckily, the stuff that's hot isn't just coming from outside...but coming from the networks, too!

Anyway, also upcoming later this summer, interviews with industry movers and shakers about the state of music, art and other things both offline and online, as well as profiles and coverage of more musicians, dancers and television shows. (Who knows, maybe Gordon Michael Woolvett will even finally get his interview responses back to me from his winning of the award, you never know!) ;)

In other words, lots of great stuff coming...hope you stick around to read some of it!

On that note, time for something cold to drink, it's already sweltering here...bye!

Have a great weekend!

CG Anderson
Aha! Blogolocious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events...and Canada! (a music/art/dance/media review site)

REVIEW in review: Blue October and So You Think You Can Dance (the why of hits...)

Blue October and So You Think You Can Dance
--What Makes A Hit?

Well, so much for the sunshine. Here in Seattle it's back to rain, which is depressing since its June. Oh well...there should be some sunshine in August! Something to look forward to!

What makes a hit song? Or a hit show? Or a popular, legendary painting? Or a hit dancer or dance company? Really, for that matter, what in general makes a hit regardless of the type of media/medium?

Quite honestly, no one really knows for sure. If we did, you wouldn't be seeing so many substandard songs/shows/etc all around you, being pushed by marketing departments, labels, studios and networks. You also wouldn't be seeing bad copycats of hits, or lackluster shows, music and the like being pushed because they happen to have a celebrity/famous name attached.

Still, it's not a crapshoot either. It's not a totally random process. It's quite logical if you consider logical as including emotional appeal--i.e. human psychology and culture. At its core, every hit or every celebrity appeals has an emotional appeal, touching something in the fans and supplying a deep seated need. We can identify with the emotions involved, and we care because those emotions are reflected in our own identity and needs at the time.

This doesn't mean that everyone is going to like everything. It means that for a large enough group, that hit song or hit show, or that character or celebrity (singer, actor, athlete, dancer...) touches us--representing either something that we want or representing something that we believe in. Over time, our needs will change as we have different experiences. The crush on this or that singer or actor will be outgrown and replaced with someone else. The song that you were crazy about when you were 12 may not appeal so much when you are 22 nor 62 and so on--nor should it.

It's about finding things that resonate with where you are in your life and what you need. Even within the same age, you find yourself sometimes wanting to hear soothing sounds and other times wanting more excitement. It depends on your mood at the time and your life experiences--if you're stressed, then soothing helps calm you. If you need to pump yourself up, you look for driving beats and louder music. (Some people calm or pump themselves by listening to music, others by going to art galleries, others still by watching or doing dance, or reading...you get the idea.)

So let's look at a couple of examples, and in turn, you'll see why I and other 'reviewers' (and labels, and producers, and so on) often look for these traits.

Blue October (the band) has a hit song called 'Hate Me'. What makes it special? Well, it's in a popular genre, popular because driving beats and energy generate excitement (and in their own way are relaxing as well, since you can listen to rock/alt music and 'escape' from your daily stresses and pressures.) Second, it's well done musically. The blend of musicians and producer are first rate, showing maturity and experience. The vocals are pleasing to listen to yet still emotionally evocative. In other words, the singer puts real emotion into the song, real sincerity and has a voice that stays on key and is melodious to the ear. Fans can spot insincerity a mile away. When critics, judges and the like talk about 'committing to a song, or a dance' this is what they are talking about--committing emotionally to it, physically, entirely, really being vulnerable during the song, the dance, the artwork--allowing your feelings to be shown to the world, facing the fear of rejection and ridicule that we all feel when so exposed.

Finally, the song is about love, something central to being human and the experience of life. Now, lots of songs are about love (some hits, some not) so obviously there has to be more, more than a catchy melody or angst ridden vocals. The lyrics here are about the deepest form of love, the kind that puts the one you love ahead of yourself. Here, the song is about recognizing that to be selfish and keep the lover around would destroy them. Here, the song is about wanting your lover to be happy, even if that means that you must be unhappy.

Again, lots of songs talk about that--the difference here is that 'Hate Me' turns the tables. It tells a story, like any good song, so that we understand the context (why the person singing knows that they are toxic to the happiness of the one who loves them) but it also includes a twist. Instead of being direct and saying 'I'm not good for you, therefore, since I love you, you must leave me' it says instead 'Hate me. Because I love you, I want you to hate me, even if that causes me horrible pain, because I know then that you will leave and find love with someone who is good to you.' See the difference? The twist in how the story is told takes the listener by surprise and that makes the song more interesting.

That twist in how to tell the tale, adds both humor and pathos--and interest. Combine that with a great delivery (vocals, musicality, sophistication in how the song is put together) and you have a much better chance at catching the fans attention (and the labels and the critics.) If you then add in pleasing visuals (how you appear to others), then so much the better. Face it, people like to watch good entertainers. They don't necessarily have to be beautiful but they have to have that IT quality, that charismatic quality that makes you want to watch them. Part of that is learned (how to entertain, different tricks to presentation) but part of it is internal as well (who you are inside and how well you can project that outward to an audience--your presence on stage. That's harder to learn, but it can be learned...because at its heart, it's about confidence and vulnerability. (This is different than the interest generated by 'train wreck' people like Paris Hilton--that's not charisma as much as it is about fascination with pathos.)

Fully committing to what you are doing and being confident in who you are, these are components of charisma! Vulnerability is included because you have to be able to reveal the real you when you are on stage--else, you seem aloof, indifferent or worse, insincere.

Believe it or not, actors have just as much problem with this as other performers...and they are supposed to be able to project feelings as part of their job. Many have problems with this and you can see it in their performances. Being vulnerable and sincere is harder than it sounds.

That's why I reward innovation each year with the Aha! Blogolicious! Media Innovator Awards. Taking something and finding an interesting, surprising but still pleasing way to present it is a key to artistic success--and at least a hopeful chance of financial success as well.

This process applies to all the creative arts. Let's look at what's been happening with So You Think You Can Dance, since that is a combination of two types of art (television and dance.)

Yesterday, on the first elimination show, I wasn't surprised at the three couples in the bottom three, even though the judges were. The judges (dance oriented people) were surprised that Faina and Cedric were not favorites of the fans. I wasn't. The judges are likely looking at the contestants as dancers and therefore considering their entire body of work, not just their current performances or individual dance solos. They also probably ignore the personalities, except when onstage, and even perhaps the audience reaction to the performance, and focus more on the technical aspects.

My belief is that the audience, the fans, in contrast, are judging the contestants by television standards--are the dancers likeable? Do they manage to resonate with the likes, hopes and needs of the fans who watch them? It's more about the people and their current performance (entertainment value) than about their technical skill. True, the dancers can't be horrible, but the caliber of the competition rules that issue out. We've already seen with ABC's Dancing With The Stars (which uses a combination of judges and fan scores to determine rankings) that likeability plays a huge part in the process, though typically the combination of skill and likeability will ultimately determine the winner. It's not purely a popularity contest.

So why Faina and Cedric? Well, my belief is that the fans have been watching all along. They've seen how Faina complains a lot and seems to go into a 'poor little me, I'm a victim' mode when she is stressed. This may be unfair, but that is how she is being portrayed through the video footage shown. The fans also remember Nigel's dismissal of Cedric, even going so far as to say he might bring down his partner. Thus, given their so-so performance on Wednesday, it's not surprising to me that they were low on the fans' list.

However, given that, we also see how the two dance shows differ. SYTYCD doesn't really allow a lot of fan control of the situation. They've made sure that it's the judges who choose who goes and who stays (at least until the very end.) The fans only get to limit the judges choices, but cannot control the process beyond that. Even when the judges knew that certain couples performances, or individual solos were HEAVILY favored by the studio audience, the judges often ignored that audience reaction and went with their own biases. You could tell from the hisses (when the judges didn't like them) or the cheers (during the performance or the judging when it agreed with the audience) whom the studio audience favored.

Hence, I wasn't surprised at the bottom three. I wasn't surprised when Ashlee was chosen to go home. I was surprised when the judges sent Nicky home, since judging by the audience reactions to his solo (versus Cedric's solo), I, personally, would have assumed that Cedric was the one going home.

But that's the nature of subjective judging, the real surprise seems to be that the judges don't get this fact. Mary's tearful angry reaction that Faina was in the bottom group demonstrates this disconnect perfectly. She was going by Faina's auditions, not her actual performance or her victim personality that seemed to indicate that she (Faina) felt she deserved special treatment. Nigel's reactions were more subdued but then he is both a judge and the producer of the show--no matter how much he claims that he is being objective and fair, he is still thinking also like a producer. That means he's by nature trying to figure out who will make the most interesting reality game show television--reality game shows tend to need a lot of drama and will try to force it if necessary. Thus, keeping Cedric might be more motivated toward keeping a possible 'drama' moment around. He also would be aware of the actual rankings, so he could simply be choosing to drop the lowest ranked couple for convenience sake.

All this is speculation, don't mistake that. These are things that could be happening in order to make the show more interesting, as far as the producers think. Reality game shows (and this is definitely of that type) don't necessarily reflect 'reality'...hence, how contestants are portrayed can be manipulated by editing and other tricks, including subjective choices about who to drop. The only true thing you can be sure of, is that fan votes are counted and used to create the rankings. If they tried to alter that, then they'd be off the air as such a scandal broke.

But hopefully you can see that performance, personality and technique are all important--not just technique. That's why I always emphasize that how you present yourself to the world is critical to your success--and why it must be an HONEST presentation, created through vulnerability, self-confidence and sincerity. (Having a good sense of humor about yourself helps, too.)

The choices you make are your choices. You are not a victim. Being a victim doesn't sit well with others, and only results in sympathy in small doses. Most people would look at celebrities, singers, bands, dancers and others in the public eye and think 'wow, they have it all.' If those people constantly complain about their life, not appreciating what they have, then it wears thin even on the most ardent of fans. Fans are willing to show sympathy--if they genuinely like you--but how can they genuinely like you if you act entitled? Or self-serving? Or uncaring about their feelings and hopes?

Would you like someone like that? If you said yes, then I'd suggest you ask yourself 'why?' Why would you like someone that treats you badly? You deserve better. You deserve to be appreciated and loved for who you are and anyone that treats you badly, rich or poor, famous or non, isn't worthy of you.

As a performer, you are both performing for yourself and for them. You need that connection with others--for more than financial gain. It's a spiritual connection in a way--it's about being human and part of the human experience. So... Bring joy to others. Bring hope to others. The more you give unselfishly, because you honestly want to make others happy, the happier you will be -- and the more love you will receive in return. Your art will expand beyond your wildest dreams.

So, that's about it. No MySpace band music review this week. Why? Because I didn't find one that I thought had sufficient merit. Hey, it happens! Hopefully, next week, I'll have better hunting.

But at least now you can understand better what I'm looking for -- and more importantly, why I look for certain types and traits. I also believe that you don't need a major label or a celebrity connection to be a hit-maker. The best of the best didn't rely on connections or famous relations. They are passionate about what they do and unafraid to not only show that passion and emotional need, but also unafraid to put in the work required to reach a level of technical perfection to back up their passion.

That makes a potential hit.

Have a great weekend!

CG Anderson
owner & chief bottle washer
Little Dogs Media
blog: http://ahablogolicious.blogspot.com/
Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events and Canada... (a music/art/dance/media review site with a bit of humor to mix it up)

Remember, Obstacles are Actually Opportunities...look at the why behind the what...

New Music Review: Kate Voegel and Reality Addiction

MySpace Records has a Winner with Kate and...

...Should Take a Look at Indie Band, Reality Addiction

Around the Pacific Northwest, namely Seattle, WA, it is a sunny and warm day. It's one of those relaxing days where thrash or punk is out of place. So a bit of music that is easy on the ears and soothing to the heart is on today's review list.

Reality Addiction is a mix of rock, pop and acoustic. From the three listings they had on their MySpace site, I'd say soft rock, which suited my mood just fine. With finely blended acoustics, wrapped lightly with drums, keyboards and electric guitars, the New Jersey natives can roll and rock with the best of them. The musicality is matched by the smooth and haunting vocals of lead singer Dustin W. and the insightful, purposeful lyrics. Smokescreen was my favorite of the three offered and I hope that the group has some driving tunes to match the smooth ones in their arsenal (and put them up on the site quickly.)

Those in the New York and New Jersey areas undoubtedly already know about this gem and apparently quite a few in Israel as well.

For the rest of us though, take a listen and risk a little addiction in your reality, their site is at
http://www.myspace.com/realityaddiction

Second up but certainly not second in many people's minds, is MySpace Records discovery, Kate Voegele. Kate was mentioned on an earlier review a few weeks back. However, that was only a passing glance with the focus on her new label, MySpace Records. MySpace Records may be a new player in the music industry, but unlike a lot of new indie labels, struggling out there against the big and powerful majors, MySpace has a lot of power and influence to draw upon.

Kate is one of those that is benefiting. Yet, MySpace Records knows a good thing when they hear one and aren't stupid about grabbing talent like Kate when they get the chance. Kate benefits as well, with nearly a million hits to her MySpace page, her song on the hit TV show, "The Ghost Whisperer" and her new CD out in Best Buy right now.

Kate's vocals nearly floor me every time I hear them, both in their raw intensity and emotional power. Her band backs her up and builds the music into a crescendo of self-discovery and emotional maturity. Richly detailed and complex musicality is pitted against Kate's own fierce yet fragile, dramatic yet vulnerable, yet always infectious power and delivery. Of her MySpace offerings, the anthem like Only Fooling Myself and the tender, introspective It's Only Life were my favorites.

I hope MySpace Records puts their power and passion behind many more MySpace musicians. Sometimes, it's simply the label that puts a band to the top of the charts; other times, it's the band that strives against the odds and defies conventional wisdom and the industry itself. Still, when the two can come together, putting a terrific band or singer with a powerful label, then you often get something extraordinary and lasting as a result.

Kate's MySpace page is http://www.myspace.com/katevoegele

Next week, I'll likely (no promises) look at another MySpace Records prodigy, Sherwood, as well as another promising band that doesn't have the major label...yet....but should.

Have a great weekend!

CG Anderson Little Dogs Media Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events...and Canada!
This article may be reposted or reprinted, in whole or in part, as long as fair use rules are observed, no parts are modified from the original and credit is given to the original site and author.

Music REVIEW: Montreal's Experimental Electronic Rockers, Recepter and San Diego's punkers, Arm the Angels

Experimental Rock Recepter and a bit of painful punk from Arm the Angels!

A trip to Montreal trips out with Recepter, while San Diegos punks out with some angst ridden Angels.

Out of Montreal, Canada, you can find an experimental rock group called Recepter. Their electronica/rock mix is powerful and driving. The plaintative, soul-searing vocals of Zo (formerly with Pulse ultra) tear at your soul, while the dark lyrics and eerie melodies of the music take you into different, yet seductive realms. There is just enough electronica to keep the sound distinct and just enough rock to keep it pounding in your veins. Give these musicians a listen and you'll likely find yourself hooked--an addiction without end.

You can find their MySpace offerings at http://www.myspace.com/receptermusic.

If experimental rock isn't your cup of caffeine, or you aren't near Montreal, perhaps you'll like the rocking, popping punk of Arm the Angels. Out of San Diego, California, this pop punk band is running around San Diego, Del Mar, Hollywood and even Las Vegas, spreading their 'therapy for kids' punk message. Describing their influences as a mix of Guns n' Roses and Foo Fighters and being described in turn by others as influenced by punk groups A.F.I. and Rancid, this solid punk band has opened for bands like the Goo Goo Dolls, Counting Crows, Journey and Def Leppard. Solid tunes that hook you, bleed you and then toss you out into the street keep their fan base strong and their own influence growing. Feel like some dark and painful angst trips? Give these guys a try.

You can find their MySpace tunes at http://www.myspace.com/armtheangels.

More next week.
Have a great weekend, long (Memorial Day in the USA) or short!

CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events...and Canada!

REVIEW: The Shake deliver a New York Kind of British Invasion, While Flat 12 Evolves from the Studio.

Things Get The Shake Up in New York City. Meanwhile, Rhode Island Comes Out of the Studio and Gets Experimental.

Today has been a busy day but now it's time to relax with some great music and prepare for Mother's Day weekend...or just get the weekend started off on the right note. Today, two bands...one out of New York City and the other Rhode Island. (See, I don't always gravitate to Vancouver, it really was just random, honest!)

The Shake hearkens back to the sixties and the British Invasion sound of the time, from the vocals to the beat. The lyrics though tend to be contemporary (sort of) and hard rock riffs aren't forgotten in the intertwining powerpop and classic rock melodies.

In their own words, found by me to be most appropriate...Unlike other groups, each member of THE SHAKE is schooled in a different style of music, and draws from a wide pool of influences including rock, blues, jazz, and punk. The result is what they call “a constantly evolving, more musically diverse style of rock that utilizes distinct melodies and harmonies in order to maintain a straightforward and familiar feel hearkening back to the days of the original British Invasion, when rock and roll could change the world.”

I could hear ghosts of the Kinks and the Yardbirds here as well as typical rockabilly rocking and rolling combined with Pink Floyd like psychedelic guitar runs, all intermixed together. I even thought I heard a Moog. I didn't detect much by way of blues, jazz or punk, but perhaps I missed it among the rest of this evolving and interesting retro yet progressive mix.

A fun ride, hard to categorize, which may prove challenging in promoting them and getting them air time, but fun, nonetheless. They definitely shake it up and prove that music doesn't have to be repetitive and duplicative. Personally, of the four very different offerings on their myspace site, Dyin' though the least played, was still my favorite, and with some great guitar riffs and Creedance Clearwater (and similar bands) -like lyrics.

Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/theshakeband

The second band (or duo, rather) of note today lies within the realm of experimental, pop and rock. Flat 12 is a studio project by Dave Witham (ex frontman for Of The Hour) and Italian composer and producer, Mauro Colangelo. That combo is certainly one to turn heads but there is no denying the beauty and power of the music they are creating.

Brooding, powerful, electronica-ridden, melodic vocals, eerie, driving then relaxed...you name it, you'll probably find it in this trio of songs. Great to listen to but hard to categorize, as changeable as the wind but just as powerful in an underrated way. Just grab a glass of wine and don't worry about finding meaning or message in the lyrics, even as certain as one might be that they are there--just hidden and hypotizing. Just drink the darn wine and stop fretting about figuring out why you like this music. That's what I'm doing.

Check Flat 12 out at http://www.myspace.com/flat12

Have a great weekend! Happy Mother's Day!

CG Anderson
Little Dogs Media
Aha! Blogolicious! Musings and Meanings of Non-Sensical Events …and Canada

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CG Anderson is a 10 year new media provocateur involved in media, art, tech, science and the online world. Also a writer, blogger and novelist. CG's comments are personal and opinionated and solely the responsibility of the author, so there. Don't like the opinions, disagree, agree, don't know? Great, make a comment—clean ones will be allowed, netiquette-challenged ones will be ignored!

MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/ahablogolicious (help me reach 1 million friends, add yourself as my friend now! Especially since my ability to add you is broken—still---and no eta from MySpace on a fix.)
Blog site: http://ahablogolicious.blogspot.com/
URL: http://home.myuw.net/cganders/