OT: New Music?

[pk500]

MOG is a streaming music service like Spotify.

I prefer it because it has a better selection of the music I like, is Web-based instead of using a separate app, has a cleaner interface that Spotify and streams all tunes at 320 kbps for all users. Spotify streams only at 160 kbps for free and intermediate users, with only some tunes pushed at 320 kbps for Premium users. Call me an audio snob, but I can definitely tell the difference.

MOG also has a mobile client like Spotify. I dig MOG so much I'm paying $5 per month for a subscription.

[Brando70]

Checked out some of the rest of the VH tracks and agree that Tattoo seems the worst of the lot, but I also think these sound like old tunes that they never released (which Roth said was the case with some of them). The playing is pretty solid (Eddie's solo on "Big River" in particular), the sound is nice and beefy, but it feels like the second side of a lesser VH album. Just not a lot of hooks to the songs in my opinion.

[EZSnappin]

My favorite tracks on the new Van Halen are all retreads that show up on the Warner Demos bootlegs ("Beats Working" was originally "Put Out The Lights", "Big River" was "Big Trouble" and the unchanged "She's The Woman"), and a few of the other tracks were later demos (I believe "Blood And Fire" is from an instrumental circa 1984). It's not the embarrassment I feared and in fact is pretty solid. I miss Michael Anthony's harmony vocals more than I expected, and do wish they had cut at least 3 or 4 songs, including the plodding "Tattoo" (I sped it up about 5% and it sounds better but still not a keeper); at 50 minutes, it's 15 minutes longer than their debut and almost 20 minutes longer than any of the other original six albums. Trim the fat and it might beat Diver Down, but as it is I'd put it last in line. Which, as I said, doesn't make it a bad record at all, just bad when compared to their classics.

I wish they'd put out a legitimate live show from any of the tours for those first six records. They smoke on all the boots I've acquired over the years.

[greggsand]

Grantland's Review. I sympathized with it completely:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/756 ... kind-truth

[Spooky]

Grantland's Review. I sympathized with it completely:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/756 ... kind-truth

Good and fair review. Luckily I feel differently than his last statement (and I mean luckily because I get to find more enjoyment from the album).

[Leebo33]

MOG is a streaming music service like Spotify.

I prefer it because it has a better selection of the music I like, is Web-based instead of using a separate app, has a cleaner interface that Spotify and streams all tunes at 320 kbps for all users. Spotify streams only at 160 kbps for free and intermediate users, with only some tunes pushed at 320 kbps for Premium users. Call me an audio snob, but I can definitely tell the difference.

MOG also has a mobile client like Spotify. I dig MOG so much I'm paying $5 per month for a subscription.

Thanks for the info on MOG. I downloaded the iPhone app and signed up for the $10/month service. The app could use some bells and whistles but it's fast even over 3G and the quality is indeed impressive. There's no limit on the number of devices you can load it on and I have it on my iPad and my wife's phone as well. I'm finding the vast majority of music I search for and what isn't on there (The Beatles, AC/DC, etc) I have in my iTunes library already anyway.

[Brando70]

Loved McCartney busting out the Abbey Road medley to close the Grammys. Cool to see all the guitarists playing with him, and the guy who played drums was terrific, too.

[pk500]

MOG is a streaming music service like Spotify.

I prefer it because it has a better selection of the music I like, is Web-based instead of using a separate app, has a cleaner interface that Spotify and streams all tunes at 320 kbps for all users. Spotify streams only at 160 kbps for free and intermediate users, with only some tunes pushed at 320 kbps for Premium users. Call me an audio snob, but I can definitely tell the difference.

MOG also has a mobile client like Spotify. I dig MOG so much I'm paying $5 per month for a subscription.

Thanks for the info on MOG. I downloaded the iPhone app and signed up for the $10/month service. The app could use some bells and whistles but it's fast even over 3G and the quality is indeed impressive. There's no limit on the number of devices you can load it on and I have it on my iPad and my wife's phone as well. I'm finding the vast majority of music I search for and what isn't on there (The Beatles, AC/DC, etc) I have in my iTunes library already anyway.

Glad you're digging it, Leebo. Beatles, AC/DC and Metallica are notable omissions from all streaming music services. They haven't reached -- or don't want to reach -- rights agreements with the services.

[RobVarak]

Loved McCartney busting out the Abbey Road medley to close the Grammys. Cool to see all the guitarists playing with him, and the guy who played drums was terrific, too.

I'm getting an Abe Laboriel, Jr. tattoo. A few years ago that guy backed up Clapton and Winwood on their tour. He was magic. Clapton is as good or better technically as he's ever been, but he can get pretty complacent at times. Laboriel just rejuvenated him, pushing him harder than I've ever seen him pushed on stage. It was a shame that they recorded a live record of that tour with another drummer, because it was like watching a black and white movie of something you'd seen in technicolor.

It was a vivid example of what a drummer can do to the dynamics of a band.

Plus he's got that Aaron Neville bouncer who sings like an angel thing going.

[Spooky]

The first time I ever saw that drummer was when Paul McCartney did the SB Halftime show and I've been a huge fan ever since.

[RobVarak]

Speaking of the Grammys, what the f*** is this???

[AJColossal]

MacCaulay Culkin, I think?

[ScoopBrady]

MacCaulay Culkin, I think?

Nope, not dead-looking enough.

[Brando70]

Loved McCartney busting out the Abbey Road medley to close the Grammys. Cool to see all the guitarists playing with him, and the guy who played drums was terrific, too.

I'm getting an Abe Laboriel, Jr. tattoo. A few years ago that guy backed up Clapton and Winwood on their tour. He was magic. Clapton is as good or better technically as he's ever been, but he can get pretty complacent at times. Laboriel just rejuvenated him, pushing him harder than I've ever seen him pushed on stage. It was a shame that they recorded a live record of that tour with another drummer, because it was like watching a black and white movie of something you'd seen in technicolor.

It was a vivid example of what a drummer can do to the dynamics of a band.

Plus he's got that Aaron Neville bouncer who sings like an angel thing going.

Thanks for IDing him, Rob. He not only played great, he had a fantastic thump to his sound.

[LAking]

Speaking of the Grammys, what the f*** is this???

Robyn, a Swedish pop star. I'm not a big pop fan but she's not bad. She's known for her sometimes crazy outfits. She's tiny as well so she's always wearing huge soles like that.

[greggsand]

Saw Ryan Adams at the Walt Disney Concert Hall last night. My wife is a much bigger fan than I am, but it was pretty great. Just him & an acoustic guitar. He finished his set with a cover of Dio's "Holy Diver". Oh yeah.

[Jimmydeicide]

Did he do Carolina rain?(my fave)

[greggsand]

Did he do Carolina rain?(my fave)

He did My Sweet Carolina, and also, Dirty Rain. Same thing?

[Brando70]

So I finally gave in and satisfied the needs of my inner metal and D&D nerds. I bought Amon Amarth's Twilight of the Thunder God.



Utterly ridiculous and yet I really dig the old school metal flavor of the music. They actually know how to write catchy choruses, even if said choruses are about Ragnarok.

[Brando70]

Heard a number of good albums to start off the year:

Jenny Owen Youngs, An Unwavering Band of Light -- Really good singer/songwriter who moves between power pop and folk. My initial reaction was that it was a little too coffeehouse to have any lasting power, but the songs were catchy and I kept listening. Now I can't stop. She has a great voice there's a lot of variety to the album. Check out "Pirates" for the most up-tempo example.

Cloud Nothings, Attack on Memory -- Fan-f***in-tastic. It has a 90s college rock vibe similar to Yuck (and courtesy of Steve Albini recording). The vocals may seem a bit emo, but the music is both poppy and forceful. It starts with a melancholy, piano based opener before launching into the nine-minute "Wasted Days," which floors it as a ripping indie punk rocker, ventures into Whole-Lotta-Freakout territory for a bit, then returns to a screaming, balls-out finale. In heavy rotation.

We Are Augustines, Rise Ye Sunken Ships -- Very powerful and emotional rock, with a big sound to go with some pretty morose lyrics. Think The National covering U2 and you get an idea of what this is like. "Book of James" is a standout.

Bad Sports, Kings of the Weekend -- Reminds me of a better version of The Queers, who were in turn a great Ramones-style garage punk band. Starts off fast and loud, slows up for some great teenage bubblegum songs, and gets back to rocking.

Heartless Bastards, Arrow -- If you like rock music, you need to buy this (and should already have been listening to these guys). Great female singer, a terrific collection of tunes that have a bit of White Stripes Icky Thump blues rock. Tailor-made for contemplative drinking.

Craig Finn, Clear Heart, Full Eyes -- Craig Finn either found Jesus or is writing from the point of view of a guy who did. A mostly subdued record from the singer of America's greatest bar band, and chock full of religion without any preaching. It took a while to get my head around it, but it's really grown on me. Just don't expect power chords and sketches of f***ed up kids at all-ages shows.

Torche, Meanderthal -- EZ had this on his best of from a few years ago. I should have listened to it then. Heavy, catchy, awesome, they are what Helmet should have been. They have a new album coming out this month and I will instantly by it.

[EZSnappin]

Brando - new Torche is going to blow you away. They're now a 4-piece, and the extra guitarist allows them to get both heavier and hookier. Saw them play a few weeks back and the new songs were the best part (I saw them as a trio a few years ago and they were good, but this was better.Still no stage presence but the sound was great).

[ScoopBrady]

Check out Willis Earl Beal's debut Acousmatic Sorcery. The album is a bit all over the place but this guy has talent and a cool back-story to boot. I'm going to go check to see if Spotify has any Torche as they sound like my kind of band.

[Spooky]

Wow! Torche RULE! Thanks for the heads up on them.

[EZSnappin]

I love you guys! I'll have to see if there are other bands from my best of 2008 list you all might like.

[EZSnappin]

Torche news of the day:

Bat Pisses in Torche Guitarist's Eye