formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/barebonez

formspring.me

Ask me anything http://formspring.me/barebonez

Griffin

After the discussing in class about Griffin, I began to think about my experiences with the product. I own an itrip which i use often in my car, and it works well; I couldn't live without it. But other products I have bought from Griffin haven't worked great. The ITrip is great, but other radio transmitters they sell hardly work, especially for the price they charge for them. From what David said in the conversation, it makes sense that the quality of the product cannot be expected to work perfectly, due to the technology.
However, from my experience from using Griffin products, I feel that the price the charge for the quality they offer isn't compatible. To make up the difference, I usually just buy their products on ebay, and end up saving money :)

The Twitter Phenomenon

I have just started using Twitter, and am still getting used to the concept of what it offers. Browsing through people I am a fan of, I began to wonder about how bands use Twitter to communicate with their fans, and keep them informed about their actions and thoughts on certain issues.

This form of networking site allows the fans of artists and other famous celebrities to know what they are doing, and just rant about something they feel like sharing to people who are following them. But does this pose a risk for ubber-fans to take advantage of this information? By sharing intimate information, or details about exactly where they are, it allows any to be able to track them down.
Anyone have any thoughts?

Summer concert

Hey everyone. So the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre is hosting a huge concert with No Doubt and Paramore. I had posted earlier about how I felt No Doubt sold out, and thought anyone who felt nostalgic, would like the chance to see them reunite this summer.
Here is a link to find out more information

http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/404297

The Way The Music Died

The documentary we watched in class discussed many of the problems facing the music industry today. The issue’s that really caught my attention were the problems with the quality of music and digital file sharing. Digital file sharing has been a problem since the creation of Napster in 2001. Many opponents of digital file sharing believe that it has had an effect on record sales. However, proponents believe quite the opposite; that digital file sharing has led to an increase of sales and that people who share music digitally are more likely to go out and buy a CD of the artist. In the documentary, it was believed that the industry has stopped making good music. The bad quality of music in the industry has led to the digital file sharing happening today. He believes that the “public will buy good music, if there’s good music to buy.”  I agree with this statement. As I’m sure is the case with many other people; I would be willing to spend the money to buy a CD that was WORTH the money. An album that has 15 tracks, 3 of which are good, is not a CD worth spending money on.

How do you guys feel about this statement? If the industry was putting out better quality music, would you spend the money to support an artist? 

http://www.heritage.org/research/internetandtechnology/bg1790.cfm

http://www.astonisher.com/skinny/skinny_riaa.html

The Way the Music Died was slow suicide!

As i watched the Frontline special The Way the Music Died I found myself agreeing with many of its main points. The basic message that I got out of the program was that Conglomeration, and the whole notion of "I want lots of money now" has lead to the slow decline of the Music record industry. In the documetary it is said that corporate deadlines do not make for good art. Also it states that when you only care about a hit single and make the rest of the album crap then people will be less inclined to buy it. The Documantary is very relevent to why filesharing and digital downloading is so rampant.
This pregression, I believe, is why filesharing programs such as Napster in the early years spread like wildfire. Anyone including myself will say "why should i buy an entire album for just one good song?" The reason that I personally use fireshare programs is because i feel that my money should be spent else where. However, as stated in the Frontline special, people will buy good music. I will go out and buy a physical album of an artist that i know and love and trust. I am happy to go to the store and lay down my 15 bucks for quality art!
I am not the only one who feels this way, however. Jorge Rodriguez on Frontlines own discution board wrote "The Internet has become the Pearl Harbor of the music industry; unfortunately it has no H-bomb with which to retaliate and no enemy to blame."
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/music/talk/
There are others still that believe that there is no one but the music industy itself to blame for their current economic perdiciment. Tim Jonze posted "BPI, you are fighting a losing battle you deserve to lose. You have failed to shift your business model to adapt to new technology and modern trends and now you're paying for it."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2009/jan/28/illegal-music-filesharing-complimentary-soap

"Selling out" at its finest

I was trying to think of a band that was a prime example of selling out. A band that relatively everyone has heard of, or, like me, used to be a big fan of. When discussing selling out, some people may think of bands like Fall out Boy, Green Day, or even argue that The Smashing Pumpkins and Taking Back Sunday sold out from their original start as a band.
Well I think that the first band I ever really liked that I thought sold out was No Doubt. They had their roots in the ska-punk movement, even though it wasn't a big trend for their time; grunge was all the rage. But sooner or later, the "plaid stage" of grunge music faded out, and No Doubt started to stand out in the music world.
Soon they broke out big with Tragic Kingdom. You know, that cd that went DIAMOND! Gwen was known for being an individual. She did what she want, wore what she wanted (even it if was horrible ridiculous!), and broke the scene as a rebel. She showed everyone that girls can rock, and showed her crazy antics everytime on stage.
But sooner or later, after Return to Saturn bombed, Rock Steady came out, and all hell broke loose. Do you remember the stupid videos on MTV, or even the sound of that album? Well, by changing their sound completely, and how they chose to represent themselves, changed the way I felt about them, as well as many of there fans. No longer was Gwen and her band known for their ska-punk persona, but now they were producing a reggae insipired feel. (Because Rock Steady brass knuckles, crazy hair styles, and over the top music videos are really their roots of Ska/Punk/Rock... really.)
WHAT!!! They sold a lot of copies from the album, but now it was new fans. They completely sold out and went commercial, which is fine because it happens with pure raw talent like No Doubt had.... but seriously?!?! Reggae? Hey Baby, hey baby WHAT! It was total crap. Making a song with Eve. She went from Ska to Rap/Rock?!?!? I know some people share my feelings. There could be some people who disagree and feel that their newer sound is sweet. Whatever.
I guess Gwen selling out is how she lives her life, because she left her band to make it even bigger. Now she has a clothing line? Make that money girl, but you sold out. Plain and simple!


...And im out!!

The other day in class, we talked about artists who "sold out" and didn't "keep it real". But someone brought up a great point when they said that just because some song/artist becomes popular doesn't mean they are "selling out." That is a really great point. 

It is definitely natural for people's likes and dislikes to evolve. My taste in music now is completely different than it was 6+ years ago so I understand why artists experiment with different sounds after being in the industry for awhile. Now let's say that the new sound of this band takes off and becomes really popular. They are getting a lot of airplay on the radio and people are loving it. Does this mean the artist has "sold out?" Are they not "keeping it real?" Another great point was brought up about hip-hop. As soon as a hip-hop artist started rapping about something other than selling drugs or being in jail (simply because they weren't living that lifestyle) they were considered to not be "keeping it real", but wouldn't they actually be "keeping it real?" They have altered their lifestyle, so shouldn't what they rap about be altered as well? "Keeping it real" is something the alternative and indie genre's are all about.. but is it really that horrible if a band wants to make a profit? I don't think so because after all, don't we all want to/try to make money for ourselves? 

"Keepin it Real" does it matter?

I think that as long as people make money from music the debate about "Keeping it real" will go on. But just what is keeping it real, and does it even matter? The Urban Dictionary says that keeping it real means "the act of being yourself". So when you hear a rock song on the radio ask your self if you think this band is staying true to their roots, or just doing something because they know that it will make them allot of money.
In alternative rock there are plenty of people that I think are sell outs and don't keep it real. The first band that I think of is Panic at the Disco. When i listen to their music I think to my self "there is no real meat in this song. Its kind of Pop and i don't feel like there is much emotion in this music." even though i feel like they are not "keeping it real" i still like some of their songs and don't really care. Which brings me back to my original question; does it matter if some one isn't "keeping it real?" To me it does not because I don't personally know an artist and its not like I'm going to start hanging out with them. the only thing that concerns me is the music, and if the music is still good then I will still listen to them.
Adam Scholey on The Daily Echo has a similar viewpoint about the band Nickleback. He said that the band had sold their souls to the Corps and started to sound "Pop". But he later went on to liking their new album. http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/blogs/3977217.Sell_Out_or_Rock_Out______Dark_Horse_Indeed_/

In conclusion the term "Keeping it real" to me is not a big deal as long as at the end of the day you still enjoy the music of your favorite band.

What's in your Ipod?

I like to think that you can tell a lot about a person just by examining what kind of music they listen to. Yes, we may not all have an Ipod, but plenty of people invest their money in some sort of a musical device. Just look around you when walking in the halls on your way to class. A good majority of students use an mp3 player.
So have you ever wondered what that person is listening to? What kind of music do they like? What is on their Ipod? It is hard to pinpoint upon looking at someone exactly what they might listen to. Trying to figure out what to write my first blog about, I decided to stereotype people, and guess what they were listening to. A girl I sit next to each class always has her Ipod, it is like it is permanently attached to her ears. She is a seemingly proper and quite girl, who likes to invest her money in expensive clothing. A girl like that, you guess maybe a Carrie Underwood fan, or Britney Spears enthusiast. As I took a peek to her Itouch..... i see MIMS. Not what I was expecting.

I guess the point of my rambling is that, although it may seem like we all fit into a basic classification... black or white, man or woman, blonde or brunette. But you can never really classify someone by just one genre of music. Yes it is true that someone out there only listens to one specific genre, but it seems impossible. Someone could be completely submersed in the rock scene, but they could still enjoy a little country from time to time. In conclusion to my madness, we may be stuck to certain stereotypes and pre-judgements just by our presence, but you cannot classify an individual to one type of music.
Music is boundless and all around us. Our tastes are constantly changing, as is the music we have on our Ipods. Go out and explore.

My favorite band--Rilo Kiley

Up until about a year and a half ago, I had always had a hard time answering the question "who is your favorite band?" I have so many favorites that are so different that it has always been hard to choose. But a year and a half ago, I discovered that all my Rilo Kiley albums are the most listened to from my iTunes. I found myself listening to them all the time, no matter what mood I was in. This past year I had the chance to see them in concert (which was amazing) and now whenever the question "who is your favorite band?" is posed, I don't even hesitate to say Rilo Kiley.

If you've never listened to Rilo Kiley, you are definitely missing out. Rilo Kiley's music is a mix of folk, indie rock, and a little bit of pop. The band is comprised of 3 males and a female lead singer, Jenny Lewis. Jenny Lewis' voice is so soulful and unique and comes across so friendly. The band relies heavily on guitar and keyboard with a few tracks sung by Blake Sennett. One thing I can say about this band is that I can't compare them to anyone. They don't sound like anyone else, which is something you don't come across too often. Their lyrics tend to be "anti-love songs" and generally tell a story. These are all reasons I love Rilo Kiley so much. I hope that I have convinced a few to listen to some Rilo Kiley music, because I can pretty much guarantee you will fall in love after the first listen. You will not be dissapointed!

When did you discover who your favorite band is, who are they, and why do you like them so much?

"Muse"-ic

This post is dedicated to my favorite alternative rock band Muse. I am going to tell you why I like them and why I think you should give them a try.

The first thing that I like about Muse is that they have their own sound. Of course they pull from other influences like all other bands but have taken those influences and blended it into a unique representation of the rock genre. The guitar is strong out front and then has syth-soundeffects in the background. The mix of hard distorted guitar notes and the other-worldly keyboard/ piano gives a great alternative sound. What is also great is how the different their songs can be. One the same album you will have a strong guitar influence with fast paced bass, drums and vocals; and then slow acoustic sounds with piano soft vocals. Another part of the sound that I enjoy is the harmony in the vocals between Matthew Bellamy and Christopher Wolstenholme. Theses are some of the main reasons that I like Muse but not the only ones.

The second thing that I enjoy about Muse is the lyrics of the songs that the play. The subject matter varies from love to political and even to the wonders of space. One of my favorite songs is entitled “Glorious”. It starts out with a long intro and then starts with the words
“Rose-tinted view,
And satellites that compromise the truth

I wanted more

With the cuts and the bruises

Touch my face

A hopeless embrace”
To me this is the song of a man who just fell in love with someone and is looking through rose colored glasses. Things are not what they seem but he doesn’t care he just wants someone to embrace him. The lyrics of Muse songs evoke a whole range of emotions and are why I love the band so much.
I hope that I have convinced you to at least go out and listen to a few different Muse songs and for your own opinion. If you don’t like the song that you listen to keep an open mind and try a different album and you just may find something you like. *The lyrics that I used came from Lyrics on Demand http://www.lyricsondemand.com/m/muselyrics/

Welcome

Hey everyone. Tim here. this is the Comm 495 Progressive/Alternative Rock group blog. in the weeks to come there will be a plethora of information pertaining to different aspects of this rock genre.