Rapper Spit from New Orleans is the artist on this freestyle and clearly he kills it. I couldn’t find any tracks of him battling and I’ll go ahead and assume that’s because everyone else was smart enough not to challenge him.
Tags: Charlamaign Records, Daily Freestyle, Freestyle, Hip Hop, Indie, New Orleans, Spit
Originally Posted On Creative Deconstruction: Resurgence of Vinyl Could Be Just What the Industry Needs
A pair of Wired stories recently reported evidence of a significant uptick in the sale of vinyl records, showing that while CD sales have declined 11.7 percent this past year, vinyl sales have increased 36.6 percent. This recent resurgence of vinyl is beautifully ironic. This is the digital age! Music is cheap, convenient and portable. Innovations in technology have propelled us to places no one could have dreamed of a couple of decades ago. 8-Track cartridges came and went. Cassette tapes came and went. We’ll soon be able to say the same thing about CDs. Yet here we are, watching the sale of vinyl records climb like it’s 1976.
There are those who may see this as a step backwards for physical media, but in reality that couldn’t be further from the truth. For the past few years the recording industry has been increasingly commoditized, and listeners have consistently chosen quantity and convenience over quality. The MP3 is the poster child for this idea. You can download, copy and share it almost instantly and carry it anywhere, but it sounds terrible. The result is a glut of recorded music on the Internet and a largely devalued product. Listeners were ok with this for a while, but it seems the masses (or at least an increasingly large subset of the masses) have had enough.
Vinyl could be the perfect answer to listeners’ digital fatigue, and could provide the flailing music industry with something it desperately needs – value. Digital files are nearly worthless as a product. You can’t see them or touch them. They are infinitely reproduce-able and instantly available. If over abundance commoditized a physical product, inite-ness devalues a virtual product completely. Vinyl on the other hand can’t be easily reproduced, and is a much more sensory medium. The sound quality is better, there is more room for artwork. You can see it, hold it, smell it, taste it. It has the ability to foster a much deeper connection between the listener and the music. How many times have you flipped through dozens of songs on your iPod without really listening? You have to work for vinyl – finding the right album, placing it on the turntable, finding the groove, flipping it over when the first side finishes. You can’t just let it play forever in the background. Vinyl has the potential to return some of the appreciation for music as art that this industry has lost.
CDs are not the answer. Digital files have made CDs redundant and obsolete. Why do we need a physical version of a digital file? That makes no sense. We have iPods for that, which better represent the advantages of digital anyway – convenience and portability. MP3 players don’t scratch or skip and you can carry your entire library in your pocket. CDs were always flawed, and now they are finally on their way out.
Of course, we’re talking about vinyl replacing CDs not digital music in general. We have only just begun to realize the potential of digital technology, but digital is still more effective when a physical medium is also available. Labels like Matador Records have recognized this and have begun including coupons in record packaging that can be used to download digital versions of the album’s songs. According to Matador the coupons have been a big hit. Programs like this are a great way of providing fans with the best of both worlds.
I’m not old enough to have any real nostalgia about vinyl records, but the benefits a true resurgence could bring to our struggling industry is exciting. Vinyl provides the artists and labels with a real product to sell again, yes - and that’s great. What excites me, though, is that vinyl has the potential to get listeners to connect to recorded music as an art form again, and that is something we can all get behind.
Tags: current events, Music, music industry, music listening, music recording format, NEWS, records, vinyl, vinyl records
David Lamar; talented guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer… has been hailed both by fans and critics as “the best kept cultural secret in the Western Hemisphere.” Luckily enough, I was able to connect with David for an interview about himself, his music and his plans for the future:
MicControl: How long have you been playing the guitar?
David Lamar: I’ve been playing guitar since i was about 12 yrs. old.
MC: Who was your first influence?
DL: My first influences on the guitar were carlos montoya, sabicas, manitas de plata, and andres segovia. later, joe pass, kenny burrell, james burton, b.b. king , albert king, and later larry carlton.
MC: Clearly blues is your style, has it always been that way? Or did you start playing something else?
DL: I began playing classical , and flamenco guitar, and played only that until i was 20 yrs.
MC: Have you always been a solo artist? If not, can you name some projects that you have been involved with?
DL: I worked as a sideman until 1983 or so. i basically lived outside of the usa from 1974, until 2000, i did sessions, and backed up different artists mostly in south america, and europe. Also did some back up, and session work in the usa on my visits home. i worked with the very famous, and the totally unknown. also played in some country bands back in the day.
MC: How do you feel about the popular music of today? What do you think of John Mayer as a blues guitarist?
DL: To be honest, I don’t listen to much of today’s music. a lot of it I finds a bit shallow. Sadly there seems to be an absence of roots. I don’t want to sound lick a prick, but if music dosen’t move me emotionally, it’s just not something i’m interested in hearing. John Mayer is a gifted musician. (note his roots).Some of today’s country is very well written, well sung, and well played. As to john mayer as a blues guy, you can hear the influences, but guitar seems to me to be just one element of his music output. his songs, and singing, are also excellent.
MC: What is more important to you as a guitar player, your ear or music theory?
DL: Frankly, the songwriting, and singing, are what define me as a musician. having said that, i’m as big of a guitar nut as anyone. For me, it’s a blend of what my ears tell me, as well as the many years of harmony studies.
I would say that i’m a reasonably intelligent musician, or educated might be a better way to put it. The real deal is how much feeling, and magic you can put into your output, especially shows, and recordings.
MC: How many albums have you released?
DL: I have 3 albums recorded, and released. the first being one for capitol records when I was a kid. One recorded live in sweden. (” the swedish sessions”) and the last recorded in europe, (”david lamar live in europe”) these were all commercial ventures recorded for companies.
MC: Do you have any new projects in the works?
DL: My main project is to be the very best that i can, by practicing, writing new tunes. I work a lot on the vocal aspect, and the open tuning slide guitar. and chording too. I had the honor of studying with joe pass when i was a young guy. Right now, im’ looking into doing something serious here in the bay area, and santa cruz where we are living now. Also I have always taught a fair amount, and will continue to do so.
MC: Where is your music available?
DL: If someone would be interested in my stuff, they can email me at this address.
FOR MORE INFO ON DAVID LAMAR PLEASE GO TO HIS MYSPACE or his WEBSITE
Tags: blues, California, david lamar, Guitar, Interview, LA
I always love to hear and support talented, unsigned singer/ songwriters! I found this video today on twitter and was really surprised how fantastic Brittany sounds! Check out the video and enjoy!
Tags: boston arts academy, brittany nicole, house of blues, Live, original piece, talent show, unsigned
I figured since yesterday’s first ever “Daily Freestyle” was such a success we needed to post one today to top it, you know something to boost the ratings a little. So, we put this up. Nothing says freestyle battle like a full out brawl. I’m not sure who this rapper is but he’s pretty good. If anyone has any information on who this is they will be rewarded (most likely with a thank you).
Tags: Fight breaks out, Freestyle, Hip Hop, Rap battle
As seen on Revivl
1. Nickelback gets hit with a rock
Nickelback performs for a huge festival in Portugal and can’t seem to find one fan. Nickelback makes a huge mistake and complains about how shitty the crowd response is. Now maybe this is semi ok for one of your own shows but at a festival this is a huge no no! After making themselves look like a bunch of conceited assholes an audience member throws a rock and nails the singer in the head.
Verdict: Act like whiny baby then you deserve a rock to the head.
Winner = The 30k people that didn’t have to listen to another second of Nickelback.
2. Henry Rollins beats up fan
A fan in the front row decides to taunt Henry by trying to grab his microphone repeatedly. This kid thought he was being funny but Henry let him know he wasn’t laughing by pounding his head in.
Verdict: This kid should be lucky he didn’t get a mic stand to the face.
Winner = Henry Rollins
Tags: Attack of the fans, Bands fighting fans, Fans fighting bands, humor
After posting the first ever “Daily Freestyle” yesterday I was contacted by Whitefolkz and he sent me a link to a brand new exclusive song “A Beautiful Thing” featuring Kingpin Slim. Check out his mixtape Almost H.O.M.E. and stay tuned to the blog for a review in the next few days.
Tags: A Beautiful Thing, Almost H.O.M.E., Hip Hop, Kingpin Slim, Rap, Topp Dogg Hill, Whitefolkz
Boston based hard rock band Jake and the Jakes have released their third studio album entitled Back In Black And White. Make no mistake, this album is a rock album through and through. Like a combination of Guns n’ Roses and Aerosmith, Jake and the Jakes are bold, very tight, and most importantly they rock. Hard. Rock music such as this doesn’t come around much any more. The vocals are loud, the guitars are even louder and the drums are as in your face as possible. But the music doesn’t just sound like a mush of influences and noise. Each song is well developed, the rhythms are all extremely tight, at times using syncopation, and other times just making sure that everyone hits all the same beats in perfect synchronicity. The guitar is heavily distorted, but doesn’t over power the smooth, boomy tone of the bass. The drums are always on beat, adding in nice fills and accents all over the place. Even the keyboards are heard, adding in a nice melodic touch. The vocals, where the most obvious connections can be made to Guns n’ Roses front man Axle Rose, are also consistently on par with where they need to be. The vocalist uses a technique (similar to Axl Rose) where his voice kind of scratches when holding out longer notes, which I found to really work here. It added an edge to the vocals that could have been lacking had he not done that. The harmonies were also well put together and layered.
As songwritters, these guys are really good. Back In Black And White is a collection of really well developed songs with hard riffs, great melodies and song forms that remain consistently interesting. If I have one complaint with most rock n’ roll, its that too many bands are afraid to take risks with the song form, and each song ends up sounding like a carbon copy of one another. But thankfully, the songs here are nicely, and thoughtfully put together. This is the groups third studio release, and it really feels that way- this band is a band with experience and development under their belt.
As musicians, they guys are all very skilled at what they are doing. I mean none of them are super-capable jazz players; but then again, they aren’t pretending to be. This is a group who is very tight, which is really what rock n’ roll is all about- precision. But the tightness is applied to interesting rhythms, intricate riffs and well composed melodic lines. The best thing for me to hear, honestly, was the ripping guitar solos that were just about as in-your-face rock n’ roll as you can get. The tone of the guitar is perfect. There is this distorted, but not to distorted quality that I can hear on this album which is just beautiful. Every note of the solo can be heard, and nothing gets drowned out in a fuzzy haze. It is very refreshing to hear a band sticking to a sound and a feel that isn’t exactly what is popular right now. But just because it is popular doesn’t mean it doesn’t sound great. I personally love listening to music from past decades and generations, and this is just that. It almost feels like an ode to the rock n’ roll greats, with a fresh taste of something new all at the same time.
CLICK BELOW FOR UPCOMING SHOWS AND CONTACT INFO:
Tags: aerosmith, Album Review, axl rose, back in black and white, gun n' roses, Hard Rock, jake and the jakes, Rock n' Roll
Tags: drummers, drumming, drums, street drummers
I know its hard to understand such a wild and outlandish concept, but practicing your instrument actually makes you better. I feel the need to speak out about this, because it has become quite apparent to me that muscians have stopped practicing, only to be comfortable with what they are doing. Do you have any idea how much potential is lost becuase of this mind set? Do you think Jaco Pastorious (Bass Player- Weather Report), Chick Corea (Keyboard Player- Chick Corea, Return To Forver), or Trey Anastasio (Guitar Player- Phish)would be at the virtuosic musicians that they are currently at, if they had just said ‘Im good enough, I’m already famous, why bother practicing?’… NO. The Answer is NO.
They would never be at the level they are at now if they didn’t all have that drive to practice, and learn, and get better. The more they practiced, the more fluent they became, and the more of a release they were able to get. I think Arnold Schwarzenegger put it the best:
Now there are some good, even great musicians out there today. And Im sure that they do practice a lot. But have any of you noticed a lack of virtuosity in musicians and musicianship lately? When was the last time a new musician was introduced to the music community who was far and above everyone else, who people could look up to and say, ‘DAMN! I want to be that good’. It just hasn’t happened recently. Today kids look up to people like Pete Wentz and think ‘thats what a musician should be!’. Even Rolling Stone Magazine wrote a piece on the ‘Guitar Gods’ of today, and you know who was the focus of attention? John Mayer, John Frusciante and Jack White. None of these guys are bad at the guitar, in fact, when with the John Mayer Trio, I would say he is by far the best of the group. But com’on now people, are any of these people deserving of the ‘Guitar God’ title? Again I would have to say no. John Frusciente is a decent rhythm guitar player, but his live soloing abilities are terrible…. just terrible. He hits three notes and hits them over and over again while he hangs his mouth open… real cool!
Jack White, while I think he is a very talented songwritter and even guitarist, I would not say he possess the virtuoso abilities to be called a ‘Guitar God’. And John Mayer, even though I really do think he is an excellent guitar player- what does it say when a guy, whose career is based around singing pop songs and barely even using his guitar, has topped the chart of ’New School Guitar Gods’? Its doesn’t say much, although it does say that we are aching for better musicians….
This is a call to all musicians- a challange! Pick up your instruments, and practice them. Learn all of the scales, learn the modes, train your ear, and excercise your fingers. If you do that, I promise you, you WILL get much, much better, and it WILL making playing much more fun!
Tags: Chick Corea, jack white, jaco pastorious, john fruscienate, john mayer trio, practicing, practicing your instrument, trey anastasio
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