Posts Tagged Rock Band

Maschine Mikro review

Posted by on Thursday, 8 December, 2011

Native Instruments’ Maschine hardware/software bundle has become a staple in the beat-production market since its debut two years ago. Now at version 1.7, its performative and production capacities have grown to the point where dance pioneers like Underworld rely on it as a standard instrument much the way an electric guitar might be used by a rock band. Maschine Mikro is the first major hardware shift for the production platform: the newly-downsized controller easily fits into a backpack and comes in at 0 less than its bigger brother. What compromises come with the smaller footprint, and what will the price tag mean for people just getting starting in the groove production game? Read on, Lil’ Dre, for our macro view of the Mikro.

Gallery: Maschine Mikro

Continue reading Maschine Mikro review

Maschine Mikro review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceNative Instruments  | Email this | Comments
Engadget


A New Look at Rock with Bullet for My Valentine

Posted by on Tuesday, 28 September, 2010

The musicians that are the subject of Bullet for My Valentine merch and albums are almost the anti thesis of rock stars. Unlike other musically inclined stars, the members of this band prefer to focus on their music instead of reinventing their appearances for commercial packaging. This in itself suggests that the group makes for an interesting case study.

The UK group started in 1998 but not as the group that it is now. They were first known as Jeff Killed John with Nick Crandle on bass, Michael Thomas on drums, Michael Paget on lead guitar and Matthew Tuck on vocals. They originally played nu metal and played songs by other bands. In 2002, they got a shot at creating their own brand with the release of You Play With Me. Before things could get rolling however, Crandle left and Jason James had to fill in.

Because of problems with finances, the band had to adopt its current name. At the time that they did this, a more crucial shift happened for them as they changed labels and music genre. They released two new EPs under Sony BMG. It didn’t take long before the first Bullet for My Valentine album, Poison, emerged. This came out in 2005 and hit the Billboard 200 at 128. One year after its release, it achieved gold status and continues to be a hit among fans to this day. Clearly the group had found a permanent name for its band patches.

Critics don’t argue much about the brand of music the group plays. Their tone has been categorized as metal under the sub categories of either thrash or heavy. The band stresses however that they are primarily a rock band with metal influences. Among the major influences they have cited are Metallica, Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

In January 2008, the band went on to release their second album, Scream Aim Fire. The album is still within the same category as its predecessor but band members consider it more belligerent in tone. A brief relapse into the style and tone of the first album cam about with the release of Fever, the group’s third album. But of course, there were no gradual beats to replace the aggressive stance. Fever is most likely a sign of musical maturity because, of the three albums, this one has more in store when it comes to the question of musical legacy.

Despite seemingly veering away from image building, the group has not gone unnoticed. In 2004, they were hailed as the Best Newcomer at the Welsh Music Awards. They were then named Best British Band in 2006 at the Metal Hammer Golden God Award. The Kerrang! Awards has added to their string of recognitions, naming the group Best British Newcomer in 2005 and Best British Band in 2008 and 2009. The single Tears Don’t Fall was awarded by Kerrang! As the Best UK Single in 2006.

Fans and followers can have different ideas on which genre the Bullet for My Valentine albums belong. Clearly though, this isn’t a major life and death concern for the members of the band. They really are more into playing their music than anything else.


5 Favorite Band Memorabilia

Posted by on Monday, 20 September, 2010

Most of us, at least at one point in our lives, we have been fanatics of certain bands. Particularly the rock bands whose legacies have stood the test of time. Names like Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Korn, Metallica, AC/DC and many others have left their marks, not only in the music scene but also in popular culture. And these are just a few of the good reasons why they are considered legends.

Usually when we are completely enamored with a celebrity, it shows in how we look, in the clothes we wear, and the stuff that we use. To the point that any person we meet can easily guess which rock band we love the most. And it is through the use of such things that we showcase to the rest of the world the level of admiration that we have for these music legends.

Many people use the common types of commercial merchandise as their favorite memorabilia. These merchandise, or also known as merch, popular with both the old and new bands. So you can expect a Kiss Merch, a Megadeth Merch, and even a Parkway Drive Merch. Now should you want to know what are the top favorite rock band memorabilia that fans usually purchase, the following is a short list of those items.

1. The ever popular band t-shirts
Among the more common and favorite memorabilia are band t-shirts. They are cheap and yet of good quality. And whenever you are in a gathering celebrating the music of your favorite band, you will always fit right in because of your comfortable and cool band t-shirt.

2. Hoodies
Hoodies are also quite popular, however not all of the legendary rock groups will look right when printed on a hoodie. Yet it is one of the most comfortable wearable memorabilia. It is also practical because of the hood that can keep away a few raindrops and also the large pockets on each side.

3. CD collection
Of course because they are rock bands to begin with, any fanatic would certainly have his or her own collection of music of the band. From “The Very Best Of…” to every album released, we have a copy of their music that will surely last forever.

4. Buttons and badges
When you have such a band souvenir, you can easily customize anything that you have and turn it into a memorabilia itself. For example, just by sticking a button on your bag you can instantly make that bag look like a merchandise or souvenir of your favorite rock band.

5. Posters
This is perhaps the quintessential medium by which we show how much we idolize a rock band. We adorn the walls of our room with these posters that everywhere we turn, we see these bands on our walls.

Your band memorabilia need not be expensive. Just any medium will do as long as you can freely express how much your favorite band means to you.


The Top Harley Decal Stickers

Posted by on Tuesday, 7 September, 2010

So you will require a Harley. Becoming in possession of one particular belonging to the very best bikes within the world, you will now must be wondering a site to make your type statement complete. Its easy, add spice to your journey with a American Harley sticker. These Harley Davidson Decal are on hand in a number of sizes and colors, and can even be customized to match your personal individual type. Anyone can have the picture of your girlfriend, your favored actor, your pet goldfish or your favored Rock band emblazoned across your fuel tank. That would certainly request your message across to everybody.

American Harley stickers aren’t just about producing a statement. They define a rider’s type, his nature and his actual self. Also, it really is a excellent way of adding an extra layer of protective cover around your fuel tank. It protects your fuel tank, which can be often, quite exposed, from scratches and blemishes. Also you will can put these stickers to the bumper and also the sides, which will flash your message loud and clear to any annoying honker attempting to overtake to the road. If not necessarily anything, it’ll certainly catch their eye, and slow down, letting you will zoom off into glory.

These Harley Davidson Decals are incredibly catchy and are bound to make a type statement. They are sure to make people’s heads turn, when you will zoom past them within your roaring Harley. These decals are incredibly inexpensive, and in conjunction with the exact same time, they are highly tasteful. Their designs vary from images to wise messages, with street wise slogans. Even the messages can be customized when per your needs. American Harley decals are in addition a excellent, economical and funky way to give your old bike a makeover.

So grab a sticker, and make your statement! These stickers complete the appear that every super rider craves of being no cost, wild, powerful and independent. They add a flavor for the bike, which can be not necessarily exactly exceptional. Though a Harley can be made exceptional, and totally yours, exclusive no more than to you will, with a sticker. Such as, no more than you will can journey your Harley, emblazoned with your favorite actress’s photograph, and your personal individual message. Require a excellent journey!


Defying What is Normal: Dave Frank Master Class On the Marx Brothers

Posted by on Friday, 20 August, 2010

In my field I have met and known a number of musicians and artists, who simply could not wait and learn a few random skills, then just hit the ground running. These people believe that execution is more important than learning the skills to properly execute the idea.

People like this wants immediate gratification and pass over things that are “childish” or “time consuming”. There were even some musicians I know that even skipped completely over the basic chord patterns and progressions that were all necessary for them to progress and grow as an artist, in the hopes of “becoming the rock star of tomorrow”.

Everything needs time to grow. You can’t really plan the seeds in your garden and expect to harvest apples the next day. No one is above this rule of nature. However, that basic law of nature can simply be overlooked because our modern society pushes the idea of “do THIS instantly!”

If you believe this hype, you might just lose a couple of pound in 7 days, learn Yoga in three days, and get your Master’s degree after 6 weeks. When you look at these things in a slower pace, what is the quality going to be like? Thinking at a slower pace, what is the quality that you will have? How many exercise routines can you actually learn in a week? How many moves can you remember by heart in 7 days? Can you do a Head-stand without killing yourself if you rush Yoga?

A lot of musicians can’t wait to learn to play the bass guitar and form immediately a rock band. They buy some random equipment, start hammering things out, and end up finding that they hit a brick wall.

I learned from Dave Frank’s workshop after he showed the very entertaining and talented Marx Brothers that you have to learn the rules first before you can break them. Although Chico Marx’s playing stunts were certainly beyond what any piano teacher could teach, the fact remains that he knew the basics of the game. Chico fired the wrong notes intentionally to entertain, but the piece still was great – he hit the “perfect wrong notes”. Of course, there is no other way of learning which notes to miss if he did not know which ones he was supposed to hit, in the first place.

You have to learn he rules first, before you can break them. As a musician, it is imperative that you learn proper scales and chords before you can begin to improvise.

In case you have not heard the name before he is not just any jazz piano school owner and musician.. Dave Frank is one of the hottest solo jazz pianists music educators on the jazz scene today, author of Hal Leonard’s best-selling book series Joy of Improv.

The Dave Frank Marx Brothers Master Class can be viewed on Youtube. To watch it visit Youtube and search for Dave Frank Marx Brothers.

Here is the first of six videos from that class.


Top 5 Ways People Remember Their Favorite Bands

Posted by on Wednesday, 7 July, 2010

Almost all of us have idolized, or in most probability, still idolizing a rock band. Often it is not just any rock band, but one who has made a great and lasting contribution to music and to our culture as a whole. These bands can be Nirvana, Kiss, Led Zeppelin, Megadeth, Metallica and more. And everyone will surely agree that these bands deserve to be labeled as legends.

We always share our fascination and the respect we have for them with our friends and even with the people that we meet each day. Although often we may not be conscious about it but in our own little ways we are spreading the word that the band we idolize is truly worthy of our time and admiration.

If you haven’t been showcasing your fanatic reverence to the band you like, perhaps it is about time that you do so. Almost all of us do this through various merchandise or merch as it is known in the retail business. We have Nirvana Merch, Metallica Merch, and even the newer bands like a Parkway Drive Merch. Here are some of the ways people remember or show their love for their favorite bands.

1. The ever popular band t-shirts
Among the more common and favorite memorabilia are band t-shirts. They are cheap and yet of good quality. And whenever you are in a gathering celebrating the music of your favorite band, you will always fit right in because of your comfortable and cool band t-shirt.

2. Hoodies
Next to the band t-shirts, hoodies are also a popular choice. However, it also depends on the genre of the band that you admire whether that band’s logo or the images of the members will look perfect printed on a hoodie. Of course a hoodie has more uses compared to a t-shirt because it has a hood that can keep your head dry during a mildly wet evening at a rock concert.

3. Compilation CDs
What good is your admiration to your favorite band if you do not have a collection of their songs? Music labels have commemorated these legendary bands by releasing CDs that feature the best songs of these bands. However, if you are a real fanatic, you would certainly have your own collection of their individual albums and not just the compilations.

4. Buttons and badges
When you have such a band souvenir, you can easily customize anything that you have and turn it into a memorabilia itself. For example, just by sticking a button on your bag you can instantly make that bag look like a merchandise or souvenir of your favorite rock band.

5. Posters
Now this one’s a classic. You can make your own room look like a shrine for your band by simply putting up a poster or two on your walls. And the bigger the poster, the better it usually is.

There are other ways or souvenirs that fans create or buy to remember the rock bands that they adore. If you firmly believe in the music and the message that your band sends out to the world, maybe it’s about time you wear a band t-shirt today.