My Music Reviews

The great escape - Trance to work with

2010-08-30T22:21:00.000-07:00

To get you motivated when you need the most energy, during a workout or while at work, when you need music that is not distracting that will give you that extra edge, I highly suggest the best vocal trance you can find.

Here we have The Great Escape with BT & Caroline Levelle. Let the beat revive your pulse. Listen here :)

Give this a chance...by the time you get 2 minutes into the track, you are going to be involved. For more vocal trance, check out Google and Youtube videos for some great tracks that you can rip to mp3 on your PC, Mac or mobile music device.

vocal trance beat music

Death of funk/soul artist, Isaac Hayes

2008-08-11T02:02:00.000-07:00

Just as production for a new movie, Soulmen, was set to be complete, not only does Bernie Mac die, but also Isaac Hayes.

The two seasoned professional black performers both passed away in the month of August of 2008. What is even more striking is that they were both involved in a movie together along with A-Lister Samual Jackson, which may have just finished production...a question which is still unclear.

Hayes was the premier artists for the Stax label with successful recordings on albums Hot Buttered Soul and Black Moses.

He also made a huge effort as a humanitarian for human and black/African American rights winning honorary recognition and awards. He will be missed by many as will be his "brother" Bernie Mac!

Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. (August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008)

stax records, hot buttered soul, black moses, david porter, funk singer songwriter, isaac hayes

David Cook wins American Idol

2008-05-21T22:02:00.000-07:00

As the latest season of the super popular, American Idol comes to an end, the top idol spot goes to David Cook. In a head to head finale, David Cook and David Archuleta duked it out to the end with a huge ensemble of previous contestants and music industry stars, including Bryan Adams, Donna Summer, George Michael and others.

David Cook won the American Idol contest, but not without some stiff competition. Other contestants worked very hard in this competition.

Ryan Seacrest closed out the show saying that American Idols next season is already on the way.

Waiting for the new music stuff

2008-02-22T09:07:00.000-08:00

For a long time the music industry has had its ups and downs. Since the turn of the latest century, music seems to have taken a vague turn. During the 1990s, rock bands had a sense of creativity that seems to have surpassed the cult followings of more modern musicians.

Musicians like Sarah Mclachlan, Joe Satriani, Alice in Chains, Dave Matthews, Tori Amos, Natalie Merchant, members of the grunge and prog rock scene like Tool, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam...Smashing Pumpkins, Steve Vai...

Womens in music were also quite strong at this time... No Doubt, Bonnie Raitt, 10,000 Mainiacs, Indigo Girls.

Who has risen to such spectacle as some of these acts since then?

Who do we have to replace these icons? Over time we will will see.

Deftones reach for diigital sound

2008-02-01T23:27:00.000-08:00

Well it's been awhile since we heard Deftones for the first time.

They managed to put together some interesting tracks. It is always nice to see something original and the Deftones managed to break a mold in the prog rock era that helped bring digital and heavy low bass guitar tone together.

Kind of reminds you of say Depeche mode meets Tool. With all the latest music going toward a drum and beat style, how will guitar based rock and roll hang on?

Or will it?

Deftones were one of the last bands to wield such guitar riffs. It is interesting to fans of the genre, but what about the new crowds turning of age?

about deftones, depeche mode review, progressive rock guitar riffs, progressive rock

Jeremy by Pearl Jam

2008-02-01T23:17:00.000-08:00

Pearl Jam - You always heard them and knew they existed, but still they remained in the back of your mind.

It is amazing to think of how much music Pearl Jam recorded. Eddie Vedder and his crew have managed to amass a vast library of self published music as well as many covers.

Surely, there have not been any other vocalists that stand out in the same way they did in the 90's.

Maynard of Tool has maintained a long stretch. It is interesting to think how many 90's bands broke up.

One thing for sure is that Eddie had a way with words and his material continues to remain interesting in light of a slower sound.

There is never enough said for being a good lyricist. When you can choose words that move people and make them sound good, you have great power.

Longing for Dave Matthews music

2008-01-20T15:44:00.000-08:00

Economy affects music - It's been some time now since the early 90s when bands were coming out with some of the freshest material seen in years.

Since then, there has been a different President in office. For many, the 2000 era has been dismall for music thus far.

Hip hop continues to sell and post prog rockers seek something when forced to look past such 90's hitters like Pearl Jam, SoundGarden, Dave Matthews and the such.

In womens music, there has certainly been a void since the times of Alanis, Sarah Mclachlan, Jewel, No Doubt and others.

Since then, music has become even more about celebrity. We see all of our music pop stars receiving top tabloid coverage.

Brittany Spears, Avril Levigne, Christina!

When does it stop? When do we go back to the root of good music?

Is our musical creativity connected so heavily to the state of politics that we can't experience such culture unless the economy allows it?

In what ways does the economy effect our creative output?

Alice in Chains albums are missed much

2008-01-17T19:16:00.000-08:00

It is a great shame that the lead member of the 90s rock band had to pass at such a young age.

Layne Staley had a strong fan base that was upset but probably not as surprised at his death.

A long running problem with drugs seemed to haunt Layne, although it is probably not known exactly what happened at the hours of his death.

Some of the most interesting material recorded by the band include the self title album they produced which had some of the dryer side of the band. Tracks like Sludge Factory and So Close Now.

These are surely some telling songs as were the songs on the album Dirt, which had a lot of direct and indirect hinting at drugs use including smack, another name of heroin.

Pearl Jam - As the years go by

2008-01-14T23:31:00.000-08:00

It is amazing indeed how time flies. As it does, we see what works of creativity stood the test of time.

Isn't interesting how music that we may not have paid much attention to at one point may eventually grow valuable or interesting to us at some point?

Take Pearl Jam for example. You may have heard a song like Black or Jeremy and thought of it as a good guitar based pop rock song, but it still fails to address the adeptness that Eddie Vedder had in writing music.

Someone who may have listened to a different genre such as say metal or funk or even hip hop, may not have really heard a good Pearl Jam song and eventually they get hooked.

The other scenario is that you have always liked similar genre bands such as say Nirvana, Alice in Chains or Tool, but you always overlooked Pearl Jam or any other similar genre band, but over time you realized that that music you ignored became your new favorite to listen to.

about pearl jam, pearl jam albums

Music from the 90's

2007-12-30T19:41:00.000-08:00

The fact is that no new bands have come out recently with the same energy as the bands of the early 90's.

We went through that No doubt, limp Bizkit phase and then moved on through Linkin Park and Deftones and now what do we have?

Do we have anything comparable to an Alice in Chains or Joe Satriani of the new generation?

The music industry is always pushing out with the old and in with the new. It's a shame that so many musicians go unheard. All the great vocalists and guitar players. All the great beat artists and rap artists.

Many are never heard. Think for a minute. If you're a music lover, you can only imagine what you'll feel like the day your music favorites pass away.

It's always sad to hear your favorite musician or act is dying out.

I grew up playing guitar around my home. I grew up on Satriani, Vai, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Sarah Mclachlan, Sade and many others.

Maybe I'm just latching on to the music of the early nineties. Is it just me, or did music seem to have a special air about it then that made it seem like anything was possible?

Bands like Dave Matthews and Tool. Soundgarden, Pearl Jam.