A Warning!!!

AAAAAAARGH!!!!!

Let me explain - I recently decided to take advantage of emusic.com's free trial offer of 50 songs. It seemed to go well, the service was pretty good and I was able to get planty of jazz albums that I needed.

But, when I played the tracks in iTunes, it just skipped to the next track after 20 seconds of playing!! And even if I played it again and moved the seek bar past the point of skipping, it just skipped ahead anyway!!!

I haven't been able to fix the problme, despite playing with start/end times, converting to AAC and any other method you would care to use, so now all of that free music is lost.

So, in short, DON'T BUY MUSIC FROM EMUSIC.COM. Use amazon or play - no subscription, a better catalogue and they actually fecking work.

Rant over.

HOLIDAY!!!

Well, I do have some exciting news today. Tomorrow, I am getting on a plane with my family and we are going to Orlando for two weeks!! Or maybe it's only exciting if you are me... But nevertheless, I will be taking my trusty friend laptop with me, and may even get some blogging done! There must be some kind of music scene in Orlando... So I will keep you posted!

Meanwhile, this week's choice albums:

Day & Age by The Killers is on frequent rotation at the minute, and I'm loving every minute of it! They seem to have perfected the formula - there's a nice mix of the synthy glam-rock leanings of Hot Fuss and the abstract American rock of Sam's Town, but for me it's the new and inventive instrumentation that does it - harpsichord, anyone?

• Key tracks: Losing Touch, This Is Your Life, The World We Live In
• Best moment: Hmm, there are many, but I think it may have to be the brass opening figures on "Losing Touch."

I also backtracked slightly, and had a listen to Because Of The Times, the 2007 album from Kings Of Leon. I have read one review that slated it, basically suggesting that they were trying (and failing) to be the U2 of American rock. And while this is possibly true, the results of the experiment are nothing to be ashamed of - this album oozes attitude and musicality. In my opinion, Because Of The Times is seriously underrated.

• Key Tracks: Knocked Up, McFearless, Fans
• Best moment: The complex yet solid drum groove in "McFearless" (see also: bridge to "My Party.")

The best 'cover version' in the world.

Keith Jarrett - "I Loves You, Porgy" from the album "The Melody At Night, With You." I am speechless!! Only just heard any of this album now, in fact still only on track 2 but I am already in love with it!!! For all of his personal prima donna-isms and "artistic" flaws, this man is surely the only person in the universe who can channel the intense fear and longing of the lyrics to this song through an instrument. (check out http://tinyurl.com/bctwwg).

I also love the fact that there is none of the impressive though perhaps convoluted harmonic showboating that Jarrett is famous for here - just the melody, but expressed with a clarity and elegance that can never be taught or learnt. A true genius - even if you aren't a jazz fan, buy this album!!!

You critics know nothing!

Sorry, did I say that aloud...?

In what will surely be the first of many non-music related posts, I think it's time that I took a stand. On Saturday, I received my new toy - a T-Mobile G1 (that's a "google-phone" to those who aren't sad enough to read techie blogs. 

Wait a minute...), and in short - I LOVE IT!!!

Except I have read far too many reviews which criticise frankly silly things such as lack of video recording (which is coming soon anyway), lack of headphone jack (let's face it - who doesnt own an ipod these days, anyway?) and - wait for it - "keyboard position." Pah. So it is for that reason that I took this opportunity to put in my shout for such a clever, exciting and, frankly, hi-tech device.

And what's more, it is built on a principal of "open architecture!!" Those non-techy minded amongst you may not get the significance of this, but it means that anyone can pick a bit of the phone's operating system that they don't like, learn the code, and fix it! Though so far, there haven't been many things I have wanted to fix.

Seriously, there has been no point throughout my G1 experience (so far... touch wood) during which I have thought "Oh that's annoying, why did they do that?" I may be biased seen as I have always been a big Google enthusiast, but I just love the synchronisation and the sheer usefulness of my new phone.

I'm afraid I can't really pinpoint any favourite features, since I love it all (though if I had to, the notifications, menu, home screen and general user interface is just perfect), but my whole experience with the G1 has been brilliant - I love the way it "just works."

So there you have it, my shout for the G1. Yeah!

What I listened to today...

So here is the place where I get to tell you all what I was listening to today, and why you should (or shouldn't...) all listen to it as well. As always, I would just love it if anyone wanted to comment and start a discussion.

So, let's crack on... Not that there was much to crack on with...

This morning, as a lazy Sunday wakeup ditty, I stuck on a bit of the Scott Matthews album "Passing Stranger." For those who haven't heard of him, he is an English singer-songwriter, but what makes him different from the rest of the players in that particular market is the fact that he has genuine skill as a guitarist. Although there is certainly space for the sensitive, acoustic, string ballads, most of his music is perhaps best likened to some sort of strange cross between Jeff Buckley, a bluesy, old-school, rootsy Led Zep and a sitar. Gotta love it.

• Key tracks: Dream Song, The Fool's Fooling Himself, Elusive
  
• Best moment: "The Fool's Fooling Himself," when the drums stop then re-enter after the eery instrumental section after the first chorus. If you have never before felt the urge to do a bit of air drumming, now's the time.
  

Then, in the car on the way to church, I plumped for what has pretty much become my favourite record of all time: the album "For Emma, Forever Ago" by Bon Iver. You've heard the hype, now buy the record. Really, just buy it.

• Key tracks: Erm... All of them.
  
• Best moment: The absolutely sublime bridge of "The Wolves (Acts I & II)," where raucous, clattering percussion serves as the backdrop to an epic musical conversation between two groups of Justin Vernon's layered vocals. In short- genius.

In the future, I will endeavour to list more than two albums per day... but that's all for now!!!

Welcome to the blog...

Hello there! Welcome to my little patch of cyberspace, I'm (extremely) glad that you found me, and I now feel obliged to tell you what exactly you are going to be reading here...

Im afraid there is no long story, no real reasoning behind this blog. It is literally like this - I like music and I like having an opinion, so I think you should all know what it is. I am a drummer/percussionist "by trade" and i am lucky enough to get opportunities to play in many different genres, so there will be a fair bit of my own musical experience (should you care...), but I also like the idea of telling you all what music I love (and hate) and why.

Ooh, I know what would also be fun - maybe we will do surveys! And have guest writers! Yes, that would be exciting. I'm sure I could find an expert in the Development of the Wagner Tuba to do a skit here, or even a theremin-player, just to add a bit of variety. Or you might have to settle for my alter-ego. Or my dog.

So, in short, don't come here if you are looking for a dramatic descriptions, poetic prose or amazing anecdotes... But what you will find is erm... Well - me, my opinions, my frustrations and my experiences. And who knows, you may even have a giggle.