10/01/2009
Make Music on Your iPhone with GrooveMaker [review]
Feel like using some slamming loops to create a nasty, floor shaking electronic/hip hop track for your next party or record? To get your groove on, just take out your iPhone, go to the App Store and get busy with GrooveMaker.Review: Making Music on Your iPhone with GrooveMaker
methodshop
9/23/2009
How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library
As your iTunes Library grows, you will probably lose track of exactly what media you have already imported. Eventually you will end up with duplicate songs and videos. For example, you might accidentally import a CD twice or add files from Limewire or BitTorrent. Or maybe a friend with a big Terabyte hard drive loaded you up with a lot of music recently.Here are a few tips and techniques on how to get rid of duplicate songs in your iTunes Library as well as some precautions you should take before deleting duplicate tracks.
Tutorial: How to Remove Duplicates From Your iTunes Library
methodshop
9/14/2009
Steve Jobs: New iPods, iTunes and Liver
Last week, a still kind of recovering Steve Jobs, equipped with a new liver, unveiled new iPods with increased multimedia functionality and a new version of iTunes. iTunes 9: New Features
- Smarter "Genius" Feature: The new and improved iTunes now makes "Genius" recommendations for not just music but apps, movies and TV shows too.
- Improved Syncing and File Transfers: iTunes 9.0 also improves syncing functionality and makes it easier to transfer downloaded media from iTunes to multiple computers.
- iTunes LP: Looks like the project "cocktail" rumors we heard in July we're true. Apple and the 4 major record labels, Sony, Warner Music, EMI and Universal Music, have gotten together to invent a new digital album cover format called iTunes LP. These "digital album covers" include extra media such as photos, lyrics, videos and additional songs not available to users who only purchase singles.
- iTunes Extras: Another feature called iTunes Extras gives iTunes users access to extra content for movie and TV purchases typically only included with DVDs. including documentaries, deleted scenes and interviews.
New iPods
- iPod Touch: 50 percent faster than the older models, smoother game play, cheaper prices, and larger storage. Ability to purchase pre-made ringtones.
- iPod Classic: more storage.
- iPod Shuffle: more storage, available in new colors: black, silver, blue, green, pink and a special edition in polished stainless steel.
- iPod Nano: new colors, a larger screen, FM radio, and a built-in video camera.
methodshop
8/27/2009
Radius Atomic Bass Earphones [review]
Do you feel like your iPhone or iPod needs more bass? Is your favorite Equalizer setting "Bass Boost?" Wish your headphones sounded as good as your home or car stereo system? Then maybe it's time you invested in an "atomic" pair of bass enhancing earphones.Radius, a relatively new audio company based out of Nashville, Tennessee (USA), prides itself on using premium parts in their products to deliver premium performance.
Radius sent us over a pair of their Atomic Bass Earbuds to test out. Here's how it went...
Review: Radius Atomic Bass Earphones
methodshop
8/13/2009
JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones
After a recent 4-hour flight with 3 different types of earbuds jammed in, wrapped around and loosely falling out every time I shifted in my seat, it was time to invest in a good pair of nose canceling headphones.I dropped $125 on a traditional pair of headphones 2 years ago and it was a big mistake. Lacking the portability and performance I wanted the head band finally broke a few weeks ago while I was struggling to get them wrapped up going through airport security. If you travel quite a bit, commute on the subway or train, and want the best sound quality to complement your iPod or iPhone it makes sense to spend a little extra and get a more complete package.
After researching several different brands and models I chose the JVC HA-NC250 for their style, performance, comfort, portability and value. According to CNET, "[they] make a great travel companion for those who demand quality sound. And they may not be cheap, but they seem that way next to the Bose QuietComfort 3."
Review: JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones
methodshop
8/11/2009
MTV Shutting Down Its Time Square Studio
MTV didn't renew the lease on its window studio overlooking Times Square in NYC.
MTV opened the space ~12 years ago for TRL, which helped launch the career of its host, Carson Daly.
MTV's lease runs through the end of 2009.
methodshop
Labels: music
8/05/2009
Peak Pro 6 - Review
Ok, so you have a stereo mix of your music that that needs a little EQ, a good fade out, and some volume so it's louder on the web. Or, you have a bad recording of dialog for your film that you want to compress and remove some noise from. Maybe you have some drum loops you need to cut up and add underneath the dialog in your new podcast.Whether you're a musician, composer, sound designer, audio editor, podcast/multimedia producer, or mastering engineer, you will find Peak Pro feature rich, yet flexible and friendly. It is industry-renowned for sonic quality and precision.
Designed specifically for recording, processing, editing and mastering audio on the Mac platform, Peak Pro 6 is a major update from Peak 5. The newest version builds upon its predecessor and includes many new developments that offer more creative potential than ever before.
Full Review: Bias Peak Pro 6
methodshop
7/09/2009
All it takes is one person... to start a party [video]
Feel like dancing? Are you alone? Who cares. Remember, it just takes one person to start a party.This video above was shot at the Sasquatch 2009 Music Festival. The song is called "Me+Yr Daughter" by a great band called Natalie Portman's Shaved Head.
Who is the dancing guy? Good question. People who witnessed the spontaneous Sasquatch dance circle only knew him as Collin from Canada.
Hat tip to Reuben Miller for sharing the clip with us on StumbleUpon.
methodshop
7/08/2009
United Airlines Breaks Guitars [video]
In the spring of 2008, musician Dave Carroll and other passengers watched from the plane as clutzy United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago broke his $3500 Taylor acoustic guitar on the tarmac.
After the incident, Carroll contacted the airline to ask for compensation. For the next few months, Carroll was given the runaround until United Airlines finally said they wouldn't pay for the damages. Before hanging up the phone for the last time with United Airlines, Carroll made a promise.
"I promised the last person [from United Airlines] to finally say no to compensation, Ms. Irlweg, that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world," Carroll said on his website.
It's been almost a year since Carroll's Taylor guitar was smashed on the tarmac, but he's finally making good on his promise. This week, Carroll uploaded a song he recorded with his band Sons of Maxwell to YouTube. It's called "United Breaks Guitars."
Here are a few lyrics from the chorus:
United, United
You broke my Taylor guitar
United, United
Some big help you are
You broke it, you should fix it
You're liable just admit it
I should have flown with someone else or gone by car
'Cause United breaks guitars
Unfortunately for United Airlines, the music video and the story behind it has caught the attention of the Internets. "United Breaks Guitars" is currently the top link on Reddit.com and Carroll's song has prompted an onslaught of negative comments about United Airlines across the Internet from Twitter to YouTube. Our favorite so far is "Revenge is a dish best served with country accompaniment."
Doesn't United Airlines know that the customer is always right? The amount of money and time United Airlines will have to spend dealing with this PR nightmare will far exceed $3500.
methodshop
Labels: music, social networking, video
7/07/2009
Amazing Feet Guitar Player [video]
Here's your inspiration for today. Tony Melendez was born in Nicaragua without any arms. At age 16, he started to learn the guitar. People told him it couldn't be done. As you can see from this YouTube video, not only can Tony strum the guitar, he can play chords with his toes and even sing.
On September 15, 1987, he played "Never Be The Same" for Pope John Paul II. The Pope called him a "gift of hope."
Big thanks to @holidaymatinee for sharing the clip with us on Facebook. We wonder if @WaltRibeiro will be adding foot guitar to his online classes anytime soon.
methodshop
6/16/2009
Faith No More Reunion Tour
Are you Cucko for Caca and Digging the Grave in an Epic the Land of Sunshine? If so, then you'll probably remember a popular alternative metal band called Faith No More that broke up in 1998.Last February, FNM announced that they'd be reforming for a reunion tour... but most fans were skeptical. The band didn't exactly part on happy terms. Then it happened. Faith No More played their first show in 15 years on June 10th and they didn't kill each other.
In fact, Faith No More are now headlining music festivals all over Europe this summer. Even record executives are getting excited. To coincide with the band's reunion tour, last week Rhino released a Faith No More compilation, The Very Best Definitive Ultimate Greatest Hits Collection, a double album that includes their hit singles and b sides & rarities.
The line up for the reunion tour remains unchanged from their last released album, Album of the Year (1998). Mike Patton is back on vocals and Jon Hudson on guitar. Hardcore FNM fans will notice the absence of Jim Martin, Courtney Love and Chuck Mosley.
- Mike Patton - lead vocals
- Billy Gould - bass guitar
- Mike Bordin - drums
- Roddy Bottum - keyboards
- Jon Hudson - guitar
Faith No More hasn't been active the last 15 years, but you've probably been exposed their music. Do you recognize or remember any of the following?
- "We Care a Lot" is the theme song for the Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs.
- "Easy" was used in a commercial for Levi's in 2006.
- "Midlife Crisis" was used in the video games Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Tony Hawk's Underground 2
- "From out of Nowhere" was featured in EA Sports' Madden NFL 2005 and NHL 2005.
- "Epic" is featured in a trailer for Street Fighter IV, on the Burnout Paradise soundtrack, and is a playable track in Rock Band
- "We Care a Lot" is also available on Rock Band via download
- "We Care a Lot" was also included on the sound track to the 1997 John Cusack film Grosse Pointe Blank.
- "Falling to Pieces" was featured in Ridley Scott's 2001 war movie Black Hawk Down, as background music while soldiers prepare for their mission.
Here's some more random Faith No More trivia:
FNM's breakthrough 1989 album, The Real Thing, reached the top ten on the charts thanks largely to MTV's heavy rotation of the "Epic" music video. The controversial music video featured footage of a fish out of water that died. The fish was later revealed to be Björk's and controversy around the fish further helped increase the band's name recognition.
Faith No More was best known for their influential and creative combination of elements associated with multiple music genres including heavy metal, funk, progressive rock, hip hop, punk and jazz.
After the band broke up in 1998, the members disbanded and went off to do solo and side projects. Since 1998, Mike Patton has written, sang or produced albums with Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk, Lovage, Fantômas, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Peeping Tom, John Zorn, The Melvins, Melt-Banana, Kool Keith, Hemophiliac, Maldoror, Painkiller, Naked City General Patton vs. The X-Ecutioners and Björk. He's also released two solo albums Adult Themes for Voice (1996) and Pranzo Oltranzista (1997).
methodshop
Labels: music
6/03/2009
iPhone 3.0 to Get Direct Video Downloads
According to Apple Insider, the new Apple iPhone 3.0 operating system will include the ability to directly download movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store. Users would be able to skip the step of downloading and syncing an iPhone or iPod Touch with their Mac or PC.Apple already supports the direct downloading of video podcasts and music from their mobile version of the iTunes Store, but has held off directly selling movies and TV shows while mobile carriers expanded their 3G network capacity. The update will make Apple one of the top companies selling paid content to mobile users.
The iPhone 3.0 software update is due to arrive later this summer. In addition to direct downloads, the update will introduce over 100 new features, including the ability to:
- Send photos, contacts, audio files, and location via MMS
- In App Purchases, allowing developers sell content and services from within their apps
- Peer to Peer Connectivity, particularly useful for multi-player game apps
- Cut, copy, and paste
- Email Push Notification
- A new Map Kit framework integrating Google Mobile Maps
- iPod Library Access allowing users tap into their music, podcast or audio book libraries from third party apps
- The ability to search your iPhone
- Read and compose email and text messages in landscape orientation
methodshop
5/19/2009
Napster Relaunches Under Best Buy
If you go to Napster.com, you might recognize the same old Napster logo from the Shawn Fanning days (Napster's founder circa 1999), but now there's a tiny Best Buy tag in the bottom of the homepage. Last year right before the American economy tanked, Best Buy bought Napster for a $121 million. All has been quiet on the Napster front until this week when Best Buy unveiled their new plan for the former file sharing service.
The new version of Napster now has a $5 monthly subscription plan (when Roxio owned Napster it used to be $15). So what do you get for your $5 a month?
methodshop
The new version of Napster now has a $5 monthly subscription plan (when Roxio owned Napster it used to be $15). So what do you get for your $5 a month?
- 5 MP3 downloads per month
- free on-demand streaming of more than 7 million songs
- access to the Napster music store where you can download additional MP3s priced between $0.69 and $1.29.
methodshop
Labels: music
5/12/2009
BriTunes - Brian Williams Interviews Deer Tick for New Online Music Show
Wow. Who knew NBC Nightly News anchor, Brian Williams, was so hip? On Monday, the American newscaster launched a new web-only video interview series focusing on independent music and musicians called "BriTunes."
The debuted episode of BriTunes is an interview with a band called Deer Tick from Brooklyn, NY. If you aren't already familiar with Deer Tick, their name might sound familiar. Rolling Stone called Deer Tick the No. 1 breaking band at SXSW 2009. Williams invited all four members of Deer Tick, John J. McCauley III, Christopher Dale Ryan, Dennis Ryan and Andrew Tobiassen, to a conference room at NBC's 30 Rockefeller Plaza headquarters for the interview.
According to this quote from the BriTunes homepage, Williams wants to keep the focus of BriTunes on independent musicians and up-and-coming artists.
"Okay, so I didn't name this thing, but I did come up with the idea. I have always loved identifying good music and good groups -- discovering them early (bar bands are best) and following them through their journey. While we'll interview some established musicians, mostly I'd like this to be a place where people can sample some of the great music being created every day, by talented musicians who wouldn't dream of doing anything else." --Brian Williams
methodshop
4/29/2009
QWERTY Drums - Game
Ever dream of transforming your computer's QWERTY keyboard into a synthesized drum machine? Maybe not, but doesn't it sound like fun? Just press any letter on your keyboard and QWERTY Drums will play a drum sound or sound effect.QWERTY Drums might be the most fun you've had in your cubicle since your company's last holiday party. What are you waiting for? Go serenade your cubemates... but this time try to keep your pants on. And don't press the "v" key over and over again you dirty bastard.
[hat tip Holiday Matinee]
methodshop
4/08/2009
Apple Ends Uniform iTunes Pricing
Used to paying $0.99 for a song on iTunes? Brace yourself... Apple put an end to uniform pricing in the iTunes Store this week.But don't worry, the change in price could be in your favor. Apple now offers 3 pricing tiers for music sold in the iTunes Store ($0.69, $0.99, $1.29). The change in pricing is in response to music labels demanding to charge more money for their popular songs.
So how did the competition react? Amazon, Rhapsody and Wal-Mart all raised the prices of their most popular downloads. So much for shopping around for the best deal. It almost makes you want to fire up BitTorrent and get your tracks for free.
methodshop
12/09/2008
Atomic Bass Earbuds
BOOM!!! Do you feel like your iPhone or iPod needs more bass? Is your favorite Equalizer setting "Bass Boost?" Wish your headphones sounded as good as your home or car stereo system? Then maybe it's time you invested in an "atomic" pair of bass enhancing earphones.
Radius has really taken great pains in the physical design and internal engineering to make their Atomic Bass earbuds great. They've even included a gold plated stereo mini-plug... something not usually found in earphones priced under $50.Bass aficionados who are looking for a great pair of earbuds for under $50 will fall in love with the Atomic Bass earphones.
Full Review: Atomic Bass Earphones for iPod/Zune
The Atomic Bass Earphones are part of the MethodShop.com Gadget Gift Guide. We've rounded up the best gadget gifts money can buy. There's something for everyone. From tiny stocking stuffers to a personal mini tank. We've hand-selected some of the most popular gadgets this holiday season and organized them into a little interactive shopping list.methodshop
11/21/2008
iTunes 8.0.2 Fixes Internet Proxy Issues
If you've been using iTunes from behind a corporate proxy, then get ready to do a swivel chair dance in your cubicle. The latest iTunes update, iTunes 8.0.2, fixes a proxy connectivity issue when communicating with the iTunes Store.
Until now, corprorate users behind a proxy server were unable to install iPod / iPhone firmware updates and frequently got errors when trying to use the iTunes Store while at work.
In addition to the proxy fix, iTunes 8.0.2 improves stability and performance and provides a number of important bug fixes, including:
methodshop
Until now, corprorate users behind a proxy server were unable to install iPod / iPhone firmware updates and frequently got errors when trying to use the iTunes Store while at work.
In addition to the proxy fix, iTunes 8.0.2 improves stability and performance and provides a number of important bug fixes, including:
- Addresses a quality issue creating MP3s on some computers.
- Improves accessibility with VoiceOver.
methodshop
11/17/2008
Play Your iPhone like a Flute with the Smule Ocarina [video]
Do songs like "Bungle In the Jungle," "Stairway to Heaven" and the Zelda theme song have 5 stars ratings on your iPhone? Then perhaps you should check out an iPhone App called the Smule Ocarina.An innovative company called Smule has written an iPhone App that utilizes both the iPhone's touch screen and microphone and created the first true iPhone wind instrument - The Smule Ocarina.
An ocarina is an ancient flute-like wind instrument, and one of the easiest instruments to learn. To use the Smule Ocarina, just blow into your iPhone's microphone and control the pitch with different fingerings on the touch screen.
VIDEO: Smule Ocarina version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven"
The Smule Ocarina's advanced options allow you to choose between diatonic, minor and harmonic scales. There's also another option called Zeldarian mode which will make your iPhone sound like it was used to compose The Legend of Zelda theme song.
VIDEO: The Smule Ocarina's Zeldarian mode
methodshop
11/06/2008
Peak Pro 6 Review
Ok, so you have a stereo mix of your music that that needs a little EQ, a good fade out, and some volume so it’s louder on the web. Or, you have a bad recording of dialog for your film that you want to compress and remove some noise from.Whether you're a musician, composer, sound designer, audio editor, podcast/multimedia producer, or mastering engineer, you will find Peak Pro 6 feature rich, yet flexible and friendly. It is industry-renowned for sonic quality and precision.
Review: Bias Peak Pro 6
Designed specifically for recording, processing, editing and mastering audio on the Mac platform, Peak Pro 6 is a major update from Peak 5. The newest version builds upon its predecessor and includes many new developments that offer more creative potential than ever before.
methodshop
10/22/2008
Chinese Democracy Radio Release
Dust off your leather pants and grab a can of Aqua Net. Guns N' Roses released the single "Chinese Democracy" to radio stations nationwide today.The long awaited album of the same name is slated to be released on November 23rd 2008. Chinese Democracy will be Guns N' Roses 6th album and first studio release since September 1991.
Contrary to implications made by Sebastian Bach to The Artisan News Service in November 2007, Chinese Democracy will only be 1 album and not 4.
The track list and cover art for Chinese Democracy are still being finalized, but here's a rough list to look over:
- Chinese Democracy
- Shackler's Revenge
- Better
- Street Of Dreams ('The Blues')
- If The World
- There Was A Time
- Catcher N' The Rye
- Scraped
- Riad N' The Bedouins
- Sorry
- I.R.S.
- Madagascar
- This I Love
- Prostitute
methodshop
Labels: music
10/04/2008
Apogee Duet - Review
We all know one of the weak spots of Apple computers is the audio output jack. This 1/8" stereo mini-plug is where we connect our speakers and/or headphones to listen back to programs ranging from iTunes and Safari to Garageband and Logic.While the Mac audio output jack does double as an optical output (where you would need an optical cable), the majority of users connect in a typical 'analog' fashion.
But what if you could find a relatively inexpensive interface that could easily convert that analog signal to a higher quality digital output for all your apps? Well, the sleek, portable aluminum-cased Apogee Duet may just be the answer.
Review: Apogee Duet
methodshop
9/30/2008
Wal-Mart Music Store Kills DRM
Did you purchase any music online from Wal-Mart?Following in the footsteps of Yahoo a few months ago, and in the spirit of Steve Jobs' "open letter" last February, Wal-Mart announced that on October 9, 2008 it will stop supporting tracks sold with DRM (Digital Rights Management). After that, users will be unable to transfer or listen to digital Wal-Mart music on a new computer.
The good news is that Wal-Mart's new DRM free mp3 music downloads will be iPod and iPhone compatible.
The record companies had originally forced DRM onto all online music retailers in an effort to curb piracy via file sharing services like Hotline, BitTorrent and LimeWire. But with the speed and frequency that consumers purchase new computers and mp3 players like the iPod, DRM restrictions by online music retailers like Yahoo, iTunes and Wal-Mart gave users even more of a reason to seek DRM free pirated music. In the long run, DRM helped promote digital music piracy and not prevent it.
Wal-Mart didn't have very many online music customers (especially compared to iTunes), but if this affects you, hurry up and burn the tracks to a CD then rip them back to non-DRM MP3 tracks. October 9th is only a couple weeks away and you don't want to lose that John Tesh box set you secretly bought online from Wal-Mart... or maybe you should?
methodshop
9/16/2008
Sen Dog Interview
As one of the frontmen of Cypress Hill, Senen Reyes (aka Sen Dog) has definitely placed his mark on music history. While most hip-hop artists spend more time in high school than making records, in the past 20+ years, Cypress Hill has sold over 17 million albums and released several ten top 10 hits including "How Could I Just Kill a Man," "Insane In The Brain" and "Rock Superstar." Cypress Hill was also the first Latino group to have both platinum and multi-platinum albums.It's a wonder why it took Sen Dog two decades to release his first solo album titled Diary of a Mad Dog. It's an album Sen Dog promises Cypress Hill fans will enjoy.
It was our pleasure to chat with Sen Dog about the future of Cypress Hill, his first solo album and the unfortunate heart attack he suffered while working on it.
Interview: Sen Dog from Cypress Hill
methodshop
8/13/2008
Jane's Addiction Reunion Rumors
Eric Avery is one of the unsung heroes of the alternative rock movement in the late 80s and early 90s. As one of the 2 founders of Jane's Addiction, Avery along with Perry Ferrell helped define the So-Cal sound that paved the way for bands like Sublime and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.Unfortunately Jane's Addiction only lasted through 2 studio albums (Nothing's Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual) and broke up in 1991. But a recent blog post by Eric Avery, hints at a the possibility of a full reunion with the original lineup.
Here's the quote from Avery's blog:
"how do i mention speculating without creating, at the very least, some wild speculation over the coming months. am i considering something with the boys of janes addiction? yes."
Why the sudden change of heart? Jane's Addiction has reformed twice since 1991 without Avery. Last April, the original Jane's Addiction lineup (Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Eric Avery, and Stephen Perkins) reunited to perform at the NME Awards. Apparently all went well both on stage and off. This was the 1st performance with Avery since their 1991 Lollapalooza tour.
Since Jane's Addiction's original breakup in 1991, Avery has been courted by Tool, Metallica, and Smashing Pumpkins, has toured with Garbage and Alanis Morissette (who he also dated) and participated in 2 side projects, Polar Bear and Deconstruction. Avery has given his blessing to put some free mp3s from his Polar Bear project online. The downloads include the out-of-print albums Chewing Gum and Man's Ruin and some a live unreleased tracks including the song "Green." Also Avery's self-produced album titled "Help Wanted" on Dangerbird Records was released in April 2008. If you've been curious about what he's been up to since Jane's Addiction, definitely check out his new CD and the free mp3s.Hopefully everyone has put aside the issues that led to their breakup in 1991 and fans will finally see a new Jane's Addiction album come out soon.
methodshop
Labels: music
8/06/2008
Lupe Fiasco Interview
In a time when so-called MC's rap about their bank accounts or invent the latest dance craze to sell records, Lupe Fiasco is on the other side of the spectrum. It's refreshing to find a mainstream rapper dealing with non-commercial issues with the passion and sheer lyrical skill that Lupe exemplifies.MethodShop.com sat down with Lupe to talk about his music, sneaker design, karate, Chicago, Jay-Z and whatever else he thought was Cool.
Here's how it went....
Interview: Lupe Fiasco
methodshop
7/10/2008
Review: Bosch Power Box Dock for iPod
Like to listen to music while you work but find your workplace a little too dangerous and dirty for your fragile little iPod? Bosch, a company more famous for their power tools than stereo equipment just might have the perfect solution for you.The Bosch Power Box is a feature-rich stereo system that not only sounds great, but has a protective roll cage that keeps it safe in busy commercial and outdoor work environments. When used with the Bosch Power Box iPod Dock (sold separately) you can bring your job sites into the digital music age. The Bosch iPod Dock easily connects to the Power Box where it not only protects your iPod but recharges it too.
The Bosch Power Box and iPod Dock sound like a powerful combo, but let's take a look at all the features of each item and how well they perform together in a busy work environment.
Review: Bosch iPod Power Box
methodshop
6/02/2008
Converse to Release Kurt Cobain Sneakers
If you're a fan of the band Nirvana, get ready to throw up. Courtney Love, widow of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, just approved a deal with Converse sneakers that will cash in on her late husbands legacy.Converse plans on making an entire line of sneakers that "pay tribute to" the grunge icon, who committed suicide in 1994.
The Cobain collection will come in multiple styles and feature scribbles and lyrics taken from his personal notebooks. Lyrics from popular Nirvana songs like "Come As You Are" are specifically mentioned.
"[Nirvana] are the renegades of sound, the league-changers, champions of underachievement, the paint drippers and those with flawless style," Scott Patt, Converse Global Footwear's creative director, touted in a Converse.com press release last Friday.Let's just hope any TV commercials for these sneakers don't feature a Nirvana remake titled "Smells Like Teen Sneakers."
As much as everyone hates Courtney Love (she's the Yoko Ono of grunge), she at least had the decency to turn down a tacky Doc Martin print ad that would have featured Kurt Cobain wearing modeling Doc Marten boots in heaven. [*vomit*]
Sneakers from The Converse Cobain Line will cost you between $50-$65 and your dignity. What's next? Kurt Cobain inspired urns?
In related news, Kurt Cobain's ashes were stolen from Love's home several hours after the Converse announcement. Seriously. We're not kidding. Here's a link to the news report.
methodshop
Labels: music
6/01/2008
Bob Dylan's 5 Best Albums
I was at my local bar the other night and someone asked me if I were ever to be stranded on a desert island and could only bring 5 Bob Dylan albums with me on my iPhone, which ones would I bring?I couldn't answer him right away, and not because I had already had a good buzz after drinking four bottles of Miller Lite (note: I'm a lightweight), I had to think about that for a while because I really love Bob Dylan. Wait, let me rephrase that, I REALLY LOVE BOB DYLAN! For anyone even remotely aware of American pop culture over the past 40 years, it would be tough to miss the direct impact and lasting influence of Dylan's songs. I needed time to get back in touch with ALL things B-O-B!
So after spending a WHOLE week revisiting all my Dylan albums in iTunes, I compiled these 5 as the very ones I'd like to have with me if I were stranded on a desert island. And with this list I hope I can introduce the genius of Dylan to people walking around now who've never heard of the guy, or have no awareness of him beyond simple name recognition.
So if I was stranded on a desert island and could only have 5 Bob Dylan albums on my iPhone, which ones would I bring? Here's my list...
Continue Reading>>>
methodshop
5/28/2008
Sigur Rós Gets All Naked For New Album
Sigur Rós isn't releasing its fifth album titled, "Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust", until June 23. But you can download both a music video and a mp3 for the song "Gobbledigook" at Sigur Ros's website right now.Before you run off to watch the video for "Gobbledigook" on SigurRos.com, just keep in mind that it's NSFW.
The video contains footage of naked people playing/running/fornicating in a forest by a lake. There is both full frontal male and female nudity. Probably not something you want your boss to see you watching in your cubicle at work.
A couple stills from the "Gobbledigook" video are below.
The Icelandic title of the new album, "Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust", roughly translates to "With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly" in English.
This is the 1st album Sigur Rós have made outside of Iceland. Parts of the album were recorded in New York, Havana, London as well as Reykjavik. It will also mark the first time vocalist Jón Thor Birgisson sings a track in English. The rest of the album will be in Icelandic. Previous albums featured most of the vocals in Vonlenska (their own made up language).
The album cover for "With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly" is a photo taken by New York-based visual artist Ryan McGinley. Here's the track listing for the album:1. Gobbledigook
2. Inní mér syngur vitleysingur
3. Góðan daginn
4. Við spilum endalaust
5. Festival
6. Með suð í eyrum
7. Ára bátur
8. Illgresi
9. Fljótavík
10. Straumnes
11. All alright
methodshop
Labels: music
5/23/2008
New Weezer Video Features YouTube Celebs
Weezer posted their new music video called "Pork and Beans" on YouTube. The video features a huge collection of "internet stars" from Tay "Chocolate Rain" Zonday to Chris "Leave Britney Alone" Crocker. Weezer even plays in front of a huge deluge tribute to "Coke + Mentos".Weezer's new self-titled "Red Album" comes out June 3rd, 2008.
Here are all the YouTube parody clips we recognized in "Pork and Beans":
- Chocolate Rain
- Afro Ninja
- Star Wars Kid
- Numa Numa
- Daft Hands
- G.I. Joe PSAs
- Clip Bandits
- Miss North Carolina
- Leave Britney Alone
- Diet Coke + Mentos
- Dramatic Look Hamster
- All Your Base Belong to Us
- Charlie the Unicorn
- Will It Blend? - Pork and Beans
Did we miss any?
methodshop
5/11/2008
Percussion Guitar [video]
Here's an amazing clip of musician Erik Mongrain playing "percussion guitar" using a technique known as lap tapping.
methodshop
methodshop
5/08/2008
Neil Young New Poster Boy for Blu-ray
Neil Young is now the poster boy for Sun Microsystem's Java On2 interactive Blu-ray DVD technology. Young made the announcement on stage with Sun Microsystems CEO Jonathan Schwartz yesterday at the Sun Microsystems Java One Conference in San Francisco.Young plans to release his entire music catalog on Blu-ray, beginning with a 10-disc set containing his recordings from '63 to '72. Fans with a broadband connection and the latest Java-capable Blu-ray players will be able to download lyrics, photos, tour info and additional songs.
Some hardcore Neil Young fans may find it difficult to see him on stage making deals and announcements with corporate CEOs. Most of the songs on Young's 1988 album "This Note's for You" centered around the commercialism of rock and roll, and tours in particular (the title track is a social commentary on concert sponsorship). Will we see Sun and Blu-ray sponsoring Young's next tour?
The Blu-ray camp made a huge score by wooing Young. Artists such as AC/DC, The Band and Bruce Springsteen have all released HD concert videos on Blu-ray discs, but Young's support of Sun's On2 technology gives Blu-ray new revenue opportunities and solidifies Blu-ray as a music medium.
No word yet if Young plans on remaking one of his classic songs "Keep on Rockin' in the Free World" to "Keep on Rockin' in the Blu-ray DVD World."
methodshop
4/28/2008
Madonna Uses MySpace to Promote 'Hard Candy' Album
Following in the footsteps of Nine Inch Nails [story], Radiohead [story], and R.E.M., The Material Girl began streaming her latest album Hard Candy via her MySpace page over the weekend, 4 days before its official U.S. release on Tuesday.Madonna has been building interest in the album with a Hard Candy video widget embeddable on MySpace, Facebook, Hi5 and other services.
She's also performing live at the Roseland Ballroom in New York on Wednesday, April 30 in a show that will be streamed live on music.msn.com.
methodshop
Labels: music
4/16/2008
Anya Marina Interview
Sweet. Quirky. Fun. Talented. Cute. Folky. These are just some of the words you might use to describe Anya Marina... but don’t tell Anya that. She’s more comfortable labeling herself Miss Almost or Miss Maybe as she does in her hit song "Miss Halfway." But perhaps "Miss Out-Of-My-Way" would be more appropriate.Anya's debut album "Exercises in Racketeering" won the San Diego Music Award for best local artist and her music has been used on several TV shows including MTV’s The Real World, Numbers and the hit ABC-TV drama Grey’s Anatomy. Anya's song "Miss Halfway" also appears on the Grey’s Anatomy, Vol. 2 soundtrack.
When Anya isn't serenading millions of TV viewers, she still finds time to do stuff like act in the Lions Gate romantic teen comedy 100 Girls and fill the morning drive DJ slot on San Diego’s 94/9 FM. Not too shabby for "Miss Halfway."
In between DJ shifts and recording sessions Anya found a little time to sit down and answer some of our questions.
Interview: Anya Marina - DJ by Day. Pop-Star by Night.
methodshop
3/19/2008
Framing Hanley Interview
Framing Hanley have certainly come a long way in a very short time. First formed in 2005, the band posted some song demos that they recorded on a Macintosh on MySpace.com. Then in November of 2006, these demos were discovered by Brett Hestla, former Creed bassist and frontman of Dark New Day.
Hestla helped the young Nashville based quintet record a 2 song demo in his Florida studio which captured the attention of Jeff Hanson (Creed, Sevendust, Paramore) and his record label Silent Majority Group. Framing Hanley's debut LP The Moment was released August 2007.
We had the good fortune to get some time with Framing Hanley's frontman Nixon. This young star has a very intense voice reminiscent of Chester from Linkin Park. Listen to the breakdown in "Hear Me Now" to get an idea of what I'm referring to.
Interview: Framing Hanley vocalist Kenneth Nixon
methodshop
Hestla helped the young Nashville based quintet record a 2 song demo in his Florida studio which captured the attention of Jeff Hanson (Creed, Sevendust, Paramore) and his record label Silent Majority Group. Framing Hanley's debut LP The Moment was released August 2007.
We had the good fortune to get some time with Framing Hanley's frontman Nixon. This young star has a very intense voice reminiscent of Chester from Linkin Park. Listen to the breakdown in "Hear Me Now" to get an idea of what I'm referring to.
Interview: Framing Hanley vocalist Kenneth Nixon
methodshop
3/02/2008
Recap of This Past Week’s Gadgets from Gizmos for Geeks
If you're a gamer (particularly one with some history or if you just like retro items), take a look at the Classic Nintendo Themed TV Remote. It's actually a TV remote control. If you want some exercise than pressing buttons while seated on your couch, the Nerf Maverick is is next-gen Nerf gun (hit the link for a funny vid game-inspired video).Onto the multimedia scene, there are at least two cool gadgets to check out – the Credit Card Size Digital Video Player and the return of M&K Sound. The former is a mini video player that has a 2.8-inch high resolution LCD multimedia player that lets you play video continuously for 4 hours or audio for 8 hours. M&K Sound is back! This is great news to all audiophile geeks, as this professional speaker manufacturer has bounced back into the market complete with new owners.
We also featured a coupple of reviews this week. First up is the Honestech's VHS to DVD 3.0 Deluxe which sounds just like its name, but essentially lets you take a video/audio signal from your VCR/camcorder/turntable/whatever and capture it on your computer for storage there or eventual burn to CD/DVD. No Starch press has put out a new edition of the book Hacking, The Art of Exploitation.
Are you a camper or a world traveler? Then the iStraw Emergency Water Filter is perfect when you need instant potable water on the go. The straw is created with several special micro-filters that can clean water and eliminate harmful organisms in it.
Lastly, in case you haven't seen the news regarding the slew of unlimited cell phone plans, everyone including Sprint is in on it now too and Sprint may just have the best deal out there.
Source: Gizmos for Geeks
2/27/2008
Sony Style USB Turntable
I'm not exactly sure why Sony is getting into the USB Turntable business but they've taken a stab at getting our interest. The PS-LX300USB looks similar to another product we've talked about before (ION's version) but I see some notable differences.
The Sony version has a belt drive motor for reduced noise along with providing some added rotational stability. The unit also carries a diamond stylus for precise tracking and low record wear.
The turntable has playback speeds for either 33 1/3 or 45 rpm, so anything you've got stashed away should play on the LX300USB. Sony bundles the Sound Forge Audio Studio software to aid in the vinyl to MP3 conversion.
The unit will become available sometime in April for about $150, but if you're chomping-at-the-bit for some vinyl to MP3, the ION Audio version is available now for about the same price.
Source: GetUSB.info.
The Sony version has a belt drive motor for reduced noise along with providing some added rotational stability. The unit also carries a diamond stylus for precise tracking and low record wear.
The turntable has playback speeds for either 33 1/3 or 45 rpm, so anything you've got stashed away should play on the LX300USB. Sony bundles the Sound Forge Audio Studio software to aid in the vinyl to MP3 conversion.
The unit will become available sometime in April for about $150, but if you're chomping-at-the-bit for some vinyl to MP3, the ION Audio version is available now for about the same price.
Source: GetUSB.info.
2/19/2008
American Idol on iTunes
The biggest American reality show on TV has finally joined the iTunes platform. Fox Broadcasting, Fox Interactive Media and FremantleMedia signed an exclusive deal with Apple to bring American Idol audio and video performances to iTunes as single song-sized snippets available the day after they premiere on air.Audio performances of the top 24 contenders run 99¢ per song, and videos of the top 12 finalists performances will be priced $1.99/each from March 11.
Apple will also become one of the show's premiere sponsors and maintain a branded presence on AmericanIdol.com, where some free streaming performances can be seen.
methodshop
2/15/2008
Rare 1989 Nirvana Video
Here’s a rare video clip from when Nirvana, then a relatively unknown band, played at Maxwell's in Hoboken NJ. Maxwell's is a cozy club/pub co-owned by Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley. (Note: MethodShop is based in Hoboken).At the time this video was recorded in 1989, Nirvana consisted of Jason Everman (guitar), Chad Channing (drums), Krist Novoselic (bass) and of course Kurt Cobain. Sorry ladies, Dave Grohl didn't join the band until 1990. Yes he was in Nirvana before the Foo Fighters. I'm always amazed how many people don't know that.
The video looks like it was digitized from an old VHS tape someone found in the bottom of a damp box in their basement. So don't expect much in the way quality.
The full clip is about 10 minutes long and begins with the camera man taping their journey from Manhattan to Hoboken on the Path train. Check out the people on the train. Gotta love those giant greasy late 80's hair styles. Even Kurt Cobain had giant hair at the time. You might recognize some of Nirvana's future hit songs like "About A Girl" towards the end of the clip.
The camera is really close to the stage a gets some good shots of Kurt and the rest of the band. Like I mentioned above, Maxwell's is "cozy" meaning small. To get a better feel of how big Maxwell's is, watch Bruce Springsteen's 1985 video for "Glory Days." The bar scenes were shot at Maxwell's.
Personally I'm not a huge Nirvana fan. I'll take Alice In Chains or Mudhoney any day over Nirvana. But you have to respect them. Since Nirvana's debut, the band has sold over 50 million albums worldwide. Hey, someone has to pay for all of Courtney Love's plastic surgery.
methodshop
1/24/2008
Rap Lyrics Explained With Charts and Graphs
An article on ACleverCookie.com attempts to explain popular rap lyrics using charts and graphs. For example, the chart below obviously explains Dre's "Bitches ain't shit but hoes and tricks" theory which was later scientifically confirmed by Ben Folds.
Made me wish I was little bit taller, I wish I was a baller, I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her, I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat, and a '64 Impala.
You can see more of the charts and graphs here.
methodshop | digg story
Made me wish I was little bit taller, I wish I was a baller, I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her, I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat, and a '64 Impala.
You can see more of the charts and graphs here.
methodshop | digg story
Labels: music
1/03/2008
Apple and Jay-Z Launching Record Label
Forget all the hype around iTunes movie rentals. Looks like something even bigger will get announced at MacWorld this year.According to the rumors buzzing around the Interweb, Apple is launching a record label with Jay-Z, who's set to step down from Def Jam once his employment contract with Universal Music Group expires. Jay-Z has one more album left in his current contract with UMG. I wonder if he could just push out a quick greatest hits album?
Does that mean there might be another Apple vs. Apple lawsuit in the works? Not so fast. The last settlement between Apple, Inc. and Apple, Corps (The Beatles' record label), gave Apple, Inc. all rights to the name "Apple." Apple Corp. now licenses the right to use "Apple" from Apple, Inc.
Maybe now the RIAA will just lay down in the grave they dug for themselves during the Napster era and die already.
methodshop | digg story
11/13/2007
U2 Previews New Tracks for Joshua Tree on iLike
U2 used iLike.com to post a video of Bono singing "Wave of Sorrow" while sitting on a couch. It's a track that U2 demoed during sessions for The Joshua Tree in 1987. Just recently Bono laid down vocals for the song and it will be released for the first time next week on the remastered release of The Joshua Tree.As Bono plays the track, he sings over it and talks listeners through the story of the song and explains the lyrics.
"Wave of Sorrow" is one of several rare and previously unreleased cuts which are featured on the bonus audio CD of the remastered deluxe and super deluxe versions of the remastered release of The Joshua Tree.
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Labels: music
11/12/2007
Bob Dylan's 5 Best Albums
I was at my local bar the other night and someone asked me if I were ever to be stranded on a desert island and could only bring 5 Bob Dylan albums, which ones would I bring?I couldn't answer him right away, and not because I had already had a good buzz after drinking four bottles of Miller Lite (note: I'm a lightweight), I had to think about that for a while because I love Bob Dylan. Wait, let me rephrase that, I REALLY LOVE BOB DYLAN!
For anyone even remotely aware of American pop culture over the past 40 years, it would be tough to miss the direct impact and lasting influence of Dylan's songs. I needed time to get back in touch with ALL things B-O-B!
After spending a WHOLE week revisiting all my Dylan CDs I compiled these 5 as the very ones I'd like to have with me if I were stranded on a desert island. And with this list I hope I can introduce the genius of Dylan to people walking around now who've never heard of the guy, or have no awareness of him beyond simple name recognition.
So if I was stranded on a desert island and could only have 5 Bob Dylan albums, which ones would I bring? Here's my list: Bob Dylan's 5 Best Albums.
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Labels: music
10/25/2007
Ryan Ferguson Interview
When Ryan Ferguson, singer of the band No Knife, strutted up to the stage to accept a 1999 San Diego Music Award for Best Punk Album, he chided, "Well tonight we officially found out we're a punk band now."Anyone who knows Ryan's accomplishments can understand the humor in this. Two years prior, No Knife won an award for Best Rock Album. Then in 2003, they won again, but this time it was for Best Alternative Album. Ryan has since then gone solo, but hasn't lost any of his momentum. He even won the San Diego Award for Best Pop Album in 2005.
His versatility makes one's head spin, but Ryan doesn't place much importance on classifying himself, and maybe we shouldn't try to either.
Our interview with Ryan was just like his lyrics, honest and articulate. Ryan was very forthcoming and spoke openly about everything from his break with No Knife to his busty friend Candace on MySpace and his freaky cats. Enjoy!
Interview: Ryan Ferguson
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Labels: music
10/23/2007
Napster Mobile Coming to U.S.
AT&T is making Napster's entire music catalog (5 million songs) available for direct-to-mobile purchase in mid-November via a new service called Napster Mobile. While not compatible with the iPhone, the catalog will be accessible via AT&T's network for the price of $1.99/song or 5 tracks for $7.49.Matchbox Twenty's new album "Exile on Mainstream" will kick off the service.
Two things strike me as odd about this deal:
- It's kind of weird that AT&T didn't try to integrate any music system on their phones with iTunes. They already have a pretty solid relationship with Apple. In the US, AT&T is the only approved mobile carrier for the iPhone.
- When it comes to music, are people really ready to leave their iPods behind and just use their phones? Maybe if you have an iPhone, otherwise, probably not. The media player built into my brand new BlackBerry Curve sucks so bad that I just bought an iPod Touch.
10/15/2007
Total Music to Challenge iTunes
Universal Music is in talks with Sony BMG and Warner Music about launching a downloadable music subscription service to challenge iTunes' dominance.The service, dubbed Total Music, would be optimized for rival devices such as the Microsoft Zune as well as mobile phones and would be free to the user. In the proposed Total Music model, device manufactures would pay the music companies for access to their catalogs.
Here's a quote from BusinessWeek:
[Total Music will] get hardware makers or cell carriers to absorb the cost of a roughly $5-per-month subscription fee so consumers get a device with all-you-can-eat music that's essentially free. Music companies would collect the subscription fee, while hardware makers theoretically would move many more players.Personally, I can't believe that companies are still trying to make the "subscription" music model work. I don't know anyone who uses Rhapsody or Urge.
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10/02/2007
Radiohead Says Name Your Own Price for New Album
Radiohead is making its newest album, In Rainbows, available online at whatever price point consumers feel they should pay for it. The 10-track album will be released as a digital download starting October 10th. The announcement was made online by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood.
When users try to order In Rainbows on Radiohead.com, they will see a question mark next to a blank price box. If you click on the question mark, the message "It’s up to you" comes up. A subsequent screen reassures fans: "No really, it’s up to you."
Unfortunately, because In Rainbows will only be available on Radiohead's website, the album will not be eligible for chart ranking. It's too bad. I'm sure they'd be #1.
The band, led by Thom Yorke, are also planning a traditional CD release of In Rainbows for early 2008 that they will publish themselves. Radiohead decided not to use a record label after fulfilling their contract with EMI following their 2003 album 'Hail to the Thief.'
Did Radiohead just hammer the last nail into the record industry's coffin or make a huge mistake? Time will tell. In the meantime, at least we can't get busted for downloading a torrent of In Rainbows.
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When users try to order In Rainbows on Radiohead.com, they will see a question mark next to a blank price box. If you click on the question mark, the message "It’s up to you" comes up. A subsequent screen reassures fans: "No really, it’s up to you."
Unfortunately, because In Rainbows will only be available on Radiohead's website, the album will not be eligible for chart ranking. It's too bad. I'm sure they'd be #1.
The band, led by Thom Yorke, are also planning a traditional CD release of In Rainbows for early 2008 that they will publish themselves. Radiohead decided not to use a record label after fulfilling their contract with EMI following their 2003 album 'Hail to the Thief.'Did Radiohead just hammer the last nail into the record industry's coffin or make a huge mistake? Time will tell. In the meantime, at least we can't get busted for downloading a torrent of In Rainbows.
BeSocial: flickr | methodshop
Labels: music
9/13/2007
New Guitar Hero has 4 Port USB Hub
Talk about awkward. The first time I played Guitar Hero I felt like a fool - well, for about 15 seconds, then I feel in love. If you haven't tried it - play it - and oh how Guitar Hero has grown. One of the most popular video games on the market the Guitar Hero franchise is now stretching out to Rock Band. And if you haven't heard of Rock Band, this will explain the Guitar Hero sporting a 4 port USB hub.
Rock Band is an unreleased music video game being developed by Harmonix Music, the creators of Guitar Hero. The idea is expanding the air guitar concept of Guitar Hero to a full rock band. Rock Band will offer players the ability to function in a virtual band by providing up to four players with the ability to utilize four different instruments (guitar, bass guitar, drum set and microphone).
The 4 port USB hub gives the ability for these players to sync together in the off-line, or same room, player setting. Although Rock Band will include an on-line sync capability.
The Guitar Hero controller sports the USB ready version for both PS3 and Xbox 360. The product isn't available yet, but is due out in late October.
BeSocial: methodshop | GetUSBinfo
Rock Band is an unreleased music video game being developed by Harmonix Music, the creators of Guitar Hero. The idea is expanding the air guitar concept of Guitar Hero to a full rock band. Rock Band will offer players the ability to function in a virtual band by providing up to four players with the ability to utilize four different instruments (guitar, bass guitar, drum set and microphone).
The 4 port USB hub gives the ability for these players to sync together in the off-line, or same room, player setting. Although Rock Band will include an on-line sync capability.
The Guitar Hero controller sports the USB ready version for both PS3 and Xbox 360. The product isn't available yet, but is due out in late October.
BeSocial: methodshop | GetUSBinfo
9/12/2007
iPod Nano Commercial with 1234 Song
If you were watching any of the American football games this past Sunday, then you probably saw the new 3rd generation iPod Nano commercial. The ad features the upbeat and catchy song "1234" by Canadian singer/songwriter Leslie Feist.
You can watch Feist's full video for "1234" here [link] on YouTube or check out her new album "The Reminder" on iTunes. The commercial is no doubt doing wonders for Leslie Feist's name recognition. Everyone is talking about it online (like me).
Here are the lyrics to "1234" used in the iPod Nano ad:
BeSocial: rss | methodshop
You can watch Feist's full video for "1234" here [link] on YouTube or check out her new album "The Reminder" on iTunes. The commercial is no doubt doing wonders for Leslie Feist's name recognition. Everyone is talking about it online (like me).
Here are the lyrics to "1234" used in the iPod Nano ad:
One Two Three Four
Tell me that you love me more
Sleepless long nights
That is what my youth was for
Old teenage hopes are alive at your door
Left you with nothing but they want some more
Oh, you're changing your heart
Oh, You know who you are
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9/06/2007
Popstar Feets - Celebrity Shoe Blog
The next time you do a Google Image search of your favorite musician, don't be surprised if a picture of their shoes ends up in the results. Who do you have to thank for this unusual honor? Her name is Helen Lawrence and her blog, Popstar Feets, might be one of the most original blogs ever created. When getting an opportunity to take a photo with popstar, most people like to shoot from the waist up. Not Helen. She prefers to angle her camera a little lower and checkout the celebrity footwear. Then she blogs about it.
Here's an interview with Helen Lawrence from Popstar Feets complete with an exclusive ;) picture of Adidas sneakers that belong to Chris Martin from Coldplay.
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Here's an interview with Helen Lawrence from Popstar Feets complete with an exclusive ;) picture of Adidas sneakers that belong to Chris Martin from Coldplay.
BeSocial: methodshop
7/17/2007
Laryngitis Sidelines Silverchair
Unfortunately Silverchair has postponed 4 California shows on their current U.S. Tour to allow singer, Daniel Johns to recover fully from a case of laryngitis. Daniel caught the viral throat infection earlier this week after flying from Sydney/Los Angeles/Toronto/New York/Los Angeles in just four days. As you might have heard, the laryngitis severely impeded Daniel's vocal performance on the "Tonight Show With Jay Leno" last Tuesday. If you haven't seen the video yet, here's a clip of the Leno performance I found on YouTube. It's tough to watch, especially if you've ever had laryngitis before. Daniel basically had to scream through the most of the song. When the camera zooms in on Daniel's face you can clearly see he looks like he's in pain.
While his Doctor had initially been hopeful that Daniel's laryngitis would clear up "in a day or two", he has since advised that the Silverchair frontman should "avoid singing for 4 to 6 days" in order to be guaranteed of making a full recovery. The Doctor also advised that singing during this time could risk permanent damage to Daniel's voice so the band has no choice but to reschedule the 4 California shows and to apologize to the fans who will be inconvenienced by this change.
Dates for the rest of Silverchair's Young Modern World Tour are not expected to be affected in any way by this temporary throat infection.
MethodShop.com recently did an interview with Silverchair. They were very excited about this new album and really looking forward to touring the U.S. again. I hope Daniel's laryngitis doesn't derail the tour too badly. They've had everything from an eating disorder to reactive arthritis screw up their previous tours.
Silverchair's new album, Young Modern, comes out July 24th.
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While his Doctor had initially been hopeful that Daniel's laryngitis would clear up "in a day or two", he has since advised that the Silverchair frontman should "avoid singing for 4 to 6 days" in order to be guaranteed of making a full recovery. The Doctor also advised that singing during this time could risk permanent damage to Daniel's voice so the band has no choice but to reschedule the 4 California shows and to apologize to the fans who will be inconvenienced by this change.Dates for the rest of Silverchair's Young Modern World Tour are not expected to be affected in any way by this temporary throat infection.
MethodShop.com recently did an interview with Silverchair. They were very excited about this new album and really looking forward to touring the U.S. again. I hope Daniel's laryngitis doesn't derail the tour too badly. They've had everything from an eating disorder to reactive arthritis screw up their previous tours.
Silverchair's new album, Young Modern, comes out July 24th.
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Labels: music
Nirvana Baby Turns 17
Not only did Nirvana's 1991 album Nevermind knock Michael Jackson off the charts and end the reign of hair metal, but it also made an image of a little naked baby swimming after a dollar bill famous.Who was that naked baby? His name is Spencer Eden and he just turned 17 this year. Feeling old yet? I am. The majority of Nirvana fans are now officially 30+.
I wonder if Spencer realizes that more people have seen his penis than Ron Jeremy's?
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Labels: music
7/12/2007
Silverchair Interview
When someone mentions the band Silverchair, your first thought or memory will vary depending on where you're from. People in the U.S. and Europe may only remember Silverchair as a few kids who skyrocketed to stardom in 1994 after their first album, Frogstomp. Thanks to such hit songs as "Tomorrow" and "Israel's Son," the Australian trio, consisting of singer/guitarist/songwriter Daniel Johns, drummer Ben Gillies and bass player Chris Joannou, became international superstars when they were only fifteen years old.Since 1994, the last decade has been a mix of trying tests and triumphs for Silverchair. Battles with extreme fame at an early age, an eating disorder, and a case of reactive arthritis kept the band mostly grounded in their home continent Australia. But despite these setbacks, Silverchair managed to pass the time by repeatedly making hit records and racking up more #1 albums than any other Aussie band including AC/DC, Midnight Oil and INXS.
Silverchair's latest album, Young Modern, is their first new record in 6 years, and the tour supporting it will be their first U.S. tour in over a decade. Even though Silverchair was in the middle of launching their U.S. tour, Daniel Johns and Chris Joannou found a little time to do a quick interview with MethodShop.com. They were humble, candid and even funny. Enjoy...
Interview: Silverchair (Young Modern)
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Labels: music
7/05/2007
SkullCrusher Mega Bass Headphones
Are you a low-end junkie? Do you normally turn down the treble and crank up the bass in your car? Is your favorite iPod EQ setting "Bass Boost?" If you answered yes to any of these questions then you'll want to check out the SkullCrusher mega bass headphones.
The company behind these headphones is called Skullcandy. They make everything from helmets and backpacks to headphones like the Crushers. Knowing one's target audience is critical to the success of a business and SkullCandy has this down cold. All of their products feature enhancements specifically tailored to the active audio lover. For example, Skullcandy's helmets even have built-in headphones.
Review: Skullcandy Crusher Headphone.
methodshop
The company behind these headphones is called Skullcandy. They make everything from helmets and backpacks to headphones like the Crushers. Knowing one's target audience is critical to the success of a business and SkullCandy has this down cold. All of their products feature enhancements specifically tailored to the active audio lover. For example, Skullcandy's helmets even have built-in headphones.
Review: Skullcandy Crusher Headphone.
methodshop
6/25/2007
American Hair Metal Book
There was a time—not so long ago—when pomp and spandex dominated MTV and pop radio playlists. The book American Hair Metal celebrates this orgy of flamboyance, androgyny and animal magnetism, of big-haired alpha males and the beautiful women who surrounded them.
With all the quotes and photos, this book will find a comfortable home on your coffee table. But don't expect much more than that. American Hair Metal is a 180 page book with 160 pages of photos. It's a ton of fun to flip through, but there's not much to read.
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With all the quotes and photos, this book will find a comfortable home on your coffee table. But don't expect much more than that. American Hair Metal is a 180 page book with 160 pages of photos. It's a ton of fun to flip through, but there's not much to read.
BeSocial: digg story | methodshop
4/04/2007
Alanis Morissette Covers My Humps
In this clip from YouTube, Alanis Morissette covers the Black Eyed Peas song "My Humps". Seem like a strange paring? It is. But it's on purpose. I think dcmjzero put it best when he posted this comment on Digg.com: "Who would have thought the best way to make fun of a song would be to sing it seriously?"You may not have realized how poorly written "My Humps" was before watching this clip. Honestly, Fergie isn't known for crafting thoughtful lyrics. I think there's a line in her new song Glamorous that goes like this: "Taco Bell. Raw as hell". Actually I take it all back. Fergie is the Shakespeare of modern times.
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3/28/2007
Vinyl Junkies Help Rescue Music
In the age of the iTunes Music Store and iPods, why should we even care about vinyl records? In fact, many kids under 20 haven't even seen a turntable before. The truth is there's a lot of music that doesn't exist in digital form or even on CD.The people who collect records don't just buy music, they rescue it from obscurity. These vinyl junkies go 'elbow deep' into discount bins and scour garage sales for rare record finds. It may be unintentional on their part, but their efforts to spin the black circle are keeping discontinued recordings from becoming extinct.
Guardian reporter Dorian Lynskey delves into the dusty underground world of the 'vinyl diggers.'
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Labels: music
2/22/2007
iDJ iPod DJ Mixer
The iDJ is a compact mixing console with 2 built-in iPod docks. Mixing directly from your iPods gives you the ability to utilize thousands tracks from your iTunes collection at your next party or event. If you need to pull audio from additional sources, you'll be happy to know that the iDJ has two additional turntables or MP3/CD players inputs. I can see how this would come in handy at an event like a wedding where someone ends up handing the DJ a CD at the last minute.
The iDJ Mixer is both Firewire and USB2.0 compatible, so you can use 3rd Generation iPods (iPod mini, iPod photo) or newer generation models as well.
After reading through the specs, I noticed you can take things a step further and connect via S-Video. Greg from getusb.info thinks this feature "makes the iDJ a good video mixer for schools, churches or corporate applications where you have multiple people presenting and don’t want to fumble around with PC connections and projectors."
The iDJ Mixer also features headphone pre-cuing, separate channel three-band EQ and an industry-standard Kensington security slot. The security slot enables you to lock down the iDJ to a table in case you need to walk away for a few minutes for a cigarette or quick bathroom break.
Technical Details
The iDJ can be purchased either from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
BeSocial: getusb.info | methodshop
The iDJ Mixer is both Firewire and USB2.0 compatible, so you can use 3rd Generation iPods (iPod mini, iPod photo) or newer generation models as well.
After reading through the specs, I noticed you can take things a step further and connect via S-Video. Greg from getusb.info thinks this feature "makes the iDJ a good video mixer for schools, churches or corporate applications where you have multiple people presenting and don’t want to fumble around with PC connections and projectors."
The iDJ Mixer also features headphone pre-cuing, separate channel three-band EQ and an industry-standard Kensington security slot. The security slot enables you to lock down the iDJ to a table in case you need to walk away for a few minutes for a cigarette or quick bathroom break.
Technical Details
- Voltage: 110
- Length: 18.5 inches;Height: 5.75 inches;Width: 14.0 inches
- Weight: 7.0 pounds
- Inputs - 2 iPod, 2 Line (CD/MP3), 2 Phono (Turntable), & 1 Microphone
- Outputs - Master RCA, Record RCA, S-Video, Headphone (1/8 & 1/4)
- Compatible with 3rd & 4th generation iPods, iPod Minis, & iPod Photo
- Compatible with Firewire & USB 2.0 iPod connectors
The iDJ can be purchased either from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk
BeSocial: getusb.info | methodshop
2/21/2007
Radiohead Sex
Here's a YouTube clip of Thom Yorke talking about people that have sex while listening to Radiohead. Sound familiar? It might if you've been reading the rags lately.Just last week, Christina Aguilera admitted the following 2 things:
- she likes to listen to Radiohead while having sex with her boyfriend
- she recorded a song about oral sex called "F*** You, Suck You" during one drunken night in the recording studio..
I guess Christina hasn't exactly put her her "Dirrty" days behind her yet...
BeSocial: digg it | linkcritcis | youtube | everyonescrazy
Labels: music
2/01/2007
Zune Screen Cracks
Here's an important tip for Microsoft Zune owners: don't let your Zune charge overnight!According to Engadget, Microsoft's customer support center has received a flood of angry phone calls from Zune owners. For some reason if you let your Zune change for an extended period of time the screen will crack. A recent post on Mac Daily News conjectures that the issue is with the lithium ion battery located directly behind the Zune's screen. When the battery gets too hot it expands and cracks the screen.
You'd think that Microsoft would consider this issue a major design flaw and offer to replace the cracked screens. So far there hasn't been an official statement from Microsoft yet and unfortunately cracked screens are not currently covered under the Zune's warranty. So where does that leave Zune owners with busted screens? They can either wait for Microsoft to address this issue or pull out their wallet and have a 3rd party like iPodMods repair their cracked Zune screen.
With all the screen scratching and battery life complaints about the iPod, it's nice to see the Zune having a little trouble too.
Social: digg story | methodshop
1/24/2007
String Quartet Tribute to Foo Fighters
Looking for something different to feed your iPod with? How about a string quartet tribute to the Foo Fighters?While so many musicians have petered out over the years, Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters have managed to lay waste to any preconceived notions of what success means in this day and age. Forget about sophomore slumps, critical failures and artistic misfires; they do not apply when it comes to the Foo. For more than a decade, Grohl and company have been churning out some of the most amazing songs to hit the airwaves.
In honor of this incredible career, Vitamin Records has released a string quartet tribute to the boys in Foo called Ordinary Heroes. Rockers and weepers alike are given their due and transformed into sweeping string arrangements. For fans of the Foo, this quartet is willing to bleed it out, note for note.
Track List:1. Best of You
2. My Hero
3. Big Me
4. All My Life
5. Resolve
6. Everlong
7. Monkey Wrench
8. Learn to Fly
9. I'll Stick Around
10. Have It All
11. DOA
12. For All the Cows
Fans will love this string quartet's take on all of the Foo's hits from bold-faced ragers, bubblegum ditties, and even the passionate, acoustic anthems. It's a nice new take on some familiar favorites that will make you, and your iPod happy.
Be Social: digg story | methodshop
4/20/2005
Podcasting Popularity Surge
The relatively new practice of 'podcasting' is taking hold in the US, according to a recent survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
Nearly a third of US adults who own iPods or other types of MP3 players have downloaded podcasts - audio broadcasts, such as radio shows, available on the web which can be downloaded to a computer and then transferred onto a portable audio device.
Young people are leading the way in the adoption of podcasting - a term which comes from combining the words 'iPod' and 'broadcasting'. Nearly half of the 18 to 28-year-olds surveyed who own MP3 players have listened to podcasts compared to 20 per cent of those over 29.
Yet the speed of one's internet connection appears to have little influence on the phenomenon. About 33 per cent of MP3 player owners with broadband have downloaded podcasts compared with 28 per cent of dial-up users.
The findings are based on a recent survey of 2,201 adults living in the US by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
[Via SILICON.com]
methodshop
Nearly a third of US adults who own iPods or other types of MP3 players have downloaded podcasts - audio broadcasts, such as radio shows, available on the web which can be downloaded to a computer and then transferred onto a portable audio device.Young people are leading the way in the adoption of podcasting - a term which comes from combining the words 'iPod' and 'broadcasting'. Nearly half of the 18 to 28-year-olds surveyed who own MP3 players have listened to podcasts compared to 20 per cent of those over 29.
Yet the speed of one's internet connection appears to have little influence on the phenomenon. About 33 per cent of MP3 player owners with broadband have downloaded podcasts compared with 28 per cent of dial-up users.
The findings are based on a recent survey of 2,201 adults living in the US by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.
[Via SILICON.com]
methodshop
4/15/2005
Remix NIN Single in GarageBand
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails has posted the band's new single, "The Hand That Feeds," as a free download for Apple's GarageBand application.The song, which weighs in at a hefty 70MB, features multiple tracks that you can easily tweak. "For quite some time I've been interested in the idea of allowing you the ability to tinker around with my tracks -- to create remixes, experiment, embellish or destroy what's there," Reznor says.
"After spending some quality time sitting in hotel rooms on a press tour, it dawned on me that the technology now exists and is already in the hands of some of you. I got to work experimenting and came up with something I think you'll enjoy."
Fans are encouraged to build their own songs out of the NIN track's constituent parts, or just mess around to their heart's content.
Review: GarageBand 3
methodshop
4/13/2005
JBL Encounter Speaker Review
Great design is one of the things that unites us as Apple and iPod cultists. There's something admirable about slick, straightforward, and sexy design. Case in point, the iPod, where Apple broke the mold and changed history. Conversely, when it comes to the cold uninteresting world of external speakers, JBL seems to be on the same path.In a world of boring shelf speakers that are as fascinating as the wires that connect them, the JBL Encounter draws people towards it with its innovative tongue-in-cheek design and then lavishes them with deep warm sound. JBL proves once again that they know how to box up a brilliant set of speakers that appear as though they were intended to be fine decor, while at the same time hold nothing back when it comes to pure crisp sound. Where most speakers seem to be designed to be hidden, the Encounter defies you to ignore them. Space Monkeys, prepare for blast off.
Review: JBL Encounter Speakers
methodshop
3/22/2005
Best and Worst Hair Metal Bands
"It's kind of scary that you might find a certain fashion trend or musical style exciting only to wake up a few years later and wonder, "What the hell was I thinking?" We all have our skeletons and my big one is that, for most of my middle school to high school years, I was a hair metal fan. I was completely possessed by the dark forces of poodle rock. I was seduced by their rebellious f**k-all attitude and enthralled by their dedication to "partying!!" Even though my mom wouldn't let me grow my hair long or wear an earring, I felt that my soul was aligned with Nikki Sixx, C.C. Deville, Taime Downe, and Izzy Stradlin. It's kind of difficult at this point in my life to figure out what it was about certain bands that made me think they either rocked or sucked when, in retrospect, they all seemed to suck. I guess either the subtle distinctions were lost over time or I was more discriminating as a teenager." [Via pitchforkmedia]
Sweaty men wearing make-up and leather pants?
In this article, writer Kevin Barnes takes you through his best and worst 1980's hair metal bands. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks David Coverdale (Whitesnake) and Kip Winger (Winger) were creepy. When Whitesnake was popular, David Coverdale looked like my dad with long hair. He was too old to be part of the whole heavy metal rebellion. Plus the name of his band was Whitesnake. Have you ever thought about that one?
While Coverdale was old and and creepy, he wasn't alone. His younger creepier counterpart was Kip Winger. If you think hard, you might be able to remember a few MTV videos where Kip sexually strokes his bass guitar and even licks it with his tongue. What exactly was that all about? I still think it's funny that Winger's biggest song, "Seventeen," was basically a pedophilia anthem. I hope Kip has a seventeen -year-old daughter now and the 57-year-old trucker she's dating whispers those lyrics in her ear every night.
If you've mentally blocked out the lyrics to "Seventeen," don't worry, I just Googled them for your convenience. Enjoy!
she said I'm only seventeen,but I'll show you love like you've never seen
She's only seventeen,
daddy says she's too young,
but she's old enough
old enough for me
methodshop
Labels: music
3/06/2005
Blogging Celebrity Feet
The next time you do a Google Image search of your favorite musician, don't be surprised if a picture of their shoes ends up in the results. Who do you have to thank for this unusual honor? Her name is Helen Lawrence and her blog, Popstar Feets, might be one of the most original blogs ever created. When getting an opportunity to take a photo with popstar, most people like to shoot from the waist up. Not Helen. She prefers to angle her camera a little lower and checkout the celebrity footwear. Then she blogs about it.
Here's an interview with Helen Lawrence from Popstar Feets complete with an exclusive ;) picture of Adidas sneakers that belong to Chris Martin from Coldplay.
BeSocial: methodshop
Here's an interview with Helen Lawrence from Popstar Feets complete with an exclusive ;) picture of Adidas sneakers that belong to Chris Martin from Coldplay.
BeSocial: methodshop
3/03/2005
Celebrity Foot Blog
The next time you do a Google Image search of your favorite musician, don't be surprised if a picture of their shoes ends up in the results. Who do you have to thank for this unusual honor? Her name is Helen Lawrence and her blog, Popstar Feets, might be one of the most original blogs ever created.
When getting an opportunity to take a photo with a "popstar", most people like to shoot from the waist up. Not Helen. She prefers to angle her camera a little lower and checkout the celebrity footwear. Then she blogs about it.
Here's our interview with Helen Lawrence from Popstar Feets complete with an exclusive picture of Adidas sneakers that belong to Chris Martin from Coldplay... if you are into that kind of thing.
methodshop
When getting an opportunity to take a photo with a "popstar", most people like to shoot from the waist up. Not Helen. She prefers to angle her camera a little lower and checkout the celebrity footwear. Then she blogs about it.
Here's our interview with Helen Lawrence from Popstar Feets complete with an exclusive picture of Adidas sneakers that belong to Chris Martin from Coldplay... if you are into that kind of thing.
methodshop
2/27/2005
David Hasselhoff's "The Magic Collection" CD Review
Does anyone who works at Amazon.com ever read the user reviews? I posted this tongue-in-cheek review of a David Hasselhoff CD on October 16, 2002. I expected it to be deleted immediately but almost 3 years later not only is the review still online, but so far 2 people have rated my review as helpful. Thank you guys, I'm honored... and scared.
The review is titled:
David Hasselhoff is musical magic personified....
methodshop
The review is titled:
David Hasselhoff is musical magic personified....
"David Hasselhoff is musical magic personified. This album just proves that he can do much more than just act. It's hard to believe that so many people in America have overlooked Hasselhoff's musical talents. Probably the most exciting track on this album is the Night Rocker [Extended Blaster-Mix]. The first time I heard this song I fell in love with it. I probably played it 20 times over and over again. I just close my eyes and dream of being behind the wheels of KITT from the TV show Knight Rider. I can smell burning rubber with the wind blowing in my 80's feathered chest hair while gently touching the turbo boost. Hasselhoff really knows how to capture the emotions of love and excitement in song. I'm still excited!" [Amazon.com]
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Turkey Bowl is a 3D perspective target game where you celebrate the fall harvest by knocking over turkeys with bowling apples. Here's a hint, the turkeys further away are worth more points. Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Has a virus or hard
drive crash wiped out your entire music collection on your computer? No
problem. Here's how to copy music off your iPod or iPhone and back onto your computer.
Bugs tend to freak us out. Mosquitoes, spiders, wasps, centipedes... you name it. If it crawls, bites or buzzes anywhere near our faces, then we squirm, swat and run. But what's worse than a little bug crawling on or biting you? How about a really, really big one? Here are some of the biggest bugs on Earth. Enjoy!. 
Need
something to watch on your iPod or iPhone? Here's a tutorial that
explains how to use a program called Handbrake to rip DVD's
into iPod compatible MPEG-4 video files.
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