Earliest Audio Recording

For years now people have thought that the first audio recording came with Thomas Edison's patent of the phonograph. This has been proved wrong. There is a recording of the song Au Clair de la Lune that is said to be from 1860. That is 17 years before Edison's patented phonograph.

The recording is etched into paper and the LA Times says, "Using technology originally designed to play records without touching them, a team at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory was able to convert a series of squiggly lines etched onto smoked paper into an ethereal voice singing 'Au Clair de la Lune, Pierrot répondit,' a refrain from a French folk song." Researchers say that there are "other phonautograms that date even earlier, but Scott had not yet perfected his device at that point, they said, and the recordings produce only squawks."
Go to this site to hear the recording. (Keep in mind that it is noisy...what do you expect from the first audio recording? It sounds like someone outside on a very windy day.)

To read the full article from the LA Times go here.

Anti- Emo?

There have apparently been Anti-Emo attacks taking place in Mexico. Riot police have taken to the streets of several cities in Mexico to ... defend emo kids? In a Rolling Stone article they discuss anti-emo violence that has started to pop up in Mexico and further south in countries such as Chile. They say, "The first reported instance occurred on March 7th, when 800 young people came to the city of Queretaro with the sole purpose of finding emo kids to beat up" and then say, "A week after the Queretaro incident, a group comprised of punks and rockabillies faced off against the emo crowd". In response "the emo population staged a silent march asking for peace and tolerance through Queretaro’s main center on March 15th. The march was organized by a Mexico City gay-rights organization that feels the anti-emo attacks are fueled by homophobia." Emo and homophobia? I just don't quite understand this world sometimes.

So what is "emo"? When I type in emo to a google search many definitions and pictures pop up. Here are some examples.
Is this emo:


This:


Or this:



I was always under the impression that emo was a musical style and not a fashion statement. I believe that the fashion that is often associated with being "emo" is called "scene". Someone correct me if I'm wrong. If people are being targeted because of their fashion sense, or lack thereof, there is something seriously wrong with people. Not that I have the greatest faith in humanity but it just seems a bit ridiculous to target people for their clothing or musical tastes. No one should be targeted for anything race, gender, fashion, music, whatever...it shouldn't happen...but fashion seems like one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Apparently the people that are anti-emo don't distinguish between music and fashion, much like everyone else.
On Urbandictionary.com, though not the most credible source it does give some good insight, someone posted a definition (number 6 to be exact) saying, "'Emo' is not short for 'Emotional.' 'Emo' does not mean Taking Back Sunday and Dashboard Confessional, despite what MTV has lead you to believe in the last few years. 'Emo' is not sidebangs, tight pants, and male vocalists who sing like little girls about their failed relationships." Now, as humorous as this sounds there is some validity to it. "Emo" music has become something it was never intended to be.
This poster says, "In the early 90s there was a movement in the hardcore genre that came to be known as "Emotive Hardcore," spearheaded by Rites Of Spring. Harder-core-than-thou kids, who swore by Dischord Records a la Minor Threat, actually coined the term "Emo" as something of a put-down for the kids who really liked Rites Of Spring, Indian Summer and this new wave of "Emotive" Hardcore bands. That's right, "Emo" was once not something kids called themselves." They really hit the nail on the head with that one. Emo was not something that was trendy or anything like that. What it has become is something distorted and is used to reference bands that are, as some have said, shitty pop-rock bands.

So, what is emo and why does it merit violence?

ETA: links to more info http://idolator.com/372899/anti+emo-brutality-in-mexico-it-may-get-worse
http://www.thedailyswarm.com/swarm/update-government-intervenes-mexicos-emo-war-calls-unity/

Nine Inch Nails Tour 2008!!

Tour season is definitely getting underway, or at least the announcement of upcoming tours is underway. Trent Reznor of NINE INCH NAILS posted on the band's website today saying:
We are coming!
Lots going on in the world of nine inch nails...
Confirming a very poorly kept secret, the band has been reformed (details coming!) and we are about to embark on an extensive tour. The first wave of dates I can mention at this time appear below. Many more to come!
See you soon.

July 25 Pemberton BC Pemberton Festival
July 26 Seattle WA Key Arena at Seattle Center
July 28 Edmonton ALB Rexall Place
July 29 Calgary ALB Pengrowth Saddledome
July 31 Winnipeg MAN MTS Centre
August 2 Minneapolis MN Target Center
August 5 Toronto ONT Air Canada Centre
August 7 Uncasville CT Mohegan Sun Arena
August 8 Worcester MA DCU Center
August 12 Knoxville TN Knoxville Civic Coliseum
August 13 Duluth GA Gwinnett Arena
August 15 Oklahoma City OK Ford Center
August 16 Houston TX Toyota Center
August 18 Dallas TX American Airlines Center
August 20 Saint Louis MO Scottrade Center
August 22 Cleveland OH Quicken Loans Arena
August 23 Auburn Hills MI Palace of Auburn Hills
August 27 East Rutherford NJ Izod Center
August 29 Philadelphia PA Wachovia Center
August 31 Lexington KY Rupp Arena
September 2 Morrison CO Red Rocks Amphitheater
September 3 Salt Lake City UT The E Center Of West Valley
September 5 Oakland CA Oracle Arena (formerly Oakland Arena)
September 6 Inglewood CA The Forum

I am REALLY hoping to be in CO when they come through so that I can see them at Red Rocks. That would be AMAZING.

For more information concerning concert dates, etc. visit http://www.nin.com/

George F*cking Michael!

George Michael to Tour North America
NEW YORK (AP) — Ladies and gentlemen, George Michael is giving North America one more try. The pop star is gearing up for his first tour of the United States and Canada in 17 years, opening a multi-city "25 Live" tour in San Diego on June 17, Michael announced Monday. The tour is scheduled to wrap in Sunrise, Fla., on Aug. 3,

Other stops include Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Boston, Toronto and Montreal.

Michael, 44, sang in the '80s pop group Wham! before embarking on a successful solo career. His hits include "Faith," "Father Figure" and "One More Try."

He'll release his greatest-hits album "Twenty Five" in the U.S. on April 1.

In the Spirit of Easter

I came across this article and found it very interesting. Give it a read and express your own thoughts. Who do you think should be on this list?


Rock 'n' revival: resurrecting musical artists to save their genres
By Cole Haddon
Published: March 20, 2008

Every Easter, millions of Americans celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a rebirth that, if you follow the tenets of Christianity, saves the believer's soul. We music lovers here at New Times, however, can't help but wonder what musical artists could be resurrected this holiday to save their genres instead? Might seem sacrilegious, but so is a lot of what's called "music" these days.

Robert Johnson (1911-1938) You know that song about the guy who traded his soul to the devil in order to become the greatest guitarist that ever lived? Well, that was Johnson. The story's true. Every rock song ever made owes a debt to his "King of the Delta Blues Singers" duality.

Ian Curtis (1956-1980) Joy Division was arguably the most important band of the post-punk movement, while Curtis was its most influential and enduring frontman. Dead by his own hand at 23, his dark, painful, and enigmatic lyrics are a tragic document of a life transformed into art.

Freddie Mercury (1946-1991) There has been no greater rock 'n' roll frontman before or since Mercury. Period. Many have tried to emulate him, and even more are trying to emulate his work with Queen these days, but none has managed to capture a fraction of his glamtastic, larger-than-life persona, on- or offstage.

Hank Williams (1923-1953) Robert Johnson is often called the "grandfather of rock 'n' roll," but he'd probably wind up with a hung jury if country-music pioneer Williams took him to court over the title.

Nina Simone (1933-2003) It's only now, after her death, that we know Simone suffered from bipolar disorder. How much of her intensely emotional performance style and trademark see-saw stage persona grew out of her condition? Modern R&B owes her a debt of gratitude that it's yet to pay.

The Notorious B.I.G. (1972-1997) Gangsta rap was a West Coast thang until Biggie Smalls released Ready to Die in 1994. The ensuing East Coast-West Coast feud devolved into a largely nebulous event open to historical parody, while the rank-and-file the genre now recruits has largely forgotten why Biggie's street-inspired work was so powerful.

Patsy Cline (1932-1963) Probably the most important female country vocalist ever, Cline's name is often invoked by lesser talents whose reverence for her — considering how Wal-Mart-bad their music is — seems more like ignorant mockery.

John Lennon (1940-1980) If we have to explain this one to you, then you're probably too damn stupid to even be reading these words.

Miles Davis (1926-1991) As much as jazz is about improvised experimentation, Davis' jazz was about experimental growth. In other words, the genre knew no limits during his almost 50-year reign as its undisputed leader.

Michael Jackson (1958-1992) It might look like Michael Jackson is still kicking around, but the guy Thriller and Bad made the "king of pop" vanished from this plane of existence during the year that followed the release of Dangerous. Think about it: everything after '92 is what you make fun of, while everything before is what you mourn the loss of.

Beatles on iTunes?

I've read several articles recently about Beatles songs being released on iTunes. However, as of right now I'm unsure whether it is true or not. I can't find anything definite.In fact this article claims that Apple denies there being a deal with the Beatles. What I have found, that seems very interesting is this article which discusses the idea that Activision, not Apple, will get ahold of Beatles tunes. The article claims that, "According to reports printed in the UK and US press, a possible Guitar Hero tie-in could be on its way". Umm...I don't know about anyone else but I don't really see the Beatles as "guitar hero" material. Maybe a few songs...Helter Skelter maybe?

Maybe it is because I'm not a big Beatles fan but I just don't get it...makes for interesting theories and stories though. What are your thoughts? have you heard anything about this topic?

Pearl Jam on Tour!

Along with playing Bonnaroo Pearl Jam will be hitting the road. This pleases my little rock & roll heart. The article about the announcement can be found here

These are some of the tour dates:

June 11: West Palm Beach, Fla. (Cruzan Amphitheatre)

June 12: Tampa, Fla. (St. Pete Times Forum)

June 13-15: Manchester, Tenn. (Bonnaroo Festival)

June 16: Columbia, S.C. (Colonial Center)

June 17: Virginia Beach, Va. (Verizon Wireless Center)

June 19: Camden, N.J. (Susquehanna Bank Center)

June 22: Washington, D.C. (Verizon Center)

June 24-25: New York (Madison Square Garden)

June 27: Hartford, Conn. (Dodge Music Center)

June 30: Mansfield, Mass. (Tweeter Center)