Listen Up: Pearl Jam

I know, I know. Grunge is so 1990's. Whatever. Pearl Jam is on coarse to be on level with U2. Their 9 albums have traversed and broadened the realm of American Rock music. While I haven't always loved every song on every album, they have consistently produced music that is both enjoyable and inventive. I'm always delighted whenever one of their songs come on, even more so than Depech Mode, and I've never gotten tired of their music. 10 is quite possibly one of my most played discs.

I've really been digging their most recent releases, 'The Fixer', a pop-infused fun song, and 'Just Breathe', a beautiful and touching ballad that has me hitting the repeat button. Someone be a love, and take me to see them the next time they play LA (I can't belive I always miss them!).

Listen Up: Bobby Long

Went to HOTEL CAFE to hear a great up and coming musician named Bobby Long. Discovered his music randomly through someones video post on facebook and immediately fell for this talented Brits soulful lyrics and raspy voice. Bobby is a Singer-Songwriter who's skill and brilliance has grown over the course of his 2009 world-wide tour with his most recent performance even more engaging than the previous one I saw just a few months ago.




You can hear Bobby's music on his MYSPACE PAGE or check him out
on YOUTUBE.

I'm especially fond of Penance Fire Blues.



Photo Credits ABBY.

Musical Flying Saucers

The Hang means "hand" in the Bernese language (pronounced "hu-ng") is a young musical instrument. It was created in Bern, Switzerland in 2000 by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer of The PANArt Company after many years of research on the steel pan and numerous other resonating percussion instruments from around the world such as Gong, Gamelan, Ghatam, drums, cowbells, and musical Saw.

This percussion instrument is comprised of 2 metal hemispheres bonded together: the top side contains 8 tone fields which together form the 'tone circle' (scale or mode). The circle surrounds the central dome, or DING, which sounds like a Gong. The bottom side has a hand sized hole, the GU, for resonance, which can be played like an udu or used to modulate the sounds of the DING (either with a hand or a wooden damper, a DUM).

The Udu-like sounds are produced with the air resonance, the sounds of the clamped shallow shells sound like bells or harmonically tuned steelpans. The inner note on the bottom dome is the bass note, and when played in a dampened way allows change in pitch like a talking drum. Seven to nine notes are tuned harmonically around a central deep note. The hemispheres are hardened by a process known as gas-nitriding (a thermal treatment process in which nascient hydrogen atoms diffuse into the steel and form nitride compounds with many of the alloys in the steel).

The Hang is typically played resting on the player's lap with the palms of the hand, thumbs and fingertips instead of mallets, so the sound is soft and warm. Depending on how it is played the notes can sound like a harp, bells, or harmonically tuned steelpans.

The PANArt Company was offering a number of Hang models and encourages each purchaser to participate in the design their own instrument since each Hangis tuned individually, which allows each person to choose their personal 'tone circle'. Word is that currently the creators are taking a break from making Hangs, so if you want to buy your own you may contact them via mail to be placed on the waiting list or hope to stumble on someone selling theirs.

PANArt Hangbau AG
Engehaldenstr. 131
3012 Bern/Switzerland
Phone international: +41 31 301 33 32
E-Mail: info@hang.ch



Hang

For more Hang vids see The Art of Fusion or Davide Swarup.

Music: Prem

Prem is a Sanskrit word for 'the way God loves you'. It is also the title to a CD by Snatam Kaur Khalsa.

Snatam Kaur is a Sikh who began her study of music and spiritual practice at an early age. Schooled in kirtan, meditation, and Gurmukhi (Sanskrit-based language of Sikh scriptures of Northern India), she began to develop the devotion and skills that have grown and blossomed into her compelling and profound talent.

She has a voice that invokes a sense of reverence and the sacred. It is simply impossible to listen to this album and not be deeply touched. I was gifted this album and everyone who I've played it for has been deeply touched, almost all to the point of tears at it's pure beauty and Grace. My Mother loved it so much, she specifically asked that this be played at her too soon to come funeral.

On Myspace

Buy it or Other Albums and Music Samples


Rehansabai - Smrath Guru Sir Hath Dhareyo

Babies get along, why can't we?

Because I needed something to lift my Spirits today, here's a sweet video of a baby Deer & Kitten. If only people could be this kind to animals and to each other. It's nice to see something somewhere getting along with out hatred, selfishness, judgment and bigotry.

Great song by a Musical Master, Louis Armstrong.


What a Wonderful World

Music: Love Sucks

For those of you who break out in hives during the first half of February each year, or are just over all the bullshit and hassle of romantic relationships, here's one for you.

Love Sucks: Various Artists

1. Love Stinks -- J. Geils Band

2. I Hate Myself For Loving You -- Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

3. Everything About You -- Ugly Kid Joe

4. Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn'tve) -- Buzzcocks

5. Love Will Tear Us Apart -- Joy Division

6. Pictures of You -- Cure

7. Answering Machine -- Replacements

8. You're No Good -- Linda Ronstadt

9. I'm Not In Love -- 10cc

10. Love Hurts -- Gram Parsons

11. Who Loves the Sun -- Velvet Underground

12. Glad to See You Go -- Ramones

Buy the album here.

So tell me, what are your favorite 'Love can just fuck right off' songs?

Up and Coming: Leila Broussard

I've been digging on this musician for a while now. Leila Broussard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb47QmTT1ck

http://www.myspace.com/leliabroussard



Single Ladies Beyonce Cover

Check out the rest of her vids and her myspace music page, feel free to friend her.

The original Beyonce version for comparison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g

So what are you listening to?