…27th is also when I actually do get paid.

This Korean song wasn’t very popular on the charts, but I like it.

I don’t listen to as much rap/hip hop as I used to. Usually, there are 3-4 good songs on an album and the rest is garbage. Why do rappers add intros, interludes, skits, and so much trash between songs? Anyways, this Ghost Funk album, the Mos Dub, and Dub Kweli albums from Max Tannone have pulled me back in. It’s liek the best vocal tracks over the freshest African, dub, reggae beats.

The albums are free to download and easy to listen to.

The modded DS works using a homemade operating system (OS). The Nintendo DS starts up like it normally would. Then you go into the OS like you would start a game. It utilizes a soft mod, so there is no hacking of the DS involved. You cant break the Nintendo DS. It boots and now you can run the DS like a media center. The two key features are playing backed-up games and the media player. With the media player, you can read e-books, view pictures, and listen to music.

Watch this video for a visual walkthrough.

When I didn’t have my PC, I was using the music player quite a lot. It utilizes the DS speakers like a boom box. When playing music, it will go into standby mode, so that it will use less battery. Pretty slick. I’ll use it in the mornings when I stretch or to listen to my Korean lessons out loud. I use the e-reader for game faqs. I’ll load text files onto the DS and revert to them when I get stuck in a video game. Therefore, if I’m on the train and I get stuck in a game, I can find the answer right away.

But, here’s the icing on the cake. Adding music, games, pictures, and text files to the storage is simple. The memory storage is a microSD card. I bought a 4GB card for cheap. Slide the microSD into the provided USB adapter, and it will function like any thumbdrive.

The thumbdrive will work with any computer, and everything is drag and drop. Simply copy your music from a PC to the memory and whooop there it is. There is no iTunes or Zune software necessary. I know where I store the music on my computer. I don’t need iTunes to build a library for me.There are no restrictions to music files it will play. (Well there are a few, but they’re moot). If you want to copy your music and files to another computer, once again, just drag and drop them off. Simple.

Why can’t my iPod or the iPod Touch work like this? (Well, I know why, but nevertheless…) I dont want to install iTunes or any chunky software. I want it to play any music or video format, so that I dont have to re-encode anything. Any PMP, should be this easy and I think there is: the Cowon O2.

I’ve read a couple reviews, and the Cowon O2 appears to have everything I would want. It will play a plethora of audio and video codecs. It has a big touch screen, built in speakers, upgradeable storage, and drag and drop file transferring. How cool is that? When my iPod nano dies as my primary mp3 player, I know what I’m stepping up to.

Story time.

I’m using a laptop, which the previous English teachers at my school have used. Upon receival, I began sifting through the files. What I first learned is that one of the teachers had been a Zune user. I looked through the music folder and was bewildered to find over 20 Gigs of music! Wow.

The teacher was an older man, so he had a lot of, what I would call classic or old bands. Some of it was good; Some of it was not. However, when I tried to play the music… It wouldn’t play. WTF. It wasn’t playing in VLC player, which is a swiss army knife of music players. What gives?

It turns out that this teacher was on the straight and narrow path. The majority of his collection was ALL legally purchased music from the Zune store. Now, there is no shame in that. It’s an honorable route. But, it’s not my route. Living in Korea away from your comfort music can be rough. Some of these older bands would be hard to find on any pirate websites. So, purchasing these albums would be the ideal choice.

However, these files are laced with DRM. Efff that, I say. This is why I couldn’t play the music with VLC player. The DRM wouldn’t allow me. “OK”, I thought, I’ll open the Zune software and listen to his music collection. Nope! I can’t do that either. To listen to the music, you have to log in with your Zune password. “Gaaahhh, foiled again!”

There were 20 Gigs of music here and none of it was playable.

… I know, right? In the end, there was nothing I could do.

/Uninstall Zune software. Goodbye. /Select all music folders and delete. Goodbye music. You are of no use to me. What a shame.

Now, let’s look at you iPod. I’ve been using you for the last 2 years and you are not without fault either. I’ve never bought music from the iTunes store. So, I wont comment on that. I still buy most of my CDs. However, all iTunes songs, also, come laced with DRM. Can I use iTunes songs with a Zune? No. Can I use iTunes songs with a Creative Zen? No. I have to use and iPod. Where’s the freedom in that?

And, dont even get me started on the quality of the song downloads. An mp3 is not a lossless file.

Secondly, I have to use that gorram program iTunes. I hate it. All I want to do is transfer MY music from MY computer to MY iPod. But, the software is so bloated. It does all of this shit that I dont want it to. I dont want you to download new updates. I dont want you to try and sync with the internet or take me to the iTunes store.

I dont even have iTunes installed on this laptop. I dont want to install it. Therefore, I can’t add new music to my iPod if I wanted to. I cant take music off either. If you go into the iPod filesystem, all the songs are garbles and unreadable if you try to take them off the iPod.

Before I came to Korea I thought about buying a new Nano. I thought about buying an iPod Touch, too, for the video capabilities. I’m glad I didn’t. There are restrictions and limitations of the video you can put on it. I dont want to spend hours converting video to the appropriate format of Apple’s choice.

The current standard is too restrictive and limited. I dont like it. There has to be a better PMP out there. And I think there is. When my nano dies, I wont go back for another one. I dont care about the ‘cool’ or ‘wow’ factor. I’m going to blast it up a notch.

Even though I’m in Korea, I went ahead and bought the CD. One of my lucky readers will be receiving this CD soon. The CD is really for me, but the person may listen to it if they wish. Just hold on to it for me. (I already pulled the album off the web to listen to.)

I’m also going to encourage Mom to see one of her concerts when she rolls into STL. Hopefully, she’ll go.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/YDLpBGOJYL0" width="300" height="250" wmode="transparent" /]

In the mean time, I’ve been playing Zelda: the Minish Cap all day. It’s got that retro RPG gameplay that I love. It’s basically Zelda: A Link to the Past, but with a new story and a few new twists. It’s simple and fun.

The new Nine Inch Nails album comes out this week. I’ve been listening to it since it was first made available streaming on the NIN website. I probably like the progressive marketing that has been surrounding it’s release more than the album. First, a viral marketing team created a few websites to reinforce the underlying theme of the album, and they leaked a few songs. The album includes an ANTI-RIAA anti-piracy warning. The CD, also, supposedly has a heat sensitive face, which changes color when hot and cold. While I was following all this hype about Year Zero, it got me thinking about another concept album and band.

A concept album is one which is unified by a central theme. Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon is probably one of the most notable concept albums. It explores the nature of the human experience with themes such as birth, time, greed, conflict, travel, mental illness, and death. But, the group I’m thinking of is The Mars Volta.

In 2003, The Mars Volta released their first album De-Loused in the Comatorium. The album is an hour-long tale of Cerpin Taxt, a man who tries to kill himself by overdosing on morphine. The attempt lands him in a week-long coma during which he experiences visions of humanity and his own psyche. Upon waking, he is dissatisfied with the real world and jumps to his death. The story of Cerpin Taxt is based on the death of one of the musicians’ friends.

Back in the day, I had this album and only listened to Televators (This is the song in which Cerpin Taxt commits suicide. Listen Here.) But now, I really have to hear the album from beginning to end. It’s perfect for the commute to and from work. If you’re a lyrics person, this band really isn’t for you. They make little sense and are difficult to decipher. Albeit, the music is monumental. The Mars Volta have two follow-up albums, which are equally great but not as epic as De-Loused in the Comatorium. Give it a listen, if you can.

Now, please excuse me while I check my email.

Hello,

Thank you all so much for the positive things you are saying about Detroit Jazzstage. When we started, we were one of many independents. Now that corporations have discovered the value of podcasting, we are one of the few of the original independent podcasts. If you would like to read a recent article written about us click here: Jazz reflections from below

FYI: This article was written for readers in one county. Because of that, I am not mentioned. I don’t live or work in that county but the others do.

Thanks again for the positive words and please keep listening.

Rodney Reeves

The article gives some history of the members of Detroit Jazzstage (excluding Rodney =)) and the how and where it is produced. Thanks for the comment, and I plan on seeing one of the featured artists, Jesse Palter in Chicago. Keep up the great work.

It was inevitable that I would get tired of my old song archive. So I started searching for new podcasts. Here’s what I found:

• Craft Beer Radio – A show with 2 individuals drinking and reviewing beer. A video of the show would help to visualize the beers and put a review to specific label.
• Detroit JazzStage – I’ve come to love this one. Jazz is the theme music of Mers walking through the streets of downtown Chicago.
• Discovery Channel Featues – each episode is about 25 min long detailing documentaries from the Discovery Channel. Real nice since I dont have cable.
• Net@Night – Leo and Amber talk about tech news and social apps for use on the web. Recorded live before an internet audience.
• Nightly Business Report – I like the PBS half hour show. I’m not sure the podcast works as well without visuals. You also need to listen to it after each day or it becomes obsolete.
• NPR: All Song Considered – great for finding new artists to love and hate. I’m looking into other NPR podcasts.
• Solid Steel – I’m not a huge fan of hip hop and DJs. I need to be in the mood for this. It’s produced by the same label who signed Bonobo. They released his session as an album
• WordPress Podcast – WordPress is the blogging software I use. You’re seeing it now. The show talks about new plugins/themes and updates.

Listening to many of these podcasts is situational. I usually listen to music when riding the train, because I have a hard time hearing people talking on podcasts. The background noise of the ‘L’ drowns out everything and I dont want to blast the volume. The other times I might listen to podcasts before I go to bed or when I’m at the computer.

I’ve considered buying some new headphones that I can insert into my ear. I’ve read that Shure makes some decent sound isolating earbuds. They report that if you buy them from the website and aren’t satisfied, you can return them. That might be worth checking out.

Not being the huge symphony buff, I dont have a whole lot of critique on the performance. I was in the very last top row, which made it a bit of a strain to see. I closed my eyes and listened to the music for the most part. The orchestra played a short 10 minute introduction. Then, they took a break to regroup. The orchestra moved to the back half (as you can see in the photo) and the dancers came out for part 1. I got out my seat and stood to watch the dance portion. They took an intermission and came back out with the full symphony, but the dance was done. Part 2 was the portion one would recognize from Disney’s Fantasia. In front of me was a family of bobbleheads. They were really intent on the piece and were nodding their heads like it was a rock concert.

Download link

The ballet dancing was interesting to watch. There were 3 males and 3 females dressed in casual dance shirts and pants. I wish there was a backdrop, costumes, or maybe some props to help paint the picture. I was also a little disappointed that they didn’t act out the second half. It seems like the most relevant (and well known) of the piece with the rituals and sacrifice. But I suppose they wouldn’t have been able to fit the entire orchestra on the stage. After the dancing act, Man! The audience applauded forever! I mean sure it was good and they were out there for maybe 20 minutes, but the dancers had to bow four different times. They took each others hands walked to the front, bowed, came back, clapped, took hands again, rushed the front, bowed, came back, and left the stage. Then, they came back on stage and did it all over again. People. It was good, but stop clapping, and lets get this show on the road.

The concert experience is nice, but I dont know if I fully “get it”. The directors receive a ton of praise, but what are they actually doing. They’re just a visible metronome. They didn’t compose the piece. It’s already laid out for them, and they’d be a fool to change anything about it. The only thing they do is speed it up or tell one section to play louder or not. By any other director or orchestra, a concert of this magnitude would sound exactly alike. If I were to buy a CD of the performance, I feel like I’d get the same listening experience out of it. And do I really need to get all dolled up and bump elbows with some of these people. Aside from the bobbleheads, many of the people looked all dressed and weren’t even paying attention. Did you come just to get all dressed up?

I dont know. Just my 2 cents.

• iamfacingforeclosure.com/ -A 24-year-old aspiring real estate investor from Sacramento CA. After going to few seminars he bought 8 houses in 8 months. However, he’s ran out of cash, an is now facing foreclosure.
• johnchow.com/ – He’s an internet mogul, who talks about making money on the web, how he made his career, fancy restaurants, and general techy stuff.
• tradertim.blogspot.com/ – Tim Knight, founder of a technical analysis site, gives his daily perspective on the market, his portfolio, and option positions.
• I’m on the Flying Spaghetti Monster Halloween page.
• Family Guy Clip – How’s that novel you’ve been working on?
• I think an Akita Inu would also be a fun dog to have. The Shiba Inu is a pocket size version.
• I found the website for Brainstorm: Movies, Comics, and Games.This is the rental place I’ve been going to. Though, I haven’t been there in awhile.
• Patriot act makes it harder to get real Sudafed

Music:

• Blue Cheer – a San Francisco-based rock group of the late 1960s and early 1970s, who helped to pioneer heavy metal music.
• Jefferson Airplane -an American rock band from San Francisco, a pioneer of the LSD-influenced psychedelic rock movement.
• Foo Fighters new Skin and Bones album. I might have to get the UK DVD. It comes with 2 DVDs, whereas the US version may have only 1.

That’s it. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

The first CD is “Live at the Jazz Bakery” by Sara Gazarek. Last year, I was listening to NPR and was about to head downtown. Her song “All or Nothing at All” came on and I had to stop what I was doing. I zoned out and waited for NPR to tell me her name. After that, I went to her website and listened to a couple of her other songs. I think I ordered her CD a day later.

So “Live at the Jazz Bakery” is a recorded live performance with her singing some new and oldie songs. I ordered this as soon as I saw it. The website said it was only available online with limited pressings and autograph, which I got thank-you-very-much.

Then, last week, I ordered “DVD by Sexy”, “Sabbia”, and Ten East.

“DVD by Sexy” is a rock-umentary of The Eagles of Death Metal. It’s directed by Liam Lynch (the “Whatever” guy, who is also directing the new Tenacious D movie.) I’m not exactly sure what’s on the DVD, but I’m sure it will be sexy. QOTSA had something similar to this in their deluxe edition of Lullabies to Paralyze.

Sabbia” is the result of a 2 year collaboration between filmmaker Kate McCabe and musician Brant Bjork. While being neither a visual album or traditional documentary, the experimental and trippy film takes you on a California journey from “high” desert to low desert showing a beautiful and mystical landscape through many perfectly lovely and some stoney weirdo moments. Hope to see you there!

In the last 2 years, Brant Bjork has become one of my favorite artists. He recorded some music just for this DVD, and I’m excited to hear and watch it.

Ten East is a musical side project with collaborating artists, which should be similar to “Sabbia”. Brant makes an appearance along some members of Yawning Man, which is another desert band.

Hurry up mail man!

Last year, I ordered 4 CDs online. Through no fault of the company, I ordered an unavailable CD, which delayed the shipment. After a month, they notified me to say that the CD still wasn’t in. So, I told them to cancel the unavailable CD and replace it with DFA79. I had never heard any of their songs, but people were raving about them online. All together, I received the 4 CDs and surprisingly the DFA79 album was my favorite. Quite the diamond in the rough.

They only recorded one full LP, but they had a couple hard to find EP’s and rarities. I’ve since scoured the internet trying to find these. Now, I’m gonna have to cherish all of the songs, b-sides, and live sets I have. One of the members, Jesse Keeler, has a side project called Femme Fatale which is equally good, but not as great. He’s also rumoured to be working with Josh Hommes on the new QOTSA album. But, still, this is a sad day.

We can still watch them on Conan O’ Brien with Max on drums.

Lollapolooza is inside Grant Park in Chicago, with Buckingham Fountain as the focal point of the show. Now, the parks and streets of Chicago are very much open and public areas. So, the only thing that seperates one from the venue is about 30 ft buffer zone and a 6 ft fence. No, I’m not planning on sneaking in. But I will be listening from a distance.

Today, I was riding my bike around the lake front and you could hear the echo of the concert from any location. I rode around the concert fences to scope out the scene. Today, I found a shady, grassy knoll to camp out at. I read my book, enjoyed the outdoors, and took in some music. When QOTSA takes the stage on Sunday, I’ll hang out around the fences and take in the music from my bike. I really dont see the difference between paying and listening inside or hanging outside and listening. I dont need to see the band afterall.

“Mers, dont be a cheap bastard. Just buy a ticket and go with your friends.” Hmmmmm…no. There are just somethings you’ve got to take a stand against.

A one day pass is 65 bones + the fu**ing $8 service charge. A service charge, SRSLY? A machine prints out a ticket. What service requires this? “Robbery” charge is what they ought to change the name to. This is typical of many concerts, but more so associated with larger venues.

Though, I dont have a problem with the $65 price tag. There are 42 bands playing any day, but you could only catch about 6 different band’s sets. At any time, there are at least 4 bands playing at the same time. So, you really have to pick and choose. But, I dont have an issue with that. It’s reasonable and the the bands gotta get paid.

However, if you plan on catching 6 bands, you need to be there from open to close. You’d be confined to stay inside the gates for the entire time. NO REENTRY! That’s lame. When you get hungry or thirsty, it means you have to succumb to the overpriced bottled water, beer, and food. It’s also like being herded around like cattle. You’re packed in with tons of meatbags, which can only move an inch to get anywhere. Then, most people stake out the good spots all day. So, even if I paid to see QOTSA, I’d be way in the back and unable to see the band. I think listening outside is a better deal.

So, that’s my point and I’m sticking to it. Tomorrow, there aren’t any bands that I’m dying to see, but I’ll probably head back just to chill. The shady tree and grassy knoll were amicably comforting. And, I’m almost done with my books.

In the article, he talked about following Phish and Bob Marley as he grew up, Judaism, and coming together as a musician.

“You can be religious. You can have a family.” I have my wife and my son on the road with me. You can be religious and be living on a bus with your wife and your son and, like, six non-religious or non-Jewish people, playing concerts every night… and there’s no contradiction there. It can work. Whatever a person wants, whatever a person puts their energy into, there’s no closed doors.

After reading the article, I had to check out his music. He has 3 CDs, and one is a live album. Because I like live music, I think it’s the best one, and for the right reasons. The three piece band is aerodynamic and flexible, able to do the slow reggae groove or rock out with ferocity. He also has a talent for beatboxing, which he does on a couple of tracks. His combination is novel, but the music is quite groovy and easy to get into.

There’s also a great documentary on Google Videos about his spirituality and music. Give him a listen or hit me up for the CD.