James Jamerson Isolated Bass
Yesterday I talked about how Paul McCartney was, in my opinion, the most innovative bass player in rock besides James Jamerson. It wouldn't be fair not to listen to Jamerson after listening to Paul, so here are a number of Motown hits featuring Jamerson's signature bass playing. Of course, Jamerson was one of the mainstays of the Motown house band known as theFunk Brothers
.
Here are a couple of his greatest parts including Marvin Gaye's
, and The Four Tops'
.
1) On What's Goin' On, listen to how Jamerson builds the intensity of the track as it goes on. You can just feel him pushing the track as his line gets more and more complex and he digs in harder.
2) Jamerson's bass has a distorted edge to it. He supposedly went direct while recording and used an Ampeg B-15 when playing live, but the tone on this song sure sounds like a B-15 to me.
3) Bernadette may be Jamerson's masterpiece. He's playing a fairly busy part yet it's always in the pocket and always seems effortless.
) Bernadette is also a really good example of how a Motown track is put together when you hear all the instruments fall in with the bass.
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10. ágú. 2010
James Jamerson Isolated Bass
"Come Together" Track Dissection
"Come Together" Track Dissection
Here's a great track dissection from a BBC documentary on The Beatles that features Come Together from their Abbey Road album. It does a pretty good job of describing how the song was put together track-wise, although I wish we could've heard more of each track.A few things I noticed:
1) Listen how out of tune George's guitar is.2) I always thought that the electric piano was a Wurlitzer and played by Billy Preston (it's a Rhodes played by Paul). Just goes to show what I know.
3) The missing guitar lick is very cool but I can see why they didn't include it in the final mix. Sometimes the space is more powerful than anything that fills it. I think it might've stepped on the vocal as well.
4) Listen to the harmony vocal in the verse. After hearing a number of Beatle's vocal tracks and dissecting how they put their harmonies together, I'm always amazed that Paul usually takes the lowest part, considering his great vocal range. George is frequently the one on the top vocal (although not on this track).
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Paul McCartney Bass Lines
Paul McCartney Bass Lines
Paul McCartney has never gotten nearly enough credit for his innovations as a bass player. I personally believe that he's the most influential bass player of the rock age besides Motown's James Jamerson.Like Jamerson, McCartney playing evolved into mini-melodies, being part hook and part counterpoint to the rest of the instruments in the band. As a result, the band always sounds full even with a minimum of overdubs.
I believe this was because the bass became an overdub that happened in the late stages of Beatle tracks, instead of being recorded the traditional way during tracking of the basics. This allowed Paul the freedom to come up with a line that fit better with the final track.
Here's an interesting video that showcases McCartney at his best (except for the last track). Have a listen to A Little Help From My Friends, Come Together, and Band On The Run.
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9. ágú. 2010
Brand New Moods: Rush: new single
Rush: new single
Rush
Caravan/BU2B
(2010)
320 Kbps
Time: 10:03
New Rush single. A legendary band returns so, watch out people, do not miss this. What more need to be said? Ha yes, the new Rush album will be released sometimes next year and it'll be called Clockworks and Angels. Let's hope that it's as good as Snakes and Arrows which demontrated a real return to form for the Canadian power trio. (The file includes the full artwork with lyrics)
no link to buy, digital release only
6. ágú. 2010
Hitchens on cancer diagnosis: 'Why not me?' « - CNN.com Blogs
Program Note: Anderson's interview with author Christopher Hitchens on his cancer diagnosis and whether it has changed his thoughts on God will air tonight on AC360° at 10pm ET. Watch a sneak preview below.
Anderson Cooper
I just flew down to Washington to talk with author Christopher Hitchens. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in June, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
Many people upon receiving a cancer diagnosis would ask "why me?" Hitchens's answer, is "why not me?"
Much of his hair has fallen out, but he seems strong as ever. We discussed whether his diagnosis has in any way altered his well-known opinion of religion and prayer.
Tune in tonight for the full interview.
Read author Stephen Prothero's CNN blog about Christopher Hitchens.
4. ágú. 2010
Impact! Coronal Mass Ejection Hits Earth : Discovery News
This is an aurora resulting from the Aug. 3 geomagnetic storm. Facing North from Silkeborg, Denmark, Jesper Grønne photographed this beautiful scene using a Canon 5D II camera. Credit: Jesper Grønne.
It's hard to imagine the magnetic battle that's ensuing above my head right now, especially during this hot and calm Southern Californian day. But over the last few hours, orbiting space weather observatories and ground-based magnetometers have detected the moment a coronal mass ejection (CME) -- fired from the sun on Sunday -- slammed into the Earth's magnetosphere.
1. ágú. 2010
"Panama" Backing Track - Van Halen
"Panama" Backing Track - Van Halen
Staying with our Backing Track theme for the week, here's one from a rock radio standard - Van Halen's "," off of their album entitled
. In this case we'll be listening to the everything but the guitar, although you can still hear a little of it in there as leakage. Here's a few interesting things to listen for.
1) The drums are compressed really hard to make them as punchy as they are. You don't notice it in the track, but you do during the intro to this video.
2) Michael Anthony is a very underrated bass player. Listen to how solid he is here. He's playing 8th notes through much of the song but he's right on the whole time. Remember this was in the days before cut and paste and Beat Detective so it's real playing.
3) Likewise, Alex Van Halen is very disciplined in the his drumming. The fact that he stays with a pattern during most of the song keeps the section solid.
4) David Lee Roth's vocal sound is signature Van Halen - delayed verb with a long decay along with a long delay for depth.
5) The background vocals, which you don't hear much of in the final track, are interesting in that they have a very short reverb which makes it pretty indistinct. It does it's job well though, by bolstering and changing the sound of the pre-chorus and chorus.
6) This song is an excellent example of dynamics on a record. Listen to how the band lowers its intensity at 2:20 while keeping the tempo and feel the same.
Here's the guitar track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWjyj9gUElM
27. júl. 2010
Allan Holdsworth - Letters Of Marque (ft. Skúli Sverrisson on bass (solo))
Gary Husband - Drums
Steve Hunt - Keys
Skuli Sverrison - Bass
26. júl. 2010
Is This Thing On Podcast: Is This Thing On? Podcast Number 41 Jazz special!!
Ok Jazzers, have Got a podcast for you?
Packed full of lovely jazz from he likes of Sunna Gunnlaugs from Iceland, The Jason Parker Quartet from Seattle USA, Rainier Straschill from Germany, Fleeting Silence from the USA, Sigurdor Gudmundsson from Iceland, The Matt Erion Trio from the USA and me from good old England!
I sound a bit tired because I was so ignore me and listen to the music.I also included the new Is This This Thing On LITE that is also on the other podcast site I mentioned click here to have a look
Click on the big iTunes button or use this little player for a random listen
Penn Jillette | Magician | Big Think
Penn Jillette is an American magician, comedian, and author, and is half of "Penn and Teller." Jillette began his career as a juggler, graduating from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, and in 1981 he teamed up with his friend Teller for a famous off-Broadway show. Since 2003, Penn and Teller have hosted the popular television show "Penn & Teller: Bullshit!" in which they debunk popular misconceptions or pseudo-scientific beliefs. Jillette is an outspoken advocate of atheism and libertarianism, and is the author of the novel "Sock."
11. júl. 2010
The Beatles - Helter Skelter At Studio
The Beatles recorded the song multiple times during the The White Album sessions. During the 18 July, 1968 sessions, a version of the song lasting 27 minutes and 11 seconds was recorded, although this version is rather slow and hypnotic, differing greatly from the volume and rawness of the album version. Another recording from the same day was edited down to 4:37 for Anthology 3, which was originally twelve minutes long. On 9 September, eighteen takes of approximately five minutes each were recorded, and the last one is featured on the original LP. After the eighteenth take, Ringo Starr flung his sticks across the studio and screamed, "I've got blisters on my fingers!" The Beatles included Starr's shout on the stereo mix of the song (available on CD); the song completely fades out around 3:40, then gradually fades back in, fades back out partially, and quickly fades back in with three cymbal crashes and Ringo's scream (some sources erroneously credit the "blisters" line to Lennon; in fact, Lennon can be heard asking "How's that?" before the outburst). The mono version (on LP only) ends on the first fadeout without Ringo's outburst. The mono version was not initially available in the US as mono albums had already been phased out there. The mono version was later released in the American version of the Rarities album.According to Chris Thomas, who was present, the 18 July session was especially spirited. "While Paul was doing his vocal, George Harrison had set fire to an ashtray and was running around the studio with it above his head, doing an Arthur Brown." Starr's recollection is less detailed, but agrees in spirit: "'Helter Skelter' was a track we did in total madness and hysterics in the studio. Sometimes you just had to shake out the jams."
On the version that appears on the Anthology 3 album, McCartney occasionally sings "hell for leather" instead of "helter skelter."
"Umm, that came about just 'cuz I'd read a review of a record which said, "And this group really got us wild, there's echo on everything, they're screaming their heads off." And I just remember thinking, "Oh, it'd be great to do one. Pity they've done it. Must be great--really screaming record." And then I heard their record and it was quite straight and it was very sort of sophisticated. It wasn't rough and screaming and tape echo at all. So I thought, "Oh, well, we'll do one like that, then." And I had this song called "Helter Skelter", which is just a ridiculous song. So we did it like that 'cuz I like noise." —Paul McCartney, 1968
We used to have a laugh about this, that or the other, in a light-hearted way, and some intellectual would read us, some symbolic youth generation wants to see something in it. We also took seriously some parts of the role, but I don't know what Helter Skelter has to do with knifing someone. I've never listened to it properly, it was just a noise." —John Lennon, Rolling Stone, 1970
"That's Paul completely. All that [Charles] Manson stuff was built 'round George's song about pigs and this one... Paul's song about an English fairground. It has nothing to do with anything and, least of all, to do with me." —John Lennon, 1980
The Who had made some track that was the loudest, the most raucous rock 'n' roll, the dirtiest thing they'd ever done. It made me think, "Right. Got to do it." I like that kind of geeking up. And we decided to do the loudest, nastiest, sweatiest rock number we could. —Paul McCartney, 1985
7. júl. 2010
Chris Lord-Alge - quote
I would rather compress a vocal hard to get some personality out. It's like putting a snazzy jacket on a guy when he goes out at night — it adds attitude.
6. júl. 2010
5. júl. 2010
Smile or Die
Smile or Die
Barbara Ehrenreich
Posted: Jul 5, 2010
Acclaimed journalist, author and political activist Barbara Ehrenreich explores the darker side of positive thinking.
Listen/View
4. júl. 2010
3. júl. 2010
30. jún. 2010
25. jún. 2010
21. jún. 2010
14. jún. 2010
12. jún. 2010
11. jún. 2010
Via Bobby Owsinski's Blog: Michael Jackson's "Beat It" - Isolated Drums
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Michael Jackson's "Beat It" - Isolated Drums
Today we're going to take a listen to the isolated drum track ons seminal
"
Listen to the isolated drum track by late great Jeff Pocaro and notice:
1) Pocaro plays to a drum machine and does so incredibly well. This was especially difficult in 1981 when the tune was cut, since many drummers had a tough time with a click during that era, let alone a full-on drum beat. Today this isn't such a big deal since everyone is brought up playing to loops and tracks, but it was no easy task back then. There are only two places, at 3:31 and 3:47, where you hear the slightest of flams.
2) The drum sound is nothing special. But then again, how could it be with the drum machine in the front of the mix. Engineer Bruce Swedien is the the master of track balances.
3) The drum track is simple and that's what's so beautiful about it. On the other hand, it couldn't be anything else and still work in the song.
Tomorrow - more Beat It.
Via Bobby Owsinski's Blog: Michael Jackson's "Beat It" - Isolated Guitar and Bass
Michael Jackson's "Beat It" - Isolated Guitar and Bass
Today we'll look at the the isolated bass and guitars (mostly guitars) from1) There are 3 players that you hear; Steve Lukather plays the dirty rhythm parts and lead lines in the chorus and the bass (heard here on in the first verse), Paul Jackson Jr. plays the clean rhythm parts, and Eddie Van Halen plays the solo.
2) Most of the guitar parts are doubled. Take notice that they're not exact doubles though; one side is a bit busier than the other most of the time (always a good production practice).
3) Eddie Van Halen's solo at 2:42 is interesting because his guitar track is on the right side while the effects (delay and reverb) are on the right. Credit producer Quincy Jones and engineer Bruce Swedien for coping the sound of early
on this solo. They wanted Eddie to play like himself and the best way was to give him the sound that he was used to.
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4. jún. 2010
Smoke free Iceland ;) ... not ash free though :p
Description
This image, acquired by Envisat’s Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer on 24 May 2010, features a smoke-free Iceland.
The Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which had a series of eruptions in April and May, is visible in the dark area on the southern coast. The Vatnajokull glacier (visible in white northeast of Eyjafjallajokull) is the largest in Iceland and in Europe. The white circular patch in the centre of the country is Hofsjokull, the country’s third largest glacier and its largest active volcano. The elongated white area west of Hofsjokull is Langjokull, Iceland’s second largest glacier.
The Swinger
The Swinger
One of my favorite hacks at last weekend’s Music Hack Day is Tristan’s Swinger. The Swinger is a bit of python code that takes any song and makes it swing. It does this be taking each beat and time-stretching the first half of each beat while time-shrinking the second half. It has quite a magical effect. Some examples:Every Breath You Take
Money for Nothing
Cream
I Will
Update – a few more tracks -by request:
Enter Sandman
Daft Punk’s Around the world
Sweet Child O’ Mine
(one of my favs)
Don’t Stop Believin’
White Rabbit
(this one is hypnotic)
Swinger uses the new Dirac time-stretching capabilities of Echo Nest remix. Source code is available in the samples directory of remix.
Be sure to check out some of the other Music Hack Day hacks like Six Degrees of Black Sabbath, Jason’s Songbird Visualizer or the Artikulator.
3. jún. 2010
The Sandpit
Sam Harris: Why we should ditch religion
(CNN) -- For the world to tackle truly important problems, people have to stop looking to religion to guide their moral compasses, the philosopher Sam Harris told CNN.
"We should be talking about real problems, like nuclear proliferation and genocide and poverty and the crisis in education," Harris said in a recent interview at the TED Conference in Long Beach, California. TED is a nonprofit group dedicated to "ideas worth spreading."
"These are issues which tremendous swings in human well-being depend on. And it's not at the center of our moral concern."
Religion causes people to fixate on issues of less moral importance, said Harris, a well-known secularist, philosopher and neuroscientist who is the author of the books "The End of Faith" and "Letter to a Christian Nation."
"Religion has convinced us that there's something else entirely other than concerns about suffering. There's concerns about what God wants, there's concerns about what's going to happen in the afterlife," he said.
"And, therefore, we talk about things like gay marriage as if it's the greatest problem of the 21st century. We even have a liberal president who ostensibly is against gay marriage because his faith tells him it's an abomination.
"It's completely insane."
Watch Harris' talk at the TED Conference
Harris also said people should not be afraid to declare that certain acts are right and others are wrong. A person who would spill battery acid on a girl for trying to learn to read, for instance, he said, is objectively wrong by scientific standards.
"It's not our job to not judge it and say, 'Well, to each his own. Everyone has to work out their own strategy for human fulfillment.' That's just not true," he said.
"There's people who are wrong about human fulfillment."
Harris placed no faith in the idea that Muslims and Christians will be able to put their differences aside and cooperate on global issues.
"There's no way to reconcile Islam with Christianity," he said. "This difference of opinion admits of compromise as much as a coin toss does."
via cnn.com
The Internet: Where religions come to die
-Kinda speaks for itself.Clips taken from
Godzilla of course :-)'the end of the world cult'
Fascinating documentary about some guy who claimed to be jesus (one of many) and predicted the end of the world a couple of times. The interesting conclusion (other than the world not ending of course) was that he was arrested for his sexual abuse of minors. Seeing the 'son of god' go from righteous 'they are persecuting me like they did with jesus' to a man institutionalized in prison, on hunger strike is a fascinating insight into the human mind and the messiah complex.
I would also recommend reading the wiki article on him.... it's captivating stuff!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_BentJesus camp of course (I'll leave you to find that!)and Mr Deity (who does some wonderfully funny satire on Christianity).
http://www.youtube.com/user/misterdeityTurns out he's an ex mormon (damn the typo is so tempting), and has a v. interesting story to tell.
RDF.netClip from Richard Dawkins vs the Muslim from 'The Big Debate'
Clip also taken from the simpsons satire of cults 'The Joy of Sect'.Clip of Bill Maher also taken from religulous.
Póstkort - Menn Ársins -- video
Via: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=391487317584&ref=mf
Póstkort (Postcard)
A song for all the young and over enthusiastic people who seek to make this world a better place. Next time they by a T-shirt from one of the big fashion designers with Che Guevara's face on the front they should take a moment and think about the children in various sweat-shops around the world who slave to make them for nickels and dimes.
from Menn Ársins, released 29 September 2008
Haraldur Vignir: piano, backing vocals
Kjartan Guðnason: drums
Sigurdór Guðmundsson: electric bass
Sváfnir Sigurðarson: acoustic guitar, vocals
Sigurgeir Agnarsson: cello
Um mig / about me
- Siggidóri
- Bass player, father, husband, band member, musician, son, brother, hobby photographer, friend, coffee drinker,
