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Music ADHD: Hail to the CD

by on July 17, 2012

Remember those days when you popped in a CD and listened to it from start to finish? You didn’t play one song, then put in a new CD, play another song, and so forth. But that’s become practical with the advent of mp3 players. Now, if you play more than two songs by the same artist in a row, or even in the same hour, someone gets bored and wants to listen to something else. We no longer hear an entire album. There are some drastic consequences of this music ADHD.

Because you only listen to songs by an artist one at a time, you only hear the most popular songs, your favorites. But you know those songs that you didn’t like the first time you heard them, and then after a while they grew on you? You can’t get those anymore. Either you don’t listen to them anymore, or you never hear them in the first place, because you can buy individual songs now, rather than albums. And the album covers? Miss them?

Don’t get me wrong, iPods are great. They’re small, portable, and store a whole heck of lot of music. They’re terribly convenient. But they have their drawbacks too. I miss hearing Smash Mouth’s song “Waste” because “All Star” has already been played. It’s actually a very good song. But I’ll bet you haven’t heard “Waste” before. And who hasn’t heard “All Star”? Come on, we’ve all seen Shrek. If you think about it, how many songs do you like that aren’t exactly mainstream? How many wonderful songs would you have not come across if you didn’t buy the entire album?

I guess what I’m saying is to slow down, listen to an entire album for a change, buy the entire album rather than a few songs. You never know, you might discover a beautiful song that you otherwise would have overlooked.

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Shampoo or MP3 Player?

by on July 11, 2012

 

It’s hard to tell that this nondescript bottle of shampoo is actually a cleverly disguised MP3 player. If you didn’t already know that it was an MP3 player, then you probably wouldn’t suspect anything.

It’s called the iMusic Shower Gel MP3 Player. Because it’s water resistant, music lovers and those who sing in the shower will love the iMusic Shower Gel MP3 Player. You can download your favorite music, and sing along while taking a shower or bath. It has a convenient hole at the top for shower hooks so that it is readily accessible throughout your shower. Even when you have soap all over your face, it’s always within arm’s reach.

The iMusic Shower Gel MP3 Player has touch sensitive controls for volume and track selection on its face that allows for ease of use. It comes in two colors—white or green. This cunningly disguised MP3 Player uses a standard SD Card and is powered by AAA batteries.

Now on to the review. The iMusic Shower Gel MP3 Player has received generally positive reviews, but nearly every single one points out a major flaw. It lacks the ability to remember where it left off, so every time you take a shower, it starts over at the beginning. In addition, it lacks a shuffle feature, so the only way to move on to new songs is to skip ahead to where you left off. When it’s turned on again, it’ll be back where it started.

Though a major flaw, it is not a fatal flaw. The device has acceptable sound, and really, you’d only be using it for 5-20 minutes a day. I know that listening to “It’s a Beautiful Day” first thing in the morning, every morning, wouldn’t be a terrible way to start off the day. And to be sure, you’d hear me singing along to it. Maybe we need to start working on waterproof headphones!

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B.o.B. – “Both of Us” featuring Taylor Swift

by on July 9, 2012

What with the vast majority of pop songs being what they are, about glamour and other trivial things, B.o.B. and Taylor Swift’s “Both of Us” is a breath of fresh air. It deals with the effects of the economic recession that is plaguing our country.

The music video, released June 27, 2012, was shot in Nashville, Tennessee. But rather than depicting the honky-tonks or other popular celebrity haunts, B.o.B. and Swift insert themselves into the adversity afflicting the grittier neighborhoods of Nashville. The lyrics center on this adversity, but rather than bemoaning the plight of the people, they stress the importance of the little things in life.

The video begins with B.o.B. in a small house and Taylor Swift in a pool hall. Shots of mobile homes, regular people, children playing, and many other everyday things permeate the video. B.o.B. and Swift tell us with their words to enjoy life, make the most of the opportunities presented to you, and make your own opportunities. They tell us that we’re not alone, we can get out of these hard times, but also that even in the midst of adversity, there can be great things. The audience is left observing B.o.B. and Taylor Swift living their lives as regular people in rural Tennessee.

Enjoy the video on the MTV website:

http://on.mtv.com/LmPz3t

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An homage to the best city in the world: Velodyne rocks CE Week in NYC

by on July 7, 2012

The view from Avenue nightclub right before the Velodyne party

So, I’ve had a week to shake off the jet lag and catch up on some sleep. Of course, I couldn’t have been happier to attend the CEA LineShow in NYC during CE Week (June 25-29). Typically, shows can be overwhelming and a bit crazy. But this one was small and somewhat relaxed. The attendees are mostly press who live in the area and take the short trip down to Chelsea to the Metropolitan Pavillion. And Chelsea is also where Avenue nightclub is located…and where Velodyne hosted the “Real Music Pure Sound” party.

I was fortunate enough to not only attend the show and the party, but to visit friends and family in my old stomping grounds. Although, I’m a full on California transplant who no longer owns a pair of snow boots or gloves, New York will always be my true home. It made me feel quite nostalgic and I thought this would be a great opportunity to do a mini virtual tour of some of my favorite landmarks in the West Village, where I lived on 9th Street and 6th Avenue.

Former site of The Women's House of Detention

I’ll start with my favorite building in the city, known now as The Jefferson Market Branch, New York Public Library. It may just seem like a pretty brick building sitting on a triangular plot formed by Greenwich Avenue and West 10th Street. But the history of this building is lengthy and rich. It actually served as the New York Women’s House of Detention, a woman’s prison, from 1932-1974. Longtime residents of the West Village will tell you that they used to hear husbands and boyfriends calling up to their wives and girlfriends in the middle of the night. That’s because its unique location gave inmates the opportunity to communicate with people walking by on the street. The New York Women’s House of Detention is believed to have been the world’s first art deco prison. It was designed by Sloan & Robertson in 1931.

This building and site is featured prominently in the 2004 film, House of D, which was David Duchovny’s feature film writing and directorial debut. Check it out.

The Empire State Building, lit up in red and white, as seen through the Washington Square Arch

The Jefferson Market Branch, New York Public Library is located just around the corner from my favorite park in NYC, Washington Square Park. The park itself is also rich in history and home to one of New York’s iconic structures, The Washington Square Arch. This 77 foot marble monument was modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and was erected in 1889 to celebrate the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration.

The iconography of the Arch centers on images of war and peace. An inscription on the attic of the monument contains a quote attributed ot George Washington and reads:

“Let us raise a standard to which the wise and the honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.”

There are many other notable historic structures and memorabilia, including the Hangman’s Elm, which stands in the northwest corner of the park during the time that Potter’s Field was used for public executions.

Click here to find out more about the rich history of Washington Square Park.

The front of the Washington Square Park Hotel

It only seems fitting to end this mini tour by mentioning the historic hotel me and my colleagues called home during CE Week in NYC. The reason it’s so fitting is because the Washington Square Park Hotel is located on the northwest corner of the park at 103 Waverly Place. This hotel was built in 1902 and recently celebrated its 110th year in business. This quaint and unassuming gem evokes a 1930′s Paris in one of the best locations in New York. I highly recommend a stay here, as well as a tour of the art deco building and interior.

Incidentally, Babbo is right across the street. For those unfamiliar with this restaurant, it’s one of the most famous in the city. It’s considered to be the restaurant that put its owner, Mario Batali, on the map. And for those who don’t like Italian, there’s Cafe Asean right up the road. In my opinion, the best Vietnamese food in the West Village.

I won’t subject you to any more of my indulgent nostalgia. This is the end of my love letter to NYC and the West Village. I’ll see you next year at the end of June.

 

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Must-Hear Song of the Day: Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind

by on July 7, 2012

It’s practically against the law to be in a bad mood during the summer. The sun aggressively blocks out negativity in favor of pool parties, BBQs, and boardwalk rides. Even if you’re dealing with some Issues, the mandatory joie de vivre that accompanies July and August will sweep them under the rug–at least until September rolls around.

 

That’s why Semi-Charmed Life by Third Eye Blind is the perfect summer anthem. As I explained in an earlier post, this song is so catchy and upbeat that you’d never guess it’s about crippling drug addiction. An overwhelmingly cheerful chorus of “doo-doo-doo, doo-doo-doo-doo” coats the tragic lyrics in an impenetrable layer of joyful mania, and it’s impossible to be anything but happy when you sing along. Whether or not your summertime smiles are masking a darker truth, this song is a choice accompaniment for all your picnics, beach days, and volleyball tournaments. (That’s what people do in the summer, right?)

 

 

 

-Benevolent Siren

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Summer 2012 Concerts To See

by on July 6, 2012

It’s summer! And there’s nothing better than enjoying a concert on a warm summer night. Artists and bands from all different genres are touring this summer. Some of them include reunion tours, orchestral performances, and promotion tours for new albums. But whatever the occasion, they’re sure to be great.

Starting July 21, Journey will be touring North America. Beginning in San Bernadino, CA, the tour ends on Decmber 14 in Honolulu, HI. In 2007, Journey acquired a new singer, Arnel Pineda, who fits very well with the other band members and sounds very similar to Steve Perry, Journey’s original singer.

Starting June 30, Eagles began touring North America. It began in Naperville, IL, and it will end on November 17 in Las Vegas, NV. On October 30, 2007, Eagles released Long Road Out of Eden, their first studio album since 1979. The tour ended in 2009, but they are currently touring along the Pacific coast.

Beginning on July 10 in Rama, ON, Yes began touring North America. The classic rock band will finish the tour on October 21 in Mexico City, MX. This year, Yes acquired a new singer—Jon Davison, lead singer of Glass Hammer.

Peter Gabriel’s Back to Front tour begins September 16 in Quebec City, QC, and ends on October 9 in Santa Barbara, CA. Gabriel’s Back to Front tour is in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of his popular album So. The tour will feature the entire So album and some of Gabriel’s biggest hits.

These are only a few of the concerts that are taking place this summer and fall, and there are many more besides these. Go see a concert this summer!

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Maroon 5 – “One More Night”

by on July 5, 2012

 

On June 25, 2012, Maroon 5 released its latest music video. Frontman Adam Levine stars in the video, portraying a boxer with a seemingly happy family life. But discontent lurks beneath the surface, as hinted at early on in the video by Minka Kelly’s, the protagonist’s girlfriend’s troubled frown. Scenes of Levine, Kelly, and their baby daughter contrasts cuts of Levine’s hands being wrapped and training in a boxing ring.

When Levine leaves for a boxing match, Kelly starts packing her bags. Cheers erupt as she packs, and Levine wins the fight. But when he returns home, triumphant, he finds her gone. When she left, she took not only herself but their child as well. All that remains for him are trifles,  trophies and pictures, a jump rope and a single goldfish.

All his training and hard work paid off in his career; he became the boxer he wanted to be. But he lost everything he loved, all that he held dear. The video ends with a sorry picture, of a lonely man in an empty apartment, a solitary goldfish in a fishbowl.

“One More Night” may be a metaphor for Levine’s own life. Celebrities often have a very hard time balancing their professional lives with their personal lives. Usually they neglect one in favor of the other. This can be their undoing.

The song “One More Night” and its music video pose difficult questions, ones that celebrities are reluctant to ponder. Is fame and fortune worth giving up your personal life? Can there be a balance between professional and personal lives? With Levine left sitting alone in a sad, empty house, the band’s answer is sorrowfully clear.

 

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5 situations that are WAY better with headphones

by on July 4, 2012

  1. Doing the dishes. My internal monologue without headphones: “God, how long have these dishes been sitting here? That food globule doesn’t look like anything I ate recently.” My internal monologue with headphones: “LA LA LA everything is awesome I’m a rock star! Oh look, the dishes are done.”
  2. Exercise. Cardio can be a long, cruel exercise in misery if you have nothing but your thoughts to sustain you. With the right pump-up playlist and a killer pair of earbuds, on the other hand, you might even look forward to feeling like a rockstar on your daily run.
  3. Air travel. Inexplicable delays, intolerable seatmates and long stretches of time away from the internet conspire to make air travel a wretched experience. On the other hand, the right pair of headphones can drown out the crying babies and chatty neighbors with the sweet tones of your favorite soothing songs. Alternatively, a fascinating podcast (such as Radiolab or This American Life) makes a long flight fly by.
  4. Working on menial tasks or busy work. Endless spreadsheets weighing you down? If you’re allowed to listen to music or other audio media at work, just pop in a pair of headphones and let your mind escape to a better place—like a dance floor.
  5. Falling asleep. If you’re like me, falling asleep without any external stimulation feels like a chore. My brain just won’t shut up; trains of thought refuse to be derailed unless I listen to podcasts or TV show dialogue.

 

How do headphones make your life better?

 

-Benevolent Siren

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Fourth of July Fireworks

by on July 3, 2012

We’ve all seen them. They’re absolutely amazing. They’re beautiful, loud, and brilliant. But do you know what makes the colors so vibrant?

The answer: various metals and compounds. It’s amazing, really. The colors created by these metals are so vibrant and alive, they’re mesmerizing. To produce red, the most intense color can be created using strontium or strontium carbonate (SrCO3), but a more mellow red can be achieved using lithium, lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), or lithium chloride (LiCl). For orange, calcium is the ideal metal, or the compound calcium chloride (CaCl2). For yellow, sodium or sodium nitrate (NaNO3) works the best. To produce a vibrant green, you would use barium or barium chloride (BaCl2). For a dazzling blue color, copper or copper (II) chloride (CuCl2) is perfect. Either cesium or cesium nitrate (CsNO3) make a brilliant indigo. Potassium, its compound potassium nitrate (KNO3), rubidium, or its compound rubidium nitrate (RbNO3) create a vibrant violet color. For a luminous gold color, the best compounds are charcoal, iron (Fe), or lampblack. And finally, to produce the brightest white, you can use titanium, aluminum, beryllium, or magnesium powders.

Certain elements, when added to the fireworks, can create cool effects. Zinc, a bluish white metal, creates smoke effects. Antimony creates white firework glitter effects. Phosphorus burns spontaneously in air and creates a glow-in-the-dark effect when used in the firework’s fuel. Titanium can be burned either in powder or flake form, and produces silver sparks.

 

The chemical composition of the fireworks is a mixture of 70% saltpeter (potassium nitrate), 15% charcoal, 10% sulfur, and 5% compounds that produce the color. To make a brightly burning ground firework, just mix these together in small amounts in a paper towel, add the color of your choice, and light it up! Stand back, of course, and make sure there’s nothing flammable nearby. These homemade fireworks won’t explode, but they’ll produce very brilliant colors in a fierce, and very hot, flame. Enjoy the Fourth of July!

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