tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40116113037526796522011-10-06T10:43:39.479-04:00I'm Ian. I make music. I also enjoy writing about music. I think you can see where this is going.iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.comBlogger631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-12819672640821998222011-03-21T21:04:00.003-04:002011-03-21T21:11:18.398-04:00

I have a pretty big stack of demos and unfinished bits (mostly without vocals) sitting around waiting to be finished. A lot of them will probably make it onto the new album. But I've been waiting for the magic track that kick-starts everything. The one that gives me the motivation and framing to tie everything together and make the next disc.Saturday night, that song happened. Only I didn't know

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-16229867456623174622011-03-18T23:19:00.003-04:002011-03-21T21:12:26.468-04:00

Earlier, I recorded a song for a contest, called "Crystal Clear." Well, I did some playing with it after the contest was over, and decided to upload the revised version to Bandcamp. If you're looking for something to listen to, check it out. This track will probably end up on the new album in one form or another.

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-11682661346679688922011-03-18T22:26:00.001-04:002011-03-18T22:27:52.587-04:00

Well, I think I've finally settled on a title for the new album: The Man ForgottenI'm shooting for 15 tracks on this one. I want it to be huge.

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-52943456767408320452011-03-13T18:03:00.002-04:002011-03-13T18:07:40.627-04:00

I've been wrapped up in freelance work (graphic design) lately, so I haven't had as much time to focus on my music or writing about my music. But I'm coming up for air a little, and I figured now was as good a time as any to chime in.Today, I grabbed a new domain: www.ianmarquismusic.com. I've got my Bandcamp page pointing there now (though you can still go to ianmarquis.bandcamp.com and see the

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-69925929175605850192011-02-04T07:37:00.003-05:002011-02-04T07:54:39.439-05:00

I've been doing a lot of work on tracks for the new album lately. No secure title for the disc yet, but I'm toying around with calling it "The Bastard" to go along with the naming convention of the first two.Here's what I've got so far:Shatter - This is a heavy, straight-ahead rock song with huge guitars. The arrangement is basically done, save for the bridge.Killing Time - A 70s rock style song,

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-7173025565440117762011-01-27T08:02:00.003-05:002011-01-27T08:13:58.899-05:00

I was talking with a fellow musician last summer when he said something that gave me pause. I'd never really thought about it before, and I guess I'd just assumed I created music in the usual way - nothing really out of the ordinary."What's the first thing you do when you get ready to mix-down?" He asked.My answer? "I don't mix-down." He seemed confused, and went into a description of how he

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-21485279364504872802011-01-15T09:54:00.003-05:002011-01-15T11:09:21.700-05:00

Before I recorded The Solomon Project, I used to churn out instrumental rock songs. Starting in either 2004 or 2005 (I can't really remember, to be honest), I began using FL Studio to arrange bits of guitar I recorded. Prior to that, I was writing predominantly piano pieces (also in FL - at the time it was Fruity Loops). I don't even really play piano, but I enjoy arranging it.Anyway, I had

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-62950393699644103762011-01-08T23:01:00.003-05:002011-01-08T23:02:27.232-05:00

Today, I had an epiphany: behold the sound of the greatest music I have ever heard....I kid.

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-41977591309873147782011-01-08T11:47:00.002-05:002011-01-08T12:15:10.339-05:00

I've got a lot of demos lined up for my next album. I can't say exactly what direction it's going in yet, but so far the sound seems to be a slower, more textured, dreamier kind of rock. Electronic, too - but so far mostly rock. Some of these demos have been floating around on my hard drive since 2008, when I started recording The Solomon Project. There are at least two or three songs from that

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-12414093635463207652011-01-06T08:19:00.002-05:002011-01-06T08:25:51.889-05:00

Like a lot of guitarists, I learned to play using plastic (or celluloid) picks. They're cheap, readily-available, and pretty much the standard. But they also break a lot if you play forcefully.Which I do.Every time I order something music-related online (usually from Musician's Friend), I throw in $5-10 of picks or other random stuff. It's fun, and it gives me a chance to try out some new

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-27018465534810674212011-01-03T16:48:00.003-05:002011-01-03T16:57:54.452-05:00

For a while now I've been kind of negligent in putting my stuff out there for people to listen to. I guess I was afraid that if I let people listen to all of my music for free, that they would never want to buy it.Well, Reddit taught me otherwise. Since putting both of my albums up on Bandcamp, I've had several generous fans give me quite a bit more than the asking price for either a track or an

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-30832353415199060522011-01-02T14:33:00.004-05:002011-01-02T14:36:25.182-05:00

Just a quick update here:I hadn't done much with my Myspace page since 2009, back when I released The Solomon Project and was really grinding hard to promote it. I didn't get very far (8,000 friends, little actual feedback) and got discouraged. Well, I figured it was time to get back to it, so I spent yesterday evening bringing my profile up to date. Now, I've got a few new songs from The Shivers

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-41688725260239684042011-01-01T23:42:00.005-05:002011-01-01T23:56:10.010-05:00

When I finished recording The Solomon Project, I felt a real need to do something (anything) to keep myself busy. You wrap up a big project, and it leaves a vacuum in your life. Well, I decided to make a little website about the album to give people a bit more to read. That's the sort of thing I like - lots of information about the music I'm listening to.Trouble is, I never took the time to

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-68026323499205406192010-12-31T09:58:00.005-05:002011-01-01T23:55:15.174-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was just starting to assemble a set of demos for my next album. And then my computer died. I didn't lose any files, but it took me weeks to get back up and running again. Now, I'm taking stock of what I've got.I've been recording demos and partially-finished tracks since 2004. Before that, I laid down synth and piano arrangements. The Solomon Project didn't happen until 2009,

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-34801978167678788402010-12-30T10:56:00.004-05:002010-12-31T10:11:56.381-05:00

A few weeks ago, I was in a rough spot: my wife's car wasn't working, our computers were broken, and money was incredibly tight. In desperation, I posted to a couple of subreddits, asking if anyone would be interested in buying my music. I really didn't know what (if anything) to expect. Sometimes, the worst response is dead silence.But reddit seriously surprised me. Several redditors (including

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-48195252458380292572010-09-16T13:57:00.002-04:002010-09-16T13:59:25.649-04:00

The music blog Thoughts and Acquisitions just posted a brand new review of my album, The Shivers. You should definitely check it out - it really nails what these songs are about, sonically.http://pnutponders.blogspot.com/2010/09/music-review-ian-marquis.html

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-58559633140508350382010-09-15T22:57:00.002-04:002010-09-15T23:00:17.236-04:00

As of today, my new album (titled "The Shivers") is live on Bandcamp at ianmarquis.bandcamp.com/album/the-shivers.Soon to follow is a special companion EP titled "Just a Chill" that will contain five tracks that did not make the regular album. After that, I'll be posting my first album, "The Solomon Project," to Bandcamp as well to round out the discography.Check it out, guys - I'm really proud

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-44257522910842202492010-03-01T14:56:00.018-05:002010-03-01T16:30:55.373-05:00

Musicians: Stop putting punctuation in your stage names. It's obnoxious. It's bad enough that we've got will.i.am. Now, there's Ke$ha. How the hell do I even pronounce that?No, never mind. I don't really care. I'm just going to assume it's Keisha. Problem solved.Anyway, Ke$ha (reaching up to hit that damned dollar sign is really getting old) is apparently pop music's next big thing. And that, of

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-61626765265582856612009-12-16T10:40:00.007-05:002009-12-16T14:16:02.204-05:00

Until recently, I had never heard of Owl City. But hell, it sounds like a pretty cool place to chill: fine, feathered friends, sitting back, sipping fine beverages under the shade of tall pines. I wouldn't mind paying it a visit. "Stop and stay for a while," they'd tell me. And I'd oblige them. Of course - sign me up.Only Owl City isn't a place. It's a shitty electro-pop band. More specifically,

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-49880192915932877512009-12-04T22:57:00.005-05:002009-12-05T09:21:43.541-05:00

I recently moved, and have been without internet at the new place for the past week. Well, it's finally hooked up, and I took the opportunity to indulge in a bit of stupid. No full-out critique today - just a really dumb, fun song that I've had stuck in my head lately and wanted to share.Puddle of Mudd's "Spaceship."I mean, how can you hold a grudge against a song that celebrates it's own

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-42432061305420967262009-11-16T07:29:00.006-05:002009-11-16T09:14:24.878-05:00

I usually stay away from this kind of music. As a general rule of thumb, I maintain a state of willful ignorance to most current pop music. It's just better that way.But yesterday, Miley Cyrus' song "Party in the U.S.A." came on the radio when I was shopping. The store was Reny's. I can forgive them the lapse because they have excellent deals on canned salmon. And duct tape. Oh, and don't forget

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-78095293294688215212009-10-23T15:11:00.013-04:002009-12-11T19:30:02.879-05:00

You know the drill by now, so let's his the ground running with this one.Mariah Carey. The song is called "Obsessed." It's #8 on the Top 40 as I'm writing this. Some people are saying it's about Eminem. I don't really care. It's time to rip into this this thing.Youtube link? Of course. And please, if you're going to read this, at least listen to the song. Unless you already know it. And if you do

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-88341980107510901462009-10-05T10:16:00.002-04:002009-10-05T11:27:01.787-04:00

I used to like Linkin Park. Back when I was in high school, early college even.To clarify: I enjoyed their first two albums. Those would be “Hybrid Theory” and “Meteora.” The former more than the latter.Really, they were something different to listen to. Loud guitars. Funky riffs and catchy beats. That strange dichotomy of sanitized rhymes and bleeding throat vocals.And sure, there were always

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-5412281989130481382009-09-22T15:22:00.002-04:002009-09-22T15:26:44.822-04:00

I originally wrote this back in April. I forgot all about it. Today, for some reason, I decided to go digging in an unlabeled folder I had lying around on my work hard drive. This is what I found. It's a track-by-track look at my album, The Solomon Project. If you aren't familiar with any of the songs (and you probably aren't), you can hear some of them on my Myspace page. You can find out more

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-61346353670880645322009-09-21T15:13:00.004-04:002009-09-21T15:16:36.457-04:00

So, I decided to send Rolling Stone a letter to the editor. Just a short one - they never print anything longer than a paragraph.I know the sort of letter they typically print: concise, interesting, and quotable.That's exactly what I wrote.I even threw in a little dig about the Jonas Brothers and Lady Gaga, because that's just the way I am. Here's a scan of the page. My note is the first one.

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-75613827310502439632009-09-16T16:01:00.007-04:002009-09-16T16:11:49.559-04:00

I don't think I ever posted a link to this, so I will now.Anyway, I made some "stuff" (merch) to sort of tie in with my music. Well, kind of. Mostly it's just there to provide some interesting things to wear/use, if you're so inclined.The store is here. But what's inside?- T-Shirts. Some are funny, some are catchy, and some are downright rude. There's even a hooded sweatshirt. That one is

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-84717891732853632882009-09-14T12:00:00.019-04:002009-09-14T13:10:24.870-04:00

It's obvious to me that Chris Daughtry can sing. He knows how to hit the right notes. He even has a strong voice. Not that you need one to be popular, but still - it certainly doesn't hurt.What I don't understand, however, is why all of his songs are so damned boring.Case in point: his brand new single, "No Surprise."Bonus points for truth in advertising, Chris, because I definitely wasn't

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-77427482069411099102009-09-09T09:12:00.018-04:002009-09-09T10:47:24.976-04:00

Sometimes I don't know why I read Rolling Stone. Maybe it's for the exposure - I really don't have time to keep track of new music, and reading RS at least gives me some names and titles to work with. And some of the articles are amusing.I certainly don't read it for advice on what to listen to. 90% of the time, the reviews are completely off-base. They wax superlative on the cheapest drivel, and

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-30964712752359927412009-09-04T07:45:00.016-04:002009-09-04T11:37:36.126-04:00

Everybody rags on the Jonas Brothers. It's probably the "you came from the Disney Channel" and "your primary audience is composed of 13-year-old girls" factors coming into play here. Just a guess, though.Anyway, they have a little song called "Burnin' Up." It's got close to 71 million views on Youtube. That's kind of a lot - I guess you could say that it's popular. Care to take a listen?Oh, and

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-58363840086198871852009-09-02T07:26:00.005-04:002009-09-02T07:56:57.749-04:00

There are a lot of cookie-cutter hits out there. Songs that don't deserve to be noticed, yet somehow manage to make it onto the radio.But then, sometimes, a real gem comes along. A song that is truly epic. A genuine hit."Best I Ever Had" by Drake is one of those songs.I mean, give it a listen. You'll immediately understand.The first thing that struck me about the song was Drakes ability to

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-51815760631416657002009-09-01T14:24:00.015-04:002009-09-01T15:39:03.085-04:00

You know, I think I'm going to mix it up a little here: I'm going to run through a song I actually kind of enjoy.Maybe you don't like the song. Maybe you hate it.Well, I suppose you can just stop reading at this point.Anyway, the song is 'Everything's Magic." By Angels and Airwaves. You know, that band Tom DeLonge from Blink-182 fronted for a while. Blink never was my kind of music. But there's

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-86092477795046448722009-08-31T10:02:00.030-04:002009-08-31T13:13:38.958-04:00

Try to describe what it is you like about something - and not just anything, either. Something elemental. Something that resonates with you in a way that's more than superficial.It isn't easy.In fact, it's much easier for us to say what we like than it is for us to explain exactly why we enjoy it.That's how it is with me and music. In order to say what I like about it, really, I need to tell the

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-53204341784138924202009-08-29T11:32:00.002-04:002009-08-29T11:34:34.182-04:00

Notice anything different?Last night, I finally got around to fixing up the design of the blog. I'm happy with the new look - I think it better reflects the subject matter. I think that, at least for the time being, this is probably the finished look.

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-70440279312319901562009-08-28T07:06:00.017-04:002009-08-28T13:12:11.932-04:00

Ah, Slayer. Considered by many to be gods of thrash metal. Reign in Blood, their 1986 major label debut, is hailed as an absolute classic. And on that album, there's a little song called "Raining Blood" that I'd like you to take a look at with me today.Here. Go ahead. Have a listen.Are you ready? Good. Let's do this:[0:00 - 0:33]Okay, so this is the intro. And it's pretty interesting. We've got

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-76243771955860363102009-08-27T22:33:00.002-04:002009-08-27T22:34:46.379-04:00

My old MySpace address used a handle from before I started actually releasing music. I finally found a way to change it (if you open a MySpace mail account, they let you).The new address for my page is http://www.myspace.com/ianmarquis

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-43316960948671028172009-08-27T07:11:00.005-04:002009-08-27T10:00:28.810-04:00

My blog was mentioned yesterday in a piece by The Maine Edge. You can read the story here. Basically, it's crash-course in blogging, with snippets and insights from Maine bloggers (myself included).When I spoke with their reporter, she gave me the chance to list some other blogs I enjoy. Gizmodo, This is Why You're Fat, and Hack-a-Day made it into the article.UPDATE: You can view the PDF of the

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-19564363893288295462009-08-26T15:14:00.004-04:002009-08-26T15:20:48.249-04:00

Just a quick heads-up here:Discmakers has a new blog entry about high-volume mixing and how it affects your hearing (and your mix). It's a quick read, and it's pretty interesting. Check it out:http://blog.discmakers.com/2009/08/monitor-levels-and-your-hearing/UPDATE: And the previous entry in that blog is also good. More technical with regards to SPL and whatnot, but it's still a really good read

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-9899291115756988002009-08-26T08:00:00.001-04:002009-08-26T19:01:40.011-04:00

So, last year Katy Perry kissed a girl. It kind of made her a star.I'm sure you heard the song at one point or another. It's probably still on the radio for all I know - I don't listen to Top 40, so I honestly have no clue. But that's unimportant. If you haven't heard it yet, go listen to it. I'm sure you can spare three minutes.Besides, this is going to make a lot more sense if you're a familiar

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-80807981700341220322009-08-25T06:55:00.000-04:002009-08-25T15:06:07.492-04:00

The way music press has been reading for the past two years or so, you'd think we were back in the Sixties again.I mean, seriously. Does every other article have to touch on how some band is pushing aside their tight rock compositions in favor of "spaced-out psychedelic jams?" How many psychedelic records do we really need? How about "Seventies rock explorations?" Maybe we need a few more of

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-61830954675189067612009-08-24T06:45:00.000-04:002009-08-24T10:46:34.702-04:00

I first heard about "Birthday Sex" in Rolling Stone. I don't usually seek out this sort of music. But apparently, ever since this single broke, the women have been all over Jeremih. These foxy ladies, it seems, go out of the way to seek out the young fellow and tell him that, in fact, it is THEIR birthday.Because he's apparently that good.Wait a minute.What the hell kind of name is Jeremih? How

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-5608532345225141192009-08-22T09:51:00.000-04:002009-08-22T10:00:17.018-04:00

Recently, I wrote this press release about my album. Since the whole point of a press release is, well, to be released, I'm posting it here for you guys to see.Ian Marquis of Trenton releases self-produced rock album“For me, making music is about achieving the best sound I can with a limited set of equipment,” says Marquis, a resident of Trenton who works in Bar Harbor. “When I set out to make

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-44622330416838608372009-08-21T09:37:00.001-04:002009-08-22T12:50:11.421-04:00

I am not an audiophile. Just thought I'd get that out of the way.I listen to 192 - 256kbps rate mp3s through a pair of $7 earbuds. My "good" headphones (and they really are very decent) that I use to produce my recordings cost $120. I do not own any vinyl. I am perfectly happy with playing burned CDs in my car.And you know what else?I don't "treat" my CDs with fucking magic gel. I don't spend

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-64674622374035291962009-08-20T14:25:00.000-04:002009-08-20T16:32:30.197-04:00

So, the other day I was listening to a collection of hardcore breakdowns. Just for the hell of it. That's not my favorite genre. Far from it. But I'm always looking to broaden my horizons a little. And besides, there's a piece of me that really likes the heavy stuff.Youtube comments are always interesting. Sometimes, I'll spend a few minutes reading them instead of actually watching the video.

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-31366739523426808462009-08-20T07:30:00.000-04:002009-08-20T13:58:33.091-04:00

Coldplay aren't really my thing. They write soap opera love songs and always sound about three seconds away from crying.Not really my kind of music.But "Viva la Vida" was kind of catchy, right? The title track, I mean. There's no way in hell I'd ever listen to the entire album.Anyway, it was a popular song. Really, it didn't sound anything like the rest of their music. And I don't mind it that

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-84886031168675331422009-08-19T13:04:00.001-04:002009-08-19T14:14:09.639-04:00

Ordinary pop songs have a way of entering a positive feedback loop as soon as they hit the airwaves.Think about it for a minute. How many times have you listened to an album where the single was the worst track on the disc? Or maybe it was alright, but certainly nothing special.Either way, there were better songs on the album. But for some reason, they were never released as singles. They never

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-33051284628571568542009-08-19T06:59:00.000-04:002009-08-20T10:42:29.971-04:00

What the hell is this?I seriously can't tell what I'm listening to here. Let's do a little run-through:- Downtuned, single note chugga-chugga riffing? Check (0:07)- Dark, low choir of male voices buried in the mix? Check. (0:20)- Oh look, it's T Pain! Check. (0:36)- High, emocore-style scream vocals? Check. (0:59)- Atonal hardcore breakdown with more downtuned riffing? Check. (1:14)- Style

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-65670565028575807112009-08-18T18:54:00.000-04:002009-08-18T22:12:15.220-04:00

A lot has been said about what it means to "sell out" as a musician. Kevin Barnes from Of Montreal wrote a particularly nice piece a while ago.This is something that really gets me going whenever someone happens to bring it up. So I thought I'd sound off a little.We've all got our favorite bands. Bands we love to listen to more than we should. Bands who we feel a connection with that, just maybe,

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-31644955071718287712009-08-18T16:41:00.001-04:002009-08-18T16:54:37.945-04:00

But maybe you haven't.The "Shreds" videos, I mean. Have you seen them?They're hillarious.What you do is find a video of a guitarist performing live. Preferably a good, or at least popular, artist. You remove the audio from the performance. Add in some ambient clapping and audience noise. But it's got to be restrained - no wild cheering.Then comes the hard part: you need to record yourself playing

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-45107026574515768722009-08-18T15:55:00.000-04:002009-08-19T12:58:54.184-04:00

The average person doesn't understand file compression and quality.I could rant for a week or more about how this relates to graphic design and print production - but this is a music blog, so I'll reign myself in a little.This is all Apple's fault. Using "how many songs" their players can hold as a selling point, because it's not enough to say "this thing has a 120gb hard drive in it." That's too

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-58579033791485553652009-08-18T15:33:00.001-04:002009-08-18T15:51:00.643-04:00

I used to listen to the Goo Goo Dolls back when I was in college.Not anymore. I just got sick of it all. Too many radio-friendly love songs. Too little edge.If all you've ever heard of the Goo Goo Dolls are the songs the radio stations pick up, you probably don't even know they have two singers. All you ever hear on the radio is John Rzeznik. And there's a good reason for that. John has a nice

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-73034542072982926092009-08-18T14:49:00.000-04:002009-08-18T15:30:28.704-04:00

All my work is digital. Regardless of whether I'm taking a photograph, writing an article, creating a comic, or producing a song, I'm working on my computer. That's the way I like it. I could talk about this sort of thing for hours.But you don't want to give me that kind of freedom. Five days from now, I'll be writing about bacon-covered-bacon and dip made from the cream in the middle of Oreo

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-63422692243589479152009-08-18T12:47:00.000-04:002009-08-18T13:38:38.700-04:00

Since Michael Jackson died, his albums have sold something to the tune of 3.5 million copies. Since its release, Thriller has sold some 28 million copies. It's #2 on the list of best-selling albums of all time.But why is Thriller so popular?28 million copies is a hell of a lot of records. I needed to know why it was so popular. So, let's go through the tracks:#1 - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'Okay,

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-9824357857346184602009-08-18T12:05:00.000-04:002009-08-18T18:51:17.701-04:00

I really don't care much for R&B-type-pop in general. But there's a special level of disgust that I reserve for most R&B with a female vocalist.And no, I'm not being sexist.There's just something in particular that female vocalists do. Something you don't hear nearly as often from male vocalists.Melisma.I know you've heard it before. We've all heard it. Here's how it's done: you take a syllable.

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-39402071470804394692009-08-18T09:40:00.001-04:002009-08-18T11:58:41.528-04:00

I love you, Metallica. Really, I do.You've cut some incredible albums. After I discovered you in high school, I spent three or four years knee-deep in Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, ...And Justice For All, and the Black Album. I never really liked Kill 'Em All - it just doesn't have the complexity the other albums do. But I even enjoyed Load and Reload. And Garage Inc. And, if I'm in that

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-47536064788630445312009-08-18T07:27:00.000-04:002009-08-18T10:54:46.110-04:00

I like Papa Roach.I know that's not really a popular statement. Many people love to hate them. But damnit, they're just so enthusiastic and into their music, it rubs off on me.That isn't to say I enjoy everything they've ever done. Far from it. There are a handful of songs I consider to be "classic," and the others don't really do it for me. Getting Away With Murder, Between Angels and Insects,

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-72152040431332024982009-08-17T18:01:00.000-04:002009-08-18T22:10:28.328-04:00

Okay folks, it's time for a little review and analysis. When you can't find the content you want, make it yourself, right? This time, I'll be reviewing "Breathe In," the debut album by FAKE?.Breathe In was released in 2002. I discovered it sometime in 2005, after I had already familiarized myself with a later album by FAKE?. We all know there's usually something at least a little special about

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-70694716497725167422009-08-17T13:05:00.000-04:002009-08-17T13:55:27.729-04:00

Rolling Stone reviewed "Boom Boom Pow" by the Black-Eyed Peas a few issues ago. Cue the following snippet of the review:"...whereupon the record segues into the Number One hit "Boom Boom Pow," and all hell breaks loose. There are Auto-Tune vocal trills, eerie synth chords, screechy disco-diva wailing, 808 thuds, raps about 808 thuds and a dizzying barrage of doggerel: "I got that . . . digital

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-89694056373917237962009-08-17T12:58:00.001-04:002009-08-17T13:02:19.792-04:00

So, I don't really like Nickelback at all.But I'm not ashamed to admit that the first verse / chorus of "Something in Your Mouth" kind of got me going. The consonants were excellent, the vocals were crisp, the delivery sharp, and the production incredibly tight (that's Mutt Lange for you).But the second verse? Lame. That line about "dressed up like a princess / betting that her skin smells /

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-28116612412971126022009-08-17T12:33:00.000-04:002009-08-17T12:43:12.215-04:00

My next album is tentatively titled "Shiver."So far, the track list is fairly sparse, in that I haven't finished many songs yet. Work has been rough during the height of the summer, and I just haven't had the time.But anyway, things are slowly coming together. Here's what I've got so far:- "That's Okay", a quick punk-rock-type number. Basically complete, though the mid-section might pick up some

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-80415929660217761342009-08-17T12:18:00.001-04:002009-08-17T12:27:55.497-04:00

Sometimes, I feel like I'm the only person who listens to FAKE?. I know that isn't the case, but still, they don't get any airtime in the US at all - which I don't understand at all.I mean, listen to this song. And this one. How can there be no place for those on modern rock radio? Sure, it's a Japanese band, but nowadays, all the lyrics are in (very good) English.Come on. If there's room on the

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-52104016477671807512009-08-17T11:54:00.000-04:002009-08-17T12:13:20.705-04:00

I have the hardest time making a good drum loop. In the end, I'm usually able to program something that I'm happy with, but it's always a struggle.I just don't play drums. I have a feel for percussion and rhythm, but my body is wholly uncoordinated when it comes to doing different things with different parts. That's why I can't sing and play guitar at the same time. The timing throws me.Anyway,

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-17507238130307413582009-08-17T11:08:00.000-04:002009-08-17T11:26:11.777-04:00

I don't listen to the radio often. Never have time for it.Besides, they never play the songs I want to hear. Or the way I want to hear them.I'm a little obsessive when it comes to listening to music. I want to hear a certain song. This instant. Maybe I want to listen to the first 60 seconds three times in a row. Maybe I never let it finish. That's fine - I only listen to music alone in my car,

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011611303752679652.post-70552339620076233802009-08-17T10:55:00.000-04:002009-08-17T11:06:55.422-04:00

First post. This blog is basically going to be my sounding board for musical ideas. I'll talk about things I'm working on, songs I'm listening to, production tricks - stuff like that. Expect it to be random, semi-ranty at times, and opinionated.

iglidantehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109813730072054411noreply@blogger.com0