10 billionth song downloader; wins $10,000

According to Mac Daily News, some lucky downloader won 10,000 of  iTunes  songs. That’ll keep ’em busy. Nice to see that people are rewarded for keeping legal!

http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/24163/

Barcelona, Spain: Haven for pick pockets and petty theft

Yes, Barcelona is great. It’s cool. It’s smart. As anyone living here knows, petty theft is one the biggest Booo Hisses of all time in Barcelona. On the beach, you fall asleep, you’ll be sin iPod quicker than a nun tries to blame a sewage factory for the errant smell.

Here’s a summary of the usual tricks. There are a lot more. I’ve seen about 6 of these happening. 2 of which happened to my, unsuccessfully I might add.

The best thing is to keep on moving, don’t stop or say hello, help anybody or give directions. If you’re new to town in certain areas, keep your mouth shut and dress down. It’s sad, but a lot of English lasses go out, bearing breasts, high heeled shoes, the latest Prada bag [or copy] and wonder why they were singled out. I’d stay clear of the Raval, most places of Gracia and head out into the Eixample or Pobel Nou. Okay less people, but if you’re reasonably smart, a lot less chance of getting robbed.

The latest ploy is by some gits who put leaflets on your table, saying they are deaf. If you know any SL, give it a try. These fuckers can’t even sign. So learn “F*** off cretin”, in sign. They won’t know.

They leave the note and then come back. Note where they PUT the item and from WHICH direction they return [normally on a blind side]. Next, they will place a leaflet next to a bag, which they will either a/ run with b/ try to take. Phones etc on the table are also great items for these gits.

The sad thing is, petty theft isn’t a crime here in Cataluna. What I hear you say? Well, if it’s under 100 euros, it’s not a sanctionable offence. Meaning if you need to take a leak in the morning as bars won’t allow you to use their toilets, or when was the last time you saw a public toilet, then you’ll be facing a 1000 EURO fine. Meanwhile, someone invading your private life, finances and general sanity and don’t forget you need to pay the bank AS WELL for the new cards can take things at will and if under a certain amount, is free from justice.

Having worked around Gracia and Plza Cataluna I see these cons going on daily. Yes, daily. So…. take my advice, try and drink a lot less, don’t take your credit card out [to the cash machine and back home]. Take the money you need out, any extra for taxi etc, including passport photocopy, P111, and money somewhere else on your person [like in the shoe]. If you’re here on holidays, pick up a bottom range Nokia some free from CEX or somewhere. Hell, you gonna use roaming with the charges anyway?

Most of my Spanish friends do the same. They like to go out without a handbag or wallet with cards.

Kinda sucks really.

Need some royalty free sounds?

Then check out http://soungle.com/. Came across it today.

The Jonas Brothers: 2 Gongs for Worst Band and Worst Album

According to fans who voted at the Shockwaves NME Awards, the Jonas Brothers won 2 gongs for the Worst Band and Worst Album 2010.

It’s very amusing that music lovers per se are rebelling against forcefed sweet bands such as the Jonas Brothers.

Amusingly other nominations were for the Artic Monkeys, U2 and Lady GaGa for the Worst Album 2010 award. Well, to be honest the last Artic Monkey’s album wasn’t that great and U2, well for me, has gone consistently downhill since Joshua Tree. Their last album was more guitar focused than other albums. However, if they put their money where their active political life is, and get back to killer albums like ‘War’, they’d earn my respect!

You have to remember that RATM was the UK Xmas number one. I hope this starts to scare the cash-cow band making which when compared to uglier, fatter and more musically diverse bands of the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s.

Personally, I think it’s a shame. The Jonas Brothers will probably, and I said probably, be remembered the same as Mozart in the 25th Century for being pure musical geniuses. The depth of their songs is sublime that peeks emotive changes in the listener.

See the Jonas Brothers in action, and make up your own mind. Aren’t they just sublime….

Ministry & Sonic Youth Members Form The High Confessions

Ministry + Sonic Youth members form a part of The High Confessions!

Ministry & Sonic Youth Members Form The High Confessions

An interesting alliance for something of a pioneering project.  The line up has Chris Connelly (Ministry, Killing Joke, Revolting Cocks),  and Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth drummer) with Jeremy Lemos and Sanford Parker (Buried at Sea).

There’s not a lot out there to say WHAT the band’s theme is. On Sonic Youth’s website its said to be post-punk. Which is pretty much anything really!

The High Confessions release  their debut album “Turning Lead Into Gold With The High Confessions“, in  summer 2010.

Meanwhile Sonic Youth will be playing Barcelona on April 18 , Spain @ Razzmatazz. Let’s hope they sort out the mixing desk and I don’t walk out after 45 minutes of brain assaulting

Muse And Warner Music Unveil Innovative iPhone Application

Cool fan based collaboration: Muse and Warner Music launch a  iPhone & iPod Touch application increasing interaction with the band and global fan community.

It’s great news when a great band stretches out its hands to its supporters and fans. Muse, who for me are behind in interaction unlike Coldplay, have released a cool Apple iPhone and Touchpad application that allows them to contact you and for you, if you can’t get to a concert but wanna know from your mates that did, you can use this to connect. Genuis I say!

The app is available now from the iTunes app store, for £1.79 / €2.39

You can check out the official press release here.

Concierto Reverendo Brown, Razz 3, Barcelona 5 Feb, 2010:

Reverendo Brown: Live Music Review
Razzamatazz 3, Feb 2010, Barcelona, Spain

Tengo que decir que me gustan “Reverendo Brown“. Este quinteto de pop/rock de Barcelona, absorben influencias de diferentes estilos y tendencias musicales.

El resultado final es bastante agradable; sus animadas canciones tienen un toque oculto de tristeza que debería de emerger. Luego volveré a esto. La banda ya ha demostrado su brío, pasando a las semi-finales del concurso de bandas Emergenza”

**Puntos álgidos del concierto

La segunda canción de la noche, “Luciérnagas”, arrancó con una intro de teclado genial, fundiéndose en un sonido de guitarra al estilo “Radiohead”. Unida a la energía y la confianza de la voz, esta canción no defraudó al público.

“Pupilas” me gustó mucho. Esta canción se desarrolla con un filo brit-rock de guitarra y bajo, encarnada con una bella voz a lo ” Siouxsie Sioux“. Creo que esta es una de sus canciones más potentes. Aunque quizá la canción podría ser aun más potente con alguna voz masculina.

“El lado fresquito de la Almohada“. Personalmente creo que deberían entrar a concurso de Eurovisión con esta canción. Es uno de sus números más rock español independiente, ante la cual el público se mueve, cabecea y baila inmediatamente. Las melodías melodías del teclado destacan especialmente, poniendo las manos del público en el aire. Rúben a la batería pone toda su fuerza con la caja y el hi-hat. La canción es casi perfecta. Aunque para mi, deberían dejar más espacio entre estrofas, menos letra o espacios más amplios. Me encantaría escuchar una versión “house” de esta canción. Enviadla a Paul Oakenfold… creo que será un hit!

Reverendo Brown tocó una versión de “Creep”, la famosísima canción de Radiohead. Esto mostró el lado mas serio de la banda. Lo mejor es que la llevaron perfectamente, la precisión de la canción mostró un aspecto más delicado y emocional de la banda. Se mostraron en armonía con la canción. La línea de batería le dio el toque rítmico y familiar. Esto muestra que la banda promete a la hora de tocar canciones emotivas en su repertorio. Quiero ver más de este tipo!

“Vampiros” es donde las melodías del teclado se ven orientadas hacia algo como The Killers.

Con el paso bien marcado, la banda se despidió de nosotros con otra de sus canciones mas potentes y con más fuerza: “Malo Final“. Con esta canción superaron, aunque por poco, “El lado fresquito de la almohada“

Yo diría que si estáis en un escenario difícil, Reverendo Brown, tocad “Malo Final” la primera para animar al público desde el principio. Genial chicos!!

**Puntos débiles del concierto

No hay muchos defectos que destacar sobre el grupo. Como he dicho, creo que deberían empezar el show con un toque mas indie que les aleje de ser tachados de “típica banda de pop español”. Reverendo Brown se merecen más que eso y con sus dos canciones más potentes y Creep, muestran una profunda musicalidad capaz de tocar emocionalmente.

Tristemente, las principales influencias tiran mas hacia el lado pop, lo cual esta bien, pero no lo suficiente como para que sobresalgan como alternativo o diferente.

Las líneas de guitarra Brit-Indie de Rafa me gustaron mucho; y la fusión entre este estilo y el pop rock español (véase la dirección de Vetusta Morla), toma mucha vida!

Estíbaliz, la cantante, necesita moverse bastante más en el escenario. Interacciona perfectamente con el resto de la banda, pero da una impresión estática encima del escenario. Mi consejo es que se acerque más al publico, entretenerse mas con el resto de la banda. Hubo interacción entre ellos en el escenario pero se podría mejorar en las canciones más lentas y con las voces masculinas que le daría otra dimensión de unidad en el grupo.

**Sobre Reverendo Brown, sus influencias y sus componentes

Estíbaliz notablemente muestra influencias de estrellas del pop/rock español. Su sonido es bastante parecido a la de bandas como “La Oreja de van Gogh”. Sorprendentemente, la voz, dirigida por el sonido del resto de la banda, a veces suena bastante a “Siouxsie & the Banshees”. Un buen toque! Habiendo dicho esto, aparte de la comparación obvia, la guitarra se inclina hacia sonidos de Radiohead, o REM, o de la escena Brit/Indie de los principios de los 90.

Detrás de los teclados está Alfredo, principal compositor de las canciones, que añade magníficamente los ritmos y acordes ambientales, dando a la banda grandes himnos. Es difícil situar exactamente sus influencias, un poco de todo pero ahora mismo se me ocurre que asemeja a Brandon Flowers de The Killers.

Set List

Carmen San Diego
Luciernagas
Pupilas
El Lado fresquito de la Almohada
Lagartos
Creep
Vampiros
Malo Final

Riffworks: New drum tracks and a newer version on it’s way

According to Sonoma there’s some cool changes in Beta that’ll soon be launched for Riffworks. I’ve had a few bugs as recent, but between that and other sequencing programs, I’d say Riffworks is pretty stable. I’ve not been totally buggered yet mind.

A few things I did like is one of their new RiffWorks InstantDrummers of Discrete Drums fame:

One of the newest drums is 6 Cylinder (100 BPM 3/4) which will be mine. I’ll push up the BPM mind. I hope it’ll fit well into their other 6/8 sigs which I like.

There’s also Vortex (143 BPM 4/4), not listened to that, but I daresay it’s cool. Both drums work in RiffWorks Standard & RiffWorks T4!

Interpol to tour with U2 in North America June/July 2010

Interpol Support U2, America in June and July, 2010

News just in that Interpol are to play with the Irish rock giants U2.

Here’s a list of the tour places for the

Minnesota June 6
Michigan June 30
Ontario July 3
Illinois July 6
Florida July 9
Pennsylvania July 12

Love the Deftones? Get an MP3 for Free Download Now!

Like the Deftones? Well, on the Deftones official site you can download ‘Rocket Skates’, that’ll be featuring we hope on their new album Diamond Eyes’, due out on May 18th. Let’s hope the boys come to Barcelona. This stuff is STRONG and ROCKING BABY!

Full story on metal hammer.

http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/deftones-rocket-skates-online-now/