product review
Product reviews and how-to's of rising music merchandise, CDs, albums, concerts, and more.
The Hi-Hat That Changed My Mind.
The first time I heard "Freak on a Leash," I turned it off. I had been playing drums for most of my life by then. I grew up on rock and metal, the kind of music where the singer sings, the guitars hit hard, and the song makes sense from the first verse to the last chorus. I knew what I liked, and I thought I knew what good music was supposed to sound like.
By Overdrive Records5 days ago in Beat
Compilation Craze: How a Clothing Brand Built the Ultimate Punk Collection
In 2001, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge of blink-182 founded Atticus with their friend Dylan Anderson. At the start, Atticus functioned as a record label and a clothing line, releasing multiple compilations and a few solo albums from 2002 to 2011. I'm not sure if they're signing artists today, but the brand is still around, selling apparel online and making appearances at music festivals.
By Kaitlin Shanks12 days ago in Beat
My Exclusive Interview With Alessandra Levy
In a world of digital music production, Alessandra Levy still takes an old-school approach with her Music Production Center (MPC) that dates back to the 90s. This model has everything you'd expect from a piece of analog technology—large grey buttons, beige colors, a tiny digital screen—but these limitations help Levy produce fun, eclectic beats that earned the artist a large social media following. With nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram alone, Levy's introducing the MPC60II to a whole new audience, and this interview gives you a look at the skills, education and technology that made Levy a rising Internet star.
By Kaitlin Shanks16 days ago in Beat
Compilation Craze: Revisiting the Hottest Unsigned Bands of 2003
While I haven't bought a CD in years, I always enjoy checking out the old compilations when I browse a used record store. Many compilations have obscure tracks that you won't find anywhere else, and this Budweiser True Music "Future Icons" album has 11 of them, plus four bonus tracks from bands that already made it big—presumably to get you to buy the record. According to Discogs, this CD came free with a 2003 issue of Blender , and I bet that some music lovers still have a copy lying around somewhere.
By Kaitlin Shanks18 days ago in Beat
Record Label Spotlight: Fox Food Records
Based in Mirfield, UK, Fox Food Records is an indie label that signs slowcore, ambient, folk and dream pop artists with a uniquely rustic sound that you probably won't hear on the radio. When you scroll through their discography, you'll see collages, analog photos, original art and other oddities that contribute to the label's DIY vibe. In addition to digital releases, most of their albums come with a physical release that includes a cassette, a thank-you card and a small gift or two.
By Kaitlin Shanks24 days ago in Beat
Ich Bien Ein Ausländer (I Am A Foreigner)
Ich Bien Ein Ausländer (I Am A Foreigner) is a song by the band Pop will eat itself. This phrase is repeated throughout and is and is an essential part of this powerful song. This contains a lot of German phrases but is essentially a review of this powerful song and why it’s words should be listed too.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 3 months ago in Beat
16 Artists. One Album. Endless Discoveries.
In a time when music discovery is often shaped by algorithms, trends, and familiar names, there is something refreshing about a collection that simply allows artists to be heard. Independent No.1's Vol.16 , released on July 31, 2026 , continues the mission of the acclaimed compilation series by bringing together independent voices from around the world and creating a listening experience built on variety, creativity, and individuality.
By mysoundMusic4 months ago in Beat
6 Best Lyrics Apps for Musicians. AI-Generated.
Search "lyrics app" and you get dozens of results that all claim to help you write. Most don't, not really. Some are a plain notepad with a music icon on it. Some are a rhyming dictionary, which is a lookup tool, not a place to write. And some are a full music-making app with a lyrics box bolted on the side.
By Luke Mounthill5 months ago in Beat
Picture These Discs
Introduction I was reading the Taschen "1000 Record Covers" to enjoy the images and maybe get some inspiration for my writing. In the middle of the 1970s section, I saw the pages that I used to head this article. I had always assumed that Picture Discs were first produced in the nineteen-sixties, and I thought I had a copy of the first one, but no, apparently the first ones appeared in the nineteen-forties:
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 5 months ago in Beat
