product review
Product reviews and how-to's of rising music merchandise, CDs, albums, concerts, and more.
Coolest Guitar Straps Every Player Must Own
Guitar straps aren't the most glamorous part of playing the guitar, but if you want people to take your playing more seriously, it might be a good idea to invest in one that's high quality. Guitar straps do far more than just hold up your instrument, a good one will be more comfortable while also letting you express your personal tastes. Learning to play an instrument isn't easy, so why not be comfortable as you do it?
Joseph FarleyPublished 7 years ago in BeatBest Guitar Books for Beginners to Learn the Basics
You've finally taken that first step and bought that guitar you always wanted to start playing. You pick it up and try to pluck a few strings and it feels so foreign you put it in the corner of the room and never pick it up again. Don't be that person!
Joseph FarleyPublished 7 years ago in BeatClassic Albums to Add to Your Record Collection Right Now
It's 2017, and in a surprising turn of events, record players are now in once more. With more and more people realizing how awesome record collections can be, music labels are now starting to produce their top hits on vinyl once more.
Cato ConroyPublished 7 years ago in BeatVinyl Subscriptions 101
Whether or not you collect vinyl records, you've definitely seen the ads. Vinyl subscription services have really kicked off in the last year or two, with unboxing videos becoming a phenomenon all their own — if you're one of the many people who sent me death threats for starting the VNYL unboxing trend, I'm sorry.
Paige WilliamsPublished 7 years ago in BeatNeed a Website?
I recently made the decision to invest in a professional website for my music business. As a singer songwriter and now performer, I needed a powerful means of distribution, enticing marketing, and a crisp display across desktop and mobile devices. Wix.com provided all of these things and more. Its drag and drop design was so intuitive that I was able to focus primarily on aesthetics as opposed to the technical logistics. There are other website design platforms that don't require coding such as Weebly, but Wix's music management is like no other. I get an eCommerce store built into my site, which is run through PayPal, so you get super smooth purchases and invoices for a reasonable fee of 3% plus $0.30 per transaction. By the way, I'm only paying $15/month for everything I’m about to talk about, and I still have all the rights to my songs.
Jonathon LombardiPublished 7 years ago in Beat15 Amazing EDM-Friendly Gifts for Your Favorite Raver
Shopping for that special raver in your life isn't exactly easy. Well, actually it is. Most people who love EDM, hardstyle, or happy hardcore will love just about anything you gift them. However, there's always a difference between a good gift and a great gift — even with people who are all about kandi bracelets.
Ossiana M. TepfenhartPublished 7 years ago in BeatJuniors Gone Wild
I have spent a good portion of my mid- to late-twenties trying to find the right sound for me. At the time I was in an all-original band that did play covers to pay the bills. So needing something versatile but yet still sounded good and unique was keeping me quite frustrated in the search for that "holy grail" of Amplifier/Guitar tones. I had switched earlier on in my career (age 21-22) from solid-state amps to the tried and true tube amps.
Mark DarnellPublished 7 years ago in BeatExperimental?
Does experimental music involve the giving up of music? To answer this question both music and experimental music needs to be defined. Composer Elliot Schwartz (n.d) defines music as ‘the organisation of sound and time’. Similarly, composer Larry Austin (n.d) uses the word sound rather than harmony in his definition: ‘music is wanted sound’. The use of the word ‘sound’ is interesting as John Cage (n.d) said that the ‘more meaningful term; the organisation of sound’ should be used rather than the word music when talking about all music not played on ‘18th and 19th century instruments’, suggesting all post 19th century music is experimental music. However, the definition of experimental would contradict this suggestion. The dictionary definition of experimental is ‘involving a radically new or innovative style’, suggesting that experimental music is music that involves new and innovative ideas, for example, Royal Blood (band) can be considered experimental music as it features the use of heavy processing and FX to create a full rock band (four - five piece) sound from a two-piece band (drums and bass guitar). This definition of experimental music is heavily linked to John Cage’s use of non-traditional instruments and prepared piano, for example, in the piece ‘Water Walk’ (1960), which features heavy use of items not considered to be instruments (radios, water, a bath etc.) to create the sonic content of the piece.
CHEM USERSPublished 7 years ago in BeatReview of Rob Sheffield's Dreaming The Beatles: 7 of X
Been a bit since I posted a review of Rob Sheffield's Dreaming the Beatles, mostly because this is not a book to be rush-read or even normally read (whatever pace that might be), but savored, and also because I've been writing some science fiction, and there's also the lure of the cool water and soft beach of Cape Cod Bay. But I wanted to record a few words about Sheffield's chapter on "Ticket to Ride", about as rich and satisfying an extended analysis you can find of a Beatles or any worthy song.
Paul LevinsonPublished 7 years ago in Beat#OverloadMondays: New Releases From Big Boi, DJ Khaled, 2 Chainz and More
Okay so here's some of what happened last week (6/12-18). DJ Khaled is known for bringing together some major heat, or “major key(s),” in music. This week he brought together Rihanna and Bryson Tiller for his new joint “Wild Thoughts” - watch the video above. This is the latest taste for the upcoming album Grateful, to which his son Asahd is the executive producer for. Asahd doesn’t talk yet, but he's producing albums. This kid is good, I wish I were him. Produced by Khaled and Nasty Beatmakers, as well as co-written by PARTYNEXTDOOR - watch the video below. Khaled is taking over this summer for sure.
Sadé SanchezPublished 7 years ago in BeatSZA Makes Her Big Debut With 'CTRL'
"I’ve been on the low key, Grindin'" Top Dawg Entertainment's leading lady, Solána "SZA" Rowe finally makes her debut with the soulfully blunt album, CTRL.
Sadé SanchezPublished 7 years ago in BeatAmazon Music vs. Pandora
Many have heard of and interacted with Pandora's internet radio sensation, but just last January, Amazon has attempted to enter into the internet radio craze itself with Amazon Music Unlimited, which they are offering free 30 day trials here right now. So, which one is better? Well, I started my own free trial to see what the big deal was.
Daniel JohnsonPublished 7 years ago in Beat