December 2009
22 posts
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Music Envy: Siamese Dream
15+ years after this release from The Smashing Pumpkins, halfwaynorth takes a look back.
Eugene:
First Listen? I purchased the album in 1994 and eventually replaced it in 2001 after the disc wore out.
Favorite Song? Mayonnaise (probably)
Tidbit: I learned how to play guitar by buying the album tab book and learning all the parts to almost every song.
Jason:
First Listen? Like Eugene I...
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5 Things: iTunes Random
1. Matt Pond PA - Last Light - Taught to Look Away
I don’t listen to Matt Pond PA often, but when I do I’m often pleasantly surprised. Neko Case has a nice guest spot in this track.
2. The Beatles - A Hard Day’s Night - Tell Me Why
Not a huge fan of the early Beatles. I said it. That being said. They are truly amazing as a force of pop culture. This song is 2 minutes of tooth...
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Drum Essentials: Rudiments →
Rudiments make the drummer’s world go round. I have seen Darby’s drum skills improve tenfold over the last year. The difference? Drum Rudiments, he is constantly on the practice pad. Once he translates these para-diddles onto the drum kit — it’s game.set.nintendo. This site is highly recommended for any aspiring drummers out there.
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The most enduring traditions of the season are best enjoyed in the warm embrace...
– Clark W. Griswold
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Gear Envy: Dunlop Tortex Guitar Picks
A huge part of playing guitar is the pick (or lack of) that you use. It can affect your tone, your speed, and your dexterity. After years of playing, both Joe and I have found that Dunlop Tortex .60mm are the best pick for our playing styles. This particular pick strikes the balance between being too thin and too thick. It is a pick that is thin enough to navigate between strings during solos...
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Gear Envy: McIntosh MXA60 →
What is it? McIntosh MXA60 - Table top, standalone Stereo System.
Specs : 75 W per Channel, CD/SACD player, AM/FM Tuner, two way loudspeaker.
Why does it cost $7500? It’s made of Cast Aluminum. It has 24-bit 192kHz Burr Brown digital-analog-converters, Vacuum Tube Pre-amps and two line Vacuum Fluorescent Display — Translation: it looks and sounds amazing.
Op: Seriously,...
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Gear Envy: Custom In-Ear Monitors
What is it? Jason’s Ultimate Ears UE7-Pro Custom In-Ear Monitors (IEM’s)
Geek Specs : Input Sensitivity: 124db @ 1mw; Frequency Response: 20 to 16,000 Hz; Impedance: 17.5 ohms; Internal Speaker Configuration: 3 proprietary precision balanced armatures; Noise Isolation: -26dB; Input Connector: 1/8” (3.5mm) Gold plated
English Please? Really Fancy Headphones. Handmade...
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It's been a long time coming.
I’ve been playing guitar in bands for the last 14 years. From “The Search for the Yetti” to “the breakup? album” I’ve enjoyed creating music in the studio. I’ve always hesitated at the idea of playing live because of my shyness. In 2003, I played my first live show in the 2nd floor of an old church on Ashland Avenue, but it hasn’t been until the last...