EXDETECTIVES Take My Forever exdetectives.com Faris McReynolds, the young L.A. musician behind ExDetectives, ends this disc by repeating the words “drift forward.” Sure enough, he sounds like a psychedelic ’60s rocker who’s taken a magic carpet ride through time and landed in the alt-rock ’90s—finding nirvana in the age of Nirvana.  Read More →

REBECCA SAYRE Play rebeccasayre.com Best known for jazzy pop, Sayre takes more of a down-home country turn on this four-song EP. Luckily she retains her signature pep, bouncing between pragmatism (“I’m gonna leave it up to love”) and optimism (“Today, I’m basking in my own light”).  Read More →

JACK WHITE Blunderbuss [Third Man/XL/Columbia] You knew someone as restlessly prolific as Jack White would get around to it eventually. After six albums with the White Stripes, two each with the Raconteurs and the Dead Weather, collaborations with everyone from Loretta Lynn to Conan O’Brien and innumerable moves as producer and record-label entrepreneur, the pride of Detroit (and more recently of Nashville) has finally released a solo album. White... 

SPECTRUM ROAD Spectrum Road [Palmetto] “Supergroup” is a term that was long ago diluted, but every once in a while the stars align and the word regains its meaning. Spectrum Road is incontestably a supergroup: Cream bassist Jack Bruce; Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid; keyboardist John Medeski of Medeski Martin & Wood; and drummer Cindy Blackman, who has backed husband Carlos Santana, Lenny Kravitz and others. Spectrum Road—and the quartet’s... 

THE TING TINGS Sounds from Nowheresville [Columbia] In the first 10 seconds of “Hang It Up,” the leadoff single from their sophomore album, the Ting Tings swipe the opening chord from Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and an almost equally recognizable beat from Jay-Z. This British electro-pop duo may have 99 problems, but absorbing and expressing their influences ain’t one. Opener “Silence” is a gift to New Wave geeks—a three-minute... 

DELTA SPIRIT Delta Spirit [Rounder] It’s fitting that Delta Spirit’s third full-length album is self-titled. The band reinvents itself here, channeling the raucous energy and sound of its live performances. Lineup changes—guitarist Sean Walker has been replaced by Will McLaren—and a cross-country relocation from Long Beach, Calif., to Brooklyn has erased the rootsy folk leanings of previous releases, leaving tightly crafted rock in their... 

DR. JOHN Locked Down [Nonesuch Records] Few could blame Dr. John (aka Mac Rebennack) if he opted to coast on his towering reputation in New Orleans music. But this new album proves he has no such intentions. Spearheaded by the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach—who produced and co-wrote the material—Locked Down sounds like a 21st century version of the R&B gumbo Dr. John served up at the turn of the ’70s. The opening title track sets the tone.... 

THE SHINS Port of Morrow [Aural Apothecary] Following the Shins’ 2007 album Wincing the Night Away, leader James Mercer stretched in new directions—collaborating with Danger Mouse in Broken Bells, doing soundtracks and even trying a little acting. He’s come back home on Port of Morrow, the Shins’ fourth record, and his wistful pop sensibility remains very much intact. Perhaps the biggest difference here is the immediacy of his lyrics, which... 

GARBAGE Not Your Kind of People [Stunvolume] Garbage’s first album in seven years proves the long hiatus has done nothing to diminish the band’s chemistry. All the ingredients of the group’s post-grunge sound—techno-tinged abrasiveness, deadly pop hooks, Shirley Manson’s brainy sex appeal—are sharper than ever. Typical is “Blood for Poppies,” which churns with buzz-saw guitars, a sing-along melody and Manson’s effortless way of... 

JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now [Bloodshot Records] On his fourth album, Justin Townes Earle’s lonesome croon is a cool salve for the downhearted. A musical drifter, he’s  stepped away from traditional country to explore the sultry arrangements of Muscle Shoals. The album begins with “Am I That Lonely Tonight?” a solemn dirge that references his famous father, Steve. Going forward, Earle shuffles... 

PHIL COLLINS  Live at Montreux 2004   [Eagle Eye Media] When Phil Collins announced his retirement from music in March 2011, it was no surprise—but it was a sadly muted way to end the diverse and surprising career of a madly underrated talent. Beginning as drummer extraordinaire for Genesis in 1970, Collins eventually led the group to crossover success as its unlikely lead singer. He spent the 1980s balancing work with that band, his own massive... 

ANOUSHKA SHANKAR Traveller [Deutsche Gammophon] It’s no longer enough to say that sitarist  and composer Anoushka Shankar is keeping alive the legacy of her iconic father, Ravi Shankar. With two decades of experience on the instrument and several albums that explore diverse aspects of her artistry—from traditional solo Indian classical to experimental full-band works that integrate Indian elements with cutting-edge electronica—Shankar is... 

MARGOT & THE NUCLEAR SO AND SO’S Rot Gut, Domestic [Mariel] After conflicts with their label and some soul-searching, Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s have chosen the path of self-sufficiency with their fourth album, Rot Gut, Domestic, which was fan-funded through PledgeMusic. Musically, the band has taken its freedom as an opportunity to crank up the amps, and the album opens with several tracks of lumbering, heavy riffs reminiscent... 

FLYING COLORS Flying Colors [Mascot] Flying Colors spotlights five veteran musicians with unbeatable progressive pedigrees—guitarist Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple), drummer Mike Portnoy (who recently exited Dream Theater), bassist Dave LaRue (a frequent collaborator of Morse and Portnoy), keyboardist Neal Morse (formerly of Spock’s Beard) and singer Casey McPherson (Texas’ Alpha Rev). Think Toto—top-flight players who don’t look... 

ROBIN TROWER   Farther On Up the Road: The Chrysalis Years 1977-1983  [Chrysalis/EMI] Unlikely as it may now seem, boys and girls, there was a day when Rod Stewart deferred the spotlight to guitarist Jeff Beck—for at least a couple of albums in the late 1960s, it was Beck’s name who graced the cover of the albums they made together. The notion of the superstar lead guitarist to whom the singer played sidekick survived into the ’70s, at least... 

BRENDAN BENSON What Kind of World [Readymade] On What Kind of World, Jack White’s Raconteurs partner Brendan Benson puts on his solo-artist hat and taps suitably homemade ’70s vibes ranging from rock-star riffing to AM-gold smoothness. For every electric guitar solo, there’s a piano ballad to counter. There is a little genre-shifting in the songs’ accents; the horns on “No One Else but You” sound as if they might segue into a chorus of... 

FAIRPORT CONVENTION By Popular Request [Matty Grooves]  Fairport Convention walks a musical tightrope between pleasing recent converts and serving the diehard fans that still champion the days when its earlier lineups pioneered British folk-rock. Consider By Popular Request something akin to a perfect balancing act, a 45th anniversary celebration that reconsiders classic songs without adulterating them. It’d be easy to credit the fresh energy... 

LUKE ROBERTS The Iron Gates at Throop and Newport [Thrill Jockey] After writing most of his first album (last year’s Big Bells and Dime Songs) on borrowed guitars, Luke Roberts finally got an instrument of his own—a Collings 0002H, to be precise. The sudden luxury allowed him more time to work on songs for this follow-up. Extra time aside, Roberts’ latest retains the arid feel of his debut, and the songs sound well-worn and timeless. His voice... 

HANK WILLIAMS III Long Gone Daddy [Curb] The latest from  Hank III comes with a mess of backstory. First, the family stuff: This skinny country warbler is the grandson of genre godhead Hank Williams and son of fellow hornets’-nest swatter Hank Jr. Then there’s the label drama. Hank III has publicly warred with Curb Records and did not participate in assembling this collection, which comprises four previously released tunes and six outtakes.... 

‘While direct-to-PA setups can sound tinny due to the full-range nature of monitors, the QuarterHorse shines in its ability to harness the actual sound of a guitar cabinet.’ TRAYNOR QUARTERHORSE MICROAMP Big sounds, small footprint While numerous manufacturers have focused efforts on direct-to-PA tone boxes, Traynor decided to think inside the box—the speaker box, that is. Selectable twin channels offer a host of groovy tones, with independent... 

‘DW has plowed its considerable innovation-driven efforts into the reengineering of its flagship pedal with a series of major improvements that are nothing short of flam-tastic.’ DW 5000AD4 BASS DRUM PEDAL Kicking pedals to the next level The original DW 5000 kick drum pedal is one of the most highly revered and time-tested pieces of drum kit hardware on the planet. Now DW has plowed its considerable innovation-driven efforts into the re-engineering... 

‘JAM delivers Apogee’s renowned A/D conversion in a package that’s compatible with the latest iOS and Mac offerings—and will fit in your shirt pocket.’ APOGEE ELECTRONICS JAM Mac interface for guitarists on the go  JAM delivers Apogee’s renowned A/D conversion in a package that’s compatible with the latest iOS and Mac offerings—and will fit in your shirt pocket. After about 30 seconds of setup we were kicking out the jams in GarageBand... 

‘Shure’s flagship SE535 earphones deliver pristine clarity in the bass, middle and treble registers without unnatural bass or treble hype.’ SHURE SE535 Romancing the tone Anyone mixing and mastering music these days knows that an ever-increasing audience is listening to the fruits of their labors on teensy earbuds. Thanks to the trio of high-definition MicroDrivers, Shure’s flagship SE535 earphones deliver pristine clarity in the bass, middle... 

‘The newly reformulated NANOWEB for Bass delivers tone and feel even closer to uncoated strings than Elixir’s original offering.’ ELIXIR STAINLESS STEEL BASS STRINGS Steeling your heart away Elixir invented coated strings to combat the tone-killing grime that accumulates between string windings. The newly reformulated NANOWEB for Bass delivers tone and feel even closer to uncoated strings than Elixir’s original offering. (For reference’s... 

‘If you’ve been itching to connect your MIDI or USB controllers to your iOS devices, say hello to iConnectMIDI.’ iCONNECTMIDI MIDI interface for iOS  If you’ve been itching to connect your MIDI or USB controllers to your iOS devices, say hello to iConnectMIDI. This sturdy little box runs off a zone independent power supply and comes with all the wall adapters you’ll need to fire it up anywhere your music takes you. After connecting a couple... 

‘Sony’s ACID Pro 7 features everything you’ll need to turn your PC into a production workhorse for music and post.’ SONY ACID PRO 7 PC recording production made simple Sony’s ACID Pro 7 features everything you’ll need to turn your PC into a production workhorse for music and post. If the included 3,000 loops and 1,000 MIDI files can’t jump-start your creative process, nothing will. With the capacity to import a truly massive range of... 

‘This handy pack helps preserve and protect the only instrument that can never be replaced—your voice.’ THAYERS VOCAL POWER PACK Powerful voice protection Founded by Henry Thayer, M.D., Thayers has been in the business of producing all-natural herbal remedies since 1847. Thayers Vocal Power Pack was developed to help defend vocalists against two of their most dreaded natural enemies—fatigue and dryness. Thayers Slippery Elm Lozenges provide... 

‘The rock-solid Sennheiser MK 4 is precision German engineering at its finest.’ SENNHEISER MK 4 Superior, affordable condenser mic For more than 60 years Sennheiser has produced the highest quality products in sound recording—its mics can be found in the finest recording studios around the globe. The MK 4 packs all that experience into a package that you don’t need a record-label advance to afford. This large-diaphragm, phantom-powered condenser... 

‘If retro is your thing, Fargen can help you dial it in.’ FARGEN RETRO CLASSIC Classic retro, cranked Master amp builder Ben Fargen has earned his stripes crafting signature amps for the likes of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. Decades of pulling apart amps and putting them back together better have taught Fargen a thing or two—and that experience is on full display here. This 25-watt power amp section sports a pair of KT66s, insuring plenty of... 

NAMM 2012 – Set 5 Photos By Jeff Fasano Seymour Duncan Seymour Duncan NAMM 2012 NAMM 2012 attendee Lost Anarchy Magazine NAMM 2012 Dusty Strings Co NAMM 2012 CLARSAX POPA S.L. CLARSAX POPA S.L.          Read More →

NAMM 2012 – Set 4 Photos By Jeff Fasano Martin Guitar Martin Guitar Martin Guitar SKB Cases SKB Cases Seymour Duncan NAMM 2012 Ernie Ball 50th Anniversary NAMM 2012 NAMM 2012  Read More →

NAMM 2012 – Set 3 Photos By Jeff Fasano Shari with AKG Acoustics Martin Guitar Celestion TAMA NAMM 2012 D'Addario/Planet Waves' Rob Cunningham Shari with AKG Acoustics Shari with AKG Acoustics   Seymour Duncan   NAMM 2012  Read More →

NAMM 2012 – Set 2 Photos By Jeff Fasano SKB CASES Fishman Terry Bardoul with Stagetrix Products Travis Thieman with String Swing Inc Rapco Horizon Rapco Horizon Dunlop Kenny Wayne of Fender Musical Instruments and Cleartone Strings Jim Dunlop Orange Amps        Read More →

NAMM 2012 – Set 1 Photos By Jeff Fasano Collings Guitar Rainsong Graphite Guitars Rainsong Graphite Guitars Misa Digital Technology Ltd Voyage Air Guitar Voyage Air Guitar John Gresko with Direct Sound Headphones Chickenhead Pearl Drums Pearl Drums      Read More →

NEW MARTIN AMBASSADOR: ED SHEERAN Please meet our newest MARTIN AMBASSADOR, Ed Sheeran! Over 1.9 MILLION Twitter followers! 1.4 MILLION Facebook fans! Currently on tour with Snow Patrol here in the U.S.! Ed’s new album “The A Team” on Atlantic Records, will be in stores June 12th! Get to know Ed who is never far from his beloved LX1E! www.edsheeran.com    Read More →

NEW MARTIN STRINGS AMBASSADOR: JACQUES STOTZEM  Read More →

“THEY KNEW HOW TO HAVE FUN TOGETHER,” SAYS photographer Norman Seeff, remembering his high-energy 1982 session for the Pointer Sisters’ So Excited! album (the final cover shot featured Anita, June and Ruth, from left). “I had them dance and perform four or five songs. They were lively and vibrant and a joy to work with.” Seeff recalls that youngest sister June needed some encouragement from her siblings. “She was hypersensitive,” he... 

Get Your Own Mic – Part Two I Audio-Technica    Read More →

Martin Guitar: THE HISTORY OF TONE | TOPS & BRACING Diane Ponzio – Tops and Bracing  Read More →

ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO – April 19-21, 2012  Read More →

The Crystal Method with their Casio XW-G1 Groove Synthesizer on Jimmy Kimmel Live!  Read More →

Casio event: March 27 featuring The Crystal Method at Guitar Center West Los Angeles Casio event: March 28 featuring DJ Enferno at Guitar Center Brooklyn Join The Crystal Method at Guitar Center Pico & Westwood or Join Enferno at Guitar Center Brooklyn for an evening of discussion, discovery and demonstration featuring the new Casio XW-G1 performance synth. Plus, get a free copy of NI Komplete Elements and Ableton Live Intro software when you... 

NEW MARTIN AMBASSADORS: WE ARE AUGUSTINES Get to know our latest addition to the Martin Ambassador roster! Currently on tour with Band of Skulls, We Are Augustines are taking the music scene by storm! http://mobile.weareaugustines.com/shows.php  Read More →

M Music & Musicians presents Krian Music Group/BFM Digital Official SXSW Music Showcase Thursday, March 15, at the Iron Bear in Austin Featuring VHS or Beta, The Ettes, Capsula, Hands, The Strange Familiar and Suckers Dance-rock favorites VHS Or Beta, Nashville retro-rockers The Ettes, L.A. indie band Hands, Brooklyn quirk-poppers Suckers, Argentinean garage punks Capsula, and Ohio’s The Strange Familiar will perform at Austin’s Iron Bear... 

  PHOTOGRAPHER NORMAN SEEFF WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS SESSION WITH the late Whitney Houston in 1990, at the height of her career. “I viewed her as a towering master of emotional expression, someone whose voice was transcendent,” he says. “I was thrilled about the opportunity.” Seeff rented a large studio for the shoot, replete with clothing and makeup specialists. “We had a substantial team, and she brought her own people,” he says.... 

  PHOTOGRAPHER NORMAN SEEFF’S 1975 LOS ANGELES shoot with husband-and-wife R&B duo Ike and Tina Turner was among the most memorable of his storied career. “The footage was riveting,” he says. “They performed an amazing version of ‘Nutbush City Limits’ right there in my studio. There was incredible energy and vitality between them.” Seeff recalls that the couple’s contrasting personalities made their interactions all the more... 

John Mellencamp was relatively unknown when photographer Norman Seeff shot this 1979 session. “He was very young, kind of baby-faced,” recalls Seeff. “But I was blown away by his vitality.” Seeff was also impressed by Mellencamp’s authenticity, a trait reflected in his casual attire. “It was as if he was saying, ‘This is who I am. I come with nothing but a denim shirt and a cigarette,’” Seeff says. “There was nothing pre-conceptual... 

    “WORKING WITH A ROCK GROUP IS ALWAYS A challenge,” says photographer Norman Seeff, remembering his 1979 shoot for the cover of Van Halen’s third album, Women and Children First. “There are times when a group comes in for a session and I perceive there is tension among the members.” One sure way to defuse that tension, he says, was to ask the musicians to bring their instruments—and sure enough, Eddie Van Halen was soon... 

  PHOTOGRAPHER NORMAN SEEFF ALREADY KNEW HE was dealing with a unique artist when Frank Zappa arrived at his L.A. studio for this 1976 session. “Frank was very different from other people I photographed,” recalls Seeff. “Many artists are imaginative, but they aren’t conceptual. Frank was both.” Seeff remembers that Zappa seemed at first to be improvising, but soon made clear he had a direction in mind. “Without my telling him anything,... 

Seth Avett Visits Martin Guitar  Read More →