Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap  [Indomina] DVD REVIEW  In rap, you are whatever you say you are. Until someone contradicts you with faster, flashier rhymes, your words carry a kind of truth. It’s music of self-definition, and as such, it’s the perfect genre to tell its own story—and spin its own mythologies. With  The Art of Rap, director Ice-T chats up old- and new-school MCs from the Bronx—the birthplace of hip-hop—to Compton,... 

VAN MORRISON Born to Sing: No Plan B [Blue Note] Like any free spirit, Van Morrison follows his muse wherever it takes him. He may tilt toward R&B, country or traditional Irish music, but he never sounds like anyone else. That’s led to a certain predictability—and a certain coziness. Born to Sing is as familiar as Van Morrison albums come. It’s his first set of all-original material since 2008, but these tunes could have turned up at any... 

JASON ALDEAN Night Train [Broken Bow] By combining country and arena rock like a macho-hillbilly alchemist, Jason Aldean has become Music Row’s most popular male vocalist. Helmed by his longtime producer Michael Knox, Night Train sticks close to Aldean’s hicks-from-the-sticks formula. Rattling off the usual menu of Southern-fried clichés, he sings with attitude over screaming guitar riffs. The lead single, “Take a Little Ride,” and the title... 

JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD Hypnotic Nights [Warner Bros.] After 10 years of thrashing around with garage-rock aesthetics, real-life band of brothers JEFF the Brotherhood have begun to explore new sonic territory. Hypnotic Nights, their seventh album and major-label debut, shows a great sense of adventure. Jake and Jamin Orrall give each song a unique touch, using rolling pianos, synthesizers—some psychedelic, others futuristic—and the odd guitar twang... 

THE ROLLING STONES  Some Girls: Live in Texas ’78    [Eagle Rock] As the Stones mark their 50th anniversary with talk of a new album and tour, it’s useful to look back to ’78, when Mick, Keef and the gang were in their mid-30s, and the band was nearly 20 years old. These days, their longevity is a source of wonder, and for all the gruff they get for shaking their sexagenarian rumps like a bunch of frisky grandpas, few really want them to... 

THE ROBERT CRAY BAND Nothin but Love [Mascot]  For decades, singer and guitarist Robert Cray has been in an odd position. He’s credited with bringing the blues back into the mainstream yet criticized for making the genre shiny and acceptable. His fans outnumber his detractors, though, and Nothin but Love reveals why. Produced by Kevin Shirley, the album is audacious and potent yet tidy and accessible. Cray and his band prefer their blues soundly... 

ANITA BAKER Only Forever [Blue Note] Soul-jazz chanteuse Anita Baker is a timeless performer who weaves challenging emotions into the smoothest of melodies. Only Forever, her first album since 2004’s My Everything, is filled with romantic paeans, and on songs like “Lately” and “Play Me Your Music,” Baker expresses the many facets of love with a religious fervor. “Free,” a gorgeous ballad that explores her bout with empty-nest syndrome,... 

RY COODER Election Special [Nonesuch] Ry Cooder has played so many roles—go-to guitarist, in-demand soundtrack composer, booster of World Music and Americana—that one almost forgets his sizable and generally exceptional body of solo albums. In recent years, Cooder has grown comfortable as a songwriter, penning tunes increasingly topical in nature. Election Special comprises broadsides in the tradition of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs.... 

BAND OF HORSES Mirage Rock [Columbia] Band of Horses wasted no time following up 2010’s Grammy-nominated Infinite Arms, and on Mirage Rock, the intention to move forward is clear. The band focuses on ramshackle alt-country, seldom playing straight rock songs and occasionally forgoing the “alternative” altogether. After recording their first three albums with Phil Ek, the group recruited producer Glyn Johns. The slight country twang frontman... 

AES San Francisco – HEAR GEAR. FREE BEER. October 27, 28, 29 – from 10 AM to 6 PM Only 0.7 miles from Moscone to Faultline Studios 1139 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA  94103 Free shuttle van departs on the half hour in front of Moscone, or call for pickup 845-481-0067. •Audition any Blue Microphone and discover your ultimate, unique musical transducer. •Experience how Manley’s investment grade audio jewelery has been leveraged on the... 

Graham Robby Band at the Balboa Beach Music Fest A benefit for The Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation Saturday October 13 2012, on the beach at Peninsula Park in Newport Beach Photography by Jeff Fasano Graham Robby Band at the Balboa Beach Music Fest Graham Robby Band at the Balboa Beach Music Fest Graham Robby Band Graham Robby Band at the Balboa Beach Music Fest Graham Robby Band at the Balboa Beach Music Fest        Read More →

Enjuillet at the Balboa Beach Music Fest A benefit for The Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation Saturday October 13 2012, on the beach at Peninsula Park in Newport Beach Photography by Jeff Fasano Enjuillet at the Balboa Beach Music Fest Enjuillet at the Balboa Beach Music Fest  Read More →

 A Fine Frenzy at the Balboa Beach Music Fest A benefit for The Balboa Performing Arts Theater Foundation Saturday October 13 2012, on the beach at Peninsula Park in Newport Beach Photography by Jeff Fasano A Fine Frenzy at the Balboa Beach Music Fest A Fine Frenzy at the Balboa Beach Music Fest A Fine Frenzy at the Balboa Beach Music Fest A Fine Frenzy at the Balboa Beach Music Fest A Fine Frenzy   A Fine Frenzy A Fine Frenzy  Read More →

PIGTRONIX KEYMASTER: MASTER YOUR TONE Call it the missing link between your pedalboard and rack gear. The Pigtronix Keymaster—part stompbox, part signal-routing super-tool—is as good a fit on your pedalboard as it is in your studio rack or live sound rig. Its extremely flexible circuitry and I/O lets you connect anything from hi-Z instrument-level gear to high-quality studio equipment. That means you can run your guitar directly through your favorite... 

NEKTAR PANORAMA P4: KEYS TO CONTROL REASON Whether you’re a serious hobbyist or a professional songwriter, if you want to get the most out of Propellerhead Reason 6 then the Nektar Panorama P4 controller keyboard is just the ticket. Every function and parameter in Reason 6 is fully controllable from the Panorama P4’s remarkably straightforward interface, offering hands-on experience that parallels Reason’s intuitive, analog-style layout. And... 

ZOOM Q2HD: LIGHTS, CAMERA, AUDIO! In the YouTube era, having the capability to produce high-quality promotional videos is essential. Enter the Zoom Q2HD —the new handy video recorder that not only makes personal video production accessible, it also allows musicians to create HD video with jaw-dropping audio. The Q2HD’s superior condenser mics are arranged in a studio-style Mid-Side configuration, offering controllable, natural-sounding stereo.... 

DYNAUDIO DBM50: BIG SOUND ON YOUR DESKTOP There are relatively few studio monitors designed for desktop use, and fewer still that are affordable. Enter the Dynaudio DBM50, which offers superior sound and a compact footprint. The DBM50 adds a slight upward tilt to the brand’s already popular near-field studio monitor design, making the pair ideal for desktop use. They provide a huge sweet spot for monitoring, and when combined with a decoupler such... 

TC–HELICON MIC MECHANIC: VOCALS DONE RIGHT Plenty of live vocal tools have hit the market recently, and many in the stompbox format. What makes the TC-Helicon Mic Mechanic unique is its back-to-basics approach. Rather than sporting dozens of superfluous effects—that are more fun than practical—the Mic Mechanic provides essential vocal processing including reverb, delay and pitch correction. It also features a unique Adaptive Tone control,... 

TASCAM IU2: FLEXIBLE I/O ON THE GO As portable as it is versatile, the Tascam iU2 lets you record two channels of clear, professional-quality audio anywhere your music takes you. One of the first of its kind, the compact iU2 features hybrid connectivity that includes both a mini USB jack and an integrated 30-pin dock cable, allowing use with both computer and iOS device. A pair of inputs lets you hook up guitars, line-level sources and microphones.... 

LINE 6 STAGESCAPE M20D: MIX MASTER Forget everything you know about conventional mixing and check out the graphic user interface provided by the Line 6 StageScape M20d. This futuristic mixing console offers EQs, effects, feedback suppression and more—all managed by a big, colorful touch screen and a handful of strategically placed controls. Instead of traditional channels and routing controls, the StageScape M20d provides graphical representations... 

UNIVERSAL AUDIO APOLLO: SUPERCHARGE YOUR DAW  You don’t need a pro-studio budget to track with pro-studio DSP-powered plug-ins anymore. The Universal Audio Apollo series interfaces combine their legendary analog sound with their award-winning UAD-2 plug-in technology. Alone, the Apollo’s sound quality and extensive I/O more than hold their own. Sporting up to four SHARC DSP chips onboard, musicians can also track, mix and master in virtually... 

LAUTEN AUDIO ATLANTIS FC-387: THREE MICS IN ONE Few microphones on the market today deliver the kind of value you get from a Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387. That’s because Lauten Audio built the Atlantis by marrying a great-sounding capsule with three discrete FET-based circuit paths, each of which offers up a completely distinct character. Set to Neutral, the Atlantis faithfully captures any instrument. The Gentle setting is great for taming shrill... 

DANGEROUS MUSIC SOURCE: ALL-IN-ONE PORTABLE MONITORING Easily one of the most understated inventions to hit the recording world this year, the Dangerous Music Source monitoring station is a major upgrade to virtually any modest studio. Loaded with two discrete mastering-grade stereo signal paths, the Source allows one to send the main mix to monitors while delivering a separate artist mix to headphones. All switching is relay driven, so there’s... 

COLIN HAY The former Men at Work frontman learns to enjoy life after platinum   In the early ’80s, Men at Work exploded on the scene with such smash hits as “Who Can It Be Now?” and “Down Under.” Quirky new-wave panache and goofy MTV videos propelled the group to global fame and millions in album sales. Yet just three years and as many albums later, the wild ride was over. And the man in the middle of it all, Colin Hay—whose spunky... 

New Martin Ambassadors - Band of Skulls  Read More →

Amy Heidemann and Nick Noonan, of Karmin, perform at Casio’s launch party for the new Privia digital piano line, Tuesday Sept 11, 2012, at Edison Ballroom in New York. (Photo by Diane Bondareff /Invision for Casio)   CASIO LAUNCHES NEW INNOVATIVE DIGITAL PIANOS Casio launched four new models in its Privia digital piano line at an exclusive press gathering at New York’s Edison Ballroom—while three of its sponsored artists—Karmin, Tom Brislin... 

VIDEO DEMO - LIMITED EDITION XW-P1 PERFORMANCE SYNTHESIZER CASIO INTRODUCES LIMITED EDITION XW-P1 PERFORMANCE SYNTHESIZER 200 XW-P1GD UNITS AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE IN AN EXCLUSIVE GOLD FINISH Casio America, Inc. re-entered the professional synthesizer market this year with the launch of two products ideal for performing and recording artists – the XW-P1 Performance Synthesizer and the XW-G1 Groove Synthesizer. Based on the successful introduction of... 

FIERY FOCUS Photographer Rob Shanahan immortalizes rock ’n’ roll passion “I’ve always equated music and photography, and blended the two,” says veteran rock shutterbug Rob Shanahan, who took up drums at 11 and photography at 12. Both loves are on display in a new book of Shanahan’s photography, Volume 1, featuring a foreword by Ringo Starr—an indication of the lensman’s particular affinity for percussionists (like Stone Sour’s... 

MADONNA CAN’T STOP SHOCKING At 54, Madonna’s still got it: Breast baring in Turkey, mooning in Italy, and supporting gay rights and Pussy Riot in Russia Whatever you think of her—that is, if you think of her at all—there can be no denying that Madonna’s current MDNA tour show is spectacular. Though short of Stones-Age, the 54-year-old icon is still long past her performing prime, yet remains Jagger-like in her ability to work a... 

APRIL KRY HOMETOWN: Hartford, Conn. INFLUENCES: Taylor Swift, Colbie Caillat, Billie Holiday ALBUM: Music Speaks EP, out now WEBSITE: aprilkry.com  Pop-rock singer-songwriter April Kry embarked upon her music career in a traditional setting—growing up singing in the church where her father served as a worship leader. Kry moved around a lot as a child in central Connecticut, and music eased her loneliness. “I found that music was my escape from... 

FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE HOMETOWN: Monroe, Ga. (Tyler Hubbard); Ormond Beach, Fla. (Brian Kelley) INFLUENCES: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lil Wayne, Garth Brooks ALBUM: It’z Just What We Do EP, out now WEBSITE: floridageorgialine.com Country rock duo Florida Georgia Line—Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley—has made an auspicious start for a new act. The duo, who began performing and writing songs together while attending Nashville’s Belmont University, has... 

NVS HOMETOWN: Toronto, Canada INFLUENCES: Prince, Kanye West, Aaliyah ALBUM: Who Is NvS EP, out now WEBSITE: whoisnvs.com R&B artist NvS (pronounced “envious”) claims her love of music began before she was born. Her father was a reggae musician and sang to her when her mother was pregnant. “He would take his guitar and play his songs to me,” she says. At age 18, NvS enrolled at Toronto’s Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts where she... 

BRANFORD MARSALIS  Some call it magic but for this sax genius it’s just “playin’ tunes”  By Jeff Tamarkin  Branford Marsalis has never been one to hold back. The 52-year-old tenor and soprano saxophonist freely says and plays what he wants. So the title of his quartet’s new release Four MFs Playin’ Tunes shouldn’t shock anyone—but it does. “A writer came to the session and asked my least favorite question: ‘What’s the concept... 

JOSS STONE The neo-soul sensation wraps her vocals around a new set of classics Joss Stone was a nervous 16-year-old kid in 2003 when The Soul Sessions made her a star, thanks to its old-school grooves and the slinky hit “Fell in Love With a Boy,” a vivid reworking of a White Stripes song. Nearly a decade later, the British singer decided she’d like another crack at it. She re-teamed with Soul Sessions producer Steve Greenberg for her latest... 

Bob Crawford, Scott Avett, Seth Avett THE AVETT BROTHERS Creative challenges keep these Americana darlings moving forward   One would think a band with as many influences as the Avett Brothers would have an extensive list of dream collaborations or future goals. But the North Carolina-based trio prefers to live in the moment, an attitude that’s helped them deal with the fame that comes after scoring multiple Americana Music Awards and performing... 

REGINA SPEKTOR This quirky Russian-American original lets her art speak for itself     Regina Spektor’s current world tour included two stops in Russia—the homeland she hasn’t visited since her family moved to the Bronx 23 years ago. “It feels incredibly big and emotional and overwhelming,” she said prior to the trip. “I’m also excited to see who will come to my show. Are there fans in Russia?” She needn’t have wondered. After... 

Alex Rosamilia, Alex Levine, Brian Fallon, Benny Horowitz THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM For their latest project, the folk-punk rockers go bigger and bolder   Accolades piled up fast after Gaslight Anthem’s 2010 album, American Slang, but the New Jersey band shut out as much of the hype as possible to focus on writing music for their latest, Handwritten. “Really, you just want to make great songs,” says drummer Benny Horowitz. “That’s where it... 

PiL: Bruce Smith, Scott Firth, John Lydon, Lu Edmonds JOHN LYDON   The former Johnny Rotten on PiL, the Pistols and the gift of life    “I can’t be linked to one thing forever and a day,” declares John Lydon. “There’s a big musical universe out there for me to float around in. I love pop music and I love experimental music.” While much of the world never stopped thinking of Lydon as “Johnny Rotten,” the snarling lead singer of... 

CAT POWER After years of recording covers, Sun brings her original tunes to light      Long before Cat Power recorded Sun—her first album of original material in six years—she knew there would be an album with that title. “Before I did The Covers Record, I was on tour with these songs that I wrote and some cover songs, playing this Passion of Joan of Arc movie by Carl Dreyer,” says Chan Marshall, the woman behind Cat Power, of her 2000... 

Alex Greenwald, Michael Runion, Z Berg, James Valentine, Jason Boesel JJAMZ Five successful artists go from musical friendship to supergroup  It’s a steamy summer afternoon, and Elizabeth “Z” Berg is in a van with the rest of the newly formed band JJAMZ, ready to embark on a 24-hour trip from Austin, Texas, to Billings, Mont. “Well, I’ll get a book read. That’s a positive,” Berg chuckles. “Somehow I am built for tours, which is good... 

Jeremy Faccone, Frank Zummo , Dhani Harrison, Jonathan Sadoff, Nick Fyffe THENEWNO2 A Beatle’s son forges his own path with a little help from his friends    Dhani Harrison is humble as he discusses the mysterious art of musical inspiration. The son of late Beatle George Harrison plays down his natural knack for finding lively hooks and heartfelt lyrics. “You never know what spark is going to be created,” he says. “Collaborations can change... 

CHRISTIAN SCOTT Connecting past and present in one genre-stretching collection Christian aTunde Adjuah isn’t just the title of Christian Scott’s new double album—it represents a new phase in the jazz trumpeter’s life. “I felt my experience is indicative of someone who probably shouldn’t be called Scott all the time,” says the New Orleans native, explaining why he now goes by Christian aTunde Adjuah Scott, completing a tie to his African... 

MATT SERLETIC Creating big hits takes talent, toil and the ability to thrive under pressure            By Michael Gallant When Grammy-winning producer Matt Serletic steps into the studio to record with the likes of Rob Thomas, Carlos Santana, Aerosmith or Joe Cocker, he brings lots more than a knack for piecing together catchy tunes. Thanks to exceptional talents as a musician, songwriter, arranger and music business executive, Serletic has... 

STEVE VAI The legendary shredder crosses boundaries to deliver the unexpected   By Russell Hall  Steve Vai is mulling over his process to get songs ready for the stage. “I don’t write my songs and then record them,” he muses. “I build them as I record, which means I have to learn them after they’re finished. My first reaction when I’m getting ready for rehearsals is anxiety and fear. It’s like, ‘Do I really have to learn all this... 

How classic-rock juggernaut Journey turned a whole new generation into believers By Chris Neal Jonathan Cain is in the midst of a minor crisis. He was just shopping with his son in the Irish capital of Dublin when his wife called to let him know that their laptop computer has gone kaput, the victim of a virus that hacked all their credit cards—except for one, which happens to be a brand that isn’t welcomed by merchants here in Dublin. So while... 

LIVE MICS Selecting the right microphone for your stage show is crucial to a sound performance “The microphone is the core of everything,” says veteran front-of-house engineer Andy Meyer. “If you don’t have your source properly miked, what good is a $2 million PA or a state-of-the-art mixing console? If the mics are terrible, a great performance doesn’t mean a thing.” It’s a challenge nearly all musicians face, from coffeehouse singer-songwriters... 

IsoAcoustics AMAZING AB Speaker Stand IsoAcoustics introduces the NEW ISO-L8R200 Stands for Studio Monitors and Subwoofers. Adjustable height and tilt, with the same superior isolation and sound clarity available with the ISO-L8R155 IsoAcoustics ISO-L8R155 and NEW ISO-L8R200 Stands for Studio Monitors   IsoAcoustics Stands for Studio Monitors  Read More →

NO DOUBT Push and Shove  [Interscope] When Gwen Stefani sings, “Never, ever, ever gonna be the same,” the opening line on “Sparkle,” a standout track from No Doubt’s first new album in 10 years, she’s not kidding. With its brassy accents and fat-bottom, pop-reggae bounce, the tune recalls the 2002 hit “Underneath It All,” itself a reminder of No Doubt’s roots as the little SoCal ska band that could. But “Sparkle” is the exception... 

AIMEE MANN Charmer [SuperEgo] “Charmer” is less a term of endearment for Aimee Mann than it is a source of curiosity: What are they after, these charming people? What’s their angle? Mann, who made her name as a member of the Boston New Wave band ’Til Tuesday, explores the concept on her eighth studio album, a collection of smart songs drawn from what she calls the “super pop” of the 1970s and ’80s. The sound suits Mann, who’s always... 

OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW Carry Me Back [ATO] In the four years since Old Crow Medicine Show’s last studio album, string music has gone from acquired-taste appetizer to semi-standard entrée. While acts like the Punch Brothers, Carolina Chocolate Drops and Crooked Still have done their part to push the string-meets-bluegrass-meets-alt-country format ahead, Old Crow’s absence left a thirst not easily quenched. Fans craving new Old Crow will find Carry...