« November 2006 | Main | January 2007 »

December 29, 2006

OK Go to Perform on New Years Eve

OK Go will be performing in Sin City on New Years Eve at a Fremont Street event.  The Chicago-originated band will broadcast live on CD USA featuring All-American Rejects, Rock Star Supernova, among others.

Accompanying the OK Go to the festivities is rock ‘n’ roll legend Sam Moore.  Front man, Damien Kulash says, "We're going to do a couple of covers with him, one of his songs and then one other, which I think will be a lot of fun.  He is among the people who wrote the history of rock 'n' roll. I feel like we are students of rock 'n' roll, not exactly progenitors," Kulash says. "It really is mind-bending."

OK Go will also be featured on an upcoming episode of the NBC series ‘Las Vegas.’ 

Via AOL Music News

iPod Accesories for a Baby?

Let the iCrib Sound System lullaby your baby to sleep.  This useful device is a speaker system -- perfect for an iPod but purports to support any MP3 player --  that can be mounted on the rails of a baby’s crib .

You can conveniently connect your MP3 player to the holder without removing the iCrib. This device also features settings that manage the sound; auto on/off sleep settings and colored lights display settings. 

A pretty useful user temporary and calming babysitter, don’t you think?

Via Slippery Brick

December 24, 2006

The Pick of Destiny

This week’s review is for an album that came out about a month ago, but since they just appeared on SNL I thought it would be appropriate.

Tenacious D’s new album, “The Pick of Destiny” is good. But, they don’t sound like the Tenacious D I remember. It seems that the album is structured as a narrative to the plot of the movie, which doesn’t give the album a true perception of what an album is supposed to be. It lacks its own character without the film.

Since the songs only run between 1:20 and 2:40 minutes long, they seem to serve as plot gaps, like songs “Break In-City (Storm the Gate!” and “Car Chase City”, even while passionately delivery memorable and melodic songs.

This album is a good soundtrack and great memento for film fans, but, very disappointing for long-standing fans.

Via Billboard

December 21, 2006

Finally An Awesome Digital Jukebox

Jukeboxes have always been an all-time and long-time favorite.  And because of the “Nostalgic Music Center” (for short, we’ll call it the NMC), there’s even more about them to love.

Don’t let the nostalgic external features fool you.  This baby comes with a 15-inch screen, 160GB hard drive; and it’s juiced with 360 watts.  Feel free to cross-fade your tunes over its five speakers for unstoppable dancing and entertainment.

The NMC comes with an USB port, and you can transfer any songs you want from your iPod with the “iPod Series Jukebox,” an update to the popular Bubbler model that comes with an iPod dock next to the screen.

There’s no word yet on the cost.  But, this life-sized device will be on exhibit at the CES 2007. 

Via engadget

December 19, 2006

Taylor Hicks Exposes Himself

 Taylor Hick’s just-released album is self-entitled, and he’s very proud of it.  "This album, for me, is a representation of who I am, and it's also as many styles as I have in me," he says. "I really was able to use the songs and show examples of each side of my musicality."

Hicks is very content with the outcome of his album and gives credit to his producer, Matt Serletic, for the outcome of his album.  "Matt Serletic really got me as a musician and as an artist," Hicks says.

Hicks and Serletic are both Alabamen, which resulted in a strong rapport.  Both share the same music fundamentals.  "I think laying down the groundwork -- bass, drums, guitar, organ, piano -- that's the essence of the song, and if you could get that, capture that energy on the live track, then you could explore the modern forms of recording," Hicks says. "So, with us and this vision that we had, it was just a great mix of musicians and the artist-producer."

Via AOL Music News

iRiver S10 Mini PMP

Here’s a miniature audio video player and recorder that you can ‘wear’ anywhere.  The iRiver S10 is slightly larger than a stamp, but with a style and features that will  peak your interest.

This 42 x 30 x 10.8 mm feather sized player lugs GB and 2 GB capacities and supports MP3, WMA, and OGG files. The 96 x 128 pixel, 65,000 color 1.15 inch OLED screen can play MPEG-4 video or run a slide show, and its Lithium polymer battery oozes eight hours of continuous playback.

The S10 is capable of recording 16 hours of audio with its high sensitivity built-in microphone, emphasizing to Japanese students that this device can be used for recording lectures and can help in the study of foreign languages. How can such a small device have so much functionality?  Why ask.  Just buy.  The S10’s JPY16,980 (1GB) costs US$145 and the JPY19,980 (2GB)  is US$170.  Clearly, the 2GB is the better bargain.

Via gizmag

December 14, 2006

The Sweet Escape

Gwen Stefani is sailing high in her music career.  After proclaiming 7 million copies of “Love.Angel.Music.Baby” in 2004 she’s living the life of a successful solo artist.  Songs that shifted her up the success ladder were “Hollaback Girl” in conjunction with the Neptunes, “U started It”, and “Hella Good” with No Doubt’s Tony Kanal on “Flourescent”. 

“Early Winter”, co-written with Keane’s Time Rice-Oxley; “4 in the morning”; her collaboration with Linday Perry on the album-closing “Wonderful Life” have merged into a collage of success for Sefani.  None of her success has stopped her from remaining a successful wife and mother.    

Via Billboard

December 12, 2006

BenQ Challenges the Apple iPod Shuffle

BenQ challenges the Apple iPod Shuffle with its MusiQ MP3 Player.  This brushed steel cigarette lighter-looking piece arrives with capacities of 512MG and 1GB. The MusiQ arrives in two models:  The Steel Wing for boys and the Magic Bean for girls.  Even though you could take it for being all steel, it is actually made of aluminum magnesium alloy. 

Both models come with a USB port for transferring files and a microSD slot for extended storage capacity.    

Via LapTopLogic

December 8, 2006

The Small Samba 1000

The Samba 1000 stays in the running with its rich features and convenient portability.  This screaming orange, full-featured and light weight unit should be well appreciated by the younger generation.

Some of the features this illuminating feather totes are support for MP3, WMA, ASF, and  WAV files; a small screen with blue backlighting; 10-hours of playback time; good sound quality and features like a built-in FM tuner, voice recorder, and encrypting software. It also allows line-in recording in addition to radio recording from the integrated FM radio tuner. Music and data files can just be loaded into the unit via USB connection; and it conveniently uses AAA batteries.

We do suggest that you upgrade your head phones if you enjoy grooving to R&B and hip-hop music.  Other than that, we suggest you give it a whirl.

Via Hardware Zone

December 7, 2006

Simpson Breaks Down On Stage

Singer-actress Jessica Simpson ran off the stage in tears Sunday night after denting the song “Nine to Five” as part of the Dolly Parton tribute, during the 29th annual Kennedy Center Honors.

The 'Dukes of Hazzard' actress abruptly ended the song mumbling, "so nervous" and swiftly left the sage, while the audience, and President Bush, sat in silence.

Simpson, seemingly still tearful, returned to the stage with the other singers to continue the tribute.  There is no indication that CBS will edit this portion of the special scheduled to run December 26th at 9:00 p.m. 

Via AOL Music News

December 4, 2006

Mickey Mouse MP3 Player

Now that every man, woman, child and monkey owning some kind of MP3 player, it’s only fair that Mickey “gets jiggy wit it.”  Springing to life with it’s own Disney music samples, the Mickey Mouse MP3 player can play both MP3 and WMA audio formats.  It comes with 128MB of built-in memory, an SD/MMC slot allowing up to 1GB expandable memory.   

This Disney device comes with ear-bud headphones, USB port with 4 1/5” H x 1 ½ W x 3/5” D, an audio jack, and a built-in rechargeable battery lasting up to 10 hours.  Kids and the young-at-heart will enjoy this shiny, nostalgic MP3 player.  $49.99 is a steal.

Via Slash Gear

Carrie Underwood Can Take A Joke

After Faith Hill was caught having a hissy fit at the CMA Awards,  she must have foreseen the backlash looming and quickly found Carrie Underwood backstage to explicate her reaction.

  The next day, Hill stated, "The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me. For this to become a focus of attention given the talent gathered is utterly ridiculous. Carrie is a talented and deserving Female Vocalist of the Year."  

Angered at the attacks against Hill, Underwood states, "Faith is such a sweet person that she shouldn't get dumped on for that."  She adds, "If I were sitting at home, I totally would have got the joke," she says. "She told me that night and wanted to set it straight right then and there and let me know that she was just kidding and it was just a joke gone bad . . . and she was really sorry for doing anything that might have seemed inappropriate."  

Via AOL Music News

December 1, 2006

PEZ MP3 Player

A PEZ MP3 Player?  That what they tell us.  Toting the features of a basic MP3 player, the PEZ comes with 512MB storage, holds about 120 songs, is compatible with USB 2.0, Windows and Mac’s and plays MP3, and WMA files. It can also be used as a USB drive for files. PEZ Pal Boy is just one of the many versions of the PEZ that will be arriving on the scene soon. 

Here’s a fun fact.  PEZ means peppermint in German, which was the first flavor of PEZ candies.  The MP3 was also invented by a team of German engineers.  PEZ/MP3… PEZ/MP3… You get it?  I thought you would!

Via SlipperyBrick