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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

DragonForce Singer Audition

Due to the departure of lead singer ZP Theart, DragonForce started a worldwide search for a new vocalist. Guitarist Herman Li said, “We are looking for a powerful, melodic singer to write a new chapter of DragonForce with us." 

DragonForce were formed in 1999 by guitarists Sam Totman and Herman Li. The two later found singer ZP Theart through an advert, drummer Matej Setinc, bassist Steve Scott and keyboardist Steve Williams. Drummer Matej Setinc left the band in December 1999 to continue his studies in Slovenia, he was replaced by Didier Almouzni. The band parted ways with Steve Scott in November 2000 and Steve Williams in early 2000. Steve later rejoined and left once again in December 2000, days head of the band's tour with Halford and Stratovarius.
Bassist Diccon Harper joined the band in November 2000 with keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanor joining in February 2001 to complete the lineup for recording their first album. Diccon Harper left the band in 2002 but played on DragonForce's debut album Valley of the Damned as a session player.

Their debut, Valley of the Damned, was recorded in the beginning of 2000 but was not released for three years, giving the band members ample time to fine-tune its sound. Sonic Firestorm, released in 2004, showed the group’s considerable growth, but it was DragonForce’s third disc Inhuman Rampage (2006), that earned them a following in North America.
The band toured with Disturbed and Slipknot throughout the summer of 2008 on the Rockstar Energy Metal Mayhem Festival. The band returned in the Fall with the release of their 4th studio album, Ultra Beatdown. 

This London-based band influenced by power, thrash, death and progressive metal, not to mention classical and pop. Not only are they determined to combine all their influences into each of their songs but they also strive to be more intense than each of their favorite bands. DragonForce take their influences to a new extreme called "Nintendo Metal." “When we were in school, we used to play tons of video games, and a lot of them have really great music,” Li says. “Since it was always in our heads, we figured why not add that to our songs.”

Herman Li has stated that DragonForce will stop touring in December, spend time at home for Christmas, and then will begin writing and recording a new studio album scheduled to be released in 2011. On February 22, 2010, the band re-released their first two albums, Valley of the Damned and Sonic Firestorm. Valley of the Damned included newly remixed and remastered tracks while both albums included bonus tracks, updated packaging and DVDs featuring live footage, commentary, and more. Both albums were also released in a box set which featured a t-shirt, a card of guitar picks, and an inflatable guitar.
On March 8th, 2010, it was announced via Roadrunner that DragonForce had parted ways with vocalist ZP Theart and would now be seeking a new frontman.

The audition for the vacant position can be seen at this web address dragonforce.com/audition.



The Most Lucrative Contract in Music History, So Far

Sony Music signed a deal with the Michael Jackson estate worth $250 million for seven-year, 10 albums made of Michael Jackson's unreleased songs. That will be the most lucrative contract in music history. One of the first releases from the $250 million deal will be an album of unreleased material culled from Jackson’s personal musical vaults, which reportedly house as much as three albums’ worth of unheard material. That release is expected out by the end of 2010, most likely in November to capitalize on the annual pre-holidays sales.

Since Michael's death on June 25, Sony has sold an estimated 31 million of his albums globally. By the first anniversary of his death, his estate expects to have earned $250 million from sales of music, merchandise and tickets to the concert film "This Is It."


The advances being paid by Sony are to be offset by sales of albums as well as revenue generated by licensing Mr. Jackson's music for uses like video games, movies and theatrical performances. The record-breaking $250 million pact is $100 million richer than the 10-year deal Jay-Z signed with Live Nation two years ago. The deal will also go a long way toward helping the Jackson estate pull itself out of the massive debt Michael accrued in the last years of his life.


Monday, February 1, 2010

2010 Grammy Award Winners

Here are the list of 2010 Grammy Award Winners:

Album of the Year: 

Song of the Year: 
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” — Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)

Best Solo Rock Performance: 
“Working on a Dream” — Bruce Springsteen

Record of the Year: 
“Use Somebody” — Kings of Leon

Best Country Album: 
Fearless — Taylor Swift

Best Rock Album: 
21st Century Breakdown — Green Day

Best Hard Rock Performance: 
“War Machine” — AC/DC

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration: 
“Run This Town” — Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West

Best Dance Recording: 
“Poker Face” — Lady Gaga

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: 
“Halo” — Beyoncé

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: 
“Use Somebody” — Kings of Leon

Best New Artist: 
Zac Brown Band

Best Electronic/Dance Album: 
The Fame — Lady Gaga

Best Alternative Music Album: 
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix — Phoenix

Best Contemporary R&B Album: 
I Am… Sasha Fierce — Beyoncé

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: 
“Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” — Beyoncé

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: 
“I Gotta Feeling” — The Black Eyed Peas

Best Rock Song: 
“Use Somebody” — Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon)

Best Pop Vocal Album: 
The E.N.D. — The Black Eyed Peas

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: 
“Pretty Wings” — Maxwell

Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: 
“Blame It” — Jamie Foxx & T-Pain

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: 
“At Last” — Beyoncé

Best Rock Instrumental Performance: 
“A Day in the Life” — Jeff Beck

Best Urban/Alternative Performance: 
“Pearls” — India.Arie & Dobet Gnahore

Best R&B Song: 
“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” — Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)

Best Rap Solo Performance: 
“D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)” — Jay-Z

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: 
“Crack a Bottle” — Eminem, Dr. Dre & 50 Cent

Best Rap Song: 
“Run This Town” — Jeff Bhasker, Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Kanye West & Ernest Wilson, songwriters (Athanasios Alatas, songwriter) (Jay-Z, Rihanna & Kanye West)

Best Rap Album:  
Relapse — Eminem

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: 
“Make It Mine” — Jason Mraz

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: 
“Lucky” — Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat

Best Female Country Vocal Performance: 
“White Horse” — Taylor Swift

Best Male Country Vocal Performance: 
“Sweet Thing” — Keith Urban

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album: 
“Dissident Aggressor” — Judas Priest

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: 
“I Run to You” — Lady Antebellum

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: 
“I Told You So” — Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis

Best Country Song: 
“White Horse” — Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

Best Americana Album: 
Electric Dirt — Levon Helm

Best Contemporary Blues Album: 
Already Free — The Derek Trucks Band

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: 
Slumdog Millionaire — Various Artists, A.R. Rahman, producer

Best Song Written For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media: 
“Jai Ho” (From Slumdog Millionaire) — Gulzar, A.R. Rahman & Tanvi Shah, songwriters (A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah, Mahalaxmi Iyer & Vijay Prakash)

Best Recording Package: 
Everything That Happens Will Happen Today — Stefan Sagmeister, art director (David Byrne & Brian Eno)

Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: 
Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963-1972) — Gary Burden, Jenice Heo & Neil Young, art directors (Neil Young)

Best Short Form Music Video: 
“Boom Boom Pow” — The Black Eyed Peas

Best Long Form Music Video: 
“The Beatles Love – All Together Now” — (Various Artists)

Best Comedy Album: 


Friday, January 29, 2010

Soundgarden reunite!


Soundgarden was and still one of my favorite band. Alongside with Nirvana and Pearl Jam, they popularized grunge in the early 1990s. I remember the first time I bought their album, Superunknown in 1995. At that time, it was hard for me to enjoy their songs. Not like Nirvana or Pearl Jam that were more easy listening, this band was very deep and have harder sound than the other two bands from Seattle. It took several times listening to their songs until I began to enjoy and became die hard fan of this band.

Anyway, Superunknown that was released on March 8 1994 became the band breakthrough album. Superunknown debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. The music video for Black Hole Sun became a hit on MTV and received the award for Best Metal/Hard Rock Video at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards and in 1995 it received the Clio Award for Alternative Music Video. Their singles Black Hole Sun and Spoonman both won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Metal Performance. The album itself was nominated Grammy for Best Rock Album in the same year.

Unfortunately, their fifth album, Down on the Upside, seemed to be their last album. After their worldwide tour, Soundgarden shocked fans around the world when they announced they would be breaking up on April 9, 1997. Internal conflict seemed to be the reason behind their breakup.

After 12 years of breakup,  now came the good news about Soundgarden reunite. Lead singer os the band, Chris Cornell revealed the news via his Twitter on Friday, January 1, 2010.

"The 12 year break is over and school is back in session," he Tweeted. "
Knights of the Soundtable ride again!"


 Hope we can hear more progress about this news shortly. Next time I am going to review about this band.



Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Joe Satriani New Live CD/DVD


For all Joe Satriani fans, get ready for the upcoming new live performance on DVD. The brand new live two-disc CD and DVD will be released on February 2, 2010, through Epic Records. Joe recorded Live in Paris: I Just Wanna Rock! on May 27, 2008, at The Grand Rex Theater in Paris, France.
Following the success of his other "live" DVD releases, Satriani Live in 2006 and Live in San Francisco in 2001, Satriani has gained new heights with Live in Paris. The extraordinary editing and artful stage lighting makes this Satriani "live" DVD a pleasure for the new viewer, as well as the long-time fan. An anticipated bonus offering on the Live in Paris DVD is the in-depth interview, unlike any other, with Satriani as well as behind-the-scenes footage. 

Live In Paris: I Just Wanna Rock DVD Track List:
1. I Just Wanna Rock12. Out of the Sunrise
2. Overdriver13. Time Machine
3. Satch Boogie14. Cool # 9
4. Ice 915. Andulasia
5. Diddle-Y-A-Doo-Dat16. Bass Solo
6. Flying In A Blue Dream17. Cryin'
7. Ghosts18. Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing
8. Revelation19. Always With Me, Always With You
9. Super Colossal20. Surfing With The Alien
10. One Big Rush21. Crowd Chant
11. Musterion22. Summer Song


Get your chance to win a signed Ibanez guitar, a Vox Satchurator pedal, a Planet Waves guitar strap, Joe Satriani discography, and more by entering Joe Satriani I Just Wanna Rock Paris Sweepstakes.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The Handle Guitar

Yesterday I was browsing the net about weird guitars and I found this cool guitar, THE HANDLE. The most revolutionary electric guitar of our times. An extremely advanced musical instrument which is a result of combining new acoustica studies, a striking formal identity and cutting edge technology. That's what they say about it.


It is an XOX Audio Tools product, designed by the award winning designer Peter Solomon. The Handle is mono-chassis, from headstock to the body of the guitar is completely manufactured out of carbon fiber (Wow! Just like the body of F1 race cars). Surprisingly, carbon fiber offers a much wider harmonic range than wood.

 The body is mostly cutaway, resulting in an extremely lightweight instrument (4.85 lbs). This also creating a resonance chamber similar to that of a semi-acoustic guitar. Its mono-chassis construction favors direct transmission of acoustic vibrations without sound dampening nor loss.  The fretboard is constructed of a pressure-formed thermostat laminate containing twenty-four full-scale frets, and the neck has a slim tapered profile measuring a 12” radius.

The handle was designed for comfort. Its concave form anatomically fits the body, its thin profile of the neck for all 24 frets, and its lightweight offer truly pleasing experience to anyone who plays it.

More information may be found at www.xoxaudiotools.com
Thursday, October 29, 2009

My Music

Hi all!
If you see box.net on the right bar, you will find there is a song I named Theatrical. I made it using software FL Studio 6 about a year ago. I made it entirely with FL Studio. No musical instruments involved, just the computer software. I've wanted to add guitar solo in it and I'm still working on it.
The song I made as a tribute to Dream Theater, one of my favorite band. I hope they can use it on their album (...just kidding...).
Anyway, there are other songs that I have not uploaded yet. I hope I can publish it in the near future. Feel free to download and listen to it. Don't forget to give comment about it. I know there are lots of weaknesses on the song, especially on mixing. I'm still learning about it.


Thank you.

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