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Top Ten Bass Songs (2023 Update)
Look. It's cool. We all know it really, you’ve secretly been thinking it all along, and you know what? You’re totally right. A band, any band, is only as good as their bassist. There, we said it. Singers are too dramatic, guitarists are attention hogs, drummers are crazy, but from anchoring the rhythm section to bringing the groove, to looking mysterious on stage, a good […]
Top 10 Best Songs About Fire (2023 Update)
The songs in this Top 10 selection are all fire-related, and also happen to include the word 'Fire' in their titles - providing a further clue to the fact. This article reveals the facts, backstories, and lyrical narratives attached to the ten songs and also explores what 'fire' symbolizes and represents in each instance. This selection also shows that the subject has been a popular […]
Top 10 Rock Albums of All Time (2023 Update)
Rock music and the album format go together like peanut butter and jelly, like pen and paper, like Hall and Oates. Whereas other genres, like jazz or classical for example, can only truly be appreciated live or are best expressed in shorter formats. The world is full of classic punk EPs and hip-hop mixtapes, but there’s just something special about a good rock album. The […]
Top 10 Best Funeral Songs (2023)
'Music has charms to soothe a savage beast' – William Congreve, 1697 Music is a wonderful thing; you know this, why else would you be here? One of the most powerful aspects, however, is that music is always there for you. Whether soundtracking your triumphs and successes or helping you find expression in a darker moment, the right music at the right time has a […]
Metallica Makes Peace With Cover Band After Sending Threatening 41 Page Letter
Here we go now with another silly Metallica legal scandal. File this one under 'Legal Lessons.' Before you get your pitchforks out and start to burn your Black Album (if St. Anger didn't get it first), I want to offer up some context into this sort of thing. When you get to Metallica's level, you aren't just a band anymore... you're a corporation, it's big […]
2000s Best Hip-Hop Songs
Since the genre’s inception in 1979 with the groundbreaking single “Rapper’s Delight”, hip hop has evolved into the dominant force in mainstream music culture. Humbly beginning as a music staple at block parties in the Bronx, hip hop has become the United States’ most popular genre, surpassing all musical categories (including rock music) in the process. Originally featuring lighthearted lyrics and rhyming during the “old […]
Gift Ideas For Music Lovers (2022)
Do you have any family members or friends who are big music enthusiasts and you struggle to buy them gifts? We have put together this list will help you figure out what gift to buy them next! Buying gifts in general can be challenging let alone for a music lover. There are so many options to choose from it can be overwhelming! We have found […]
The Little Known Origin Stories Behind 13 Famous Band Names
Have you ever wondered how a famous band got its name? Stage names have a huge influence on how we perceive an artist or a band. Some names, like the Sex Pistols, perfectly capture the essence of a band. Other names, such as Cage the Elephant, seem completely random and nonsensical and leave you wondering– “Who came up with that band name?” Choosing the right […]
Best 70s Rock Bands
The 70s. A decade which, in America at least, saw the pop-culture dial turn from the end of the flower power era, with veterans of the summer of love burned out, to the pastel-suited Reaganomics of the '80s. In the middle, though, there was rock. And lots of it. A decade-long arms race toward the biggest amps, the biggest hair and, crucially, the smallest pants, […]
Top 10 Best Songs About Suicide
The subject of our Top 10 is a sensitive one. Suicide is a heavy theme to write songs about. Nevertheless, when we contemplate what circumstances might drive an individual to end their own life in such a dramatic way, it can lead us to question what it is that motivates poets to explore the topic. If we are to take the definition of a poet […]
Top 10 Best 80s Dance Songs
Ah, the eighties! Whether you experienced this decade first hand, or developed a nostalgia for it through the countless references across pop culture and beyond, there’s no denying it was a very distinctive era. While some might look back and question certain fashion choices, what’s not in doubt is what a creative time it was for music. This list of the ten best dance tracks […]
How Do Analog Stereo Compressors Work?
I've over simplified the question in the title above about stereo compressors, but that gets to the essence of the discussion between myself and a smart gentleman, who I thank for sending in such a high quality set of questions. Thanks to all of the people writing in. We can't get back to everyone, but we're doing our best. We're performing triage over here, so […]
Guitar Amp Mic Post-Processing During Mixing?
We received a very insightful question recently that requires some critical thinking to explain the answer. You'll enjoy this guitar amp mic one if you like puzzles, especially as a studio engineer and/or guitarist. As always, let me thank a couple readers for their help. Frederick notified us of an error in our mp3 compression article and Pepsy supplied us with a picture we needed […]
How Major Labels are Using Small Music Blogs
The nerve of these people to try to convince us that THEY are the victims here... God forbid musicians find a way to reach their own fans. The State of Youtube's Claim System As everyone knows, Youtube's claim system is severely broken when it comes to music. Not a day goes by when a creator on the video streaming site isn't essentially unfairly robbed of […]
Katy Perry & Juicy J Lose Copyright Lawsuit to Christian Rapper Flame
This one has been cooking for years in the background. I caught wind of it years ago and forgot about it, only to see it finally come to a head in the courts. The Background of the Dark Horse Saga In 2013, Katy Perry releases a song "Dark Horse" that features an instrumental and a rap verse by Juicy J, where the final touches were […]
Can I Use Direct Monitoring With an Audio Interface?
A friendly fellow sent in a wonderful pre-purchase question about direct monitoring that I'm sure many other newcomers to the audio interface world are curious about too. It's a fun ride, so please read along as we learn about... Before you even read this, you can rest easy knowing it had a happy ending: "I purchased the unit. Aside from an issue where I had […]
Beyonce's Drummer Quits & Files Restraining Order Over "Extreme Witchcraft"
In today's weird but true news, Beyoncé's ex-drummer Kimberly Thompson has filed a restraining order against the singer over allegations of "extreme witchcraft" and even the death of her baby kitten on tour. The Background Development: Extreme Witchcraft Beyoncé, who in her early days with Destiny's Child was a devout Christian who refused to compromise her morals, but we saw a steady decline in that […]
The Music Modernization Act is One Step Closer to Paying Us Fair Streaming Royalties
Music licensing laws have been screwed up for a long time now... on the order of decades. So many people get their flat fees when an album is recorded, pressed, and sold. The mixing, mastering, and recording engineers, the record executives, the marketing team, video directors and editors... even the roadies on tour are on salaries. So why is it that the songwriters and recording […]
Autechre's Flutter Vs. The Criminal Justice & Public Order Act of 1994
In the United Kingdom, circa the late 1980's and early 1990's, the rave culture had grown to its peak manifestation. From the party-goers' perspective, ravers were mostly young people having a good time. But from the viewpoint of the local and national governments it wasn't quite such a simple picture. The Rave Problem of the 80's & 90's UK To the law enforcement officers, politicians, […]
The Eagles Soar Past Michael Jackson's Thriller for Best-Selling Album
It was only a few days ago when I mentioned once again that Michael Jackson's Thriller album was the best-selling album of all time. Things can change seemingly fast, but it was a long road for The Eagles before they finally usurped the King of Pop's number one spot. The Eagles Dethrone Thriller as Best-Selling Album Today is August 20th, 2018, the fateful Monday when […]
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