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Artistic, musical, creative, and entertaining topics of art about all things Beat and Music.
Where Have All the CDs Gone?
Enter any record store (yes, they are still called that) these days and you’ll have the impression that the CD stalls are dwindling, hit by reserving vinyl on one, and DVDs on the other. Or, try taking a stack of CDs that are collecting dust on your home shelves to a secondhand store. Chances are that when the owner sees that you are bringing CDs, he won’t even let you through the door, let alone give you anything that will even resemble a decent price for them. Who would have thought that as we were entering the 21st century CDs were practically everywhere, still hailed as the best ever advancement in sound reproduction? These days, mirroring the dooming fate of vinyl LPs in mid-80s, it seems people are just leaving entire CD collections by the dumpster, hoping that somebody will be merciful and at least save the music recorded in those laser tracks. The official data is no less damning. According to LA Weekly, in the period from 2001 to 2014, only in the US the sales of CDs dropped by 80% and LP sales are up a staggering 800% since 2004. What did the hell happen?
By Ljubinko Zivkovic9 years ago in Beat
Barbara Creed to Bikini Kill: The Poetry of Blood, Sweat, and the Abject in Punk Rock
Originally posted in School of Doodle. “All human societies have a conception of the monstrous-feminine, or what it is about woman that is shocking, terrifying, horrific, abject.” — Barbara Creed in The Monstrous Feminine
By Kendra Brea Cooper9 years ago in Beat
Coolest Metal Album Covers
For many of us growing up in the 80s and 90s with parents concerned about all the rap and metal music in the world, the most we learned of the metal scene as a kid was through the coolest metal album covers sitting in the record store. We would see these incredible images of demons and violence and darkness – or, alternatively, of bare-chested heroes holding swords and guitars aloft – or even just the band looking twisted and weird – and just create narratives in our heads as to what the music could be like, what forbidden wonders lied within those CD cases or vinyl sleeves.
By Anthony Gramuglia9 years ago in Beat
A Modern Day Renaissance Man
Earlier this week I was reading up on the Renaissance for my Western World history class. The era’s prominent characters are now referred to as “Renaissance Men”: A person with many talents or areas of knowledge. As I read about Lorenzo De Medici, Michelangelo, and Leonardo Da Vinci, I was stunned by their ability to master numerous crafts throughout the arts and sciences. I began to wonder if we had any Renaissance Men in 2017. It didn’t take long to realize that we do, and we’ve had one for quite a few years now.
By The Ticket9 years ago in Beat
MODESTEP - Bringing Dubstep Home
If you don’t know who Modestep are, then you have probably never listened to UK Dubstep. Covered from head to toe in tattoos and now in the process of writing their third album, it seems like a lifetime since brothers Josh and Tony were first introduced to the genre, it crept around the underground London club scene in 2008, with it’s pill popping, wide eyed, sweaty teens and all night raves with bass so hard it makes you throw up if you stand to close to the speakers. All the things that make London the gritty city we all know and love.
By Samantha Bentley9 years ago in Beat
Music & Fashion: Intertwined Throughout the Ages
Fashion is one of the clearest signs of the times, and it says more about our society than we give it credit for. We can tell the difference between the jeans hippies wore in 1969 versus the skin-tight threads worn by emo kids in 2005.
By Riley Raul Reese9 years ago in Beat
Sky Vettel's 'Sin From a New Perspective'
A Native New Yorker, electronic musician Sky Vettel is creating what she calls "concept music" - pieces which evoke imagery, emotions, new thoughts and feelings. "Isn't that pretty much all music? Unless it's what's being played on the radio," she says. To her, it's slightly hifalutin but it's to the point and something easy to comprehend upon hearing it. "I want people - all types - to be able to enjoy something. You can't make everybody happy. I don't want to make everybody happy. But I think there's something for everyone." The 26-year-old has a catalogue of over 30 songs - from soothing, relaxing, progressing ambient soundscapes, to gritty smoky, urban trip hop, to upbeat, disco house - and she's not slowing down. "I'm very busy writing new material right now. I'm really trying to create stuff that's improved from my last works... you can't rush organic improvement, but you can certainly work hard at it. I'm excited at the progress in this moment, as well as the anticipation of what's to come with this." What type of music styles would you expect to hear this time around? "There's a bit of hip hop, tech house, and maybe even doo wop, oddly enough," she says. "I've always loved doo wop and just the noodling around with the 50's chord progression on the keyboard made me extremely excited!" What else excites her? "Being in the moment, enjoying everything, and of course, people's response to my music and how they feel, that's great. I definitely want to keep impressing people and make more music that they love."
By Sky Vettel9 years ago in Beat
GOT7 - Flight Log Trilogy Analysis
On March 13th, GOT7 released the long awaited finale of their Flight Log trilogy. It was around this time last year, they surprised the globe with a six-minute trailer for their comeback, "Fly." This trailer, Departure, acted as the prologue to a full-length story. Six months later, they returned with Turbulence, and as of recently, concluded the tale with Arrival. Along with their colourful voices, they've released a cornucopia of astounding visuals in film, photography, and, of course, intricate dance choreographies. However, what truly makes this series an eventful ride are the gripping symbolic themes in the well produced theatrical videos. With such amazing aesthetics, it is, unfortunately, a beautifully tragic story. A story that deserves to be deconstructed into several parts before saying farewell. Thus, let us climb aboard on GOT7's journey and see where they take us.
By Valencia W.V.9 years ago in Beat
Stars Hollow EP Review
Stars Hollow. Yes, you read the correctly. This isn’t the fictional town based in Connecticut that is featured on the hit television series Gilmore Girls, either. Stars Hollow is an American emo band from Ames, Iowa. SH consists of 3 band members: Tyler Stodghill, Wyatt Timberlake, and Jesse Ledbetter. As you dive into their music, you will feel their powerful & emotional lyrics deep in your chest, just seconds into the album. Do you think that you struggled holding the tears back while listening to Midwest Pen Pals back in the early 2000’s? You’ll have a blast with this band, then. In 2016, they released their 5 track EP, “I’m really not that upset about it,” super emo, right? Let’s jump into it.
By Tristin Cunniff9 years ago in Beat
GOT7 Flight Log: Arrival - A Song by Song Review
Six months after the release of their second full-length album Flight Log: Turbulence, K-pop sensation GOT7 is back with their sixth EP Flight Log: Arrival. The album feature some of the group's best material to date and is a refreshing mix of both experimental sounds and contemporary pop trends. Here's a song by song breakdown.
By Kat Walcott9 years ago in Beat
Let Life Flow, Like Mozart
Dear Readers: When we talk about our future or our past, we can easily notice that we get caught up with all sorts of feelings — we dwell in the worry for our future or the lament for our past. Living in the intense demand of productivity and keeping up with the social-media-cramped society could be stressful and lonely. Our present moments are often compensated by the feelings we have for the future and the past, what about now? What do you think to create you feelings for your “now"?
By Charlotte Chan9 years ago in Beat
