Free Rock MP3 and Top 100

This list is filtered in the “rock” category, but — obviously — feel free to peruse around.

Oh, and if you happen to buy anything on Amazon through this link, one day I might get enough to download one of those sweet 89 cent MP3s. (still waiting for that glorious day! Glad I’m not holding my breath.)

Free MP3s and the current Top 100 ROCK downloads

But for the past 10 years, I have LOVED using Acoustica programs for audio editing. I really encourage you to check these out. (And if you use these links, they’ll send me a finders fee, which is nice. Every buck I get is goin’ straight to my local record shop!)

Spin It Again:

The software is dedicated to the task of recording LPs and cassettes. It digitally cleans and restores them. This allows the user to focus on the job of recording their records and tapes, instead of learning how to use a complex recording application. I haven’t used it too much, but it seems really cool.

Now, Mixcraft is a GREAT program. I use this all the time for editing and recording audio:

I think this link goes to a trial version
Download

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Need a great labeling program? I use this one for all my CDs:

and here’s the trial version link:
Download

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Here’s another program I use weekly. This is a GREAT audio file converter:

Trial version:
Download

Well, hope their stuff helps you as much as they’ve helped me! Let me know if you download it and what you think about them.

The Dude
~ June 2011

The 70′s and 80′s had been good to YES and they were coming into the 90′s with an intersting and amazing project. A union of 8 of the most classic members. Jon Anderson (lead vocals) had left the band (for the 2nd time) after the “Big Generator” tour. Frustrated w/ the pop direction the band had taken following the mega-hits “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” and “Leave It” (from 1983′s “90125″) and the minor hits “Love Will Find A Way” and “Rhythm Of Love” (from 1987′s “Big Generator”).

Anderson regrouped with 70′s-Yes alumnis Steve Howe (guitar), Rick Wakeman (keyboards)and Bill Bruford (drums). They called themselves Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe. (Sounding very much like a law firm.) They were joined on bass with Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel’s studio and stage bass player and met Bruford during their stint with King Crimson in the early 80′s.)

The remaining members of YES were Chris Squire (bass, backing vocals – and the only member to appear on every YES record), Trevor Rabin (guitar – the “new guy” and primary inspiration and songwriter for those big 80′s hits), and Tony Kaye (keyboards – the original keyboard player on their 1st three records. But was fired in favor of a more dynamic player: Rick Wakeman. Kaye rejoined just before the 90125 album was record and my understanding is that he was actually used very little on those records as Trevor Rabin was a fairly accomplished on the keys.) and Alan White (drums. Only the 2nd drummer in Yes’ history. Pretty good.)

After Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe’s self-titled debut was released to fairly good reviews and a successful tour, they had little quality material for the follow-up. Jon Anderson was urged to approach Trevor Rabin about writing some new material for them.

Eventually the stage was set for the first YES record to feature those 8 alumni.

Could have been amazing. Could have.

Unfortunately, the record label pressured for quick release. The album was rushed, studio musician were brought in (I think there is like 8 keyboard players listed in the credits). And for the most part, the songs are just not good. The 8 musicians did not play on any song together. It was still the Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe & Levin (with some new backing vocals provided by Squire) and Rabin, Squire, Kaye, White with lead vocals by Anderson.

The tour was great. I saw them in Miami. Fabulous show. Terrible record.

But for some strange reason, I pulled it up on my iPod while washing the dishes and I wonder if it could have been better if the song listing was different. Maybe not, but it couldn’t have hurt! Although some reviews on Amazon praise the beginning of the album, the first time I listened to it I wanted to vomit, hating the first 3 songs.

Here is the original track listing w/ the primary YES version (ABWH or ARSW)

1. I Would Have Waited Forever – ABWH
2. Shock to the System – ABWH
3. Masquerade – Steve Howe guitar solo
4. Lift Me Up – ARSW
5. Without Hope You Cannot Start the Day – ABWH
6. Saving My Heart – ARSW
7. Miracle of Life – ARSW
8. Silent Talking – ABWH
9. More We Live/Let Go – ARSW
10. Angkor Wat – ABWH
11. Dangerous (Look in the Light of What You’re Searching For) – ABWH
12. Holding On – ABWH
13. Evensong – a Bruford/Levin improvisation
14. Take the Water to the Mountain – ABWH
15. Give & Take [import version] – ABWH

First off, I think there are too many songs. I would’ve pulled a few tracks and saved the rest for a “Lift Me Up” CD single. For instance, the Steve Howe solo “Masquerade”, to me, is just awful. It sounds like he screws up the timing and hits a few duff notes. “Evensong” is fine, it’s a short mellow sound improvisation w/ few chords played on the bass (Tony Levin) and electronic drumming by Bill Bruford. I personally can’t stand “Without Hope You Cannot Start the Day” and “Shock To The System”. They just hit me so wrong. Here’s how I would’ve released the record. (I’m not sure if they released “Union” on LP, but because this IS The Daily Vinyl, I thought of it terms of side A & B):

Side A
1. Lift Me Up – ARSW
2. Dangerous (Look in the Light of What You’re Searching For) – ABWH
3. Miracle of Life – ARSW
4. Holding On – ABWH
5. Take the Water to the Mountain – ABWH

Side B
1. I Would Have Waited Forever – ABWH
2. Saving My Heart – ARSW
3. More We Live/Let Go – ARSW
4. Silent Talking – ABWH
5. Angkor Wat – ABWH

“Lift Me Up” EP
1. Lift Me Up (radio edit)
2. Shock to the System – ABWH
3. Give & Take [only released on the Japanese version] – ABWH
4. Masquerade – Steve Howe guitar solo
5. Without Hope You Cannot Start the Day – ABWH
6. Evensong – a Bruford/Levin improvisation

Any of you familiar w/ this record care to comment?

The band consisted of Gilmour, Waters, Guy Pratt (bass and acoustic guitar), Harry Waters (keyboards), Andy Newmark (drums), Chester Kamen (guitar) and Jonjo Grisdale (keyboards). The line-up performed in front of 200 people, raising some £350,000 for the Hoping Foundation (Hope and Optimism for Palestinians In the Next Generation) in the process.

The tracks performed were “To Know Him Is To Love Him”, “Wish You Were Here”, Comfortably Numb” and “Another Brick In The Wall (Part 2).

In the meantime, I thought I’d talk about some cool things I want to get.

#1 — BOOK: Drugs, Divorce and a Slipping Image – The Complete, Unauthorized Story of The Beatles’ ‘Get Back’ Sessions
I own the previous version of this book entitled “Get Back: the unauthorized… somethingsomtheingsomething.” And what a facinating read! It chronicled every musical performance during the recording & filming of The Beatles when they were creating the Get Back/Let It Be record in January 1969. The tapes were rolling and they were jamming all sorts of songs. Some of which I have acquired (primarily “Thirty Days” – a 17 CD set and various other sources). Apparently, this version has been completely re-written with more source material located.

2. — CD: Doves – The Places Between (The Best Of Doves) – 2CD + DVD!

Anyone following The Daily Vinyl knows that The Dude LOVES Doves! I cannot get enough of this band. This best of collection looks awesome. Although I do have all their albums & several b-sides, there is a DVD included with 13 music videos. (None feature The Daily Vinyl, unfortuately, but you can see the one I made for “Kingdom of Rust” and “Winter Hill” here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHwhJqsXRfM

3) DVD: Lagaan – Once Upon a Time in India

Ok, so my two little girls watched the movie which we borrowed from a friend. It’s four hours long and they completely hang with this Bollywood flick. The music is amazing (which is their favorite part.) It’s by A.R. Rahman, whom I just discovered. He also did the music for Slumdog Millionaire

4) 1/8″ or Headphone extension cable. So check this out. It’s only 1 cent! I’m totally getting, like, 2!

5) Book – yep another Beatles book. This looks fascinating too!

Let me know if you check any of these things out.

At the 1,600-capacity Town Hall, the quintet — guitarist, vocalist Stephen Malkmus; guitarist Scott “Spiral Stairs” Kannberg; drummer Steve West; bassist Mark Ibold; and multi-instrumentalist Bob Nastanovich — kicked off their world tour, which hits Australia and Japan before heading stateside this spring for fests like Coachella and Sasquatch!

The band rocked through a 25-song set — which they refined during two weeks of rehearsals in Portland, OR — including plenty of tracks from SPIN’s dream setlist: show-opener “In the Mouth a Desert,” from the band’s 1992 full-length debut Slanted and Enchanted, Wowee Zowee gem “Grounded,” and Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain standouts “Cut Your Hair,” “Gold Soundz,” and “Range Life.”

Spiral Stairs took to his blog to post a few photos from the show — including this charming backstage shot. “We were seriously nervous!” he wrote in the post. “The show was great. The fans were unreal. Whew… all those Pavement anxiety dreams can now go away!”

Source: http://www.spin.com/articles/pavement-play-first-show-10-years