Musicgoat.com » Grab Bag

Music Downloads: How They Have Shaped The Way We Buy And Listen To Music

Corey Koehler — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:54:08 +0000

It was only just over 11 years ago that CD sales hit their peak but what a difference the past 10 years has been in terms of music technology.

Download Versus CD’s…

Music downloads have superseded CD sales quite staggeringly. In fact, the ability to download music has changed every aspect of the music industry from record labels to artists to the end listener. CD sales have dropped to an all time low Music downloading has even changed how our high street looks with the demise of the music stores such as Zavvi and Woolworths which were found in the top locations of nearly every town and city up and down the country. With HMV consisting reporting huge losses and the closing of branches, it maybe won’t be long before they have the same outcome.

10 Years Ago..

10 years ago, club DJ’s were using increasingly more CD’s when mixing but vinyl was still the mainstay of their record bag. Who would have thought it 10 years ago that the Official UK Chart would be made up of download and CD sales and that households would be getting rid of their CD collections completely as they only purchase downloadable music formats! It wasn’t all that long ago that people were ditching their vinyl in favour of CD’s!

The widespread choice, availability and ease of music downloads now has completely changed how we buy and listen to music. Whether you have an ipod or any one of hundreds of different mp3 players on the market, downloading music is what we are all doing. It is practical, easy and cheap which is a winning combination.

What’s Next…

So what’s next in terms of music downloads? Well with the widespread ownership now of smartphones, music downloading is shifting once more. With companies selling music downloads that are sent direct to a smartphone, music can be purchased anywhere. Smartphones eliminate the need for a separate mp3 player with many of them having 16GB plus of internal memory, the iphone even with a choice of a 32GB flash drive. Downloading music direct to a mobile device couldn’t be simpler. Click buy on the music download that you want. This will then load up a buy page. Enter your phone number, and you will receive a code to verify payment. Enter this code into the buy screen, and your mobile music will be sent straight to your phone.

With some of the music download sites having over 2 million tracks, mobile mp3s and mobile albums and couple that with the constant update the content of the website, music lovers come back daily for fresh music downloads. As with a high street record store, these sites for music downloads have sales with tracks as low as 99p. With transport costs rising, saving on petrol, bus or train fares when purchasing music is a large factor in the current climate.

Guest post by Jon Seymour of MobileChilli.com who is kind of secretive about himself BUT would like to encourage you to Click for music downloads for your mobile and get a free PC version of the mobile music that you have bought sent straight to your email address.

The Power of Music: Music and Emotion

Corey Koehler — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:54:14 +0000

What do you do when you’re feeling down? The answer for many people is obvious: put on some headphones and listen to your favorite mood-lifting tunes. Many studies have been published recently that confirm what most people know: music is powerful, and has the ability to treat everything from a down mood to depression. Whether you’re listening to ’80s hits with a pair of cheap ear buds or expensive Klipsch speakers there’s simply no denying the power of music.

Music has been used as a therapy for depression and sadness for thousands of years, finding a place in every culture. Many people have cited music as an important factor in their life while recovering from depression, illness or even a simple bad day. There are even people that respond better to music than medication and traditional therapy! Today music therapy is offered to many people that don’t respond to other forms of help and the benefits are obvious.

The emotional tie that bonds people to music also has an interesting effect. Most people have memories of dancing around their bedroom to an upbeat song to cheer up, although it seems music does not have to be cheerful to banish depression. Listening to music that mirrors the feelings of sadness can work just as well, perhaps due to feelings of empathy and understanding. As William Congreve put it, “Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” Music has the power to transform the way we feel, both physically and mentally. It can bring to life happy memories, as well as fade the painful ones. Music in all forms is perhaps the most magical and meaningful creation in our history.

Guest post by Robbie. He is a dedicated music fanatic, and has spent a lot of time pondering the power and influence of music on society. He is a consumer, through and through. He writes for http://www.technected.com and is working on a personal site that is soon to come.

No related posts.

Free and Legal Music Downloading: The Fingertips Digest (September edition)

Jeremy — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:40:21 +0000

This is Jeremy from the Fingertips web site and it’s time again for a quick look at the best free and legal downloads featured there last month. If you want some background on what this is all about, check out the May edition, in which I more fully introduced myself.

Week 1:
“The Organ Grinder” – The Migrant
What begins as a simple, plaintive guitar-and-voice composition acquires offhand grandeur as a graceful parade of instruments (accordion, melodica, organ, various percussive devices) add their voices to the mix. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 1: Eux Autres, Jenny Wilson)

Week 2:
“I Walked” – Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens returns, in an electronic-based setting, singing a poignant, affecting tale of lost love. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 2: Laura Veirs & Mount Analog, Goodtimes Goodtimes)

Week 3:
“Cockleburrs and Hay” – Jared Mees & the Grown Children
An engaging, homespun hoedown featuring an ongoing tension between its cosmopolitan lyrical concerns and its back-porch, fiddle-fronted ambiance. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 3: John Vanderslice, Liam Singer)

Week 4:
“Doubles” – Amy Bezunartea
“Doubles” is a small gem, combining a swaying, mournful melody with a deft lyrical touch; don’t miss this one. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 4: The Fresh and Onlys, Justin Townes Earle)

You can read the reviews and listen to the free and legal MP3s on Fingertips every week. Better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed and you’ll never miss any of the songs.

Thanks again for taking a look and giving a listen. Keep reading Musicgoat and I’ll be back in early October with the September highlights from Fingertips.

Free and Legal Music Downloading: The Fingertips Digest (August Edition)

Jeremy — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 15:01:11 +0000

Hey, it’s Jeremy from the Fingertips web site and I’m back with a selection of the best songs featured on Fingertips in August. If you want some background on what I’m doing here, check out the May edition, in which I more fully introduced myself.

Week 1:
“Down By The Water” – The Drums
Setting a ’50s-style melody to a stately, hymn-like march, “Down By The Water” is beautiful and odd and tormented and stirring. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 1: Meridene, The Rosebuds)

Week 2:
“Little Miracle” – Kim Taylor
Strong, nuanced singer/songwriter fare from an under-appreciated Cincinnati musician. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 2: Chris Hickey, Cloud Cult (MP3 however no longer available).

Week 3:
“Lines” – Elsinore
Well-crafted and melodic indie rock from a Champaign-based quartet; nicely sung, too. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 3: Icarus Himself, Like Pioneers)

Week 4:
“If You Wanna” – The Vaccines
Muddy, lo-fi music with a shiny and polished spirit. Joy Division meets the Ramones, somehow. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 4: Land of Talk, Sarah Kirkland Snider (featuring Shara Worden))

You can read the reviews and listen to the free and legal MP3s on Fingertips every week. Better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed and you’ll never miss any of the songs.

Thanks again for taking a look and giving a listen. Keep reading Musicgoat and I’ll be back in early October with the September highlights from Fingertips.

Free and Legal Music Downloading: The Fingertips Digest (June-July Edition)

Jeremy — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 16:02:30 +0000

Hey, it’s Jeremy from the Fingertips web site and I’m back this time with a two-month digest of the best songs featured on Fingertips since the summer started. This time I’ll pick out three songs from each month, to give you a taste of what I’ve been charged up about. If you want some background on what I’m doing here, check out the May edition, in which I more fully introduced myself.

From June:

“Dear God 2.0″ – the Roots
You don’t have to be a hip-hop fan to sense the glory in this performance, which is a reworking of a song originally recorded by the Monsters of Folk. Jim James can still be heard, but the song centers on Black Thought’s weary, rumbling, tumbling rap. (Read the entire review.)

“Here Sometimes” – Blonde Redhead
Elusively appealing song from the veteran NYC trio, with a characteristic mix of dreaminess and electronics. (Read the entire review.)

Orange Yellow – the Spires
Jangly guitar rock, with a nod to the Velvet Underground. The band is from Ventura, however, so it bounces with more of a SoCal than a downtown groove. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured in June included Simian Ghost, Sea of Bees, and Sambassadeur.)

From July:

“Zorbing” – Stornoway
Bursting with melody and innocence, as invigorating as a bright blue puffy-clouded day. In a better world than this one, this is the song of the summer of 2010. (Read the entire review.)

“Alouette!” – Tallest Trees
Gleeful, skewed, clattery pop from a Nashville duo. Electronics are used with good humor, and the entire arrangement is great fun. (Read the entire review.)

“Noisemaker” – Two Hours Traffic
Nothing more or less complicated than brisk, sharp power pop. No summer should be without this one either. (Read the entire review.)

Other artists featured in July included Lost in the Trees, Like Bells, and Saadi.)

Free And Legal Music Downloading: The Fingertips Digest (May Edition)

Jeremy — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:39:51 +0000

Hey everyone, my name’s Jeremy and I’ve been running the Fingertips music site since way back in 2003. Every week I sort through a mountain of free and legal MP3s that I find online and pick out three really good ones. While I don’t range too widely across genres (there’s no jazz, no hip-hop, no blues, no genres ending with the word “core”), I try to keep the sounds varied each week so that the three songs together take you an interesting place.

What I’m going to start doing here on Musicgoat is write up a quick monthly summary of the songs Fingertips has featured by pointing you to one song out of three each week–I’ll give you the link and a very brief description. This is the digest version to be sure. On the site itself, the reviews are longer and more descriptive; my aim is to give the reader a strong sense of what each song sounds like and I why I think it’s particularly good. And remember, because I’m picking just three songs every week, all three of them are really quite excellent, so it would be a great idea for you to go visit the site to hear all three songs each week.

Thanks to Corey for the invite, and let’s get right into it with an abridged look at what I picked out for May. Remember, these songs are all available as free and legal MP3s that you can download to your heart’s content.

Week 1:
“Let the Record Go” – The Mynabirds
A slice of stompy, retro perfection from Laura Burhenn, who used to be half of the duo Georgie James. The entire album is highly recommended. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 1: The National, Hey Marseilles)

Week 2:
The Mermaid Parade – Phosphorescent
Both laid back and expansive, this one brings a slow-burning quality to its sauntering vibe. Phosphorescent is a Brooklyn-based band featuring Matthew Houck and whomever else he can get to play with him at the time. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 2: Villagers, Beach House)

Week 3:
“The Kiss” – Pallers
A graceful, beautifully unfolding electronic dance-ballad, from Sweden. Builds without hurrying to a moving climax. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 3: Sarah Blasko, The King Left)

Week 4:
“Captive” – Sarah Harmer
This super-talented Canadian returns after a bluegrass project to some straight-ahead pop. Very appealing. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 4: Light Pollution, Sarah Jaffe)

You can read the reviews and listen to the free and legal MP3s on Fingertips every week. Better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed and you’ll never miss any of the songs.

Thanks for looking the picks over and maybe giving a listen. Keep reading Musicgoat and I’ll be back in early July with the June highlights from Fingertips.

From Reviewer To Reviewed! Hear The Debut Album From Me, Corey Koehler

Corey Koehler — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:17:12 +0000

After years of reviewing and sharing other peoples music with you, I finally decided it was time to throw my hat in the ring by writing and recording some music of my own. Better yet, I am giving you the chance to listen to it and review it.

The name of my debut CD is “Never Too Late”. You can check out every song by stopping by the music page on my site PlanetCorey.com.

Better yet, can get 3 of my downloads, each with a personal introduction, for free by visiting my fanlist signup page now.

If you want to review it, all I ask is that you are completely honest. You can either put your thoughts in the comments below, on my artist site, your blog OR if you have a site or social media profile (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc), you could share and post it there.

Anyway, go grab your tunes now. I’m excited to hear what you think.

Musician Interview: Ribkat and Josy B. Chat About Working With Dr Dre And More

S. Felix — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:03:49 +0000

Recently, I had a chance to talk to the up-and-coming Hip-Hop duo RIBKAT AND JOSY B. They’ve already had a placement in the Oscar-nominated film the The Wrestler, a 2008 Hollywood Music Award nomination and an Effigy Award for best Hip Hop song in 2009 under their belts. They recently released their latest album Theory of Addicts and it looks like 2010 is going to be a good year for Tak and Josy B.

The chemistry between the two of you is undeniable, how did you meet and what made you start performing together?

I wrote a song called “Redrum” and I really wanted a female to sing the chorus I had written, and then, what do you know? With the snap of a finger, I was introduced to a cute, vivacious Puerto Rican girl with amazing vocals that went by the name of Josy B. Shortly after the recording, I realized our chemistry was so magnetic and decided to release the song as our first single, which did great overseas, and we continued to work together from that point on

What is the first song you ever wrote together?

It was a song called ‘Reveriez” which happened to be our first single from our new album Theory of Addicts. You can get a free download of our album at www.RIBKATANDJOSYB.COM. I strongly encourage all you folks out there to come join us and get yourself a free copy!

Tak, you’ve been in the game a long time with groups like Styles of Beyond and Fort Minor, how is RIBKAT AND JOSY B. different?

For starters, I’ve never done an entire project with a female. Another is I got a chance to reinvent myself and showcase my music production and songwriting ability in a way the fans have never heard or would ever expect. Our sound is more electro-pop tip with a fusion of 80′s music and early 90′s Hip Hop in it’s prime. I never considered myself to be a rapper for the most part, but more of a songwriter who was always intrigued by the art of storytelling, with the soul of a musician.

Josy B., you’ve had the opportunity to work with the legendary Dr. Dre, tell us about the experience.

It was an awesome opportunity and a great learning experience. At the time, Dre was doing the soundtrack for a movie called El Diablo and we worked together to write some lyrics in Spanish for a track that was used for one of the scenes. The song turned out great! He was a really fun and down-to-earth guy and it was an honor to have worked with the Dr.

Josy B., you seem to love fashion, does your style influence your music and stage persona?

Fashion is my love!!! I’m addicted to accessories and colorful bags. What I wear is who I am which has a lot of influence not only with the music that I do but on stage as well. I don’t try to think too hard about what I’m going to wear when I perform. I’m very versatile with my visions and mood and sometimes I throw something together spontaneously, so you never know what I may be wearing when I come out!

Your new album Theory of Addicts was just released, what tracks are you most excited to perform live?

To be honest, we get excited to perform all of our songs because we love our album! We don’t use profanity in any way and we strongly believe in unifying a nation of people young and elderly through a positive medium of enjoyable music with an innovative energy behind it.

If you could collaborate with any other artist/s who would it be?

A man-made android combining the DNA of Culture Club, Talking Heads, Human League, Huey and the News, Tears for Fears, Public Enemy, Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J., Leaders of the New School, with a splash of Michael Jackson.

What’s the game plan for 2010?

To infect the world with a plague called “Good Honest Music”

–Sheena Felix

Christmas Music…Musicgoat And Social Blend Style

Corey Koehler — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:19:38 +0000

Well it is that time of year once again. If you are anywhere near a radio, are spending time in shopping centers OR have a overly-spirited friend or family member all pumping out “traditional” holiday music, you might have had your fill of the usuals holiday fare.

I and the guys over at Social Blend are right there with you. Soooo, to break up the monotony, we decided to put together a show filled with some fairly obscure Christmas music. We’ve got some Rob Halford, Dave Matthews, Robert Earl Keen, some guy named Elvis and some other guy that probably shouldn’t be singing.

Stop by and listen to Social Blend’s Cranuim II now.

Oh, and if you are still in the mood for more Holiday music, check out the podcast I put together last year.

Listen to the ‘The Christmas Show I Swore I’d Never Do” now.

And before I go, I just want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year.

Thanks again Joe and Greg from Social Blend.

Talking Obscure and Underrated Music on Social Blend

Corey Koehler — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:04:29 +0000

Here is something for your listening enjoyment. Earlier this week I had the honor of being a guest on the Social Blend podcast. The topic was “Underrated and Obscure Music”.

I am sure you are going to dig it because it really doesn’t get much more “Musicgoat” than the wide spectrum of music we played and discussed. What each of us – Joe, Gregg and I – did was picked a few selection and then tell a story about each (which generated some good, meaty discussion as well).

Go listen to the Social Blend podcast now .

I have been on the show in the past and was honored to be asked again. It is always a good time hangin out. Thanks Joe and Greg!

Christmas Music…Musicgoat And Social Blend Style

Music Podcast 037 – Acoustic Americana Triple Double Featuring Chris Knight, Willy Porter and Rob Anthony

Corey Koehler — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:52:10 +0000

In this episode, not only will you hear great acoustic music and get a great tip on how you can legally rob a bank BUT you will also find out what it is that I am doing with a Horny Goat.

You better listen now before your imagination gets the best of you…

Press play now

Click Button To Play | Right-Click To Download

Songs heard on this podcast

Rob Anthony – “The American Way”
Willie Porter – “How To Rob A Bank” (download this tune free on eMusic)

Willie Porter – “Psychi Vampire” (download this tune free on eMusic)

Chris Knight – “Summer Of ’75″ (More of his stuff is free on eMusic)

Chris Knight – “Highway Junkie” (More of his stuff is free on eMusic)

Rob Anthony – “I Don’t Need Much”

Also, Bumper music compliments of Jazz Organist Dan Fogel and his tune “Blues After All” on his album “15 West”

Links mentioned in the show:

Horny Goat Brewing company

Say something…

Have a comment, request or review of your own that you would like played or discussed on the show? Shoot me an email or give me a shout in the comments below.

How To Get More Live Music in Your Life

Corey Koehler — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:33:59 +0000

Excellent Willie Nelson Show I Went To A Few Year Back

I’m feelin a little frisky tonight so I am just going to throw this out there Seth Godin style and see what happens. A quick story and some “hopefully” useful advise.

A few months ago, a few friends and I realized that a lot of time went by between shows (because we’re all parents and semi-slaves now). We realized that it had been a long time since we felt the excitement and the energy you can only get by attending a live music event. We knew that our music loving souls were in need of a recharge and we knew we needed to do something about it. So we did!

We made a pact that every time there is a show within about a 100 mile radius, we were gonna make sure we made sure everyone else knew about it and then take it from there.

It worked. We’ve all been to many shows this year and there are many more in the works. We don’t always get to go together but we have made it a priority and are better off because of it.

Now if you are suffering from a serious case of live music deficiency, here’s a quick tip to improve your live music nutrition.

Look for a show in your area and just make up your mind that, come hell or high water, you’ll be there. Just make the decision. No more, “I’d like to go”…JUST GO.

Take a friend if you can. If not, screw it, go by yourself. You’ll meet some new people and chances are you’ll have something in common and you’ll have a new Facebook pal to share the music love with.

My Two Cents on Live Earth

New Acoustic Rock Music: “Change The World”

Corey Koehler — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:08:20 +0000

Well I finally did it, I recorded my very own song and I want to share it with you. Also, since I am the one normally doing all of the reviewing, I thought it would be fun to turn the tables around and give you all a chance to review me – either in the comments below, via my contact form or your blog.

I call the song “Change the World” and you can check it out now by visiting my personal site PlanetCorey.com.

It is just me, my acoustic guitar and my message.

This is something I’ve been meaning to do for quite awhile now and I have to tell you, I’ve been missing out. It is extremely fun to record music and it is hard to describe the feeling of hearing something I started from scratch playing back at you.

I’m addicted and I am a songwriting junky right now. I can’t wait to get back in the studio to record the next one.

Anyway, remember that you can share your review in the comments below, via the contact form, on your own site OR any social networking profile blog you might have (Facebook, MySpace, iMeem, etc). I don’t care what you say – since I am a big boy and can take it – all I ask is that you are honest and constructive.

Hope you like it and I can’t wait to hear what you guys think.

Music Podcast 035 – Acoustic Rock & Country Blues Blender

Corey Koehler — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:51:30 +0000

The Melting Pot is back in action and you, my friend, are not going to wanna miss a single note of any tune present in this compilation. The tunes, like me, are mellow yet upbeat and 100% thought provoking.

Grab a beer, glass of wine or mixer and press play now!

Click Button To Play | Right-Click To Download

Songs heard on this podcast:

Whitey Morgan and the 78′s – “Crazy” (download this tune free on eMusic)

Blitzen Trapper – “Black River Killer”

Lubriphonic – “Rain Keep Falling” (download this tune free on eMusic)

Junkyard – “Simple Man” (download this tune free on eMusic)

Dazy Head Mazy – “Let Me Off Here” (download this tune free on eMusic)

Scotty Dont – “Later on Today”

Also, Bumper music compliments of Jazz Organist Dan Fogel and his tune “Blues After All” on his album “15 West”

Links mentioned in the show:

10 Songs Covers You Didn’t Know Were Covers

Say something…

Have a comment, request or review of your own that you would like played or discussed on the show? Shoot me an email or put somehting in the comments below.

How To Write A Song – Study The Masters

Corey Koehler — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:09:16 +0000

Guest post: Because I thought you might enjoy, this article has been hand-picked by Yours Truly and is being re-publishing with permission. The author is Richie Gilbert from www.inspired-songwriting-tips.com. Bon appatite!

If you want to learn how to write a song, do what all successful songwriters should do: Study songwriting. If you want to learn how to write great songs, study great songs!

If you want to be a master songwriter, learn from the masters.

If you’ve been writing songs for a while, you most likely are doing something right. When you write regularly you get a feel for it. You develop an instinct for what is catchy, memorable and engaging.

But you can take it further than that.

Think of a craftsman, say, someone who is good with wood. He may have a natural ability to carve or construct things from wood. If he does it all the time he’s going to get really good at it.

Now, if that same person studied woodworking as an apprentice, imagine how much faster he will learn his craft. By studying with the masters, he will learn shortcuts and techniques that might take him years longer on his own.

Same with songwriting.

By studying the techniques of hit songwriters, you learn what works and what doesn’t. You learn how to write songs. That doesn’t mean you have to give up your natural style, or change who you are.

It simply means you learn better ways to present your unique ideas.

By studying song form you can learn to better express those ideas which are unique to you. You learn to build a better vehicle to take your song ideas where you want them to go.

So how do we study hit songs?

Listen to the radio! Listen to the radio with a critical ear. Listen closely and ask yourself a series of questions:

1. Why does this song appeal to me?
2. What is it about the chorus that I find so irresistible?
3. What emotion/s does the melody evoke?
4. Why do the lyrics speak to me?

Keep on asking yourself these questions. Keep digging deeper for more answers. There can be many reasons why a song is so appealing. Find and analyse the reasons why it appeals to you.

And when writing your songs, don’t underestimate the importance of rewriting. Never settle for the first draft. You can do better.

That’s what all great songwriters have done and continue to do.

Songwriting is an ongoing process. There is always something new to learn. You never stop learning. So please don’t ever think you’re done!

About the Author:

Richie Gilbert has been passionate about writing songs for many years. He spends too much time in his home recording studio, and is active in pitching his songs to music publishers.

To learn more about the craft and business of songwriting, please visit his website at http://www.inspired-songwriting-tips.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – How To Write A Song – Study The Masters

Nathan “Flutebox” Lee Takes the Flute in a New Direction

Corey Koehler — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:44:17 +0000

Just when you thought the flute was strictly for use in the symphony and Jethro Tull tunes, someone comes along and adds a little beatbox and a lot of flavor. Check out this video featuring a guy named Nathan “flutebox” Lee.

This talented individual was able to take his beatbox skills and merge them with his flute playing skill. I love coming across stuff like this because it is a great reminder that there are endless ways to do something different.

Check it out as Nathan takes it outside of the box.

Very cool aye?

Make sure you stop by and check out some of his other videos over on YouTube. And while your there…wink, wink…befriend the Musicgoat. See you there!

Hey Songwriters! Check Out These Songwriting Contests

Corey Koehler — Thu, 07 May 2009 13:07:29 +0000

If you write music, lyric or both and you want to see where you stand in the sea of songwiriters – and maybe win a little cash – why not enter a songwriting contest. Here are a few contests you could should enter this year.

Last year I entered into the USA Songwriting Competition to see if I could win. Plus, I was just curious to see how these things worked and maybe even get a little feedback.

Well I didn’t win anything and I didn’t get any feedback BUT I feel that just going through the motions really helped me to improve my skills, to push myself to learn more about writing and also realize that I needed to touch up my recording skills.

So if you write, give it a shot.

Do you know of any more? Let us know in the comments below.

The Beatles: A Case Study in the Law of Truth and Karma

treadmarkz — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:54:51 +0000

Guest post: Treadmarkz is my brother-in-law, a Human Beatles Encyclopedia and the author of the weblog Treadmarkz.wordpress.com.

Regarding why the Beatles broke up, for years, I was a member of the “Yoko Is Evil” sect. Then for a while I converted to Paul-is-an-Egomaniac-ism. I took it for granted that the truth lay somewhere within these two camps. Eventually I realized the many other factors: John Lennon’s addiction to heroin; the death of the Beatles manager Brian Epstein; their music and individual talents getting too big to be contained within one album; George Harrison’s waning interest in traditional western pop music.

Part of the reason for Harrison’s change of direction was his growing passion for Indian music, philosophy and eventually religion. Recently I have myself become immersed in a faith which relies heavily on the Hindu worldview regarding reincarnation, karma, “Hell” as distance from God rather than a literal lake of fire. I feel my years of Beatles fandom was just a way to get me across that spiritual bridge.

Whenever I meditate on a worldly desire and make a vow to do, or not do any given thing, if I later fall back on that vow, I find that I do face consequences of my action. It’s Karma, its Natural Law, the Law of Truth, whatever you want to call it. A dharma (religious duty) of Hinduism, Christianity and all major religions really is “Do not bear false witness” with an implied “or else…” involved. Mohandas Gandhi wrote of this concept in depth in his “Autobiography.”

In 1967, the rest of the Beatles willingly accompanied Harrison to Wales for a weekend seminar on Transcendental Meditation, and to India the following spring for an extended course. Though the course did not make religious faith a priority, there is always an aspect of spirituality with meditation, and where there is spirituality, there is a connection with God on one level or another. Whether one accepts it or not, that door is opened at that time. The importance of the Law of Truth is, hence, heightened.

Before the Wales seminar, the Beatles were on top of the world having just released Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the single “All You Need Is Love” that summer. They were the voice of the youth movement. What happened?

Two of the Beatles’ best-known songs are “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “All You Need Is Love”. Could the Beatles have written, recorded and performed these songs for profit, all the while living the lavish and, lets face it, decadent lifestyles they did without Karma rearing its ugly head?

While they were at the Wales seminar, their manager died. But things still seemed good six months later when they left for India. While in India, John Lennon flirted with the idea that their next move as a band should be to become “spiritual leaders.” For the course, they were to give up all non-prescription drugs for mental clarity. But none of them gave up smoking pot and once they got back from India John went back to LSD and soon started using heroin. Even George never gave up his rock star lifestyle while scolding other rich people in a song called “Piggies.”

Even though they wrote about 40 songs in India the following spring and seemed to be very together, as soon as they got back from India, everything seemed to fall apart rapidly. From the beginning of the White Album sessions in May 1968 there were bitter arguments. This was followed by Yoko entering the picture, a bitter struggle for power in the band, and a very bitter court battle which eventually tore the band asunder.

Was Yoko’s presence a catalyst to bring on the negative Karma the Beatles collected through their non-adherence to the law of Truth? What about the death of Brian Epstein? Another example of Karmic retribution on the band? Surely not as their Karma should not have dragged Brian and his very life into it. It may have been Karma from past incarnations that caused them to have to go through such a tragedy together, but that is a different story. The disaster of Apple Corps., and the resulting lawsuits over money which ended the Beatles, however, seem like fitting Karmic retribution for years of singing about love being more important than money, all the while making money and lifestyle the most important thing in reality. And Lennon must have known it, as one of his first solo singles was “Instant Karma, where he sang “Instant Karma’s gonna get you” and “we all shine on”, meaning “we all have to live with the consequences of our actions, so be careful.” Indeed, his band had fallen mightily from grace.

Music Review: Stoner Metal Grunge, Some Outlaw Country and the Record Label that Pimps Them

Corey Koehler — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:28:26 +0000

I normally don’t review multiple bands from the same record label but when I stopped by the Small Stone Recordings website, I was side tracked for a few hours and ended up burning up about thirty bucks on downloads, so I figured why the hell not. Here’s a word or two about a label and a few of the bands that you should check out.

The Label

Based out of Detroit, Small Stone – for the most part – represent bands that are of the stoner rock ilk, but, they aren’t afraid to mix it up – one of my favorite finds, happens to be country.

They have stood the test of time and have been putting out their brand of music since 1995. In an April 2008 article on Metromix, the founder Scott Hamilton explained that he wanted to model the label after Sub Pop. He also defined stoner rock as being “just a really amped up version of classic rock” with “a bunch of fat guys with beards in the crowd.” You gotta love the honesty.

The Bands

Here are some of the bands that caught my attention. And, to give you sort of a jumping off point, I’ve listed a tune or two from each (which by the way have made it into heavy rotation on my iPod).

Oh and just so you know, you can buy the cd’s on Small Stones site and if you are the mp3 type, everyone of these artists – and the tunes listed – are available for immediate download on emusic (which means you can get them for free if you don’t have an emusic account).

Anyway, check these bands out;

Roadsaw - If you are fan of early Soundgarden circa “Louder Than Love” – or just grunge in general – you need to check these guys out. I love vocals and the smooth grind that is present throughout.

I think your best bet to get a feel for what these guys can do is to get started with “Up To You” and “It’s Your Move”.

Whitey Morgan and the 78′s – WARNING: When combined with good weather, good booze and good friends, the music of Whitey Ford could leave you with a splitting headache and a pissed off boss.

This band takes a well needed and refreshing approach to old school country. They easily slip into all of the elements of 70′s era outlaw and all of their tunes will make Waylon, Wille and Bosephus fans very, very happy (and a little jagged).

I recommend that you download the whole album but if you are only going to stick your toe in the water, make sure you check out “Crazy” and “If It Ain’t Broke”.

Mos Generator – The riff heavy tunes that these guys are laying down are immediately addictive. The tune “Acapulco Gold” – which could easily be the love child of Steely Dan and Monster Magnet – documents a love affair of the smokin kind. And “Wizards of the Prophecy Pen” is a well produced tune that could very easily be an early Sabbath tune. Grab them!

There, now you have some stuff too listen to as we all wait for summer. Remember, all of this stuff is on eMusic for immediate download and if you are still doin the CD thang, check out the Small Stone online store.

How to be DRM Free and Convert Your iTunes Files to MP3

Corey Koehler — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:07:40 +0000

I was surfing around the web this morning and I came across a few handy little “how to’s” for those of you looking to rid your music collection of digital rights management (DRM) by converting your iTunes files to mp3. Check’em out. Tech-FAQ.com’s “Convert Your iTunes to MP3 and Convert iTunes to MP3 Format (Ask Bob [...] Related posts:

I Made the Top 50

Corey Koehler — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 17:23:17 +0000

One of the trickiest parts about blogging and podcasting about a wide variety of music styles – in other words, being the Musicgoat – is that you run the risk of alienating readers and listeners of one particular style of music.

For instance, I will do a hard rock/metal oriented podcast one month, follow it up with an indie acoustic country show the next month and then post a review on a Hip Hop artist that has caught my ear the next. As you can imagine certain fans – within either genre – could get a little annoyed and therefore not stick around (which is a bummer but you can’t please everybody right?).

Anyway, I knew this would make it more difficult to build an audience but this is the most honest way for me to approach a music site. I knew I couldn’t talk about one style over and over when there is just to much to like from many other genres. Also, I knew that there were others out there who like to mix it up as well and I figured this would pose a great opportunity to find them.

Now, why am I telling you this? Well I just learned the other day that the Musicgoat made number 36 on the list of Top 50 Twitter Users in Hard Rock and Metal.

What that means is that I haven’t completely alienated the metal community, in particular one of its biggest proponents, ~~Marc~~ Mark Carras (RockMyMonkey.com and HeavyAsHell.com). Mark, the author of the list, is one hardcore fan of all things metal. Having him endorse the Goat is an honor. Thanks Marc!

The list also features some pretty high profile rockers, writers and labels so you might want to look through to see is there is anyone you might want to follow. Check it out! And if you want to follow me, be my guest. Just look to the right in the sidebar under “Find Me Online.

Music Review: Metal ala Deflagration and Acoustic Rock ala Rob Anthony

MMP032 – Are These Artists Worthy of a 2009 Grammy Nomination?

Corey Koehler — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:06:09 +0000

Here’s a few artists that you most likely won’t see on stage getting an award or even performing at the Grammy’s BUT certainly could be.

See if you agree by pressing play now.

Click Button To Play | Right-Click To Download

Here are the songs heard on this podcast and the links to each artists website;
Hype – “Push Me” (Available at CDBaby and iTunes)
Kelly Richey Band – “I Want You” (get it free on eMusic)
John Taglieri – “Booty Call” (get his older stuff free on eMusic)
Pauline Pisano – “Don’t Forget” (get it free on eMusic)
G Tom Mac – “Wish You Well” (get their older stuff free on eMusic)
Daydream On Autopilot – “Better Off Alone” (get it free on eMusic)
Daydream on Autopilot – “Call Me” (Blondie Cover)

Websites Mentioned on this podcast;
Mike Cameo’s Indie Top 10
Social Blend
Mixx.com

Most of these and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network.

MMP023 – Hard and Heavy Special Featuring Firewind, WASP, and George Lynch

Corey Koehler — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:48:28 +0000

A quick multiple choice for you. Which answer below describes the best way for you to enjoy this special metal episode?

A) Listen to during your workout or run.
B) Listen while standing around the keg or having a few brews with friends.
C) Listen to supercharge the start of your day.
D) Listen to while surfing the web or gaming.
E) Listen to while commuting.
F) All of the above.

Find out why you should have answered with “F” by pressing play now.

Click Button To Play | Right-Click To Download

NEW! Have a comment, request or review of your own that you would like played on the show? Call (206)202-7672 now and leave a message.

Here are the songs heard on this podcast and links to each artists website;
Firewind -”Falling to Pieces” (get it free on eMusic)
Diecast – “Fade Away” (get it free on eMusic)
Throw The Fight – “Endless Struggle”
W.A.S.P. – “Mercy” (get some classic WASP free on eMusic)
King – “Sweet Lorain”
Souls of We – “Everything I Want” (get it free on eMusic)
Mad Margritt - “Animal”(get it free on eMusic)
Firewind – Mercenary Man” (get it free on eMusic)
Lillian Axe – “Antarctica”

Other sites mentioned in this podcast;
The Classic Metal Show
Hear me talk music on the on a roundtable on the Social Blend metal special

Stop by my iTunes page now, tell me what you think by posting a comment and then subscribe.

Most of these and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network.

MMP022 – Mix and Match Featuring Nine Inch Nails, Buckcherry, Bob Mould and Ice T

Corey Koehler — Mon, 26 May 2008 04:38:50 +0000

Did you ever think you would hear Nine Inch Nails, Buckcherry, Bob Mould and Ice T on the same ~~radio show~~ podcast? Me neither but the pieces fit.

See how the pieces all fit together by pressing play now.

Click Button To Play | Right-Click To Download

NEW! Have a comment, request or review of your own that you would like played on the show? Call (206)202-7672 now and leave a message.

Here are the songs heard on this podcast and links to each artists website;
Last November – “Sunday After Noon”(get it free on eMusic)
Nine Inch Nails – Discipline (Download Free at NIN.com)
The Crash Moderns – “Where’d All the Scene Girls Go”(get it free on eMusic)
Buckcherry – “Sorry”
Bob Mould – “The Silence Between Us”
Hot Rod Circuit - “Gin and Juice”
Black Ice (featuring Ice T and Black Silver) – “So Fly”
Three Miles Out – “Knock Me Down”

Stop by my iTunes page now, tell me what you think by posting a comment and then subscribe.

Most of these and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network.

The Beatles’ Studio Revolution of 1962

treadmarkz — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:03:56 +0000

Guest post: Treadmarkz is a Human Beatles Encyclopedia and author of the weblog Treadmarkz.wordpress.com

Buddy Holly wrote his own songs. Chuck Berry wrote his own songs. Little Richard wrote his own songs. Paul McCartney and John Lennon, being devoted followers of all three, began writing their own songs early, and often. McCartney wrote rough versions of “I’ll Follow the Sun” and “When I’m Sixty-Four” in about 1957. And many of the originals from the Beatles first album were written by John and Paul around that same time. They knew that it set them apart from the other up-and-coming bands.

But rock n’ roll had changed drastically by 1960. Holly was dead, Berry was in jail, Little Richard had become a preacher, and Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll himself, had become a balladeer, more interested in making movies than creating a movement. Rock n’ Roll was in trouble. Balladeers singing already-proven hit songs were running the charts. Nothing new was happening!

Fast-forward to September 1962. The Beatles had just been brought in to record their first professional single at Abbey Road Studio. In June of that year, during their audition, they had brought in a number of original songs that they intended to show off. After playing them all, producer George Martin did not think any of them were strong enough to be a single. He also did not like their drummer, Pete Best.

When the Beatles came back in September with Ringo Starr on the skins, Martin suggested a song called “How Do You Do It?” written by Mitch Murray, a professional songwriter. So the Beatles came in and recorded the song. But they knew it did not suit them. They insisted on having another go at a song they had submitted in June, “Love Me Do”, and they continued to argue for it until they got their way.

Their first single, “Love Me Do” was their own song, as was it’s b-side “P.S. I Love You”. Gerry and the Pacemakers went on to success of their own with “How Do You Do It?” but not as much success as the Beatles. The Beatles version of the song can be heard on the Beatles Anthology 1 CD, disc one.

The version of “Love Me Do” recorded on Sept. 4 would become the Beatles first single, but another version would be recorded for the Beatles first album, Please Please Me a week later. It seems that Martin did not like Ringo’s drumming either, at this point, and brought in a professional session drummer, Andy White.
Many fans now point out how painfully simple and repetitive “Love Me Do” is. This may be true, but the Beatles had taken creative control from day one, and went on to inspire generations of musicians to sing their own songs, and do your own thing. September 4, 1962 is certainly the day “The Sixties” began, at least for rock n’ roll.

Entertaining Beer Commercial From Amstel Light (Video)

Corey Koehler — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:54:08 +0000

I had this video sent to me by a friend today. I thought I would pass it on since it is worth a chuckle or two. At first I thought it was a little far fetched but then I showed it to my wife. Apparently it isn’t as far off as I thought. She’s such [...] Related posts:

Gene Simmons Out, Trace Adkins Safe on Celebrity Apprentice

Corey Koehler — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:55:28 +0000

They say that pride is always greatest before the fall and that was the story in this weeks episode. Gene came, Gene saw, Gene couldn’t admit he was wrong and then ended up getting fired only three weeks in.

I am a little bummed about it but Gene made his own bed. He didn’t meet the Kodak executives and ended up missing the obvious selling point with the Kodak printer; the fact that it uses only half the ink of other printers (I sound like a commercial).

He also could’ve saved himself by bringing the two women – that met with the executives and missed the message – back into the boardroom, but didn’t. Trump was all but begging him to bring the them in but he still refused. The man is bullheaded.

Meanwhile, with Gene gone, I will turn my attention to the other music mogul on the show; Trace Adkins.

So far, other than laying down a great voice over for the Pedigree commercial in episode two, Trace hasn’t done or said much.

This week he did a couple fairly trivial things; Helped prep the trailer, calmed the other guys down when they were stressing out after 8 hours of imaging work was erased after coffee spilled on the laptop and make a fairly cheesy joke when greeting Jim Cramer at the job site (I’ll spare you the details on the joke).

Trace should get a little more air time as the field thins out. Plus, the way the women are looking he should be safe for awhile.

Remember to check out the Celebrity Apprentice Wikipedia page. It lists the celebs bios and keeps track of their wins and loses. See you next time.

Have a Cigar You’re Gonna Go Far

Corey Koehler — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:51:36 +0000

Many times the music experience involves more than just the music. Perhaps You like to have a drink or three while listening. Maybe you like to listen while surfing the web. Or maybe you are one of those who likes to puff on something…like a cigar. If you like the latter then this post is for you.

While listening to a PodshowAnswerGuy Podcast today I heard a gentleman promoting his blog about cigars. The site is Cigarjack.net. You should check it out.

I am not a cigar guy my self – since I have have trouble committing to anything that takes more than 5 minutes to smoke – but I have plenty of friends that are. When they get together they can go on for hours talking about all things stoggy so I am betting that most cigar smokers would be all over a blog like Cigarjack.

Lets Give a Big Musicgoat Welcome to…

Update: Gene Simmons on Celebrity Apprentice Week 2

Corey Koehler — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:54:23 +0000

Welcome to another installment of me telling you about my latest guilty pleasure; watching Gene Simmons on the reality show “Celebrity Apprentice.”

This week Gene ruffled some feathers and took a few risks but ultimately led the guys to another victory. But, didn’t look to hot for Gene and the boys for awhile though.

After they were tasked with creating a commercial for the Pedigree dog food company – which basically encourages the masses to adopt a pet – Gene got a little sexist with “The Dons” daughter Ivanca when he accused her of ease dropping for the ladies. In all honesty I thought it was a pretty stupid move, but he did apologize in the board room so all was good.

He also made the decision to send all of the other guys back so that he and Stephen Baldwin – the chosen director for this project – could work on the final edit alone. This ticked the other guys guys off who felt they needed to be involved since their butts where on the line. This was a little shocking at first but not surprising after thinking about it. After all, every one of these dudes is successful type-A millionaire, they’re used to control.

There you have it, another small update on antics of the “God of Thunder.” If you haven’t had go check out the show at the Celebrity Apprentice website.

Update: Check out the Celebrity Apprentice Wikipedia page. It lists the celebs bios and keeps track of their wins and loses.

See Gene Simmons Rock on Celebrity Apprentice

Corey Koehler — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 06:04:41 +0000

If you like cocky, ultra smooth and unapologetic rock stars and celebs matching wits with billionaire Donald Trump, then you will dig the show Celebrity Apprentice. Gene Simmons in particular makes viewing a real treat.

Being referred to as the “secret weapon” by actor and teammate Stephen Baldwin, Gene plays lets his presence be known in the first episode.

First, he impressed The Don by coining his teams name – “Hydra.” Second, while all of the other celebrity’s argued about the best way to sell hot dogs for their first, Gene calmly started calling wealthy friends and getting sales. Thanks to him, the guys crushed the women by raising $50,000+ to the womens ten something.

You can watch it Thursday nights on NBC, Saturday nights on CNBC and/or any time on the Celebrity Apprentice website. When you are finished you should swing over and check out the Gene Simmons bio on Celebrity Apprentice site. You’ll see that, other than playing music, spitting blood and endlessly flashing his freakishly long tongue, he has led a pretty interesting life (did you know he dated Diana Ross? Me neither).

Lets Give a Big Musicgoat Welcome to…

Corey Koehler — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 01:25:34 +0000

He guys I have some good news for you. Starting today you will begin to see posts from an long time friend of mine: Brice (aka BL).

A few months back I told him I was doing some blogging. After reading my content on this site – other than ripping on my shaky writing skills – he thought he would give it a shot. So before he goes through all of the trouble of setting up his own blog, he is going to give it a go on the Musicgoat.

You will see that he has a pretty unique perspective on anything music. Although he is not quite the Musicgoat that I am, he’s in the ballpark. Over the years he’s been listening to everything from Slayer to Statler Brothers to Boys II Men to Snoop to Pearl Jam and even Kriss Kross.

Also, he doesn’t particularly like cover bands. Guys like Axl Rose, Eddie Vedder and Serj from System of a Down are Gods to him. And, believe it or not, he can frequently eat about two pounds of Hamburger Helper in one sitting without gaining a pound (lucky bastard).

Stick around because this should be fun. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with.

Do You Agree With This Einstein Quote?

Corey Koehler — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 18:24:03 +0000

Get out your thinking caps and see if you would agree with this quote.

“All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree.” – Albert Einstein

Even though it adds a nice complexity to the question it is too bad we couldn’t scrap the religion part.

Sounds like a great theme for a song or even a concept album.

There, that should give you something to think about for the rest of the day.

No related posts.

A Video That is Clever, Funny and All Country

Corey Koehler — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:06:50 +0000

The song on this video is pretty funny and I just had to share this with you. I heard it a few months ago on Adam Curry’s Podcast “The Daily Source Code.” I was going to post it then but forgot about it until the other day when a friend of mines wife emailed it to everyone.

The name of the artist is Rodney Carrington and the song is “Show Them To Me.” I don’t know a whole lot about the guy but I do know that his style predominantly country and he writes some damn funny songs.

Check it out and be sure you listen to the words closely because you will crack a smile.

Beer Talk: Rolling Rock Green Light

Corey Koehler — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 04:38:56 +0000

You know I like talking beer and I wanted to share one of my recent favorites. It is called Rolling Rock Green Light.

I found it one night when I decided I wasn’t in the mood to spend sixteen bucks for a twelver of Newcastle. It caught my eye and $9.59 later I was on my way home.

It comes in a bottle, as most good beer does, and is very light and refreshing (cheesy but true). Almost comparable to Heineken.

As a side benefit, for those of you like to keep the midsection to a minimum, Green Light clocks in at 91 calories and 2.6 carbs. Good old fashioned semi-guilty free drinking. What could be better?

This is the first beer in the history of me that has made me want to drink it at home by myself on a non-party, non-social type night. Rolling Rock Green Light almost calls to me every time I walk past the fridge in the garage or just before I sit down to do a podcast.

So anyway, I think you get the picture. Time to get out there and see what I’m talking about. If you like light beer, get your ass to the liquor store and pick up a twelver of Rolling Rock Green Light.

Welcome Jersey Todd Listeners!

Corey Koehler — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:17:13 +0000

First, I want to thank Jersey Todd for giving me some publicity. What a guy!

Next, if you are here because of Jersey Todd, welcome. I figured I would give you a quick tour.

First thing you are going to want to do is check out check out is the About page. There is a method to my madness and you should know up front.

Second, check out some of the reviews I’ve done for some very deserving artists. I have a ton of people sending me stuff to review all the time and every chance I get I share it with you.

Third, I do like to talk stupid and share humorous music related stuff every now and then. There are a few examples for you in the humor category.

Once you have checked it all out go ahead and subscribe. If you made it that far you are going to want to hang around for much more of the same.

Anyway, thanks again for stopping’ by. I know she’s not much to look at right now but a new Musicgoat them is in works as we speak (can’t wait). See you soon.

Note to all of my dedicated readers (and listeners), make sure you swing over and check out The Jersey Toddshow. He’s a lawyer who really likes Indie music and sharing his opinions. Good stuff!

Thanks again JT!

No related posts.

Three Ways to Learn Guitar Online

Corey Koehler — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 14:17:51 +0000

This stuff comes right out the “I wish they had this stuff when I was a kid” category. Check out these sites and develop, or start learning, your guitar chops. Pick your medium. I’ve only found three but I just bet there are quite a bit more Via video – GuitarTricks.com Via email – GuitarTips.com.au [...] Related posts:

Need Professional Help?

Corey Koehler — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:32:14 +0000

Here is something cool that you might like. I saw this on Digg today. It is a text editor that uses the voices of rockstars to sing back the text you enter. Go check it out and Let rockstars sing it for you. Related posts:Hey Songwriters! Check Out These Songwriting Contests Related posts:

Hey Songwriters! Check Out These Songwriting Contests

Can You Write a Song?

Corey Koehler — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:23:07 +0000

Hey! Do you want a really short blog post telling you where you can go kill some time and maybe even write a hit single? I thought so. Go now and check out the website Chordstudio. You can choose your very own chords and then pick the instruments to play them. No musical talent required [...] Related posts:

How About a Little Rush! (Video)

Corey Koehler — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:36:22 +0000

Do you wanna see a cool music video? Check out this animated video set to the band Rush’s classic instrumental. Props to Rush on a great song and also to a creative individual named Bobby Standridge. Bobby Standridge explains the inspiration for this video on Neil Peart’s website. Related posts:Music Video For My Memorial Song [...] Related posts:

A List of the Worst Cover Songs

Corey Koehler — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:44:26 +0000

Behold, another entertaining find for you in the wonderful world of music. Here’s a site that lists some of what they think are the worst covers song ever.

Not sure why “Layla” made the list but Olivia Newton-John doing the Johnny Cash classic “Ring of Fire” certainly belongs.

For the record I would like to add a song by the late 80′s Glam metal band Faster Pussycat doing a cover of Carly Simon’s “Your So Vain.” What the hell where they thinking?

Do you have any nasty cover songs you’d like to share? You can share them with the rest of us in the comments below.

The Everyday Weekender Has More of What You Need

Corey Koehler — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 03:08:00 +0000

You and I both know that great music goes great with weekends. Today I wanted to tell you about a site that celebrates the weekend everyday (A mindset which I am sure you could get used to).

Besides having a great name and a very cool image (when you get there look to the top left of your browser next to the page title) Everyday Weekender has an original theme and it is filled with great content. There are great articles about the goods and activities you might want to enjoy along with some of that great music you hear about on the Musicgoat. Things like good beer, poker, horseshoes and great food. There is also a nice helping of sports and finance stuff.

For those of you who have a a website, blog or any type of link to promote he will help you spread the love by increasing your page rank and exposure if you review his blog.

Stop by and check it out.

No related posts.

Did You Know It’s Illegal To Play Cover Songs in a Bar?

Corey Koehler — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 02:05:39 +0000

Wow, the old school music industry must be getting very desperate. I found a story about how ASCAP is looking for royalty fees from bars and coffee houses that have acts that perform cover tunes. Many of these businesses are barely making ends meat and, rather than pays the fee, are requiring that the musicians [...] Related posts:

Get New Paul McCartney Album “Memory Almost Full” for Free

Corey Koehler — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:03:32 +0000

I realize this is sort of old news but how cool is this? In another sign that the music industry is loosing ground, a major artist is using non-traditional means to distribute music. Mega-legend Paul McCartney has made his new album, “Memory Almost Full” available on the DRM free music download service eMusic.

What is even cooler is the fact that you can go there right now, sign up for free and take advantage of the 25 Free Downloads promotion to get the whole album for free.

Check it out and while there take a look around, there is a ton of great indie music available throughout the site.

You Can Never Have Too Many Hangover Tips

Corey Koehler — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:27:16 +0000

You can never have enough information when it comes to making your good times feel better the next day. That is why I am passing on this little article offering up hangover preventions and remedies. It received quite a few votes on Digg the other day so there must be something to it. However, I [...] Related posts:

My Two Cents on Live Earth

Corey Koehler — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 00:21:59 +0000

Is it just me or is there something addictive about these festivals? I was tied to the TV yesterday for a good portion of the morning and much of the evening checking out the Live Earth coverage. When I wasn’t watching I was thinking about it.

I was able to see a ton of different artists which is always cool. Here are some of the thoughts I had as I watched them perform.

Cool to see Roger Waters doing some vintage Floyd. The floating pig was a nice touch.

I found myself tapping my toe to Duran Duran. I feel a little dirty about this considering how much I disliked them in my youth.

I wonder if the guitar player for Linkin Park is bored to death.

Watched Metallica perform my least favorite songs by them.

I just know I heard a steel guitar during one of the Bon Jovi tunes. Does that make them country now? If I were to look for their music would I look in the country section? Just curious.

I didn’t realize that Macy Gray was so outspoken.

Like her or not there is something cool about Madonna playing a Les Paul dressed like Lucille Ball (my wife pointed that out). Even cooler is the fact that she was actually playing it. She’s a pro.

I could go on all day but I will stop. I just wanted to get out a post on Live Earth. Just didn’t feel right to not say anything, especially considering that I this is a music site.

Oh, and one last thing. I think that it is great that all of these bands hooked up to promote this worthy cause, it is way overdue, but there is something that just doesn’t sit right with me when I listen to these mega popular artists preach to me between songs. I’m not questioning their motives, it just doesn’t feel right. Here is an article I found where one of the Pet Shop Boys weighs in on Live Earth. He gives us a little food for thought next time we are watching a similar event.

Do You Know These Famous Musician?

Corey Koehler — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:36:36 +0000

I would almost bet that you like a song or two from international superstar and activist Paul David Hewson. But were you into the music of Hugh Anthony Cregg? Or how about Stanley Harvey Eisen?

Who the hell are these people you say?

Well, believe it or not, they are rock stars. Check out this list to see who you know them as.

See What Songs Were Voted Most Irritating of All Time

Prince to Give Away New Album for Free

Corey Koehler — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:04:52 +0000

Yep you read that right. Prince is really going to give his new album away for free in a newspaper. I guess he wants to get the music to the massess.

The thing that stands out the most in this article from The Guardian is how pissed off some of the retailers are about this. I suppose I can understand their anger since it takes money out of their pocket but is it justified?

Hell no!

Music retailers are a dying breed. Instead of whining about how one artist is going to market his own material, perhaps they would make better use their time by thinking about another business venture.

How Prince, or any other artist, wants to market their own music is none of their business. If the guy wants to give his stuff away for free, thats his decision. Besides, giving stuff away for free isn’t such a bad strategy.

It is always cool to see an artist with his stature mix things up a little.

See What Songs Were Voted Most Irritating of All Time

Corey Koehler — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:48:15 +0000

Sometimes polls are kind of fun and even insightful. Recently, The Sun reported on a poll about the most annoying songs. I find it very hard to disagree with a few of the songs on this list. The James Blunt song certainly grinds on me. I think it is something with that voice La Macarena [...] Related posts:

Internet Radio Losing Ground

Corey Koehler — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:10:19 +0000

In the past I’ve put out some articles concerning my participation in a petition to keep royalty fees from getting high enough to squeeze out smaller internet broadcasters. In protest to this many of the online radio stations are going to protest by hitting the off button next Tuesday, June 26th. You can read more on that here.

I’ve been looking into the cost of paying royalties for when I start up my podcasts. It isn’t really that cheap to begin with but the prices are fair. They are affordable for someone who really wants the freedom to share and promote good music by any artist. If the price gets any higher, small guys like myself aren’t going to be able to afford it which will mean that internet radio will slowly start sounding like your local one size fits all stations (fine if you like that stuff).

I want to be able to play and promote anything just as I do now for my friends and family. I would also like help promote good bands with the opportunity to get compensated for my efforts without the fear of a big fine because I pissed off a band or record company.

In my opinion it is in the best interest of the fans and the artists to keep royalties low enough for small guys to get involved but increase royalties as the revenue from these smaller outfits increases. That way everyone wins; you the fan won’t get a watered down selection of music, broadcasters won’t be deterred from doing what they do best, and you the artist will get a level playing field to promote your music all while being fairly compensated for your efforts.

Make Your Warm Brew Cold in 2 Minutes

Corey Koehler — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:36:24 +0000

Just in time for summer. I came across this handy little chunk of info this morning and thought you would find it useful. Gomestic.com has authored a post entitled How to Freeze a Beer in Just Two Minutes. Related posts:How to be DRM Free and Convert Your iTunes Files to MP3 Related posts:

How to be DRM Free and Convert Your iTunes Files to MP3