Life Is Short.

This past week, an earthquake and tsunami both devastated the country of Japan; my thoughts go out to the millions affected in Japan during this time of disaster.  Find out how you can help here.


Death is part of the circle of life.  It is with a heavy heart that I've recently learned of the untimely passing of three musicians: Germany's Andreas Hedjran (aka Hedj), the UK's Phil Vane (lead vocalist for grindcore band Extreme Noise Terror) and USA's Mike Starr (former bassist for Alice In Chains).

Andreas Hedjran | 1984-2011 | RIP

Hedj is one of my favorite Drum & Bass producers, and had released tunes on Trust In Music and Bad Taste.  Two of my personal favorites are "disjunction (N Phect remix)" on Trust In Music and "acid fruit" on from 'The Reaction' LP on Fall Out UK Recordings.  According to kmag, he was swimming in a river near his home when the strong current pushed him under.  Paramedics failed to keep him alive; he was 27 when he passed.  Bad Taste will be releasing the final tune that Hedj had been working on, which Blokhe4d have finished up, entitling it "spirit" (backed with a collaboration that he made with fellow German producers Neonlight called "the joker") in the near future.  All proceeds from the release will be donated to his family.  RIP.

Phil Vane | 1965-2011 | RIP

Phil Vane, of highly influential grindcore band Extreme Noise Terror, passed in his sleep at the age of 46 on February 17, 2011.  ENT was formed in Ipswitch, UK in 1985 and have been a major influence in the hardcore, grindcore and crust punk scenes, with their political lyrics and short, brutal songs.  The band was a favorite of late BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel (know also for supporting Napalm Death early in their career) and recorded several Peel Sessions with him.  My favorite release has to be the split that they recorded with Trap Them for Deathwish, Inc. in 2008.  It was a 7" split single featuring ENT on side A with their tune "religion is fear", backed with Trap Them's "day eighteen: enders".  Totally brutal.  RIP.

Mike Starr | 1966-2011 | RIP

Mike Starr, founding and former member of legendary (in my opinion, anyways) rock band Alice In Chains, has passed away at the age of 44 on March 8th, 2011.  Although the cause of death was not immediately know, Starr was known to have battled substance abuse for sometime.  He appeared on the VH1 reality show "Celebrity Rehab" last year, battling an addiction to heroin.  Former vocalist Layne Staley died from an overdose of cocaine and heroin in 2002.  Alice In Chains' second LP, 1992's "Dirt", was the first CD that I ever owned; tracks such as "them bones", "damn that river", "rain when I die", "rooster", "angry chair" and of course the incredible "would?" were pretty much the soundtrack to my freshman and sophomore years in high school.  RIP.

Life is too short.  Do all that you can in the time that you have.  No regrets.

It's a personal choice.

On Facebook recently, my friend Mike asked me what my thoughts were regarding an NPR interview at gizmodo.com with A-Trak (turntablist extraordinaire and DJ for Kanye West) about the DJ software Serato.  For those who don't know, Serato (technically Serato Scratch Live) is software that allows DJ's to manipulate digital audio files, such as mp3 and .wav, using turntables with special "timecoded" 12" vinyl records.  Using this software means that a DJ can retain the feel of spinning vinyl while only bringing a very limited amount of gear: the Serato control box, 2 - 12" timecoded records and a laptop with as many tunes as the hard drive can handle.  Here was my response:


"I think that Serato and other products like it, such as Traktor, are excellent tools in a DJ's arsenal. The option to not carry 100 lbs. of vinyl records to every gig is unparalleled. Also, as the article mentioned, you can trade music with other DJ's instantly with hard drives. The vinyl controllers still allow DJ's to manipulate the mix "old-school", as if they were using the actual records. All you have to do is bring your laptop and your set.

I personally like CDJ's (CD player turntables) myself. I have gotten used to them and like the feel of them. True, I have to carry a load of CD's with me, but it's just a personal choice.

That's what it really comes down to. There have been many discussions about how CDJ's and/or Serato are not the same and that those DJ's don't "keep it real". Well, everyone's entitled to their opinion and some just like to talk so they keep the impression of "keeping it real". All that matters in the end is that the music is delivered to the audience. That's the bottom line; that's what everyone showed up for in the first place, right? It doesn't matter what devices/tools that the DJ uses, it's all about the music."


I'd like to think that many DJ's feel the same way that I do, but just like I have a passion for collecting vinyl, many DJ's have a passion about only using turntables and records.


Just thought I'd share.

Trap Them - "Darker Handcraft" - Prosthetic Records, 2011

This came in the mail yesterday and it's a perfect example of how to package a vinyl release.  This is the newest release by one of my favorite bands, Trap Them.  It's called "Darker Handcraft" and the vinyl edition was released on Prosthetic Records yesterday, March 1st, 2011 (the CD/digital formats will be released on March 15th).  This is the 1st pressing in gray, limited to 100 copies.  

 Amazing artwork by Justin Bartlett.  Produced by Kurt Ballou.

Sturdy cardboard, gatefold cover.

This album is a total rager and I think that it's their best work.  They finally sound like a cohesive unit; this lp has a groove hinted at on their last release, the "Filth Rations" ep on Southern Lord.  Much of this has to do with the addition of Chris Maggio (ex-Coliseum) as their permanent drummer.  Bang your head!

This Is My Blog.

I have always enjoyed creative writing and have had interest in starting a blog since I purchased my first MacBook Pro.  For the longest time, I've always felt that I had nothing to say.  One of the many charms of the internet is that it doesn't matter; either some will read this or no one will and it will get lost among the countless blogs already in existence.

Now is as good a time as any, so here it is.  This is my blog.

Music is the foremost art form in my life.  I work a full time job, have a fiance and a mortgage.  Music is my chosen route of escapism; has been for as long as I can remember.  My parents were enthusiastic and supportive of my love of music, providing me with the first record I ever owned, which was "Thriller" by Michael Jackson in 1982 when I was four years old.  My father enjoyed the vocal stylings of the Beach Boys and Elvis; my mother preferred the sounds of 1960's rock - the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix and Big Brother & The Holding Company.  The following year, in 1983, I was given my first Walkman and my first cassette tape - Huey Lewis & The News' "Sports".  The first CD that I owned was "Dirt" from Alice In Chains, given to me as a Christmas gift in 1992 along with my first CD player.  My fiance Stacey supplied me with my first iPod in 2004, also a Christmas gift, and the first MP3 that I uploaded and listened to was 'concubine' by my favorite band, Converge.  Any activity, from coloring-books to homework to driving my first car, music has been playing.

This blog will feature mostly music-related material.  The next-best thing to listening to music is sharing it with others.  Sharing music with others and turning people on to bands that they wouldn't have heard otherwise is as satisfying as giving gifts on Christmas but done all year long.  I will write about albums that I have recently purchased, bands that I think readers should know about, shows that are happening and dates my colleagues and I are booked to DJ.  It'll be fun, I promise!

I will also write about other things in my life - getting married, being a homeowner, literature, television and cinema that I like, etc.  With all this being said, I invite anyone who reads this blog to provide constructive criticism, suggestions and stories and opinions of their own in the comments section; an open dialogue is always healthy and interesting.

Enjoy!