Top 10 Sexiest Women in Modern Music (In no particular order)

That's right, I'm going there. Every single music publication seems to think it's necessary to do a rundown of the best of everything, including who's sexy in the industry, so here's my list. I almost put Skrillex on here, I mean if SPIN can call him a guitarist I figure I can call him a woman, but I realized they also had a lot more space to waste. (No offense if you read this somehow Sonny, much love, just think a guitar should be a guitar)

1. Lindsey Stirling: She is absolutely gorgeous to begin with, but even more than that, she has some serious passion behind what she does. It's incredibly attractive to see someone so dedicated and in love with what they do. Up until her I never would have used the term beautiful to describe Dubstep. Thumbs up for classical dub. 

2. Lzzy Hale: I think most people know of Ms. Hale by now, at least within the rock Industry. Her vocals are amazing and remind me of what rock use to be, She has such a classic vibe while still maintaining modern popularity (Was incredibly happy to hear her cover HEART's "All I Wanna Do...")

 

3. Jen Ledger: Let's talk about impressive. At only 18 she managed to secure her place as Skillet's drummer, and at times vocalist. The best part being she actually knows how to do both properly. Here's to true talent. 

4. Joss Stone: Because Jazz is still alive and well, and it's appearing in the younger generations finally. Interesting fact that some of you may not know, she has also had a very interesting acting career. Most impressive to me at least, was her role as Anne of Cleves in "The Tudors".

5. Alexis Brown: I'm fairly certain she's going to be the hardest rocker on this list. Straight Line Stitch has managed to push the stereotypical view of a female lead singer straight off a cliff and throws some TNT down behind it just to make sure it's really dead. She's a great screamer, but actually has a fantastic tone for normal singing as well when given the chance.

6. Elise Testone: For those who don't know, Elise was on this season of American Idol, which just ended. She had a shockingly powerful set of pipes and can pull off anything, new or old from what I've seen. I believe she has the potential to be one of the best female voices of her time if she keeps it up.

7. Shea Seger: So you know I have to include someone local. I discovered Shea Seger's music completely by accident at some point and I'm glad I did, otherwise I'd have missed out on some great music. She seems incredibly causal in the way she sings and it makes for a very relaxing experience. 

8. Barlow Girl: Call it cheating if you want, but I'm going to go ahead and jam all three sister into this. Alyssa, Becca, and Lauren have managed to remain true to their beliefs in an industry that at times can be very hard on those who choose to stay moral. It's a very attractive trait to see someone remain strong in their faith, religious or otherwise. That and they make some awesome rock/ pop as well.

9. Ellie Goulding: Odds are good most of us hadn't heard of her until she started collaborating with several dance/ dub/ electronic artists, but Ellie actually has a good range outside of that and is capable of tackling much more than just the next dance floor anthem.

10, Taylor Swift: She seems to take a lot of flack from people because she makes "poppy" music, but you really do need to respect her for her talent. She shows constant strength in her work and for those who haven't noticed, is actually quite good at what she does.

Stories and Intelligence....

One of the biggest problems I have with modern music is the lack of continuity within a single album. I understand that not every song will fit perfectly in line with the others, but there is a terrible tendency to release an album that is essentially just a bunch of tracks thrown together because they "might" sell well individually. The main cause of this is the fact that we've now started using digital formats and people don't choose to buy a full album, so we tend to market with the mentality of selling a single and not the whole album. This however leads me to my second issue, which is the pure lack of intelligent lyrics, both because of the push for faster releases, and frankly, because the majority of people born within the last 30 years have decided that intelligence is an underrated concept. In no particular order, these are my personal top 10 modern rock storytellers and/or "intelligent bands", based on lyric quality and continuation within an album.

1. HURT: This band is spectacular for several reasons. They address many issues that other bands would be afraid to even touch, and take those which have been dealt with and take them that one step further. Their lyrics are intelligent and insightful, begging us to ask questions and think more about what we do in life. While their singles are fantastic on their own, but when listened to in conjunction with one another, you know that it's a hurt album because each successive release feels like a gradually evolving continuation of the last. Hurt - How We End Up Alone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG2KJ4t7wos

2. Poets Of The Fall: Oh Finland, how I love you... POTF are one of those bands that truly understand music. They don't feel the need to swear every other word and even their harder tracks are filled with true beauty and emotion. They have started getting a little more coverage here in America over the last couple of years, in part because of their alter ego in the Alan Wake game "Old Gods of Asgard". No matter what name is used though you're guaranteed a  fantastic set of tracks. POTF - Carnival Of Rust: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMrbMPSMmzs&ob=av2n

3. Coheed And Cambria: I believe more than any other band on this list C&C fit the storyteller label. Every album released by the band is a continuation of a story created by their lead singer, Claudio Sanchez. The world he created has become one of the most involved worlds ever to touch music, including a series of comics and novels, as well as a side project (The Prize Fighter Inferno) which expands the story even more. Some people are bothered by Claudio's vocals as they are a bit higher than most, but that's also what makes for a very unique sound that has made them stand out. C&C - Welcome Home: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0H3RlaQVrM&ob=av2n

4. Tool: If you haven't heard them before, it's past time. Tool is one of the most unusual bands to grace the music industry with their presence, and is constantly redefining the way we look at music. Many of their releases come across fairly dark, but still draw you in nonetheless. Tool - Wings for Marie Part 1/ 10,000 Days (Wings part 2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jty_JUFfn3Y

5. A Perfect Circle: Often considered the second half of Tool, APC is vocalist Maynard Keenan's side band that does in fact seem to expand on a lot of Tool's music. It also seems to be a bit more "mainstream-friendly" than most of Tool's music, at least so far as the general sound goes, so you're more likely to hear APC than Tool on the radio. APC - Passive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-FtUY0m24c

6. Right Away, Great Captain: Andy Hull, better known for his band Manchester Orchestra, has created a very interesting storyline for RAGW, which focuses on a 17th century sailor coming to terms with all the things that are happening in his life. Just as with Coheed and Cambria, each album RAGW releases are just a small part in a much larger story being continued in every album. RAGW: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd3gQEdhwSE

7. Blue October: Justin Furstenfeld is bi-polar, and there is no shame in this. While admitting he's made some mistakes in his life, he has singlehandedly given insight into mental disabilities, and everything else in his personal life over the years, using Blue October as an outlet for understanding and education on such subjects as the disease itself and watching a family fall apart. There is a great strength in his ability to project his emotions into everything he does, and it givs the listener a much needed opportunity to think about more than themselves. Blue October - The Feel Again (Stay): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpeRI_dTsZU

8. Incubus: These guys can be a bit odd at times, but they make fantastic music, and have been doing so for years. Odds are good you've heard several of their songs if you listen to any rock stations. What makes them so interesting is their ability to go from a song with a high instrumental complexity to something with barely anything in it and still come across with an equally impressive track. Incubus - Love Hurts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy-S2WrX-8o&ob=av2n

9. The Script: The majority of songs the band releases are either love songs, or break up songs, which when continually used together tend to irritate me, yet with The Script it doesn't bother me. Their lyrics are easy for most people to identify with , but don't become dumbed down to achieve this. The Script - Nothing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMihKmoYfe8&ob=av2e

10. I'm actually going to leave this one empty. Not because I can't think of another band, but because I'd like to hear who you guys think fits this category. Post your bands below in the comments section.

Basic Adapter 101: Choosing the Right Adapter for Your Recording Needs

Wrote this a while ago for buyusbmicrophone.com, thought I should post it before I forget again...

The “Rock Star”

So, you just bought that shiny new Shure SM58, huh? You invite the rest of the guys from your Justin Bieber cover band (don’t lie, that KoЯn shirt isn’t fooling anyone), you hook up all your synths to your computer and then realize that your mic cable’s quarter inch adapter won’t fit the input. What do you do now? You already opened the package and the store won’t let you return it. Don’t give up just yet though, you haven’t wasted your money, you just need the right adapter.

I Need A What?

For those of you who have been blessed with fully compatible equipment up to this point, an adapter is generally a small piece of equipment that can change the way your hardware transmits its signal to another device. As with anything, changing the signal type can slightly alter your sound quality because you are changing the signal itself, not just the connection, but it shouldn’t be enough of a change to cause any actual problems if done right.

Adapters come in various designs and plug sizes to accommodate your individual needs. 99.9% of the time a microphone will need to connect via XLR (3 pin – Mono/ 5 pin – Stereo), TS (Tip-Sleeve)(mono), TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve)(Stereo), or USB, so finding an adapter for those will be easy at most music gear stores. Most adapters are also relatively inexpensive unless you want something more advanced. Figure on spending between two and fifty dollars for the majority of them.

What Kind Of Adapter Is Best For Me?

In the example above, our “hero” is attempting to connect Shure’s SM58 to a computer, so odds are good you’ll be starting with XLR and want a USB adapter (All adapters are designed to do the same basic thing, so for the sake of ease I’m going to continue using that as an example. You can find the specific connection you need by looking at your gear’s connections online). If you plan on sitting still or remaining close to your input then you might want to pick up something like Blue’s “Icicle” (generally $50 give or take), which you can plug your existing microphone cable into and then from there plug into your computer’s USB port.

If you want to be able to move around more, you might want to go for a full size XLR cable that will plug directly into your microphone with one end and then converts the signal within the cable to USB on the other end ($10-$20. Price can vary depending on the cable, but this is usually the cheaper option).

While your exact needs will dictate what you end up needing, between the stationary adapter and a full cable the cable is usually the best option. There are several reasons why I say this. First, as stated, any change in signal can alter the sound quality, so by using a direct input you are able to avoid a good portion of potential problems. Even though they are designed to transform the signal, the more devices you have to go through, the more your quality will become degraded.

Second, a desk microphone will be fine with going through a secondary piece because it will probably have a stand of its own, but most microphones are meant to be held or elevated to some degree, so you’ll have to use a cable in addition. If you try to take the SM58 mentioned above and plug the adapter directly into the microphone without some sort of cable in between, you can’t lift it, and if you’re not careful with placement could snap the adapter or damage the microphone.

My last reason is actually just for the sake of having another cable. If I’ve learned one thing about equipment use it’s that you can never have too many cables. It seems that every time you buy a new piece of equipment to replace, or use in conjunction with existing items, it needs just one more cable beyond what the manufacturer provided (I’m sure they’ll include some paperwork that shows they just happen to carry the exact cable you need… How convenient). Regardless of your primary reason though, it’s just generally helpful to have an alternative way of connecting your equipment. If you think your microphone is broken while using the original cable, testing it with the other might save you a small fortune.

What If I Have A USB Microphone Already, Is There A Way To Convert It To Another Format?

That’s a good question. Much though I hate to be the bearer of bad news, this is not currently possible. Normal adapters transmit audio, but one that transmits your audio via USB is turning your original signal into digital data, so the computer is simply translating the new information into sound. This is why if you listen to a voice recorded via a poorly made USB device it may sound somewhat robotic.

I’m sure this then leads you to ask why it won’t work the other way. Normal USB microphones and adapters send data to a computer for translation, but you can’t send data into something meant for audio, it won’t know what to do with it. In this case you simply need to buy a normal microphone, or if your USB mic is compatible with other kinds, just buy a different cable. This is probably one of the biggest advantages of putting out the extra money for a high quality microphone, so you can just use one mic and switch cables as needed.

I Think I Know What I Need Now, But The Store Has So Many…

Once you figure out the kind of adapter you want, you’ll need to decide what brand to go with. Just as with microphones there are a million different brands for any kind of adapter you might need, so with so many choices it’s no surprise that you might be a little confused about which kind to buy. If you trusted a company enough to buy their microphone, your best bet is generally to go with something made by the same company; it will be designed to work with their hardware with minimal changes to quality. You can still choose to get another brand’s adaptor and it may work just as well or better than the one your mic company made. Understand though that it still comes down to hardware and software quality. You can only “upscale” so much, if you have a terrible microphone the adapter won’t change that.

Time For Some Music

Finally, you have everything you need, and it’s time to make some music! (Be sure if you’re not familiar with it already to check your manuals and/or the internet for the specifics of your equipment to avoid damaging your device or adapter.)

Read more: http://buyusbmicrophone.com/basic-adapter#ixzz1u27Zc0Zq

New(ish) Music Review: Ben Draiman - Apathy

This week I'm going off the grid again for a man I'm proud to consider a (long distance) friend. Ben Draiman, originally of Chicago, has spent the last four years performing and working on his music in Israel and has started putting out some fantastic recordings. Yes, for those who know the name, Ben is related to David Draiman of Disturbed. I mention this hesitantly because it never fails to come up when I discuss Ben with people, but I want it understood that comparisons should stop with the name, because the music is entirely different and any attempt to equate the two with such distinct differences in style would be an insult to them both. Now on to the review...

It needs more tracks! This is not a negative as "Apathy" is technically an EP, and I can still get more by listening to the live album ("From Within"), but I'd like very much to hear more studio recorded tracks out of him. "Soon Enough" gives a strong start to the EP, with a nice piano-rock vibe. The majority of the album is in an acoustic style, with piano music through-out. A lot of the songs have a slightly sad feeling to them, but not in a depressing way. Rather, the album is trying to give the listener a hopeful nudge, telling us that, "No, life isn't perfect, but if you take the time you have the power to make it so much better". Overall, I'll give the album a 4.5/5 which is pretty dang good for a first release. My favorite tracks currently are "Soon Enough" (The main rock track), and "Would you know love?", one of Ben's piano only tracks, giving us a nice chance to appreciate his range without a lot of distractions. You can check out his Bandcamp for his singles http://bendraimanmusic.bandcamp.com/ , or shoot him a message and order the full EP and live album. Either way you're supporting good music. Cheers all.

Tracklist:

1. Soon Enough

2. Apathy

3. Headstrong (Live)

4. Would You Know Love?

5. Taken For Granted

Managing Some Respect...

Succeeding in this industry can be a rewarding task, but it also takes a lot away from you at the same time. I've been lucky enough up to this point that most of what I do can be covered via the internet or locally, so I don't have much trouble seeing my friends and family, but I'm something of a rarity in that case. The majority of people working in the industry are always on the run, especially if they are in, or work in conjunction with, the band. It isn't generally cost effective to have your family/ spouse/ girlfriend (or boyfriend) on the road with you, and even if the funds are there, the road isn't always the best place for everyone, some small children for example. Because of this, more often than not, people can wind up going anywhere from weeks to a year without having any real contact with their loved ones. This is in part why a lot of bands, especially when they're newer to the industry show so much love to their fans. You're keeping them going in more ways than you can imagine, so in a way the fans become part of the family. On the other side of things though, is a group of people neglected in that respect. I realized as I've gone to shows over the years, that as much as I love the bands, and probably owe my life to more than a few of you in one way or another, I mainly go to see the management and staff now. These guys (and girls) keep the bands safe, prepared, and are to a degree the band's parents and family on the road (Unless you're Halestorm, where their mom actually is the manager. Props to Beth). Often they take crap they shouldn't have to from fans, and occasionally the bands, because they push to get the bands out of the venue and to the next show, or tell a fan they can't harass the band endlessly. Try looking at it from their point of view though, they're rarely recognized for how hard they work, sitting in the shadow of the band without complaint, but if the something goes wrong with the band, they're responsible for fixing it and will be the first ones blamed for the issue, because they were supposed to be "responsible" for the band's actions. This also means that to many, the staff are "expendable". Imagine if after all their years of success, Bon Jovi went on stage with a different lead singer, would anyone think Jon was expendable? The fact is there are people on the management side of things who have been around just as long, or longer than the band, but they don't get the recognition they deserve because they're in the background, and with few exceptions, fans ignore them until they decide they "want something" from them. Show the staff some more respect guys. The band needs them and cares about them, and if you care about the band, you as a fan need them. So please, the next time you're thinking about hitting up a show, take some time to find out who works with/ for your favorite band, and thank them. Heck, give them a big hug (No stalking, stalking is BAD), and let them know that you appreciate all their hard work. 

And to those of you I specifically directed parts of this towards, I love you guys and hope to see you again soon. Have a safe time on the road and keep up the amazing work, you're appreciated more than you know.

- KMA

I had the good fortune of attending Edgefest 22 this year on a media pass, which made for a very excitable weekend. I've attended the show in the past and greatly enjoyed it, but this year's line-up more than warranted an article, so welcome to the (albiet simple) mass-review of Edgefest 22!

Chomsky: I've got to be honest, I was a bit disappointed by the show's opening act. At one point in time, Chomsky was huge and made national television performances that showed they weren't a band to ignore. Now though I found myself sadly less excited to see them and a bit frustrated by the constant use of the third person by the lead singer. That said, they still put on a good show, it just needed a little work. Also in fairness, I was working on the other side of the arena for part of their set, so I'd hate to be judging them unfairly.

Aranda: These guys were the start of Edgefest for me. Great energy and good rock in general. I hadn't listened to these guys much until recently, so it was a real treat to hear them live and discover that they were capable of putting on a good live show as well as studio recordings. It's nice to find more bands that aren't relying on audio engineers to make their music sound good for them.

The Features: This was the first time I'd even listened to the band, primarily because they were on a Twilight soundtrack. I guess even good music can wind up in the wrong place from time to time though ;) The band like many others over the last few years have adopted an "old-school" sound and it thankfully worked in their case. Definitely worth a listen if you haven't heard them already.

Switchfoot: Christian rock is alive and well. I've been listening to Switchfoot for about 15 years now, and they haven't had a bad album yet as far as I'm concerned. They were the first "big" act of the day and played many favorites as well as a spectacular Jane's Addiction cover. It was refreshing as always to see a band rock out without feeling the need to swear every few seconds. I tried to limit all bands to 3 pictures, but Switchfoot needed more. That's the story I'm sticking to.

Dead Sara: It's well beyond time for this band to get some recognition. Far too often, rock bands with female singers are either Avril Lavigne and Paramore clones (Not to say that's always bad, but the goal should be to sound fresh), or are incapable of really rocking. Dead Sarah is neither of these things. Lead singer Emily Armstrong has a rich, beautiful, and emotional tone somewhat reminiscent of Heart's Ann Wilson, and she's also capable of yelling with a smooth or rough quality and it comes out great either way. Give them a listen, I see great things coming for them in the near future.

Civil Twilight: The first time I noticed Civil Twilight was after hearing their song "Letters From The Sky" in an ad on TV, and it didn't take long for me to become a fan after that. Their set was impressive enough with their own music and then they decided to cover "Teardrop" by Massive Attack. I understand some M.A. fans are bothered by this, but understand it's meant to be their version, so yes, it is a bit different but that's what makes it good. Very impressive set overall.

Foxy Shazam: What do I say about these guys? I'm honestly not a fan of the band, but I can't bring myself to dislike them either. Even without caring for their music I found myself extremely entertained by the band members themselves. I don't believe even the band is expecting to be taken seriously as they do a lot of humor related things in both their videos and costuming, live or otherwise. They certainly know how to entertain and more importantly they clearly enjoy what they do which is one of the biggest factors I see in their favor. I can easily see how someone could start out going to shows for a laugh and then turn into a fan of the music over time. Heck, even as I'm writing this I'm finding myself becoming a fan of their song "Unstoppable". If you think about it though they are fairly similar to Queen in a lot of ways. (Please don't lynch me, I grew up on Queen). 

Neon Trees: N.T. hit the mainstream back in 2010 with the release of their single, "Animal", and quickly took over the radio with it. Now they've released their second full length album which includes the single "Everybody Talks". Live they were fantastic, although I actually heard some complaints from the crowd because the band decided to make up a story about the origin of the single regarding last year's Edgefest. Really guys, let the band have some fun, they're doing it to entertain you.

The Ting Tings: As with Foxy Shazam, I don't dislike the band, but I could never get into most of their music. Still though what I saw of them was very entertaining, and their music translated well in a live format.

Arctic Monkeys: Oddly enough I think that there were more people wearing Arctic Monkeys shirts than any other band at the show. Besides that though I don't have a lot to say for them either. The band put on an enjoyable, sold performance worthy of Edgefest and the giant crowd they attracted.

Blue October: Every time I see these guys the show is completely different, even if they play the same songs. Blue October is one of those bands I really can't get tired of. There is always a change made lyrically and/or instrumentally, for example this time the band played around with both vocal effects and the instrumental on "X Amount of Words". One of the best things for me about them is also that so often Justin decides to speak the words most important to him, rather than just belting them out. It ensures that the listener has to pay attention and think about them. They are also one of the most dedicated bands I've ever met when it comes to their fans, much love to Blue October.

Cage The Elephant: Ain't no rest for the wicked, or so I hear anyway. I've heard a lot of mixed reports on Cage's live shows (as to whether on not they suck) and I'm happy to report they were amazing at Edgefest, so everyone can be happy.

Evanescence: Yes ma'am, I'm sure Amy Lee knows you love her (shifts as far away as possible from said individual in crowd)... Sad as I was when Ben Moody left the band, I can't say currently that it was a mistake. While the band has clearly changed since then, his choice spawned a couple of interesting side projects for himself that I'm rather fond of (See his solo project and also "We Are The Fallen"), and I still love the band's sound as it has progressed through the last couple of albums. Amy Lee has one heck of a pair of pipes, and still remains in my humble opinion one of the best female voices in modern music regardless of genre. I really don't think it's possible for them to put on a "bad" show. It's also great that she likes to move in a stilted pattern so we can get awesome pictures of her ;)

Cake: Let them eat it. This is another band I've been listening to for years so I was thrilled to see them live and have them completely surpass my expectations. Can you say power trumpet? Out of all the bands they had the best interaction with their fans during the performance. While playing "Sick Of You", they had about a 4 minute interval in which they "trained" the crowd to sing the chorus. I do believe they played nearly every good song they've ever written - Excellent show.

Garbage: Hey guys, look, it's Shirley Manson! CRASH (sound of my camera-man screaming and passing out from excitement) (Disclaimer, camera-man is about 6'9", 300 lbs. I may be dead after he reads this). All joking aside, as my camera-man will tell you, this is a really big deal Garbage went MIA for far too many years, so having them come back and still be such an amazing act is a blessing. 

The Black Keys: I got to the venue around 9:45 am, so I was working about 12 hours for this part of the show. It was well worth the wait though. The Black Keys fully pulled me in as a fan after this concert. As stated in my recent review of the band "Create A Monster", I'm constantly searching for what I consider to be "real" rock music and TBK fit the category perfectly for me, both in sound and performance style. The band is truly good, and even beyond the vocals have really classic instrumental vibes. They were just about the best part of the day (for me), and made for a spectacular end to the night. Their performance included 60's/70's era lighting and what looked to be a 12 foot disco-ball. And so, Black Keys, Rock thanks you.

Well, that's all I've got for now, cheers guys... More articles coming soon :)