Google Play Music All Access Is Version 1.0

Posted on by Musicofourheart

Google announced and demonstrated Google Play Music All Access at the Google I/O Conference today. A logical phase in the evolution of the Google Cloud Music strategy.

I signed up for a 30 day “free” trial. If I decide to pay for a monthly subscription it will cost me $7.99 a month ($9.99 if I decide to buy later).

Google positions Google Play as a Version 1.0 cloud music store. Google Music released in May 2011 translates Google Play into two-year beta. The question you may be asking is what did Google do in two years with Google Play? My direct response is “parity” with the rest of the cloud music players Pandora, Rdio, iTunes and Amazon Cloud Player. I respect “parity” can be an enormous undertaking but this makes Google Play a follower not a leader in the crowded cloud music marketplace.

She’s Not There

Three “natural” technology competitive advantages Google failed to capitalize on with Google Play 1.0.

1) YouTube integration (limited to Share YouTube Video now). This is a trump card for Google, especially since Google announced a YouTube subscription model just recently.

2) Google+ integration. Social networking with Google Play should be a slam dunk. Google Play Hangouts as a listening party makes perfect sense.

3) Voice activated Google Play is missing. “Okay Google. Play me Three Dog Night’s Celebrate.”

Google Play as the “Spotify” killer greatly exaggerates the situation.

High on my list is to hear Google Play on an HTC Beats Audio so I can better discern Google Play’s sound on a smart phone.

That’s my first take on Google Play.

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Jac Holzman,The Doors Digital Conceptualist

Posted on by Musicofourheart

An enthusiastic music of our heartfelt thanks to Jac Holzman, Robin Hurely, Brandwidth U.K., and Warner Music Group for delivering to us music technology fans an intelligently designed, highly accessible multimedia app, The Doors Official App for the Apple iPad. Smartly priced at $4.99 it is half the price of a vinyl EP ($10) but a tremendous value as a content reservoir to immerse ourselves inside.

The Doors – The Doors App (Official Trailer)

Jac Holzman is the consummate music visionary who continues to shape our entertainment taste by effectively wielding technology for highest interpretation value. I love that he is excited about the fiber optic connection he has to Warner Music Group and the InterWeb. I continue to be influenced by Jac Holzman as he asserts himself as subject matter authority in digital music content usability.

It stands to reason that the first person to review the app on iTunes would be Bruce Botnick, The Doors audio engineer and record producer. He is the definitive source along with Jac Holzman to the band’s creative historic output. What better seal of approval existent (next to Ray, Robbie and John) is there to confirm the digital archive than Bruce’s role and responsibilities with The Doors.

The Definitive Doors – Five Stars

Beautifully laid out with great depth and sensitivity to the true history, the band and their music. It works extremely well on my iPad 1 with no crashes or gotcha’s. I highly recommend it to all present and future Doors fans.

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ZZ Top on Howard Stern “Live” In The Studio Tomorrow Morning

Posted on by Musicofourheart

How cool is this?!!!! ZZ Top will be performing live on The Howard Stern Show tomorrow morning May 14, 2013.

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My brother in-law and I just saw them in concert sitting 4th row center on Wednesday May 8th at the Oakdale. See the Related Articles section below for the link to the concert review I posted last week. I love the special effects staging they had for us that night….

You’re going to love what you hear from Howard 100 tomorrow trust the music of our heart ;)

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They are one of Howard’s favorite bands.  Here are some pictures from the Top’s rehearsal taken by Scott “The Engineer” Salem at SiriusXm Studio 69 in New York City.

ZZ Top rehersal

1) Dusty Hill

Dusty Hill

2) Billy Gibbons

Billy Gibbons

3) Frank Beard

Frank Beard

ZZ Top is in the Metro New York area for two performances on their latest tour

  1. MAY 14, 2013

    BERGEN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, ENGLEWOOD, NJ

  2. MAY 15, 2013

    THEATER AT WESTBURY Westbury, Long Island

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Happy Frank Zappa Mothers Day

Posted on by Musicofourheart

For all you Mothers out there (and you know who you are ;) , here is a special tribute pronouncement from Zappa.com

Dear The Frank Zappa & The Mothers’ Little Helpers,

Yeah. We couldn’t help it. It’s that Special Day for mothers everywhere – still mean and almost 50! To commemorate, memorialize and remind that some things never change. No matter what you do, stating the obvious is often the first necessary step to solving a problem. We appreciate your support and authority in representing Frank Zappa’s intent as an Artist and Humorist. We gratefully and proudly present this Special Edition* of HELP I’M A ROCK / IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE & WHO ARE THE BRAIN POLICE? On Red Vinyl, 12″ at 45 revolutions per minute. We hope you’ll have it in your hot little helping hands in time to commemorate the American Revolution. Those were the days.

L I M I T E D   E D I T I O N

*What’s so special? Check this out:
Side 1: HELP I’M A ROCK / IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE Original Stereo 1966 Mix
Side 2: WHO ARE THE BRAIN POLICE? Original Mono Release
WHO ARE THE BRAIN POLICE? Basic Trackings (Rock your own mic!)

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VegNews – The Music Issue

Posted on by Musicofourheart

I admit that I am a sucker for magazines, especially music issues. I was pushing the grocery cart through Super Stop & Shop when I happened upon a new publication, VegNews. The cover image caught my eye and next thing I knew I was placing it on the checkout conveyer belt.

If you want the tree free edition browse over to Zinio.

The We’re In The Band special edition (19 page spread) features three articles by vegan music industry insiders, mega-mogul Russell Simmons (Beats and Eats), hardcore rocker John Joseph (Guest Editor:Punk Planet, main article written by Hillary Pollick (Assistant Editor)), and Goo Goo Dolls drummer Mike Malinin (Meat is Murder). Combined they share with interested readers why they are committed to vegetarianism. Each article also has article insert interviews with additional musicians who embrace the vegan lifestyle.

I especially liked the compilation album column, Mixtape Movement that lists five benefit recordings from 1987-2012.

Well let me publish this post and go make a Celestial Seasoning’s Red Zinger tea to sip while I read this month’s issue. I have so much to learn about vegan news and music now ;)

Review: ZZ Top at the Oakdale

Posted on by Musicofourheart

ZZ Top

JD and the Straight Shot

May 8, 2013

Toyota at the Oakdale Theatre

Wallingford, Ct.

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I can confirm that this venerable power trio is way more than a “lil ole band from Texas”. They came out, hit their marks on the stage and cranked out their classic blues rock for 90 minutes non-stop. The sound they produce together will grip ya. You feed off their energy song after song. I am always amazed the hurricane gale strength three musicians amplified delivers at the combined center of their respective sound.

What I love about ZZ Top is that they are all meat and no-filler. They had a unique stage setup that takes effective use of wireless networking especially those long cylindrical mike stands. This picture I took with my iPhone captures what I visually experienced. They  had some very cool and captivating graphic effects.

ZZ Top is symbolically associated with sex, cars and rock and roll. They produce great driving music. Gimme All Your Lovin always revs my engines :)

The opening (warmup) act was JD and the Straight Shot. The band is led by Jim Dolan on lead vocals and guitar. They did a 30 minute set. The song I liked the most by this ensemble was the psychedelic cover of It’s A Beautiful Day’s White Bird. 

JD & The Straight Shot

ZZ Top Set List

  1. Precious and Grace 
  2. Heartache in Blue 
  3. Waitin’ for the Bus 
  4. Jesus Just Left Chicago 
  5. Flyin’ High 
  6. Pincushion 
  7. Heard it on the X 
  8. I Gotsta Get Paid 
  10. A Fool for Your Stockings 
  11. My Head’s in Mississippi 
  12. Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings 
  13. Certified Blues 
  14. Chartreuse 
  15. Sharp Dressed Man 
  16. Legs   

And yes they still have those white fuzzy guitars from the Legs video ;)  

Encore

  1. Tube Snake Boogie 
  2. Viva Las Vegas 
  3. La Grange / Sloppy Drunk / Bar-B-Q 
  4. Tush
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ZZ Top Oakdale Concert Review – Stay Tuned

Posted on by Musicofourheart

I had every intention of writing then posting a concert review about ZZ Top‘s concert that took place at the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Ct. last night. However,  the best laid schemes of mice and men / Often go awry – Robert Burns, 1785.

So my revised goal is write that up tomorrow and post it by early evening. Will do my best to make that happen.

In the meantime here is a video of the standout song I heard performed last night by the “Same three guys, same three chords”

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