78. Rock n Roll Getaway

Review/Ideals/Personal

Nice number 78..part of 787, the new model series head of Boeing aircrafts. And there's 3 parts to this post. A review, an ideal and the personal account of storytelling. Spend your time wisely.

http://www.chickenfoot.us/

Check out the website I tell you... Cool video in the front. Chickenfoot has 4 fine veteran rock n roll musicians namely, Sammy, Joe, Michael and Chad from 3 fine veteran rock bands. With their musical expertise and experience, expect great music and super good classic-cum-hard rock experience created in the modern time that is now. I enjoyed particularly the totally orgasmic professional sound mixing and recording. The songs are super clear, crisp and powerful.

Those who like electric guitar very much may know Joe Satriani. Those who deal with the classic era of hard rock will know Van Halen (Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony). Those who like Red Hot Chili Peppers should know Chad Smith. I don't know any more about their other side projects, apologies.

So I am recommending it you readers to visit the website and make sure the required plugin is installed, average audio speakers...advisable to use ear/headphones cos Laptop built-in speakers are only fuxes to audio-people. For rock, they definitely kill your parents when you turn them on loud (and totally kill me)...you only hear dirt and audio noises. oh yeah back to the website... Let the video play. And you listen and watch, enjoy.

Their songs I can say, are written based on elements of rock n roll songs that existed since the beginning of the era and meshed to a great compilation. I mean by hearing, you could distinguish all the rock/blues pattern and significant styles. So it's kinda a perfect innovation of rock n roll. Of Satriani, I can safely say the guitars are all as pure as himself in terms of effects, riffs and melody styles.

In the song Oh Yeah they sing about hoochie-koochie man. We pay respect to Muddy Waters...woohoo I am just doing it like B.B. King who mentioned about the great bluesman from Chicago.

*

Here I am, I would like to stress on audio-loving and music quality experiences. In order to enjoy as much and understand what I describe and state on them sound stuffs, you will quite have to have the minimum requirements such as similar sound devices like I have, similar or better quality and performance. Really, cos I really find laptop built-in speakers awful and blaring out cb sound. But I appreciate them, because when I am lazy or do not possess any headsets at the moment I will need them. Simple.

I am someone, who may be fussy. Not sure how do I compare myself to or as an audiophile. I get satisfaction from separated left/right sound projections, or even better if proper surround is applied, true quality as of recorded particularly on the positions of the sound being received(left/right thingy). I buy selected original music discs. They offer uncompromised sound projection. Downloading is alright, 128kbps of bitrate is by strictest the minimum value.

Don't forget bass properties. But not too much please, I ain't big time fan of hip-hop/dance music which people usually pump up in the car audio systems. Boom Boom. Respect bass though. It's a part of the 3 parts of sound forms, bass, mid and treble....something like that in regard to low-mid-high. So with good hearing device and good quality songs, you could hear the full sound of music. That's music from the technical side. Rock is so greatly composed of these elements. Missing any of them, the rock lost its power. Rock band basic: guitars/bass/drum.

And your laptop built-in speakers (if your laptop is a super high end built with actually what I call audio speakers then beg my pardon), do not offer bass at all! Test it. You hear higher frequencies only. Pop music ok. Classical music not so bad...but you lose all the basses. The low sounds. With my first demo record, if you listen to it without the bass you're definitely not gona enjoy because the bass part is what makes the recording a music recording. It would sound dry and flat.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

*

Here's the personal side. Went to Midvalley that day. "Company" to the couple, of my roommate. Of course not full time. Only lunch and movie. The rest is my solo journey round in the mall. I had what Hooi termed as "the rocker's shopping list" haha. More like a music amateur/enthusiasts basic wishlist.

Compiled.
Walked up and down while "rinsing my eyes" with the view of fatal "booby" traps. I survived. Rock Corner. Movie Magic. Guitar Collection. Beatspot Yamaha. ATM. Studio R.

Those are:
-Chickenfoot album
-B.B. King - Live by Request with guest appearance by Jeff Beck
-D'Addario Light Top/Heavy Bottom

My latest, and it's my super favourite now. Transparent and rainbow in colour. Ideal 0.7mm medium gauge.

oohyeah, first time I saw a jersey which can fit me. S size. One of the new Arsenal kits.

[one of the heroes]

oohyeah, I suddenly became very interested in watching and supporting football. I even participated in it. I have this Sharqawi, my classmate as my guru. He's in the U-21 Malaysian squad. Ooohyeah, I borrowed Adidas Predator already. Come, Youth Park. Raya Open - Morning exercise with Football. Ah Hooi and Jason confirmed. I just need to pump the ball.

And I'm so gona get an original Arsenal home jersey one day, definitely a nicer design one (e.g this current season kit). Bootleg ones with my fitting size are rare I think..

1 week holiday back in Penang. Reunion planned. Let's see how smiles are flashed by nature. ~"Remember, I am the playmaker"
The guitar as the clothes hanger.

[googled: Chickenfoot Joe Satriani guitar and Arsenal Arshavin jersey]

77. Bucket Psyche

Personal/Ideals

Delayed the demo weeks already... At first, I thought the lucky double 7 post would be just a personal update. As soon I clicked on the New Post, I thought of one decision. It shall be a start to uploading my own personal demos and recordings. Which means I am going to embark on a new work. Yeah, already in my mind. But lack of convenience-excused-time has been crippling the juices.

A simple method for improvement. You readers/musicians/music-enthusiasts/lovers may leave comments and give feedbacks on them. And we can learn together. This is a way other than jamming with fellow players. By far, I'd had done simple jammings a couple of times but they do not provide efficient learning because I hadn't been too serious. Plus distractions and all. Remember, the work for passion.

Musicians from all over everywhere on Earth (may include Satch cos I suspect he came from the space..heh) have said well enough about getting together and play is certainly a great way to improve. Learning never ends right..

So, I am trying to find more friends and acquaintances to come together to teach and learn. Teaching is also good, up to where ever level you could. Sharing is caring too hehe.. Well, I'm not so good at doing videos like millions in youtube and I'm somewhat lazy to get an account so I'm doing audio only for now. If time and convenience is appears vast I will put an effort in doing shots of cam-focus-playing. Otherwise, you'd just see me appearing with other players such as YW and Hooi in the future. A target is put, play with Kelvyn Yeang one day as he'd invited for countless times already.cool.

Practice makes ~"perfect"~. But I didn't practise effectively though. Alright, without further ado (fuhh..learnt new english word usage..) I hereby upload my cover on Buckethead - Wondering. A very simple in fact super simple song. Just to kickstart this new adventure.
~My demo is in the filefactory, hidden. Simply click NEXT song until you see it.

Note: Only the dynamics and notes are hit according to the song but without the Bucket's effects and backgrounds. I have kinda modified the song towards the ending. And forgive me, this demo lacks synchronization and is rhythmically out a little so I practically did it by feel.

Cos' playing with the original song as a backing track is a little inconvenient and I would mess up because the song is kinda feely and swaying, I easily get carried away. You could think the off-sync as some sort of delay/echo effects hah. This explains why the metronome is vital for amateur musicians.

The recording is made by line-in from the output-headphone of my amp. It is consist of 2 tracks basically..er..actually 3. The 3rd is an add-on in the 3rd section of the song. The breakdown:
1. The full playing with a little added gain for extra volume and fuzziness.
2. Clean channel with only the lead notes (which goes out of sync quite most of the time)
3. Add-on to track 2.
...erh after its completion only I realised, how bad the synchronization is. Cutting, time-shifting and alignment of tracks have been done to improve "audibility". Particularly only the 3rd section I feel sounds good till the ending. I will do a better one next time, or call a jam-in of this song. Better live sync.

This song was uploaded by Hooi in his blog before. I wonder, you should be eager to try out this song too. So simple and yet nice to play and listen to. For some of you guys could just use their ears to get nail this song down. Happy music-ing.

Well, I plan when the 777th post comes, I will post an imba blistering superspeed shredding with sweep picking and string skipping..someday...hah

Now, for the personal..haha. [Outdated]

1st week of 3rd semester. Mum's birthday. I forgot. Until dad sent an sms. wouh. Kill mum again heh. Did a push jogging and run one evening. That was a great spontaneous joining my friend for an exercise as I just got back from class......

...[Updated]
So there you go new songs for a different season, mood and flow of life. I have 3 referral songs this time. Alice In Chains by Hooi. Rhapsody by Sharqawi and Kamen Rider song by my brother.

Wokei, classmate friend had brought his Ibanez electric down here, from Perak. So it's time to "keep on rockin' in the free world". It's really not very free anymore now, workload and hectic schedule have been in the way. And will last until retirement day.

So many sidetracks. Distractions especially activities which consumed much time and healthy lifestyle..(like dota) had eaten substantial portions of free time meant for improvement (any kind except distraction forms) or rest.

And spending time building up firm friendship among classmates is great. It could be having break time together with meals and drinks, read stuffs and share opinions in the library, or sharing a pack of cigarettes with many. Of course the mentioned are other than working in a team during assignments or practicals. The latest being, joining in a futsal game which they regularly host. Around RM5 per hour only, and I get to kick futsal (like football) with classmates. And I scored a goal using my left leg after winning back the ball from the opponent. These extra moments are delightful as I do not get anymore "compulsory" activities which are organized for classes and students to get together like we all used to in secondary school.

Great, health and fitness can be improved. Jogging. Running. Sprinting. Futsal. Football (my co-curricular activity). oh yeah baby, Sharqawi's F50 and Predator boots..here I come.

So, I thought I'm inhaling new fresh air only to realise that I abandoned this blog for almost 2 months. Never mind that. New sets of beliefs, principles and philosophical approach and motives shall set in. Every changes with beginnings and endings also welcome motivating seasons. So again here I am, to continue to live.


~Recording made possible by:
-Squier Tele
-Marshall amp
-Ibanez cable
-wires/jacks/adaptors
-Altec Lansing headphones
-plenty of holidays here and there
-turning down of dota games
-Ben teaching me a resonance technique to determine match tuning
-Audacity program (thanks to Musicman1066 and Ah Hooi for introducing)