RudiPg MusicManic

311 Live in Jakarta

2010-03-02T02:15:00.003+07:00

311 is coming to town!!!
March 30, 2010!

Info:
- 311.com
- detikShop
- JAVA Musikindo

JASON BITTNER

2009-12-10T22:05:00.002+07:00

JOHN PETRUCCI, MICHAEL AMOTT

2009-12-10T21:20:00.008+07:00

SONY NWZ-B143F Satu Bulan Sudah

2009-12-08T18:50:00.017+07:00

Dengan tewasnya discman mp3 D-NE711 setelah berdinas selama kurang lebih 5 tahun, inilah Sony baru yang menyertai aktivitas gw: Walkman MP3 NWZ-B143F (4GB).

PLUS:

>	Ukurannya sangat portabel. Apalagi dibanding discman :P
>	Transfer dan hapus file mudah.
>	Daya tampungnya lebih dari 5x cd (hampir 6x malah, karena 1 cd muat 700 MB).
>	Fitur rekam dari mic & fm.

MINUS:

>	Durasi baterenya kurang lama, nge-charge-nya nggak leluasa (musti di PC).
>	Fitur playback-nya masih kalah sama D-NE711: Gak ada bookmark.
>	Browsing filenya kaku: Kalo masuk ke menu sambil playback, keluar menu gak kembali ke folder dari file yg sedang di-playback, jadi musti browsing folder dari root lagi.
>	Kalo copy banyak folder, urutan file-nya cenderung berantakan. Padahal nama file-nya udah pake nomor track.

Hm, lumayan juga minusnya.
Tapi gak juga.
Gw enjoy portabilitas, kemudahan transfer/hapus file, dan daya tampungnya :)

Sony Walkman rocks!

\m/

MY LISTENINGS 2009 (December - November)

2009-12-08T18:02:00.003+07:00

Now	Before	ALBUM
1	8	Memory And Humanity - FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
2	2	The Root of All Evil - ARCH ENEMY
3	3	Rise of the Tyrant - ARCH ENEMY
4	4	Anthems of Rebellion - ARCH ENEMY
5	5	Doomsday Machine - ARCH ENEMY
6	6	Wages of Sin - ARCH ENEMY
7	1	Fortress - PROTEST THE HERO
8	7	Uplifter - 311
9	9	Black Clouds and Silver Linings - DREAM THEATER
10	10	The War Within - SHADOWS FALL
11	11	Retribution - SHADOWS FALL
12	12	Blood Mountain - MASTODON
13	13	Leviathan - MASTODON
14	14	Ascendancy - TRIVIUM
15	15	Shogun - TRIVIUM
16	16	Train of Thought - DREAM THEATER
Out		Ursa Major - THIRDEYEBLIND
Out		Lights and Sounds - YELLOWCARD
Out		Paper Walls - YELLOWCARD
Out		Systematic Chaos - DREAM THEATER
Out		Death Magnetic - METALLICA
Out		The Black Swan - STORY OF THE YEAR
Out		Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace - THE OFFSPRING
Out		Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - DREAM THEATER
Out		Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes from a Memory - DREAM THEATER

Now	Before	SONG
1		The Count of Tuscany - DREAM THEATER
2	1	10:45 Amsterdam Conversations - FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
3	3	Breathe - MICHELLE BRANCH
4	4	Wither - DREAM THEATER
5	5	Oblivion - MASTODON
Out	2	Beautiful Awakenings - STACIE ORRICO
Out	6	Together - MICHELLE BRANCH
Out	7	No One - ALY & AJ
Out		Divinations - MASTODON
Out		A Rite of Passage - DREAM THEATER
Out		Umbrella (RIHANNA) - MANDY MOORE
Out		Here and Now - MELANIE C

IN QUEUE:

PLANET X

UPLIFTER - 311

2009-11-25T16:48:00.011+07:00

The first couple of times when I listened to 'Uplifter', I bummed. I was expecting hooks, 311 and Bob Rock brought smoothness. I was disappointed.

Then, like had happpened many times before, it grew on me. It's good. Although, partially, there's the fact that I just couldn't find other band than 311 that consciously and continuously brings positive vibe without getting too mellow (actually 311 did get too mellow, but not on this album).

The highlights, as the way it was, are the lyrics.

Musically, these guys has been solid since couple albums before, so there's nothing surprising. All smooth and so 311-ish... It's good. Yeah :)

First is 'Hey You', an upbeat about the gift of music (which I relate to, obviously). It's a good song, which somehow 'blanket' the subject of music into human relation. "Hey you" commonly used for people, not a subject. Initially, I thought it is about someone... a friend. Lines like

"You always let me explain just what I'm saying",
"When so many others come and go",
"You never turn back on me, when I gave up on myself",

all are usually attributed to a person. But, at the last section, Nick and SA changed "Hey you" with "Music"... Wow. Cool.

Next, 'It's Alright' started as a mediumbeat but morph into upbeat at the chorus (which is the initial part that stuck with me).

"It's alright, wherever you are right now, I tell you, it's alright, that's where you supposed to be right now"...

kinda remind me to be grateful with what I had and let go of what I have not. And then the lines

"Right in this instant, not in the distant",
"Here in the present, your time is so elsewhere"...

reminded me that my future is full of promises, but my present time is actually what matters.

'Mix It Up' has the line

"...misfits that no one else gets, everyone else in the place becomes a silhouette"...

that I attribute to those common strangers who just misunderstood and resisted my mere existence around them. Not so positive act, but works :P

'Golden Sunlight' has the line

"What if I could just let my guard down, What if I could live wide open".

Utopia. Dreamy but nice. Could happen to me someday. Had happened, really, in small instances, long time ago. I want more :)

'India Ink' is an unordinary sweet song, Nick's best. "Are you with me?" is the hook here, which somewhat out of place because it can be attribute to more common people instead limited to a lover.

'Daisy Cutter' is sweet. I actually met someone with this name, about the same time this song started to grew on me. Sweet synchronicity...

'Too Much Too Fast'. The title says it all. Sometimes we have to move so fast, we can't do the things that we love the most, loving one another.

"Much too fast, oh",
"Too much too fast, for the moment to last",
"Because that's just no way to live, I got so much love to give, too much too fast".

'Never Ending Summer' is a common 311 goodtime anthem. Celebrating, remembering, letting go. Nice.

'Two Drops in the Ocean' is a love story. Sweet metaphor. Sweet song.

'Something Out of Nothing' is about witnessing extraordinary things/works/outcomes that obviously unexpected from ordinary situations/people. Gift from others. Gift from God.

I read a review that called 'Jackpot' as being completely out of place here. I dunno... whatever... "Everybody jump!" Goodtimes!

'My Heart Sings' is a very sweet closure. It makes me feel that the whole album is so awesome... it made me played the album all over again :)

"I'm not made of stone, I'm only flesh and bone",
"You figure it out, the answer will come so clearly dear, let it all go because we can't know just what will be",
"A melody that will settle me",
"My heart sings".

Good album.

The somewhat low-lights for me, the guitars are less present than before. They're somehow downtuned at the rhythm. Almost overshadowed by P-Nut's mighty bass works (no complaints to Mr. Wills there). They are solid, but it's like they're up enhancing a base that's already solid, instead of standing-out to bring more color. I feel that their distortions are not as 'upfront' as usual, especially when I compare it to them live. I sense it as a work of Mr. Bob Rock... you've done it again! Poking with Metallica wasn't an experiment after all. It's in your blood dude. Ha, ha...

So, again... it's a good album.
Wish there's more alike out there.

Stay positive!

ARCH ENEMY

2009-10-11T18:53:00.027+07:00

Live images from Gigantour 2006 (courtesy of Utchink)
Arch Enemy always sporting two guitarists. Chris Amott quit temporarily (thus, missed the Gigantour), was replaced by Fredrik Akesson (which no longer member), and then rejoined again. That's why both of them are not present in this montage.

LINKS:

>	Arch Enemy @ Wikipedia
>	Angela's Personal Story:
	"...I think this world is a terrible and wonderful place at the same time. I wish there would be no disease, poverty, murder, violence, envy, lies and hatred. But there is and thats why there is heavy metal. The Symphonies Of Destruction. My way and YOUR way to deal with the frustration, the anger, the pain, to channel it and get it out of the system. I cant live without music, it makes me feel alive and strong, no matter what. I hope you can feel the power of music too!"

MODERN DRUMMER

2009-10-11T18:30:00.009+07:00

CHRIS ADLER (Lamb of God):

JASON BITTNER (Shadows Fall):

BRANN DAILOR (Mastodon):

MY LISTENINGS 2009 (January-October)

2009-10-10T14:40:00.000+07:00

Now	Before	ALBUM
1	2	The War Within - SHADOWS FALL
2	3	Retribution - SHADOWS FALL
3	4	Blood Mountain - MASTODON
4	5	Leviathan - MASTODON
5	1	Black Clouds and Silver Linings - DREAM THEATER
6	5	Ursa Major - THIRDEYEBLIND
7	6	Uplifter - 311
8	7	Lights and Sounds - YELLOWCARD
9	8	Paper Walls - YELLOWCARD
10	9	Ascendancy - TRIVIUM
Out		All I Ever Wanted - KELLY CLARKSON
Out		Systematic Chaos - DREAM THEATER
Out		Ultra Beat Down - DRAGON FORCE
Out		Blackbird - ALTERBRIDGE
Out		Death Magnetic - METALLICA
Out		Untitled - KORN
Out		Come Whatever May - STONESOUR
Out		Underclass Hero - SUM 41
Out		Shogun - TRIVIUM
Out		Chuck - SUM 41
Out		The Black Swan - STORY OF THE YEAR
Out		Fortress - PROTEST THE HERO
Out		Forever More - TESLA
Out		Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace - THE OFFSPRING
Out		St. Anger - METALLICA
Out		Nine Lives - AEROSMITH
Out		A Little More Personal - LINDSAY LOHAN
Out		Hours - FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
Out		Casually Dressed and Deep in Conversation - FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
Out		Liberation Transmission - LOSTPROPHETS
Out		Tales Don't Tell Themselves - FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
Out		Memory And Humanity - FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND
Out		Move Along - THE ALL AMERICAN REJECTS
Out		Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence - DREAM THEATER
Out		Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes from a Memory - DREAM THEATER
Out		Fallin into Infinity - DREAM THEATER
Out		3-11 Day 2004 - 311
Out		For(N)Ever - HOOBASTANK
Out		Flavors Of Entanglement - ALANIS MORISSETTE
Out		The Illusion Of Progress - STAIND
Out		O.S.T AUGUST RUSH
Out		Mechwarrior 2: Mercenaries soundtrack
Out		Elements Pt.2 - STRATOVARIUS

Now	Before	SONG
1		Oblivion - MASTODON
2		Divinations - MASTODON
3	6	Wither - DREAM THEATER
4	9	A Rite of Passage - DREAM THEATER
5	1	In this Shallow Grave - ARCH ENEMY
6	2	Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr - TRIVIUM
7	7	Together - MICHELLE BRANCH
8		No One - ALY & AJ
9		Umbrella (RIHANNA) - MANDY MOORE
10	Out	Here and Now - MELANIE C
Out	3	Curse of the Pharaoh (MERCYFUL FATE) - ROADRUNNER UNITED
Out	4	What was I Thinking - 311
Out	5	Fuel (METALLICA) - AVRIL LAVIGNE
Out	8	Gran Torino - JAMIE CULLUM
Out	10	Blind Man - BLACK STONE CHERRY
Out	11	A Lost Adoration - LETHARGY
Out	12	Faith In the Heartland - JOURNEY
Out	13	Lost in Confusion - GRAVEYARD
Out		Leave Out All The Rest (O.S.T Twilight) - LINKIN PARK
Out		A Change of Seasons - DREAM THEATER
Out		Wild Hope - MANDY MOORE
Out		What I've Become - ASHLEE SIMPSON

COMPILED:

>	HOOBASTANK
>	Crack the Skye - MASTODON
>	Rise of the Tyrant - ARCH ENEMY
>	All I Ever Wanted - KELLY CLARKSON
>	Chaos in Motion; Systematic Chaos; Octavarium; Train of Thought - DREAM THEATER

NON ALBUM:

>	CHRIS ADLER f. WILLIE ADLER live at the Modern Drummer Festival Weekend

BCSL (Black Clouds and Silver Linings) DREAM THEATER

2009-10-07T19:56:00.011+07:00

The first play, I skipped on the first song ('A Nightmare to Remember'), sorry. But, it's about another helpless victim of life without hopeful conclusion.

Then, I also skipped 'A Rite of Passage', sorry again. I simply wanted to hear the stuff I never heard before, and I already got this song from YouTube, so this song is kinda too familiar by now.

Then I listened to 'Wither'. I also got this song from the Net before I got the CD, but it's way cooler than 'A Rite...' by now so I still dig it very much.

Then comes the bummer...

'The Shattered Fortress' is basically a medley of some pre-BCSL songs with 'morphed' lyrics. A good idea... as a live performance. As part of studio release... lame! Mostly it's 'Scenes from a Memory' songs... I'm not sure, because I SKIPPED IT immediately after I realise what an ugly thing it is. Bad idea guys, sorry. You probably tried to put 'SFAM' concept to a new level... well I'm telling you: It's the WRONG level. It's not even on the same galaxy! C'mon...

'The Best of Times' is awesome! It's simply beautiful!

Then I skip 'The Count of Tuscany' to get back to 'Wither' and 'The Best...'.

The second time I played BCSL, I gain the ability to 'digest' the helplessness song ('A Nightmare...') and the fictional songs ('The Count...').

DT is still great. BCSL is not all just another album in the discography. The talent is there.

What becomes more evident is the lack of freshness.

Mike speaks frankly when he said that the band has never come to a writer's block and in the contrary they constantly have an abundance of ideas.

I'm your fan Mike, but... here's the ugly thing behind an abundance of ideas: It's getting harder and harder to find a fresh one from that stacking pile. As more ideas get tangled up, stale ones can appear fresh at a glance... but when you (and we) crack it open, it reveals something ugly and stinky... ugh!

So, I hope they see what I'm trying to say. I'll always be a DT fan. I think the talents in the band are so amazing, there's gotta be a lot more to come.

But, frankly, it's sad that I can't initially 'digest' an entire new album anymore, as it used to be with all previous albums. In fact, I already 'chewed' longer and harder since 'Train of Thought'. It's getting tiring...

I understand that their live is much settling now: Amazing career, happy family, growing respect from other bands (even legends), and so on.

Live's getting so at hand. No more big struggle, no more hard questions, not much to talk about (into lyrics).

But, that's what I dig about DT lyrics. It talks about real life struggle, through awesome journey (which is the music).

I was already gritting when SFAM concept of mental disorder (and helplessness) was repeated in 'Octavarium' (the song). What a waste! All that Genesis melody... only to serve the same talk all over again.

But, talks about mental disorder is somewhat still way more relevant to me than those fictional talks that came later in 'In the Presence of Enemies', 'The Dark Eternal Night', and of course, here in BCSL, 'The Count of Tuscany'.

That's why I think 'The Best of Times' is the best song here.

'Wither' does talk about helplessness but I think it concludes to good ending. Maybe I got it wrong, maybe it's about suicide. The way I get it, it's on the same sense as 'The Answer Lies Within' from 'Octavarium'.

I dunno, but it seems that the relevancy curve is going down between me and DT, for quite some time now. Please guys, don't hit the bottom, for me!

Having such an amazing career means that you can draw inspiration from more sources (families, other bands, crews), instead of resourcing to fiction and cliche... and worse: Repeating yourself!

Once again, I'm still a fan, DT is still great, BCSL is not disappointing at all, and I believe there's still more to come.

Rock on guys! Keep on the talent!

PRISA

2009-10-06T14:03:00.002+07:00

CHI CHENG

2009-08-28T15:17:00.005+07:00

ONE LOVE FOR CHI:
Fundraising Site for Chi Cheng, Deftones' Bass Player.

		Chi Cheng, bass player for the Deftones, is currently in a semi-conscious state following an automobile accident in Santa Clara, CA. on November 4th, 2008. Chi is slowly making progress but he needs our help.

DRUMMERS

2009-08-15T14:08:00.005+07:00

Brann Dailor - MASTODON
Chris Adler - LAMB OF GOD
Daniel Erlandsson - ARCH ENEMY
Jason Bittner - SHADOWS FALL
Roy Mayorga - STONE SOUR
Steve Jocz - SUM 41
Travis Smith - TRIVIUM

List of Drummers at Wikipedia

UMBRELLA (Mandy Moore) WITHER (Dream Theater) GRAN TORINO (Jamie Cullum) NO ONE (Aly & AJ) CEMETERY GATE (Dream Theater)

2009-08-02T20:44:00.015+07:00

EXTRAORDINARY

2009-04-10T16:07:00.011+07:00

I was a bay tree
Quiet and unseen
I lived in stories but inside I kept a mystery
I was a starling
Nobody's darling
Flying in perfect circles just for company

A midnight airplane
A window blowing
I know I am another sparkle in the sky
I shine on copper
Still undiscovered
But you might see me in the corner of your eye

Waking up to wake up someday
I am my own parade
Stopping off at a sidewalk cafe
Wind is playing in the trees
Kick up confetti leaves
Seems as if it's all to say

And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready
And now I'm ready to be extraordinary

(Extraordinary - MANDY MOORE)

Another night, Another day
Another minute slips away
and wonder why you're here at all
Ambitions fade, times get tough
you tried so hard but its not enough
and now your backs against the wall
just remember who you are, you can be a lucky star

you reminisce, static haze
you're thinking back to better days
its time to put it all behind
the futures now, forget the past
your life is rushing by to fast
its time to open up your mind
just remember who you are
you can be a lucky star

be everything you wanna be, you're extraordinary
dont waste your time with memories, you're extraordinary
take your chances while you can
take your own life in your hands
and you can start it all again

like its the first time

you're extraordinary

(First Time - TESLA)

CHAOS IN MOTIONDisc 1Dream Theater

2009-04-04T20:02:00.015+07:00

This DVD includes some of my all time DT favorites: 'Surrounded', 'Scarred', & 'Lines in the Sand'. Both are much improvised. Awesome!

'Surrounded' got new intro and an excerpt from Pink Floyd's song. I guessed it's Floyd's, by the white brick wall image on the video screen that resembles 'The Wall' album cover. Here's the lyric that I can make out of it:

Cos I know what I want
know what I feel
know what I am
???

Cos I know what I feel
know what I want
know what I am
???
???

???
???

I think, I got a special slot in my memory for this song (and almost all 'Images and Words', and 'Awake' for that matter, anyway). It was early 90s' and I can still remember every word now.

I always miss the guitar solo, because JP never played it live as is. I think he kinda dislike it. I remember, he mentioned something about 'Images...' had too much delay effect.

Most of the improvisation led by JP, bringing back his 90s melody.

I think the presence of these personal faves in this DVD made it more listenable than my last one ('Budokan' 2 disc edition) and as listenable as 'Score'.

Furthermore, it also appealing enough to me that I learned something of a bigger picture about Dream Theater: The progressive band.

It was the era of 'When Dream and Day Unite', 'Images...', 'Awake', 'Change of a Season', 'Falling into Infinity'. DT was swaying melodies, sounds, and lyrics. In the era of 'Metropolis Pt.2: Scenes from a Memory', & 'Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence' DT was still swaying melodies and sounds, but there was more disturbing (for me) lyrics about mental illness, scandal, & tragedy. And then at the era of 'Train of Thought', 'Octavarium' & 'Systematic Chaos', there were less swaying melodies and sounds.

DT is as technical and virtuosic as before, but I miss the swaying/melodious element. They become more metal with depression theme, rough rhythm, and simple (though still hard to play).

I do believe that they always true to themselves. To me, they more alike those progressive bands that they admire: Pink Floyd, Metallica, Iron Maiden, etc. Sadly, I don't admire most of those bands, the sound they brought.

I never really memorized 'Six Degrees...' (only the 2nd disc), 'Train...', 'Octavarium', or '...Chaos'. I found them too flat (I won't say stale or boring to DT, but those term did came to my mind, sorry).

So this DVD, and any previous ones, showed me that now those flat albums are more interesting to watch than listened. The technique that made up those flat melodies and lyrics are still hard to do and only able to be appreciate and admire through visual, not audio. That's what I think.

Turning to old ones doesn't really worked either. What's listened for too many time will lost charm. So having them played live with improvisations really made my day.

I decode the DVD chapters into mp3s. I've done it to 'Score', some chapters of '5 Years in A Livetime', and 'When the Dream and Day Re-unite'.

Live performance have flaws, especially the vocals, but it's natural, rich, and swaying.

So, I lost interest to '...Chaos' charm, this DVD rekindles my passion as a fan of DT, the most progressive band today.

DT has captured many hearts with melodies, now they has the freedom to go to many direction, less beautiful, but still (or more?) progressive.

I'll always be their fan, in a hope that they'll be able to somehow finally mix the melody and the metal into something that is not 'going back' or 'sounds like', but something that truly DT and progressive.

Keep up guys!

STAGEWISE:

-	Baldy	:	Keyboard, continuum, lap steel guitar, zen riffer, kaoss pad.
-	JMX	:	Bass, chapman stick.
-	MP, The Camel	:	Drum, cymbal, vocal, video.
-	Capt. Starbuck's, Cappy, Pirate, Cowboy	:	Vocal, percussion.
-	JP, Mr. YouTube	:	Guitar, vocal.

NEWS

2009-03-14T14:12:00.011+07:00

>	Trent Reznor Fires Potshot at Chris Cornell (2009-Mar-12)
>	Megadeth to Headline Revolver Golden Gods Awards on MTV2; All-Star Lineup Announced (2009-Mar-9)
>	Random Shuffle: Your iPod is Showing (Trivium Guitarist Corey Beaulieu) (2009-Mar-3)
>	Random Shuffle: Your iPod is Showing (Protest the Hero Bassist Arif Mirabdolbaghi) (2009-Feb-27)
>	Dave Mustaine’s Daughter Rocks ‘Animal Planet’ (2009-Jan-8)

JAVA JAZZ FESTIVAL 2009

2009-03-09T12:13:00.011+07:00

- Pascoal Meirelles
- Tom Scott & Paulette McWilliams
- Pitoelas Big Band f. Dwiki Dharmawan
- Parov Stelar
- Tompi
- Tohpati
- Kla Project
- Abdul & The Coffee Theory f. David Naif

Gw dateng lbh lambat dr rencana semula (sdh ketinggalan Slank & Emerald) krn musti nuker kamera sama hp, ada yg bilang kalo bw kamera bakal gak boleh masuk. Ternyata di dlm gw liat fakta kebalikannya. Yah, drpd gak ada. Tapi pas posting ini foto2nya belum sempet ditransfer.

Penampil yg asik bwt gw adlh Tohpati. David Naif seh menang kocaknya. Yg lumayan asik itu Pascoal (senior2 jazz), Pitoelas (divisi brassnya unik), n Parov (clubbing jazz?). Tompi so-so. Tom n Kla cuma sekilas. Dwiki maen cuma 1 lagu bareng Pitoelas.

Tohpati ditemenin Indro (bas), Edwin Saladin (kibor), Eugene (sax), (drum), & (kendang). Trus sempet ada Sute yg ngerap, kostumnya adat Bali. Sekitar setengah jalan gw dpt duduk. Duel solo drum & kendang kocak, apalagi stik drumnya sempet dituker roti pentungan (yg sempet dimakan jg).

Abis nonton Tohpati, gw sdh ngerasa puas tp blm pengen balik. Muter2 ke stage2 lain, beli Tebs, nongkrong di tangga Plenary Hall, poto2, beli merch.

Kaos n topinye kecil2, padahal xl. Kata mbaknya itu xl bwt cewek? O gitu to, emansipasi, cewek punya s-m-l-xl sendiri, hehe. Katanya lagi, yg bwt cowok sdh habeees. Yg msh banyak itu poster, tp gw gak tertarik. Akhirnya gw cuma beli hiasan2 kecil.

Liat di kebetan, ada Abdul & David, nonton ke Assembly 2.

Abis itu nongkrong lagi di bawah tangga Plenary, ternyata bareng beberapa artis yg sdh selesai manggung. Ada Sute n Edwin Saladin.

Stlh nonton orang2 maen Guitar Heroes, msh di sekitar tangga Plenary, gw ngerasa sdh cukup. Gw sdh cukup puas & gak jadi ngecek Maliq n D'Essential, Idang Rasidi, & Chlorophyl. Ada Swing Out Sister juga, tp gw kan cuma tau namanya doang.

Balik! Di luar ada yg jualan kaos, bisa nego sampe 35rb, tapi seperti biasa: tinggal yg kecil2.

See you on JJF 2010!

EARPHONES Thumbs Way-Up for Sennheiser, Big Disappointment from Sony

2009-01-17T21:03:00.039+07:00

Sennheiser MX 460 white:

Sennheiser rocks!

Even at Rp199.900 (sold at iBox PIM, made in China), quite expensive compared to any earphones I've ever purchased, it really worth it! It channels all the awesome low and high frequencies generated by my Sony D-NE711's Digital Mega Bass. I'm sure it will even boost the sound-quality from any common mp3 players!

I can say the same thing about Sony MDRs that bundled with Sony Walkman/Discman, but separately sold MDRs suck. I bought an MDR-E737LP (made in Phillipines) in one famous store... well, I had a phony-Sony that brought way-better clarity.

Sony MDR-E737LP:

Doesn't live-up to its brand.

I can't stop wondering why Sony made such silly thing. It completely destroyed my faith. I still going to buy Sony MP3 player when I need to, but never will its earphones, no way.

LAST.FM Online Song-Preview, Local Events Calendar, and More!

2009-01-10T21:45:00.023+07:00

Simply the easiest way to preview songs/videos from the bands/artists that we have trouble finding/previewing from other resources, with a surprise bonus of really localized/customized events calendar!

Its interface has many similarity with Facebook's, integrated song player, and smart auto-customization of our home page with songs/artists/videos recommendations that based on our own signed-up preference. Even at the homepage, Last.fm initially listing events and recommendations based on our location: Not country-based, it's town-based! Awesome!

Even if we already a fan, there's always something new on Last.fm band/artist page.

My Last.fm homepage
Last.fm homepage

MY PREVIEWS:

Between The Buried And Me
- Billed in DT's Progressive Nation 2008
Dream Theater
- Video: Forsaken
Protest The Hero
- Album: Fortress

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2008 Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater/Roadrunner Records)

2009-01-09T21:01:00.002+07:00

1. METALLICA - DEATH MAGNETIC: Is this too obvious a pick? perhaps.....but it's absolutely deserving. No other album has kicked my ass this year as much as this one has... This is the new Metallica album I've been waiting almost 20 years for!
That they made an album this strong and inspired 25 years after their debut is absolutely incredible and completely unprecedented (I challenge you to name 3 other bands that you can say that about......I cant!)
2. PROTEST THE HERO - FORTRESS: This album is totally insane....awesome playing, crazy arrangements, breakneck tempo and time changes...this is what Mr. Bungle would've sounded like if they grew up on equal portions of Dream Theater and Dillinger Escape Plan!
3. THE MARS VOLTA - THE BEDLAM IN GOLIATH: After being disappointed with their last one, this latest one is back on track with some very cool, more cohesive (by their standards) writing. And new drummer Thomas Pridgen is worth the price of admission alone for all you drummers out there...
4. BEARDFISH - SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC PART 2: These Swedish retro-proggers were on my 2007 top 10 list with their "Traffic Part 1" and they have done it again with the equally as great Part 2. If you dig early 70's prog stuff like Zappa, Genesis and Yes, you'll dig these guys....(if you're a close minded Blabbermouth-posting idiot, don't bother.....not that you would've anyways!)
5. SLIPKNOT - ALL HOPE IS GONE: For any doubters, look beyond the masks....these guys have made an absolutely amazing metal album with some great playing and a bit of Corey Taylor's more melodic side making its way into the sound without losing any of their edge and power.
6. OPETH - WATERSHED: My Progressive Nation tourmates never disappoint...I think every album they've released in this millennium had made my year-end list! They're one of my all-time favorite metal bands.... 'nuff said!
7. BLOODBATH - UNBLESSING THE PURITY / THE FATHOMLESS MASTERY: For the Opeth fans that dont like their melodic and progressive side (shame on you!) there are these two absolutely brutal side project releases with Mikael Akerfeldt's trademark death growls and Martin Axenrot's intense double bass drumming and blast beats that are tighter than a nun's vag.....
8. TRIVIUM - SHOGUN: My favorite release so far from these guys who have really fallen into their own.
It's refreshing to see a young band who obviously take their playing and writing as serious as they do and keep the shredding alive in metal.
(And yes, this is the 3rd Roadrunner release in my top 10...and it is not due to any kind of shameless self-plugging or ass-kissing...they just happen to have the best metal roster around and are the best label on Earth...which is why we made them DT's home!)
9. STEVEN WILSON - INSURGENTES: The newset addition to my ipod in the past few weeks is this latest masterpiece from Porcupine Tree's leader and sonic genius. Some serious ear candy here....
10. CYNIC - TRACED IN AIR: The pioneers of Progressive Death Fusion are back with a sophmore release that took 15 years to come to fruition!

The original webpage @ roadrunnerrecords.com,
where lots of other 2008 top-tens by musicians
(from MEGADETH, DRAGON FORCE, TRIVIUM, MACHINE HEAD, KILLSWITCH ENGANGE, NICKELBACK, SOULFLY, etc.)
and records' staffs.

Keeping Things Fresh, Mixing it Up, Overcoming Obstacles (Part 2) DREAM THEATER

2009-01-09T20:29:00.015+07:00

Dream Theater - MTV Shows

The original webpage @ headbangersblog.mtv.com
(there's two more vids)

History of Progressive Nation, Bands Chosen For Tour, Progressive Rock DREAM THEATER

2009-01-09T19:42:00.008+07:00

Dream Theater - MTV Shows

The original webpage @ headbangersblog.mtv.com
(there's two more vids)

FORTRESS Protest The Hero

2008-12-21T18:02:00.012+07:00

Mathcore? Cabang baru matematika? Hehe...
Ternyata aliran musik.

Protest The Hero (Wikipedia/Last.fm). Di antara Arch Enemy, Down, Children Of Bodom... di cd mp3 salah isi (Sampulnya apa, isinya apa. Dasar bajakan! Siapa suruh beli!).

Kenapa Protest?
Arch metal, tapi grrrowl...
Bodom asik musiknya, tapi sda.
Down heavy, tapi cd-nya bego :P
Begitulah...

Ternyata di album ini (Wikipedia/Last.fm) ada Vadim Pruzhanov (Dragon Force) di satu lagu. Pantesan, kok tau2 ada kibor solo gaya game di tengah2.

Bener2 patah2 musiknya. Ck, ck, ck...
Ada beberapa bass-line yg funky n flowing, dilatari dobel bas-drum. Ck, ck, ck...
Ritemnya, hm... Apa masih ada ritem yg bener2 fresh di dunia? Yg penting metal! Terdengar rapi dan jago kok. Apalagi ada sedikit interlude piano dr gitarisnya, rapi!

Ada juga sampling2 boom, kentongan tiang listrik (?), kutipan pilem, bahkan kucing ngeong. Yah, ngaco2 kreatiflah...

Sayang, lagu2nya pendek. Total album cuma 40 menitan. Blm cukup disebut progmet, bukan begitu?

Vokalnya, sangat terasa generasinya. Tone dasarnya mirip vokalis2 Lostprophets, Story Of The Year, bahkan My Chemical Romance.
Untung liriknya gak emo :P
Trus banyak variasi, yg gak melulu scream/growl (yg memang cocok bwt aksentuasi), ada bending suara yg lumayan nyeni dan 'dewasa'.
Itu menurut gw.

Jadi favorit gw? Tunggu waktu...

THE COLOUR AND THE SHAPE Foo Fighters

2008-11-30T20:59:00.020+07:00

It's Foo's 2nd album. I just got the original, not the 2007 re-released version.

DETAILS:
Wiki
Amazon

Monkey Wrench:: My first FF song, really funny video.
Everlong:: I first heard this in 'Skin and Bones' (Wiki, Amazon).
My Hero:: Also, first in 'Skin...'.
Walking After You:: I heard this original version once, couldn't find it anywhere. Like it better than the X-Files version.

Cool!

DEATH MAGNETIC Metallica

2008-10-16T21:01:00.009+07:00

Album yang ditunggu-tunggu!

That Was Just Your Life (7:08)
Lagu yg asik, berhasil jadi pembuka yg sukses mengedepankan janji akan power dan mutu dr keseluruhan album ini.
The End of the Line (7:52)
Asik. Walaupun gw rada bosen dengan adanya sedikit verse dejavu. Solo wah-wah si Hammett juga dejavu, rada gitu2 aja seh... tapi itu style trademark dia memang.
Broken, Beat & Scarred (6:25)
Asik banget! Ada beberapa transisi yg ciamik. Setelah intro yg kurang asik, keseluruhan lagu ini oke. Ada riff dejavu sebelum solo. Setelah 'That was Just Your Life', inilah lagu yg nyangkut di memori gw. Alasan utamanya, liriknya bisa dikutip bwt bikin semangat:
"What don't kill ya make you more strong"
"Show, your, scars!"
"The weak die hard"
The Day That Never Comes (7:56)
Ada riff dejavu dari 'Fade to Black'. Buat jadi single, okelah.
All Nightmare Long (7:57)
Pertama baca judulnya, kok norak ya.. Tapi norak sok sangar begini memang attitude metal jadul, so what? Tapi, ternyata di dalam ada lagi noraknya: "Love is a four-letter word." Waduh. Yah, dengerin musiknya aja.. hehe. Oke kok.
Cyanide (6:39)
Bassline lagu ini (pas semua gitar diem dan basnya berdentum-dentum) sangat mengingatkan gw dengan Jason Newsted. Sangat terdengar dan menguasai frekuensi bawah. Tapi memang secara keseluruhan memang kurang oke bwt jadi single. Supaya sukses, video klipnya musti dibuat keren banget.
The Unforgiven III (7:46)
Ini terasa 'Unforgiven II' (baca: baunya 'Load' & 'Reload'), walaupun gak ada riff yg bener2 dejavu. Pianonya kalo gak cuma di intro doang mungkin lebih menarik.
The Judas Kiss (8:00)
Rapi. Ada di tengah antara metal dan heavymetal/hardrock. Mungkin ini umpamanya lagu yg dibuat di sesi 'Load' & 'Reload' dengan attitude & sound metal Metallica orisinal.
Suicide & Redemption (9:57)
Instrumental!
My Apocalypse (5:02)
Dari sini rupanya "death magnetic" dikutip.

PRODUKSI & SOUND

Dari sisi produksi, jelas bumi dan langit dibanding 'St. Anger'. Rapi, in-tune, dan metal. Tebakan gw, ini hasil dari kerja Rick Rubin yang agaknya tau banget bagaimana sound metal sejati (bukan heavymetal yang miring ke hardrock, atau lebih jelasnya: sound Bob Rock) dan tentunya Metallica sendiri sebagai sang pencetus sound yg kalo di speaker gak mutu memang berbahaya buat kuping (hehe).

Gw jadi pengen tau apa jadinya kalo lagu2 dari 'Black' sampai 'Reload' (bahkan mungkin sampai 'St. Anger') dengan sound ini. Mungkin di versi live yg akan datang bisa didenger? Atau mereka tetep make sound yg sesuai album aslinya? Hm...

INI DIA

Gw gak nangkep bhw ada lagu yg begitu mirip lagu2 lama, walau memang banyak riff dejavu. Banyak yg bilang, ada lagu mirip 'One', 'Unforgiven', 'Dyers Eve', dsb. Hm, menurut gw Metallica sdh berkarier begitu jauh dan hebat untuk sekedar 'mengulang' lagu lama.

Lebih jauh, album ini memang mewakili sound metal cetusan Metallica. Toh riff-riff mereka sudah jauh berkembang. Lebih ada 'lekukannya' yg mencerminkan pengaruh heavymetal, hardrock, dan country (Hetfield-kah biang keladinya?). Toh, dasar nadanya memang tetap metal. Lekukan itu bikin lagu Metallica gak kaku alias begitu2 doang.

Lekukan itu memang muncul di jamannya Bob Rock. Susah juga menentukan siapa yg memutuskan fleksibilitas itu, Metallica atw sang produser? Gak penting dijawab, walaupun jelas ini topik panas bwt Metallikatz yg gak nyambung sama album 'Black', 'Load', 'Reload', dkk. dan melampiaskannya ke produser. Menurut gw, pelampiasan itu justru menghina Metallica. Emangnya mereka gak punya kredibilitas, mau disuruh-suruh? Takut nolak? Kalo mereka gak suka berubah begitu, mereka pasti gak akan nurut!

Jadi apa yg terjadi, sudah terjadi... Maksud gw, kembalinya sound metal orisinal ini bukan berarti bukti bahwa Metallica sebelumnya sudah 'tersesat'! Bahwa tahun-tahun Bob Rock itu adalah kesesatan yg harus dihapus sama sekali dari pembuluh darah Metallica!

Walaupun mungkin aja, kalo mereka dulu cukup mengembangkan nada ke arah heavymetal tanpa ikut2an drastis mengubah sound, mungkin akan lebih menggembirakan (bwt semua orang, terutama fans lama). Tapi jelas, tahun-tahun hardrock itu sudah menambah keragaman jatidiri Metallica. Lekukan rock telah membuat metal orisinal Metallica jadi lebih bernuansa!

Jadi, sudahlah fans lama. Tah usah hiraukan bualan fans era Bob Rock, namanya jg anak kecil (eh, salah ya? sori! hehe..). Jangan belah-belah Metallica ke era ini-itu. Yang ada: Metallica, band besar yg telah jauh berjuang. Setelah semuanya, setelah krisis 'Some Kind of Monster', mereka dan kita semua para fans bisa berkata: "Apapun yg Metallica lakukan sebelumnya, itulah yg membuat Metallica sekarang lebih kuat dan lebih baik."

Dan berharap Bob Rock tidak usah kembali lagi.. hehe. Biarkan dia mengurus The Offspring!

PROFESSOR SATCHAFUNKILUS AND THE MUSTERION OF ROCK Joe Satriani

2008-08-02T20:32:00.009+07:00

SYMPHONY X - Discography

2008-07-13T20:14:00.010+07:00

The Divine Wings of Tragedy (2004):

Of Sins and Shadows
Sea of Lies
Out of the Ashes
The Accolade
Pharaoh
The Eyes of Medusa
The Witching Hour
The Divine Wings of Tragedy: At the Four Corners of the Earth/In the ...
Candlelight Fantasia

The Odissey (2002):

Inferno (Unleash the Fire)
Wicked
Incantations of the Apprentice
Accolade II
King of Terrors
The Turning
Awakenings
The Odyssey: Pt. 1: Odysseus' Theme/Overture/Pt. 2: Journey to ...

G3 Live in TokyoJOHN PETRUCCI

2007-08-03T16:30:00.001+07:00

SCORE20th Anniversary World TourDREAM THEATER

2007-06-16T19:08:00.001+07:00

Updated @ 4-Jul-2007

Blasting music with one of the best picture quality to date by Dream Theater. Awesome!
My personal highlight: Jordan Rudess' solo with the Finger-board. Genius!

		This was one of the best nights of our career.. (Mike Portnoy)
		It's a godsend for fans, and a perfect introduction for the band's ever-growing audience of new and converted fans.. (Jeff Shannon - Amazon.com)

>		Videography @ dreamtheater.net (Dream Theater official site)
		Info (song list and content) and links to the 3CD version and where to order (CD Universe and Play.com).
>		Amazon.com
		Price (new and used), detailed infos (format, rating, run time, etc.), reviews (editorial and user), discussions, similar items, etc.