Here’s a video from Small Black, a band I’m guessing is new to most people, but this is an altogether quality song and video pairing. It’s not easy to create a lucid story in a music video without the use of any dialogue, but this is a great example of how to do it within the confines of the realities of being a modest-sized band with presumably a modest-sized budget. The video for No Stranger features a story everyone can relate to and it’s really pleasant in the context of a great song.
I guess on paper, you’d call Otis Taylor a “bluesman,” but on this album, that’s just a starting point for some uniquely genre-crossing music. With a band that features such far-reaching guests as jazz trumpeter Ron Miles, the sound is at times catchy, others mournful, others fully introspective. The album is largely a collaboration with Indigenous guitarist Mato Nanji and centers on the lives and plight of Native Americans. This is blues for the 21st century, looking forward and backward and putting the listener in an ear-crossing trance. I love the tracks like Huckleberry Blues where Taylor’s banjo and voice play perfect counterpoint to Miles’ dreamy trumpet, but there’s plenty to love on this one throughout.
Iconic rockers Neil Young and Crazy Horse wrapped up the first European Leg of their 2013 Alchemy Tour last night at the 02 Arena in London. The band busted out Red Sun from 2000′s Silver & Gold LP for the first time on the entire tour at Monday evening’s show and also performed Like A Hurricane for only the third time on the leg.
While videos of last night’s Like A Hurricane show off a pretty good version of the classic tune, we can’t stop listening to the monster 15-minute version of the song from Neil Young and Crazy Horse’s June 2nd show in Berlin. There’s fuzz, distortion, noise and powerful riffs throughout. From what we’ve heard, it’s the highlight of the just-completed European tour. See if you agree…
I love how easy it has become to effortlessly and easily bring tunes anywhere you go. We’ve highlighted tons of gadgets from earphones to headphones to Bluetooth speakers to whole house sound and even a way to stream right to your car. We’ve covered desktop and bookshelf speakers and even a way to turn a cardboard box into a speaker. However, bringing tunes or podcasts into the shower has always been problematic. Non-waterproof speakers have difficulty handling the condensation of a bathroom. Further, placing them outside a shower and you often have terrible sound battling with the acoustics of the shower walls and sound of the shower itself. Waterproof speakers can be a viable option of course, but choices there are limited and placement can also be an issue – where do you place it? Precariously balanced on the towel bar? The floor?
Anyway, Kohler looks to solve all these limitations and has designed a wireless speaker and showerhead combo. It has surprisingly good sound, is rechargeable and has an innovative design. The 1.5W speaker is a magnetic cone that easily pulls out and pops back in for recharging. It pairs with your mobile device via Bluetooth and has great range. In addition to being a good speaker, it is a darn good showerhead to boot. Kohler, of course, is known for extremely high quality faucets and showers so this is no surprise I guess. Read on to learn more about this fantastic little luxury.
