Every music lover has a handful of albums that fall into the “must-have” category. Hardcore rap fans may name classics such as N.W.A’s Straight Outta Compton, while those who prefer the lyrical wizardry of hip hop might say It Was Written by Nas. For those who enjoy artists that burst the conventional bubble and recapture the old school sounds Rhythm and Blues, these are neo soul albums you can’t be without.

Floetic

Floetry is comprised of Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart, aka the Songstress and Floacist. This dynamic duo made their debut in 2002 with Floetic, a soulful album that offered a melodic blend of jazz, hip hop and poetry. Floetic is so intimate that you may consider it better suited for after-dark relaxation. From “Big Ben” to “Now You’re Gone,” this one is a keeper that will sizzle in CD players for years to come.

Acoustic Soul

Hence the name, India.Arie’s Acoustic Soul boasts moving soul music with a commanding acoustic touch. Apart from her mesmerizing voice, Arie also plays the guitar and drums – no synthesizers or machines, just instrumental magic in its purest form. Of the 16 tracks, “Video,” was her first single and among the most impressive, never grew stale from commercial appeal. “Simple” is another popular favorite, a catchy tune with a thumping beat distinctive of most love songs. Acoustic Soul is solid throughout and perhaps the best of India’s three albums.

Ain’t Nobody Worryin’

Thick, mellifluous and flat out soulful, Ain’t No Body Worryin’ is reminiscent of early ’70s soul with modern pizzazz sprinkled throughout. Anthony Hamilton captured an audience of listeners with his smashing debut, Anthony’s album had to be soulful since he used to sing background for one of the kings of neo soul, D’Angelo. He has therefor cemented himself as one of the godfathers of nu soul. Hamilton’s voice is majestic and powerful, to the point where every single word resonates within. You can’t call yourself a neo soul fanatic without this riveting new classic in your collection.

Voodoo

Following the successful debut of Brown Sugar, D’Angelo proved that he was far from a one-album wonder with the release of Voodoo. A perfection of retro soul, this cutting edge masterpiece not only dramatically compares to old school Marvin Gaye, but also the bone chilling experimental sounds of Jimi Hendrix’s Axis: Bold as Love and Electric Ladyland. Voodoo has that finger-snapping, head bopping command with blasts of anger, love songs and eye-opening reality this flavorful genre is so known for. Anyone familiar with D’Angelo’s sophomore album will agree that it was well worth the wait.



By: Prince Damons

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Some people use music to set the mood at work. They will typically have a portable music player application installed on their computer and might have taken the time to download several albums for use throughout the day. Some people might prefer to listen to music that calms the nerves when they are rushed and trying to meet a deadline.

Music will set the mood to a calmer note which will allow the person to think more clearly and get all of the necessary tasks done on time or ahead of schedule. Some people think that this sort of music sets a certain pace, and is viewed by many in the office as an operational beat that certainly helps when production is lagging and people are tense and have the tendency to become terse and irritable with each other.

While not all people in an office environment will be soothed by someone who has classical music playing at their desk, they will certainly appreciate the sounds of the percussion instruments and flutes that float through the air. Some people relax enough to realize the benefits of jazz in the workplace and will find that they are keeping up with the beat by an indiscrete beat of their toe on the carpet under their desk, out of view of everyone else in the office.

Some people believe that jazz has a definite effect on how well people feel when they are on a date. Jazz is very invigorating to some people and some feel that it sets a lighthearted feeling into the air that removes feelings of doubt and allows people to relax around each other. Jazz music is a classical style of music with flair and style that is unique and pleasurable.

Some people who date quite a bit will think that jazz music serves to charm a date and give them a sense of style and elegance that eventually makes them feel very beautiful. When people feel beautiful by the musical effects in the background, then they are more prone to accepting other forms of affection or terms of endearment. Some people are so affected by music that is played on dates that these couples will adopt a certain song as one that represents their relationship.

Some men romance their dates by playing love ballads throughout the evening. Soul music has been found to be very helpful in setting the mood for a dinner-for-two at home. Many marriages have been enriched by the music that surrounds their lives. Any type of music that allows couples to pair up for a good slow dance is bound to have excellent results by the end of the evening.



By: Jim Brown

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Music is often the rhythm of life. It has the power to invoke our emotions so that we experience the pain of heart break or the passion of living. It can rev us up or calm our soul. Music just plain helps us to experience life. Wouldn’t it be nice to see what you hear? Wouldn’t it be nice to see your favorite artist decorating the wall of your home? Capture the essence of your favorite music in a visual experience using a few of the ideas here.

Print the words of your favorite song on special parchment paper. Add this along with a black and white photo of the artist who sang the song. Set these items against a blue felt background for a calming effect or a red felt background for a more passionate one. For some of us, a nostalgic touch can be added by simply noting the date of the song when it came out. This idea would look especially nice in a glass or ceramic frame with matching colored trim (matching to the felt background). Or what about combining the lyrics with several photos that evoke the ambiance in a collage frame?

Like show tunes? Combine an element of the song with a movie trailer poster for a powerful expression. For example, the spirit of the song “The Eye of the Tiger” can be shown using a Rocky movie trailer poster along with some boxing gloves. Frame these items in shadow box in a bold color like red or black. The striking accent of the frame will reinforce the power of the fighting spirit in the song.

Have you attended a concert lately? Don’t be so quick to trash your concert ticket stubs. Use them as part of this tribute to your favorite artist. If you’re really aggressive, obtain an autograph of this artist to add to this frame concept. Combine these items with a photograph of the band or artist in a gold picture frame. Gold is a bold color often denoting significance or value.

If you’re an artist yourself, consider framing a photograph of your favorite musical instrument in a picture frame. For example, a guitar photo framed with a pick that you use along with the titles of a few of the songs you sang are great items to frame. Set these items against a colored felt back ground and set it in a black picture frame with gold trim. Simply original!

If your favorite music has no lyrics, such as orchestra or some techno music, consider finding a painting or print that depicts the mood that your musical choice creates. For example, maybe the piece has a majestic feel to it. Consider selecting a view of the mountains to display the emotions of the song. Maybe the song has a light, whimsical feel to it. Consider a picture of a lone flower bending in the wind. Add the title or composer to enhance the effect.

There are so many ways to visualize the emotions that music brings out in us. Get creative in the way you display them. Any of the ideas above can be mixed and matched to create just the right mood for your needs. Visually experiencing music can be a fun and decorative concept for your home.



By: Kathy Page

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Golden songs of 80’s and 90’s rejuvenate our cells & soul

Music is a magical word that automatically generates a feeling of high awe in us. And when the context is of golden melodies of 80’s and 90’s, people really can’t help themselves to listen it. It is a not a serendipitous gift from God, instead it’s a true form of hyper meditation for God. It takes us towards the purity of emotions and inner random feelings. Golden old melodious songs drag us to the unending streak of happiness and euphoria.

Old Hindi songs from various classic movies of 70’s to 90’s are still loved by almost everyone; all of us have their own favorites also. There are usually times, when sitting in a group of friends, we start remembering the old gems, singing them, discussing our favorite singers. Quite often in discussion we debate, who was the greatest or who was better. No one can conclude anything from these discussions or rather speculations.

People who like golden euphoria show their inner reflection, as such old songs not only shake the foundation of relational feelings but also stir’s it. Old songs create a nimbus of superlative divine hood. These songs are always related to our heart palpitations and ignite a magnetic feeling of love and emotions. This is the only reason why it is still hard to compare the golden songs with our stone-crashing rocks and pops!

Of course both entertain us in a realistic way but still a physical separation is there which identifies the transformation and final effects. It is believed that those who are keen in relationships and naturally flowing emotions tends to listen old songs as compared to those who are like young music are more materialistic and full of paranoid fantasies. Golden songs ethereally runs deeps down our bones and rejuvenates our cells, it fills us with pristine gospels. Its true that golden songs are ageless immortal and nothing can defy there presence in the deepest dimension of our souls.

With the explosion of the Internet, and the ease of availability of online file hosting servers, today it is much easier for people all over the world to listen and download old songs collection.



By: oldsongsuttam

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The term Northern Soul was termed by Dave Godin, a journalist for the “Blues and Soul” magazine back in 1968.  Godin came up with the term when helping employee’s stock music on the shelves of his record shop in London England.  As newer music Rhythm and Blues (R&B) music was arriving, he wanted to be able to differentiate the smoother sounds of early R&B from the newer funkier sounds that was hitting the airwaves.  The term northern soul now refers to the golden oldies of Rhythm and Blues that are played at many of the most popular nightclubs in Northern The United States was flooded with R&B musicians, however, in England opened another new venue for R&B artist to make it big, and biog they did England today. 

Back in the 60’s when most clubs where changing up their beats to the more modern genres of music, many Northern England nightclubs chose to keep the rare soul music beats.  This has not slowed business down for these well-established clubs today, if anything it brought in more patrons then ever before.  Patrons knew what they liked and did not feel the need to follow the fads of the time. 

Northern Soul music played a huge role in the beginning of the DJ culture in England.  The United States was filling up with R&B artist and England opened up a whole new venue for artist to not only collect on but for some make it big in the music industry who wouldn’t of had a chance otherwise in the States due to the huge amount of R&B artists already circulating.  Artist like Tammi Lynn, The Fascinations, The Velvelettes, The Tams, and many others made top hits in the UK due to the love of the Northern Soul. 

So just who makes up the Northern Soul genre one may ask, the answer is simple yet vast, as thousands make up the Northern Soul genre.  This genre includes top R&B artist to one hit wonders.  Northern Soul music isn’t a style, voice, musical instrument choice, or even topic of song, northern soul music is a feel, a beat, and the ability to dance to it.  Some of the Northern Soul choices are very rare and even hard to come by today, others more popular, some had a slow groove beat while others have a upbeat tempo. 

Remember Kool and the Gang, Bill Withers, or Gwen Guthrie; they all added to the Northern Soul movement in northern parts of England as well as several hundreds to thousands of more R&B artist.  Names such as Randy Crawford, Bobby Womack, Gerald Levert, and even the O’Jays still play a part of the dance floors in nightclubs around the world.  More current artists such as Kenny G, Whitney Houston, and Chaka Khan also play a large role of the northern soul genre.  If the feet can be put to the beat of the Rhythm and Blues, more then likely it has become a part of the Northern Soul genre.



By: Tex Johnson

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Memphis Blues music first appeared in the 1920s in Memphis, and Memphis ever since has been a Mecca for Blues music lovers worldwide. Beale Street, the heart of Memphis music scene, is home to everything from jug bands to jazz.

The sub genre of Memphis Blues music that is Jug Band Blues emphasizes syncopated rhythms and sounds of early jazz and folk songs. Jug bands play on homemade, simple instruments, such as harmonicas, banjos, washboards, and kazoos, and of course, jugs.

After WWII, Memphis Blues music saw the birth of electric instruments. Many musicians flocked to Memphis to the Blues scene with these electric instruments, changing the sound of Memphis blues. The musicians would gather on Beale Street, where there were recording studios up and down. West Memphis saw the same influx of musicians, who would record the most famous and renowned classic blues, rhythm and blues, and rock & roll records. Once of the most famous of these studios was Sun Records, who would also record the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley, among many others.

The beginning of Memphis self expressive music was attributed by a certain sound that became familiar to the colored workers of the cornfields, the sharecroppers. Much of the early Memphis blues music was an attempt to capture the sound of the singing workers. This sound at first was nicknamed the gutbucket blues. Some of the more popular topics of the songs were those of prayer, faith, and life.

Even today on Beale Street, songs are written and recorded in the small studios by artists with their dreams in tow. The streets in Memphis are just as alive today with the Memphis Blues as they were in the 40s and 50s. The clubs and bars in Memphis fill up every night with tourists and people who sit for hours listening to the artists and their music, much the same way they always have.

With all of the new and ever changing genres of music that have come about, people may wonder what gives the Memphis Blues music such staying power. The answer is simple. The Memphis Blues remains such a huge part of tradition in Memphis because it is more than just music. It is an entire culture and lifestyle that gets passed from one generation to the next.

Ever since the Memphis Blues music was born on the curbs of Beale Street, people have been flocking to Memphis to enjoy it ever since. Chances are pretty good that it will continue to be enjoyed and loved for many more generations to come.



By: Phoenix Delray

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Mobile phones with advanced capabilities for delivering music have been the forte of Sony Ericsson. As a matter of fact, handsets from this company are well-known in the industry for some of the best options in mobile multimedia and music. The walkman series of Sony Ericsson mobile phones are much in demand. The Sony Ericsson W980i is one of the more popular mobile handsets from this very amazing series.

One look at this handset, and you would feel like you are staring at a miniature music player. As a matter of fact, in the closed position, the handset can be specially used for listening to music. It is quite easy to control the music with dedicated keys that are placed in front of the handset. A user can know more about the songs that are being played by glancing at the front screen of the W980i.

The capability to store the latest songs and chart busters is another feature that makes the W980i from Sony Ericsson special to the music lovers. After all, who would not want to carry the maximum number of their favourite songs wherever they go? The 8GB of internal memory is adequate for storing all the soulful music as well as pulsating music tracks.

Downloading of music is also very fast and hassle free – a couple of clicks and the song that you were searching frantically even a couple of minutes ago, is in your mobile phone.

This Sony Ericsson W980i mobile phone comes with an integrated 3.2 megapixel camera with 3.2x digital zoom. The captured shots can be edited at will using special features such as Photo fix. The images can then be uploaded to special sites as part of picture blogging. Streaming of videos and capability of the handset to play video clips are the other two interesting functionalities of the handset in this domain.

The connectivity options that are a part of the Sony Ericsson W980i include Bluetooth, PictBridge, and USB support. Advanced capabilities to access the web make this Sony Ericsson phones very much popular among people leading active and hectic lives.



By: Samuel Herrick

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Music is the rhythm of life and possesses the power to revive stale heart, mind and soul. Music has that great power of expression of an artist’s mind, his zeal, emotions and vivacity. Music can make the blood flow in opposite direction and that is why music plays a vital role in nurturing revolution by providing great motivation. Alternative rock is also that precious stone picked up from the sea of innovation. Alternative rock is essentially an umbrella term for underground music that has emerged in the wake of the punk rock movement since the mid 1980s. Throughout its history, alternative rock has been largely defined by its rejection of the commercialism of mainstream culture. The music now known as alternative rock was known by a variety of terms before “alternative” came into common use. “College rock” was used in the United States to describe this awesome music during the 1980s due to its links to the college radio circuit and the tastes of college students.

In the United Kingdom the term “Indie” was preferred; by 1985 the term “Indie” had come to mean a particular genre, or group of subgenres, rather than a simple demarcation of status. As a musical genre, alternative rock consists of various subgenres that have grown from the indie music scene since the 1980s, such as grunge, Britpop, Gothic rock, and Indie pop. These genres are unified by their collective debt to the style and/or ethos of punk, which laid the groundwork for alternative music in the 1970s. Alternative bands in previous times used to play in small clubs, at that time there was no advertising medium so it was advertised through world of mouth as a result alternative rock became popular among youth. Alternative rock does not have any particular musical style but many performers have made up their own style by including distorted guitars. Sounds range from the dirty guitars of grunge and the gloomy sound scales of gothic rock is the specialty of alternative rock.

Lyrics in alternative rock songs typically address issues concerned with society such as drugs, depression and environment. Alternative rock has that approach that can awake youth and can make them realize their potential. Alternative rock performers differentiate themselves from their traditional rock predecessors as they want to sing it for a greater diversity and experimentation in music. Alternative rock performers produce catchy as well as motivational music. Though their music–with its emphasis on distorted guitars and ambiguous lyrics doesn’t suit to commercialize society. Expressions explained by alternative rock songs are 3-4 minutes long, with catchy riffs and steady beats. Alternative rock aims to reach out to a new generation of youth with high energy, melodic music which spoke to contemporary social issues.

Defining music as “alternative” is often difficult because of the application of the word alternative. On one hand alternative describes challenging music that protest commercialization and mainstream values. On the other hand alternative word is used by music industry to mention available options. Whatever the meaning that word carries out, but the fact is that the alternative rock is exactly what present youth need to get motivated.



By: Tom Janison

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It’s time to CHNAGE the music since CHANGE is in the air. Can you hear a little R&B in the background, some Mo-Town, a little more soul? I can. But regardless of the genre of music a sour note can spoil the whole thing- if we let it. It didn’t take Sean Hannity or El Rushbo very long to start criticizing the President-elect. After all they had been criticizing the Democratic nominess endlessly day after day. 

Taking a dive into the theological-philosophical waters, there are not two powers.

That which seems to be evil isn’t. It just looks that way. There is only one power and therein the institutional church as created this duality that leads into a never-ending sin management paradigm. Darkness is just the absence of light and that which seems evil is just a little out of TUNE. I have days when I’m out of TUNE with who I am what’s going on around me. It’s not a good thing and what’s amazing is that we know it, sense it.

Listen up now.

A single key or tone of the piano which gets out of tune, drops it’s proper pitch destroys the whole of the musical piece and so it is with an. When we allow a negative thought to come into our head we destroy the whole of our life which is positive. All negative thinking strikes a discordant note. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

We are Consciousness! Can you say SPIRIT?

That which we ARE has been created in the IMAGE (imagination) of God, Father-Consciousness. And it’s all good unless we give THOUGHT (who by giving thought can add one cubit to his or her stature?) and allow the third dimensional world to frame our view of life. We are all spirit being currently covered by this physical shell. We’re flesh which is spirit materialized. One day we’ll return to just Spirit and there will be no off-key music.

So, let the music play! And why not a little soul music for awhile?



By: Ernie Fitzpatrick

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Anyone who has ever listened to the “Blues” knows that it is more than just music, but an inspiration, an unfolding of the emotions that we all feel. From Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon and many other influential Blues legends, to the more contemporary Blues artists such as Robert Cray, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, Blues music has and always be a part of out musical heritage.

Capturing the essence and spirit that the Blues represent is a novel “Blues Musical” called “The Tear Jar.” Not focusing on a particular band or individual, the “Tear Jar” instead is a collaboration and meeting of the minds of many talented people including producer Chris Bravacos, song writer Robert Welch, audio engineer Frank Silver and writer Jerry King Musser.

Blended into the musical are the rare talents of musicians such as: industry veteran Diane Wilson (singing the character of Savannah), talented Bluesman Don Johnson (singing the character of Mason Ball), Blues guitar virtuoso Jared James Nichols (singing the character of JD Hunter), Jazz sensation Rose Hudson (singing the part of Chandra), veteran Gospel singer Eugene Barclift (playing the character of Stubs) and Soul Music vet Charles Lee (as the Preacher), among others.

To set up the story, one needs to know what a ‘tear jar’ is and what it represents. In ancient cultures, water was a prized possession and giving up water from one’s own body, in the form of tears, was considered a personal sacrifice. They would catch their precious tears in tiny pitchers or ‘tear jars.” The ’saved’ tears could then be used to ward off evil or to help a sick child. The writer takes this belief and implements into the storyline and applies it to the infectious Blues songs that encompass and define the musical. Here is a brief synopsis of the story:

“Seasoned, itinerant blues man, Mason Ball, returns to The Blue Rose, a club in which he enjoys playing, with an owner he deeply ‘admires.’ Upon his arrival, he’s surprised to discover that a ‘new kid in town’ has claimed the stage and attention of an appreciative audience. This young upstart, one JD Hunter, is unwilling to relinquish the limelight and makes it clear that the ‘old blues’ is dead. To add to the tension, Mason’s private love interest shares with him a serious, personal loss. Frustrated with his inability to appease her emotional pain, Mason dips his finger into a jar of tears given him by his recently departed mother and touches her with the potion. This act, apparently, manifests in wondrous results… relieving her of her anguish. Mason doubts his healing powers, yet can’t dismiss the changes he seems to have made. When word gets out, the audience demands Mason’s appearance onstage and seem to come for his ‘gift of healing’ as much as his gift of song. JD challenges Mason’s abilities, those both spiritual and musical. When a plan to expose Mason backfires, JD Hunter learns what it’s like to be on the receiving end of ‘the gift.’ But, gift or not, the characters in this story find themselves at a new place in their lives after discovering life’s potential magic is available to anyone.”

I have not seen the production, but have listened to some of the music and was overjoyed to hear a dizzying array of crisp, fresh Blues cuts that are certain to be standards and will have die-hard Blues fans clamoring for more.

“When Does The Healing Begin” is full of Gospel-fueled licks and superb vocals that fuses the Blues and Gospel in an explosion of sound. The cut called “The Magic,” like any great Blues song, just bleeds emotion, from the growling vocals and the Stevie Ray Vaughan-like riffs, yet it still remains achingly tender. “Satisfier” is expertly played and sang, with sultry vocals and is sung with immeasurable passion and strength. “I’m Gone,” is bound to become a classic blues rocker, tight and structured, and just compels you to bob your head or tap your foot with melodic adventure. “Stormbringer” perfectly fuses Soul and Blues music, with impassioned vocals and stellar guitar and organ work.

“The Tear Jar” is bound to become an instant classic Blues production, with fresh Blues music for all fans of the genre, who are sure to be pleased with the efforts of all the performers and everyone who is involved with this wondrous project. In its beginning stages, “The Tear Jar” has a performance slated for the Sunoco Performance Theater on Thursday, August 7 and Friday August 8, 2008 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. And with an intriguing storyline, a stellar cast and new Blues standards, it will soon make a bold impression in the music world and specifically Blues music.

To learn more about this inventive project and learn more about the players visit:

www.tearjar.com



By: Robert Benson

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