i recently got a hold of a new 7″ from . this 5-song e.p. was recorded by xiu xiu’s jamie stewart and it sounds very much like there’s a shared sonic sensibility between railcars and xiu xiu. it’s chaotic and harsh, but definitely melodic. the record is an extra heavy 70 grams and comes with a free digi download. it’s out on berkeley label . . check a track:

video on the dslr: revolutionary? gimmick? the controversy still rages, and (plus the comments) has solid, in depth statements about what may or may not be coming down the pipeline. the author argues that pro-video will remain with the pros because the dslr camera like the or the is just one part of the toolbox (although a pretty badass tool at that). the skills, gear and software needed beyond that keep high-quality video outside the realm of the casual user.

while i don’t disagree that the video process is a lot more time-consuming than photography (i particularly liked the 5-to-1 statement of editing time needed for film time taken), i do strongly feel that each generation of hardware and software is designed to make our lives slightly simpler than before. we may not be at a point where we can create masterpiece videos on the fly, but something will come along that will revolutionize the movie making creation process. it’s just up to software geniuses to figure out how – and the first one to do so will make a LOT of money.

a useful list for anyone that’s been hard at work on their music.
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just got this from a publicist. i’m usually not into posting press releases verbatim, but this one is awesome for a few reasons, not least of which is that it says that teddy riley, dj quik, and snoop dogg have formed a production team. just imagine the good shit that could come from that. and how great is it that pete rock is remixing “folsom prison blues?” that thing needed more pete rock horns, and now it’s gonna get ‘em. i also love that the album is executive produced by snoop, johnny and june’s son, and beyonce and solange’s dad. wonderful!

JOHNNY CASH REMIXED CD AND DVD DOCUMENTARY SET FOR JANUARY 27 RELEASE ON COMPADRE RECORDS

Iconic Artist’s Sun Records Masters Remixed – Artists featured include Snoop Dogg

(Houston, TX) Compadre Records/Music World Music has announced the release of JOHNNY CASH REMIXED, featuring bold new interpretations of Johnny Cash classics from top music remixers and producers who were recruited to take the original master recordings and infuse them with the sounds and technology of modern music styles such as hip hop and dance music. The album, which includes a performance from Snoop Dogg, will be available in stores and online on January 27. A vinyl deluxe-edition will be available on September 23 in select independent record stores.

Johnny Cash Remixed is a tribute to the legacy of an American music icon whose work has touched every contemporary genre, and has the blessing and support of the custodians of Johnny Cash’s legacy.

“My father made his stead by defying the expected and accepted way of things” says John Carter Cash son of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash and Executive Producer of the Academy Award(c)-winning film, Walk the Line. “He set the standard at the same time. He would have loved this remix record. While it stays true to the original recordings, this CD touches on undiscovered ground. This is what my father was about: staying true to tradition while creating groundbreaking new music.”

Johnny Cash classics were licensed from Cash’s first record label, the legendary Sun Records, also the first record label home of luminaries such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison. The original tracks, recorded with Cash’s first band the Tennessee Two from 1956-1959, were pure and stark, with only the essentials; guitar, light percussion and Johnny Cash’s unmistakable voice and presence. The new mixes maintain this fantastic charm and personality while filing out the sound and creating daring re-interpretations.

The remixed tracks (and remixers) include “I Walkte The Line” featuring Snoop Dogg (QDT, the new production team led by Snoop Dogg – featuring Snoop, Teddy Riley and DJ Quik), “Country Boy” (Sonny J, whose album was released in August on Astralwerks US), “Get Rhythm” (Philip Steir, the only remixer allowed to work with the Reprise Records Frank Sinatra collection), “Leave that Junk Alone” (Alabama 3, creators of The Sopranos theme song), “Folsom Prison Blues” (the legendary Pete Rock), “Hey Porter” (Mocean Worker, whose remix of Elvis Presley’s “Burnin’ Love” was used as a soundtrack to Honda’s Superbowl TV commercial), “Sugartime” (Kennedy, cornerstone of the new UK Dirty Pop movement), “Trail To Mexico” (indie favorite Mexican Institute of Sound/MIS), “Doin’ My Time” (The Heavy, critically-acclaimed UK-based band) and “Wide Open Road” (Count de Money) among others.

A documentary following the making will be included with the album, and was produced by Phear Creative in NYC. This short film features interviews from select remixers, filmed in their home studios, including Snoop Dogg captured at the Cash Recording Cabin in Hendersonville, Tennessee.

Johnny Cash Remixed is Executive Produced by John Carter Cash, Snoop Dogg, and Mathew Knowles for Music World Productions, Inc. and Co-Executive Produced by Brad Turcotte for Compadre Records/Music World Music and Gregg DeMammos for DeMammos Entertainment.

every tuesday for the next four weeks we’ll visit with ryan, the creative force behind , and take a peek into the diary of his album recording process. this week: introduction, inspiration, and instrumentation.

My name is Ryan Sommer. I am 30 years old, and I have been obsessed with music since kindergarten. I sold a winning raffle ticket for a school fundraiser at that time. The woman who bought it got a trip to Hawaii, and I got one of the first Sony portable cassette walkmans, along with Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Enough said.

I recently came into some free time after losing my job here in San Francisco. I had money saved, and gear that I have accumulated sporadically over the last eight years. When a moment presents itself and you know it’s the right time to act, it just clicks. It’s like the right pitch for a song, and you go. This was it for me. Time to record my album.

[continue reading]

dj dye (of japanese hip-hop crew ) just released a new mix cd called seasonal best: autumn. it includes the meanest man contest track “sorry,” from our album merit. you can buy autumn at stores like and . merit is available on cd and vinyl from and digitally from , , etc.

also, check out mmc’s “partially smart” in a new promo for , designer and manufacturer of awesome motorcycle racing components. the clip was put together by the good people of .

you can download “partially smart” – along with the rest of the partially smart ep – for free at .

just released , an ep of reworkings of the track he did with one of the best rappers ever, the legendary . i produced one of the remixes (thanks to the homie for the scratches). other remixers on the project include , , and . you can grab my remix for free here:

mochipet f/ myka nyne – “hope again (eriksolo remix f/ dj cheapshot)”

i made a track for a new by our good friends at . the video is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of revolve’s new . give it a watch!

here’s a cool interview with musician and animator e*rock. he runs the frykbeat and audio dregs record labels in portland.