meta-roj

this is a great compilation of great recommendations for your musical travels.

an interesting project emerging from the university of leicester – studying “demographic predictors of musical style preferences.”

to participate, visit this page

and remind eme to come back to this for the results.

i still stand by my assertion that square waves suck, and for some time, i’ve toyed with the idea of revisiting the subject with some pretty graphics and specific examples from this era of american-idol-pop-music, but i haven’t. fortunately for you, someone else has put together a well-written and accessible piece exploring the problem.

the first officially-sanctioned western rock-and-roll album available in iran is a greatest hits collection from queen. not so much for the love songs, but the powers that be embraced even bohemian rhapsody, and the release contains lyrics and a leaflet to explain the songs. more from the bbc.

oh, and cat stevens is next.

i’d like to discover some new music…. lots of new music, actually. but i’m looking for a particular kind of music…. celebration music.

so, from all the faithful meta-roj blog readers, i want your opinions. i want your filters. what i want to discover is music of celebration from around the world, and to avoid american pop music. send me your thoughts on the music that makes you think “man, that’s a happy song” when you hear it… the music traditionally played at weddings from some far-flung culture that i don’t know well… the chanting… the drumming… the rhythm that moves people to joy…. the music that makes people feel good, get happy and maybe even dance. the theme is celebration, the world is my oyster, so please fill my ears…. point me to your favorites.

(bonus points if it’s cc-licensed or if i can actually get in touch with the creator)

i’d like to introduce everyone to the blues radio series hosted by keb’mo’, i’ve been enjoying this for a while now, and just realized that the whole deal is [shocking] on the web (windows media and real media only).

i’ve had the pleasure of meeting my local walking blues encyclopedia, nap turner on a few occasions, notably at the hr57 center for the preservation of jazz and blues (which happens to be the place this picture happened).

this is a wonderfully produced radio series, and well worth your time to listen – the web version has lots of extra audio, so come with me on this great journey through music….

as nap would say, don’t forget the blues.

via (metafilter)

i thought i’d take this opportunity plug a very deserving spam-musician.

i was lead on a merry path to outside the inbox, a 14-track album inspired by spam. and they’re missing something. something very, very important.

deirdre flint‘s the irish email song [128k mp3].

(and check out the rest of her music too…)

shujaat hussain khan, accessible raga master.

“They’re very alien sounds, so it’s really difficult to concentrate and understand what a person is doing by making these different sounds for over an hour, two hours. But it’s much easier if it’s presented in shorter time frame and a little more relaxed frame of mind.”

don’t take my word for it… go hear.

10/24/03 Washington, DC Lisner Auditorium
10/25/03 Atlanta, GA Rialto
10/26/03 Middlebury, VT Middlebury College
11/1/03 Houston, TX Hobby Ctr / Zilkha Hall
11/2/03 Austin, TX UT Hogg Auditorium
11/7/03 Santa Cruz, CA UCSC Rio Theatre
11/8/03 Bellingham, WA Wstrn. Washington U.
11/9/03 Seattle, WA Earshot Festival
11/15/03 Paris, FRANCE Theatre de la Ville
11/17/03 London, ENGLAND London Jazz Festival

(via blah3 and metafilter)

meshugga beach party

who knew?

(disclaimer: i worked with a surf-rock band once upon a time)