tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89506394650287794452024-03-12T21:54:01.738-04:00Erik Z MusicThe official Blog of Erik Z Music.comErik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-6768189431111983042011-10-21T22:48:00.008-04:002011-10-25T16:22:58.880-04:00Focusrite 18i6 Scarlett DAW interface<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004W6KREC/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B004W6KREC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B004W6KREC&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=erzmu-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>So a few weeks ago I took the plunge and decided to completely remake my recording studio. For the past 11 years I've been using a Mac G4 running Digital Performer with a MOTU 2408mkii. Back then this thing was easily on the same level with the first generation Protools digi001 system, but since then it's become a dinosaur. Don't get me wrong, it still sounds and works great, and I did record 2 full albums and lots of Youtube demo's with it, it's just.... I mean come on, Mac OS9? Technology has plunged forward in the past decade.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004YLHHF2/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B004YLHHF2" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL110_&ASIN=B004YLHHF2&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=erzmu-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>I must apologize to all the mac people out there, but I decided this time to go with a PC laptop instead. Since we're in the middle of a recession, cost was a big factor, but the reality is unless you're running Protools or MOTU stuff, a mac just isn't the be all end all of computers anymore for recording. So after widdingly it down to Reaper as my DAW software (I'm still learning the ropes, but so far so good), the next big challenge was which interface to get.</div><br />
Now obviously I'm a one man band, so the need for 300 ins and outs wasn't a high priority. I've actually got my mic collection down to only a few high quality condensers and dynamics and they do the job very well since really all I'm recording is vocals, guitars, and a few other random things here and there. My Neuamann TLM 103 has been with me for years and I love it, and my newest SM7B is absolutely stellar.<br />
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My laptop is a brand new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&ref_=nb_sb_ss_i_0_7&field-keywords=dell%20l702x&url=search-alias%3Daps&sprefix=dell%20l7?field-keywords=dell 17&_encoding=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Dell 17</a> with an i7 processor and 8gigs of RAM. I'm sure a year from now this will be shit, but right now it should be able to power just about anything, so I figured the computer wouldn't be the thing holding me back.<br />
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My search for an new Audio Interface ulitmately led me to the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&ref_=nb_sb_noss&field-keywords=focusrite%20scarlett&url=search-alias%3Daps&_encoding=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Focusrite Scarlett 18i6</a>. It was in my price range, and since I already own an ISA110, I was pretty familliar with the company. However I was actually very hesitant about getting the Focusrite 18i6, the reviews on-line seemed to paint a very mixed picture of how it worked. Every forum post I read seemed to paint a picture of this thing as sounding great, with lots of features, but had tons of issues with it's drivers. So I was on the fence for a while. Money was an issue, and the apogee duet II doesn't run on a PC. So do I buy something that sounds worse for cheaper? Do I spend money I don't have on something wayyyy more than I need? And honestly a lot of the higher end choices didn't have all the features. MIDI, SPDIF, enough inputs and outputs, etc.. Anyway, so I finally decided to pull the trigger on the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&ref_=nb_sb_noss&field-keywords=focusrite%20scarlett&url=search-alias%3Daps&_encoding=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Focusrite 18i6</a>. I figured if it didn't work I could always return it, plus Focusirte seems to really be on top of this and worst case scenerio, even if I didn decide to keep it, Focusrite would fix the driver issue in the next few months. And even beyond that, it comes with the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&ref_=nb_sb_noss&field-keywords=focusrite%20scarlett&url=search-alias%3Daps&_encoding=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Focusrite Scarlett Plugins</a>, which are a $100 progam on their own. <br />
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Seemed like a win win win to me. What did I have to lose? So I went ahead and purchased an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&ref_=nb_sb_noss&field-keywords=focusrite%20scarlett&url=search-alias%3Daps&_encoding=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Focusrite Scarlett 18i6</a>.<br />
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The first thing I did when when I got it home, before I hooked it up, was download the latest mix control driver. I've read a lot of people first used the included CD and had issues and had to uninstall, reinstall, unistal, BSOD, etc... so I wanted to avoid that as much as possible. <br />
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Seriously? If they say not to install what's on the CD-ROM, why would you risk it?<br />
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Anyway. I loaded the mix control driver. Restarted the computer, plugged the 18i6 in, loaded up reaper and BAM... It worked. Absolutely no issues what so ever.<br />
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As far as my impressions so far? First off, the mic pres in this thing are AMAZING!!! I can't believe these cost under $300. The funny thing is, I've been using a Focusrite mic pre for 10 years. I have an ISA110 which I made $2000.00 for back in 2000 and I'd been using through the MOTU 2408mkii as my main single channel pre/eq. It's always sounded fine (Just listen to my albums), but this thing... damn, my old setup sounds sterile and dead compared to it. I hate using the sound warm, but it just sounds so much more natural. Fabulous, couldn't be happier. <br />
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The only things I've noticed about it so far is that the line inputs on the back aren't very loud. I was testing it with Guitar Rig 5 and found the signal very quite. I switched it over to mic/line pres on the front and it's perfectly fine. It makes me wonder if they're meant for +4dB input devices, which is totally fine since I have a Focusrite ISA110 mic pre/EQ which sends out a +4 signal. But yeah, they work, but just know even with the mix control all the way up, a -10dB line signal is not coming at full level.<br />
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The only other thing I've had an issue with so far is the midi when using a Native Instruments very sample heavy Piano's in Kontakt. I was actually getting some dropouts and sampling issues. It was fine with most instruments, but those 3Gig Piano's like Vienna or New York would play fine for the first few chords, then drop notes or track really slowly. I kept thinking it was probably just my computer and I didn't have my memory set correctly yet. You have to remember I got my computer, DAW software and the 18i6 all within a few days. This is all brand new to me and needs some tweaks.<br />
Here's how I learned though that it wasn't my settings. My Rolland D20, which I had been using as my main controller for decades was having issues with some keys not making connections. What are you going to do, it's 20 years old? I ran down to the local music store and picked up an Alesis Q49 midi/USB keyboard controller and the second I plugged in to the laptop via USB only I had absolutely no drop outs. The piano's all played perfectly well.<br />
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So there you go, that's my take on the new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&ref_=nb_sb_noss&field-keywords=focusrite%20scarlett&url=search-alias%3Daps&_encoding=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957">Focusrite Scarlett 18i6</a>. I'm not returning it, it sounds amazing, it's tiny and I'm sure focusrite will release driver updates sooner than later, so even if it doesn't work at first, it'll probably be amazing ina few months. So.... I give it 9 out of 10 so far. Go get one for yourself. :-)<script src="http://static.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384.js" type="text/javascript">
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B004W6KREC" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B00551P93C" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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As always, for more info on me and music... check out my website.... <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/">http://www.erikzmusic.com/</a>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-86837619448695190122011-08-12T08:40:00.000-04:002011-08-12T08:40:10.962-04:00Generation White Trash<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WXrfv_9g6O8?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><br />
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This is one of my favorite songs from this album. It's probably one of my strongest vocal performances recorded, and the subject matter is something I'm actaully very proud of since I basically predicted the financial crisis that would hit about 5 years later. <br />
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So subject matter. I remember around 2001 discussing with people how our economy was going to collapse under the weight of consumer debt. Obviously I wasn't in the housing market at the time, but everywhere I went as a College student in the late 90's, and post grad in early '00's, I was being handed offer after offer after offer for Credit Cards. I mean at those College Fest things you used to go to, getting a credit card application and approval for credit was easier than getting free condoms or water bottle with a corporate logo. <br />
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So anyway, this whole thing just kept bugging me, and the only eventuallity I saw was that when it did collapse we, the affluent and whitty 20-Somethings/Generation X or up and coming Generation Y's, were going to be completely fucked by our debt and the day of shopping at glitzy hipster stores were going to be replaced with shopping at Walmart and living what we'd once deemed "White Trash". <br />
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So the idea of our current generation turning into Generation White Trash became a reality. This song was a warning, me trying to scream to my generation to cut the shit out because that's going to be you one day. And of course, as I write this in August of 2011, it has basically all come to pass. <br />
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Talk about being prophetic. <br />
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So let's talk about the music.... <br />
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As I already mentioned, I love the vocals in this song. It's just a great key for me and I sing it with conviction, very strongly. <br />
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I don't remember how I ended up writing the verses or choruses, but whole song is played with a capo on the 3rd fret, and that's sort of how it came to be. I'm not normally a capo person, but for some reason just liked the way it sounded and my vocals sounded better in this range. (3rd fret would make this song in the key of Bb Major? right). :-) Yeah, way to go Erik the Berklee grad. :-) <br />
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The guitar solo, as with most of my other ones, is pieced together is actually just two different take. Interestingly it's actually off-set. What I actually played along with the track while recording isn't what you hear. I pushed it forward, or back, 1/4 or 1/2 measure and found I liked the way it sounded better. <br />
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Ah yes, the <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Very-Best-Beach-Boys-Sounds/dp/B000TETD9Q?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Beach Boys</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000TETD9Q" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>-esque ending where I sing "We're Pretty much screwed" :-) I'm not really sure where that came from, or how it even fits the songs.... I just did it, and that's it. It's actually kind cool since it's actually 6 or 7 vocals stacked on each other. I have 2 vocals hard panning singing one part, all the harmonies panned with reverb, and one main vocal singing along. Not the greatest Beach Boys thing, but an interesting way to end the song. <br />
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So there you have, a little bit about <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Generation-White-Trash/dp/B00258FQPE?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Generation White Trash</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258FQPE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>. I'll probably keep going song by song at this point, which means...... <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trapped-in-Heaven/dp/B00258JVPU?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Trapped in Heaven </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258JVPU" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>will be next. <br />
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As always, if you have any questions or sugestions, let me know. Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-52942355422571108982011-08-11T09:40:00.000-04:002011-08-11T09:40:18.310-04:00"All There is" by Erik Zukauskas<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Rjmq4NvJrHw?fs=1" width="425"></iframe> <br />
So starting today I'm going to be posting Youtube videos of all of my songs from my past albums. Mostly it's a way to stream them via my Facebook page and get fans and friends who may have only heard some of my music, but not all, a chance to actually hear all my songs if they're interested.<br />
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So on my blogger page here I'll go a little more in depth about each song. Why I wrote it, when I wrote it, how I recorded it, etc... You know, all those interesting tidbits that may not be overly obvious.<br />
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Today we'll start with the 2nd track off my 2004 album "<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Three-half-years-gone/dp/B00258FQKE?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Three and a half years gone..."</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258FQKE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> The song is called "<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-there-is/dp/B00258JVNW?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">All there is</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258JVNW" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>" and I wrote it and recorded it probably in 2002 or 2003(most likely the earlier actually). This was one the earlier tracks I wrote for the album and actually the opening lick was something I'd been toying with for a few years, actually probably predated the<span> <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/disc-1-The-Allston-Years/dp/B001PIEQ9C?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">disc 1. The Allston Years</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIEQ9C" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </span></span>album. Subject wise, it's basically an introspective "What the hell am I doing with my life, my 20 something years old, is this really what I want out of it?" sort of song. Pretty much it's autobiographical; I was brewing beer and drinking too much(still am), reading <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0545162076?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Harry Potter</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0545162076" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, watching <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/South-Park-Complete-Third-Season/dp/B0000CABL2?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">South Park</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0000CABL2" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> & <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Family-Vol-Seasons-Seth-MacFarlane/dp/B000083C6V?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Family Guy</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000083C6V" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, running up my credit cards and just living the life of post college 20 something. </span><br />
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<span>I don't remember everything I did recording wise, although it is interesting to note that of the 3 guitar solo's in the song, each was played on a different guitar with a different amp set up. The first was my Strat through <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Vintage-Reissue-Reverb-Guitar/dp/B0002E3GLY?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Twin Reverb</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002E3GLY" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, the second was my <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ibanez-Steve-Vai-Vintage-White/dp/B0002GJSEQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ibanez Jem 555</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002GJSEQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> through a <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Crybaby-Classic-Wah-Pedal/dp/B0002GWVEU?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">wah</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002GWVEU" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> and 5150, and finally the outro solo was played on my <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Washburn-Signature-N4VINTAGE-Electric-Guitar/dp/B001TJGZR8?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Washburn N4</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001TJGZR8" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, through a <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ibanez-TS9-Screamer-Distortion-Effects/dp/B000T4PJC6?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">tube screamer </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000T4PJC6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>believe it or not, through the 5150 and Carvin 4x12.</span><br />
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<span>The outro solo is very cool. Like most of my solo's (<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Oz-Two-Disc-70th-Anniversary/dp/B00388PK1U?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Wizard of Oz</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00388PK1U" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>, behind the curtain giveaway here) it's actually pieced together from multiple takes. For the most part it's all improvised and I had no intention of playing that cool two hand tapping lick at the end. I was just winging it, started tapping, and out it came. :-)</span><br />
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<span>So there you go... If you have any questions, let me know, I'll be happy to answer any.</span><br />
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<span>Up next.... probably <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Generation-White-Trash/dp/B00258FQPE?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Generation White Trash</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258FQPE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>. :-)</span>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-36521689210902241472011-07-22T12:21:00.000-04:002011-07-22T12:21:29.993-04:00Analogman Sunface TI/UK<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ClewA9znI6Q?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClewA9znI6Q">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClewA9znI6Q</a><br />
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Check out the new video I made for the Analogman Sunface TI/UK fuzz pedal. I've had this pedal for a couple years and was amazed to see that there wasn't a single other Youtube video out there showcasing this version of Analogman's famous Sunface. <br />
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So here it is...<br />
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I was really digging the feedback when I was recording the demo so just went with it and recorded a whole bunch of really cool and trippy feedback sections. The last, almost, two minutes is nothing but feedback. I kind of cheated and added some reverb and stuff to make it even cooler sounding, but figured that'd be ok since it was only during the credits.<br />
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So yeah, check it out. If you're interested in picking one up for yourself check out Analogman's website.. I know those vintage germanium transistors are all New Old Stock, and they dont' make them anymore, so it's always a good idea if you really want one to get 'em before they're gone. <a href="http://www.buyanalogman.com/Sun_Face_p/am-sun-face.htm&Click=6577">http://www.buyanalogman.com/Sun_Face_p/am-sun-face.htm&Click=6577</a>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-3113366278598477632011-03-20T09:20:00.000-04:002011-03-20T09:20:41.933-04:00New stuff at Erik Z music.com 3/20/11Sorry I haven't posted in a while, but I thought I'd give everyone a heads up as I have some cool new features that I added to my website.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First of all, you gotta check out my new social media icons. It's pretty much required now that everyone with a website have not only facebook, twitter and whatever new thing that is out there, but also cute little links at the bottom of the site to bring you there. I had been using stock images for the past few years, but thought I'd kick it up a little and make some custom gear nerd ones. I hope you like them, they're basically just stock guitar pedals with the icons built in. Pretty cool huh?<br />
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<a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/social-media-icon-youtube-pedal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/social-media-icon-youtube-pedal.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/social-media-icon-facebook-pedal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/social-media-icon-facebook-pedal.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/social-media-icon-twitter-pedal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/social-media-icon-twitter-pedal.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/social-media-icon-blogger-pedal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/social-media-icon-blogger-pedal.jpg" /></a><br />
So now if you want to check me out on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/taez555">Youtube</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/erikzmusic">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/erik-z-music/54213393772">Facebook</a> or here at Blogger, you can click on those cool little guitar pedal social media icons. <br />
I'm still not sure about adding other social media. I have a MySpace page, but MySpace is long since dead. I also have a <a href="http://erikzmusic.tumblr.com/">Tumblr</a> page, but I'm not sure if I'm really into that just yet. The interface isn't great, and most of the people I've seen use it who I like just link it to Facebook anyway. So what's the point? <br />
We'll see, I have it set you can ask me questions. So maybe if you just want to ask me stuff about my gear or music or whatever you post there and I'll answer stuff.<br />
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What else?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peltor-90554-Kids-Earmuff-Blue/dp/B001ET5XAI?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Peltor 90554 Kid's Earmuff, Blue" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001ET5XAI&tag=erzmu-20" /></a></div><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001ET5XAI" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peltor-Junior-Earmuff-Pink-97022/dp/B0015V1VX8?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Peltor Junior Earmuff, Pink #97022" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0015V1VX8&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0015V1VX8" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span><br />
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Oh yes, concert season is upon us so I've again updated my <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kidssafetyheadphones.html">Kids Safety Headphones</a> section again. I added some new pictures and some new text. Although that section of my website has gotten lots of traffic, I felt it was a little too impersonal last time. So check that out if you've got kids and are looking to take them to concerts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kids-pink-headphones-concert-phish-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kids-pink-headphones-concert-phish-8.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/erikzmusic" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/erik-z-music/54213393772" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y4f76ng49wA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Also really cool going on with my site... My youtube video for my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4f76ng49wA">Pignose 7-100 Amp</a> is absolutely blowing up. It's the #1 search for Pignose at Youtube and people have really been digging it. So thank you to everyone who may even be reading this for liking that video. I ended up adding a bunch of extra info about the amp at the website too. Stuff about the transistors and who used to use it, and all that jazz. So check that out. <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/pignose-7-100.html">Pignose 7-100 at Erik Z music.com</a><br />
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So that's it, thanks for reading and following my blog. Feel free to click on the social media links on my site too and follow me on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/taez555">Youtube</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/erikzmusic">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/erik-z-music/54213393772">Facebook</a> too. :-)<br />
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Let me know if you have any suggestions for things you'd like to see, or maybe sections that you'd like to see expanded. That's the reason I'm here. I could probably go on for days about stuff. :-)<br />
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Keep on rockin.<br />
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ErikErik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-32074033670692509842010-12-02T18:42:00.001-05:002010-12-02T18:44:26.363-05:00You're Full of Shit - The Amazing Erik Z<iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RRbInw4frlE?fs=1" width="425"></iframe><br />
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Check out the new "video" for my old old old song "<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Youre-Full-of-Shit/dp/B001PICQ3U?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">you're full of shit</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PICQ3U" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>" from my 1996 album "<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tastes-Like-Chicken/dp/B001PIKX9O?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tastes Like Chicken</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIKX9O" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>. Good song. <br />
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EnjoyErik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-25570000537989363882010-11-18T15:05:00.000-05:002010-11-18T15:05:54.766-05:00Musical Instrument Ideas for Kids<span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000FPPZLE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>Just giving everyone a heads up. I added a new section to my website today dedicated to <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/musical-instruments-for-kids.html">Musical Instruments for Kids.</a> So if you're a parent looking to get your kids into music, or maybe looking to get birthday or even Christmas gift for a child who you'd think would be interested in music, check it out.<br />
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It's got all sorts of stuff like...<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Dummies-Acoustic-Starter-Audio/dp/B000FPPZLE?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Guitar For Dummies Acoustic Guitar Starter Pack (Guitar, Book, Audio CD, Gig Bag)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000FPPZLE&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Casio-Lighted-Keyboard-Premium-Accessories/dp/B000KVRQ60?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Casio LK-100 Lighted Keyboard with Premium Accessories Package" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000KVRQ60&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000KVRQ60" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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Enjoy!!!Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-76076411370650095962010-11-15T09:12:00.000-05:002010-11-15T09:12:00.186-05:00My favorite (or at least top 10) Christmas albums<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Beach-Boys/dp/B0002Y4TY2?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Christmas With the Beach Boys" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0002Y4TY2&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><br />
With Christmas right around the corner I thought I'd do a list of some of my favorite Christmas/Holiday albums.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cocktails-2-Various-Artists/dp/B000002TLS?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Christmas Cocktails 2" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000002TLS&tag=erzmu-20" /></a>1.<span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cocktails-2-Various-Artists/dp/B000002TLS?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ultra Lounge Christmas Cocktails 2</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002TLS" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002TLS" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<span>Honestly this is it for me. You can just end the list right now. My hands down favorite and pretty much the only CD I listen to this time of year. It combines all the best christmas songs recorded before they were overly beaten to death by soft rock 80's staples or the occasional jewish entertainer. :-) But yeah... perfectly captures the spirit of Christmas. Upbeat and yet reserved. Make yourself a Gin and tonic, kick back next to the fireplace and just enjoy the blinking lights on the Christmas tree. Christmas music perfection.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Lounge-Christmas-Cocktails-Part-One/dp/B000002UFL?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, Part One" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000002UFL&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002UFL" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>2. <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Lounge-Christmas-Cocktails-Part-One/dp/B000002UFL?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, Part One</a></span></span><br />
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<span><span>Ok, the Ultra lounge disc Christmas disc 1 is pretty good too. It's a little more "lounge" cha cha cha, than #2, but still a great album.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Christmas-Bing-Crosby/dp/B000002QWD?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="White Christmas" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000002QWD&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span><span>3. <span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002QWD" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/White-Christmas-Bing-Crosby/dp/B000002QWD?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">White Christmas</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span><span>Yeah, this is like the biggest selling Christmas song of all time or something. Oh wait, no... Bing's version of Silent Night was, right? Anyway, this one just brings back all those <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002QWD" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />memories as a kid for me, since I used to have this album on Vinyl and play it ever year. Great stuff, and a great movie too btw.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chipmunks-Roasting-Open-Fire-Rivers/dp/B00004WF3V?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00004WF3V&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span><span><span><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00004WF3V" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>4. <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chipmunks-Roasting-Open-Fire-Rivers/dp/B00004WF3V?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire</a></span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span><span>I don't know what it is about Bob River's, but it brings me back to like 1992 when the DJ's on the local rock station used to play all those dumb christmas parody tunes on the radion. So this one was one of the newer ones from 2000, but I always enjoy it. The Carol of the Bartenders is awesome"hark how the cocktails seem to flow, gin tanquairy, more chardonay. Christmas is here, drinking the cheer, ice cubes are cold, more cuervo gold." :-) <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00004WF3V" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> Plus a good reminder not to drink and drive.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/J-S-Bach-Christmas-Music/dp/B002WKS3AA?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="J.S. Bach: Christmas Music" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002WKS3AA&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span><span><span><span>5. <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/J-S-Bach-Christmas-Music/dp/B002WKS3AA?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">J.S. Bach: Christmas Music</a><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002WKS3AA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002WKS3AA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span><span><span>This may seem like an odd choice but there's something amazingly perfect about Bach and Christmas. I think you can only listen to Chestnuts roasting on Fire or Silent night so many time. This whole album makes me imagine Christmas before it became commercial. Just sitting at your house on a silent peaceful evening in the dead of winter watching the falling snow perfectly content. Great album.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span><span><span>6. </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Lounge-Christmas-Cocktails-3/dp/B000B19AV8?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Ultra Lounge: Christmas Cocktails 3" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000B19AV8&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span><span><span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Lounge-Christmas-Cocktails-3/dp/B000B19AV8?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000B19AV8" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></a><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Lounge-Christmas-Cocktails-3/dp/B000B19AV8?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Ultra Lounge: Christmas Cocktails 3</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000B19AV8" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span>Ultra Lounge: Christmas Cocktails 3</span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span>This one came a couple years after the first two, and although it has some good stuff on it, I always found it felt sort of like leftovers from the first two and have never been crazy about it.<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000B19AV8" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span>7. </span></span></span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jolly-Christmas-Frank-Sinatra/dp/B000TSMOUM?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra</a></span><br />
<span>Well not this album exactly (there have been so many), but this one's a compilation of some of the best. Love Frank Sinatra, and you just can't go wrong over the holiday's without some Frank.<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000TSMOUM" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<span>8. </span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Beach-Boys/dp/B0002Y4TY2?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Christmas With the Beach Boys</a></span><br />
<span>Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like surf harmonies</span><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hankeys-South-Park-Christmas-Album/dp/B003U8G66G?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Mr Hankey's South Park Christmas Album" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B003U8G66G&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span>9.<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hankeys-South-Park-Christmas-Album/dp/B003U8G66G?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Mr Hankey's South Park Christmas Album</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003U8G66G" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003U8G66G" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span>Ok, this one should actually be higher on the list but I already started it and don't feel like moving it any higher. :-) More like # 3 or 4. Every Christmas Eve I watch the South Park Christmas episodes because they're some of the best and the music is absolutely great too. Santa Claus and Jesus singing together on stage is killer. :-)</span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Merry-Christmas-Mariah-Carey/dp/B000002A46?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Merry Christmas" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000002A46&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span><span><span>10. <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Merry-Christmas-Mariah-Carey/dp/B000002A46?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas</a><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002A46" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002A46" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><span><span>You know I don't actually own this album, but I needed something to fill out my top 10. I will say however that the driving bass line in <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-I-Want-Christmas-You/dp/B0017DHRJ6?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">All I Want For Christmas Is You</a> may be one of the greatest, in the pocket, bass lines ever recorded. :-)</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span><span><span><span><span>So that's about it, just some helpful suggestions from 'ol Jolly Erik Z. :-) </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span><span><span><span><span>Enjoy.<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0017DHRJ6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002Y4TY2" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002Y4TY2" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-32073611535703373522010-10-20T19:51:00.000-04:002010-10-20T19:51:32.025-04:00The official 2010 Political Attack Ad<p><object style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/8WPENnDax8E/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8WPENnDax8E?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8WPENnDax8E?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></p><p> </p><p>This is my official 2010, midterm elections, Political Attack Ad. Or to be more exact, this is my interpretation of every political attack ad on TV. It really doesn't matter if it's for a local city council seat that has nothing to do with the national elections, or if it's for a U.S. Senate seat. They all seem to have the EXACT SAME THEME. Let me know if you can figure it out.</p><p> </p><p><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hmm</span>...... What could it be..... </p>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-42638505521975822222010-10-19T15:44:00.000-04:002010-10-19T15:44:27.604-04:00Guitar Ideas for beginners<h1 class="parseasinTitle"><span id="btAsinTitle"></span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Squier%C2%AE-Fender%C2%AE-Stop-Dreaming-Start-Playing/dp/B0030F6BWS?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Squier® by Fender® Stop Dreaming-Start Playing(TM) Set: SE Special w/ Squier® by Fender® SP10 Amplifier, Black" height="125" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0030F6BWS&tag=erzmu-20" width="200" /></a></div><span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0030F6BWS" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002L6P72W" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>Just wanted to let you all know I added a new section to my website today geared at people looking to get guitars for their kids for Christmas, or birthdays or just any one looking to get a good quality instrument for their kids as a starter guitar. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Here's the text, but feel free to click on the link to see even more.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fender%C2%AE-Starcaster-EG-Complete-Electric/dp/B002L6P72W?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Fender® Starcaster EG Black Complete Electric Guitar Pack" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002L6P72W&tag=erzmu-20" /></a>Thanks for reading...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/guitar-ideas-for-beginners.html">http://www.erikzmusic.com/guitar-ideas-for-beginners.html</a></div><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Which Beginner Guitar Should I get for christmas or a birthday?</span></strong><br />
<br />
<em><strong>Help!! My child wants a guitar and I don't know anything about guitars. What should I buy?</strong></em><br />
<br />
<em>First of all....</em><br />
Stay away from big box stores. If a store specializes in Flat Screen TV's and Clothing, it was not meant to sell guitars. Stay away.<br />
<br />
<em>And Second....</em><br />
Buy the best guitar you can afford. A $100 guitar sounds like a relatively cheap investment to test the waters, but in the end you will get what you pay for.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Esteban-Vintage-Acoustic-Electric-Accessories/dp/B0007MXTF4?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Esteban Vintage Legacy Tan Acoustic Electric Guitar Package w/ Amp, 10 DVDs and Accessories" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0007MXTF4&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><strong>What about those Esteban guitars they sell on TV?<span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0007MXTF4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></strong><br />
<br />
I know you may be tempted, but real guitars don't cost three easy payments of $39.99.<br />
<br />
<strong>How about the guitars at Target, Walmart or Toys R Us?</strong><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Act-Double-Cutaway-Electric/dp/B0006J3YYY?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="First Act M300 Double Cutaway Electric Guitar,Black" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0006J3YYY&tag=erzmu-20" /></a>Some are ok but most are just toys made to look cool. The First Act guitars aren't too bad, but for the same price you can get something from some of the best guitar companies in the world like Fender or Gibson.<span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0006J3YYY" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<br />
<strong>What kind of guitar should I get then?</strong><br />
<br />
First off, Your first guitar should be an Electric Guitar<br />
<br />
<strong>Why an Electric Guitar? Won't an Acoustic be a better starter guitar?</strong><br />
<br />
<em>1. Electrics are easier to learn on.</em><br />
<br />
Electric and Acoustic guitars are essentially the same thing. They're played the same way, have the same number of strings, are tuned the same, etc. However acoustic guitar stings are thick, very tight and hurt your fingers when you play. Learning to play guitar on an acoustic is like learning to drive a car using an 18-wheeler. It’s big, it's bulky and there's a good chance you may get hurt. Electric guitar strings are much thinner and easier to press down making them much easier to learn on.<br />
<br />
<em>2. Electrics are Quieter</em><br />
<br />
Electric guitars require an amplifier to be loud. If you don't plug it in, it's basically silent. You can learn to play at your own pace, any time of day, without having to let the world hear you becoming a rock start. Plus if you have an amp or computer program that allows a headphone attachment, you can crank it up in your headphones and rock out all night long.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jackson-JS32T-Electric-Guitar-Black/dp/B0035K56KQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Jackson JS32T King V Electric Guitar, Black" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0035K56KQ&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><em>3. Electrics look cooler<span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0035K56KQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></em><br />
<br />
Electric Guitars just look cool. If the guitar looks cool, you feel cool, you're more likely to stick with it.<br />
<br />
<em>4. You're going to end up buying an Electric anyway.</em><br />
<br />
Cheap guitars, especially cheap acoustic guitars, are just stepping stones to better instruments. So why waste the money buying two guitars when you can buy a good one from the beginning.<br />
<br />
<em>5. It takes up less room in the closet.</em><br />
<br />
Electrics are tiny in comparison to bulky acoustic guitars. Plus... in the event that music isn't their calling, well.... it takes up less room in the closet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Standard-Stratocaster-Electric-Fingerboard/dp/B001L8MBW0?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Fender Standard Stratocaster Electric Guitar, Black Maple Fingerboard" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001L8MBW0&tag=erzmu-20" /></a></div><strong>So which Electric guitar should I buy?<span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001L8MBW0" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></strong><br />
A $200 combo pack can be a good idea, but I would recommend something more in the $500 to $1000 range to start. I know it may seem like a lot, but the sound quality and craftsmanship is far superior, and in the end you get what you pay for.<br />
<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fender-Standard-Stratocaster-Electric-Fingerboard/dp/B001L8MBW0?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Fender Stratocaster</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001L8MBW0" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </span><br />
<span></span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Squier%C2%AE-Fender%C2%AE-Affinity-Telecaster%C2%AE-Butterscotch/dp/B0002GOE6S?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Fender Telecaster </a> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002GOE6S" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<span></span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Epiphone-Special-Collection-Electric-Guitar/dp/B0002CZUUG?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Epiphone Les Paul </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002CZUUG" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gibson-Paul-Studio-Electric-Guitar/dp/B000PFLKAY?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Gibson Les Paul Studio</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000PFLKAY" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gibson-Studio-Electric-Guitar-Hardware/dp/B002OYICL4?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Gibson Les Paul Studio Electric Guitar, Satin Ebony Chrome Hardware" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002OYICL4&tag=erzmu-20" /></a>All of these are great Rock n Roll guitars, are in the $500 range and are great places to start for someone who is serious about learning to play guitar. As long as you stick with the major names like Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Jackson, ESP, Schecter; you'll be in good shape.<span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002OYICL4" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
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<strong>Remember...</strong><br />
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Price matters and you will get what you pay for.<br />
<br />
<strong>What about learning to play guitar? Should I get a teacher?</strong><br />
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If they're serious, definitely look into getting a real guitar teacher. I'd probably start with some of those <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Dummies-Mark-Phillips/dp/0764599046?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Guitar For Dummies</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0764599046" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> books that come with an instructional CD or DVD. Also, a subsciption to a <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-World-CD-1-year-auto-renewal/dp/B0027ZK6PA?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Guitar Magazine </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0027ZK6PA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>is a great idea (especially if this is a gift). The Guitar Magazines these days come with instructional CD's or DVD's as well, and have easy to learn music to all the latest hits. Of course there's also Youtube, the single biggest game changer in Guitar teaching history. You can actually go on-line, type in "teach me to play guitar" and there will be someone on-line who made a video to teach you any song you've ever wanted to play. It's crazy new world out there.<br />
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<strong>What if I'm not sure my kid will really play it?</strong><br />
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Just get them a <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wii-Band-featuring-Taylor-Swift-Nintendo/dp/B002A9JH8K?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Rock Band </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002A9JH8K" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>or <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wii-Guitar-Hero-5-Bundle-Nintendo/dp/B0029Y5INE?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Guitar Hero</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0029Y5INE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> for their video game system. Seriously, learning an instrument takes dedication. A basic guitar setup is a only a few hundred dollars, so it's not that big of an investment, but if they're not really serious don't waste your time or theirs. Get the video game and call it day.<br />
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<strong>That's about it. Hopefully I helped you out a bit.</strong>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-63038097551959089882010-10-16T09:46:00.000-04:002010-10-16T09:46:02.160-04:00She's a Bitch - Music Video<object height="344" style="background-image: url(http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/Jn9dQQpYlyU/hqdefault.jpg);" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jn9dQQpYlyU?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Jn9dQQpYlyU?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
<br />
I can't believe I didn't update this when I posted it. Anyway... check out my new video for my old song <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shes-a-Bitch/dp/B00258JVTQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">She's a Bitch</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258JVTQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> from the <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Three-half-years-gone/dp/B00258FQKE?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Three and a half years gone...</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258FQKE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> album.</span><br />
<br />
<span>Also, I made T-Shirts that go along with it. (you can actually own one of those T-shirts in the video)</span><br />
<br />
<span>Check those out at my Zazzle Store.<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/shes_a_bitch_tshirt-235915497760077661">She's a Bitch T-Shirts at Zazzle.</a></span><br />
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<span>Enjoy!!!</span>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-42480698115218633952010-10-11T10:51:00.000-04:002010-10-11T10:51:04.843-04:00How to get great tones from a Pignose 7-100<object height="344" style="background-image: url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/Y4f76ng49wA/hqdefault.jpg);" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y4f76ng49wA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y4f76ng49wA?fs=1&hl=en_US" width="425" height="344" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Check out my youtube demo of my old Pignose 7-100 amp. It's pretty cool. Also, check out my whole write up about it on my website at <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/pignose-7-100.html">http://www.erikzmusic.com/pignose-7-100.html</a><br />
<br />
<span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pignose-7-100-Legendary-portable-amplifier/dp/B0002D0JZ6?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pignose 7-100 Legendary portable amplifier</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002D0JZ6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002D0JZ6" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pignose-7-100-Legendary-portable-amplifier/dp/B0002D0JZ6?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Pignose 7-100 Legendary portable amplifier" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0002D0JZ6&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pignose-Legendary-7-100-Portable-Amplifier/dp/B001DEWJGU?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pignose Legendary 7-100 Tweed Portable Amplifier" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001DEWJGU&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001DEWJGU" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-48775557007547639482010-09-07T15:04:00.001-04:002010-09-07T15:05:08.330-04:00Help Capitalism by burning a Qur'an today!!!!!I'm not sure which Quran I should burn at this weeks historic Quran burning ceremony on 9/11/10.<br />
<br />
This one looks promising, but not sure I want to spend the almost $20 on it.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quran-English-Translation-Commentary-Arabic/dp/091332101X?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="The Holy Qur'an with English Translation and Commentary (English and Arabic Edition)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=091332101X&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=091332101X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quran-English-Translation-Commentary-Arabic/dp/091332101X?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Holy Qur'an with English Translation and Commentary (English and Arabic Edition)</a><br />
<br />
This one's only about $10, and seems to be a much cost effective alternative.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quran-Translation-Sayed-Razwy/dp/1879402297?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="The Qur'an Translation" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1879402297&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Quran-Translation-Sayed-Razwy/dp/1879402297?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1879402297" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1879402297" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" />The Qur'an Translation<br />
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Hmm... tough choice. I gotta say, despite your thoughts on Islam or Muslim's in general, this really is a great week for capitalism. I mean I'm sure every family that will be there holding hands chanting and singing with their children as the flames fly probably already has a Bible laying around. The Quran on the other hand probably isn't something most Christians have purchased in their lifetime. Sure you can read it on-line, but if you intend to burn one you actually need to buy one. Man, those puppies must be flying off the shelf this week. <br />
<br />
I really should have invested in Quran publishing.<br />
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So yeah... I don't support burning the Quran, that's just a little reminiscent of the Nazi's burning Jewish books for me. If you really want to be on the wrong side of history, that's cool, that's your "prerogative" as they say. <br />
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So if you are going to do it... please.... please.... buy it from me first.Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-54346827599015489742010-09-03T14:12:00.001-04:002010-09-03T14:23:57.244-04:00She's a Bitch T-Shirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTcXYTQLGkWwg-YTVBevC-3iFc4ydGa9MUc4__NIznU4emztZ1Tuz1ZIWKYJJr4EJVJrdRBhs5Wfu51aEuG2ivchNvTg6-VR_lpYjJ4ls6Jxa-f-sy_T17hH2CL2tx0o79fHZ9g_g/s400/SheabitchBlogger.jpg" width="357" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/shes_a_bitch_tshirt-235915497760077661?gl=erikzmusic&rf=238449369536388116&style=ladies_casual_tshirt&color=army&size=a_l&context=lindsay&view=front">She's a Bitch T-Shirt at the Erik Z music store at Zazzle.com</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm currently working a music video for my song <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shes-a-Bitch/dp/B00258JVTQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"She's a Bitch"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258JVTQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /> and created a T-Shirt to go along with it. It's going to featured in the video and is available in all sort of colors and different shirts and such. Anyway... check it out. Hopefully the video will be up in the next few days. Till then feel free to listen or download the song at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shes-a-Bitch/dp/B00258JVTQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Amazon.com.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/shes_a_bitch_tshirt-235915497760077661?gl=erikzmusic&rf=238449369536388116&style=ladies_casual_tshirt&color=army&size=a_l&context=lindsay&view=front"><br />
</a>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-31249053082974104032010-08-31T09:42:00.002-04:002010-08-31T11:11:36.382-04:00Are Pickboy Picks the new Dunlop Jazz III's?A recent forum post on the gear page has me wondering if <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Hi-Modulous-Reefer-Carbon-1-00mm/dp/B002AMUB1Y?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pickboy picks</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUB1Y" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /> are going to soon be the new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Jazz-Pick-Nylon-1-38mm/dp/B0002D0CLC?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Dunlop Jazz III's</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002D0CLC" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" />.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=767830">http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=767830</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Standard-Tortex-Purple-1-14mm/dp/B0002GX7ZM?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Dunlop Standard Tortex Picks, 12 Pack, Purple, 1.14mm" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0002GX7ZM&tag=erzmu-20" /></a></div>When I started player guitar I didn't have any prefered pick, but within a few years found myself using those purple <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Standard-Tortex-Purple-1-14mm/dp/B0002GX7ZM?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm picks</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002GX7ZM" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" />. <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002GX7ZM" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /> At the time I was really into <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Death-Magnetic-Metallica/dp/B00192KCQ0?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Metallica</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00192KCQ0" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /> and heavier bands so it only made sense that I'd want a pick that could do the heavier downpicking metal stuff. Plus, I've never been a fan of picks that bend when you strike the notes. The thicker picks allowed me to control the intensity of the pick striking the strings with my fingers and wrist more.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Jazz-Pick-Nylon-1-38mm/dp/B0002D0CLC?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Dunlop Jazz III Pick Pack, Red Nylon,1.38mm" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0002D0CLC&tag=erzmu-20" /></a>In college at Berklee I switched to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Jazz-Pick-Nylon-1-38mm/dp/B0002D0CLC?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Dunlop Jazz III's</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002D0CLC" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" />. <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002D0CLC" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /> I was turned on to them by my then guitar teacher Norm and they are the only pick I've been using since.<br />
<br />
The thing I love about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Jazz-Pick-Nylon-1-38mm/dp/B0002D0CLC?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Jazz III's</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002D0CLC" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /> is they are heavy, small, sharp and extremely accurate. The bigger picks now feel like I'm playing with a roofing shinkle. The small sharp picks are like a scalpel or finely sharped pencil; extremely accurate with a fine point. The much smaller pick I find also makes you use your fingers more to control how you want to shape how the notes sound.<br />
<br />
Of course then I learned all the big players like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/John-Petrucci-Rock-Discipline/dp/B00006L57W?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">John Pettruci</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00006L57W" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ah-Via-Musicom-Eric-Johnson/dp/B000002UTB?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Eric Johnson</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002UTB" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /> and others swear by them, which of course means there's a certain,<i> fan boy</i>, "I need this pick so I can sound like them", mentality that comes with having them be used by such prominent figures. If you do a poll of 100 guitar nerds, 50% of them will say they use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-Jazz-Pick-Nylon-1-38mm/dp/B0002D0CLC?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Jazz III's</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002D0CLC" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" />. Again, I'm not sure if they use them because they're better, or just because better people use them. Sort of a chicken or the egg thing. <br />
<br />
Anyway.... so this forum thread could very well be the seed that will start the new revolution of, must have, picks.<br />
<br />
Having not played them myself I can't really say if they're any good yet, or even for me and my style, but at $26 a 50 pack it's very tempting to get a couple to try out. Plus, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pure/dp/B003GK08UI?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tomo</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003GK08UI" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" />, who's a great player and teacher at Berklee, really has a lot of clout. While I was taking guitar lessons with Norm at Berklee, <i>switching to Jazz III's</i>, he was teaching <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Battle-Studies-John-Mayer/dp/B002QEXN2K?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">John Mayer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002QEXN2K" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /> blues licks down the hall. So of course guitar nerds of the world are thinking "If the guy who taught <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Continuum-John-Mayer/dp/B0014VPFTA?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">John Mayer</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0014VPFTA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /> suggests these <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Grip-Black-Cellulose-0-75mm/dp/B002AMUB6Y?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">picks</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUB6Y" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" />, maybe I should try them too"<br />
<br />
So yeah... here they are... They look interesting.... I'm very tempted to order some myself to test out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Grip-Black-Cellulose-0-75mm/dp/B002AMUB6Y?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Pos-a-Grip, Black, Cellulose, 0.75mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUB6Y&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUB6Y" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Carbonate-white-1-00mm-picks/dp/B002AMUB5K?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Meta Carbonate, Blue w/ white logo, 1.00mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUB5K&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUB5K" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Sharp-Carbon-Nylon-1-00mm/dp/B002AMUAMY?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Edge, Sharp Tip, Carbon/Nylon, 1.00mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUAMY&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUAMY" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Skull-Scorpion-Celltex-1-00mm/dp/B002AMUACY?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Skull/Hvy Metal, Scorpion, Celltex, 1.00mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUACY&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUACY" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Clear-Sharp-Polycarbonate-0-75mm/dp/B002AMUAKQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Edge Clear, Sharp Tip, Polycarbonate, 0.75mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUAKQ&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUAKQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Black-Elephant-Celltex-0-75mm/dp/B002AMUATM?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Black Zoo, Elephant, Celltex, 0.75mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUATM&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUATM" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Hi-Modulous-Reefer-Carbon-1-14mm/dp/B002AMUB28?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Hi-Modulous, Reefer Pick, Carbon/Nylon, 1.14mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUB28&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUB28" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Hi-Modulous-Reefer-Carbon-1-00mm/dp/B002AMUB1Y?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Hi-Modulous, Reefer Pick, Carbon/Nylon, 1.00mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUB1Y&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUB1Y" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Grip-Black-Cellulose-1-50mm/dp/B002AMUB9G?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Pos-a-Grip, Jazz, Black, Cellulose, 1.50mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUB9G&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Grip-Polycarbonate-1-00mm-picks/dp/B002AMUB2S?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Pos-a-Grip, Red, Polycarbonate, 1.00mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUB2S&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUB2S" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /></span><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUB9G" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Grip-Rainbow-Cellulose-1-20mm/dp/B002AMUB9Q?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Pos-a-Grip, Jazz, Rainbow, Cellulose, 1.20mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUB9Q&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUB9Q" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pickboy-Vintage-Tortoise-Shell-Cellulose-1-00mm/dp/B002AMUBCS?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pickboy Vintage Pick, Tortoise-Shell, Cellulose, 1.00mm, 50 picks" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B002AMUBCS&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002AMUBCS" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /></span></span></span><br />
<br />
So there you go, just my take on what could be the beginning of a guitar pick revolution.<br />
<br />
We shall see. :-)<br />
<br />
<script src="http://static.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384.js" type="text/javascript">
</script><noscript></noscript>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-18531481472969473432010-08-26T10:09:00.003-04:002010-08-26T10:13:50.134-04:00John, Paul, George & Larry the Dwarf T-shirt.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV4BjmfsABPbApy1lbxo_2VaLY-tOObseIHzYf_bWed7fD7-7vcaPx3fhoy4hZH8o1ECzzD5NH96ZEIgRYmMgOksFJTpgdHNyJlj8xpJ8HKfV640_gh7CcCOzNGQHx-Q6vMwhzXVL/s1600/JohnPaulGeorgeLarrytheDwarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV4BjmfsABPbApy1lbxo_2VaLY-tOObseIHzYf_bWed7fD7-7vcaPx3fhoy4hZH8o1ECzzD5NH96ZEIgRYmMgOksFJTpgdHNyJlj8xpJ8HKfV640_gh7CcCOzNGQHx-Q6vMwhzXVL/s320/JohnPaulGeorgeLarrytheDwarf.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/john_paul_george_larry_the_dwarf_tshirt-235173963882114076">John, Paul, George_and Larry_the_Dwarf_T-Shirt at Zazzle</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's another T-shirt I added to my Zazzle store today. My indirect homage to Frank Zappa and The Beatles.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>For those super nerdy Zappa fans in the know, in Frank Zappa's movie<a href="http://www.amazon.com/200-Motels-Original-Soundtrack-Enhanced/dp/B0000009SB?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"> "200 Motels"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0000009SB" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> Ringo Star plays a character named "Larry the Dwarf" who is in fact just Ringo Star dressed up to look like Frank Zappa. <br />
So, if you take it one step further, The Beatles are really just 4 guys. John, Paul, George and Larry the Dwarf. :-)<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abbey-Road-Remastered-Beatles/dp/B0025KVLUQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Abbey Road (Remastered)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0025KVLUQ&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/200-Motels-Original-Soundtrack-Enhanced/dp/B0000009SB?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="200 Motels: Original MGM Motion Picture Soundtrack [Enhanced CD]" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0000009SB&tag=erzmu-20" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Abbey-Road-Remastered-Beatles/dp/B0025KVLUQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Beatles </a> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/200-Motels-Original-Soundtrack-Enhanced/dp/B0000009SB?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Frank Zappa's 200 Motels</a></div>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-31665137995837945072010-08-23T13:40:00.001-04:002010-08-23T13:40:43.407-04:00Cool for AugustAh, a rainy day in Boston today. And since it's August, and cool, it always reminds me of the band <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grand-World/dp/B00122KXCK?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cool for August</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00122KXCK" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grand-World/dp/B00122KXCK?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Grand World" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00122KXCK&tag=erzmu-20" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00122KXCK" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
Back in in the late 90's when I was still playing with the band Aesthetik we played a local music festival in Worcester MA. It was one of those Pay to Play scammy things, but it actually worked out pretty well. We ended up playing on the same stage as <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Dust-Faith-No-More/dp/B000002LRX?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Faith No More</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002LRX" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Significant-Other-Limp-Bizkit/dp/B00000JCB2?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Limp Bizkit</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00000JCB2" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> and a then unknown <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Godsmack/dp/B00000ADJW?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Godsmack</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00000ADJW" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. (They misspelled their name on the T-shirt as God Smack). :-) Aesthetik was spelled correctly. We played a 4 song set, rocked on a big stage in-front of a few thousand people, and got to say we played with all these famous bands in our bio.<br />
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Anyway, on the second stage, either headlining or near headlining was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grand-World/dp/B00122KXCK?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cool for August</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00122KXCK" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />. My roommate at College had their album and he played it constantly so when they took the stage all dressed in black looking like Neo from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Matrix-10th-Anniversary-Blu-ray/dp/B001NXBRJG?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Matrix</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001NXBRJG" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> movies, I already knew every word to every song. I was that loser right up front that sang along. :-) They were such a killer late 90's alterna-pop band. Great lyrics, great sound. <br />
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Anyway... It's the only Cool for August album I own. I still have the original paper, organic, bio degradable, album sleeve. :-) I tend to pull it out this time of year whenever it gets a little to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Grand-World-Cool-August/dp/B000002N3L?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"Cool for August."</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000002N3L" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
;-)Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-44053417561346626882010-08-20T12:07:00.013-04:002010-08-20T14:33:23.075-04:00One Night Stand T-Shirts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/one_night_stand_tshirt-235180417252965417?gl=ErikZmusic&rf=238449369536388116&style=ladies_fitted_babydoll&color=white&size=a_l&context=khankins&view=front" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqr02HRnvne0jKuA8_aVTF9FpKlRjAQa4jn2n7LNmq1teQADdWJPnQMKG1HuHOx8e1UYxnF45UxlF8nY-utghorl_mGamWl-xabvH1BWnTcgNCVTYqFPUJP4XKlofNV39Nz3_XRVt/s400/One-NIght-Stand-4-T-Shirt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.zazzle.com/one_night_stand_tshirt-235180417252965417?gl=ErikZmusic&rf=238449369536388116&style=ladies_fitted_babydoll&color=white&size=a_l&context=khankins&view=front" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjX4A2vRY6Nz3H4pOfiNnBpgLePiSPLQG16sf67hds7wlzqp4_99BZ9vqLpYdtrf5bUpHah7ihGhhMyvxVTwy4zQg7e0x91krlLDkl0L5Zgb_zXWHyslbGnQ5EWt26ezoWvwLFdJiH/s200/ONS-single.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="http://www.zazzle.com/one_night_stand_tshirt-235180417252965417?gl=ErikZmusic&rf=238449369536388116&style=ladies_fitted_babydoll&color=white&size=a_l&context=khankins&view=front">Click to see more "One Night Stand" T-Shirts from Erik Z music </a></div><br />
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Check out my new T-Shirt design. This is one I made based off the classic <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tastes-Like-Chicken/dp/B001PIKX9O?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Amazing Erik Z</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIKX9O" style="border: medium none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> tune <a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Night-Stand/dp/B001PIAYF2?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"One Night Stand"</a> from the infamous 1996 album <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tastes-Like-Chicken/dp/B001PIKX9O?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"Tastes Like Chicken"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIKX9O" style="border: medium none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tastes-Like-Chicken/dp/B001PIKX9O?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Tastes Like Chicken" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001PIKX9O&tag=erzmu-20" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIKX9O" style="border: medium none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
I'm working on other T-Shirts for all of my classic songs, like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cyber-Pussy/dp/B001PIGV2C?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Cyberpussy</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIGV2C" style="border: medium none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> and others, so if you want to see anything specific just let me know.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="mailto:erik@erikzmusic.com">E-mail Erik</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/">Erik Z music.com </a></div>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-2862173767435382942010-08-13T16:10:00.001-04:002010-08-13T16:11:58.011-04:00The History of Erik Z's albumsJust thought I'd give everyone a little heads up. My plan in the coming weeks and months, or whenever I get around to it (months more likely), is to give a little background info about each of the 5 albums I've released over the past 15 years. Back story, juicy gossip, what really inspired this song or that(maybe), just all sorts of things you may not have known.<br />
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My goal is go chronologically, so keep an eye out all you "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tastes-Like-Chicken/dp/B001PIKX9O?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tastes like Chicken</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIKX9O" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" />" fans, that album probably has some of the more interesting stories. ;-)<br />
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For the time being, feel free to listen to my albums. All are available at Amazon.com for download.<br />
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The Amazing Erik Z<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Album-Bear-Crossing/dp/B001PICLRQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="The First Album (Bear Crossing)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001PICLRQ&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PICLRQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-First-Album-Bear-Crossing/dp/B001PICLRQ?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The First Album (Bear Crossing)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PICLRQ" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Schizophrenic-Daze/dp/B00258FPQO?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Schizophrenic Daze" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00258FPQO&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Schizophrenic-Daze/dp/B00258FPQO?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258FPQO" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Schizophrenic-Daze/dp/B00258FPQO?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Schizophrenic Daze</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258FPQO" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tastes-Like-Chicken/dp/B001PIKX9O?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Tastes Like Chicken" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001PIKX9O&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIKX9O" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tastes-Like-Chicken/dp/B001PIKX9O?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Tastes Like Chicken</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIKX9O" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/disc-1-The-Allston-Years/dp/B001PIEQ9C?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="disc 1. The Allston Years" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B001PIEQ9C&tag=erzmu-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIEQ9C" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/disc-1-The-Allston-Years/dp/B001PIEQ9C?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">disc 1. The Allston Years</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Three-half-years-gone/dp/B00258FQKE?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001PIEQ9C" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /></a><img alt="Three and a half years gone..." src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00258FQKE&tag=erzmu-20" /><br />
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258FQKE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Three-half-years-gone/dp/B00258FQKE?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Three and a half years gone...</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00258FQKE" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px! important; padding-left: 0px! important; padding-right: 0px! important; padding-top: 0px! important;" width="1" /><br />
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The truth shall be revealed in time. :-)Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-42536671925766421052010-07-28T07:12:00.005-04:002010-08-13T09:24:46.465-04:00Kids Hearing Protection for ConcertsWith the summer music concert season still in full effect, I thought I'd put up a friendly reminder to make sure to get the little ones hearing protection as well. <br />
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We just went to another concert a few weeks ago and we're still using those same <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ET5XAS?ie=UTF8&tag=erzmu-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001ET5XAS">Peltor Pink</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=erzmu-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B001ET5XAS" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />kids headphones we got last year. Just thought I'd share some new pics.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kids-pink-headphones-concert-phish-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kids-pink-headphones-concert-phish-7.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kids-pink-headphones-concert-phish-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kids-pink-headphones-concert-phish-5.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kids-pink-headphones-concert-phish-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kids-pink-headphones-concert-phish-6.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Junior%20Earmuffs&tag=erzmu-20&index=blended&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Purchase at Amazon.com</a><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001ET5XAS&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B001ET5XAI&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B000I7NX5E&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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Don't forget to check out my site with more info on the kids headphones.<br />
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<a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/kidssafetyheadphones.html">Erik Z Music / Kids Safety Headphones Page</a><br />
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<script src="http://static.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384.js" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><img alt="Clicky" src="http://in.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384-fwdb2.gif" /></noscript>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-9912123221725046182010-07-24T08:57:00.006-04:002010-07-30T18:16:12.610-04:00The Best Corkscrew ever!!I don't know if I've ever shared this video on my blog. I made it like a year ago. Basically it's this waiter's corkscrew that I absolutely love. It's this corkscrew called the boomerang that has a built in foilcutter.<br />
<object style="background-image:url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/1h8MwEjBR9k/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1h8MwEjBR9k&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1h8MwEjBR9k&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
The story goes after college I worked as a bartender in a bar that focused mostly on wine. I had used all the assorted corkcrews out there, even the fancy ones that sell for $100+ at Brookstone. Anyway... when it comes right down to it, they all suck accept for a waiters corkscrew. You simply can't beat the control and accurancy of them, plus they're so small.<br />
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Anyway, so one day this regular of mine, who also happened to be a waiter at a local French bistro comes in and asks me if I want this extra corkscrew he has. It's this white corkscrew with a special blade to cut the foil off with.<br />
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Long story short... I have never used another type of corkscrew since. Ever, ever. And I drink ALOT of wine. The waiter corkscrew is great, don't get me wrong, but having the foilcutter instead of the knife is sooooo much more useful and quick. Anything else I'd use the knife for I can easily just use the point of the screw anyway, so..<br />
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So yeah... I made a video about it. The one I'm using in the video I got in 2001 after I accidentally broke my original one. I also picked up one in black too, but it sit as a back up just in case. 10+ years and I still haven't used it. ;-)<br />
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So yeah.. .that's it.<br />
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If you're interested, I highly recommend getting one.<br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002T48KPC" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B002T4357K" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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Oh also, cuz I'm totally plugging my stuff as well. The song in the video is a tune I wrote called "The End", it's the last track from my 2001 album. "disc 1, The Allston years" Check it out if you get a chance. ;-)<br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B001PIKZRE" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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<script src="http://static.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384.js" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><img alt="Clicky" src="http://in.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384-fwdb2.gif" /></noscript>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-57249069953889559252010-07-18T14:37:00.001-04:002010-07-30T18:16:31.300-04:00Take Me Out To The Ballgame on Acoustic GutiarSo check this out. This is my acoustic guitar version of "Take me out to the ballgame" from my 2004 album "Three and a half years gone...".<br />
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I was in one of those Ken Burns baseball sort of moods when I recorded this. Honestly, I was actually watching the series on Netflix and noodling on guitar at the same time I taught myself how to play it, so... here it is.<br />
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<object style="background-image:url(http://i2.ytimg.com/vi/EsRE5jyrC08/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EsRE5jyrC08&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EsRE5jyrC08&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00258FQU4&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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<script src="http://static.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384.js" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><img alt="Clicky" src="http://in.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384-fwdb2.gif" /></noscript>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-66368826862213990652010-07-18T09:40:00.001-04:002010-07-30T18:16:54.691-04:00The Star Spangled Banner<object style="background-image:url(http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/LB03pPOqvJo/hqdefault.jpg)" width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LB03pPOqvJo&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LB03pPOqvJo&hl=en_US&fs=1" width="425" height="344" allowScriptAccess="never" allowFullScreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object><br />
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<script src="http://static.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384.js" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><img alt="Clicky" src="http://in.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384-fwdb2.gif" /></noscript>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-39425965645878523772010-07-06T10:24:00.003-04:002010-07-30T18:17:08.342-04:00The Star Spangled BannerJust thought I'd share a new Youtube video I made on the 4th of July. It's me rocking the Star Spangled Banner. It's not your typical Jimi Hendrix madness and feedback that everyone tries to emulate. Having played it on more than one occasion over the years at Alumni Sporting events and such, people really don't want to hear you playing all that junk. Sure Jimi was great, but people want to hear a kick ass version and get back to their beer. So... Here it is. Crank up the speakers, put your hand over your heart and prepare to be rocked for a few minutes. :-)<br />
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<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LB03pPOqvJo&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LB03pPOqvJo&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB03pPOqvJo">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB03pPOqvJo</a><br />
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<script src="http://static.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384.js" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><img alt="Clicky" src="http://in.freewebs.getclicky.com/38328384-fwdb2.gif" /></noscript>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8950639465028779445.post-6581137498868003402010-05-01T10:08:00.002-04:002010-05-01T10:14:54.854-04:00May 1, 2010It's been one year since the official launch of <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com">Erik Z music.com</a>, and oh what year it has been. My site has been getting loads of daily traffic from guitar geeks all around the world. My <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/washburnn4.html">Washburn N4 Leadbelly</a> has been the biggest draw lately. However I've added lots of things over the past year including a hugely expanded <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/store.html">Store Section</a> with not only my own music and T-Shirts, but I'm also helping sell Guitar Pedals and other studio Gear (Every dollar you spend helps fund the site, so... help a starving musician out.) ;-).<br />
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Outside of the site, my Erik Z music <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/taez555">Youtube channel</a> is going crazy. Between my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVTWSfFNe4Q">Warmoth</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiSSnhJCawo">Pedal demos</a>, not to mention all my old <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLjZjTbswLM">"The Amazing Erik Z"</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWZ0Pxv_IGg">Aesthetik videos</a>, I've received nearly 35,000 hits over the past year with over 200 a day still coming. Pretty cool stuff.<br />
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As far as music goes, I'm still working on it. I play guitar every day and new ideas are flowing in. I suppose I'm just too much of perfectionist and really want my next album to be not just "another Erik Z album", but something that really goes beyond anything I've ever written before. So with the bar set so high, it's probably going to be a while. At the earliest 6 months, but more realistically 1 to 2 years. (Just being honest).<br />
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<image src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/august-2009-studio.jpg" align="center" border="3" alt="Erik writing music in his studio"><br />
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If haven't already, please join the Erik Z music.com e-mail <a href="mailinglist.html">mailing list</a>. I'll keep you up to date if and when I new album is nearing completion, or if you're into my gear section more I'll shoot you updates on when I add any cool new things. (Like the <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/effectspedals.html">Analogman King of tone</a>)<br />
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Again, feel free to click on any of the ads on the site. Every time you buy something from one of them they give me a few cents to help keep the site run, not to mention help support my guitar pedal addiction, so click away on <a href="http://www.buyanalogman.com/?Click=6577">Analogman</a> or <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/?BI=4565&KBID=5052">B&H photovideo</a>. Erik Z MP3's from <a href="http://www.erikzmusic.com/threehalfyearsgone.html">Amazon.com</a> count by the way. So go download some of my music, or buy a pedal, or a microphone, or a T-shirt, or a camera, or whatever. It all helps.<br />
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<a href="http://www.buyanalogman.com/?Click=6577"><image src="http://www.erikzmusic.com/analogman.gif"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com?BI=4565&KW=&KBID=5052&img=bh_cameras_270x60_anim.gif"><br />
<img src="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/affiliateimages/bh_cameras_270x60_anim.gif" border="0"></a><br />
<img src="http://affiliates.bhphotovideo.com/showban.asp?id=5052&img=bh_cameras_270x60_anim.gif" border=0><br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=erzmu-20&o=1&p=13&l=ur1&category=music&banner=1DDZ5PY330HYPB7Q0BG2&f=ifr" width="468" height="60" scrolling="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" style="border:none;" frameborder="0"></iframe><br />
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So that's it for the One year anniversary edition of my update. Check back often, go listen and download a couple tunes and of course keep on rockin' in the free world. <br />
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Thanks.<br />
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Erik<br />
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If you have any questions, comments, ideas, whatever; feel free to drop Erik a line @ <a href="mailto:erik@erikzmusic.com">Erik@erikzmusic.com</a>Erik Z Musichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05613407230912280437noreply@blogger.com0