Podcast 2

DR.DRE

The artist/producer I will be writing about today goes by the name Dr.Dre.

Dr.Dre is an American rapper, record producer, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. Dre was previously the co-owner and artist of Death Row Records. He has produced albums for and overseen the careers of many rappers, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent and Game. In 1996 Dr.Dre released the aftermath album, were Dr.Dre produced himself and his album. The turning point for Aftermath came in 1998, when Jimmy Iovine, the head of Aftermath's parent label Interscope, suggested that Dr. Dre sign Eminem, a rapper from Detroit. Dre produced three songs and provided vocals for two on Eminem's successful and controversial debut album The Slim Shady LP, released in 1999.The Dr. Dre-produced lead single from that album, "My Name Is", would help propel Eminem into stardom. The album was eventually certified 4x Platinum and helped to revive the Aftermath label. Also during this time, Dre assisted on the mix for Nine Inch Nails' track "Even Deeper", from 1999 album The Fragile. Aside from that Dr.Dre has been Credited as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized as synthesizer-based with slow, heavy beats. Dr.Dre has also been ranked as the third richest figure in the American hip hop scene by Forbes with a net worth of $250 million. Dr.Dre has taught me that you should not let anybody stop you from following your dreams. He has also taught me that if you work hard and get a little luck you can make your own empire , even if you hit little rough patches along the way if you stay focused on what’s important you can overcome anything.

Aphex Twin

Aphex Twin or (Richard David James)  is a British electronic musician and composer. He founded the record label Rephlex Records in 1991 with Grant Wilson-Claridge. He has been described by The Guardian as the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music. The name Aphex is derived from Aphex Systems Limited, a brand of audio signal processing equipment, while the twin came from the memory of his brother who died and shared the same name Richard James.  Aphex Twin has influenced a lot of people from not only the electronic music genre but from many different kinds. A couple of examples of this would be where the London Sinfonietta has performed arrangements by Aphex Twin. Another example of Aphex twins influence on different genres would be with the band Radiohead. Radiohead claims that a lot of Aphex twins music has influenced them and they have even tried to get him to play on tour with them but Richard says “I wouldn’t play with them since I don’t like them”. Even tough Aphex twin made that comment he later in 2011 worked with Jonny Greenwood guitarist /composer of Radiohead. Aphex Twin was know for his uses of drum machines and his legendary Synths. Some for theses synths included Roland TB-303, Synton Fenix, Yamaha GX1, and many more.  Aphex twin is know for making the techno sound more popular, but Aphex twin doesn’t just stick to one genre he has worked in jungle, noise, drum n bass, acid techno the list goes on, Aphex twin has his hands in every type of electronic music. As a listener Aphex twin has showed me that  electronic music is harder to make then I have though, As a Audio Engineer Aphex twin has showed me to experiment with different genres ,and that you don’t have to stick to one to become noticed.

peer comment 2

Steve, 

Upon reading your blog post i can see that you did a lot of research on your topic and provided what you found in a way that flows nicely. You cover all the topics that are required for the post and a little bit more. My favorite part of your post is when you say "It seems like they would fit in more with the New York City hipsters of today". I feel that to be a true statement too. I also agree with you're rating of the album by giving one star from a production stand point. good job and keep up the great posts 
-Dustin Breeden

http://stevecampfullsail.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-velvet-underground-and-nico.html?showComment=1348010622765#c205784728594390373

Kraftwerk

Kraftwerk which means power station, was a band formed out of Dusseldorf, Germany by Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider in 1970. Kraftwerk was an influential electronic music project that shaped the way for the future of the electronic music scene. The Kraftwerk sound came from their use of minimalistic and strictly electronic instruments, combined with driving repetitive rhythms with catchy melodies. In 1974 Kraftwerk came out with Autobahn. Which sound different from there previous albums. The change in sounds was do to the fact the Schneider and Hutter invested in some new gear such as the Minimoog and the EMS synthi AKS. During their Autobahn tour was the first time that Kraftwerk would play in the United States, Canada, Ad in the UK.  After the Autobahn tour in 1975 Kraftwerk began working on the radio-activity album. The Radio-Activity album was their first album that would be completed in their newly equipped studio Klink Klang. Though the Radio-Activity album didn’t do so well in America and the UK, it still won them the gold disc in France. After the Radio-Activity album Kraftwerk stopped doing tours and focused more on making more music. In 1977 Kraftwerk started working on the Trans Europe Express, which was an album all about train travel. The album won a disco award in New York the same year in came out. After the Trans Europe Express album , Kraftwerk started working on The Man Machine.  The Man Machine album was released in 1978 and due to its complexity of the recordings it was sent to be mixed at Studio Rudas in Dusseldorf. After The Man Machine album Kraftwerk would not release a album until three years later, when they came out with Computer World. Computer World was recorded at Kling Klang studio, which they were modifying for mobile use. After the release of the Computer World album Kraftwerk started to do tours again. The Computer World tour of 1981 was the first tour that Kraftwerk used a projector to project videos and images to sync up with their music. It was also a different tour for them for the fact that they packed up their Kling Klang studio and brought it with them. Kraftwerk really had there own sound and could be described as machine noises. It’s the way they implicated the sounds that they got with experimenting with synths that made them different from others and they still have lasting effects on music that can still be seen today. What I have learned from Kraftwerk is that keep making what you like and eventually someone will acknowledge your work. Also that you shouldn’t be afraid of trying something new its how new genres are created.

Podcast

peer comment

Jahan,

Your blog on the Velvet Underground is not only very informative, but is also very easy to read and the flow of you're writing is pleasurable to the eye.  I feel a lot of people can learn from your informative writing style. Upon reading your blog entry i can see no signs of mistakes or error. You have seemed to have met all of the guidelines and max word count. I look forward to reading some of your blog posts in the future.

-Dustin

http://jahangonzalezmh2blog.blogspot.com/2012/09/velvet-underground-nico.html

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_Sounds#Provisional_tracks_and_Capitol.27s_insistence

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolver_(album)#Contributions_and_inspirations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Velvet_Underground#Early_stages_.281965.E2.80.931966.29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What's_Going_On#Conception

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kraftwerk#International_breakthrough_.281974.E2.80.931976.29