Acceptance - Colliding By Design

Album Review - Acceptance - Colliding By Design

Have you ever had a friend or colleague tell you that a band released music and you sort of let the information filter slowly into the back of your head without any emotion? Maybe you even feigned excitement as you really imagined what you'd be eating later for dinner while you watched Netflix alone in the dark? 

That's the exact opposite of how I felt when Acceptance announced the release of their newest album, Colliding By Design. Considering how many years it's been since they'd released something, I had long given up holding my breath. 

I didn't know what to expect beyond that they were way overdue on delivering on a promise. When I was first reminded that the album was released, I didn't rush to listen. Played it cool, gave it a few days. 

When I finally did give it a first listen through, I was beating myself up for waiting. That day alone, I had listened through at least a dozen times. 

Not only was it good, but it was good. I mean, this album was quickly becoming AOTY for me and suffice to say one of my personal favorites. 

Acceptance outdid themselves. It would have been easy for them to just bank on the fact that longtime fans were at the edge of their seats waiting for a release. They could have been lazy and thrown something together that passed as an album. 

Instead, what was delivered was a neatly wrapped package of musical gold. Each song told a part of a larger story, and at the end of each track you'd likely find yourself at the edge of your seat waiting for the next chapter. 

Each song is hand selected and flows together with such a smooth, harmonious quality that left me wanting more. There's no skipping tracks here, only sitting back for the full 47 minutes. 

It was an emotional ride that left me feeling tightly wrapped in a warm blanket with only Acceptance to thank. 

Weathervein - Wounds

EP Review - Weathervein - Wounds

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Have you ever heard a song and within seconds you relate to it so hard because it made you feel something immediately? That's truly how I felt about this album. I always try to do my best to be partial when writing album reviews, because I feel like people reading want to know what they can expect from it. But sometimes I just feel an album so deeply I can't help but to seem like I'm raving. 

Weathervein (previously Absent Youth) is an extremely talented five-piece band from Dayton, Ohio that will remind you such talented musicians and strong music can come from a small town. If you've never heard them before and had an expectation of what they would sound like, they will seriously surprise you. 

From the first chord until the final song wraps up, you will be taken on a rollercoaster, emotional journey that you won't want to end. The strong dual vocals and well-written lyrics combined with three (!) guitars will have you wanting more... or just putting the tracks on repeat. The worst thing about the album is the fact that it only has five songs. 

Prepare yourself aka get these songs in your head before they're touring the world and you wish you knew them before everyone else.

RIYL: La Dispute, Balance and Composure, Thrice, and Brand New. 

Interview with The Neighbourhood

The Neighbourhood has been on my "watch list" since I first heard them, and the fact that none of my friends seemed to know their music was frustrating to me! How were so many good bands like this one so unknown, while others with more "marketable" sound were filthy rich and ridiculously famous? (Just another reason why I am passionate about this website - to help those great bands get more recognition - free press is good press!) I fell in love with their music, the lyrics, their energy, and I told myself I knew that they were gonna hit it big. I didn't know when, but I knew it was going to happen for them.

If you don't know them, they're California based and comprised of vocalist Jesse Rutherford, bassist Mikey Margott, drummer Bryan Sammis, and guitarists Jeremy Freedman and Zach Abels. All hugely talented guys, with an obvious passion for music. It's been said that they popped up out of nowhere as a band, and I think that mysterious aura adds something to their music.

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How did you guys first get started as a band?

We all knew each other and decided we wanted to try and fulfill this shared vision we had with our best friends.

What, if anything, have you run into as a band that was difficult to overcome?

We were thrust into this world so fast. It was the best thing that has ever happened to us, but going from living at home to being on tour for over a year is definitely something that you need to adjust to.

Do you feel like those things brought you closer and made the band even stronger?

Definitely. We live together now, all day every day. We've gone through the trials and tribulations of a proper relationship. We've had arguments and disagreements and it's all brought us to a place of love.

Tell me about your current process in songwriting and recording. Has this changed at all since the beginning?

It's always been an evolving process, especially on the road. Now a days people work on songs in the van on their computers and such. We have also been jamming some new stuff during sound-checks, which is definitely a new experience.

Who writes most of the lyrics and music? Or is it a collaboration between all of you?

Jesse writes the lyrics. We all write the music.

Photo by Eric T. White (c)

Do you find writing songs therapeutic, if you use real life experiences to influence them? They seem to be pretty different than a lot of what's going on in the music scene these days, so I'd like to know about where they come from.

It's definitely therapeutic. The lyrics are all truthful and about real life things. The music is from a place where we get to express our feelings through our instruments.

Did you experience any issues or problems while recording your new album?

Honestly, no. Our biggest problem was which songs to put on the album.

Do you think that the Spotify EMERGE contest had a lot to do with building your fan base more recently?

Spotify is a great tool for people to find music. It has definitely helped people find us.

How has being on tour for you recently? Have you had a favorite moment that has stood out as being especially memorable?

Denver was a great show with our good buds in the band Lovelife.

What can fans expect from you in 2013/2014 after your current tour is over? I know you just released a new album, but hey, the fans always want more!

They will get more. It will be momentous for us. You'll see.

Where do you see yourselves in 5 years? What are your long-term goals for the band?

I see us doing what we do on a larger scale. Being more respected.

I'm curious as to how you feel about the way music sales have changed, such as online sales and illegal downloading. Do you feel like this improes the way that music is purchased and reaches your fans ears?

Definitely. It makes it more accessible.

Do you think that the future of CD and vinyl sales will eventually be completely replaced by online music sales?

No, because there will always be that niche market for vinyl.

If each of you could colaborate with one artist or band, who would it be?

Mikey: Dustin Kensrue
Zach: Kendrick Lamar
Jeremy: Tony Iommi
Bryan: Hans Zimmer
Jesse: DJ Premier

If each of you could pick one place to travel/tour to, where would it be?

Mikey: Hawaii
Zach: The Beach in the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio
Jeremy: New Zealand
Bryan: Japan
Jesse: Paris

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If you don't know this band and their music, please do yourself a big favor and get acquainted right now. You don't even have to thank me. Let the music speak to you like it did to me. It might be one of the best things you do for yourself! Buy the music if you like it. Support them! I can't stress how important that is.

Find them on their website, Facebook, and Twitter.


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Interview with Greeley Estates' Vocalist Ryan Zimmerman

I've been listening to Greeley Estates since, get this, back in the Myspace days, when half of the bands I was (or still am) into were just starting out and I was discovering (as many others were) the music I liked from adds and messages they used to promote themselves with on Myspace. I remember when I first messaged them in 2009 after they sent me a request and I was totally blown away by their music. They messaged me back and we had a conversation, which for me at the time, was totally mind-blowing. (A "popular" band was messaging "little ol' me"!?!) Getting to interview vocalist Ryan Zimmerman was my ultimate pleasure. I hope you enjoy reading what he had to say as much as I did!

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Up Late Reviews: How did you first get started as a band? From that time, do you feel like the constant change of band members has affected your sound? 

Ryan Zimmerman: We started back in 2002 as just a couple guys messing around trying to figure out how to play music. In a lot of ways it was kind of a joke. We starting playing local shows and decided to pursue it seriously in 2003-2004. We have had quite a few member changes but we have also been a band for a decade now and have 8 records out so its to be expected I guess. As far as our sound, we always try to switch things up with each release. We have had our current lineup for the last 4 years so we feel pretty good about it.

ULR: Do you feel like your newer songs are "way heavier" as many people claim? Or do you feel like your fans perceptions of you may have changed? 

RZ: Both. I think our records like NRNR and The Narrow Road are definitely heavier than our earlier material, but we still keep it Greeley. Our new release Devil Son has many of the musical elements that our early material had back when we started this band.

ULR: What is your favorite album and why?

RZ: I am honestly pretty connected to most of our records. I feel that Go West Young Man… seems to be the record we will be remembered by because i think it was a little before its time. I personally love both of our new EPs and I definitely have a strong connection to our first record Outside of This.

ULR: Who writes most of the lyrics and the music and if it's not a total collaboration, how do you come to agreements? 

RZ: I (Ryan) have always written the lyrics and for the most part Brandon has written the music until recently David has gotten involved and helped with writing music.

ULR: Please explain your writing process and how your process changed between albums, if it has.

We usually go into each record with a clean slate and just see how the direction and vibe of the music pans out. When we started as a band I would write a lot of my lyrics before I had heard the music. Now I write lyrics after feeling out the music and letting it speak to me. Many of our records have been written on the road which is tough, but this last 2 part album The Narrow Road/Devil Son was all written in AZ. We had the chance to live together and write and it was a good experience.

Do you find writing songs therapeutic, if you use real life experiences to influence them? 

RZ: Yeah, I love the writing process its one of the best parts of the job. Some songs are very personal to me and others are written in more a storybook format. I love watching movies and at times movies influence my writing.

ULR: What, if anything, have you run into as a band (or throughout the years with the member changes) that was difficult to over come? 

RZ: Touring 10 months out of the year is difficult on anyone. When you’re in a band on the road the members are your family. Its always tough losing members or letting members go it changes the dynamic of things. You just learn to work through this and hope that the changes are for the better.

ULR: Do you feel like those things brought you closer and made the current band even stronger? 

Yeah, I think difficult situations always make you appreciate life and make you stronger.

ULR: Do you guys have any plans for a tour in the near future, whether local or US? (Or even International!) 

RZ: Yeah, we plan to head to Japan again here soon. As for the U.S and other countries we are stilling working on figuring that out. Just trying to get the word out about The Narrow Road and Devil Son right now.

ULR: What can fans expect from you in 2013? 

Hopefully we will see them on the road soon and we hope to start writing again towards the end of the year.

ULR: I'm curious as to how you guys personally feel about the way music sales have changed, including illegal downloading, iTunes, Amazon, and other online music retailers. Does this totally ruin music or do you think this improves how easily and rapidly music reaches your fan's ears?

RZ: In our situation doing this independently right now, it definitely affects us. Album sales directly help us and illegal downloading directly hurts us.

ULR: Do you think that online sales will eventually completely replace CD and vinyl sales? 

RZ: Yeah for the most part I think physical copies will be collectors items in the future.

ULR: If you got the chance to collaborate with any band or artist, who would it be? 

RZ: Wow that is tough. Probably Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins.

ULR: Anything else you'd like to add? 

RZ: Check out our new records The Narrow Road and Devil Son

***

Check out what Greeley Estates is up to on Facebook or Twitter, and definitely catch up on their new tunes!

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Valaska's "Natural Habitat" Album Review

I have to preface this post with a short statement. When you're doing music journalism, you get a lot of opportunities to review different albums and shows. Not all of them are quite your style or things you would necessarily listen to or tell your friends excitedly about. So far I've tried to keep my personal website (though I do other work) limited to things I can sincerely talk up, because this isn't to make money or gain recognition for things I don't believe in. Besides getting my style of writing out there, I love helping bands and musicians who I really feel deserve it.

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And on that note, Valaska blew me away. When I first checked out the songs that were available online, before I heard the album, I was pretty impressed. I liked their sound; it was very soft and melodic, and definitely the type of music I often listen to. When I got the album, I started playing it and I couldn't stop. I literally could not stop playing it on repeat, for days. DAYS! I couldn't believe what a gem this album was and that I hadn't heard about this amazing band sooner.

When I found out that it was one guy, I became even more impressed. Multi-talented Dave Valdez definitely gives one-man bands a run for their money on this incredible album that he created with the producing and engineering help of Copeland's Aaron Marsh. I can only imagine the levels his music would rise on a live stage with a full band.

I've recently gone through a couple of hardships and I'm constantly looking for music which helps me get through painful experiences. The actual quality of the songs aside (which is stellar), each one hit home with me. From the first song, On the Surface, which reminds me a little bit of old DCFC and a little bit of City and Colour, to Golden Age, which made me reminisce Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by The Flaming Lips. In Voids and Natural Habitat took my heart with their profound lyrics and especially soulful vocals.

Every song had something to offer, and while a couple of them reminded me in part of other bands' music, Valaska has its own sound which is distinct and memorable. This alone stood out to me, after listening to so many bands and artists over the years that blend together in a fairly acceptable, but forgettable manner. I'm always looking for bands that not only have a great sound, but who sound different and aren't afraid to make the music they want to make, and seem to have a passion and love for doing so. I personally think that you can feel that love for music in a musician or band's songs, and that makes the listening experience so enjoyable. While Valaska certainly deserves recognition in the indie world, I would be surprised if it was long before they get signed.

Natural Habitat Cover Art

I smiled, I swooned, and I cried. (YES, music makes me cry, okay?!) I have never fallen in love with a band so quickly. It's safe to say that this is my favorite album of 2013, if not in the past year altogether. So right now I put my reputation on the line (as I do with these reviews) and genuinely tell you that you're missing out if you don't have this album. If you know what's good for you, buy it as soon as you possibly can. Time is ticking. You are losing valuable listening time. Seriously, if I haven't sold you yet, check out the adorable album art. How could you possibly say "no" to that cute face?

If you want to check Valaska out, you can do so on Facebook, their website, Bandcamp, and Twitter.


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Taking Back Sunday, Bayside, and Man Overboard (#TAYF10 Tour) at Club Nokia October 25, 2012)

The scene was a beautiful one: a crazy long line of people all lined up for the Taking Back Sunday #TAYF10 tour! A lot of these people were wearing merch and some of them even had TBS shirts from "back in the day," showing that they had likely been around from when the album was first released. Many Bayside fans also showed up, some excited to see the bands for the first time, while some had been to many shows and had more of a relaxed vibe as they waited in line. I didn't see any Man Overboard shirts, but I know there were many loyal fans out there in the crowd once the band went on later.

Personally, I've seen Taking Back Sunday twice: The Next Big Thing 6 (Tampa Bay 2006) and Warped Tour 2012 (My first Warped Tour this year in Pomona) and Bayside once at the same Warped Tour this past summer. I was beyond excited to get to see them, even though I felt a little nervous about the venue size, crowd, and the VERY small pit that they had given "limited" access to. (Which really meant as many people as they could fit in there without killing someone.)

After waiting in line and getting our pit access, my friend and I squeezed as close to the front as possible and waited for the show to start. There were so many people who were excited for Man Overboard to open. Although I hadn't been as long-term of a fan of them as others in the crowd, it was great to see how much excitement there was for them. Many people knew the lyrics to their music as they started playing, but the crowd didn't go nearly as crazy as I would soon witness. Now, I've been to a LOT of shows. I've been to shows in all sorts of venues with all kinds of music and different crowds and I've been hit in places I had to think about later (how?! why?!) but never have I seen a crowd like the one that night.

Bayside played a solid set to a sea of singing fans who knew the lyrics very well and it almost sounded like a live recording of their album. I was very pleased and glad to be part of a crowd who knew and apparently loved Bayside as much as I do! (A few people, not surprisingly, screamed out their love for, and desire to have the babies of Anthony.) They put on an even better set than the smaller one at Warped Tour, which I had thought was amazing, so that's saying something.

The crowd started pushing some towards the end of Bayside's set and a couple people attempted to crowd surf, which is apparently their way of showing appreciation for the music. Nobody seemed amused. When Taking Back Sunday took the stage, the change was enormous. Not only did everyone start shoving and "moshing" (I put it in quotations because these individuals have clearly never been to a hardcore show and were trying to mosh/circle pit but don't know what they are doing.) but the voices got louder and the excitement was even more clear.

On the upside, a great show was had and they played a great set, comparable with the one I saw at Warped Tour (with a much smaller crowd at Club Nokia) but the downsides were the tight space and people kicking and throwing elbows everywhere (even in the parts of the crowd you usually would be safe in) and one guy who tried to crowd surf to the stage 12 or 13 times in a row and didn't get kicked out. I would put the downsides mostly on the venue/security, because that's not really on the band. But I did get punched in the face so hard I thought my nose was broken, and my glasses were ripped off my face a few times. (Not the first time it's happened... La Dispute...)

All in all, great show.

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Metric and Half Moon Run @ The Greek Theater 10/9/12

     On a breezy evening in Los Angeles, California, Half Moon Run took the stage, kicking off the evening and opening up for a much anticipated Metric concert. The Montreal based band got the crowd excited, with songs off of their debut album (2012) Dark Eyes. Three talented guys make the group a strong trio, whose music has been described as both traditional folk and electronic. Whatever genre they may be placed in, they certainly have a unique sound. I had the pleasure of meeting the band briefly during intermission, at which time they shook my hand and although they were already engaged in conversation, they behaved like complete gentleman. For me personally, this added a certain charm to their observed on stage presence and their sound.

     As the seats filled post-intermission, you could clearly hear the buzz and excitement of all the fans of the Canadian born band, Metric. For most of the concert-goers on this Tuesday evening, it would be their first time seeing Metric perform live. That was true for myself, and I was beyond excited to get to see one of my favorite bands play. I wondered how they would handle the set-list, due to the fact that they had just released their newest album, Synthetica. And handle it well, they did! They managed to impress me greatly with a combination of songs from each of their albums, but understandably focusing on their last two: Fantasies being the one previously released three-four years ago.

     As they opened with the first song on Synthetica, "Artificial Nocturne," I was impressed to see and hear that the majority of the fans in the crowd knew the song well enough to sing along. This followed suit with each of the songs throughout the evening that the band played off of their new album. I clearly underestimated Metric's fanbase and their ability to swiftly memorize the lyrics. I was equally impressed with Emily Haine's stage presence and with her versatile voice that I had previously enjoyed for so many years on their albums.

    All in all, Metric's beautiful songs paired with the energy at the Greek Theater and with the beautiful light show, made for an unforgettable concert.

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Back Pocket Memory & Culprit @ Club Moscow (Boardners) 9/5/12

     Picture this: Wednesday night brings Club Moscow to Boardners. Loyal friends, family, and fans come out late on a weeknight to see their favorite local bands. Cut in to two incredible local bands, Culprit and Back Pocket Memory, playing a show that doubles as a West Coast tour kickoff and a birthday show for BPM bassist Rob.

     The crowd both bands brought to the venue was only the first reflection upon the strength of their fan base. The way Back Pocket Memory moved (and excited) the crowd was just as impressive, especially when they played material from their new self-titled EP. Culprit was just as powerful in the way they kept the venue moving and singing along.

    I was especially impressed with hearing Back Pocket Memory's new material, since having heard their single, Prisoner, before they released their EP. It was my first time seeing Culprit live, and I was entirely blown away with how beautiful their songs were live!

     With two strong vocalists, exceptional drummers, impressive guitar and bass, Culprit and Back Pocket Memory seem to be the perfect 2 bands to tour together, and it's just coincidence that they're friends!

     If you are a fan of BPM or Culprit or want to hear more, you're in luck! They're only halfway through their West Coast tour! Check out the tour dates below as well as the links if you're not at any of the cities listed. Additionally, please look out for my interview with Back Pocket Memory coming soon, as well as one in the works with Culprit!

September 10th – Bend, OR @ The Soundgarden

September 11th – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon

September 12th – Portland, OR @ Mt. Tabor Theater (Lounge)

September 13th – Vancouver, WA @ Pop Culture

September 14th – San Lorenzo, CA @ The Annex

September 15th – San Jose, CA @ Homestead Lanes

www.facebook.com/backpocketmemory
www.twitter.com/bckpcktmmry
www.backpocketmemory.tumblr.com
www.backpocketmemory.bandcamp.com

www.whatisculprit.com
www.twitter.com/culprit
http://whatisculprit.tumblr.com

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Lemonade - Kyle Castellani's New Feature Song & Album

When Kyle asked me if I wanted to hear his new song "Lemonade" a week or two ago, I had to contain myself. Of course I would be thrilled to listen to an unreleased song! I was expecting something along the lines of what I had heard thus far, which has never let me down or disappointed me (including the songs I had heard so far from Lemonade before it was released - at live shows and on his website) but I could never have prepared myself for the flood of emotions I experienced listening to "Lemonade." It would be an understatement to say the song simply "failed to disappoint."

The song moved me so much that it took me a couple of days to actually respond and let him know what I thought of it - and when I did, embarrassingly enough, the words wouldn't stop coming. Kyle is an underrated, amazing musician who will hopefully get the recognition he so deserves. Just by this song alone being a sign of what's to come, I thought, he truly is going places.

Lemonade specifically, is a very soft and emotional song which moved me to tears. (I may be a woman, but I am not a crier.) Tears actually fell out of my eyes.

Kyle expresses himself perfectly through meaningful, deep lyrics and strong, versatile vocals. His range is incredible and I am consistently blown away by his finished products. Having been sent "Lemonade" for a preview, I had officially heard every single song on the album before its release (today, August 1st, 2012) by way of online teasers and live shows, I think it's safe to say that I have ground to stand on with my review saying that this is definitely my favorite album of 2012.

I really only intended to write a review for "Lemonade", but I got a bit carried away. (Not unusual for me...)

If you like beautiful lyrics and acoustic music, (with the added bonus that he actually sounds just as good live - so you're not getting some butchered, auto-tuned album) you'll want to get this CD!

To buy it on iTunes, visit: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lemonade/id549621894

(You can find out more about Kyle and his current West Coast tour at http://www.reverbnation.com/kylecastellani)

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An Interview with Nural's Kyle Castellani

     As a fan of the Los Angeles band, Nural, of many years, I was very happy to hear that the band was back together - at least to make a new album. They broke up in 2010 and many fans and friends of the band were similarly excited about the news of a new album in the works.
     I was able to get an interview with Kyle Castellani, lead singer of the band (as well as a solo artist) for an interview. Please enjoy, spread the news, and if you don't know Nural, check them out! (Links at the bottom.)

Me: How did you guys first get started as a band? Since then, how have any band member changes/additions affected your sound? 

Kyle: We got started when we were all just kids around 14/15. We were all acquaintances in middle school with similar tastes in music and gravitated toward one another because of that and became friends/band-mates. We started out as a Ska band too! The changes in our music first started when we lost the horn players and went punk. From there we started veering more toward a rock direction, and we’ve been looking for OUR sound ever since. Members have come and gone throughout the years and it’s never easy to see them go, but I think although the music may turn out differently depending on the members, the changes have been necessary for the evolution and growth of the band. 

Me: How do you feel that your new songs differ from your older ones? 

Kyle: I think the new songs are stylistically a good blend of our first record The Weight Of The World and our second one, Entitlement. We’ve always been working on a balance between when to go heavy and when to go easy. For me, these new songs find a more even balance across that spectrum. 

Me: Can we expect a similar sound in the new album? Speaking of your new album, when are you expecting to release it?

Kyle: You can expect Nural! It’s definitely similar. And to be honest, we really don’t have an estimation for when we’re going to release it yet. It’s been difficult aligning our schedules, but it’ll get done, and sooner than later! 

Me: Tell me about your current process in songwriting and recording. How has this changed since "The Weight of the World"? 

Kyle: There’s never been one set process. The approach has always been constructed chaos. We all have different riffs and melodies floating around that all seem to find homes in various songs. It’s almost like a 1,000 piece puzzle set and the full songs have always existed, we just have to find where everything fits. Every time we get together and jam, a new song is born. I think because we’ve been writing together so long, the chaos is a lot more fluid these days. 

Me: Who writes most of the lyrics and music? Or is it a collaboration between all of you? 

Kyle: We all contribute to the music as a whole, but I’ve always been entrusted with the melodies and lyrics. I have a love/hate relationship with lyrics. When I’m done I’m usually happy with them, but it’s a journey. With so many songs needing lyrics and the expectation that they all should be honest and heart-felt, I often end up traveling through some crazy emotional peaks and valleys in short periods of time. I always learn a lot about myself and life in general in the process though, so it’s definitely more love than hate. 

Me: I'd love to hear more about how you come up with your lyrics, as they're often quite profound, something that makes you distinct from many of the popular artists in the 2010's.

Kyle: It’s so weird because songs always have something to say whether someone is saying it (singing it) or not. If you listen to just the music of an orchestral piece or even a rock song with no vocals, a picture comes to your mind of what the song wants to say, or the mood of the song. The song evokes some kind of feeling in me and I decide to chase it. Sometimes I find out what it was saying and sometimes it eludes me forever… The ones that elude me become the B-sides, hahaha! It’s like this strange equation that has no right or wrong answer, only interpretations… If that makes any sense. 

Me: Have you experienced any issues or problems while recording your new album?
 
Kyle: We need a rehearsal spot. Definitely a big inconvenience when trying to learn loud rock music.

Me: What led up to Nural breaking up in 2010? 

Kyle: Too many things to even mention in short. But to sum it up briefly, we were tired. We had given our entire lives to the band and had very little fruit of our labor to show for, and on top of that, we had managers and labels telling us how Nural SHOULD be. It created a riff between all of us as musicians and friends and we felt overwhelmed. The final blow was a law-suit between us and our managers that left us fed up with the music industry. After 2 years of being broken up and once the dust settled, we realized that we can play music together and actually have fun again. Fun playing music? What a strange concept! 

Me: I know you (Kyle) released a solo album last year and then in January 2012 Nural announced that they were working on a new album, what made you decide to get back together? 

Kyle: I think I speak for all the Nural guys when I say we missed the camaraderie. We missed being apart of something that was bigger than us individually. We came together as a group and together made music that we had fun playing and other people enjoyed. All the other bullshit is something that comes with the territory sometimes, but the music is all that ever matters in the end. Time has a way of putting all that in to perspective, I guess. 

Me: Are you guys planning to go on tour after you release your album? If not, are you planning to have a CD release show in the LA area? 

Kyle: Definitely a CD release show! As far as a tour goes, we’ll have to see how people respond to the new material. *Wink 

Me: I'm curious as to how you feel about the way music sales have changed, such as online sales and illegal downloading. Do you feel like this improves the way music is purchased and reaches your fan's ears? 

Kyle: It is what it is. The internet is an unstoppable force, and artists can either pity themselves and get pissed that people aren’t buying their records, or they can recognize what an incredible marketing tool the internet is and get more people listening online and get them to shows! I for one love the internet and I embrace the way it is. What choice do artists have anyways?
 
Me: Do you think that the future of CD and vinyl sales will eventually be completely replaced by online sales? 

Kyle: Absolutely. CD’s and especially vinyl and such will be nostalgic, but definitely obsolete.

Me: Thank you so much time for taking the time to answer all these questions, Kyle.

     If you are interested in hearing Nural's music, you can find them at Facebook and Twitter, and I've even inserted one of their music videos for your easy viewing pleasure! Look out for my next interview with Kyle about his solo career, tour, and new album which is soon to be released!

https://www.facebook.com/nuralofficial and https://twitter.com/nuralofficial

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Spotify & Facebook "Music" Link to Spotify Review

When Spotify first came out, I wanted an account BAD. It was one of the first sites of its kind that didn't allow you instant access (or that I didn't personally get an invite to or a beta invite right away.) I admit, this may have made me want "in" a little bit more, but from what I had heard about the site, it had enough to get me interested and I requested an invite.
It took about a week or two and when I got my invite, I hurriedly signed up and downloaded the application to my computer. I immediately synced it with my iTunes library and even connected it to my Facebook. (Note: This was BEFORE Facebook had added the Music sharing option, wherein they have all of your plays show up on your page/newsfeed. I loved this feature because it showed me who of my Facebook friends was already on the website and allowed me to access their profiles and their playlists. It also showed me which of my music-hungry friends were not on this site yet, and after another couple of weeks gave me the ability to invite friends via email, and then Facebook.
Now, about the actual application: it rocks. There are SO many songs, so many version of songs, the playlists and layout are so simple and easy to change, delete, add, and move around. I've never found a free music website/application that was so simple to use and had so much variety. It also suggests different music to you, allows you to see what's popular, and gives you insight into "new" tunes so that you can expand your musical palette. It's also fantastic because if you download the application to another computer, the specific tunes you have imported from iTunes are still available to you through the Spotify app.
I continued to enjoy the site, but wished that there was a way to access the database through streaming, like Grooveshark or Pandora, because sometimes I'm using a public computer, or I'm at work, where you need an administrator log-in to download any time of application.
Take a short break and "SUDDENLY" Facebook has full access to Spotify and vice versa. Everyone and their mother can sign up on Spotify and link up to Facebook. Now, when you play things on Spotify - everything links to Facebook and your friends can view it on your profile, in the music section, and in the newsfeed. Spotify did add what they call "Private Session" where you can be logged in/synced to Facebook, but not post your songs as you listen to them publicly.
At this point, I chose to stay on Spotify and not sync to my Facebook account. I will miss being able to see my friends' Spotify accounts and playlists, but it's a price to pay for privacy.
On a bright note, a big point-winner for Spotify, they somehow made the application downloadable without Administrator Rights. I can't give it complete access, but I was able to download it to my work computer without needing to fully install it, and this makes me incredibly happy.
So, overall, I give it a 9/10 as a free music application.