Favtape - Create a Mixed Tape to Share with Friends

Favtape is a very simple site that allows you to create a playlist of songs (i.e., a mixed tape) that you can listen to on your computer. Favtape is a mashup of Pandora, Last.fm, SeeqPod, and Slinkset. Pandora and Last.fm strive to be the best in recommending new songs based on your historical listening preferences. SeeqPod is a search engine with a unique algorithm that has a knack for identifying similar songs. Slinkset is a Ning-like service where you can create your own social network.

The features of Favtape that I like:

• Background music - Listen to music on your computer while you work without running a heavyweight process like iTunes
  
• No commitment, no purchase necessary - Test out new songs in their entirety before purchasing from Amazon.com
  
• Share mixed tapes - Time warp yourself back to the 80s and 90s by sharing your song lists with friends in the form of mixed tapes (actually just URL)
  

The one thing I do not like:

• No FAQ page - No FAQ page means take it or leave it as is and that you are on your own when it comes to figuring things out. For example, it took me several minutes before I figured how to edit a mixed tape. No recording over old songs...just simple deletion :(. The site exudes simplicity and but does not exude a high expectation of service.
  

Favtape's appears to generate revenue in a similar fashion as this blog, that is, users listen to some music and then are compelled to buy it from Amazon. User purchases generate an Amazon sales commission for the site owner. In sum, Favtape is worth a try because it is easy to use and requires zero commitment.

Top Rock Songs of 2005

In case you forgot, 2005 was a strong year for rock songs. Songs that make my 2005 top ten list have stood the test of time and are headlined by Audioslave, 311, and Coldplay. Here are my top ten rock songs of 2005:

1. Be Yourself by Audioslave
   
2. Don't Tread On Me by 311
   
3. Fix You by Coldplay
   
4. Soul Meets Body by Death Cab for Cutie
   
5. Beverly Hills by Weezer
   
6. Save Me by Shinedown
   
7. Best of You by Foo Fighters
   
8. The Hand That Feeds by Nine Inch Nails
   
9. Remedy by Seether
10. Bleed Like Me by Garbage

The following Amazon box will allow you to listen to and purchase songs DRM-free. Once purchased, you can play them on any MP3 player.

Top Rock Songs of 2006

After having two years to listen to 2006's rock songs, I am prepared to confidently create the top ten rock songs of 2006 list. Songs that make my top ten have been listened to at least 20 times each and, thus, have stood the test of time. Here is my top ten rock songs of 2006:

1. Snow [Hey Oh] by Red Hot Chili Peppers
   
2. You Only Live Once by The Strokes
3. Think I'm in Love by Beck
   
4. True Affection by The Blow
   
5. Steady, As She Goes by The Raconteurs
   
6. Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol
   
7. Upside Down by Jack Johnson
   
8. Ooh La La by Goldfrapp
9. Sailed On by Landon Pigg
10. Wound Up by Office

The following Amazon box will allow you to listen to and purchase songs DRM-free. Once purchased, you can play them on any MP3 player.

Metallica - Death Magnetic

Metallica is heavy metal band from Los Angeles, CA and formed in 1981. Lars and the rest of band made themselves the poster boys of internet music piracy in the late 90s. They have come full circle as you can now purchase their songs online and DRM-free.

I saw Metallica play at Woodstock 99 as the Saturday night headliner. I witnessed an amazing rock progression experienced in this order: 1) Limp Bizkit got everyone in a feisty mood and appeared to be a first class heavy metal band, then 2) Rage Against the Machine employed their powerful sound to make Limp Bizkit look like novices and then burnt an American flag to end the show, and, finally, 3) Metallica showed them both up with an electrifying show and multiple encores. Lars announced the final encore by saying "We can play as long as we ****ing want to." It was an incredible finale that culminated with undeniable affirmation that Metallica is the greatest heavy metal band of all time and that Dave Mustaine is one of the most talend lead guitarists in the world.

Metallica's latest album Death Magnetic is comprised primarily of heavy metal ballads that are not radio friendly because of their length. The two songs that carry the album are "The Day That Never Comes" and "The Unforgiven III". "The Unforgiven III" is likely popular more because of its name than anything else. "The Day That Never Comes" makes my all-time top 10 favorite Metallica songs list because of its slow intro and beefy guitar finale:

1. Enter Sandman
   
2. One
   
3. The Unforgiven
   
4. Nothing Else Matters
   
5. The Unforgiven II
6. Turn the Page (Bob Seger)
   
7. The Day That Never Comes
   
8. Hero of the Day
   
9. Until it Sleeps
   
10. Wherever I May Roam
    

The following Amazon box will allow you to listen to and purchase their songs DRM-free. Once purchased, you can play them on any MP3 player.

The Offspring - Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace

The Offspring are an alternative/punk rock band from Huntington Beach, CA. I saw The Offspring rock Woodstock 99. The highlight of the show was when they lead into a song by bashing the heads off Backstreet Boys manikins.

Their latest album "Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace" is a return to the heavier, guitar focused punk sound that made them famous back in 1994 with their hit debut album "Smash". Their lead Guitarist Noodles is one my all-time favorite lead guitarists because of his unique sound. "Your Gonna Go Far, Kid" is a fast, melodious song that is irresistible. "Hammerhead" is a heavier, more repetitive song but is still worthy of purchase. Since MTV and VH1 play very few music videos, your best bet is to watch the new Hammerhead video on YouTube. Both songs make my all-time top 10 favorite Offspring songs:

1. Self Esteem
   
2. The Kids Aren't Alright
   
3. Gone Away
   
4. Your Gonna Go Far, Kid
   
5. Come Out and Play
   
6. Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)
   
7. Why Don't You Get a Job?
   
8. Original Prankster
   
9. Want You Bad
   
10. Hammerhead

The following Amazon box will allow you to listen to and purchase their songs DRM-free. Once purchased, you can play them on any MP3 player.

Anatomy of the Rock Ballad

This is just a short rant about some great rock ballads that everyone should have in their music collection. Really, there are only three conditions that have to be met for a song to be a rock ballad. Number one: it has to rock. That's the obvious one. I had to get it out of the way.

Number two: it has to be long. We're talking at least 6 or 7 minutes. Eight minutes is definitely in solid rock ballad territory. There aren't too many eight minute songs being played on the radio these days. Think about it. When was the last time you heard an 8 minute song on the radio other than on a classic rock station? My guess is it was before the world knew what an iPod was. Coincidence? Maybe. But I digress.

Number three: the song has to have a touchy-feely soft part. Okay maybe that's not the best name for it, but I'm sticking with it for now. Put it at the beginning. Put it at the end. I don't care. It's gotta be there.

So lets get on with this list of great rock ballads. It's a short list. A list of three. A rock trifecta. Here goes:

• Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven
• Guns N' Roses November Rain
• Queen Bohemian Rhapsody

Now I struggled a bit with adding Bohemian Rhapsody to the list. Technically it doesn't meet the six minute threshold. But hey, it's only a few seconds short. That's a rock ballad gimme. Freddie Mercury's watch was probably just running a bit slow. (Maybe it didn't have a second hand. We've all been there.)

I am not claiming this list is comprehensive. Give me a break. It's only got three songs. These are just the first songs came to my head. But isn't that what's important? If a song isn't memorable, that's a good indicator it's not very good song. And if it isn't memorable, it's definitely not a great rock ballad.



(Just a note to any band who might be offended for being left out of my list: Maybe you should have made your song rock a little harder, did you think of that? Maybe you should have added one more refrain so your song could have been longer, eh? And maybe you should have made your song, um, touchy-feely-er? Yeah, that's right. Maybe then I would have thought of your song first!)

No Doubt - Awaiting their Next Album

No Doubt is an Anaheim based ska/alternative rock band. They have been rocking main stream audiences since their 1995 album Tragic Kingdom went double-platinum in 1996. I was fortunate enough to see them the first of week June 1996 at RFK stadium as part of the WHFS Festival. I highly recommend seeing No Doubt live in concert because they are strong performers and full of energy.

Their last album Rock Steady had a reggae vibe to so it will be interesting to hear what direction they go next. Specifically, rumor has it that the musicians of No Doubt have recorded music for their new album and that they are awaiting Gwen Stefani to return from having a baby. To help pass the time until their next album is released, I have created my No Doubt top ten songs list:

1. Underneath It All
2. In My Head (not on Amazon)
   
3. New
4. Spiderwebs
5. Bathwater
6. Don't Speak
7. Simple Kind of Life
8. Ex-Girlfriend
9. Just a Girl
10. It's My Life
    

The following Amazon box will allow you to listen to and purchase their songs DRM-free. Once purchased, you can play them on any MP3 player.