Stopgap

Cory is preparing an awesome [blog].  In the meantime, read this;

http://www.pnl.gov/news/release.asp?id=204

As a nation, if we could switch over to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, we would take a big step towards A) energy independence from the Middle East (for the conservatives & liberals) and B) drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions (for the environmentalists & liberals).  The electricity is widely available, and it would create market pressure to start building greener power plants.

THIS is a serious energy policy; make it happen.

Musically, I am working with 5*C on demos.  Very exciting stuff.  -h

MR sampler, Images, Artists Page

All of the above have been updated this week.  Check out MR | sampler first – click the link over to your right.  Because who was downloading our semi-official mixtape, now nineteen tracks strong as an introduction to MFR?!  Preposterous.  Stream that instead, and hone in on the albums you’re likely to like.

I have been meaning to change the “Images” page to a blog category for awhile, and just did it.  All the same stuff is there, but it should make me more likely to do more in the future.  I should make us a Photobucket account or something too, move them all there.

Also updated the “Artists” page.  Needed it.

If it’s been awhile, or if you haven’t gotten around to hearing some of the old stuff, really check out MR | sampler, it’s fun.  -h

How to make a pop star

Listen, I haven’t told anyone this, but Cory and I didn’t use any pitch-correction (never mind auto-tune!) on Sally Ride’s new It’s A Trap.  That established, check out “How to make a pop star” on YouTube (and thanks Katy for the links).

How to make a pop star (part 1)

How to make a pop star – Enrique can’t sing

And in other music-related YouTubeness, watch & hear Aries Spears freestyling as DMX, LL Cool Jay, Jay-Z, and Snoop, in about two minutes flat.

Ambient Addition

http://web.media.mit.edu/~nvawter/thesis/index.html

I found out about this little guy via the NY Times’ “Year in Ideas 2006,” which has since slipped into the archives (damn you, TimesSelect!).

Noah’s invention “creates music from the noise all around you.”  The QuickTime demo at the site above probably doesn’t do it justice, but it’s pretty cool anyway.  I want one.  Unfortunately, no one is making them; it’s just a project at this point.  Still, check it out.

On Noah; “Engineer and musician Noah Vawter is best known for inventing Ambient Addition, the 1-bit groovebox, PSPKick and combyop synthesis. In each of these musical instruments, he combines math and design ideas to illuminate the situation around music, encouraging the democratic notions of freedom and cooperation. He is currently a Ph. D. candidate studying with the Computing Culture Research Group at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ”

On Ambient Addition; “Ambient Addition is a Walkman with binaural microphones. A tiny Digital Signal Processing (DSP) chip analyzes the microphone’s sound and superimposes a layer of harmony and rhythm on top of the listener’s world. In the new context, some surprising behaviors take place. Listeners tend to play with objects around them, sing to themselves, and wander toward tempting sound sources. With Ambient Addition, I’m hoping to make people think twice about the sounds they initiate as well as loosen up some inhibitions.”