D.O.T.F.

The design I like this time is a bit of a graphicy one, and a fairly American themed one.

This first map graphic shows the individual states most popular artists that aren't popular anywhere else. I think it is pretty cool to see the patterns in terms of style of music and location, and also the amount of older acts compared to the newer acts.

And now this is an updated graphic that was produced and it shows the most popular artist by state and there is a bit of a land slide on the East coast by Jay-Z easily being the most popular, Drake taking the south and a few Macklemore and Daft Punks dotted around. Also funnily noted is the little fan base Alt J have in the North East, every little bit counts, keep up the great tunes.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 25/02/14

Yes you guessed it, this week is a double hitter.

This first track is by an artist that I previously haven't heard from but after a quick Google search found out he is the lead singer of The Walkmen. As for the track in hand, it is a bouncy little number that would get you dancing if your feeling the slightest bit cheery or at the very least get you singing along by the end of the song. Its just a nice piece of folk/poppy music that will make you smile, nothing too crazy and boy does he say Alexandra a lot.

 

My next track is from Catfish and the Bottlemen. I love this track as much as I have their past releases but I like this one also because of the plain randomness of the video. It is just a seemingly thrown together mash up of clips of Ewan McGregor from movies and TV appearances. I particularly like the bit when he is wildly dancing with Craig Ferguson. Check it out!!

SoundCloud Song!

This track is a bit of a mellow/chill track compared to my normal style but I love it. They keep it simple with a basic beat and nice vocal from Lapsley. It is not the kind of track I can define in terms of genre but I don't think it needs to be confined, it is just a great track so please enjoy.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 18/02/14

These guys can do no wrong in my books. Yea I have chosen NeedToBreathe for a second week running, (which I think is a Musicopedia first), what you gonna do about it? they deserve it. Another great song with the same feels as the last track. Looking forward to their latest album to come out in April and I am going to check out their back catalogue after this post. Hopefully you enjoy it half as much as I do.

D.O.T.F.

This cool design popped up on my Flip-board feed and it looked pretty cool. It has shown me that you can listen to submerged vinyl which I didn't think was possible at all. Its always interesting seeing things like this because even though it is not a huge leap in terms of technology or anything I still think this kind of innovation is great to see. This design is from a guy called Evan Holm (http://evanholm.com/about/) and his whole set-up looks really interesting and creative. Also on the website is a video which shows him setting up the installation at the MoMA. It takes a lot of effort but the end result is worth it.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 11/02/14

This track I have chosen is a bit of a folky number with an old school feel from a group called NeedToBreathe. It does remind me slightly of Mumford and Sons but unlike most I don't see that as a bad thing. They both write good catchy fun songs.

I don't know a great deal about the band except they popped up on my SoundCloud feed and I looked into them some more. They have a few great tracks that are definitely worth a listen if you like this style.

Last Saturday Night Resolution

This is a bit of a random post. Basically I wanted to talk about a thing that I have been thinking about recently. It has to do with seeing live music and as of last Saturday when I went to go see Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish and Zebrahead in Birmingham I have decided to cool it a bit with seeing live music once the shows that I have already purchased passes. There are several reasons why I am not going to go to shows as often, some of them personal but the main factor is the money. On average I spend about £30+ easily per show and I have thought that money would be better spent going towards something more long lasting and long term. I am not saying that I am going to stop going to gigs, in fact I hope to keep some sort of regularity but for sure the amount will decrease at least until I start earning beau coup bucks. My reason for posting this is to make it more of a steadfast rule that I will be less eager to break because it is in the world wide web. Lets see how much I can save.

SoundCloud Song!

This is a classic case of giving a song a chance and more than 1 listen. When I first listened to this track I really didn't like it, I thought the trumpet sound was like a messed up circus parade but with thanks to BBC Radio 6 I have grown to really love this track. My opinion with the sound has done a whole 180 and now that trumpet sound stays in my head for ages. Crazy weird pop and I love it.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 04/02/14

This week I have really been trying to get through my 110+ YouTube Watch Later playlist, currently I am 104 with that number fluctuating daily. I have been recapping myself on months of old music videos and I am liking this one track. Its a legendary group covering another legendary groups track. Whenever you hear this song you cant help but sing along. Also coincidentally I am going to see Pearl Jam at Milton Keynes Bowl this summer time. Good times all round.

 

D.O.T.F.

My design of the fortnight is what Foster The People have chosen do design of a huge building. Basically in time for their second album release they have created this huge-ass mural on the side of a building in Los Angeles. The artist who painted it is called Young & Sick and they also did the art work for the first Foster The Peoples Album. I think it is a cool piece of art and a great idea to spice up a boring old building by giving it a splash of colour. Also below you can see the concert they performed after the mural was complete and you can really tell it stands out.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 28/01/14

A quick one this week. Heard this and loved it, a different style than my previous picks and it is probably one of my favourites from Young Fathers.

New Feature SoundCloud Song!!!!

Exciting news, every other Thursday I will be doing my SoundCloud Song. Basically I will post a particular track that I have loved from SoundCloud from the past 2 weeks. It will be on alternate Thursdays to my D.O.T.F.

This time I have chosen the track Lie Back by the group Shy Nature. I heard about them through NME and this single is really great. Also Lifeboats below is another good track but with a more melancholy feel.

YouTube Video Of The Week 21/01/14

This weeks track really surprised me, infact I only knew I was going to pick this song about 2 hours before me writing this. I changed up the music on my iPhone and put a bit of Caitlin Rose on there and that is when I heard this song. It is such a simple song and it really shows what can be done with just a voice and a tambourine. The track being live just makes it even more wholesome and sweet sounding plus the added hand claps from the crowd. This video deserves way more views than its got and Caitlin Rose has got plently more great tracks to check out.

 

D.O.T.F.

I have read an article in the latest edition of the Guitarist magazine and it renewed my adoration for Fender design. I really love the design of the Fender Vintage Hot Rod '60s Telecaster. It is such an iconic design that is idolised by so many musicians and general public alike and for great reason. I prefer it to the comparable Stratocaster mainly because of the overly curvy corners of the Strat and the more smooth and gentle curves of the Telecaster. I also like the symmetry of having all the controls in a straight row. In the future it wouldn't be the first guitar I would buy but it would definitely be the first Fender electric.

Also be sure to check out my Tumblr for more great images:

www.ruvensivyer.tumblr.com

YouTube Video Of The Week! 14/01/14

There has been a few different contenders for this weeks pick but the winner is Baby Blue by Badfinger. Yes I first heard this track at the end of Breaking Bad and I love it as a song aside from being in the show. It sounds so much seeped in that classic rock era that I really enjoy and it sounds timeless to me. That is probably part of the reason they used it in the show. Super catchy and upbeat and just a song that will put you in a great mood.

YouTube Video Of The Week! 07/01/14

This weeks pick is the legend that is George Harrison with the track My Sweet Lord. I have recently purchased a couple of different Beatles biographies and I have learnt a fair amount of stuff about what The Beatles did after they split up the band and that is why I have chosen this song. It is one of my favourite songs that was produced post Beatles and I want to dig into what else George Harrison has recorded and see if there is any more gems like this one. Enjoy the beauty that is this track!

D.O.T.F.

2014 is off and rolling now and where ever you are in the world, hope it is going well. The design I have chosen is a gig poster or rather a festival poster by Todd Slater.

It is an advert for the American festival Bonnaroo 2012. He has incorporated a lot of the bands performing at the festival as part of the swirly/cool rooster design, the words are really flowing and smooth. I really like the simple amount of colours used. In my opinion, the fewer colours the better (within reason). 

Todd Slater has also designed posters for Jack White, The National and Green Day to name but a few.

Check out more of his work:

www.ruvensivyer.tumblr.com

Last YouTube Video Of The Week! Of 2013

Happy New Years Eve to everybody. The track I have chosen is The Shins - Turn A Square. I went shopping for the boxing day sales and picked up this Shins album among others not knowing very much about them apart from the link with Broken Bells but I am glad I made this album choice. The track below is one of my favourites from the album. I have already ordered more of their albums to hear more great music. Check it outtt!:

YouTube Video Of The Week! 24/12/13

So it is Christmas eve and I have decided to include a Christmassy track in this weeks post. 

My first video is The Julie Ruin with Oh Come On. I heard about this band randomly pretty recently and it has opened me up to a bunch of bands from the riot grrrl scene that I want to listen to more music of. This track I really think has a powerfulness that hopefully I find in more of the tracks from this genre.

My Christmas pick is Run-DMC. I heard this track on BBC 6 Music and it was the first time I heard a good hip hop Christmas tune. It sounds really of that era but I love the rhythms and cheesy video storyline, everything you would want for a Christmas song.

This is the last post from me before Christmas, and I will still be posting on my tumblr here: www.ruvensivyer.tumblr.com so Happy Holidays everybody!

D.O.T.F.

This Design Of The Fortnight coincides with the starting of my associated Tumblr blog. If you click on the link below you will be sent to the Musicopedia Picture page. It will have photos of the D.O.T.F. plus general images that I think are cool and or inspiring.

So I have chosen the guitar Teye La India E Series. I love pretty much everything about this design. The colours used and the details around the edge of the guitar etc. The biggest thing I like is the tattooesque detail on the front face and the head of the guitar. It gives the guitar a classic and old school vibe which I am really diggin'. When I earn enough to spend 4 grand on a guitar, this will be one of the first on my list.

Musicopedia Picture Dept