Record Store Day 2010: A Farewell to a Dying Trade?

Next Saturday, the 17th of April, marks this year’s Record Store Day, an international celebration of independently-owned record shops. This annual event first took place two years ago in the US to promote the recognition of a diminishing trade and to strengthen the belief that such shops still have an important place in modern popular culture. The date has since spread to many other countries worldwide, including the UK, and has proved that people still seem to have a great fondness for small music retailers.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Monday, 12 April 2010

FEATURE: Aerosmith In A Spin

Up until a month ago I would have jumped at the chance to see Aerosmith live. But that was before my wild-goose chase… before that moment when I was a mouse-click away from making a cyber-klutz of myself. Now, the way I’m feeling, I wouldn’t go and see them if Sharon Stone came to pick me up in a chauffeur-driven stretch limo… OK, well maybe I’d be tempted if I could sit opposite the star of Basic Instinct on the way to the gig; but there again, knowing my luck, she’d probably turn up wearing jeans.

Written by: David Evans | Date: Wednesday, 07 April 2010

FEATURE: Life As An Unsigned Band Part 1 - The Bands

You could argue that there would be no music industry if there were nobody to make music. However, people seem as motivated to make music in modern times by the financial gains available as by their love of music itself. It’s the old egg and chicken argument really these days. From the earliest days it was the love of music that motivated people to create their own. Without this passion and belief in music they wouldn’t be able to commit to the endurance race that is life as an unsigned band. Countless hours of practice and writing material, then, when gigs come the uncertainty of payment, attendance or even decent equipment at the venue.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Tuesday, 06 April 2010

Here's One for the Album... What Do Nirvana, Beatles & Pink Floyd Have in Common?

Here’s a question for you: What do Nirvana’s Nevermind, The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band and Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon have in common? As well as being critically acclaimed, all three records have been voted for in various polls as having some of the most iconic album covers of all time. I have always believed that these forms of illustration have had their artistic merit downplayed in comparison with more prominent genres in the world of art. However, in the digital age, listeners tend to hunt for music on the screens of their latest gadgets rather than flicking through the racks in the shops and nowadays album covers are often reduced to a thumbnail print at best. This begs us to ask the pertinent question about whether it is time for this classic form of art itself to finally face the music, rather than fronting it?

Written by: Jaspreet Kaur Takhi | Date: Wednesday, 31 March 2010

FEATURE: Live Nation's New Digital Wristbands For Gigs: A Step Too Far?

Entertainment company Live Nation recently announced plans to begin issuing digital wristbands to concert goers in a trial replacement of traditional paper tickets. As previously reported by Stereoboard.com, the new technology will use a “smart chip”, containing details of the event and the ticket holder, to allow entry into gigs.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Saturday, 27 March 2010

FEATURE: Making a Soundtrack: A Director's Guide

We had the pleasure to speak to English director Jon Ivay about the ins and out of making his UK indie film Freebird work and how the soundtrack plays a huge role in the process. Read below if you would like to learn something…

Written by: Matt Hamm | Date: Thursday, 18 March 2010

FEATURE: Kings of Leon: Did They Sell Out To 'The Man'?

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Seven simple words I wish somebody had drilled into the heads of the Kings of Leon prior to their last two albums. I would count myself as one of a minority of people who loved the first two albums. Their rawness, Caleb’s indistinguishable vocals; it was good old rock n’ roll in a new, exciting format. It was this format that earned them their current status. It was the first two albums that propelled them from festival tents to main stages. Most importantly, it was the first two albums that created a devoted fan base.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Monday, 15 March 2010

Beware of Those Who Believe Cookery is the New Rock'n'Roll

Stereoboard.com's features writer, David Evans, came to me recently and told me he was writing a book. It sounded intriguing. "In a world where rock stars want to be chefs, and chefs want to be rock stars". If you haven't read David's features yet, they're always a great read, go to the features section and check them out.

Written by: Stereoboard.com | Date: Wednesday, 03 March 2010

FEATURE: Duffy - A Damsel for the Distressed

I’ve never met Duffy. My best best-friend has; he got to see her in Cardiff. Now, those of you who are familiar with Wales’ go-ahead capital city will straight away be thinking of St. David’s Hall or the magnificent Cardiff International Arena. But you’d be wrong. My best best-friend was amongst a hundred-strong audience at the Clwb Ifor Bach – a small Welsh-themed music venue, more famous for showcasing local musicians than for hosting those already earmarked for international stardom.

Written by: David Evans | Date: Friday, 12 February 2010

Who Really Killed Michael Jackson: Doctor Murray or The Media?

The one question I hear no-one asking in the press or blogland in general is:- ‘why’ was Michael Jackson taking an extreme drug? What made a relatively fit man known for abstention from the early part of his career until the mid-1990's, end his days in a made-to-measure trauma room?

Written by: Deborah Ffrench | Date: Friday, 22 January 2010

Lily Allen: "I Write My Own Songs"... So What?

From what I understand, there was some kind of hissy-bitchy spat between Lily Allen and X Factor’s own Cheryl Cole. Apparently, the rumpus was sparked off by some criticism of Lily’s appearance … yikes! Sadly, I can’t shed any light on the when’s and the where’s, but if the feisty Londoner’s recent tin-pot award for ‘Best putdown of the year’ is anything to go by, Lily ‘The Tongue-lasher’ must have KO’d the lightweight Geordie lass with a helluva verbal haymaker.

Written by: Dave Evans | Date: Friday, 22 January 2010

Paolo Nutini: Divine Intervention... Or A Slice Of Luck?

So, at last we get to see the list of this year’s most popular albums, and if only because it adds some weight to a Rizla-thin theory of mine, I’m delighted to see Paolo Nutini sandwiched between Lily Allen and Robbie Williams … oops, let me rephrase that: hobnobbing with top ten bestsellers. And just in case the young Scotsman of Italian descent gets to read this article, let me go on record as saying that the more I hear of his music, the more impressed I am.

Written by: David Evans | Date: Monday, 04 January 2010

New artists: Interview with Sunita Devi

Sunita Devi has had a remarkable few years to say the least; 2003 saw her leave her family home in a modest Wolverhampton suburb to pursue her musical dream via a transatlantic move to New York City. Many have tried and failed at this with Sunita being an exception. Her unique brand of sophisticated R&B and dance has been making waves in the UK and the USA alike and she is a refreshing change from a musical landscape that is being blighted by a barrage of manufactured band and 80s emulating singers. Since 2003, this British Asian sensation who has the likes of singer, songwriter and DJ on her list of credentials has recorded 2 albums, sung for some of the music world’s elite as well as setting up her own entertainment company, Kaur Entertainment in 2007. At the age of 24, this is quite a feat but she is only just getting started! A new album and several other projects are yet in the pipeline. I caught up with this up and coming starlet on rare visit back home to see how she has adapted to her new life across the pond and exactly how it all got started in the first place…

Written by: Jaspreet Kaur Takhi | Date: Sunday, 02 August 2009