thoughts.bjsintay.com

Olympus created one of the world’s lightest voice recorders in its line of WS-3xx devices.  I became interested in this model because of its size and weight.  The WS-310M packs in 512MB of memory for over 138 hours of voice recording (on low quality mode).  At less than 2 ounces including battery, this recorder has replaced pen and paper for recording my adventures out on the trail where lightweight is king.

I initially tested my device by recording about 40 tracks from old analog voice recorder tapes that I’ve made over the past 10 years.  The device is straightforward to use.  After recording, I snapped off the battery case and plugged the recorder directly into my USB port - no cables required.  Copying everything to my computer was easy, but here is where I found the first glitch.  The device had a few tracks that got “stuck”.  My computer reads the files as corrupt disabling me from moving them to my computer.  I unplugged the device and listened from the tiny on-board speaker… no problems on the playback end of things.  So that problem has me stumped.  I read that cutting power to the device while recording can cause problems, but I can assure you that I didn’t do this.  Since this one incident I started using another “folder” on the recorder (there are 5) and have had no problems so far.

I put the device back together after transferring the WMA files onto the computer.  Another glitch.  The device totally lost the time/date.  This is annoying because it tags your files with the time/date.  I would imagine that this could be fairly important for most people.  I have continually found that this device cannot hold the clock for a long period of time of after mucking with it at all in the USB port.  Basically, check your time/date every day that you use this device.  Maybe others don’t have this problem?

The device has mic holes in the front and back and on both sides (stereo).  I found this very frustrating because it is impossible to twist the device to avoid the wind noise when outside.  You have to use it in a windless environment or on a calm day.  Bad for outdoor use.

I am pleased with the device, however, I think mine may have a few annoying glitches (corrupt memory, time/date problem).  If these problems were fixed, I would give this device a 4 out of 5.  With these problems, it gets a 2 out of 5 for total unreliability.

Jonny Lang has an incredible success story.

  At the tender age of 14, Lang released his first solo record with the band he had joined after starting guitar lessons only months before stepping on stage.  A year later Lang released Lie to Me which became his mega-hit debut solo album.  The album went multi-platinum and Lang became known instantly as a blues guitar legend.  I remember seeing Lang and his signature setup including a 1972 Fender Telecaster Thinline always paired with a classic Fender amp.  You couldn’t open a guitar (or music) magazine that didn’t have a shot of Lang in it.

Nearly a decade later Lang has released a new gospel, yes I said gospel, album: Turn Around.  I was instantly interested in this album.  How has time changed Lang?  What does a Lang gospel album sound like?  Why gospel!?!?

I had to adjust my listening senses for a minute - traditionally I would not be listening to an album with this style.  The choir background vocals, smooth falsettos, rocking organs, all were a bit out of place in my music library.  In fact, the first go around I can sum up my expression: “what!?”  I listened again.  I found that the melodies quickly became stuck in my head.  His bluesy guitar and musky voice (you would mistake this guy for someone many, many years older) is not disappointing.  Tracks such as “The Other Side of the Fence” and “Turn Around” are rocking gospel-blues tracks that define Lang’s progressive style for the record.  I never really appreciated Lang’s perfectly smooth falsetto until this album.  “My Love Remains” and “Only a Man” are darn-near flawless.  They are an envious performance by any artist’s standards; enough so that Lang took a 2007 Grammy for the Rock Gospel Album of the Year (a no-brainer in my opinion, although Red would have been an excellent choice as well).  Lang cites his own personal sprituality as his reason for the gospel album.  His lyrics are pure and heart-felt. 

Lang sings, “The grass always looks greener, on the other side of the fence, but the dog over there might be meaner, on the other side of the fence… Stay in your own yard, play in your own yard.”

Now that I’ve seen Mute Math three times at the same place playing basically the same set of songs, I think it’s time I sit down and write a concert review for the band.  In case you don’t know, Mute Math is the product of the defunct Earthsuit from many years ago.  It’s hard to compare the two, I know, and many die hard fans may even get mad at me for bringing them up.  I think it’s important, however, for several reasons.  First, it should be said that only one member of Earthsuit - they keyboard player and sometimes singer/rapper - is in Mute Math.  Second, Earthsuit’s demise came with problems from their record label, something Mute Math has also had to deal with.

Their music isn’t by any means easily classified.  Many of their songs have drum sequences and electronic interludes that dazzle fans while confusing the heck of of labels.  The first time I saw Mute Math, it wasn’t long after their EP release (Control) came out.  They basically played all of the songs on their self-titled CD.  I was completely blown away along with the small crowd gathered at Ziggy’s in Winston-Salem, NC.  I knew at that moment that they were going to be huge.  A year or so later they returned with an actual CD in hand fresh off the production line.  One problem - their label Warner Bros. didn’t know how to market it.  They were forced to distribute the CD at concerts to the fans that were now beginning to flock their way.  Their stumped label still waited months (I think it is possibly as long as a year) to release their album, meanwhile CD sales at concerts were going through the roof as the band played to sell-out shows.  It is this persistence that Mute Math gained from Earthsuit.  Many bands quit trying when this happens to them; many GOOD bands.  They believed their ideas were worth pursuing without bowing to the industry’s constant nag to be like “everyone else.”

Back to the concert review.

Mute Math still finds ways to change their songs and their sound each time I see them.  They have also benefited from recent stardom by getting an awesome road manager and a dedicated lightshow complete with a travelling engineer.  These factors increased the show’s wow-factor.  They also have stage props and lights that make the show more complete than ever before.  Darren rips up the drums (literally) leaving nothing more that could possibly be desired.  He is one of my heroes.  I spoke with him a few hours before the show at their DVD release party.  Apparently, Sabien wanted to give him a bunch of cymbals, but he only uses hats and a rock ride (not Sabien either - Zildjian).  Don’t let his lack of cymbals fool you.  The man knows how to use what he’s got.  The last time I saw their show he broke right through his one and only cymbal and gushed blood out his right hand.  Ouch!  No, he didn’t miss a beat either.  On second thought, maybe a cymbal sponsor would be good Darren.

I never get tired of going to the Mute Math show.  My heaven has Mute Math playing every night of the week.  I am either on my death bed or six feet under if you don’t see me next time.  If it’s the later - I’ll ask God for permission to leave heaven for a few hours.

www.mutemath.com
www.myspace.com/mutemath

CSPAN is one of those channels you hate having in the lineup.  It just gets in the way causing yet another flick of the thumb as you pass it by.  I would never, even on my death bed, recommend watching CSPAN for extended periods of time - that is until I discovered something worth watching.  Last Wednesday I was flipping through the channels waiting for American Idol to come on when I saw an image of British Prime Minister Tony Blair half laughing, half screaming, at an opposing member of the House of Commons.  Being that I’ve never seen such a high authority figure do such a thing, I stopped.  The antagonist stepped back up and assaulted Blair in a causal, joking manner, but with words that would send even good ol’ Hillary into a fit of rage.  Blair took to the microphone laughing slightly and responded with harsh, jovial words with a smile on his face and giggles from a nearby party member.

I must have had a dumbfounded look on my face, because I was seriously confused.  OK, I thought, maybe this is just a joke or something.  The conversation continued.  As more and more members stood and insulted Blair and others, I became aware that this was not a game, nor was it unduly harsh.  It’s just the way they do it.  In fact, I found my gaping mouth began to laugh as Blair would send a zinger one way then catch another.  Fifteen minutes later I realized I was watching CSPAN - AND ENJOYING IT.

I can’t say I’ll be hosting a CSPAN party anytime soon, nor will I set the TiVo to record Prime Minister’s Questions.  I can’t say that you’ll find grumpy old men arguing in English accents amusing either.  Simply put, I was surprised by how entertaining this show turned out to be.  If you ever happen to catch a glimpse of this comic show as you’re flipping from Spike to ESPN, allow your thumb to rest and take in a bit of British politics.

“I created a new soap opera tonight: ‘The Young and the Senseless.’ It is the daily saga of dashing young men and women who were sitting around in warm, clean, dry houses and eating good food, when they said, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be fun to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail?’ Today’s episode features young, devilishly handsome George wringing muddy water from his socks in the hope that they will merely be damp when he wears them the following day. Tune in tomorrow for another episode of ‘The Young and the Senseless.’”

George Steffanos is a hero.  In 1983 he recorded one of the most colorful tales about hiking the Appalachian Trail I have ever read.  In his journal, Then the Hail Came, Steffanos describes his battle against all odds to not be a loser for once in his life.  His task?  To complete the AT as a thru-hiker.

I won’t spoil the plot of this book for you, but I recommend that everyone read this book if you are interested in the AT.  Steffanos has a psychotic wit about him that makes every turn interesting.  This book is available online at his website:

http://www.skwc.com/exile/Hail-nf.html