tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56523772198679497072024-03-14T10:16:29.951-05:00the bankthe bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-89943592081197497362010-11-05T10:18:00.002-05:002011-09-05T23:07:28.641-05:00So Long and Thanks for All the Tags<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our new website launched today (check it out: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thebankinc.com/">CLICK HERE</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">), and as a result, this will be our last post on Blogger. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We felt it was important to have one location for various content: info about the studio, our services, blog posts, etc., so rather than traipse around the internet managing site after site, we opted for a site that would allow us to feature all relevant info conveniently at one destination.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not you, Blogger, it's us. It was fun while it lasted, and we'll always cherish the good times, but we gotta move on if we're going to evolve...isn't that what you want for us? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be happy? To grow? LOL</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, thanks to every and any body who has stopped by to read our posts. From now own, please click the aforementioned link to get more. Or better yet, click the subscribe button on the new site and get posts from us via email!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our dedicated url should be effective on the new site in a matter of days, and we'll continue to add new features and content as the conversion process rolls on.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's to change.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-the</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bank</span></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQQZjCl7wbv51MLsx1FsYaN4xrPa0Be5AKUY57Bhoc7xozXnOBUxTNf0K5pUPSqFkBmfkXNdOqYvPW1OTFHMKUuFfOAchBzJMSIYOZdVKmEzBfwVL7_YPWvyUI7LbVcFvMOIeOo4Veco/s1600/thebank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQQZjCl7wbv51MLsx1FsYaN4xrPa0Be5AKUY57Bhoc7xozXnOBUxTNf0K5pUPSqFkBmfkXNdOqYvPW1OTFHMKUuFfOAchBzJMSIYOZdVKmEzBfwVL7_YPWvyUI7LbVcFvMOIeOo4Veco/s320/thebank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-63382014782555269392010-11-04T16:03:00.003-05:002010-11-04T16:12:46.964-05:00Throwback Thursdays #3: "Holla Holla"<object height="288.75" width="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zdtxoTjqNf0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zdtxoTjqNf0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="360" height="288.75"></embed></object><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, Wes and I started participating in this thing on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/thebankinc">Twitter</a> called "Throwback Thursdays." Basically, after one of our many conversations about the current state of music and taking into consideration the large percentage of what we consider "wack, unbearable, bull$#!" that's out there today, we realized that there was music from the early 2000s that we didn't give a fair chance back in its time; yeah we may have slept on it, but only because the bar was set really high back then, or at least it seemed to be. Another generation, a different time zone.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in retrospect, after listening to several popular records from the "aughties," we have a newfound appreciation for them- thus, our version of "Throwback Thursday" was born. Previous inductees include Ja Rule & Ashanti's "Down 4 U," and 112's "Anywhere." This week, I'm bringing it back to The Inc. with Ja Rule's 1999 debut single, "Holla Holla." This dude just had sick energy on the mic and on camera and his hooks were solid and conistent. It's murdaaaaa! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ja slam dancing on the 6-4 circa 1999</td></tr>
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</span>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-26204542070057249892010-11-02T15:03:00.000-05:002010-11-02T15:03:40.955-05:00“King Hammer:” Better Run (Jay-Z Diss) Video<object height="288.75" width="448"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ykRq1V3ZcQ?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ykRq1V3ZcQ?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="448" height="288.75"></embed></object><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...I'm really at a loss; this video inspires the same curious, speechless awe I suppose you'd have while witnessing a car accident or church fire. Whatcha say, Hammer, "Proper?"</span><br />
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If there was ever a reason to put the words "colossal" and "epic" in the same sentence, this may be it.the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-71370635724421475672010-10-27T23:43:00.002-05:002010-10-28T12:04:42.087-05:00Daft Punk x Tron Legacy: "Derezzed" Extended Listen<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not sure which I'm more excited for: the release of Tron Legacy in theaters, or the release of the soundtrack- produced entirely by Daft Punk. </span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This new teaser/trailer features an extended listen to one of the songs: "Derezzed."</span></div><div><br />
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</div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-91925059875009472882010-10-27T17:39:00.001-05:002010-10-27T17:45:25.625-05:00Audiotool: Create and Share Music From Your Browser<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5PW_SU4RXE5nKd6D2Kz0TLjW7vJzzGWJzTKOLqUOEViwLddQ2mVzz3HIgpm4xMZzDpZZB6JZJ4TdZv2ZqCVw9thXNvmJr6DlnIPaRVyWkcLaSmkRPiXB_CKJJzvHrRYQX_7lkViW44k/s1600/thebank_audiotool_screenshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5PW_SU4RXE5nKd6D2Kz0TLjW7vJzzGWJzTKOLqUOEViwLddQ2mVzz3HIgpm4xMZzDpZZB6JZJ4TdZv2ZqCVw9thXNvmJr6DlnIPaRVyWkcLaSmkRPiXB_CKJJzvHrRYQX_7lkViW44k/s400/thebank_audiotool_screenshot.png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bit.ly/959bhh">Audiotool</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is a web-based production environment that allows you to create and remix original music from the comfort of your web-browser. Choose from a broad array of classic drum machines, synths, and an assortment of effects and processing.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While providing an amazing level of customization to your tracks, what's really impressive about </span><a href="http://bit.ly/959bhh"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Audiotool</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is the sound quality; most of the sounds were modeled from classic analog machines, but the level of sonic detail is astounding.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Setting up and creating tracks is a snap, and after familiarizing yourself with the interface, you'll be up and crafting beats in no time. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Making beats alone is fun, but why not share your creations with friends? </span><a href="http://bit.ly/959bhh"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Audiotool</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> also has a social aspect: after signing up to the site, you can compose and post what you've made for other subscribers to check out, as well as post links to your facebook, twitter, etc. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you can see in the screenshot, I cooked something up with a TR-808, a classic bass synth, and a Tone Matrix...hope my friends like it! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click </span><a href="http://bit.ly/959bhh"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">HERE</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to try </span><a href="http://bit.ly/959bhh"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Audiotool</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> now!</span><br />
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</span>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-41158723027528910312010-08-13T12:26:00.001-05:002010-08-13T12:27:17.922-05:00Nike x Jay-Z: All Black Everything<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just in time for the </span></span><a href="http://bit.ly/dsWfMp"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">World Basketball Festival</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Nike unveils a new flavor of Air Force 1- a collaboration with Jay-Z: the "All Black Everything."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In keeping with its namesake, the sneaker has an entirely black upper. Jay-Z will be wearing a pair for his upcoming Radio City Music Hall performance, the shoes will then be auctioned on eBay with proceeds going to the</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><a href="http://bit.ly/ckQsnK"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPW5EZtmSqn3S0QmjIAyXc9Sss2M7H9QSkj1vyf_2BNzsc6H6J02kD8N0XBNYpKgE1CEHGXzys7GRWFzV-eFEvVStZWlsrboy2mujBdiLhkluwYY0UBK71ne4R3Rg_GQnCQPpJFaXSySo/s1600/jayz-nike-air-force-1-black-everything-3-the-bank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPW5EZtmSqn3S0QmjIAyXc9Sss2M7H9QSkj1vyf_2BNzsc6H6J02kD8N0XBNYpKgE1CEHGXzys7GRWFzV-eFEvVStZWlsrboy2mujBdiLhkluwYY0UBK71ne4R3Rg_GQnCQPpJFaXSySo/s320/jayz-nike-air-force-1-black-everything-3-the-bank.jpg" /></span></a><br />
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</span></span>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-8824082008019839942010-08-10T14:48:00.001-05:002010-08-10T14:53:11.458-05:00Texas Urban Music Summit 2010<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv65JquwJwLZ8-Wm7ygROunvM-rJ2AIZ6DGPBQ2oMbGA6vMzcqm7htL5Jg-38wejTsjC9RyCsPjfJApKDUz_UN9Y5z1eIoAgVSHMViKr1nqhK6NEUhmbKJe9-WJLTPAqBKPsjSWOIAgAQ/s1600/the_bank_tums_2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv65JquwJwLZ8-Wm7ygROunvM-rJ2AIZ6DGPBQ2oMbGA6vMzcqm7htL5Jg-38wejTsjC9RyCsPjfJApKDUz_UN9Y5z1eIoAgVSHMViKr1nqhK6NEUhmbKJe9-WJLTPAqBKPsjSWOIAgAQ/s400/the_bank_tums_2010.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last weekend was the third annual <a href="http://bit.ly/9HYpor">Texas Urban Music Summit</a> in Dallas, Texas.</span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The event, presented by the <a href="http://bit.ly/aBLDhq">Core DJs</a> and hosted by the <a href="http://bit.ly/dtFyg0">Definition DJs</a>, was a three-day networking event for music professionals focused on today's hottest music.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In between discussion panels from DJs, artists, and executives in the industry, the event featured showcases from up-and-coming artists, and a fashion show presented by <a href="http://mysp.ac/bSe8v9">Core Models</a> and <a href="http://mysp.ac/9Lkcjo">Lavish Models</a>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New to T.U.M.S this year was the inclusion of the <a href="http://bit.ly/9pbxVw">iStandard Producer</a> Showcase, in which we participated. Out of the countless beatmakers from around the country who submitted material, we were among the eight selected to present our tracks to the summit's attendees and a panel of judges which included <a href="http://bit.ly/bQVW3S">Drumma Boy</a> (prod. for Birdman, Gucci Mane, Plies, Young Jeezy), <a href="http://bit.ly/bGdVhy">Jai</a> (prod. for Diddy, Nicole Scherzinger, T-Pain, Consequence) and Christina Prince (A&R, Virgin Records). We ended up placing third in the showcase, with second place going to Texas native <a href="http://bit.ly/9vA8El">B-Eazy</a> and first place going to 12 year-old music prodigy <a href="http://mysp.ac/9cwPN7">Vohn Beatz</a>, also from Texas. Vohn wowed the crowd by displaying an aptitude for beatmaking far more mature than his physical age.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the last year, we've frequented music conferences held in the midwest such as the <a href="http://bit.ly/cumizT">NARM</a> convention and the <a href="http://bit.ly/cCh20t">New Music Seminar</a>, but this was the first time we migrated to another region for such an event. I felt there was no barrier between attendees and panelists, and it was a truly open forum for exchanging ideas as well as contact info. Maybe chalk it up to southern hospitality?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shoutout to all the great artists, bloggers, DJs, label heads, and producers I got to meet in Dallas, hope to do it again next year! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Big thanks to: A. Steele Unlimited and Tony Neal at Core DJs for organizing the event, iStandard Producer, Grand Hustle Entertainment, So Icy Entertainment, the Core DJs, and the Definition DJs. Also, thanks to the Doubletree Hotel in Dallas for that amazing cookie. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-21761724315931686602010-07-20T10:20:00.002-05:002011-11-15T18:38:17.996-06:00Video: Mayer Hawthorne- "Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin'"Good, clean summer fun from <a href="http://bit.ly/9lmtxX">Mayer Hawthorne</a> and the good people at <a href="http://bit.ly/bg9ms0">Stones Throw Records</a>.<br />
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<object height="288.75" width="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RAxBdYM8opg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RAxBdYM8opg&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="360" height="288.75"></embed></object>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-83305023188215115322010-07-16T14:58:00.001-05:002010-07-16T15:08:13.268-05:00Paul Thomas: "Smackin' Your Gum"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Errything ain't hardcore you know! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't sing, but I'ma let my man...my girl...my man? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm confused...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, check out the video for a track we did with "comedeogenic" Chicagoan, <a href="http://bit.ly/brxiFI">Paul Thomas</a>. The track's called "<b><a href="http://bit.ly/91BORe">Smackin' Your Gum</a></b>," it was conceived, written, produced, recorded, and mixed right here at <a href="http://bit.ly/cH4rB6">The Bank</a>. Also watch for a cameo from your boy TJ performing as a "club douchebag."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WARNING: You may be disturbed by this video...probably.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul says, "To be a successful R&B singer, you gotta love yourself." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think my man (my girl?) may have taken it too far...probably.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For more skits, music, and general hilarity, go to <a href="http://bit.ly/brxiFI">www.bigheadpaul.com</a></span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-17996984437855781592010-07-15T02:26:00.001-05:002010-07-15T02:40:02.988-05:00Verse of the Year (So Far)<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is not an album review. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't normally do this, but I've been listening to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sir Lucious Left Foot...The Son of Chico Dusty <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">nonstop</span> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">since it came out, and I felt the need to proclaim that, in my humble opinion, Big Boi's got the best verse of 2010 (so far) on "The Train, pt. 2." </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Futura; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Look up up and I pray / ChannelIng that heavenly energy / There’s plenty we can say / See the enemy is winning cause your punk a** be afraid / But I Spray what’s on my brain to educate and entertaIn / KRS, he said it best / I learned from listenIng to the tapes / Before i-i-Tunes came out and made a CD obsolete / Before realIty TV would seem to be that bIg mistake / Now BIg Brother's got these cameras deep in each and every state / WhIle each and every rapper claims to be the heavy weIght / Cause he mentions cocaine in ‘bout everythIng he make / And then wonder why them people try to pin him wIth that case / Cause his blow is dixie crystal /Pistol play was just for play / Fake / Just for play play / Got them bay bays / Believe in that bullsh*t / I said just for play play / But got them bay bays / It’s f***ed up" </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Futura; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 9px/normal Futura; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><object height="288.75" width="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cXgY7NoEzYo&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cXgY7NoEzYo&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="360" height="288.75"></embed></object></span></span></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-30763413919318875442010-07-13T15:19:00.002-05:002010-07-13T15:28:47.689-05:00Mizrahi Gold DiggingTo stay on top of what's going on with music, as well as observe its cultural impact, I try to devote some time to checking out pop music from around the world. While most of the industries of the United States have been improved upon by our international counterparts, there is still at least one product the US excels at: pop music.<br />
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Browse your favorite video site and you're guaranteed to see the influence of our pop stars in videos and performances of artists throughout the world. From fashion to dance moves, it's always interesting to see our artists' stylings applied to the expressive, region-specific norms of an international artist.<br />
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Today I came accross a video by <a href="http://bit.ly/bYhCZj">Kobi Peretz</a>, a notable singer from Israel. Kobi performs in a style called <a href="http://bit.ly/aWsQDV">Mizrahi</a>, which is an amalgam of Arabic, Turkish, and Greek music and a very popular genre in the Middle East.<br />
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Check out Kobi's latest video, "I Am Not A King" (the title is loosely translated from Hebrew...very loose). As I watched this video, it began to remind me of something, but what?<br />
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How 'bout this?<br />
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I think all that's missing is the Israeli Jamie Foxx, but even without him, the similarities are pretty undeniable. If you need further proof, try watching both videos simultaneously with the sound muted. I don't speak Hebrew, but considering the title of Kobi's track, you kind of get the gist of what he's getting at. All in all, I think the "I Am Not A King" video illustrates the influence Yeezy's had on music. It also cements his relevance and impact on pop culture as a whole.<br />
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For better or worse, the web has broken down barriers in music which in the past prevented international artists from gaining an audience, let alone a chart position, in the US. We're already seeing the effects of these changes as evidenced by artists like <a href="http://mysp.ac/bqGP86">Drake</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/aVNsPA">Lights</a>, and many others. Meanwhile, the Kobi Peretz video has a lag time of 5 years on Kanye's, but I'm still interested to see what will happen as technology continues to advance and cultural borders shrink.the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-63552600046819638472010-05-12T11:05:00.008-05:002010-05-12T13:32:01.691-05:00The Bank x Chicago Public Schools Present: Men of Honor<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, Chicago Public Schools launched an urban leadership program through their Office of School Turnaround. The program focused on creating a mentorship group for high school students to allow them to address issues in their community through, among other efforts, creative expression.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the results of this program was an excursion into music. Directed by the Project Manager from the Office of School Turnaround, a group was put together featuring students from <a href="http://www.harperhighschool.org/">Harper High School</a>, located in the south side neighborhood of Englewood. The group was aptly named Men of Honor, and during the course of the leadership program, they recorded a song called "Streets Ain't Me."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This leadership initiative has received much praise from the Board of Education, and aims to accomplish even more this year. Among the other activities planned for 2010, the Men of Honor will be creating a full length album which will be produced, recorded, and mixed at <a href="http://www.thebankinc.com/">The Bank</a>. We're proud to be involved with this project, which will give kids the opportunity to live out their dreams and learn about the various steps of the production process. Check back here for updates as the project gets underway. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watch: Men of Honor, "Streets Ain't Me" </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ</span></span></span>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-25183277722773871082010-05-04T11:04:00.001-05:002010-05-04T11:07:55.918-05:00The Bankover: Part 1<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thebankinc"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">follow us on Twitter</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, or one of our other social web hangouts, you may have noticed at some point the mention of a re-vamp/rehab/overhaul/makeover going on at our facility. Well, it's true- <a href="http://www.thebankinc.com/">The Bank</a>'s being upgraded! Because of that, I've been out of the loop online, so I just wanted to bring everyone up to speed as we continue working to make our studio even better! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What's past is prologue.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in 2007, Wes and I discussed a few things we could do in the studio to not only be more appealing to clients, but also to increase our productivity where it relates to songwriting and beat making. Not to say we were slackin' on the beats, but we both share a tremendous amount of responsibility throughout the day-to-day, which can get in the way of making time to be creative. Perhaps if we were living in our parents' basements with no pressing obligations, we'd be free to tap out bangers every day, but that's not the case. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Additionally, the studio configuration we had was somewhat cumbersome and often prohibited us from utilizing some of the analog synths and hardware we have in the arsenal. If you listen to anything we've made over the last year, you may notice that the majority of sounds are sampler instruments and/or Logic plugins. Not that there's anything wrong with those types of sounds- we're avid fans of Logic and there's some incredible instruments to be found in there; we just feel that they're often severely lacking in depth compared to the lush juiciness of an analog synth. This applies to drums as well. Even with the outrageous flexibility of our DAW's sequencing capabilities, there's just nothing like the swing of an MPC...that's open to debate for you beat makers and audio gearheads out there.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fast forward to February 8, 2010.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After finishing our <a href="http://www.myspace.com/dugrich">last project</a> and a brief <a href="http://bit.ly/dhOmTM">excursion to The Land of Bubbles</a>, we began a project we've dubbed "The Bankover," (<a href="http://www.thebankinc.com/">The Bank</a> + Makeover). For the last three months, we have been working tirelessly to streamline our production process and add improvements to the studio setup. These adjustments will allow us to implement the full capabilities of the lab and make use of everything <a href="http://www.thebankinc.com/">The Bank</a> has to offer. These are truly exciting times, not just for us, but also for the recording artists, musicians, and producers we work with as well!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check back here for updates; as of today we still have a few more weeks to go until we're up and running, but I'll add new posts and pics as the process comes closer to completion.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ </span>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-70279936473802931482010-03-23T09:36:00.002-05:002011-11-15T18:38:49.101-06:00"Miami Affair"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 2010 </span><a href="http://www.wmcon.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Winter Music Conference</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> kicked off this week in Miami Beach, so we thought it was only appropriate to share a track we made about those hot Florida nights.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><a href="http://bit.ly/cyt106"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Miami Affair"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is a song from </span><a href="http://www.dougrichmusic.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doug Rich</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, a brother from the Chi we had the opportunity to work with last year. The track features appearances by </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/virushiphop"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virus</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/bblacc"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bruce Blacc</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, with R&B crooner </span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/johnjon1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">John-Jon</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on the hook. </span><a href="http://bit.ly/cyt106"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Miami Affair"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was produced, recorded, & mixed at </span><a href="http://www.thebankinc.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bank</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and mastered at </span><a href="http://www.sterling-sound.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sterling Sound</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, NYC. Doug's full length album, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Boot Camp</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, has yet to be released.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bit.ly/cyt106">Download: Doug Rich, Miami Affair </a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ</span></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-52355539041174219292010-02-20T14:18:00.007-06:002011-11-15T18:39:17.708-06:00Weird But True: 'Mastering: The Movie' (via gearslutz.com)<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object height="258" width="318.75"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7nlzwDfxVSg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7nlzwDfxVSg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="318.75" height="258"></embed></object></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one of many bizarre but true-to-life animated videos floating around </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVPkm5zE6QI&feature=related"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">youtube</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and the </span><a href="http://www.gearslutz.com/board/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">gearslutz</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> message board. Surely they were created by an audio engineer, because the situations depicted in these shorts take a candid poke at situations we regularly deal with: trying to work with clients who, in today's realm of cheap </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">production and reocrding solutions, simply do not understand the value of professional </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; white-space: pre;">mixing and mastering. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mixing and mastering in itself is an artform. Just as musicians use tools and vocabulary creatively to express themselves, engineers employ their own cache of terms, tools, and tricks to enhance a recorded performance. As an artist, a good engineer is your strongest ally when it comes to the quality of the music you release, yet today it seems the love is all but gone.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Technology has evolved to the point where anyone with a computer can download torrents and/or install plugins to music software in order to simulate the process of proper mixing/mastering. However, there are elements to mixing/mastering techniques that require a skilled professional (aka human being) with a trained set of ears to balance levels properly and bring out the subtle nuances that make great music, well...great! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ</span></span></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-6712142938101442512010-02-11T14:17:00.003-06:002010-03-23T12:12:45.296-05:00'Playas' Only!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object height="255" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YfBn_cpgX2Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YfBn_cpgX2Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="255"></embed></object></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We work really hard, so it's a MUST that we play hard too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a short video we made on vacation, it features a beverage we came up with and dubbed 'Playas' Only.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The name comes from "playa," the Spanish word for "beach," and a pun off the song "Playa's Only" by R. Kelly and The Game. So in effect, the drink's true title is "Playas Solamente" or "Beaches Only." A fitting name, considering our location.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To make a 'Playas' Only, mix the following:</span><br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chilled glasses with ice</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CIROC premium vodka</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tropica'l "Uva" flavored fruit bevarage (if you can get this in the U.S., please tell me where!)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ocean Spray Cran-Raspberry</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Red Bull</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 grape per glass (mashed bananas work well too)</span></li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Serve and please enjoy responsibly :-)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ</span></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-66801466156002573112010-01-28T03:45:00.002-06:002011-11-15T18:40:56.035-06:00Bank Remixes Part 5: "What Up Gangsta"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ztTinpjp14w&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ztTinpjp14w&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it came a little earlier than scheduled, but we couldn't wait to post the new remix. It's strange to think of a song from 2003 as a throwback, but nonetheless, this joint got made over. Typically we lean towards producing songs with more modern sounds, but if you </span><a href="http://bit.ly/9HilAd"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the track you'll hear that churning out those raw, grimy beats isn't really a problem for us either.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like it? It's yours, click the image below to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/9HilAd"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the track. If you're an artist and you want the instrumental for your upcoming project email us at </span><a href="mailto:info@thebankinc.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">info@thebankinc.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and let's go!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click the image to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/9HilAd"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> this track.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/9HilAd"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp6wEGc12JaByGWAgp4booW1h6Wvr3g9UXbM4rBUMVDaf8CZIxy2_5CjBs8EPOuxmb9nDLBXsm0NLkZy-orRYYQM9iGmXd22C6r6xhBAfeJjDfTGPFb7K71O8TGcTlAVofOdxGAIoMHo/s320/the_bank_whatup_sausage.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-24906220038847826332010-01-25T13:53:00.003-06:002011-11-15T18:40:44.355-06:00Bank Remixes Part 4: "You're Not My Girl"<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object height="255" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fovw79OxswQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Fovw79OxswQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="255"></embed></object></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Remix 4 is up, check out the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fovw79OxswQ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">video</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">! I had fun with this Ryan Leslie song, as it was originally recorded at 108 bpm- a nice break from the slower tempos of most of today's hip hop and r&b. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not really sure how to classify this remix; it's not really genre specific, but it has a loungy-club vibe that's somehow able to be laid back even with some aggressive, off-kilter drums. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can </span><a href="http://bit.ly/8ce04p"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> this remix by clicking the image below. If you're an artist interested in using the the track for your own project, email us: </span><a href="mailto:info@thebankinc.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">info@thebankinc.com</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">click the image to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/8ce04p"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the track.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/8ce04p"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGVnzzPfYyno1nyf5oZ64DPXhqhpBfgft07WVotzOMqL1rjF1cM_SvPLNxOGnOw1CR87xpAbOYZ5rfH2Tova4MVBMYtBBm8dqgF_NknFwPz49Vz7oHAVLj6oupACOfy9DRfo0x7BQ8c4/s320/the_bank_not_my_girl_sausage.jpg" /></span></a></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-91655725324659770432010-01-18T14:08:00.003-06:002011-11-15T18:40:31.918-06:00Bank Remixes Part 3: "Pimp Like Me"<span style="color: #645f5e; font-size: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8819275&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8819275&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="300"></embed></object></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time around, Wes produced and mixed Twista's "Pimp Like Me."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out the </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/8819275"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">video</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, let us know what you think. Like it? Click the image link below to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/6e3GG2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> it. If you're an artist and you want to lace this track with your own lyrics, email us at </span><a href="mailto:info@thebankinc.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">info@thebankinc.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">click the image to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/6e3GG2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the track</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/6e3GG2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b275/telfonicJ/the_bank_pimp_sausage.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-29470838518996224552010-01-11T15:50:00.003-06:002011-11-15T18:40:19.416-06:00Bank Remixes Part 2: "Forever"<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span style="font-size: 10px; white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object height="221.25" width="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vHZM3ydqSMc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vHZM3ydqSMc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="360" height="221.25"></embed></object></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to everyone who downloaded our </span><a href="http://bit.ly/68ctPF"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">first remix</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, the response was good enough to warrant that we keep this little experiment going.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mixed "</span><a href="http://bit.ly/68ctPF"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always Strapped</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" in the box (within the DAW) and it came out pretty good. This time around, Wes mixed "</span><a href="http://bit.ly/7NJX2w"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forever</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" on the SSL. If you compare the two songs, the differences in depth and warmth of sound are striking. My only real gripe with this remix is the source audio of the a capella for "</span><a href="http://bit.ly/7NJX2w"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Forever</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">." The vocals were riddled with filters and processing (especially on Em's verse for some reason) that degraded the audio quality, and there wasn't much we could do but to work around what was there. The instrumental sounds much fuller and clearer, but overall I think this remix came out really well. </span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHZM3ydqSMc"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">video</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and let me know what you think. If you like it, click the image link below to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/7NJX2w"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> it!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As with all of the remixes we do, the instrumental is available for artists to spit on. If you're interested, email us at </span><a href="mailto:info@thebankinc.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">info@thebankinc.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">click the image to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/7NJX2w"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> the track!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/7NJX2w"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhji2-O3sN6drhAs4W7NxO6p38YOTemyVgXAu-Ip3fiWItRLlVtwHriAbNBcJEuxEvR3AZkTbWoIKH0p2T5slpTWUExqBYRr4bFX_HNkm8M3ktx53YERwixTmc0jd0OnyqPT9XES4cgaxU/s320/the_bank_forever_sausage.jpg" /></span></a></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-87492391634824603952010-01-04T23:34:00.019-06:002011-11-15T18:40:09.691-06:00Bank Remixes Part 1: "Always Strapped"<div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object height="255" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y_B_6ZHT0OY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y_B_6ZHT0OY&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="255"></embed></object></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy New Year! Beginning this month, we'll be sharing some new material- a collection of remixes titled, appropriately enough, "Bank Remixes." Throughout 2010, new tracks will be available to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/68ctPF"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of these tracks are intentional remixes, others are "accidental/experimental scrub" tracks that just happen to sound good with the selected a capella. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_B_6ZHT0OY"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">video</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (also remixed) for the first installment- "Always Strapped," Birdman feat. Lil Wayne.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you like it, feel free to dowload the song- just click the image below the video player. If you're an artist and you want to use the instrumental, email us at </span><a href="mailto:info@thebankinc.com"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">info@thebankinc.com</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and we'll hook it up. Enjoy! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bank: it's 2KX, let's get it!</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">click the image to </span><a href="http://bit.ly/68ctPF"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">download</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> this track</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/68ctPF"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1SGsctQx2Tc-Fn03ExWzjJOLeEiSpyPR9boPgQpl-bIqE-TrpBwcuifFMn9gCznuYBEy5qk3DANXRHTY4qVroozKZfnuhfTnwzpmPnhjDB1VJQt8FOcKmlcYgaoHSC9eGMENz5MDSEM/s320/the_bank_always_strapped_sausage.jpg" /></span></a></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-54243543374547806962009-12-28T18:23:00.002-06:002010-03-24T09:54:08.301-05:00Albums That Defined Our Decade<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right now there's probably a million posts like this: "So & So's Blog's Top Albums of the Decade." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one of those posts, lol. This is a critical, exciting time, why not look back on the music that helped shape our experience over the last ten years? BUT, before I go into it, I should explain how our choices were made:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wes and I took different approaches towards compiling our lists. In addition to his personal enjoyment, Wes also took sales and overall chart performance into consideration before making his choices...he's a numbers guy, what can I say? With my choices, I cheated; I let my iTunes library determine what my favorites were based on number of plays, thus whatever I listened to more was clearly a favorite. Actually, it's a little deeper than that, but I digress. Both of our lists are very personal accounts of our respective tastes, and now we offer it to you, friends, readers, music snobs, etc., to pick apart and scrutinize at your leisure :-)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy, and Happy New Year!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2000-</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdigkCQzhHLAA3uVQUyHzd1xw9ARuVAVqilYgjodYjM22L6oE_rHeb8GkGpvgRPnq4uwN4vUu8-19bcUbbX3O7QmbtIwAqhfNNHB75VDXcNifl5jxo7RzZdTWW04ls1k9j6QVZ_-e2Ats/s1600-h/2000w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdigkCQzhHLAA3uVQUyHzd1xw9ARuVAVqilYgjodYjM22L6oE_rHeb8GkGpvgRPnq4uwN4vUu8-19bcUbbX3O7QmbtIwAqhfNNHB75VDXcNifl5jxo7RzZdTWW04ls1k9j6QVZ_-e2Ats/s320/2000w.jpg" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wes: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Chronic 2001</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Dr. Dre</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though it came out in 1999, people are still trying to catch up. It was so good, it seems Dre is reluctant to drop Detox because he wants it to be better than this. Please do...I've been waiting for 9 years already.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4GGWkS_bwxtlMOyWAQ3LOaIEv4iN6Ioh-GNs4snW3cBAgYa5v4_sQrp-SQeGjipaU379L0qLpYr-ddwBolQVZwIRM230YvWeyMgA8685hEDKDhluaqUjWarH9012TAF7syxHjwN_KWA/s1600-h/2000.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4GGWkS_bwxtlMOyWAQ3LOaIEv4iN6Ioh-GNs4snW3cBAgYa5v4_sQrp-SQeGjipaU379L0qLpYr-ddwBolQVZwIRM230YvWeyMgA8685hEDKDhluaqUjWarH9012TAF7syxHjwN_KWA/s320/2000.gif" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TJ: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Deltron 3030</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Deltron 3030</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This album changed my life. The combined prowess of Dan The Automator, Del The Funky Homosapien, and Kid Koala yielded a powerfully vivid and imaginative album that was way ahead of its time. Ten years later, 1020 years before it, and there's still nothing like it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr9SQri2884"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Things You Can Do"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2001-</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFKE9EDy7uvhbM25ntk6gJgughrJAIaiQza5jVJV4bEcG7gZc8IE05lcw0JuxqkLFRHDJ9SRly2KIdF0g8OV2kk2eXQg3e94Y1IrshVscH1lqgq6f8maSxhf3AWDvKnSuSLN16PVZq1U/s1600-h/2001w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFKE9EDy7uvhbM25ntk6gJgughrJAIaiQza5jVJV4bEcG7gZc8IE05lcw0JuxqkLFRHDJ9SRly2KIdF0g8OV2kk2eXQg3e94Y1IrshVscH1lqgq6f8maSxhf3AWDvKnSuSLN16PVZq1U/s320/2001w.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wes: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Blueprint</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Jay-Z</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">September 11, 2001 release date. "Even Bin Laden couldn't stop him." The arrival of Kanyeezy. 5 mics, well deserved.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQN5j0bt678"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Close To You"</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2002-</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs4TJwmFnkOruz-uGBlrIWp5sp7pq6FSHJq7mZu_bZwRitENHbjXvDKCOfBIkFke3QxVWTyErkiZn3HkSb4PhxOHalncPmr57s_5EXmQqqR42JMMk7yUX6koMCxfj6q0WBcIIp31mkW8/s1600-h/2002w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhs4TJwmFnkOruz-uGBlrIWp5sp7pq6FSHJq7mZu_bZwRitENHbjXvDKCOfBIkFke3QxVWTyErkiZn3HkSb4PhxOHalncPmr57s_5EXmQqqR42JMMk7yUX6koMCxfj6q0WBcIIp31mkW8/s320/2002w.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wes: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lost Tapes, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nas</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A return to the man, not the mobster. One of his best.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TJ: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dwight Spitz, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Count Bass D</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a long hiatus from the music industry, Nashville MC, beatmaker, and multi-instrumentalist Count Bass D re-emerged with this offering- a brilliant, left-of-center album filled with interesting beats and clever word-play that still holds up today ("I see a Grey Goose in the sky, you see Smirnoff Ice." Crazy!). </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spitz </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is without a doubt an underground classic not to be overlooked.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSST3aood5M"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Subwoofer (Dumile)"</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2003-</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn89E9lWoC02im4m6sPedKRc69tEyDRWa1tqetuW084PR4bdhaT6PEb3CWyuvrelYEllw78JAUEXWUAfptYLJZnhU3F6pIAKsyFZfj6pugZo4spF-rG5tOwLu3t-9GNc4Fwr9jN41ga_k/s1600-h/2003w-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn89E9lWoC02im4m6sPedKRc69tEyDRWa1tqetuW084PR4bdhaT6PEb3CWyuvrelYEllw78JAUEXWUAfptYLJZnhU3F6pIAKsyFZfj6pugZo4spF-rG5tOwLu3t-9GNc4Fwr9jN41ga_k/s320/2003w-1.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wes: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get Rich Or Die Tryin', </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">50 Cent</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was torn this year, so it's a tie between this and R. Kelly's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chocalate Factory. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a hard decision, so I gave it to both. Kellz snapped hard and 50 created an empire. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l3JIUkC5cA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"She Lives In My Lap," ft. Rosario Dawson</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2004-</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Xd6rCojQNXmncaeG6tSczel1jDDVn8frcbv1LbvrzHCLYiSxnXSzstO0YhZpqVzXT3je-WOzCAnBQQ0w8lb0IkiN7qpByBY3k4axSWVHJyXJTOQbJqd08wspfJTxO3r726hElWPERt8/s1600-h/2004w-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Xd6rCojQNXmncaeG6tSczel1jDDVn8frcbv1LbvrzHCLYiSxnXSzstO0YhZpqVzXT3je-WOzCAnBQQ0w8lb0IkiN7qpByBY3k4axSWVHJyXJTOQbJqd08wspfJTxO3r726hElWPERt8/s320/2004w-1.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wes: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Confessions, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usher</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was torn again this year, so I have two. Usher came with a lifetime classic R&B album.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to put Twista up on this list; Chi-Town Allegiance. It was great to hear about Broughams and puffing B's on commercial radio lol.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexjPuvjJVEAK1nOvpMNN5vTYuMEShI5X5elwpHSnSRozE6bdFqLzqEBdaibGwqW5KKMvzw2QsoU2eZAVPPd6mwFjprJcX4qiZpTexZlovSvZ64dr5A6DaUlBdHhTMzXpagoHUNInsI7g/s1600-h/2004-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexjPuvjJVEAK1nOvpMNN5vTYuMEShI5X5elwpHSnSRozE6bdFqLzqEBdaibGwqW5KKMvzw2QsoU2eZAVPPd6mwFjprJcX4qiZpTexZlovSvZ64dr5A6DaUlBdHhTMzXpagoHUNInsI7g/s320/2004-1.png" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">TJ: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Madvillainy, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Madvillain</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also was torn for 2004, so I also have two for this year. First off, if you know me in real life, you know the quickest way to get into a four -hour conversation with me is to bring up Stones Throw or any artist associated with them. It's a pretty serious obsession, but a healthy one. The pairing of Madlib and DOOM on an album...wow, I mean if you want to talk about a clash of the titans. Even though DOOM's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">MM..Food (</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">also released in '04) was a great work in its own right, it was eclipsed by this behemoth of a record that even Rolling Stone tagged as being one of the best of the decade. If you have not heard this album, it is possible that you have been in a coma for the better part of six years, please get up.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key Track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4iR668Ki3I"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Rhinestone Cowboy" </span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, I know it's a far cry from metal-masked villains and indie hip-hop, but my iTunes library doesn't lie; I listened to this album ALOT! Can't help it, I've always been a huge No Doubt fan, lol. Best known for the singles "Rich Girl" and "Hollaback Girl," </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">L.A.M.B.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was exactly what it was supposed to be: a fun, light-hearted pop album sprinkled with bouts of melancholia for good measure. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXFXwenVJg4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Luxurious"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2005-</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrT0ZC1b5aF_4XVjo4DBWaUwjiRznzfU_aGZLfLBYCVIXq-1YoA-IGR45CyszCOTG3L8QGteDH8OlXyFc8LiTIo4cq-hwFAin2UtG2dPaPYLqk8ZOEOI4CjeaEkbUx2jrBjbbewZJHuk/s1600-h/2005w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrT0ZC1b5aF_4XVjo4DBWaUwjiRznzfU_aGZLfLBYCVIXq-1YoA-IGR45CyszCOTG3L8QGteDH8OlXyFc8LiTIo4cq-hwFAin2UtG2dPaPYLqk8ZOEOI4CjeaEkbUx2jrBjbbewZJHuk/s320/2005w.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wes: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Late Registration</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Kanye West</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Respect. Common's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is runner up. Chi-City running things.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span> </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key Track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djpofhqH5_E"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Closer," ft. Madvillain</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFJ1miUomgQ"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Two Can Win"</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2007-</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpiOFDO4o7ALxfSzzouqdL9TFE81Zsl-hI4ZDKnUgm2zyAIMDv60tZey3H1Fkjj2T1sBR1OSl2UAk6ZTOQm-Jq6N3BpswFeCe4JZ6bsfOd9mSbi4I-YWAE6RpbkOfBu5shixH2GDYQvk/s1600-h/2007w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpiOFDO4o7ALxfSzzouqdL9TFE81Zsl-hI4ZDKnUgm2zyAIMDv60tZey3H1Fkjj2T1sBR1OSl2UAk6ZTOQm-Jq6N3BpswFeCe4JZ6bsfOd9mSbi4I-YWAE6RpbkOfBu5shixH2GDYQvk/s320/2007w.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wes: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Double Up</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, R. Kelly</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This album was written for me :D</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWa25gtuQcs"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sweet" </span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irBP5FnksKc"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Paranoid," ft. Mr. Hudson</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-2009-</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht45wW-DuER3QU6DkO5NpVUi4nPT7trBZraG0dX5Nw0eTo1sGHazafsgkjrFKTGmAFwVTUBG355U7sLR7CDdOSrIe4aYXvBVcbpZL-ckOU9umPAraa5pYjjNV4xJmdHoafsGs5Ck0Yv6s/s1600-h/2009w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht45wW-DuER3QU6DkO5NpVUi4nPT7trBZraG0dX5Nw0eTo1sGHazafsgkjrFKTGmAFwVTUBG355U7sLR7CDdOSrIe4aYXvBVcbpZL-ckOU9umPAraa5pYjjNV4xJmdHoafsGs5Ck0Yv6s/s320/2009w.jpg" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wes: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Relapse</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Eminem</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one was hard because [this year] there was a lot of material I've been waiting for: OB4CL2, BP3, 50 Cent, etc.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Eminem takes the cake for somehow going multiplatinum in 2009 without many big singles. Plus, repackaging and reselling it again for Christmas is brilliant.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Key track: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUDHdzAOSmw"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Kelly's 12 Play"</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</div></div>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-83541918776863348352009-12-23T13:57:00.003-06:002010-03-24T09:53:43.426-05:00Wish List for 2010<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2010, this is what I'd like to see and work on:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Passionate expression; Depth in content.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even if your passion is in capturing video of sexual encounters to screen for your friends (HI ABI CRUZ) please put it into your music. I like when my creative partners know what they are talking about and i can feel it when they spit it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Organized and ready to work</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There's nothing like working with people who expect results when they are unprepared. As an engineer, i don't dream about the 179th take of your overdubs. I dream about intense, deep performances that need little editing. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. People who know that they don't know everything.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ask questions if you don't know something. If i don't know, I'll say so. Chances are i will have an opinion, though. LOL</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Ca$h.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No credit in 2010. I'm sure you heard. Yes, we're </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the bank</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, but we're not lending either. Bring cash, titles, deeds, platinum, silver or gold. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Plan ahead for contingencies.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes life can throw a curve. Be prepared to change directions. You can still get to your destination even with many detours. Don't sit in traffic jams. Also know that you can build a shortcut. Use your imagination.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Don't blame anyone but yourself.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who else </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">really</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> gives a sh!t about you anyway? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Live up to your statements.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Words are important. The boy who cried wolf got eaten alive. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Integrity</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is the key to success. If you cant be trusted with $1000, how can you be trusted with $1,000,000?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. The </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zone</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope i can stay here for most of the year. I need to create magic.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Recognize and appreciate when someone does something for you.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They didn't have to, and they don't have to do it again. Teamwork is the only way to succeed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever heard of a Fortune 500 sole proprietor? me neither. Favors are an asset. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Health. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mental and physical. In this crazy depreciating world, time is running faster then ever. Spend money on productivity, time is valuable.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">W</span>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5652377219867949707.post-75054189215458983512009-12-16T19:07:00.007-06:002010-03-24T09:53:30.679-05:00Less Students - More Entrepreneurs<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in the spring, Wes made a great comment while we were in a recording session. We were talking to our Production Assistant about the state of the recording industry and he said: </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What we need is less students and more entrepreneurs."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That statement is still in my head. Each year, around 15k fresh-faced graduates leave their college or vocational school, degree in hand, with the hope of landing a dream job behind a mixing console at their favorite recording studio. Sounds attainable, and it should be; you work hard, you make connections with the right people, and voila, you got it. Unfortunately for most aspiring engineers, it's not that simple and there are many external forces at work that have a lot to gain by making them believe that it is.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out </span><a href="http://www.seventhecho.com/career-opportunities-in-music-recording/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this article</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I found today. I'm just going to tell you flat out- it's a lie. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, there is a renewed interest in recording thanks to the advances and increased affordability of digital recording technology. But I don't see a shortage of engineers being such a problem that it creates a demand to the point where "a good engineer can earn a significant amount of money in a short amount of time." No, that just isn't true.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I said, tens of thousands of people are certified to be engineers; whether through college or vocational programs like the Conservatory Master Recording Program or (gulp) the </span><a href="http://www.miworkshop.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Music Industry Workshop</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The reality is, there are tens of thousands of engineering grads hitting the job market every six months, and only a few hundred actual positions. Some of these grads will land an internship at a studio with the hope of one day attaining a full-time, paying gig that may not materialize until after many years of free service. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Case in point, the PA I mentioned at the beginning of this post. Wes and I have the great opportunity of working with some of the best studios in the city when we need to outsource our services, which isn't uncommon. We have formed great relationships with studio managers and their staff, all of which have a similar structure when it comes to job hierarchy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our PA's studio has a chief mixing engineer who commands the majority of the gigs that come in. When the time comes for him to retire or move on to a better gig, there is an assistant engineer who has worked under him and will be his replacement. The PA directly under the assistant engineer will move up to the assistant position. The rest of the PAs will continue working, in most cases for free, until the pecking order changes again. And so on and so on.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This process can take years, and meanwhile our stalwart PA will have to hold down another job, maybe even two or three, to pay the bills until the day comes, if it comes at all, for him/her to move up into the engineer's chair.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess there's no harm done if these people choose to be there, and my intent is not to squash someone's dream or discourage them from doing what they want, I just think it's deceitful for organizations to pass off engineering as a lucrative career move in today's job climate. These companies make millions every year in tuition money spent on training programs and recording certification that may not benefit the students in the slightest.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, I'm not a dream killer. To anyone interested in a recording career, I suggest the following:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Read as many books on the subject as you possibly can. You don't need to sit in a classroom to do that. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Purchase some recording gear that is within your budget and level of ability and practice, practice, practice.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Don't do it for the money. If you're in it for the paycheck, you are going to be sorely disappointed. Sorry. I don't care to share how many times I've talked with people who have this outlook on the industry: "Well I'm a musician, but I figure being an engineer will be a good fallback job to pay the bills." No. It's just as hard to be a successful engineer as it is a successful artist. With home recording on an unyielding uprise, I'd say it's almost harder.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Beware of any </span><a href="http://www.miworkshop.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">industry program that promises an easy, "A-to-B" success path towards your field of choice</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Doubly so if they're trying to pitch you their program in a music equipment retail store like Guitar Center. There is a purpose and agenda behind that. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Study other facets of business, music and otherwise, and apply it to what you do. Why be an employee if you could be your own boss? Innovate. Please innovate. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both Wes and I have had experience with traditional methods of learning how to be an engineer. Him moreso than myself, but the common fact is, we've both learned more about the trade outside of any curriculum than actually in one. Our PA friend undoubtedly knows more about the ins and outs of a mixing console's functions than I do, but I work on a great board whenever I want and occasionally I'm fortunate enough to be paid for it, so... does that qualify me enough to make this point? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please share any comments, thoughts, and stories you may have on the matter...and next time you're in a recording session, tip your PA; they work incredibly hard for very little.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-TJ</span>the bank, inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15598175011868355590noreply@blogger.com0