Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
Review of Rob Sheffield's Dreaming the Beatles: 1 of X
I've always loved The Beatles. First as a fan, always as a fan. How much as a fan? Well, I was delighted to find a subscription to Sirius/XM Radio in my new car, early this month, and I promptly tuned it to MSNBC. Until The Beatles channel checked in on May 18, and that's what I listen to when I'm driving now. Even when I'm not driving -- I just came in from my driveway, because I wanted to hear the end of "Baby You Can Drive My Car". I'd probably still be there, if the urge to write this review had not been so strong.
By Paul Levinson9 years ago in Beat
An Ode to Hip Hop
I first wrote around this time last year. It served as my first piece to open up my Hip Hop blog. My blog has led me to dive in deeper into Hip Hop, and I've decided to expand on this piece. From my heart to these words you see, I hope you can relate.
By Sadé Sanchez9 years ago in Beat
Top Animated Bands
One of the top animated bands of all time is Gorillaz. The group, which is composed of two actual people - Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, with the help of a number of rotating music contributors - is known for having four animated individuals who play songs, make amazing music videos, and even go on tour via projection screens.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in Beat
Surprising Songs That Were Written While High
Songwriters have always had a lot of inspiration from the various substances they've enjoyed. Mozart was a huge fan of alcohol as a form of inspiration. 19th century composer Berlioz wrote his Symphonie Fantastique under the influence of opium. Even Beethoven was known to smoke and drink while penning his favorite concertos.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in Beat
Diss Foolishness
As I write this my Poshmark notification just stated "Life is too short to hold grudges" so you know I need to write this. 2017 is one of those years that is not sure what to label itself. It reminds me of how they labeled my Generation "X" because we were, and still kind of are to this day, unknown. Musically, the landscape is dry. I am talking Sahara Desert dry. Yes there have been albums released but because everything is so flash in the pan, I can't keep up. Thanks you Net gods for Tidal and my younger co workers. I honestly cannot keep up but I try my best.
By Janine Addison9 years ago in Beat
Best American Hip Hop Artists
Hip hop is more than music. It’s a passion, an urban movement meant to inspire individuals to broadcast their unique talents. Since conception, society has birthed many hip hop artists who have taken the genre to new heights. Here are some of the greatest.
By Will Vasquez9 years ago in Beat
The Most Fantasy-Friendly Music Genres Out There
If you're like me, you love listening to music that adds dimension to the book you're reading. Fantasy novels, for some reason, seem to get way more mood and dimension if you're listening to the right music. That being said, getting the right soundtrack often boils down to genre.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in Beat
Remembering Donna Summer
I find it hard to believe the five-year anniversary of Donna Summer's passing is already upon us. Ever since she shockingly succumbed to cancer in 2012, I've honored her memory often by revisiting her incredible body of work. I’ve tried to celebrate her spirit by listening to her music and keeping her memory alive, especially on the anniversary of her death.
By Eric Allen9 years ago in Beat
Where Have All the CDs Gone?
Enter any record store (yes, they are still called that) these days and you’ll have the impression that the CD stalls are dwindling, hit by reserving vinyl on one, and DVDs on the other. Or, try taking a stack of CDs that are collecting dust on your home shelves to a secondhand store. Chances are that when the owner sees that you are bringing CDs, he won’t even let you through the door, let alone give you anything that will even resemble a decent price for them. Who would have thought that as we were entering the 21st century CDs were practically everywhere, still hailed as the best ever advancement in sound reproduction? These days, mirroring the dooming fate of vinyl LPs in mid-80s, it seems people are just leaving entire CD collections by the dumpster, hoping that somebody will be merciful and at least save the music recorded in those laser tracks. The official data is no less damning. According to LA Weekly, in the period from 2001 to 2014, only in the US the sales of CDs dropped by 80% and LP sales are up a staggering 800% since 2004. What did the hell happen?
By Ljubinko Zivkovic9 years ago in Beat
Things You Didn't Know About Being a Rock Star
If you listen to any major interview with a band, they'll be very upfront to say that there are things you didn't know about being a rock star. They may allude to groupies, or to the fact that there's a lot of stress in the job - and yes, those are things most people are aware of when they think about the lifestyle that comes with being a band member.
By Skunk Uzeki9 years ago in Beat
