S&R Band Review - Muse, Music for Butterflies & Hurricanes

Sound and Recording
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Music for Butterflies & Hurricanes. A simple song title or perhaps something more profound? Muse is infinitely smarter than their name implies, churning out complex, oddly mutated old school' Hard Rock from somewhere beyond the fringes.

This three piece juggernaut springs from the minds of guitarist and vocalist Matthew Bellamy, bass player Chris Wolstenholme, and drummer, Dominic Howard, and has released four discs, including their highly successful 2006 release Black Holes and Revelations, featuring the singles, Knights of Cydonia and Supermassive Black Hole.

Indeed, Muse might just be the best UK band you've never heard of. Matthew Bellamy, who also plays keyboards, provides the song-craft, and it's all top shelf. Concise melodies and beautiful fretwork are abundant throughout the bands catalog of catchy tunes. Although the boys continues to chart an impressive growth curve, they have yet to make any appreciable impact across the pond

Over here in the states, bands like Muse are a rare commodity. Modern Rock radio is in dire straights, struggling to gain a foothold in a changing environment. As a result, sometimes great songs get lost in a machine fueled by desperation. Fortunately, Muse has managed to pop its head above that super massive black hole we call radio, and when it happens, we rush to bask in their radiance.

So say what you will, sayer of things naysayers say. Muse has captured my heart and my imagination. The more I listen, the more captivated I become. It goes beyond explanation, really. A sickness, perhaps? Some kind of hysteria, like say Stockholm syndrome? It's always possible, I suppose. After all, I'm just following the muse.

Brad

Sound Foundation Entertainment - blogment -

National Newswire - The Infinite Echo

Recording Acoustic Guitar, Pt. One Revisited

Sound and Recording
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor

Who says recording an acoustic guitar is difficult?

Oh contraire, my friends. Recording an acoustic guitar is no harder than recording any other acoustic stringed instrument. Oh sure, some simple sonic rules apply, but certainly nothing worth getting high strung about.



I’ll begin by addressing a few of the common misconceptions. Most microphones are designed with a general recording purpose in mind, but there are few hard and fast rules that apply to recording. Although a particular mic may seem appropriate for the setting, there are few guarantees. No two acoustic guitars sound alike, no two rooms sound alike, and no two players play alike. Each recording presents a different set of variables.

Some folks believe a good acoustic guitar sound can only be accomplished by placing the microphone inside the sound-hole of the acoustic. My advise is to forget such nonsense, as it falls dangerously far from the truth, and almost always results in a very poor recording. Even a high quality contact condenser mic mounted inside the instrument produces a compromised result and is generally not used for serious recording. You don’t stick your ears in the sound hole when you listen to an acoustic guitar do you? I certainly don’t.

Indeed, microphone placement is key to recording any acoustic instrument, but it need not be difficult. An acoustic guitar has wonderful ambient and dynamic qualities, often overlooked or misunderstood. Try backing the mic away from the guitar a few inches, pointing the diaphragm toward the sound-hole. Relax, and let the instrument breathe. Changing the axis alignment of the mic, even ever so slightly, can produce startling results. Most importantly, listen for the subtle changes, and learn what is meant by ‘critical listening’. Don’t settle for the first sound you dial in. Take your time, and by all means, enjoy the process.

So your want to play the guitar

Sound and Recording
B. Thomas Cooper
Editor


So your want to play the guitar?

I don't blame you, really. The guitar has been one of the most popular musical instruments for nearly a half a century, and was a major factor in the development of modern music. While players like Duane Eddy and Carl Perkins defined the guitar sound of 1950's pop culture, innovators like Les Paul and Dan Armstrong were pushing the technical limitations. As the quality of the instrument improved its reputation grew exponentially, until no self respecting teenager would be caught without one. Where would Rock' music be today without the advent of the electric guitar?

There are many styles of guitar available for purchase, each with a specific purpose in mind. In this article we shall attempt to cover the basics without boggling the mind.

It al began with the Classical' guitar, an acoustic instrument strung with genuine cat-gut' strings. These days however, most classical players prefer nylon strings, plucked or strummed with the fingers. By the onset of the US civil war, C.F. Martin had ventured into guitar production, manufacturing guitars that had much in common with the violin. Soon the acoustic Dreadnaught' became the guitar of choice.

Unfortunately, the guitar remained a rather personal instrument, not loud enough for an ensemble setting, relegated primarily for use by folk musicians of the era. Around 1945 that all changed with electrical amplification. Within a decade, pop music as we know it would change forever. Songs like "How Much Is That Doggy in the Window" vanished from the airwaves, overwhelmed by the new sound coming from groups like The Ventures. Already it was becoming apparent the electrified version of the guitar was far more versatile that it's acoustic counterpart.

Even now, the guitar continues it's domination over other musical instruments. Guitars are readily available, and relatively easy to learn. Still, and you may quote me on this no two guitars are exactly alike.

When choosing the right guitar, one should never be afraid to ask questions. Although the purchase price will almost certainly be higher at your local guitar dealer, I strongly suggest you begin your search with the experts. Unless you really understand what your needs are, I encourage you to steer away from the pawn shops, as they seldom have your best interest in mind. Whenever possible, take a friend along, preferably one with knowledge of guitars. Don't hesitate to think twice. Take your time and choose your instrument wisely. As your playing improves your taste in guitars will become more discriminating.

Learning to play the guitar can be fun and rewarding, but the wrong guitar will only cause you grief. Ultimately your choice of instrument will be determined by your personal taste and experience. The decision is yours.