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mtmains · 2 years

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Shawn colvin sunny came home album cover pics

Returning for her encore, Shawn sat at the piano and played Tom Waits “Ol ’55,” which she has not recorded. Shawn finished her set with “Diamond in the Rough,” from Steady On. The song was also famously covered by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant on their 2007 album, Raising Sand. The next song - “Killing the Blues,” a cover of Rowland Salley - was first recorded on John Prine’s 1979 album Pink Cadillac. I was on the RuPaul show, and I was a character on the Simpsons.” Shaw brought up singing with Ernie on Sesame Street: “Bert was there the whole time. Without naming names, she said, “I’ve heard some people complain about having hit songs. Shawn played her most popular song, “Sunny Came Home,” the Grammy Award winner for Song of the Year in 1998. Shawn told the audience that she received the music from her collaborator, and one-time partner, John Leventhal. “That Don’t Worry Me Now” appeared on 2006’s These Four Walls. She mentioned that “Sunny Came Home” was originally titled “40 Red Men,” which her A&R rep explained was not going to work for reasons you might imagine. She then discussed the replica songwriting book for her album, A Few Small Repairs. In this vein, she follows other artists like Rodney Crowell, who released Acoustic Classics this year.Īfter “Cry Like an Angel,” Shawn played the first Tom Waits song of the evening, “Heart of Saturday Night,” which she first released on her 1994 album, Cover Girl. She is headed into the studio next year to make an all-acoustic recording of her old songs. Shawn told the audience that she hadn’t played “Cry Like an Angel,” from Steady On, for a long time before last night. Stream A Few Small Repairs by Shawn Colvin on Spotify: As she noted later in the evening, there never was a “Jimmy” - names have been changed to protect the object of her unrequited love. It’s back to doom and gloom,” and played the “Facts About Jimmy,” from A Few Small Repairs. Shawn quipped, “I’ve been in therapy so long that 45 minutes into this set, I just start winding it down.” Continuing to describe “Polaroids,” she revealed that, in writing the song, she found she was stealing from other songs, which led to her playing a hilarious medley.Īfter her song medley, Shawn joked, “I’m worn out.” She added, “That will be the most fun you have this evening. Almost as if she was speaking directly to me, Shawn said that she wrote those in 1987 or ’88, when she was on tour in Europe as a backup singer with Suzanne Vega, who had a big hit, “Luka.” Shawn regaled the audience with tales of playing Wembley Stadium in England and meeting the King of Sweden. Shawn put my speculation to bed to with her rendition of “Polaroids,” also from Steady On. Shawn openly discusses, in her memoir and elsewhere, her history of addiction and mental health problems. When she immediately followed “Trouble” with “Riding Shotgun Down the Avalanche,” from her first album, 1989’s Steady On, I started to wonder. She didn’t say anything before or after her first number, leading into “Trouble,” from 1996’s A Few Small Repairs, which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1998. Shawn played solo acoustic, beginning with a cover of Paul Simon’s “American Tune,” which she released on 2015’s Uncovered. In the book, she says, it’s a lucky thing that her daughter does too, as they will constitute most of her daughter’s inheritance. As she discusses in her 2012 memoir, Diamond in the Rough, she loves clothes. Shawn Colvin (Photo provided by Press Here)įor her show on Thursday at The Birchmere, Shawn Colvin appeared immaculately dressed.

#Shawn colvin sunny came home album cover pics

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rainingmusic · 3 years

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Chris Isaak - Heart Full Of Soul

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moondogball · 2 years

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Rowland Salley & Chris Isaak

#Rowland Salley #Chris Isaak

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innervoiceart · 4 years

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“Chris Isaak - If Isaac had released only one song, "Wicked Game," - if he had been only a one-hit wonder - he would still have earned a place in Rock 'n Roll heaven on the strength of that song alone. Isaak could have been a descendant of Roy Orbison with his themes of love, loss and heartbreak - and his uncanny likeness in voice. Isaak was a throwback to the 1950′s with his cat clothes, quiff, and good looks. But he was more than a pretty face with swagger and a retro-rockabilly sound. The guy was dripping with talent, which he displayed almost effortlessly - not to mention his crack band: James Calvin Wilsey (guitar), Rowland Salley (bass), and Kenney Dale Johnson (drums). Isaak's pure, distinctive voice with its high falsetto, and his reverb-laden guitar style set him apart from his contemporaries. He looked like a cross between early Elvis Presley and twangy guitar great Duane Eddy, with a little Eddie Cochran swag thrown in for good measure. He and his band (Wilsey departed in 1995, replaced by Hershel Yatovitz), have recorded 12 studio albums, including "Wicked Game," (1990), "Forever Blue," (1995), "Baby Did a Bad Thing,'(1999), and "Beyond the Sun," (2011). Some of his more memorable songs are: "Somebody's Crying," "Go Walking Down There," "Goin' Nowhere," San Francisco Days," "Blue Days, Black Nights," 'Wicked Game," and "Solitary Man." Isaac is underrated and deserves to be recognized as one of the great singers and stylists of the modern era.” ~ Harry Brus.

Photo: Chris Isaak performs at the California Country Music Festival (Day 2) at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, CA on April 28, 2012.

#Chris Isaak #Retro Music Love #Live Music Love

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mamusiq · 5 years

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Chris Isaak - Only The Lonely

Songwriter - Joe Melson / Roy Orbison Album - Baja Sessions (1996) Label - Reprise Records Personnel: Chris Isaak - vocals, guitar; Hershel Yatovitz - guitar; Rowland Salley - bass, vocals; Kenney Dale Johnson – drums.

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popentertainment-interviews · 2 years

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Patricia Vonne

Austin-based Singer/Songwriter Does Her Holiday Album In Celebration of A Family Tradition

by Brad Balfour Eight albums in, multi-talented musician/actress Patricia Vonne is back with a new recording. This time it's her holiday celebration, My Favorite Holiday (on her label Bandolera Records). This award-notable filmmaker and two-time SXSW best female vocalist winner released the full album on November 19th, building an audience with its many music videos which can be seen on YouTube. Vonne's ode to this special time of the year features 10 original songs and one cover. Joining her in an all-star cast are Rubén Blades, David Grissom, Alex Ruiz, Rosie Flores, Stephen Ferrone on drums (Tom Petty) and Carmine Rojas on bass (David Bowie). For the San Antonio native, Christmas meant gathering with her parents and nine siblings (including hit film director Robert Rodriguez.) Recalls the statuesque performer, "As children, we would perform 'Haul Out the Holly' and other Christmas favorites with big candy canes and perform for our family and friends. Another family favorite was the singing of 'Carol of the Bells,' which I included on this album to invite the world into our family through music. My sisters recorded from four different cities in three states. I am thrilled to share their voices and this song with the world." The album opener, "Santa's On His Way," is a pop-flavored kick-off featuring lush piano and orchestral arrangements by Scott Plunkett of Chris Isaak's band. Originally intended as a one-off single, Vonne says it inspired the full-length album project with producer Rick Del Castillo at the helm. The title track displays Vonne celebrating her inner Brenda Lee with an ebullient pop arrangement featuring Johnny Reno blowing red-hot saxophone. Powered by drummer Thommy Price (Billy Idol, Joan Jett), the ferocious rocker "Old Man Santa!" reveals Vonne's rocker roots: "Old man Santa's cruisin' down the hill / Used to drive a Chevy now he rides a Coupe de Ville... / Bag full of goodies, guitar on his back." The smoky rockabilly number "Santa's On A Rampage," features Vonne's San Antonio sister-in-arms, Rosie Flores (one third of Texicana Mamas with Vonne and Stephanie Urbina Jones) and longtime Chris Isaak sidekick Rowland Salley on bass. As to less upbeat realities that are also part of the seasonal package, "Alone On Christmas Day" – co-written by Austin ace guitar-slinger David Grissom – envisions the holiday among the homeless. Inspired by Vonne's own volunteer work with the homeless, the song has what she calls "a Tom Petty feel," enhanced by Petty's drummer Stephen Ferrone and David Bowie bassist Carmine Rojas.

Born Patricia Vonne Rodriguez, the 50-something celebrates her Hispanic heritage by adding a bilingual vocal and musical flavor to My Favorite Holiday with a song like "Nochebuena." Co-writers Del Castillo and Alex Ruiz touch upon the divine, the miracle of God and salvation. "Las Posadas" is inspired by Joseph and Mary's night journey to Bethlehem, and the classic Spanish passion play it inspired. On the track, Vonne is joined by salsa and Latin jazz giant Rubén Blades and the pair put a cumbia spin on the ancient tale. "Cumbia Navidad" is an ebullient, multi-lingual celebration of a San Antonio Christmas. Vonne wrote it to perform at her beloved Holiday River Parade which features floats carrying scores of entertainers (including, in 2019, Vonne herself). Vonne has always felt doubly blessed because her birthday falls six days before Christmas, and she wants to share that spirit with listeners. With My Favorite Holiday, San Antonio's native daughter brings a gift to the Alamo City and the world. How do you craft a Christmas song? Where do you begin? On my Christmas album I started with titles and chose themes like the Spanish song "Nochebuena" (Christmas Eve.) "My Favorite Holiday" was inspired by Cole Porter's "You're the Top." "Las Posadas" is a popular theme that has many renditions, and I wrote my own inviting Ruben Blades as a duet. (Las Posadas is a passion play of the Nativity Journey) I wove elements from the film It's A Wonderful Life into the first track, "Santa's On His Way," mentioning "Bailey Park" and "every time you hear a bell ring an angel gets his wings." And on "Alone On Christmas Day" I chose to write about those that don't have a family to go home to. That song was based on an incredible community in Austin that helps mitigate homelessness. It's called Community First Village. I volunteered there and brought the idea to David Grissom to write the song with me. I then reached out to Stephen Ferrone (Tom Petty's drummer for 20 years) and Carmine Rojas (David Bowie's bass player) and they generously came on board for this great cause. What determined which musicians played on what songs? I had just met Tommy Price in my hometown of San Antonio when I actually had the two last perfect songs for him to play. He's a legendary ferocious drummer and his style and muscle totally matched the barn-burning energy of "Old Man Santa" and "Santa's On A Rampage." I chose Stephen Ferrone for "Alone on Christmas Day" because David Grissom and I wrote it with a Tom Petty feel. I had met both Ferrone and Carmine Rojas at the Legendary China Club in NYC when I was an 18-year-old coat check girl. So getting them together on a special song is truly a gift to the world. For "Las Posadas" which is a nativity story celebrated all over Latin America and beyond, Rubén Blades was the perfect choice to sing with me. He surprised me by contributing lyrics in the solo and singing my name. I melted to the floor and wept.

Is there anything special a Christmas song must have? Spirit, and a catchy melody would be very cool to get you in the mood.

What are your favorite holiday songs? I absolutely love "Santa Bring My Baby Back" to me because of its ebullience and joy. "With my baby far away, what good is mistletoe?" makes me dance and sing along. I love "We Need a Little Christmas " by Jerry Herman because we used to sing it as a family when I was little. That led us to sing " Carol of the Bells" with my sisters as a tradition which is why I am thrilled it is on the album for the world to share. I also love "Washington Square Park" by Chris Isaak and The Ronettes' "Sleigh Ride." I adore "Washington Square Park" because it reminds me of those in the service that can't be home for Christmas. It really is a touching song because not everyone has families to go home to and this song brings this sentiment home. Who are your inspirations in music and life? My parents inspire me every day. My dad was a door-to-door salesman for 39 years and my mom worked the night shift as a nurse in order to be home when we got home from school. They sacrificed everything for us. Musically, everyone from The Stray Cats, Johnny Reno and the Sax Maniacs, Tom Petty, Cruzados, Lone Justice, Pat Benatar, and Rubén Blades! Recently the legendary Mexican music star Vicente Fernandez died. Do you want to comment on that? He was "El Rey de Canción de Mariachi!" He was the music and voice of Mexico that will never be forgotten. He was Elvis, Sinatra and Tony Bennett rolled into one. He will be sorely missed.

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#Patricia Vonne #2021 #Music Interviews #My Favorite Holiday #Brad Balfour

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kwebtv · 2 years

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L.A.’s Finest - Spectrum Originals - May 13, 2019 - September 9, 2020

Crime Drama (26 episodes)

Running Time: 60 minutes

Stars:

Gabrielle Union is Special Agent/Detective Lieutenant Sydney "Syd" Burnett

Jessica Alba is Nancy McKenna

Duane Martin as Ben Baines

Zach Gilford as Ben Walker

Ryan McPartlin as Patrick McKenna

Sophie Reynolds as Isabel "Izzy" McKenna

Ernie Hudson as Joseph Vaughn

Recurring

John Salley as Fletcher

Barry Sloane as Dante Sherman (season 1)

Sabina Gadecki as Jen

David Fumero as Lt. Jason Calloway

Jordan Rodrigues as Arlo Bates (season 1)

Joshua Alba as Nico Perez

Ciara Wilson as Letti Ramirez

Rebecca Budig as Carlene Hart (season 1)

Laz Alonso as Warren Hendrix (season 1)

Curtis Harris as Justice Baines (season 1)

Jake Busey as Bishop Duvall (season 1)

Adam Rose as Nathan Baker

Miguel Gomez as Ricky Leon

Taylor Black as Emma Mitchell

Kurt Yaeger as Clete Winslow

Beau Knapp as Malcolm Ward

D. J. Cotrona as Luca Verone

Timothy V. Murphy as Logan Kline

Kelly Rowland as Faith Bains

#L.A.'s Finest #TV #Spectrum Originals #Crime Drama #2000's #Gabrielle Union #Jessica Alba

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jeffcbliss · 10 days

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Rowland Salley (front) and Chris Isaak - BeachRanch Life music festival; Redondo Beach, CA (9-24-23). @ChrisIsaak @BeachLifeFest #RowlandSalley

Photo: Jeff Bliss

#rowland salley #chris isaak #musicians #music #beachranch life #music festival #redondo beach #rock and roll #rock shots #rock photography #rockabilly #rockabilly style #concert #concert photo #concert photography #bassist #guitarist #vocalists

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brandonnatali · 4 years

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Aural Fixation: MT’s Favorite Car Stereo Test Songs

Yes, we have fun drifting Porsches in Finland and piloting Land Rovers along the western coast of Africa, but there exists another perk of this job you might not expect. Whereas most folks have to spend thousands with a company like Marantz or McIntosh to exercise their audiophile muscles at home, every automaker seems to be trying to get in on the premium audio game.

Something that people generally don’t realize is that the audio in the cabin of a car can often be superior to your home setup, as it has been tuned for the reflections and surface textures around you, and of course, the position of your two ears. That’s not so easy to replicate with a home system. But vehicle engineers can carefully design your listening pleasure because they’re the architects of your rolling concert hall and know which seat you’re sitting in.

That’s the good news.

The bad, is that unlike your home, a car might be barreling along at 70 mph and self-creating a lot of competitive noise from wind-hiss, tire-whir, suspension impact booms, and engine rumble—with all of them coming from different directions. Those beautifully tuned acoustics are suddenly less beautiful. It’s sort of like having the sonic excellence of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, but with Disney Hall’s walls made out of construction paper, so you’re also hearing the noise on Grand Ave. outside.

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Last night at Walt Disney Concert Hall. ????: @hilocarriel

A post shared by Los Angeles Philharmonic (@laphil) on Mar 1, 2020 at 11:01am PST

Matters are further complicated by car occupants also needing to be able to understand each other when they converse. Human hearing has evolved to be super perceptive to sound within a narrow range of frequencies—centered at 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz—because that’s the realm where human speech resides. Ever try to talk in a busy restaurant and the person across the small table can’t understand you? That’s what’s called masking. It’s when there’s ambient sound already present in the frequency range where you’re trying to hear something else, such as your dinner guest’s voice. It’s even measurable with a sound meter that’s set to analyze Speech Interference Level (SIL).

Car engineers try to relocate a car’s 500-, 1,000-, and 2000-Hz frequency noise to other frequencies to improve intelligibility, but this conflicts with listening to music, which occurs over a much broader frequency range. And either way, a car’s self-generated noise masks any frequency that’s quiet, not just those where human speech resides.

With manufacturers eager to send us loaded press cars with every available option, some of us are testing systems like these every night. So who better to ask than MotorTrend for the best songs to test your new car’s 10,000-watt 43-speaker laser-etched-aluminum–grille audio setup? Keep reading to find out the songs our editors use to separate the stereos trading on name from the real audiophile experience.

Mark Rechtin, Editor in Chief

When testing car stereo systems, you are not only defining the quality of the speakers, but how those waves of sound bounce around a cabin filled with soft and hard surfaces. With that in mind, here are my three tracks that test how well car audio engineers have integrated their systems into a vehicle:

“Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing,” by Chris Isaak

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If your car stereo is exceptional, you can hear Rowland Salley’s fingers slinking across the strings on the sultry opening bass riff, accompanied by Isaak’s vocal range that sweeps from grumbly baritone to heartbreaking falsetto with the ever-so-noticeable voice break. And while the opening is minimalist and subtle, the rave-up’s chiming guitars and tinny cymbals is an equal challenge. But the Land Rover Range Rover Velar’s 17-speaker, 825-watt Meridian system is up to the task.

“Cherub Rock” by Smashing Pumpkins

This is the ultimate “wall of sound” song. Most car stereos cannot process the myriad layers of distorted sonic sludge that Billy Corgan laid together on this track, instead just turning it into a disappointing midrange mush. But the Hardon Kardon system in the BMW X5 is a match for snarling Billy and his band of noise.

“California Nights” by Best Coast

This echo- and reverb-drenched psychedelic tribute to the Golden State is a challenge for any stereo that has its own digital effects processors (looking at you, Volvo XC90 with your Bowers & Wilkins system and its “Gothenberg Concert Hall” effect). Once it gets past the possible collision of all that aural sex, another true test of a car stereo is how quickly it reacts to cranking the volume at precisely the 1:18 mark.

Jonny Lieberman, Senior Features Editor

“Dopethrone,” the entire album, by Electric Wizard

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This is the thickest, sludgiest, fuzziest, riffiest, filthiest, doomiest record ever recorded. If you’re about to disagree, stop talking because you’re wrong. There’s just nothing else like it. The cover art is Satan sitting on his throne in Hell, enjoying a bong rip (which is legal in California, FYI). But that’s not what makes the record so heavy and fantastic. As the band’s guitarist Jus said, “Most of us were stuck in some drug addiction or alcoholism at the time, and it was just pure hate. It was us against the world, and we just wanted to make the most disgusting, foul, putrid record that anyone has ever recorded. We camped out at the studio, so it was literally just wake up, consume as much f—ing drugs as possible, and then just start jamming.” The results are beyond compare, and a real test of any car audio system, period.

I will never forget having the good people at Revel demoing their then-top-of-the-line system to me inside a Lincoln MKX. They played something weak sauce like U2 or Coldplay and I said, “Yeah, I guess it’s good. Would you mind if I played a song?” Yes, of course they enthusiastically agreed. Thirty seconds later, both of their faces melted. True story, except for that last part. And seriously, I will forever “test” any and every stereo I encounter with this record. You’ve never heard anything like it.

“No Big Surprise” by NoMeansNo

Off their “Generic Shame” EP, this song is a dynamic rollercoaster. From a throbbing, bass heavy 6-second long main riff, to a ‘70s arena rock-worthy drum solo that manages to transition into a Buddy Rich/Dennis Chambers–quality drum solo, to dueling stereo’d guitars, to an a cappella breakdown that shames all singers who have come within 10 yards of Autotune, this song has it all. With the added benefit of also being an excellent song. My favorite all-time song, as a matter of fact. I’ll never forget blasting this somewhere in the middle of the desert in a Rolls-Royce Phantom headed from L.A. to Las Vegas for my best friend’s bachelor party. Or was that the time he and I drove a Bentley Mulsanne to Vegas for a poker weekend? Point is, few songs can test out every single frequency of an audio system. This is one of them.

“When the Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin

Arguably the only good song off “Led Zeppelin IV,” and what makes it so incredibly, monumentally, astoundingly great is the drumming of John Bonham. Specifically, Bonzo’s right foot, that incredible, ultra-compressed, tape-delayed, recorded in a mansion’s stairway on just two mics “Ga-Gack” double ghost boom. The better your car’s stereo, the better the best kickdrum of all time is going to sound. I guess the rest of the song has guitars and singing and stuff, but you shouldn’t care. In fact, the Beastie Boys got it the most right when they sampled and looped the opening measures that only feature the drum beat on their song “Rhymin’ and Stealin’” off “Licensed to Ill,” sparing us from all that harmonica, going to Chicago jibber jabber. Seriously though, this song will tell you if your ride’s sound system is good enough.

Kim Reynolds, Testing Director

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Probably the best musical test of a car’s audio system is classical music as it comprises an enormous diversity of instruments, and its dynamics (loud or quiet) are often very extreme. Popular music tends to be more constant in dynamics, partly because – if it contained classical-like quiet moments – people would have to slow their cars to hear it.

The LA Phil’s Musical Director is, of course, Gustavo Dudamel, and here’s a choice that I like because he’s conducting the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra from his native Venezuela. It’s a (mostly) youth orchestra, and if you think that ‘classical’ music is boring, you haven’t heard the Dude and his young, and Latin-passionate, hometown band: Arturo Marquez’s “Danzon #2.”

To see how crazy they get, watch Leonard Bernstein’s “Mambo!” They played this several years ago at the Disney—I’d never seen a dancing symphony orchestra before.

Alex Nishimoto, Online Editor

“Don’t Speak (I Came to Make a BANG!)” by Eagles of Death Metal

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This adrenaline-raising number from Eagles of Death Metal’s sophomore album is my go-to song for testing an audio system in a performance car. Opening with a steady beat from the snare drum, kick drum, and high hat, the song quickly ramps up with the grungy guitar riffs that give the band their characteristic lo-fi sound. With this song, I look for clarity in the midrange at high volume. Are the guitar riffs and vocals free of unintended distortion? Does the song become harsher and peakier the louder it gets, or does it kick more ass with every crank of the volume knob? If I’m enveloped in a sonic cocoon of radness that just makes me want to hit the gas, then the system passes the test.

Duncan Brady, Associate Online Editor

“Nobody’s Perfect” by J. Cole, featuring Missy Elliot

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It’ll take over half a minute to understand why this is my stereo testing go-to, but right around the 32-second mark it should become clear. Sustained bass. This lesser-known track off the North Carolina rapper’s studio debut has one of the lowest, richest, cleanest, and most consistent bass lines in my library. And of course, just eight bars after its introduction there’s a secondary drop that hits even harder. Not only will this song test a subwoofer’s peak power on that first hit but also its sustained output as the 808s continue to thump throughout the duration of the track. The sub that exists as part of Lincoln’s 28-speaker Revel audio system in the Aviator is certainly up to the task.

“Nobody’s Perfect” was introduced to me by my college buddy Louis as his subwoofer test song for home audio systems, and sure enough, it’s made its way into my testing procedure of any car with a so-called “premium” audio option. Whether it’s Mercedes-Benz’s FrontBass system that uses rigid frame members as a subwoofer resonance chamber, or the optional 10-inch Kicker sub they’ll toss in the trunk of a BRZ, J. Cole and my girl Missy are always there to help me assess.

“A Certain Romance” by Arctic Monkeys

What starts with a “Wipeout”-reminiscent single-stroke roll on the low tom unravels into a poetic, dynamic, romp of a rock song that closed out the Arctic Monkeys’ 2014 debut. On an album notorious for loud, compressed mixing, an audio system that celebrates the mellow moments as well as it does the raucous jam-band outro is one with real breadth and versatility.

“Restore the Feeling” by Daniel Caesar featuring Sean Leon and Jacob Collier

Part of what makes a great test song is familiarity, and I listened to Daniel Caesar’s swooning sophomore album Case Study 01 more than anything else this summer. My favorite track, “Restore the Feeling,” introduces itself with silky falsetto and a grainy guitar lick, but the second chorus and outro are really where it’s at. Caesar’s collaboration with vocal harmonic master Jacob Collier results in a veritable wall of blended voices that will test any system’s vocal separation and soundstage. I highly recommend it.

Alex Leanse, Associate Online Editor

I confess to having very particular (some would say limited) tastes in music, and my favorite car speaker systems make me feel like I’m in the middle of a packed nightclub dance floor. That means immersive sound, balanced delivery from all sides, and artillery-grade bass. People stepping on my shoes or spilling drinks on me, less so. Anyway, these tracks were bangin’ on the Volvo XC60 Polestar’s 15-speaker, 1,100 W Bowers & Wilkins setup.

Side note: I’m really tall, so with the driver’s seat adjusted my ears usually line up with the B-pillar. If I lean forward a smidge, the audio can sound completely different. It seems like my seating position orients my head outside of these speaker arrangements’ optimal calibration. Tilting forward puts it back in the zone designed for normal humans. Now you know.

“Artha” by ANNA

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A kick drum assault and wobbly, hypnotic bassline gauge how deep the subwoofers can go. Is the rearview mirror shaking loose? Good. The bass shouldn’t overpower, though—I listen for that weepy synth tune to come through bright and clear.

“Aether” by Kommodo

This tune has layers upon layers of sharp-edged melody and percussion. I want each of those to feel like they’re poking me in the tympanic membrane. Kommodo’s arrangement makes the tweeters work, and it shows how well the system distinguishes mid and high ranges. If good, it’s like stepping on a pile of Legos. Except with my ears. You know what I mean.

“Wilkie” by Roman Flügel

It’s all about balance. I can’t listen to bangers all day. Sometimes I just want to chill. Roman Flügel’s music is perfect for that and testing how well balanced a car’s speakers are. “Wilkie,” in particular, has it all—mellow drums, groovy bass, and ethereal, effected refrains. On great sound systems, I’ll hear it side-to-side and end-to-end.

Stefan Ogbac, Associate Online Editor

When I’m in a car, the first thing I look for when turning on the infotainment system is how well the sound fills the cabin. Can you hear the music playing from behind your ear? Is there too much treble? Does the sound permeate every part of the interior? A good in-car listening experience helps the overall impression you get of a vehicle. As someone who’s fond of playing music while on the road—sometimes at full blast—I appreciate a rich and balanced audio system because it helps make my time with a vehicle more memorable.

“Paradise” by Coldplay (from the album Mylo Xyloto)

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I’ve been a huge Coldplay for as long as I remember. The evolution of their sound from smooth and easy to the great variety that came when “Viva La Vida” and “Death and All His Friends” arrived has always fascinated me and it continues to do so. “Paradise” remains one of my favorite songs, and it’s one I happily play at full blast in a car because of how sonically varied it is. In fact, one of the most memorable times I listened to this song was driving home in a Volvo XC60 with the optional Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system set to the Gothenburg Concert Hall mode.

“Paradise” is one of those songs that can really put a car’s audio system to the test. You’ll know immediately if it’s not on par with the best because you can’t hear all the little nuances throughout the track, like if all you get are the synths overwhelming everything, including Chris Martin’s vocals in certain instances. For what it’s worth, Coldplay’s constantly evolving sound lends well when you’re testing a car’s audio system. This is just one song in their discography that works well for my profession—and it so happens to be one of my favorites.

“Hallelujah” by Bamboo (from the album Light, Peace, Love)

Alternative and rock are staple genres in my playlist, and recently I found myself a nice collection of Filipino artists on Spotify, including veteran Bamboo Mañalac. This song shares the same title as the famous Leonard Cohen tune, but it’s a lot quicker in pace; think more 90s rock with great guitar work to top it all off. Sung in Tagalog and English, “Hallelujah” is a pretty standard rock tune with smooth vocals and just the right amount of grit.

Songs like this are at their best when you want to let off some steam, and driving is one of the ways I do that. Put this song on full blast, downshift, rev-match and nail the gas and go as you hear the lines “Sinong sawa, Sinong galit Sumigaw, ngayong gabi” (translated: “If you’re tired, if you’re angry, scream out to the night”). Nothing beats an energetic, rebellious tune to get your adrenaline going. “Hallelujah” recently became one of my go-to songs for testing audio systems because you can clearly hear all instruments. If the bass is too heavy before you fiddle with it, then you know the system isn’t balanced and will be biased towards one aspect.

“My Favourite Game” by The Cardigans (from the album Gran Turismo)

This song was the theme of my favorite racing game, Gran Turismo 2, the game that turned me into a JDM nerd at a young age. “My Favourite Game” is classic late-90s rock with Europop flair: catchy, totally worth of a binge listen, and perfect for driving. Its music video even got controversial because in it, the lead singer drove a beat-up Cadillac Eldorado convertible like she’s queen of the road and causing all kinds of havoc before crashing into a van driven by her bandmates.

As for the song itself, “My Favorite Game’s” pop-y nature lends to it being good for audio tests. Since it has everything from synths to traditional instruments, the tune does a good job sussing out which unit sounds flat and plain. It’s also heavy on the former, allowing you to see which sound system doesn’t give you one-dimensional listening experience.

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adriansmithcarslove · 4 years

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Aural Fixation: MT’s Favorite Car Stereo Test Songs

That’s the good news.

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Last night at Walt Disney Concert Hall. ????: @hilocarriel

A post shared by Los Angeles Philharmonic (@laphil) on Mar 1, 2020 at 11:01am PST

Mark Rechtin, Editor in Chief

“Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing,” by Chris Isaak

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“Cherub Rock” by Smashing Pumpkins

“California Nights” by Best Coast

Jonny Lieberman, Senior Features Editor

“Dopethrone,” the entire album, by Electric Wizard

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“No Big Surprise” by NoMeansNo

“When the Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin

Kim Reynolds, Testing Director

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To see how crazy they get, watch Leonard Bernstein’s “Mambo!” They played this several years ago at the Disney—I’d never seen a dancing symphony orchestra before.

Alex Nishimoto, Online Editor

“Don’t Speak (I Came to Make a BANG!)” by Eagles of Death Metal

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Duncan Brady, Associate Online Editor

“Nobody’s Perfect” by J. Cole, featuring Missy Elliot

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“A Certain Romance” by Arctic Monkeys

“Restore the Feeling” by Daniel Caesar featuring Sean Leon and Jacob Collier

Alex Leanse, Associate Online Editor

“Artha” by ANNA

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“Aether” by Kommodo

“Wilkie” by Roman Flügel

Stefan Ogbac, Associate Online Editor

“Paradise” by Coldplay (from the album Mylo Xyloto)

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“Hallelujah” by Bamboo (from the album Light, Peace, Love)

“My Favourite Game” by The Cardigans (from the album Gran Turismo)

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ralph-n-fiennes · 7 years

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Open letter to Theresa May

Dear Prime Minister,

The government's decision to close the "Dubs" lifeline for vulnerable refugee children is truly shameful. The idea that as a country we will slam the door shut after just 350 children have reached safety is completely unacceptable. Lord Dubs was himself a child saved by Sir Nicholas Winton who rescued 669 children virtually single-handed. It is embarrassing that the Prime Minister's entire government will not even manage to match the example set by her former constituent all those years ago, let alone the efforts of the Kindertransport movement of which he was a part which saved 10,000 children from the Nazis. It is clear from the work of charities like Citizens UK's Safe Passage project and Help Refugees with unaccompanied child refugees across Greece, Italy and France that where these safe and legal routes are blocked, children are left with a terrible choice between train tracks on the one hand and people traffickers on the other. The government's threadbare consultation with councils is now nine months out of date. The country we know and love is bigger than this. Communities and councils across the country stand ready to do more. The government must agree to extend the programme and re-consult with councils immediately.

Yours truly,

Akram Khan Alex Jennings Alice Temperley Amanda Craig Amanda Jennings Andrew O'Hagan Anish Kapoor, Sir Anna Maxwell Martin Anne Fine Anoushka Shankar Anthony McGowan Antonia Honeywell Antony Gormley Arlene Phillips Beeban Kidron Bella Freud Ben Drew aka Plan B Ben Whishaw Benedict Cumberbatch Betsy Tobin Bill Nighy Bill Paterson Billy Bragg Blake Morrison Candy Gourlay Carey Mulligan Carol Drinkwater Caroline Flack Charlotte Gainsbourg Charlotte Mendelson Chris Cleave Christina Koning Clare Morpurgo Coldplay Daniel Hahn David Hare David Heyman David Lan David Nicholls Dawn O'Porter Douglas Booth Ed Simons Ed Skrein Edgar Wright Edna O'Brien Elif Shafak Emilia Fox Emily Eavis Emma Freud Evie Wyld Fiona Dunbar Frances Thomas Francesca Simon Frank Cottrell Boyce Gary Lineker Gok Wan Hannah Beckerman Harriet Lane Harriet Walter Helen Dunmore Helena Kennedy QC Henry Goodman Henry Porter Hot Chip Hugh Brody Ian Rickson Imogen Stubbs Jack Harries James McConnachie Jamie Byng Jamie Cullum Jane Casey Jane Harris Jane Johnson Jane Wickenden Jason Flemyng Jason Isaacs Jemma Redgrave Jeremy Hardy Jessica Fellowes Jessie Burton Jessie Ware Joanna Briscoe Joanna Trollope Joanne Harris Joe Wright Joely Richardson John McCarthy John Wilson Jojo Moyes Jon Courtenay Grimwood Jon McGregor Jonny Lee Miller Jude Law Judy Astley Julia Williams Julie Bertagna Juliet Stevenson Kate Mosse Kate Pullinger Katharine Quarmby Katharine Rundell Katherine Langrish Keira Knightley Keren David Kit Berry Lauren St John Lee Hall Lesley Manville Lia Williams Lily Allen Lily Cole Linda Grant Lisa Appignanesi Liz Fremantle Lu Hersey Lucy Coats Lucy Daniel Raby Lucy Popescu Lynda Edward Maggie O'Farrell Mark Rylance Mary Hoffman Mary Kay Wilmers Matt Smith Meg Rosoff Meredith Miller Michael Morpurgo Michael Winterbottom Mick Moon Miranda Gold Miranda Richardson Nadifa Mohamed Nell Leyshon Nicci Gerrard Nick Dewey Nicky Matthews Browne Nicole Farhi Nina Killham Noel Fielding Noma Dumezweni Paloma Faith Patricia Ferguson Patrick Gale Paul Dowswell Pauline Chandler Penny Dolan Peter Bently Peter Bunzl Philip Pullman Philippa Stjernsward Pippa Harris Ralph Fiennes Rebecca Abrams Rhiannon Lassiter Rhys Ifans Richard Davenport-Hines Rick Smith Riz Ahmed Roger Allam Rogers of Riverside Rose Boyt Rowan Coleman Rowan Williams Ruby Wax Ruth Negga Ruth Rogers Sabrina Guinness Salley Vickers Sam Baker Sam Frears Samira Osman Sandi Toksvig Sarah Dunant Sarah Waters Sonia Friedman Sophie Dahl Stephen Daldry Stephen Frears Stephen Poliakoff Steven Knight Tammy Cohen Terence Blacker Terry Stiastny Tess Morris Tim Piggott-Smith Tom Odell Tom Rowlands Tom Stoppard Tracey Seaward Tracy Chevalier Ursula Owen Vanessa Harbour Vicken Parsons Vicky McClure Zoe Wanamaker

#ralph fiennes #benedict cumberbatch #mark rylance #matt smith #jason isaacs

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