The SecondSpin.com Blog

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2012-01-20T12:30:00.000-08:00

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Who Needs Guitars Anyway When They Have Alice Deejay

2011-06-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

Back in 2000, the Dutch progressive trance group, Alice Deejay released their first and what would turn out to be their only album, Who Needs Guitars Anyway? The album was a great leap into the new millennium and had several singles hitting the charts. The group, consisting of Pronti, Kalmani, DJ Jurgen, Judith Pronk and Marc Lee-Smith, was very popular from 1999-2002, primarily because of this album.

The one song that Alice Deejay is best known for is “Better Off Alone.” Officially released in 1998 (but with a much wider audience following the 1999 release), “Better Off Alone” has just one main lyrical line: “Do you think you're better off alone?” (with occasional “Talk to me” lines), sung by Judith Pronk. It was an amazing success for the group, reaching as high as the #2 slot on the Billboard club charts and securing a spot in the top ten spots for a majority of the international club charts. It was one of the top grossing singles in the world for 1999 and remained highly popular well into the new millennium.

With the initial pure beats breaking into regular, forlorn-like trance movements, it was no wonder why “Better Off Alone” was often heard on popular radio stations and in the hottest clubs worldwide. The depressed-yet-hopeful undertones are clear, not just in the lyrics but the actual feeling of the trance immersion of the song.

The first track on the album, “Back in My Life” was also quite popular, with its more muted tones and regular trance flowing in from all points of the song. It was obviously not as successful as “Better Off Alone,” but it still managed to top a few popular club charts. It gained the most popularity in the UK, where it ranked as high as fourth on the singles chart.

One notable track that didn't gain the same astounding success as others on the album did is “Elements of Life.” It's definitely a heavy clubbing song with the occasional whispers of a female proclaiming “I am alive.” It mixes together quite nicely, as does “Will I Ever,” another trance-heavy song with cool thunder effects added in between. Both songs have powerful and mysterious vocal performances, which only enhance the magic of the song.

Ironically, one of the darker songs on the album is “Fairytales.” It's definitely one of the most unique mixes on Who Needs Guitars Anyway?, ensuring that many fans will be able to discourse from the steady, uplifting trance in order to seek out something newer and fresher.

Although the group eventually disbanded shortly after 2001, Alice Deejay's songs remain popular in many clubs and on many iPods today.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used Dance/Techno CDs from “Who Needs Guitars Anyway?” to “Mezzanine,” visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

About Brad Parmerter:

Brad Parmerter has almost 20 years experience in the music and entertainment industry as a writer, programmer, and merchandiser. He has professionally interviewed and photographed such artists as: Rush, Metallica, Celine Dion, Live, Phil Collins, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Live, Van Halen, Queensryche, Anna Nalick, Styx, Def Leppard, and many more.

Please visit SecondSpin.com for all of your entertainment needs.

We Can’t Get Kylie Minogue Outta Our Heads

2011-06-14T18:18:00.000-07:00

Let us sail across oceans to meet an artist whose talent has reached nations far beyond her homeland. She lives in a country that is its own continent, country, and island. Any guesses?

Kylie Minogue is a singer, songwriter, and actress from Melbourne, Australia. It’s true, AC/DC isn’t the only one that has claimed international fame from Australia in the music realm. Kylie Minogue is not a new face by any means. She has been around the block…or should we say around the globe? The fact that her parents were also pop singers has helped her rise to fame. Therefore, Kylie Minogue has been saturated in an artistic atmosphere her entire life.

Her rise to fame began as an actress, in a family sitcom titled, ”Neighbours,” all the way back in the 1980s. While performing for a benefit, Kylie sang “I Got You Babe” as a duet with a fellow actor from the show. It didn’t take long for record producers to recognize her hidden talent and potential. Her first single, “The Loco-Motion,” remained number one on the charts for seven weeks. From that point on she remained almost exclusively a musical artist.

As her popularity sailed over the oceans to the UK, it was not long before Ms. Minogue became a world wide pop star. In the early 1990s she began producing albums that reflected more of the dance genre. The crowds went wild! Kylie Minogue had finally found her artistic niche. Her album titled Light Years, which debuted in 2000, offers excellent dance beats and rhythms with a hint of disco that adds an excellent groove, funk and soul to each track.

Even while recording, Kylie never gave up on her acting career. In 2001 she appeared as the green fairy in the musical film Moulin Rouge. Right around the same time, her album Fever was released, featuring the hit single “Can’t Get You Outta My Head.” Remember that one? “Can’t Get You Outta My Head” is a song that has graced almost every pair of ears.

Kylie has certainly left her mark on the world and she’s not done yet! She is currently on tour as you read this. Search for a few of her albums and check out a few songs. If you love techno remixes of disco greats, then you may just fall in love with the original sounds of Kylie Minogue. The only difference between her and disco remixes is that Kylie’s material is all original. So get your groove on, 21^st century style! Kylie Minogue is certainly a dance hit wonder that you couldn’t help but love.

For more information or for questions on buying or selling used Techno, Dance and House CDs, visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions please email at customerservice@secondspin.com.

About Brad Parmerter:

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This Place About To Blow With The Tunes Of Ke$ha

2011-06-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

Watch out Europe - America is jumpin’ on the club scene bandwagon! Even though America has always had a nightclub scene, it is hardly what a techno fan would call a typical nightclub scene.

“Cotton Eye Joe” is credited to the 1990s and has often been a definition on what American’s think dance music is. Of course that is still dance music, but it is hardly techno. Where is the bass? The sound effects? The remix? The dj scratches? A light has been shined on the minds of record companies and music producers and musicians. A new artist that has captured the ears of many is Ke$ha. Debuting in 2010, she has most definitely set the bar for the dancing and clubbing scene.

Ke$ha, even though a young and flourishing artist, has brought a raw and saucy mix to the front. This sauciness has attracted many consumers. The critics disagree despite her intent or malintent according to their critique.

Her first album debuting in 2010, titled Animal, featured a few hit singles including, “Tik Tok” and “Your Love is My Drug.” Her success is not paralleled or connected to that of her competition, so to speak.

Ke$ha has claimed that one of her contemporary inspirations is Lady Gaga. However, her style is recognizably different from that of Lady Gaga. Her music mirrors that of Miami bass with a hint of electro style. Her vocals are clearly inspired by the Beastie Boys, which she has admitted she is a big fan. Her vocal style is strange but seems to meld perfectly as a composition. Her half singing and half talking style suits her adolescent and naïve lyrical style. Her morale value, or lack thereof, has been said to be one that should be shunned. However, somehow she is able to pull it all off.

Cannibal is an album that has been linked to the album Animal but has its own style transition. “Blow” has been rated five out of five stars in many books. The song has very exciting, hip rockin’, booty shakin’ beats. Get the strobes out because it’s time to dance!

Whatever your prior premonitions were about Ke$ha, throw them out the window. She has definitely set a new stage for the young and daring artist. Yes, her lyrics are about another crazy party and many drunken moments. Despite what picture she paints, she definitely kicks out tunes to groove to. Check out both of Ke$ha’s albums, Animal and Cannibal. You may be in for a pleasant surprise!

For more information or for questions on buying or selling used Techno, Pop and Trance CDs, visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions please email at customerservice@secondspin.com.

About Brad Parmerter:

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Techno Blast - Is Techno Becoming Mainstream?

2011-06-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

Music has definitely spun through its popular genres within the last 10 years, with changes continuing each day. We can look at the different music genres and see how they have progressed over time and take note when we hear something new and different.

It appears that music’s pop genre seems to be changing. There is no telling how hard-core techno fans feel about this, but it appears that pop is morphing into a mainstreamed techno. To confirm this, let us take it to the charts.

According to multiple sources, here are a few songs and artists that have cycled through the Top 20 Pop Music list (please note that these are not in any specific order, but rather a simple list of popular artist that have hit the charts):

- Katy Perry “E.T. Featuring Kanye West”

- Britney Spears “Till the World Ends”

- Swedish House Mafia “One” and “Save the World”

- Ke$ha “Blow”

- Usher “More”

- Rihanna “S&M”

- Far East Movement “Like a G6”

- Lady Gaga “Judas”

- Taio Cruz featuring Travie McCoy “Higher”

Now, these are only a few songs, but if you listen to them carefully, you can hear the music transitioning into techno, can you not? Yes, it appears that even popular artists cannot deny the greatness of techno.

How does this make you feel as a fan of techno? For some people, techno is like their secret “underground” dance musical love. Don’t worry friends. Remember, we did discuss the many faces and facets of techno music. You will always have trance, dubstep, and chill to groove to. On the other hand, let’s get amped up! Our favorite genre is beginning to infiltrate the popular music section. Here’s a way to think of it, when you’re at work and the boss puts on a pop radio station that drives you crazy, would you rather the typical music that makes your day drag on? Or do you want to hear something that makes you go, “Hmm, this sounds like techno. I like where we’re headed!”

What got this ball rolling you might ask? Many would argue that Lady Gaga’s rise to fame has caused many pop artists to question their musical progression. It has just been released that Lady Gaga now makes more money per capita than Oprah. Wow! That must be talent.

Either way, Lady Gaga fan or not, it appears that techno and pop are fusing in some sort of exciting fashion. So let us celebrate that fact that techno is beginning to capture the hearts of many! Let’s keep an open mind while this progression takes place and we’ll see where we end up. Happy listening and searches friends!

For more information or for questions on buying or selling used Techno, Pop and Trance CDs, visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions please email at customerservice@secondspin.com.

About Brad Parmerter:

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Spending Time And Breaking Beats With Techno DJ Darude

2011-06-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

Darude, whose real name is Ville Virtanen, has sold over 5 million records and is a multi-platinum award winning producer and international artist. When you hear his music, you will instantly recognize him due to the fact that for the past decade, he has been one of the most influential artists to materialize from the techno scene.

Darude now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, but he originally comes from a small village called Hinnerjoki in Finland, which he calls his first and foremost home. Bringing his family to America increased his growing popularity in the U.S. Because of his experience as a professional artist, travelling the globe, encountering many cultures and witnessing some of the most exotic and beautiful places of the world, Darude believes he has had his education of life. These experiences are catalysts to his creativity in music.

Darude told TranceSound.net, “Personally I would love to work more with other people in the studio and get stuff done or started that way, and I do that from time to time, but I am more comfortable first working on something on my own for a while, to get some basic ideas, sounds or beats done, and then present them to the collaborator(s), so that I don’t have to squeeze out anything under pressure.”

Darude’s career has been long and successful as both a club DJ and live performer. His numerous chart topping hits draw esteem and recognition. He has created three artist albums and remixed work that brings singles like ATB’s notable rendition of “The Fields of Love,” “The Thrillseekers,” or “Synaesthesia” to a typical audience. All have gained him accolades of support from industry leaders.

But if you sat down and talked to Darude about his career, “Sandstorm” would come up as one of the major dance tracks produced of all time. Without a doubt, it stand outs and never lets the dance floor or workout class down.

Dave Pearce interviewed Darude awhile back, discussing how he began his career. “I've loved dance music as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until I was 19-20 years old that I made music of my own. I started by just playing around with free shareware on a PC. I did have some dreams of the local DJs playing my tracks and being in a corner of the club to see the reaction, but I never really had an idea that my music had any kind of bigger potential.”

Darude has quite a few projects in the works nowadays. Recently, he started a record label, plans to produce a mixed album, several singles and remixes.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used techno CDs from Darude's “Sandstorm” to Daft Punk's “Discovery”, visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

About Brad Parmerter:

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DJ Micros Techno Journey From The East Coast and Beyond

2011-06-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

DJ Micro began his techno journey on the East Coast in 1991. He played a key role in forming Caffeine Records group that began as a weekly club night. Shortly after, its popularity grew into an actual brand name with a club and clothing line. As a result, Micro gyrated at what seemed to be endless Caffeine parties, specializing in break beat, a type of electronic dance music that went all night long.

In 1994 DJ Micro hooked up with Vicious Vic under the alias Progression. Once they released their debut single “Reach Further,” they soon became widely popular in the international dance music arena. Shortly thereafter, the duo was commissioned to remix artists like Paradise 3001, Masters at Work, Joe T. Vanelli and the X-Files theme.

Micro was definitely a well-known DJ by the end of the ‘90s and recorded two mix albums for Roadrunner titled Coast to Coast and Caffeine: The Natural Stimulant. Later, he met up with Moonshine Music and released Micro Tech-Mix, which followed with quite a few mix albums. He ended up releasing one mix album a year. Micro slowly changed his style as he worked on each album, moving toward trance and different forms of electronic dance music. However, he still maintained his break beat connection. By the time the millennium ended, he was one of the top DJs on the East Coast.

Today, DJ Micro is an experienced techno producer who gyrates as a spin master. He holds an extensive history in the DJ musical scene. The Caffeine club and clothing line have washed out, but Micro is working on the renewal of the Caffeine recording label. He based his decision on the fact that “the digital age is much more competitive.” He needs to open his horizons with new enterprises that include not just delving into new turns of his own work, but assisting talent that is on the rise. He advises that “if you make music, the DJing will come.”

The desire to help other artists was brought on by the changes in the techno industry. Electronic music has arrived into the mainstream and is no longer underground. Fitness enthusiasts are working out to techno music and new talents are arriving on the scene every day. Whether you are new to the electronic music scene or a mainstay veteran, you will need to prepare for a night of nonstop dancing that is edgy and gyrating on the dance floor when DJ Micro comes to play music in your city.

For more information or for questions on buying or selling used Techno, House and Trance CDs, visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions please email at customerservice@secondspin.com.

About Brad Parmerter:

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Tia Fuller - Not Your Typical Jazz Artist

2011-06-14T17:32:00.000-07:00

Although she was not a music celebrity from the very start, Tia Fuller has risen from the background as a backup singer for Beyonce Knowles to the forefront of the stage, proving that she can be a unique and profitable singer, songwriter and artist. With her newest album, Decisive Steps, which was released in March of 2010, Fuller has added to the already illustrious appeal of American Jazz. However, while still maintaining the classic characteristics of jazz, such as the incorporation of the saxophone and other horns in her album, she also offers a great deal of diversity due to her unique tempos and rhythmic beats. Of the album’s ten tracks, the song “Decisive Steps” is the star in the album.

The track begins with gentle beats that symbolize classic jazz yet the melody of Fuller’s voice hints towards a genre of music that is much more fast paced, such as hip hop or rap. However, despite this unusual beginning to the album’s headline song, the jazz qualities are unmistakable and thus, the listening is swarmed by the calming, relaxing sounds that jazz is notorious for. While the song “Decisive Steps” particularly specializes in smooth beats and softly sung lyrics, there are other styles and variations of the album that, while they may not sound like jazz, are in fact works of musical masterpiece.

In almost direct contrast to “Decisive Steps,” the sixth song in the album, “Steppin’,” incorporates very different qualities to jazz music that probably would not be expected. For example, in this song, Fuller begins with powerful beats and a deep bass which gives the feel of a hip hop song (a characteristic probably derived from her time working with Beyonce Knowles). However, after this burst of new ideas and innovation to the jazz world, Fuller gently and seamlessly brings the song back to the very basics of jazz: horns, bluesy lyrics and soft tones.

Regardless of all of these benefits that Fuller delineates in her album, probably the most appealing quality of her songs is the deep and meaningful lyrics. The songs she writes often portray daily struggles that many average, middle-class people go through every day. This creates a far greater bond between her and her fans because her songs are relatable to them and it provides for some common ground between the two.

Unlike many artists of the modern music industry, Fuller actually cares about what her songs are saying and puts much thought heart, and soul into the creation of her albums. In fact, it is her musical brilliance, talent and creativity that have helped spark mass popularity of the Mark Avenue record label.

If you are interested in purchasing Tia Fuller’s album, Decisive Steps, or others like it, please visit www.used-jazz.com. If you have any questions, please email at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Jazz at Massey Hall Brings Together Jazz Greats For Our Listening Pleasure

2011-06-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

Jazz at Massey Hall from The Quintet often appears reissued under the name "The Greatest Concert Ever." It features an all star lineup of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach. Some 15 years before this concert date (1953), these guys were mutually involved in the creation of bebop and had years of experience and expertise by the time of the historic concert.

Interestingly enough, this was the only time the five would record together and it would appear that they knew it, as everyone performed to their fullest potential. A lot of earlier bebop recordings suffered from sound quality but Jazz at Massey Hall sounds very good for a live concert.

The Quintet recorded the album on the 15^th of May, 1953 at Massey Hall in Toronto, and marked the last recorded meeting of Parker and Gillespie.

Parker was paired with a Grafton saxophone on this particular night. Since he could not be listed on the original album cover for contractual reasons, Charlie Parker was billed as "Charlie Chan" (an allusion to the fictional detective and to Parker's wife Chan). Mingus's label Debut originally released the record from a recording made by the Toronto New Jazz Society. The recording was then taken to New York by Mingus where he and Max Roach dubbed in the bass lines because they were under-recorded on most of the tunes. They also exchanged Mingus soloing on "All the Things You Are."

While the original plan called for the Jazz Society and the musicians to share profits from the recording, a boxing prize fight between Rocky Marciano and Jersey Joe Walcott took place simultaneously, stifling the audience so dramatically that the Society was unable to pay the musicians' fees. Instead, the musicians were all given NSF checks, and only Parker was able to actually cash his in. This led to years of Gillespie complaining that he did not receive his fee.

The full concert was re-issued in 2004 without the over-dubbing. The new version was titled Complete Jazz at Massey Hall.

In 1995, the Grammy Hall of Fame opened its doors to Jazz at Massey. National Public Radio included it in its Basic Jazz Library.

According to Murray Horwitz of the American Film Institute, the only jazz composition ever known to be sung by a United States president while in office was "Salt Peanuts" off of this record. The peanut farmer Jimmy Carter sang it at the White House Jazz Festival.

For more information or for questions on buying or selling used Jazz, Latin Jazz and any other genre of music CDs, visit www.used-jazz.com. If you have any questions please email at customerservice@secondspin.com.

About Brad Parmerter:

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Diana Krall Has Left Her Mark On The Jazz World...And She Has Only Just Begun

2011-06-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

The voluptuous, elegant, and extraordinarily gifted Canadian born Diana Krall has left her mark as one of the finest jazz vocalists of her time. The jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals, has sold more than six million albums in the US and an abundance of over 15 million worldwide. In a time period stretching between the 1990s and 2000s, no female jazz artist has sold more albums than Diana. Her magnificent legacy as one of the most prolific artists of her time was further established in December of 2009, when Billboard magazine named her the number two jazz artist of the 2000-2009 decade. No other jazz singer equal or amass Diana’s eight albums debuting at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums. Her trophy case includes three Grammy Awards, eight Juno Awards, nine gold, three platinum and seven multi-platinum albums.

Krall was born in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. She was from a musical family, as her father played piano around the house while her mother sang in a community choir. By the age of four, Diana was already playing piano and by 15, she was entertaining locals at the neighborhood restaurant playing jazz. She attended the Berkley College of Music in Boston on a scholarship before heading out to Los Angeles to play jazz. She returned to Canada to release her first album, Steppin’ Out in 1993.

Krall’s mother Adella passed away from multiple myeloma in 2002, within months of also losing her mentors Ray Brown and Rosemary Clooney. Diana's only sibling, Michelle, is a former member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Krall and British musician Elvis Costello were married on December 6, 2003 at Elton John’s estate outside of London. They have twin sons, Dexter Henry Lorcan and Frank Harlan James, born in December of 2006 in New York City.

Diana Krall earned her highest ever chart debut with her album Quiet Nights, landing at number three on the Billboard 200 in April 2009. With 104,000 scans, this is the musician's second largest sales week of her career thus far and her fourth consecutive studio album to place in the top 10. Released in March of ’09, under the label of Verve Records, Quiet Nights is the Canadian jazz singer-songwriter’s ninth studio album.

The release of the album marked Kralls reunion with arranger Claus Ogerman. Ogerman is inarguably one of the most fruitful 20th century arrangers, having worked in the Top 40, Rock, Pop, Jazz, R&B, Soul, Easy listening, Broadway and Classical music fields. It is yet to be determined the exact number of recording artists for whom Ogerman has either arranged or conducted during his stoic career. Krall and Ogerman last teamed up in 2002 for Live in Paris, and before that, in 2001 for The Look of Love. Billboard ranked that album at number five on the magazine's Top Jazz Albums of the Decade.

In 2000, Krall was awarded the Order of British Columbia, followed by an honorary Ph.D. in Fine Arts in 2003 from the University of Victoria. In 2004, Diana was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.

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Chick Corea’s Lustrous Career as a Jazz Favorite

2011-06-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

Chick Corea is one of the most popular and influential American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer. Some jazz experts support the idea that Chick surely participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement, but he also is the movement. His work is popular worldwide, creating many jazz standards and working with some of the top jazz artists in his career.

Chick’s official birth name is Anthony Armando Corea and he was born in Chelsea, Massachussetts on June 12, 1941. He first sat down in front of a piano at the age of four with his father’s influence. Chick’s father Armando was a bandleader in the in the '30s and '40s. Easily, Chick spent a great deal of his growing years listening to the music of Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart. He even sat longingly listening to the musical recordings of Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Horace Silver and Bud Powell. These musicians had an intrinsic bearing on the aspiring pianist.

In his early years, Chick worked for Herbie Mann, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria and Cal Tjader. All of these great musicians influenced his love for Latin American music. Uniformly, you could listen to his music and hear his percussive beat and double time impression that pervades Latin music.

Interestingly, Corea worked with other greats such as Sarah Vaughan, Stan Getz, Blue Mitchell and Gary Burton before joining up with the great talent of the Miles Davis' band in 1968. With Mile’s Band, he played electric piano on the highly acclaimed In a Silent Way album and the distinguished Bitches Brew.

Chick has created, performed and even recorded with many different musicians. Collaborating as a trio with Roy Haynes and Miroslav Vitous, Now He Sings, Now He Sobs was created, a staple in the record collections of the late 1960s.

Corea’s forward-thinking group Circle, from 1969 to 1971, was a pivotal force in free form improvisation, reflecting the influence of jazz musicians, such as Ornette Coleman and Paul Bley, while also drawing from 20th Century composers such as Karlheine Stockhausen and John Cage.

When Circle parted ways in 1972, Corea put together a new band, Return to Forever, with Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreira, singer Flora Purim and reedman Joe Farrell. Following two albums of light, invigorating Latin-tinged music, the band slanted their work toward the electronic side of jazz by bringing in electric guitarist Bill Connors and energetic drummer Lenny White.

But as bands go through their changes, guitarist Al DiMeola replaced Connors in 1974, with Return to Forever leading the fusion movement until the band separated in 1976. For the next two years, Chick continued to tour with a small orchestra, consisting of a 13-piece ensemble that included horns and strings. Since that formable tour with the small orchestra, Chick has continued a lustrous career with Grammy awards, sold out venues and top-selling albums, engaging jazz lovers with straight-ahead jazz quartets to fusion quintets and trios to classical duets.

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Sugary Mayhem: Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2011-06-14T17:04:00.000-07:00

At one point (or several) in any child's life, they dream of living in a world where chocolate and sugary sweets are plentiful and there are no adults around to tell them to eat their vegetables instead. In 2005, the second remake of Roald Dahl's classic 1964 novel came to theaters, this time with big name actors such as Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, and Helena Bonham Carter. And of course, the artistically brilliant director Tim Burton once again created a colorful piece of eye candy (no pun intended) with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Set in Scotland, this family film is the familiar story of a poor boy named Charlie Bucket, who finds one of the five most sought-after items in the world: a golden ticket. He, along with Grandpa Joe and four other contestants and their guardians, are some of the first people allowed into the famed Willy Wonka factory after years of being shut off from the public.

The whimsical Willy Wonka (played by Depp) is wonderfully inquisitive and quite socially awkward, having been hidden away from most of humanity (with the exception of his Oompa Loompas) for many years. He takes the crew of ten into his factory, allowing them to indulge themselves in his candylicious creations. One by one, each child manages to get themselves in trouble and, in a “Survivor”-like sense, “kicked off the island.” Finally, it all comes down to Charlie Bucket, the boy who wanted nothing but to see the majestic factory in which his old grandpa talked about for years.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a visually stunning and oftentimes hilarious family film that is sure to leave you salivating for that rich river of chocolate or plants composed entirely of crème and sugar. Just as Wonka says, anything is possible when you use your imagination.

The film teaches the powerful lesson of restraint. The four other children besides Charlie could not control themselves from wanting things, whether those desires were more chocolate, a golden squirrel nut (a different take on the original version's golden goose eggs), a delectable though dangerous piece of gum, or a “new video game.” Only the least spoiled brat of the five – Charlie - manages to make it all the way to the end of the wacky tour through Wonka's wonderful candy land.

Ultimately, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a unique twist on a familiar tale that most children and their families would enjoy, making it the perfect feature for a movie night party.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used family DVDs from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to Despicable Me, visit www.used-familyentertainment.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Spend This Summer With Family, Baseball and The Sandlot

2011-06-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

No movie better reminds me of my youth than The Sandlot. Baseball is America’s game; a game that countless number of children fill their summer days and nights with, under the lights between the chalk, diving in the dirt and staining their clothes with grass. The 1993 family sports film about a group of kids in the summer of 1962 will go down in history as one of the greatest baseball movies ever created.

“The beast” is likely the most memorable character in the film directed by David Mickey Evans, although there are a handful of unforgettable portrayals. The kids are faced with the impossible task of reacquiring Smalls’ (played by Tom Guiry) stepfather’s (Denis Leary) baseball autographed by “The Great Bambino” Babe Ruth himself. The beast is the fierce junkyard dog, watching over the yard that sits behind the sandlot while stories of his treachery have sprawled the land. Watching the boys conceive a number of clever and not so clever plots to outwit the beast provides great laughs and serves as a portal to childhood memories filled with such divisive schemes. The most epic scene outside of “Benny the Jet” lacing up his PF Flyers and outrunning the beast involves the beast chasing the boys around town, through the movie theatre, alleys and streets in utter and complete chaos fashion.

There is something for everybody in The Sandlot: for the new kids in town who are having trouble making friends (Smalls); the star athlete that, despite his enormous talents, will always be an even better friend (Benny the Jet); the mischievous thrill seeker that “goes for it” (Squints); and the heavy set jokester that drops jaws and hits homeruns (Ham).

This cult family classic is ingrained as Americana and includes such memorable and often cited quotes as: “For-ev-ver! For-ev-ver! ;” “Hey, Smalls, you want s'more??” “How can I have some more if I haven’t had any yet?“; “You're killing me Smalls!” “Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die. Follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong”; “I don't know. Some lady gave it to him. She even signed her name on it... Ruth. Baby Ruth.” Oh, and how could we forget perhaps the most memorable of them all, “You play ball like a girl!”

The film grossed $4 million in its opening weekend and an additional $32 million through ticket sales. Figures for worldwide, VHS and DVD sales are estimated to be close to $76 million. The film has become a cult favorite since its release on both VHS and DVD.

The Sandlot captured the innocence and delight of being young and playing baseball over summer break in a small town neighborhood. The film isn't perfect but will always be remembered that way. It is a feel-good family classic that, despite its juvenile nature, will always near the top of people’s “top baseball movie” list.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used family DVDs from The Sandlot to Field of Dreams, visit www.used-familyentertainment.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Only the Good Die Young: Remembering John Candy in Uncle Buck

2011-06-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

The jolly fat man that just couldn’t stick around long enough; the 1989 John Hughes comedy is classic John Candy and a great flick for a family movie night. Candy, like Chris Farley, is at his best while portraying the laughable imbecile that, despite his shortcoming, you just can’t help but love. John Candy reminds us what it is to be an American: jolly, carefree, loving, and unfortunately for a large population, overweight.

One of the most distinctive characteristics of Uncle Buck is the beaten up Mercury Grand Marquis that more closely resembles a rocket lifting off than a car every time it starts. The most picturesque scene with Uncle Buck’s beater of transportation takes place when he is picking up his niece, played by Jean Louisa Kelly. She is talking to her boyfriend, whom Buck is not a fan of, and insists on riding home with him but Buck had a different idea. He makes her get into his Marquis and guns the engine, engulfing the boyfriend with a cloud of black filthy auto waste.

It's a goofy family comedy, but also extraordinarily sly, unafraid to permit generous screen time to bizarre jokes and situations of slack guardian supervision. John Hughes has a certain love for big, boisterous, Chicago families and, before there was Home Alone, there was Uncle Buck. Saddled with three foul mouthed and morally non-absorbent kids, Buck has to fend off the advances of a neighbor, keep his niece's virginity and not let down the people that truly love him the most.

It’s an amazing comedy that's impossible to hate. John Candy embodies the most lovable characters with all sorts of crazy elements. He makes what might have been a mediocre film and takes it to the next level. The plot is actually one of the better conceived John Hughes ideas. And let’s not forget that.

“Hey, Bobby we should really get together sometime. I haven't been over at the new house since you moved. By the way, I want to apologize for last year at your old house... about those bushes. I had no idea they all would catch on fire like that. You were right. I should never have put the barbeque grill that close.” This memorable quote depicts a hilarious scene where Buck is talking with his brother Bobby on the phone and is just the type of comedic genius you’ll get with this family flick.

John Candy may not still be with us, but his comedy will always live on in our hearts as we continue to laugh time and time again at his timeless classics. It sure is a shame that all of the funniest fat men of our era have died. But this just means that more comedic gold is sure to come, not to replace but to go down in history alongside the other comedic genius’.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used family DVDs from Uncle Buck to Groundhog Day, visit www.used-familyentertainment.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks Bring Sweet Moments and Laughter

2011-06-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

Alvin and the Chipmunks took over the scene in the late 1950s and returned in full swing in 2007 as computer generated images, known as CGI. The three little rascals look more real than ever now. Like the movie poster says, “Things are going to get messy.”

This time the chipmunks arrive in the home of struggling songwriter David Seville, who had just had his latest song rejected by JETT Records executive Ian Hawke, his old college roommate. To make the story even more interesting, Dave has a complicated a relationship with one-time girlfriend Claire Wilson, his next door neighbor.

When Alvin and his two buddies sing "Only You (And You Alone)," Dave realizes he has discovered three diamonds in the rough. This is when the movie really takes off. The Chipmunks sing the songs he writes and in return, Dave keeps them fed and sheltered. The singing and montages in the film are brilliant as Jason Lee does a fantastic job of playing off the little CGI animals.

One of my favorite scenes is when Theodore wakes up in the middle of the night, scared from a nightmare. Dave helps him feel safe by letting him sleep in his bed. A very cute part of the movie, any parent or child will relate to this heartwarming moment, which is later referred to with Uncle Ian in a rather poignant scene.

The chipmunks, being the little rascals they are, cause some major problems for Dave. But they are so adorable you can’t help but laugh, which really makes this a wonderful family movie. A really cute scene is when Alvin tries to create the mood for Dave’s reunion dinner with Claire. The dinner becomes very odd and strange, with Claire eventually bailing on Dave after he confesses, "My life is being sabotaged by talking chipmunks."

Alvin and the Chipmunks want to make up for the blunder, so they record a hit song and get a record deal with Ian Hawke, making the trio more famous than the Jonas Brothers. The little animals work hard to keep up with the demand from the fans. Dave begins to worry about them and tries to get control over the situation. With missed opportunities and Hawke’s underhanded scheme to steal the chipmunks, Dave lets them go. Hawke tells the chipmunks to call him Uncle Ian, though his plan is just to make money off of them and doesn’t have their well-being in mind. Clearly, the little guys are overworked. They miss Dave and Dave misses them.

Directed by Tim Hill, Alvin and the Chipmunks is fun for everyone. It is a film that the whole family can watch together without worries of parents getting bored or jokes going over the kids’ head. The talented cast and voice actors make the movie. Some of the cast members are Jane Lynch from “Glee”, Justin Long as Alvin, Matthew Gray Gubler as Simon, Jesse McCartney as Theodore, David Cross as Ian Hawke, and of course, Jason Lee as Dave.

The DVD comes with a behind-the-scenes featurette detailing how the chipmunks’ singing was created. It is well worth the look, as you will discover the real singers of the movie.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used family DVDs from Alvin and the Chipmunks to The Nutty Professor, visit www.used-familyentertainment.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Will Smith Brings a Legendary Performance in I Am Legend

2011-06-14T16:38:00.000-07:00

On many occasions, Will Smith astounds me for his pure intellect at choosing great story lines for the movies he stars. I Am Legend has lured readers since its publication in 1954. Readers of the novel praise author Richard Matheson’s ability to create characters with depth. Legend’s character Robert Neville utterly thrills the audience, not to mention the story is pretty darn good. I Am Legend opened in movie theaters December 14, 2007 with Will Smith as Neville. The movie literally took the box office like a rocket ship.

Of course, Will Smith proved to be a great actor and helped to create a wonderful movie with director Francis Lawrence.

The story begins with military virologist Lieutenant Colonel Robert Neville (Smith) suffering from the loss of his wife Zoe and daughter Marley in a helicopter crash during the unruly quarantine of Manhattan. We then discover Neville is involved with rectifying the spread of K.V. (Krippen Virus), a genetically-engineered modification of the measles virus intended to cure cancer. But it mutated into a deadly strain, spreading worldwide and killing 90% of the population.

The action continues when we discover Neville is the last healthy human in the New York area. With 600 million people still living worldwide, only 12 million are naturally immune to the lethal virus. Neville has to contend with the degenerated, hairless and aggressive beings called “Darkseekers," who hunt the immune humans as food.

Neville continues to try and solve the spreading of the lethal strain with a routine that involves experimenting on infected rats. He takes trips through a decaying New York City in order to obtain supplies from abandoned buildings or hunt for wildlife that have moved into the city. Neville's loneliness is nurtured by his German Shepherd Sam and, almost comically, associations with mannequins he organized as customers at a video store.

Neville loses Sam to an attack by a pack of dogs that carry the infection. Overcome with loss and grief, Neville decides to attempt a suicide attack, taking as many “Darkseekers” as possible, which is a great action scene. Neville is almost killed before he is saved by a pair of immune humans, a woman named Anna and a boy named Ethan.

When Anna and Ethan join the action flick, it seems as if the story sifts and a new movie takes place. The ending is surprising but some I Am Legend DVDs offer an alternative ending featurette that is more fitting to the original Richard Matheson novel. Either way, the movie is packed with action and enough drama to keep the viewer entertained throughout.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used action film DVDs from I Am Legend to The Terminator, visit www.used-actionmovies.com. For any questions you may have, please contact us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Kicking and Laughing Our Way Through Kung Fu Hustle

2011-06-14T16:29:00.000-07:00

Calling all Jackie Chan fans, calling all Jackie Chan fans! Do we have your attention now? Great, because you are in for a treat.

Are you in search for great martial arts action film but are at a loss of where to begin because there are so many? Why not take a look at one of China’s finest producers, directors, actors, and writers, Stephen Chow, and his film that has won the hearts of many, Kung Fu Hustle. While this movie is chock full of fist swinging and punch throwing action, it is a difficult movie to define.

Kung Fu Hustle holds several elements that can place it into many genres. There is a love story, Asian master fighters, excellent fight scenes, mystery, knee slapping humor, outrageous special effects and a kind of suspense that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Spanning over so many genres, Kung Fu Hustle is nearly impossible to dislike for those who are imaginative individuals and feed off the sense of adventure. Whatever your preconceived notions are about this movie, throw them out the window because they are not accurate until you watch the movie to confirm them.

Even though there are many facets that make this action movie complete, Kung Fu Hustle still sticks to its original kung fu storyline. There are a variety of names for great and powerful fighting stances and moves, such as the “lions roar,” which is a powerful move that can only be acquired by a kung fu master. The kung fu master in this flick is quite unsuspecting! Remember that hint of mystery we mentioned?

Another appropriately named kung fu fighting move is the “Palm of Buddha,” which is hilarious to see in action, to say the least. The fighting scenes are marvelously over-the-top, with awe inspiring special effects that mirror the effects you see in “The Matrix,” but still hold their own originality.

The story begins with a man, Sing, who wishes to fight like a master and is sure that he will learn by joining a very powerful, neighborhood gang called the Axe Gang. While this gang terrorizes the town’s citizens, the Landlord and Landlady forbid these happenings by pushing the Axe Gang out of the town. This movie must be taken with a light heart and open mind. Chow very wittily pokes some fun at the martial arts action genre, but it is done tastefully so. While throughout the movie the viewer may find it difficult to put their finger on this film, once you arrive at the ending, you will be pleasantly surprised and pleased.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used action film DVDs from Kung Fu Hustle to Rush Hour, visit www.used-actionmovies.com. For any questions you may have, please contact us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Booka Shade: Champions of the German Techno Scene

2011-06-06T18:09:00.000-07:00

From their origins in Frankfurt, Germany, Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier have exploded well beyond the realms of German Diskos onto the international techno scene. Even though they got started less than a decade ago, they have already come out with four smashing album hits: Memento, Movements, The Sun & the Neon Light, and More! They have been hugely popular at the world tour performances, gathering up millions of fans all over the globe. One of their most popular albums was undoubtedly The Sun & the Neon Light.

The Sun & the Neon Light, which came out in May 2008, is much different than Booka Shade's previous works, with the beats more muted and controlled than their usual, wilder house music. While you can definitely still get down on the dance floor with tunes from “Karma Car” and “Planetary,” there is still a definite change from the lively beats in previous albums.

One of the top tracks on The Sun & the Neon Light would undoubtedly be “Redemption.” While it starts as a calm, gentle techno beat, it suddenly moves faster and becomes more ominous as the listener feels as though something powerful is upon them. There is a brief smash of techno house beats in the middle, but then it quickly switches back to the flowing calmness that was the beginning, with brief interruptions in between. It finally finishes off abruptly, making you feel as though you missed something, yet you heard just enough as it were. It is a truly puzzling song that's hard to stop listening to.

Their popular single “Charlotte” is also worth listening to over and over again. It starts off with paused, alien-like beats before a swift transition into dance-worthy electro rhythm. Towards the middle - as seen in other tracks on this album - things revert to the complete opposite of the previous beat, going from fast and hustling to slower, tip-toeing beats. The end trickles off nicely too, making this a popular song in the clubs for those looking to listen to something unlike the masses of other dance floor beats these days.

The synthesizers used in this album give it a truly unique feel and help this album evoke a more mature version of Booka Shade's regular beats. It has been well-received all over the world and continues to inspire new streams of techno music today.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used Dance/Techno CDs from “The Sun & the Neon Light ” to “Mezzanine,” visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Exploring the Depths of the Moby Masterpiece Wait for Me

2011-06-06T18:04:00.000-07:00

During the 1990's, one of the most popular ambient electronica artists managed to nab countless top 40 singles and music awards with his techno music. Richard Hall, better known as Moby, was a star then and an even bigger superstar today. Hit most popular album (as well as the best selling electronica album in the world to date) is Play, released in 1999. One of his recent albums, Wait for Me, released in 2009, is truly a masterpiece. The ambient brand that created Moby's smashing success still held strong in that album, making it one of the most fantastic nonpareil electronica albums for the decade.

One of the most powerful songs on the album is “Shot in the Back of the Head.” Its hypnotic and surreal instrumental performance is truly something to behold. Mournful and stirring, it has the making of the perfect melody for an emotional movie scene. Deliberately choppy in the beginning, it gradually flows its way into tearful rhythmical motion before finally floating away as the finale.

Another notable track is “Pale Horses.” Accompanied by devastatingly beautiful vocalists, the mixture of emotive melodies and intriguingly depressive lyrics make this a powerful song to any listener's ears.

“Hope is Gone” is a sad ballad, beginning with a gentle female vocalist performance and continuing with lightly tense, slightly hopeful instrumental pieces in the background as she continues her heartbreaking song until it all fades away at the very end.

“Wait for Me,” the title track, is completely ethereal in that it includes a trickle of piano tunes against a set of wondrous female vocals. It allows the listener to imagine the depths of which this album talks to the soul through music.

Moby will certainly go down in history as one of the best techno/electronica musicians of the decades. Wait for Me is profoundly beautiful despite its leaning towards the more pessimistic, darker sides of life. It manages to find beauty in the saddest of melodies, making the listener uncertain as to whether they should dissolve in tears of joy or tears of sorrow. It is truly a moving masterpiece, living up to his expectations after his previous amazing successes in the techno music field.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used Techno CDs from “Wait for Me ” to “Tron: Legacy Soundtrack,” visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Sandstorm: Darude's Greatest Contribution to the Techno Music Industry

2011-06-06T17:57:00.000-07:00

Few songs can make people feel energized, excited, anxious, powerful, breathless, and edgy all at the same time. Such an explosive musical masterpiece as Darude's 1999 song, “Sandstorm,” only comes around every few years. Perfect for clubs and discos around the world, “Sandstorm” has been a hit for years. And with that kind of techno-inspired genius, it's no wonder this song has become so successful.

From its roots in Finland clubs by DJ Darude - eventually produced professionally by 16 Inch Records and released in November of 1999 - “Sandstorm” took the country by storm (no pun intended). Due to its raving national success, the recording company took “Sandstorm” global, releasing it to a broader European audience in 2000. It also gained popularity there, almost instantaneously becoming a worldwide hit in the first year of the new millennium.

With the entrancing first minute of the song, listeners are slowly introduced to a techno-venture, as the sound of cymbals clashing grows closer and more menacing with each passing beat. Rhythmatic techno beats begin softly in the distance and grow louder and more powerful until an explosion of techno beats take over the initial sensitive sequence of the song.

It is a masterfully-woven, yet heart-racing collection of beats that go from high speed trance to stuttering, cautious ticks of a beat, and right back to the unending assimilation of techno choruses that keep the song flowing faster than a raging hurricane.

The middle of the extended version (the radio edit is approximately 3:30, the longer version is over seven minutes) contains a brief pause in the flow of the beats, with just the occasional ominous cymbal once again clattering far off in the distance. The entire feel of the song gives the listener the feeling of the music coming from some far away location, not in the close proximity of their ears.

Furthermore, this song was so popular all over the world that it managed to land in some prestigious dancing-based games, such as DDRMAX Dance Dance Revolution. Despite it's declining popularity since its first release over a decade ago, it has received top awards from countries such as Germany, Australia and the US. It is still often played today during various sporting events to encourage excitement amongst the crowds for the home team.

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Sports Arenas, Movies, and Tops of Charts – “Get Ready For This” Is Everywhere

2011-06-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

In 1991, Belgium-Holland dance group 2 Unlimited dropped one of the most popular techno tracks in the history of the genre with the Eurodance single “Get Ready for This”. The single was released on their debut album Get Ready and is quite likely the bands most famous single in the United States - climbing as high as #38 on the Billboard Top 40, standing alone as the bands only Top 40 hit. Outside of the United States, however, 2 Unlimited’s fifth single “No Limit” soared higher in praise and popularity.

“Y’all ready for this?” stands out amongst all their lyrics, sampled from The D.O.C.’s hit single “It’s Funky Enough.”

“Get Ready for This” has become a mainstay at sporting events around the world and is considered one of the most frequently played songs. At Superbowl XLV, the Green Bay Packers came out of the tunnel to 2 Unlimited’s smash hit, while at one time NBA teams Orlando Magic and San Antonio Songs used the song for their starting lineup introductions. Michael Jordan’s brief movie career consisting of Space Jam also included the song in the soundtrack, in addition to the sports compilation Jock Jams, Volume 1.

The song can also be heard in the teeny bopper film Bring It On and television series Moesha. It’s status as a sports anthem grew to such great heights that is was parodied by Beavis and Buthead when Beavis questions if they are watching an American football game when the music video to song plays on the television.

The Eurodance act formed in 1991 as the brainchild project of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. Over a span of five years, 2 Unlimited experienced tremendous popularity worldwide scoring 16 chart hits, including “Get Ready for This,” "Twilight Zone," "No Limit" and "Tribal Dance." Over the course of their illustrious career they have sold more than 18 million records worldwide.

After 13 years, Slijngaard and Doth reunited and performed together in April 2009 at the “I Love the 90s” concert in Hasselt, Belgium. Most recently, in January 2010, they released a new single together titled “In Da Name Of Love” under the name of Ray & Anita. It has risen to become a top five hit in the Netherlands.

Byte Records (Belgium) signed the Eurodance group and were license to many other record labels including PWL Continental in the UK, run by Pete Waterman of Stock, Aitken & Waterman fame, most notably known for producing dozens of hits for Kylie Minogue and Rick Astley. Waterman intuitively decided that the duo was unsuitable for the UK market, which had seen an explosion of popularity in rave music, prompting him to remove most of the vocals from the track except for the line “Y’all ready for this?” “Get Ready for This” was an instant hit, peaking at number two in the charts and went on to become the twelfth best-selling single of 1991, worthy of a silver sales certificate. It would later reach number four in Belgium, 10 in the Netherlands, and number two in Australia. On the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, “Get Ready for This” reached as high as number seven.

For more information or questions regarding buying or selling used Techno CDs from Get Ready to DJ Tiesto’s Kaleidoscope, visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions, please email us at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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The Haphazard Techno Style of Justice Also Reflects Indie and Rock

2011-06-06T17:48:00.000-07:00

Techno duo Justice is just two guys, Gaspard Auge and Xavier de Rosnay, from France. They play highly electric charged beats and are one of the most commercially successful groups on Ed Banger Records. Justice is techno by all standards, but one can’t help but notice a strong rock and indie influence in both their image and music. If you follow their prolific career, it is really hard to tell what or where they’re headed. One thing is for certain - they are electrifying and techno according to some of the top DJs.

Their first album †(Cross) received critical acclaim when it arrived on the streets in 2007 and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Electronic and Dance Album. The album rose to number 15 on Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2007 and was nominated for the 2007 Shortlist Prize.

In 2009, Justice did win a Grammy Award for the remix of the MGMT song "Electric Feel." The popular song won for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical. That same year, Justice announced their departure from Ed Banger Records, signing with WMG/Atlantic's re-launched Elektra Records label.

Around that time, Justice announced that they started to work on another album. Early this year, the band uploaded an image that fans assumed was the new album cover onto their official Facebook wall. Last March, they released their first single called “Civilization” after confirming that they were still working on their second album.

Besides the one album and another in the works, during the band’s career, they have released 6 singles, a DVD concert and documentary film titled A Cross the Universe and quite a few remixes. Justice's very first solo single, called "Waters of Nazareth," was released in September 2005 and became very popular with top DJs like Alkan, Erol, Tiga, Ivan Smagghe and 2 Many DJs. The same song was released again in 2006 as remix. More remixes were pumped out by the pair, producing mixes for Mr. Oizo, Mystery Jets, Franz Ferdinand and Soulwax.

Auge and Rosnay have appeared at festivals such as Live P.A., Parklife and others around Australia. They made it to the Coachella festival and the Sónar festival in Barcelona as well as many other festivals around the world from Fujii Rock Festival in Niigata, Japan to the T in the Park festival in Kinross, Scotland.

Looking over Justice’s journey as a techno band, it seems rather diverse and unplanned, or perhaps even haphazard. In an interview with BBC, the two guys from France put it in the right perspective: “Yeah, it was a lot of fun to create,” beams Gaspard Auge.

“Well,” corrects Xavier, “it was probably 80 percent fun, and maybe ten percent tears, five percent gigs, two percent harassment and, um… I can’t remember where we are in percentage now. Sorry.”

For more information or for questions on buying or selling used Techno, Dance and House CDs, visit www.used-techno.com. If you have any questions please email at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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Take a “Time Out” to Listen to the Dave Brubek Quartet Top Selling Album

2011-06-06T17:41:00.000-07:00

Recognized as one of the greatest jazz albums of all time, the 1959 Dave Brubek Quartet album Time Out is a subtle unity of cool and West Coast jazz. Despite receiving negative reviews upon its release from critics, Colombian president Goddard Lieberson took a chance on this experimental album and introduced to the world what would become one of the best-known and biggest-selling jazz albums.

Time Out reached number two in the U.S. Billboard "Pop Albums" chart, and produced one single - Paul Desmond's "Take Five" - that reached as high as number five in the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. In 2005, the Library of Commerce selected 50 recordings to be added to the National Recording Registry, Brubek’s hit album being one of them. For those of you compiling your bucket lists, Time Out was additionally included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Neil Fujita provided the cover art for the album.

Brubeck’s Quartet is revered as one of the most outstanding jazz groups of its time. In addition to Mr. Brubeck playing the piano, there was the great Paul Desmond blowing on the alto sax, Eugene Wright slappin’ the bass and Joe Morello bangin’ the drums. The Time Out theme stems from the individual album titles and Brubeck’s unique interest in utilizing various time signatures in his compositions.

Time Out stands with Kind Of Blue by Miles Davis and My Favorite Things from John Coltrane as one of the most-respected LPs of the era. “Blue Rondo a la Turk” and “Take Five” are acknowledged jazz classics. Time Out’s remaining four tracks certainly do not disappoint either.

The record opens with the hectic arrangement of “Blue Rondo,” which, even if the title doesn’t ring a bell, I assure you that everyone has heard it at least once. A common knock on Brubeck, along with other white West Coast players of the period, was that they were too intellectual. “Cool Jazz” is actually a derogatory term used because supposedly the music did not swing. However, with one listen to this track, all bets are off in that department.

The striking “Strange Meadow Lark” follows, featuring some fabulous work on the keys from Brubeck in addition to Desmond‘s sax toward the end. The classic “Take Five” rounds out side one of the original LP. The aura of mystery, odd time signatures and brilliant instrumentation come together to form one of the finest jazz cuts ever.

Brubeck's style ranges from refined to bombastic, evidence of his mother's attempts at classical training and his improvisational skills. His music is most known for employing unusual time signatures and superimposing contrasting rhythms, meters and tonalities.

For more information or for questions on buying or selling used Jazz, Cool Jazz and any other genre of music CDs, visit www.used-jazz.com. If you have any questions please email at customerservice@secondspin.com.

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