Saturday, July 12, 2008

Rock Band Special Edition


Product Features


    * Comes with guitar controller, drum controller, microphone, USB Hub and game software
    * Over 40 tracks to play with - Including acts like Metallica, Bon Jovi, Stone Temple Pilots and the Ramones! Learn to play songs spanning all genres of rock.
    * Guitar controller utilizes a five-way FX switch that allows flanger, wah-wah, echo and chorus effects
    * Drum controller features four pads, a kick pedal and real drum sticks
    * Microphone can be tapped against your hand to play percussion instruments, such as tambourine and cowbell


 


Nearly a decade ago, Konami released the first installments in the DrumMania and Guitar Freaks series, which used drum and guitar peripherals. Though neither franchise was a huge hit, the Japanese publisher did sell millions of its dozen-plus Karaoke Revolution games worldwide.


Given Konami's primogeniture in the instrument and karaoke genres, the publisher was likely none too happy when developer Harmonix combined drums, guitars, and singing into one game--Rock Band. Since its release last November, the MTV Games-published, Electronic Arts-distributed title has sold more than 3 million $179 bundles and more than 10 million song downloads. MTV's parent, Viacom, went as far as to name-check the game in its annual earnings report in May, crediting it with increased profits.


Now, it appears Konami is expressing its displeasure in legal form. According to a report on the Bloomberg news service, this week the Japanese publisher filed suit in a Marshall, Texas, court against Harmonix, MTV Networks, and Viacom. Its suit claims that Rock Band violates a series of US Patents registered in 2002 and 2003 relating to "simulated musical instruments" and "musical rhythm-matching game."


Bloomberg's report did not outline what Konami wanted in terms of compensation from the suit. However, the legal action's timing comes shortly after the announcement of Rock Band 2 and Rock Band: Japan as well as the release of Rock Band: Special Edition for the Wii. It also comes less than two months after Konami announced its own peripheral-based, guitar-drum-vocal title, Rock Revolution, due out later this year.


[UPDATE] Unsurprisingly, MTV Games and Harmonix will not be taking the suit lying down. "Konami's actions are extremely surprising," an MTV representative told the company's Multiplayer gaming blog. "Unfortunately, successful products such as Rock Band can often become targets for baseless litigation. We have substantial defenses to this claim and intend to vigorously defend it."


Coldplay 2007 Calendar, 12" x 12"

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Electric Ladyland (released in October 1968) is widely considered The Jimi Hendrix Experience's crowning achievement and focuses attention on Hendrix's abilities as singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer. This stunning collection provides the earliest insight into Hendrix's "Sky Church" concept with featured guest appearances by Steve Winwood, Jack Casady, Al Kooper, Chris Wood, and Buddy Miles.

The first time I picked up this album, I knew it was something very special. It really conveys all the different nuances of the Hendrix style. Firstly, the soulful "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)", is a great example of Jimi at his thoughtful best with his guitar sounding very mellow. However, this soon is overtaken by the still soulful but rougher-edged sounds of "Crosstown Traffic". This song is about a girl who is hard to get rid of. Getting through to her that she's not wanted is like getting through crosstown traffic. Again, the guitar riffs here are smooth and soulful, displaying Hendrix's unique ability to be tender with a rough-edge at the same time.

"Voodoo Chile" (and the reprise "Voodoo Child - Slight Return") is an epic, what can I say? It is 15 minutes of blues-drenched Jimi at his best. While the track sounds like a live recording, the crowd noise was actually recorded afterwards. Some twenty people were brought to the studio to record appropriate background noise. Nevertheless, the audience sounds are very well integrated into the track. "Little Miss Strange" and "Long Hot Summer Night" are interesting tracks, the first sounding like a typical 1960s pop song, and the second sounding again, a bit rougher-edged.

Then come my favourite tracks on the album, the old Earl King track "Come On (Let the Good Times Roll)" where Jimi shows off his best guitar work. This is bluesy and quite over the top as Jimi just attacks his guitar in a real rock n'roll style. Another favourite is "Gypsy Eyes" which has a sizzling, aggressive guitar sound. Fantastic! "The Burning of the Midnight Lamp" follows which has a much more mellow sound. The song's lyrics are about the loss of relationship. Scenes of loneliness are described with attention to detail, including seeing an earring left behind and how it reminds him of his current loneliness. Whether due to the personal lyrics or unique instrumentation and sound, Hendrix was particularly proud of this song. His attachment is evidenced by the decision to include it on Electric Ladyland over a year after first releasing it.

"Rainy Day, Dream Away" and the later reprise "Still Raining, Still Dreaming" are laid-back jazz-blues tracks which show the versatility of Jimi's guitar playing. "1983 . . . (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)" is a fantastic dreamy journey into another world. It is self-indulgent and is designed to take you away and it does so, with great effect. The song details a science fiction scenario of an apocalyptic war and the protagonist/Hendrix' desire to "take our last walk through the noise to the sea" with his female companion.

"House Burning Down" is a classic sizzling Hendrix track which really typifies the overtly aggressive Hendrix style. Finally, "All Along the Watchtower", written by Bob Dylan, highlights another aspect of Hendrix's work, where he really 'talks' emotion through his guitar. Hendrix's obsessive re-working of the song totally transformed it from a quiet acoustic ballad to a pyrotechnic display of Hendrix's guitar virtuosity. Dylan has described his reaction to hearing Hendrix's version: "It overwhelmed me, really. He had such talent, he could find things inside a song and vigorously develop them. He found things that other people wouldn't think of finding in there. He probably improved upon it by the spaces he was using. I took license with the song from his version, actually, and continue to do it to this day" (Interview with Bob Dylan: 09/29/95, Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel). A great tribute indeed.

Details of credits for the album are as follows:

Jimi Hendrix - electric guitar, bass guitar (on tracks 2, 6, 8, 11, 14 and 15), electric harpsichord (on track 9), percussion, lead vocals (on all non-instrumental tracks except 5 in which Mitch and Noel sing), background vocals, kazoo made of comb and paper (track 3), a slide used in "All Along the Watchtower" is actually a cigarette lighter.

Mitch Mitchell - drums (on all tracks except 10 and 13), percussion, background vocals, lead vocals (with Redding on track 5).

Noel Redding - bass guitar (on tracks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 16), background vocals, acoustic guitar (on track 5), lead vocals (with Mitchell on track 5)

Extras included:

Jack Casady - bass (on track 4)

Larry Faucette - congas (on tracks 10 and 13)

Mike Finnigan - organ (on tracks 10 and 13)

Al Kooper - piano (on track 6)

Dave Mason - guitar (on track 15), backing vocals (on track 3)

Buddy Miles - drums (on tracks 10 and 13)

Freddie Smith - tenor saxophone (on tracks 10 and 13)

Steve Winwood - organ (on track 4)

Chris Wood - flute (on track 11)

Cissy Houston and The Sweet Inspirations - background vocals (on track 9)

Brian Jones - percussion {on track 13}

Production

Producers - Jimi Hendrix & Chas Chandler

Engineers - Eddie Kramer & Gary Kellgren

Mixed by - Jimi Hendrix & Eddie Kramer

Arranged by Jimi Hendrix

Liner Note by Jimi Hendrix

US cover design - Karl Ferris

US cover inside photos - Linda Eastman (McCartney) & David Sygall

US art direction - Ed Thrasher

UK cover design - David King, Rob O'Connor

UK cover inside photos - Richard Montgomery

1st remaster by Allan Douglas

Remastering - Joe Gastwirt

Liner notes - Michael Fairchild

2nd remaster by Experience Hendrix

Remastering supervisors - Janie Hendrix, John McDermott

Remastering - Eddie Kramer & George Marino

Art direction - Vartan

Liner notes - Jeff Leve

Essay - Derek Taylor

RECOMMENDATION: 10/10

Dr Robert Muller is an expert author on 1960s and 1970s blues, rock and jazz fusion music. Robert used to be a DJ on Adelaide radio with his famous program "Timewarp". Robert's website is at: http://psychedelichippiemusic.blogspot.com/

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