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MadeLoud Blog

The power of the B-side

The A-side and B-side have been around for half a century, each refering to the featured track (A-side, which a producer would believe to be a "hit") and another track (B-side) which was on the other side of the vinyl record which would not be released on the bands full album.

The B-side could be a number of things and was a great way for artists to give their fans a sample of music that was either unfinished at the time of release, an acoustic, a live performance, a track deemed not good enough for the album, or even a remix. Rarely the B-side would become more popular than the A-side but here are some examples you may or may not have known. I was surprised. ...

Playing With Yourself

If you have poor hygiene, limited social skills or both, you can always make your own band. For all two of you that have read my previous blog on The One Man Band, it's not the same thing; I'm not talking about tying bicycle horns to every conceivable (and inappropriate) location of your body to accentuate the entire trap set you're carrying around on your back in the hopes that your frantic lurching around will make something musical enough that passersby will throw change at you thus offsetting the ruinous chiropractic bills you'll inevitably incur. ...

The Biggest Organ

There is some debate in music circles about who exactly has the largest Organ in the world. The largest Pipe Organ, that is. It is regrettable that I'm approaching this blog without my trademark Compendium of Phallic Jokes, References and Innuendos, but somehow or another we'll get by. ...

Domo arigato!

I was examining my playlist the other day and realized how much of it is currently electronica. I've always appreciated this genre of music because of it's driving bass and crazy robot sounds. The one instrument that has really sparked my interest as of late is the talk box, I've considered buying one of these with a small drum machine to do my own experimentation. I'm addicted. I will go into detail about this a little later. ...

5 Indie Bands I Wish I Could Have Seen Live

Indie kids, metal heads, and emo folks alike, be warned, this post is going to lean towards punk rock, perhaps due to my musical tastes, the intensity and infamy of the live shows associated with these bands, or maybe because of the fleeting nature of the late seventies, early eighties punk influx that swept the country.


Velvet Underground

Black Flag – (Any show 1981 – 1986)
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Top 10 UK Imports of the 1990's

The 1990s will always be a nostalgic time for me. It’s the decade when I grew up and discovered the world. Most of all, it’s the decade when I became passionate about music. Looking back now, it’s easy to forget all the great bands that made the jump from the UK to America, and who would go on to influence many of the bands who are part of today’s Indie scene. The following is by no means a comprehensive list – look at it as a jumping off point.

10. The Verve

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Erik Mongrain - "Fates" from his new release "Equilibrium"

A concert will mark the release of this French-Canadian's second album, which will be broadcast in every hour to cover all time zones on the planet... for everyone... literally everyone's viewing pleasure.


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New Indie Music on the Horizon

10/14 - The Secret Machines – Secret Machines

I haven’t heard anything about The Secret Machines since I was playing their first single as a DJ for WICB back in 2004. The Dallas natives will be following up their sophomore effort, Ten Silver Drops. Ten Silver Drops was the most successful US release for the band, peaking at #159 on the US charts.

10/21 - Electric Six – Flashy

I’ll admit – the most I know about Electric Six is that they used to sing that oddly catchy song “Gay Bar”, and I will forever associate them with the Internet meme, Spongemonkeys. Flashy will be Electric Six’s fifth album since they debuted in 2003. ...

Fanfare for the Common Man

Every so often - and I live for these moments, believe me - you hear something totally unlike anything you've heard before. It just hits you differently; it means something more than "I lost my girlfriend, my dog died, I drive an Escalade, et cetera." It goes past the standard and the stereotypical. It's more than just what's on the radio while you're stuck in the car for an hour and a half trying to get from point A to point B. You get the picture. ...

Obscure Instruments: The Accordian

Accordions are probably the second least appreciated instrument of all time (just slightly ahead of the bagpipes and directly behind the infamous Dead Kitten Flute). Despite accordions kicking around for no less than 186 years, science has yet to find a single soul surprised that the Accordion was invented by the Germans. Clowns, and, uh... clowns... ...