MP3 Resources

X was one of the most influential early punk bands, coming into existence in 1977 and continuing to tour, perform, and record up to the present-day.  Rancid, on the other hand, was responsible for revitalizing the punk scene in the mid-1990s with a faster, poppier sound.  What happens when great minds from these two groups come together?  You get the Devil’s Brigade.

Featuring Matt Freeman (bass & backing vocals) and Tim Armstrong (lead guitar & vocals) of Rancid along with drummer DJ Bonebrake of X, the Devil’s Brigade is a mix of classic punk and slap-happy rockabilly.  They first appeared with the song “Vampire Girl” on the Give ‘Em the Boot III comp in 2002—that’s three years before the publication of Twilight, if you’re keeping track. Since then, they released two 12” singles, and on August 31, they’re finally ready to show the world their self-titled debut LP.  Featuring 12 tracks, Freeman takes lead vocals here, and his strained growl is a perfect counterpoint to the psycho-‘50s guitar lines.  You can almost smell the years of beer and whiskey in each verse. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re a music fan, you know how a summer day can go from good to great with the right soundtrack.  Whether you’re into indie rock, electronica, or anything in between, these records will bring your lazy days to life.

• The Arcade Fire – The Suburbs:  The Montreal band’s 3^rd studio album comes out on Merge on August 3, but reviewers are already being bowled over by the album’s epic experimentalism.  Spin Magazine detects influences as far-reaching as William Gibson novels and Sonic Youth records, while BBC Music namedrops Springsteen and Depeche Mode.  The sound is equally varied.  Punk  anthems like “Month of May” fade out into gentler numbers like “Wasted Hours”, without ever seeming schizophrenic.  Instead, it captures perfectly the  feel of a bright summer day just before the downpour starts. Read the rest of this entry »

You’ve just downloaded five new songs, but you’re already getting sick of them. You’re in dire need of new music, but don’t know any good bands to try. Instead of buying full songs you’re not sure if you’ll like, try out some of these online music recommendation sources. Read the rest of this entry »

The emergence of the MP3 player in the last decade has revolutionized the way we listen to music.  MP3s can be connected to a car stereo and be listened to while driving, be amplified through small portable speakers, providing music for a party, or just be carried around at the gym for workout tunes.  In addition to their many uses, MP3s are far superior to outdated CD players because of the vast number of songs that can be stored on these tiny devices.  MP3 players are no longer just a way to play songs, these incredible devices let you access the internet, play games, store photos and more.

We’ve ranked our top five favorite MP3 players, so if you’re looking for a new one, or maybe even your first MP3 device, consider one of these.

1. Apple iPod Touch: The sleek design of this product combined with its built-in Wi-Fi and storage space for up to 14,000 songs puts this MP3 at the top of our list.  A 3.5 inch screen is also great for watching downloaded and streamed videos.
2. Creative Zen X-Fi 2: Available with varying storage sizes, the unique sound enhancing technology along with a touch screen has pushed this product high up our list. And, this product is available at a very affordable price. Read the rest of this entry »

Typically when you think about using an MP3 at work or school there is a negative connotation that it is distracting or is only used when you’re not paying attention.  However, new features on many of these devices include recording systems that can be great for recording lecture notes or what is discussed in an important meeting at the office.   The Creative Zen Player is one of the many MP3s with this feature.  You can use the microphone feature to record voice conversations.  A “record radio” option also allows you to record music transmitted on FM radio as well.  Recorded files are automatically stored to the devices hard drive. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the reasons behind the unprecedented success of the MP3 is its multi-functioning capabilities.  If the only time you use your music player is in the gym or on an airplane, you’re missing out on much of what it has to offer.

When you’re stuck in traffic and you can’t find anything worth listening to on the radio, an MP3 dock or cable connector is great for listening to your personal music through your car stereo.  MP3 car accessories can be found at most electronic stores such as Best Buy.  Even better, many of these devices charge your MP3 while you jam out to your favorite tunes.  Who cares if you get caught car dancing? Read the rest of this entry »

No matter how many gigabytes your MP3 player has or how many of your favorite videos you’ve downloaded, without quality headphones the value in all of that is lost. It’s important to find headphones that are both comfortable and that provide great sound so you can enjoy your favorite songs.  If you’re not satisfied with the standard headphones that came with your MP3, try one of our top 5 favorite headphones below.  We understand that you may have just spent a couple hundred dollars on a new MP3 so we’ve suggested products in a range of prices to help you find headphones that best suit you.

1. JBuds J3: Extremely affordable, incredible comfort and rich sound and noise isolating design put these headphones at the top of our list.  The quality make of these earphones means you won’t be running to replace them anytime soon.
2. Klipsch Image S4: These sleek earbuds, available in different sizes to fit any ear, use noise-isolating technology so you only hear the sounds you want.  The comfort and quality of these headphones along with their reasonable price make them one of our favorites. Read the rest of this entry »

We know that downloading free, often illegal, music files is extremely tempting.  But recent crackdowns on this industry make it a risky endeavor.  Not only could you get caught but you risk infecting your computer with a crippling virus.  On top of the security concerns, there’s obviously a question of ethics in taking an artist’s work for free.  Next time you want to download music or videos, try one of these legal sites.  The prices are reasonable and you won’t have to worry about the effects of illegal downloading.

1. iTunes: Probably the best known of all music websites, iTunes has over 13 million songs ranging in price from 69 cents to $1.29.  Frequent software updates provide users with quality software for creating playlists and organizing music and video files.
2. Napster: A small monthly fee allows you access to over 10 million songs with a certain number of free download credits.  Other songs can be purchased added to music libraries such as iTunes or Windows Media Player Read the rest of this entry »