Fall Movie Preview!!

      The Summer is such an awful time for movies.  With all the kids on Summer vacation, the warmest months of the year have historically been reserved for the big blockbusters which sacrifice filmography and subtlety for explosions and big budget, instantly forgettable garbage.  But the Fall is always the harbinger of good things to come as directors and producers look ahead to the Academy Awards in just a few shorts months.  Now is the time to head to the theater and this year has some truly exciting flicks to get in line for.  From Johnny Depp's portrayal of Whitey Bulger in Black Mass, to Ellen Page's powerful lesbian rights film Freeheld there is something for everyone and plenty in between.  I'm very excited to see Matt Damon in The Martian AND Hugh Jackman at the helm in the new Neverland film Pan.  Of course there is yet another Steve Jobs biopic coming out, this time with Michael Fassbender in the titular role and Tom Hanks is back on the big screen in a spy thriller that looks A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.  Last but not least, let us not forget that STAR WARS comes out in December!!!!  So excited. PLUS new James Bond AND new Hunger Games?!  What isn't coming out this season?!  Check out Rolling Stone's list below and read about all these films and MORE as we all get excited to overpay for popcorn and sit next to a bunch of people we don't know just to say we saw it first.

RS Fall Movie Preview!

Apple Music Enters the Streaming Game

There's no question that streaming services are here to stay.  Just like they did when the MP3 revolution occurred, the music industry has been forced to adapt to the ever changing and constantly evolving technological landscape.  Services like Spotify and Pandora have been around for some time now and as more and more people have come around to their convenience and accesibility, it's becoming harder and harder for other platforms to compete.  While there has been some artist backlash against the current trends, most notably Taylor Swifts refusal to put her music on streaming services, most musicians are doing what they've always done, going with the flow.  The newest player is Apple who after being the one to usher in the digital music age, is rather late to the streaming game.  Their new service Apple Music offers the same type of streaming service people have come to expect: curated playlists, access to a massive online digital library, algorithms that determine new artists you'll like.  But where they differ is most notably in their incorporation of Beats 1 Radio, a radio station with shows by artists for fans.  Similar to Sirius XM radio, Beats 1 will feature programs by artists like Dr. Dre and St. Vincent alongside other programming. Personally, I think streaming services are destroying the personal relationship music has always had with people.  Much like everything else in our constantly updating technological world, it only serves to create a disconnect between fans and music while giving the user the illusion of increased connectivity.  More access and more content is not always a good thing. But that is a discussion for another day. Rolling Stone breaks down the new Apple service and lists it's pros and cons.  You can read their report below.

Apple Music: The Ins and Outs

Year End Lists Have Begun!!!

It's that time of year again folks.  Everyone is stuffed full of turkey and staring down the holiday season that lies before us.  Shopping, family, food, gift giving, just some of the many things that make this time of year so magical.  It's also the time that every musical blog, magazine, publication, or whatever begins the time honored tradition of the year end list.  Best Artists, Best Albums, Best Songs, Biggest Surprises, Best New Acts, I could go on and on.  In keeping with the spirit I've decided to put together my own, albeit much briefer Best Albums of 2014 list.  Look for it next week and in the meantime, check out Rolling Stone's list of the 50 Best Albums of 2014 below.

Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums of 2014

Intimate Jimmy Page Interview

Rolling Stone contributor David Fricke recently sat down with guitar legend and Led Zeppelin founder Jimmy Page to discuss everything from the Zep reissues released this year to his opinions on the O2 arena reunion.  The interview is funny, heartwarming, intriguing, and a little sad.  Read it below, you won't be disappointed.

Jimmy Page Interview

Music Streaming Has Taken Over

For the first time ever, digital download sales of music on services like iTunes have gone down by over 10%.  The converse of this is a dramatic increase in the percentage of people who use music streaming services like Spotify which offer paid users unlimited access to millions of songs on demand.  The shift is interesting in that the download has reigned supreme ever since the introduction of the iPod but as the smartphone revolution has taken over society, it's allowed the average person to have access to these online mobile services which were previously out of reach for people on the go.  This isn't limited to the United States either.  The trend has taken off worldwide as evidenced by Deezer, a streaming service available in 182 countries.  As technology continues to evolve it's only a matter of time until the next big thing takes over the music industry but it seems that streaming is certainly the way of the near future.  For those interested in the newest trends, read the Rolling Stone article on Deezer below.

Deezer - Worldwide Music Streaming

Star Wars Episode VII Cast Announced!!!

FINALLY!  We can all breath a sigh of relief now that the cast of Star Wars Episode VII has been officially announced and all the heavy hitters from the original trilogy will most definitely be reprising their roles.  No more beating around the bush Harrison Ford!  Fans will get to see all their favorites.  Ford as Han Solo, Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia along with the towering Peter Mayhew as Solo's partner Chewbacca and the two lovable droids C-3PO and R2-D2 played by Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker.  In addition, the new cast has been announced and includes Adam Driver and Oscar Isaac who worked together on the critically acclaimed Inside Llewyn Davis last year, and CGI heavyweight Andy Serkis who rose to fame playing the roles of King Kong, Caesar in Planet of the Apes and Gollum in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  To see the entire cast sitting together and going over scenes drives home the fact that this film is most definitely a reality.  With a slated release of December 2015 we still have plenty of time to speculate as to the events of the film but for now, knowing that fans will get to see their beloved characters return to a galaxy far far away after over 30 years is enough.  Read the Rolling Stone article below for a more complete list of actors and words from director J.J. Abrams.

Star Wars Episode VII Cast