Critical Region Consulting

A multifaceted consulting firm serving indie entertainment artist, products, and services in the New York City Metropolitan area. Critical Region Consulting specializes in career building strategies, Search Engine Optimization, social networking and real world promotion.

Friday, June 30, 2006

Music: 10 Questions for 2nd Place Driver

2nd Place Driver ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Stats
Genre: Rock
Current Album: ...1
Band Members:
  • Lead Guitarist/Sample Programming/Backing Vocals: Bart Dietvorst
  • Drums & Percussion: Bart vd Put
  • Bass/Vocals: Rob Mertens
  • Vocals/Guitar:Rias Baarda

1. What is the name of your current album?

...1. We chose it because it fits the cynical bandname well. It's also our first album.

2. Which musical acts have inspired you?

Soulwax, David Bowie, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Queens of the Stone Age. Our singer looks and sounds like Bowie a bit. His voice can go very low like Bowie. Many people who hear us for the first time have said this.

3. Which track is your favorite and why?

Liptrip. It has all the 2ndPD ingredients: melody, dynamics, heavy riff and catchyness.

4. What has been the most difficult incident you have experienced?

Playing piled up on a 2x2 stage and still rocking like hell!

5. Describe two qualities your fans love about your music?

It's cathy and it rocks (and we're nice guys to hang out with).

6. How do you feel you have contributed to the evolution of rock?

We feel we match old and new influences to a sound our own and lots of people have respect for that.

7. If you could have one track on your current album be the theme to a movie or TV show which would you pick and why?

Leave, it's just a cathy popsong which many people like.

8. How many people have a song by 2nd Place Driver on their MySpace Profile?

Leave, thats our best known and most catchy song.

9. Are your parents fans of your music?

Yeah! They love it. They think we play to loud live though, but who caress!

10. Tell us a rumor (real or fake) that you think would garner your musical genius massive news coverage.

Our singer used to date Avril Lavigne, but she broke up with him after he said she couldn't sing.

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Music Reviews: Albums, Scores & Soundtracks

Pitbull
M.I.A.M.I. and Still M.I.A.M.I.
Buy from Amazon.com: Money Is Still A Major Issue

Pitbull has all the right tools to succeed in his craft, but his album’s M.I.A.M.I. and Still M.I.A.M.I. Remix CD do not reveal the strength of his talent. The majority of M.I.A.M.I. and all of Still M.I.A.M.I. are all collaborations. Albeit these chart thumping collaboration are with noteworthy with artists like Lil Jon, Elephant Man, Nina Sky, and Fat there was nothing that pointed to Pitbull being able to carry on as a solid act.

The Matador Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Buy from Amazon.com: The Matador

From the Los Fabulosos Cadillacs “El Matador” to Tom Jones’ It’s Not Unusual” get ready to groove. Fantastically smooth and hip The Matador soundtrack delivers a cool Latin sound that neatly packages decades of musical styles.

The Producers Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Buy from Amazon.com: The Producers (2005 Movie Soundtrack)

You do not even have to watch the movie this soundtrack is equally as funny an entertaining! Catchy lyrics and melodies layout the entire Producers experience in just a little over an hour. Not only do you get hear the classic performances by acclaimed duo that brought this Mel Brooks classic to Broadway Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, you also get to hear the vocals of Uma Thurman as the Swedish bombshell Ulla and Will Ferrell as the hilarious Franz Liebkind!
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Saturday, June 10, 2006

Holy Blood, Holy Grail: "So dark the con of man..."

“So dark the con of man…”

The rest of humanity has finally been privy to the secret that aCover of Dan Brown's DaVinci Code ALL RIGHTS RESERVED few million of us already knew, that Jesus was married, had children, and his blood line continues today. Thanks to the hit book and movie The Da Vinci Code, billions have embarked upon their own quest for “The Holy Grail”.

Dan Brown, author of The DaVinci Code rightfully deserves praise for his stellar accomplishment. Brown took two millennia of data and tightened into an interesting and informative tale. However, Brown’s fast paced classic detective story of a sassy and savvy gal and guy team, knee deep in a cover-up which can upset the whole of human history, just scratches the surface of the story of Jesus and his descendants.

Brown’s brilliant villain Sir Leigh Teabing is named after two of the three authors whose book was the basis for several of the plots and characters in the The Da Vinci Code, Holy Blood, Holy Grail Leigh is the surname of author Richard Leigh and Teabing is an anagram of author Michael Baigenet surname. And much like the muse Brown makes early in the DaVinci Code about Louvre visitors who take the Louvre Light tour of the five most popular attractions in order to see a smidget of the giant edifice. The Da Vinci Code is a light version of an intense history that begs to know why so many would go to such lengths to hide a normal rite of passage for human beings.

Holy Blood, Holy Grail, as mentioned above, was written by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln. Published in 1982, this book is a timeless piece of research that will tear you down. Everything you thought you knew has been in on, as Brown aptly writes, “the dark con of man.”

The authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail provide extensive information and annotation on a number of topics including Constantine’s “conversion” to Christianity and his marriage to a princess from Gaul whose family claims lineage to Jesus. The Knights Templar forays and excavations in Palestine in search of the Temple of Solomon, and their sudden accumulation of wealth and power over the Holy Roman Empire.

Discover who has been a Grand Master of the Priory of Sion! Not just DaVinci but also the likes of Sir Isaac Newton and Victor Hugo author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame! (Notre Dame the church believed to be in honor to Mary Magdalene) Then ponder the theories presented Cover of Holy Blood, Holy Grail ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDon the political life and royal bloodline of Jesus and how his marriage to Mary Magdalene made him the true King of Jews (hence the mockery placed above him on the cross). Then mull over how Jesus may not have died on the cross, and how Pontius Pilate may have helped pull the charade of Jesus’ death!

Finally deliberate the greatest question Holy Blood, Holy Grail poses, who are Jesus’ descendants and why they have not stepped forward? Are the members of the Priory of Zion the descendants of Jesus? As noted near the end of the book is there a connection between the infamous plan of world domination through economics, The Protocols of Zion and the Priory of Sion? Though hailed a fraudulent document used to murder and ostracize Jews, the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail call attention to the Christian references in the document, indicating clearly this document is not of Jewish origin. Secret societies are well known for the use of coded messages in order to communicate with members spread far and yonder. Is it possible The Protocols of Zion are actually the leaked plans of the Priory of Sion, the disgruntled descendants of the rightful heir to throne of Israel? A Jewish man sentenced to die the way any who dared to question the authority and legitimacy of the Roman Emperor in their land-by crucifixion? Of course this is for you to decide after you read Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

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Sunday, June 04, 2006

Music: 10 Questions for Jenny Beck

Sweedish Singer Jenny Beck ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Stats
Genre: Folk Rock

Current Album: On The Outside
Band Members:
  • Drums & Percussion: Mitch Deighton
  • Vocals/Guitar: Jenny Beck
1. What is the name of your current album?

On The Outside is the name of the third track on the album. I also decided on that particular name as I feel that this album is very much an observation...inspired and influences by people around me and placed I've been. When I was younger I used to feel like a bit of an outsider...I was the quiet one and used to observe things from the outside. It was never a bad thing though, but growing up you tend to put a lot of preassure on yourself and that's what the track On The Outside is about.

2. Which musical acts have inspired you?

I grew up listening to a lot of Sixties music so that's definitely influenced the way I write nowadays. The Beatles were my first important influence, then came female singer/songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Suzanne Vega and Sheryl Crow.

For my latest CD the influences are mixed as I wrote the songs for the album over two years. I listened a lot to Soul, modern Jazz and R&B during the period that I wrote the songs, hence why there's such a variety of styles on the CD. I think you can probably pick out a few influences from listening to the CD...artists like Amy Winehouse, The Corrs, Joss Stone, KT Tunstall...the list goes on :-)

3. Which track is your favorite and why?

I have two favourite tracks from the new CD that mean a lot to me; Shoot Him Down and Somebody. Shoot Him Down marks a time in my life where I felt I'd matured, both as a person and as a songwriter and I dared to write something a little more "dark". I've always wanted to write more Blues orientated songs as I love to sing that kind of music. Somebody is an acoustic/unplugged track that we recorded mostly live. It's just a happy kind of track and it finished off the CD nicely...I especially loved to record the acapella bit in the end...if I would have had access to a Gospel choir I would have definitely recorded that bit acapella Gospel! :-D

4. What has been the most difficult incident you have experienced?

I've been told I'm "passed my sell-by date" when it comes to my age (I'm in my 20's) and I've only just got started! That's difficult to hear, especially as you feel yourself that you write better stuff and get more confident as the years go by and the more experience you gain. It's also taken a while to learn who you can trust in the music business and that people seldom just want to help you because they believe in what you do...I think that's something a lot of artists believe when they first start out and it's a hard lesson to learn when you often end up loosing money because of it. I've definitely taken the long, hard way around and have had to learn from my mistakes...which has cost me a bit of money. I feel more in control now because of it though, so it's not been all bad.

5. Describe two qualities your fans love about your music?

I usually get good feedback on my lyrics and the fact that my songs usually tell stories and people can relate to them. I write about personal experiences and people like it that I sing it like I mean it :-)

6. How do you feel you have contributed to the evolution of rock?

I would like to think that singer/songwriters like myself can provide a bit more quality in an ocean full of mainstream. I don't write because I'm desperately trying to get to number one or write that smash-hit that gets played on radio a million times a day...that's not why I write and I think it's obvious when you listen to my songs. What means something to me is that I'm writing about things that means something and that people can relate to it. I probably sound like an old fossil, but I liked the fact that music and lyrics meant something in the Sixties...of course music has to evolve, but when everything sounds the same and it becomes less about the music and more about the image and it's all about what's in the charts at the moment I despair (OMG, how old! ;-) and I would like to think that I can provide something different and real. I think that, by incorporating all the influences you've had throughout your life into your music, you can contribute to the evolution of a certain genre of music. Mind, I'm all over the place when it comes to genres!...so, perhaps I haven't actually contributed at all so far :-D Watch this space...lol.

7. If you could have one track on your current album be the theme to a movie or TV show which would you pick and why?

Hmmm...Somebody might perhaps be suitable for a new Friends kinda series?



8. How many people have a song by Jenny Beck on their MySpace Profile?

I wouldn't know exactly, but I've come across a few...the most used tracks are Shoot Him Down and Like Nobody Else Can Do.

9. Are your parents fans of your music?

Yes...because they're partial! lol....nah, they generally like singer/songwriter and music in the same kind of genre, so they like it..not all the songs though...they're my most important critics! I always try out new tracks on them first. My dad is very musical and used to play the guitar. I appreciate it when they tell me straight and completely honestly what they think about a track. They're usually right, I've gotta say (although it hurts! :-).

10. Tell us a rumor (real or fake) that you think would garner your musical genius massive news coverage.

"Swedish singer/songwriter Jenny Beck's hot night with Robbie (Williams)"...."Jenny Beck's crush on female singer"..."Jenny Beck enjoys romantic holiday with James Blunt" (cringe)..."Jenny Beck joins ABBA" (cringe again)...."Jenny Beck marries Al Pacino"....lol...this is fun...how much time/space have you got!?

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