Benjamin Ricci

Dear Music Maker – You’re Doing Just Fine

Did you see that meme about how Shakespeare wrote King Lear during the plague? How about Isaac Newton - did you see the article about how he developed differential and integral calculus (among other things) whilst in quarantine? But how about you? Did you lose weight,...

Dear Live Music Fan, Thank You

We, the music industry, ask a lot of you, the live music fan. [Editor's note -- it's hard to know...

REVIEW: Taylor Academy Series Acoustic Guitars

Learn what the new Taylor Academy Series brings to the mid-range acoustic market. Taylor Guitars...

Galaxy Audio 600MHz Buyback Program

Galaxy Audio now has a trade-in program available that will allow you to trade in any brand of...

Record Review: Empire Escorts

by Miikka Skaffari | May 7, 2012 | Indie Rock, Reviews

Empire Escorts Empire Escorts Brick, NJ (Self-released) "Feel good roots rock with tinges of Tool" Empire Escorts’ self-titled debut EP is an awesome calling card for the rock quartet from Brick,...

Record Review: Damien Jurado

by Alec Wooden | May 7, 2012 | Reviews

Damien Jurado Maraqopa Seattle, WA (Secretly Canadian) “Expands sonic offerings to great effect on flawless record” Leading into his new record, Maraqopa, Seattle folkster Damien Jurado was in a...

Record Review: Choir of Young Believers

by Benjamin Ricci | May 7, 2012 | Reviews

Choir of Young Believers Rhine Gold Copenhagen, Denmark (Ghostly International) “Baroque-pop troubadours weave lush textures” Much like Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket, Band of Horses and many other...

Live Review: Xiu Xiu

by Candace McDuffie | May 7, 2012 | Concerts & Festivals, Reviews

Where: Middle East Downstairs - Cambridge, MA When: May 5, 2012 Upon my fifth live inception of Xiu Xiu, I expected a sold-out crowd for such amazing and intense performers. What I got was a densely...

MANUFACTURER PROFILE: Subdecay Studios

by Garrett Frierson | May 7, 2012 | Best Guitar Picks, Effects Pedals, & Accessories

Unique Sonic Concoctions Subdecay has been perfecting boutique guitar pedals for almost a decade, focused on making original effects that can stand the test of time while still within the price...

Gear Review: Crescendo DS-11 Earphones

by Ryan Lee Crosby | May 7, 2012 | Live Sound

Pros: excellent sound isolation and hearing protection; balanced, reliable sound; useful in a variety of applications Cons: More high end than low end; not truly applicable for high fidelity...

Gear Review: Pigtronix FAT Drive

by Chris Devine | May 7, 2012 | Best Guitar Picks, Effects Pedals, & Accessories

Pros: Simple; great tones; works with 9v or 18v power supplies Cons: None Price: $139 A lot of pedals are just copies of another manufacturer's product. Thankfully the folks at Pigtronix have...

Record Better Drum Tracks: Part 2 of 2

by Dustin Lefholz | May 7, 2012 | Industry News

After microphone selections have been made and sent into the control room, it’s time to start thinking about getting the sound into DAW - but first you’ll need to choose what the signal will pass...

Tips on Vinyl Track Sequencing

by Benjamin Ricci | May 7, 2012 | Industry News

How to Make the Most of the Format’s Limitations Humor me while I put on my Captain Obvious cape, won’t you? Vinyl’s back, baby! Or…insert some other generic phrase from Squaresville, where...