Archive for March, 2010

While every new technology is created to offer solutions to problems, new problems are created as a byproduct of that new technology. Think of the cell phone. It is great due to it’s portability. If you are meeting people at a restaurant, and you get lost along the way you can call them to say you are running late. However when you get to that restaurant to meet your friends, and they end up  texting other people and ignore you while you are trying to have face to face conversation, the cell phone becomes a problem. 

E-mail is another technology that offers both solutions and problems. The good thing about e-mail is that you can send a quick message to your friend and they have documentation of what you want them to do or where to meet you. However, it can be hard to pick up on sarcasm or meaning because you can’t hear your friends’ voice through an e-mail.

I’ll give an example of an invention that was created long ago to sum up my point: Even the invention of the phonograph record had its pros and cons. When it became popular, it hurt a lot of musicians. Before its invention, all music had to be played by “live” musicians. Even the original silent films had orchestra pits and live music playing along with films. Recorded music replaced many live bands in bars and dance halls. Of course, the great thing about recorded music is that today we can listen to Rod Stewarts’ version of “Maggie May” from 1971, anytime, and anywhere. And that mandolin solo at the end of the song is perfectly executed.

Can new inventions be considered ”progress”? or complications? Maybe both.

pic source

The Mood, a group assembled by DC area musician Ryan Minton, have released their debut album, titled “Closer to Nowhere”. Ryan Minton and his friend Flash wrote songs for it over the last few years. I sing on 9 of the 14 tracks. The sound of the album is catchy Pop, influenced by Tom Petty, The Beatles, and The Rolling Stones, among other groups. It is available through iTunes. Click here to check it out.

The official trailer for “At Home By Myself…With You” has been completed. It contains my song, “Running out of Batteries” towards the end of the trailer.

To view, click on the link below and go to the video section, then click  “Watch the Trailer”.

http://www.athomebymyselfwithyou.com/

Enjoy!

J RAUD