COLOR BOARD

wow i remembered following fashion chalet 3yrs ago when she was just starting to blog, 

and her style has come a long way (along with her blog :) 

...can't help but use some of her detail shots as my color inspiration :)

photos: fashion chalet

Metallica & Lou Reed - Lulu - Coming November 1, 2011

Yes, you read that right.

In one of the most highly anticipating releases of 2011, two iconic acts band together to record an ablum inspired by Frank Wedekind's "Earth Spirit" and "Pandora's Box", exploring the life of a young dancer named Lulu.

It's hard to imagine even what this will sound like, but neither the irrascible Reed, nor the boys from Metallica, would release it if they felt it was anything less than perfect.  Lou Reed was inspired by what have become known as "The Lulu Plays" to create a musical theater piece.  Metallica got involved as a result of their performance together at the 2009 Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremonies.  The rest is about to be history.

Katey Laurel - From Here

Katey Laurel - From Here

2011, Roaring Twenties Records

Katey Laurel has come a long way since her 2008 debut album, Upstairs, Downstairs.  Showing a gift for songwriting and a folky/pop style ala Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon or Jewel, the album was a stellar introduction to a young talent.  Laurel waited three years, but returns with From Here.  Laurel has made the transition from folky pop music to Triple-A artist with From Here.  This transition required a step backward to move forward, as this bigger sound is a more difficult fit with Laurel’s highly personal lyric style.  But Laurel proves she’s got the goods by making it work on From Here.

From Here opens with "Begin Again", blending the dark melancholy of a relationship nearing its end into the upbeat sound of new life and hope.  You can hear the velvet strains of a country song in this number, but the dark-to-light pop feel works well.  Laurel's voice is sweet and soft; full of its own velvety power but gentle in its touch.  "Everything I Love" is a sweet, 1970's pop singer/songwriter confection with mild pep.  The quietly catchy melody is appealing, and Laurel is convincing in her sentimentality.  "The Wheel" casts the cycle of a relationship from start to finish in song; from the first stir of emotions to the emptiness in its wake.  This is a great bit of subdued pop songwriting; catchy, articulate and real.

"From Here" features Laurel in her best voice, enlivening a somewhat nondescript number that holds its place in the middle of the album.  "Somebody Like You" is a solid love ballad featuring the staple sound of a radio program such as Delilah.  “Blue Sky’s Comin’” steps up to mid-tempo pop, but it are as if the spark that drove the first three songs on the album has been subdued in the middle of From Here.  Laurel's voice is as pretty as ever, but the middle of the album lacks that special quality that Laurel is able to bring out from time to time.  "Piece Of The Moon" takes steps in reviving the light, but Laurel doesn't really get back there until the album's closing track, "My Funny Boy".  Here, Laurel is at her charming best in a lovey-dovey jazz ballad.

From Here shows off Katey Laurel's vocal and songwriting talents nicely, but also displays an inertial tendency that might wear on some listeners.  While focusing on the ups and downs of love, Katey Laurel speaks from the heart in an honest voice; singing in a sweet, semi-conversational style that's party story-teller and part confessional.  Musically, the album is incredibly static.  This is good in that Laurel's sound is appealing to the ear, but the lack of any real dynamic shifts on From Here may not sit well with all listeners.  Laurel's songwriting has certainly progressed over the past few years.  From Here, at its best, displays the remarkable songwriter that Katey Laurel can be, but also shows the struggle of a talented young artist still learning what she's capable of. 

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Katey Laurel at www.kateylaurel.com or www.myspace.com/kateylaurel.  From Here is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Style Snapshot

Quirky accessories and a fabulous pair of shoes can make all the difference.

P.S. Have you seen the rest of the collaboration between The Man Repeller and Dannijo? (I know I'm about three weeks late on this). I'm not the biggest fan of the former (I'm not into Man Repelling so much as Of Course You Can Pay for my Gin and Tonic-ing) but I can't say no to a cheeky moustache necklace. Check out the entire line here.


[photo cred here]

How Do You Create a Trade Secret?

Dear Rich: How are trade secrets made official? Do you have someone sign a NDA? Here's how you create a trade secret: (1) you think something up that will give your business an advantage (2) you keep it to yourself and hide it from others, and (3) if you need to tell someone you make sure that person is bound not to disclose it under the terms of an enforceable agreement (or under a law--for example, most states bar employees from disclosing an employer's trade secrets). There are a few other common sense requirements but that's basically it. The real test of your trade secret program occurs if someone steals your secrets or violates an NDA. For more info, check out this website we created about trade secrets.

Georgi Kay - Backwards Forwards

Georgi Kay - Backwards Forwards
2011, Georgi Kay

Australian singer/songwriter Georgi Kay might still be finding her footing as a performer, but the eighteen year old shows real promise on her full-length debut album, Backwards Forwards.  Armed with an introspective worldview and distinctive musical sensibility, Georgi Kay is beginning to build real buzz Down Under; the sort of buzz that oceans can't contain.

Backwards Forwards opens gently with "Puzzles", a quietly lush exploration of the world that results in more questions than answers.  The song represents a rest stop on the journey to adulthood, a socio-epistemological query that shows off Georgi Kay's quirky voice in intriguing fashion.  "You And Me" is a passive love song in light, folk/rock syrup.  The full instrumentation here is intriguing, although the production values used don't do the song any favors.  "Back To Back" is a catchy folk rocker with real pop sensibility; a great listen that might just grab the attention of radio programmers in the right market.  Kay digs into a melancholy and ethereal Emo style on "Breakfast In Bedlam".  The song is likely the most commercially accessible tune Kay has written to date. 

"You And Me" gets stripped down into an acoustic version that works better than the full studio version.  There's a subtle spark here that exceeds the energy and verve of the original, and Kay is much more personable as a vocalist when it's just her and guitar.  "The Cure" is a live-in studio recording that finds Georgi Kay stretching outside of her somewhat limited vocal range.  Pitch and tone are sacrificed for effect in a questionable tradeoff, although the song is rich with melancholy and regret and plays well in spite of its flaws.  Kay changes pace with the low-key, swaying country/pop of "The Truth".  Seemingly jumping off the beaten path, Georgi Kay surprises with what might her best songwriting on the album.

"Lionheart" is a great pop ballad, pure and simple.  Kay uses her compressed vocal range to full effect in a diary-style diatribe on unrequited love.  While the delivery here is a bit simplistic, Kay shows the potential reach of a great songwriter here in flashes.  "The Cure (Rhodes Mix)" is a crunchy guitar remix that's more vibrant than the original.  The sense of over-arching melancholy is still here, but the infusion of energy in the mix is a welcome breath of fresh air that lifts the song up and puts it in a new light.  Backwards Forwards closes with two electro-dance oriented tunes, the messy "Free (Rae Mix)" and a bland recast of "The Cure (The Stoops Mix)".  Both introduce rap with guest rhymers, and both are purely unconvincing.  Georgi Kay presents mellow-ethereal choruses over non-descript dance arrangements as a contrast to the rap verses, but the whole process sounds contrived.

Georgi Kay is a fledgling songwriter with more than a bit of talent, and an unusual, memorable voice.  Though not gifted with significant range, Kay's shy, intelligent perceptions light up her songs like shafts of sunlight through storm clouds.  The songs on Backwards Forwards are full of the angst and roiling uncertainty of adolescence, but there is also a burgeoning confidence in Georgi Kay's storytelling that compels you to listen.  Georgi Kay is still developing her sound and trying new things, but the process here is very much worth paying attention to.  You might just be watching the birth of a star.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Georgi Kay at www.georgikay.com orwww.myspace.com/gaytothehay.     Backwards Forwards is available digitally via iTunes.

Can an Inventor Ditch Her Investors?

Dear Rich: I entered into a corporate agreement with someone who had a patent pending idea. After a year of back and forth, we finally started a corporation in February 2010. In total we spent 1 year talking about creating a corporation together and 1.5 years involved in the corporation; she always kept meeting the next big investor at the club where she worked and would drop me until the investor lost interest. As per our agreement, she was to bring the patent into the corporation and I was to bring the business management and necessary prototyping funding. In the agreement, I was getting 38% of the company, she was getting the remainder. At the this point, the patent is close to being finalized, the trademark and slogan are now done, and the prototyping is virtually done. Unfortunately, she now wants to terminate the agreement and is going around me and telling the patent attorney and others not to speak with me. Her certified termination letter to me states nothing in regard to the amount of time, money, and work I have put into our company. We have a corporation formed with an operating agreement clearly indicating our roles and percentages. She now has amnesia and says she never agreed to give me part of the patent even though she has the original contract and corporate operating agreement. Ideally, I feel she has defaulted from the agreement and loses any rights whatsoever on the patent. This would have been the case had done something similar; I would lose my investment, work, time, and ownership if I defaulted and acted unethically behind her back. How should I best handle this situation? What would happen to one of the entrepreneurs on Shark Tank if they tried to do this to one of the Sharks? Please don't ask the Dear Rich Staff hypothetical questions about reality TV shows. We're not equipped to answer. It's not so much that we're old and out of touch (which is true), it's just that after the first season of Survivor -- the one where Susan and Richard got on each other's nerves ("Your inability to admit your failures without going into a whiney speech makes you a bit of a loser in life ...") -- we decided that the human race had created a fork in the road and we would take the path without reality TV.
Right, you had a question. The resolution of your problem depends on two things: your paperwork and the amount of money each party is willing to spend on a legal battle. Your lawyer needs to review the initial agreement, the corporate formation documents, and hopefully, if there is one, the assignment of patent rights. Even if there is no assignment to the corporation, your lawyer may still be able to force the transfer of rights (or at least a financial judgment tied to the value of the patent) if the remaining paperwork conclusively proves that the inventor was going to hand over the invention. In any case, based on the facts in your letter, it appears as if this matter is headed for some legal martial arts so we urge you to see an attorney ASAP.
Alternative courses of action. If you have an arbitration clause in your agreement, that may enable you to resolve the matter quicker, or you could always ask for arbitration if the inventor is willing to agree. More importantly, have you evaluated the patent's commercial potential? We know that you believe in the patent so much so that you're willing to fight about it, but the objectivity of a third-party evaluation my save you a lot of time and effort. As you may be aware, it's estimated that 50% of patent applications     never become patents and of those that do get issued, less than 2% are commercialized (offered for sale). (We're not sure how reliable these statistics are but they give you an idea.) In other words if the idea is uncommercial, its possible that your inventor friend is offering you a chance to walk away from your obligations without any more risk or investment. That may be a better choice than being trapped in a reality TV show with your so-called "partner."

David Serby - Poor Man's Poem

David Serby - Poor Man's Poem
2011, David Serby

David Serby spends his days as a Union Steward, representing workers and their interests in negotiations with employers.  When the working day is over, however, Serby picks up his guitar.  After spending three albums exploring 1960's style honky-tonk, Serby decided a different musical direction was in order.  Serby chose well, exploring a blend of Appalachia, folk and traditional country that fits perfectly to his story-teller's style.  With co-producer and guitarist Ed Tree (Spencer Davis Group), Serby has crafted his finest, most cogent work to date in the form of Poor Man's Poem. 

Serby's songwriting is rife with deep political thoughts, but the delivery is more that of a country bard.  Serby digs into stories steeped in U.S. history as a way of illuminating issues he sees as relevant to the present day.  The somewhat expansive country/folk arrangements he builds around his stories are subtle in nature and traditional in sound, coming across like the sort of personal folklore told on back porches throughout Appalachia rather than treatises on modern society.  Serby scores big with tunes like "Lay Down My Colt", a song that urges striving for peace, and the allegorical "Virginia Rail", which explores the life of a worker trying to make a living when large corporations control everything from where he works to the food he buys.

"Watch Over Her Baby" is a heartbreaker; the story of a young lady forced to give up her baby in the hope that he might have a better life, and her anguish watching from an alley as he sits upon steps where rich folks walk, hoping he'll be picked up and taken in.  "Wild West Show" explores the changes that have occurred over time for the First Nations of America.  "Evil Men" might just be the pick of the litter, however, comparing the rough and tumble behavior of the lawless on America's frontiers with that of those in boardrooms and state houses today. 

All of this is delivered in Serby's singularly plaintive voice.  He lulls you in with his delivery, and fills your head with images of times gone by while gently prodding you to think about today.  Poor Man's Poem walks the stilted streets of post-modern America trod by Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, with a finesse and classic Americana/folk style that is compelling.  David Serby is the real deal.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about David Serby at www.davidserby.com or www.myspace.com/davidserby.  Poor Man’s Poem is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Bethany Sayers - This Is Me

Bethany Sayers - This Is Me
2011, Bethany Sayers

Bethany Sayers is a twenty-four year old singer/songwriter hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee.  A performer at heart right from the start, Bethany made her stage debut with a solo performance at Disney World.  Performances at various venues along the East Coast and nationally for corporate clients helped Sayers build her stage presence, and additional training through Belmont University and with professional vocal coaches in Nashville developed her technical precision.  Sayers has been writing songs since her teens; she has now taken the natural next step, recording a collection of ten original songs entitled This Is Me.

This Is Me kicks off with the title track, a statement of self based in faith, belief and human imperfection.  "This Is Me" is a solid pop/rock ballad with a big radio-friendly sound.  Sayer's alto voice is sweet, and delivered with a bit of flair.  "Being A Girl" is a song of empowerment, exploring the things that make being a girl difficult as well as the things that make it wonderful.  The pop arrangement here is solid and ready for radio, while Sayer's message is the sort parents will be happy to have their young daughters hear.  "Change Your World" is a swan song, sung from the perspective of someone facing their final goodbyes.  The message is one of love for a spouse of child, and stands out in stark contrast to the material that came before.

"Head First" is a catchy expo on taking a chance on love.  Sayers displays a wonderful presence here in a fun tune.  "Miss Magazine" decries the images women contend with in magazines.  Sayers talks about true beauty and the struggle to be yourself, encouraging those who listen to simply be who they are.    The song is incredibly well-written and positive in attitude and approach.  "Kiss My Goodbye" is a firm kiss off tune that skips the vitriol common in pop music and sticks with honest emotion.  Sayer's salts all of this with a tremendous pop chorus.

"You Deserve" explores the sort of treatment a lady should expect in a relationship.  It's not so much a treatise for the men out there, but a reminder to the ladies listening of their value as individuals.  Once again, Sayers manages a positive message in a sweet little pop/rock arrangement worth hearing.    Sayers explores the downfall of a relationship in "Lonely Tonight", noting how things could have been different if only he had treated her right.  It's a blue country ballad with a memorable melody and a sound that could take Sayer miles.  "Whatever You Say" sounds like it might precede "Lonely Tonight" chronologically; giving him one last chance to make things right before she walks out the door.  Sayers closes with "I Look To You", a prayer in song that's solid without breaking any new ground.  It's a proper bookend for the album thematically, but is something of a let down in sound and style.

Bethany Sayers impresses with This Is Me, exploring honest emotions and uplifting themes wrapped around a core of faith, all tied to accessible, radio-friendly pop/rock arrangements that are easy on the ears.  Sayers does lose her breath control occasionally on the end of long phrases or during difficult transitions, but these are minimal and likely manageable with a bit of hard work.  As a songwriter, Sayers manages to convey positive thoughts in uplifting songs without surrendering to cliché or Hallmark-style pastiche.  The end result is a legitimate and honest series of songs written right from the heart.  It would be foolish to ask for more.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Bethany Sayers at www.bethanysayers.com or www.myspace.com/bethanysayers.  This Is Me is available digitally from Amazon.com and iTunes.

Vince Agwada - Basic Blue

Vince Agwada - Basic Blue
2011, Rocketnoodle Music

Vince Agwada got his musical education in the blues clubs of Chicago, often hanging out at Theresa's or Buddy Guy's Checkerboard Lounge.  Agwada took advantage of opportunities to jam with the likes of Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Syl Johnson and Left Dizz, among others.  From the early 1980's on, Agwada has toured the US with the likes of Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Junior Wells, Sugar Blue, The Dells and Bernie Mac, as well as with his own bands, One Eyed Jax and the Vince Agwada Band.  Agwada recently released Basic Blue, the follow-up to his 2008 solo debut, Eyes Of The City.  Agwada sticks with his blues roots, but spends more time fleshing out the ground that lies between the blues and its wayward child, rock n roll.

Basic Blue opens with "Chi-Town State Of Mind", a heavy, fuzzy blues-rocker that's as gritty as the city it proclaims love for.  Both guitar and harmonica produce distinctive growling sounds here in a dynamic and energetic opener that sets the bar high.  "Blindsided" is a darker, grungier brand of blues with a heavy feel.  It's a fun tune about getting trapped in something you want anyway; very entertaining.  "President" is a funk-laden blues number with some wicked guitar work from Agwada, who shreds his way through the song with an almost manic glee.  Agwada slows things down with the low-key classic rock-style power ballad "Big City Blues"; a solid album track that serves as notice that almost anything goes here. 

"Black Rain" is a down tempo number that's excessively dark and features some of the best guitar work on the album.  It's balanced off by the party blues/rock of "Shake It Up".  Just try to sit still; I dare you.  "Sirius Biz" gets a bit more experimental, with an extended jam featuring some Tower Of Power style horn work over the top.  This is catchy, funky and danceable all at once.  "Right On" is solid with some intriguing harmonica work, but the ham-handed voiceover kills the mood.  Agwada returns to the hard-driving blues/rock blend he opened with on "Train", before closing with the mellow ruminations of "She Never Said...”  Blues rears its head occasionally, but much of the song is atmospheric in sound; lyric in melody. 

Vince Agwada takes several strides forward on Basic Blue, with a sound evolving along the fault line that separates rock n roll, modern R&B and the blues.  Basic Blue shows a successful artist, confident in his abilities, who continues to stretch the bounds of his muse.  In general, that effort is exemplary on Basic Blue.  Agwada shows a distinctive blend of technical skill, resourcefulness and pure drive that sets Basic Blue apart from the harried pack of blue rock bands out there. Basic Blue is definitely worth spending some time with.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Vince Agwada at www.vinceagwada.com or www.facebook.com/vinceagwada.  Basic Blue is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

Sarah Pierce - Bring It On

Sarah Pierce – Bring It On
2011, Little Bear Records

Sarah Pierce wasn’t born of the red dirt of Austin Texas, but like any convert, she was reborn in this great songwriting tradition after a visit there in the Fall of 1993.  Eight albums later, Pierce is a highly respected singer/songwriter who has traveled hundreds of thousands of miles and played her music for people all over the world.  But she always returns to her adopted home in Austin.  While Pierce’s voice may sound familiar from her singing performances as Calamity Jane on the Emmy-nominated TV mini-series The Wild West, Pierce truly comes alive when on-stage, guitar in hand, performing works written from her own heart.  Pierce sets out to tell the world a story once again on her most recent album, Bring It On.

Pierce gets things started with the title track.  “Bring It On” is an Americana/rock soliloquy from a strong woman who is willing to consider any man who can prove he’s worth her time.  It’s a catchy number with a memorable chorus, with the potential to become an anthem for the single set.  “Butterfly Tattoo” explores a modern day symbol of love and eternal devotion.  Pierce’s voice is eminently listenable, slipping over your ears like a comfortable wrap on a cold winter’s day.  “Cowgirls Ride” gets down to more of a traditional red dirty country sound.  It’s a solid album track full of songwriting fundamentals. 

“It’s Not Enough” is a promissory love song that aims high.  The gentle country ballad is sweet and solid, with Piece practicing subtle poetry in the margins.  Piece settles in for a subtle, even ride that holds forth for much of Bring It On. This could almost become monotonous if not for Piece’s adeptness at stringing listeners along with a lyrical style that keeps you turning with subtle surprises.  Piece does hit some high notes in the process however.  “Twenty Dollar Silver Ring” is a well-written story song about love for love’s sake.  It’s the best pure songwriting on the album, and seems like the sort of song that other artists will be likely to pick up and cover as time goes on.  “You Make Me Love Being In Love” has the sort of chorus you walk away humming to yourself, and find recurring in your mind for days afterward.

“I Ride” marks the deep bond between rider and horse; a friendship that is utilitarian but grows over time into something more.  “Pearl Handle .44” is a Greek Tragedy, country style. About a lawmen and his betrothed to wind up on opposite sides of the law.  The message is that love can’t overcome nature, and the songwriting is superb.  Pierce closes with the mild “May Peace Find You Tonight”, a solid goodnight.

Sarah Pierce follows the gentle rhythms of life and love throughout Bring It On, singing from a quiet repose the tales of love and darkness that intertwine the lives of people real and imagined.  Musically, the album is solid, but Pierce’s voice and distinctly subtle lyrical style pay rewards to those who listen closely.  Bring It On will grow on you with successive listens, but is subtle enough to get by those who aren’t paying attention.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Sarah Piece at www.sarahpierce.com or www.myspace.com/sarahpiercemusicsite. Bring It On is available from Pierce’s webstore.

Are Nonprofits Liable for Photo Infringement?

Dear Rich: I have been collecting black-and-white snapshots at antiques shops and flea markets for several years. This year i started posting some of them with slightly irreverent captions on my website. I think I understand that orphan works produced before 1923 are considered to be in the public domain. But what about the later photos? I haven't been too concerned about copyright violations because it is a nonprofit site. However what if I wanted to reproduce the images for profit? What kind of legal issues would I face? We think you're operating under a few misconceptions so maybe we should clear those up, first.
Nonprofits can be liable for infringement. Being a nonprofit won't shield you from a lawsuit. Nonprofits are occasionally named as defendants -- for example, the Internet Archive was sued over its caching of old web pages (and some nonprofits have filed suits as well). Nonprofit status may affect fair use determinations (as explained here). But in general, it makes little difference for purposes of determining infringement, whether the theft was for profit or not. You should also be aware that nonprofit status is a corporate tax status; a failure to profit doesn't make you a nonprofit.
Orphan works are not public domain. You are correct that works published in the U.S. before 1923 are in the public domain in the U.S. But these are not orphan works. An orphan work is one that is still protected under copyright but whose owner is missing in action and there's nobody to contact for permission. We think that's the case with most of the photos at your website.
Right, you had a question. We think the odds are slim that you will be the subject of a lawsuit. A copyright owner of one of your vintage photos (the owner would be whoever took the picture) is unlikely to see your work, unlikely to threaten a lawsuit and unlikely to recover much if the lawsuit should it actually go to court. So the chances are low that you will be hassled. Still, for the record, these are infringements. There is also a slim possibility that one of the subjects of these photos will see your site and claim an invasion of privacy or (if you sell the images) a violation of the right of publicity.  Again, unlikely, but possible ... kind of like guessing whether an earthquake will hit Virginia.

Salina Sias - Salina Sias

Salina Sias – Salina Sias
2011, Salina Sias

Salina Sias’ musical career was almost derailed before it really started. Classically trained from a young age, Sias sang competitively throughout her school years. Then one morning, at the age of 17, her voice was simply gone. Down, but not out, Sias switched her sites to acting. She moved to New York City at the age of 18 to study, and spent the next decade trying to make it while dabbling in marketing and journalism as a way to pay the bills. Sias’ voice had come back however; she was a regular shower singer long before she left anyone know about it. Then, about a year ago she met with a vocal coach and started putting the pieces back together. Excited to make up for lost time, Sias recently released her debut album, Salina Sias.

Sias shows a longitudinal story-teller’s style on Salina Sias, writing and performing in a semi-stream of conscious style that makes the background music more utilitarian than compelling. Her imagery is strong, however, while Sias explores themes that run the gamut from coming of age stories to chasing down the mixed emotions of life. Sias starts off on a stark note with the lovely but vaguely disturbing “Up In The Trees”. The experience related her have my innocent or may carry much darker undertones, but it’s about a little girl’s perspective from off to the side as she comes to terms with the world around her. Let the interpretations begin, but it’s a strong opening shot from an artist who deserves to be heard. “Sounds Of Blue” is a pretty discourse on two people living together yet living apart. There is an intrinsic sadness here wrapped up in a warped sort of fatalism. The song will get under your skin.

“Dear Job” is an intriguing song about the struggle for faith and doing the right things in day-to-day life. The moments when we look at a path and know what we should do but continue on our own merry way are immortalized herein. Sias’ conversation with the saint through a book on her shelf that beckons yet remains untouched. Sias gets contemplative on “Almost The Same”, showing an odd blend of emotion and detachment that unrolls slowly with the song. “Slipping Away” is a gorgeous musical dissertation on death, marking both its permanency and its negotiability for the living left behind. Sias’ piano arrangement is worth the price of admission on its own.

“Broken Memory” builds brilliance from dichotomy, blending mystery and darkness with ragged edges into an illuminating musical moment full of a rough hewn beauty that is nearly impossible to create. In this one moment the listener hears all that Salina Sias can be as a songwriter – A true WOW moment. Sias suddenly throws listeners a pair of curves on the final two songs. An album full of gentle, occasionally ethereal folk/pop, she gets down and dirty with a pair gut-busting, innuendo-laden torch songs that will know your socks off. “Midnight On Thursday” speaks of basic human needs, waning hours, and the sense of desperation that alcohol ferments. Sias opens up her voice and leaves a scarring impression full that you won’t soon forget. “You Ain’t The One” might just be the afterthought; a bluesy, soulful lamentation on what the listener probably knew was inevitable a song ago.

Salina Sias starts out with a firm impression that would place Sias among the likes of Loreena McKennitt, Sarah McLachlan and Milla, but on the final two songs becomes a bit of Martina Sorbara (pre-Dragonette) or even Sunday Wilde. However you choose to classify the singer, Salina Sias is a distinctive introduction to an artist who aspires to big things. The songwriting here is impressive, if occasionally uneven, with Sias showing serious chops as a writer, singer and pianist. This might not be the breakout album; Salina Sias is the one that makes the breakout possible later. This is one young lady who’s going to be on a lot of music radars very soon.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Salina Sias at www.salinasias.com. Salina Sias is available from Amazon.com on CD or as a Download.

A Little Celebration

I turn 22 today, so I'm going to take this opportunity to paint my nails with glittery polish at my desk and eat an entire plate of cheese for dinner. Here's to champagne and having a job and playing with beauty products and graduating and family and happy hours and this dress (need it, but my wallet just shriveled up and died from sticker shock) and heirloom teacups and friends, both new and old.


Things I learned when I was 21:
1. If you can smell the whiskey on his breath through the door, keep it closed.
2. I hate Ikea. I love Ikea. I have a love-hate relationship with Ikea.
3. Whispering is rude.
4. Wearing a slip is important when your dress is sheer. Owning a full-length mirror is also helpful.
5. How to tell the difference between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA.
6. Pear and bleu cheese ice cream exists. It's not too bad.

[photo cred here]

Contract Worker Broke My NDA!

Dear Rich: I just found out that a contract sewing employee I had sign an NDA is making my product! What can I do to stop him? An NDA is helpful if you want to stop someone from disclosing or using your secrets. So if the contractor took a confidential process or secret information, you can sue. If, however, your products are publicly available and there is no secret element in their production or marketing, you may have a hard time claiming trade secret theft and violation of the NDA.
What else? If you have a noncompete provision and your state enforces noncompetes, you also may have a solid claim. Is your product protected under copyright or trade dress laws? That may be a way to stop copying. Bottom line dept. Assuming this product is important to your business, you should have a lawyer look at your agreement and your product.

Eric Church - Chief

Eric Church - Chief
2011, EMI Records Nashville

Three full length albums into his career and Eric Church already has several top-20 singles to his name, a gold album, and a new album, Chief, that has already hit #1 on the US Album Charts and US Country charts.  Church almost gave up music at one point, encouraged by the father of a fiancée to take a job in the corporate world.  In the end, Church spurned the boardroom, and romance, and headed to Nashville.  Now on top of the country world with Chief, Church wouldn't have it any other way.

Chief opens with "Creeping", a dark and entertaining outlaw country tune with pure rock attitude.  The song is as catchy as anything you've heard on CMT in a long time, and features a muscular guitar-based sound that's ready to cross over to rock stations as well.  "Drink In My Hand" is a modern take on the old adage that a way to a man's heart is through his stomach.  This one is destined to be a bar/party favorite, and seems a likely candidate to storm up the country charts if released as a single.  "Keep On" sticks with the catchy outlaw country motif, with an arrangement that sounds like borrows heavily from Garth Brooks' "Rodeo".  Church shows his softer side with the third-person love ballad "Like Jesus Does", employing a 1960's-style pop/country sound that works surprisingly well.  The songwriting here is crisp and clean, and Church hits you with a sweet melody that rolls over you like water.

"Homeboy" is an attempt by the brother who stayed behind to reach out to a prodigal son who left home under a veil of acrimony and violence.  It's a classic tale told in the lingo of the day, and shows a surprising depth that one might not guess from some of Church's darker, more rock-oriented numbers.  "Country Music Jesus" is a call for revival in country music.  Elements of rock, country and gospel blend here in a lighthearted and infectious tune you'll be humming for days.  Church pays fealty to his betters on "Jack Daniels", citing one opponent who always leaves him worse for the wear.  "Springsteen" is a song of remembrance of teenage summer nights and young love.  Melodies are the focal point that brings it all back, in this case the melodies of Springsteen's 1980's pop radio heyday.  Church explores the emotions of finding your ex is engaged in the angry-yet-infectious "I'm Getting Stoned".  Church's arrangement is angry, roiling rock and roll, and is laced with lyrics full of dark humor and bile.  Chief leaves the stage with the enigmatic and curt ending of "Over When It's Over", a matter of fact post-mortem that deals more with the facts than post-relationship analysis.  The rather abrupt ending to the song will leave some listeners hanging and waiting for a full resolution, but you'll have to wait for the next album to hear more.

Not since Garth Brooks has one artist so completely mixed an appreciation and respect for country music with distinctive pop sensibility and rock and roll attitude.  Chief reaches across the boundaries of country and rock and roll, crumples them into a scraggly ball and tosses them aside.  Eric Church goes where he wants, evoking dark thoughts, honest, confused emotions and a sense that life is lived in the honest margins of human imperfection.  Chief is a smashing success, due all the commercial success is it currently experiencing.  Don't miss this one.  Chief is a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Eric Church at www.ericchurch.com or www.myspace.com/ericchurch.  Chief is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download, and is also available via iTunes.

Antigone Rising - 23 Red

Antigone Rising – 23 Red
2011, Rising Shine Records

Changing your lead singer is always a touchy subject.  No matter who you choose, someone is bound to be unhappy.  Either the new vocalist sounds nothing like the original, or they sound too much alike, or some other real or imagined shortcoming that often fits more fully on the vanity of the fans than that of the band.  This is the challenge that faced Antigone Rising in 2008.  A hiatus proved unsatisfying, so the band set out to find a new singer.  What they have found in Nini Camps is the catalyst that might take them from being long-time Indie rock darlings to the upper reaches of the musical stratosphere.  The band’s recently released album, 23 Red, is their freshest and most sonically appealing work of their career.

23 Red opens with “No Remedy”, using an amplified acoustic pop/rock sound and an absolutely unforgettable chorus to get your feet moving.  This song has hit written all over it, and it’s not the only one on the album.  “Everywhere Is Home” is a mild, country-flavored love song.  This is the first single from the album, and promises to have Antigone Rising threatening ascent on the pop, country and Indie charts.  The ladies of Antigone Rising sing like angels when they put their voices together, a point exclaimed here in brilliant sound.  “Borrowed Time” is a sweet ballad, draped in poignant poetry that explores the need to do all we can with the time we have.    The harmonic convergence continues on “One Foot In”, a pure Americana blend of rock and country that is aurally appealing and fun.

“Gracefully” and “Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring” show off Antigone Rising’s penchant for great melodies, first as an emotionally full  and layered ballad, then as a country, bordering on honky-tonk romp.  In the course of two songs Antigone Rising moves from a blue fatalism to a red, grab life by the horns transition that is dizzying and fun.  The energy here is amazing.  “Pink Sunglasses” is a dreamer’s anthem about finding the place and time that enables you to feel like you can do anything.  In this case it’s a quirky accessory, but the song is well-written and honest in its intentions. 

“Breaking Me” is sonically gorgeous, although the energy is a bit stagnant at times.  This one is more of an aesthetic rumination than an impassioned plea, but the dark undertone fills it with a quiet urgency that’s undeniable.  “You Say You Want To Leave” is a classic relationship nexus song; He wants to leave and she doesn’t want him to.  She’s going out of her way to let him know it’s okay if he goes, while telling quietly underneath it’s not.  23 Red bows with “Goodbye”, coming full circle with the country/Americana blend Antigone Rising started with.  “Goodbye” could almost be a second take on the theme of “You Say You Want To Leave”, but from a better place.  Either way, it’s a pretty tune that satisfies the aesthetic muse of the band while retaining an emotional intelligence that is refreshing.

23 Red is one of those albums that gets you right from the start.  From the sweet lead vocals of Nini Camps to the irrepressible pop hooks and gorgeous four-part harmonies, Antigone Rising wraps listeners up in a blanket of sound while engaging listens on intellectual and emotional levels not often found in today’s pop song writers.  23 Red is going to be on a lot of year-end favorite lists and a nomination or two would not be unwarranted.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Antigone Rising at www.antigonerising.com or www.myspace.com/antigonerising.  23 Red is available from Amazon.com as CD or Download.  The album is also available via iTunes.

When Does New Patent Law Go Into Effect?

A.G. Bell takes a call
(c) Sasha Stim-Fogel

Dear Rich: I read that Congress passed a new patent law. Will this affect a provisional patent application that I filed last month? [Note: the law discussed in this question was finally enacted on September 16, 2011] No, the new law (The America Invents Act aka Patent Reform) has not been enacted, yet. ] Both the Senate and House of Representatives have passed versions but the two versions haven't been 'harmonized.' The Dear Rich staff believes that the Act will be enacted next month. In fact, we're so sure that we've prepared a timeline explaining when the 37 provisions of the bill go into effect.

my other blog: interior blog

 

i'm currently working on a new blog for my design projects and previous works from school - the Philippine School of Interior Design - cos i think they deserve some exposure since they (those plates) Killed my social life for two years! even if my drawing skills are not at par with my OC/ uber-talented classmates - hey! i only started drawing two years ago (excluding my sketching classes in fashion school), so please "appreciate"! haha

and i'm a little too broke right now anyway to go shopping (didn't know exhibits would cost $$$$$!!!), so i need that to get me some projects! jk! naaah, just an added interest since i'll be working mostly after graduation... *deep breath* that, and another one i'll be posting here soon! :)

sustainability

 PLASTIC COVER DRESS

just a little DIY project for our graduation photo shoot.

 

that turned out to be snow queen slash L.gaga

xoxo

(ps. i just posted something cos my friend reminded me that i had a blog :) been too long!

Lucy Angel - Lucy Angel [EP]

Lucy Angel - Lucy Angel [EP]
2011, G-Force Music

Lucy Angel is an Arizona trio consisting of mother Kate, and daughters Lindsay and Emily Anderton.  Although they moved to Nashville in 2003, the three retain the open sound of the southwest, revved up with a hot country vibe and pure sex appeal.  All of this is on display on Lucy Angel’s self-titled, debut EP.

Lucy Angel opens with "Serious", a sexy, fiery country rock number.  Lead vocalist Lindsay Anderton has a knockout voice, and the arrangement is as tight as a wire.  Lucy Angel fills the space beneath with a danceable R&B backbeat, and in the process has created what should be a sure-fire country hit.  The song has a bit more edge that you’re usual commercial country hit, blending classic southern rock into the mix.  "I'll Be Your Whiskey" is a solid working class ballad that's part Wilson Phillips and part Dixie Chicks.  Entertaining but not with the sort of Lucy Angel opened with.  "Only Woman Left" goes back to the R&B driven country-rock style seen on "Serious".  The song is incredibly catchy, and features a big, guitar-driven chorus full of vocal harmonies.  There's definitely more of a rock n roll feel this time around.  "Color Love Blue" is a classic, melancholy country ballad that shows off Linday's voice in a perfect setting.  Lucy Angel takes their leave with "I'd Be Lying", a hit in waiting with guitar work reminiscent of The Eagles and a chorus that simply won't leave you alone.

Lucy Angel is the real deal, blending country, rock and R&B in a distinctive style stands out amidst the crop of cookie-cutter acts you often find on CMT.  Lucy Angel works so well because it doesn't work a formula...  this is honest country rock that, while not outlaw country, certainly knows how to bend the rules a bit.  Don't miss out on Lucy Angel.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Lucy Angel at www.lucyangel.com or www.myspace.com/lucyangelmusic.  Lucy Angel is available digitally from Amazon.com and iTunes.