Latest News: Polls

October 07, 2012

By 21

Raging Strings: The Verve vs. Smashing Pumpkins

October 07, 2012By 21

[Welcome to a new series on the VSQ Blog called "Raging Strings." Each week, we'll highlight two pop and/or rock songs which include strings, and we'll ask you to vote for your favorite.] The Verve had their '90s hit with "Bittersweet Symphony" and one of many Smashing Pumpkins' hits during that era included "Tonight, Tonight." Strings are crucial to each song, but which song uses strings better? Let us know below and leave a comment telling us why you prefer one over the other.

The Verve, "Bittersweet Symphony"

Smashing Pumpkins, "Tonight, Tonight"

Did you side with Billy Corgan? Check out the VSQ's tribute to Smashing Pumpkins:

Available now at VSQ's online shop, iTunes and Amazon

October 01, 2012

By 21

Raging Strings: The Beatles vs. Oasis

October 01, 2012By 21

[Welcome to the new weekly series on the VSQ Blog called "Raging Strings." Each week, we'll highlight two pop and/or rock songs which include strings, and we'll ask you to vote for your favorite.] It seems like people are split down the middle when it comes to being fans of The Beatles or Oasis, but no one can deny that both bands have written some of pop's greatest songs. Granted, the Beatles may have a larger catalog than Oasis, but they've both put out great arrangements that have included strings. Oasis prominently features strings (the London Philharmonic Orchestra, to be specific) in their song "Whatever," and the Beatles did a remarkable job incorporating strings within the famous "Eleanor Rigby." Take a listen to both songs below and let us know which one you prefer. Then tell us why by leaving a comment below.

Oasis, "Whatever"

The Beatles, "Eleanor Rigby"

If you're a fan of either band, check out these VSQ releases:

November 08, 2010

By 14

Pearl Jam v Nirvana: The Eternal Debate

November 08, 2010By 14

“Who’s better?” - how often do we hear that question posed? Whether the discussion revolves around sports, music, politics or pizza, we live in a culture that loves reducing the issue down to two competitors: Beatles v. The Stones, Jordan v. Kobe, Republican v. Democrat. And so goes the debate between music fans over which band rocked it better: Pearl Jam, or Nirvana? But how can you compare the talent of these two iconic groups whose sounds are so distinct yet are both forever linked to the Seattle alt rock / grunge movement from which they were born? You can’t. But what about a discussion of which band was more influential? Clearly, both had staggering early success. The difference here is that Nirvana’s landmark Nevermind followed their lesser-known debut album Bleach, while Pearl Jam’s first release, Ten, was a huge breakthrough success.

That said, Nevermind cemented Nirvana as the “face” of a new music movement. Not only did its success help make grunge popular, but it proved the commercial viability of alternative rock in general. In contrast, the success of Ten brought out a host of early detractors, including Cobain, who accused Pearl Jam of selling out with a guitar-lead style that was less than alt rock.

Much of this changed, however, when the masses began to see Pearl Jam in concert. The band’s powerful live performances helped establish their identity, and their refusal to make music videos (after Jeremy) -- followed later by their infamous Tickemaster boycott -- further formed their anti-establishment identity.

Does Cobain Reign, or is Vedder Better?

Yet another fruitless comparison. While Cobain’s prominence followed by his early demise may have elevated him to cult-like status along the lines of James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, or Jim Morrison -- Pearl Jam’s remarkable success and longevity (including its lead singer’s solo projects) give Vedder equal iconic claim.

In the end, both Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder represent individual talents of the top order, whose distinctive voices and creative visions helped propel their bands into the hearts and minds of American youth. Although Nirvana’s run was short but sweet, the continued impact of the band’s albums and the success of its progeny (i.e. The Foo Fighters) put them on equal turf with Pearl Jam, who Allmusic named “the most popular rock and roll band of the ‘90’s.”

October 13, 2010

By 23

What's Your Favorite Thing About Halloween?

October 13, 2010By 23

October 04, 2010

By 6

Indie Label Asthmatic Kitty Takes On Amazon’s Digital Pricing

October 04, 2010By 6

Indie darling Sufjan Stevens new album, which he announced a bit over a week ago, is due to be released in a couple weeks. Recently his record label, Asthmatic Kitty, posted a letter to the public on their site criticizing the lower digital pricing practice that Amazon has used.

August 24, 2010

By 6

Bob Dylan Tries New Ticket Selling Model At San Francisco Show

August 24, 2010By 6

Always the innovator, Bob Dylan has decided to sell tickets for one of his upcoming West Coast shows in a slightly different way than most ticket sellers nowadays. The tickets for the August 25th show at Warfield will be sold on the day of for cash only, in order to do away with surcharges and credit card fees. Attendees won’t be allowed to line up until noon, the doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the show goes on 8 p.m., at which time every one with a ticket must enter. Many artists have tried similar tactics in order to discourage scalpers, however this method seems pretty straightforward. The only issues, as many online have noted, is the security requirements will be heavy, as one commenter on the Consequence of Sound notes, “A couple of thousand people, each holding $60 cash in one of the worst areas of San Francisco seems like it could be a bad idea. Hopefully they’ll have a ton of security out there.” While this method may seem pretty standard to the older generation (remember this was how tickets used to be sold pre-internet), the younger crowds may be a bit annoyed, especially if they’re employed. I’ve seen Thom Yorke’s offshoot band, Atoms For Peace, do a similar tactic at their NYC shows at Roseland Ballroom. The result was a lot of unhappy people standing in line in the rain all day to not get in, but that’s the way things used to be. Either way, I’m sure a lot of artists and promoters will be keeping an eye on how this tactic works this week for future endeavors. What do you think? Should artists sell tickets this way to discourage scalpers and lower surcharges? Or should they continue to do it online so everyone can have a chance to get a ticket? More Bob Dylan Tour dates are below, I’ll be at the Seattle show if you want to hang: 08/21 – Monterey, CA @ Monterey Fairgrounds 08/22 – Lake Tahoe, NV @ Harveys Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena 08/24 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater 08/25 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield 08/27 – Bend, OR @ Les Schwab Amphitheater 08/28 – Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield 08/29 – Troutdale, OR @ Edgefield 08/31 – Missoula, MT @ Orgen Park @ Allegiance Field 09/01 – Post Falls, ID @ Greyhound Park 09/03 – Yakima, WA @ Yakima County Stadium 09/04 – Seattle, WA @ Memorial Stadium (Bumbershoot) Recommended Listening:

String Quartet Tribute to Bob Dylan

April 30, 2010

By 6

Trent Reznor And Wife Starts Band, How To Destroy Angels

April 30, 2010By 6

The annoucment came yesterday that Trent Reznor and his wife Mariqueen Maandig, former singer for LA band West Indian Girl, have formed a group called How to Destroy Angels. Their new site www.howtodestroyangels.com shows Maandig in a video playing some very NIN-like music on some type of instrument with keys. A self titled EP has been disclosed as being self-released this Summer, putting an end to the questions of just what would Reznor do after putting NIN to bed. To add to the rumors of this, Twitter, Youtube, Vimeo and Myspace accounts have been setup for the band, leading one to believe that there’s a lot of footage to be released in the near future. The name of the band is said to probably originate the band Coil’s single of the same name, a band Reznor has claimed were a big influence. In fact, Coil’s Peter Christopher had been involved in many NIN projects as a music video director, producer, and even remixer. You can check out their videos on Vimeo. Hard to say what this will yield, but I’m guessing some very dark music with the lovely voice of Maandig over the top. What do you think? Does this new husband/wife collaboration interest you?

April 13, 2010

By 23

Which band are you most excited to see at Lollapalooza?

April 13, 2010By 23

Lollapalooza has a ton of awesome bands lined up this year. With headliners like Soundgarden, Green Day, and Lady Gaga this summer festival is bound to draw out an obscene amount of music fans. The 2010 Lollapalooza lineup covers a wide range of musical genres featuring bands like The Arcade Fire, Social Distortion, and Erykah Badu. There's something for almost any type of music fan...but we're wondering...who are you most excited to see? View the full 2010 Lollapalooza Lineup

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