©  2004 by MusicAndCDs.com

 

Featured Album: Sonoluminescence by Dan Connor If you like your music predictable, then read no further. Sonoluminescence, the first album by Dan Connor released in 2004, is a tour of the unexpected and will probably not appeal to the linear of spirit. Sonoluminescence leads the listener through an eclectic mix of musical genres – electronica, funk, pop, industrial, and sonic banter that would make Frank Zappa smile.  Imagine that someone put music by Beck, CellDweller, and the Beatles in a blender long enough to create different chunks, but not long enough to puree. That's the impression. If you enjoy a variety of textures and flavors in the music that you consume, then read on… but bring a fork and an appetite. Sonoluminescence opens with Babylon, an ode to creativity and the twists of relationships. It builds on the initial string progression in a classical manner before transitioning to intensive bass dance rhythms. Great line: "It's the reason that all of us dream our dreams, dreaming them, instead of living them."  Strong elements of electronica and alternative rock drive the energetic, catchy, and eccentric (true to title) Experimentation. The next track, Shuggahh, shifts gears into funk and the fuzzy border of metal.  It has some rough transitions, but also offers luscious moments of musical sensuality. The echoes of crunching guitar and funk have not entirely faded when suddenly you are listening to melodic guitar in the emotional tune Patterns. Of all the songs on Sonoluminescence, this skillfully-woven song that is likely to have wide appeal. Industrial fans will find much into which to sink their teeth in the aggressive, sinister Grind. Play it loud. Vocal is the title and "I wanna hear your voice" is the sum total of lyrics in this aggressive, haunting, driving, and hypnotic composition. Probably my favorite track. Intentions is a sentimental and beautiful ballad about friendship, loneliness, intentions, and the ability of music to lift the soul. Audible Romance comes the closest to mainstream pop-rock of all the songs on Sonoluminescence. Compost is a fascinating chorale-rock composition – as if one were to enlist monks and rockers to create a blend of Gregorian Chant and Industrial.  I think it succeeds and inspires.  Judge for yourself. Just when you think that you have sampled about all the musical genres that can be merged into one shining disk, Heartbeat romances your ears with the wandering strings of classical guitar and evolves into a mystical query – “who are you?” Weirdness delivers. Bizarre, but catchy, it is hard to classify but easy to get caught up in. Weirdness-embracing club patrons will find this to be creative dance fodder. Not for the faint of imagination. Sonoluminescence closes with Close Shave – marking the change from boy to man and the high price to be paid for the transition. The rap by Sandman (Onyx Johnson) is powerful and skillfully delivered. ©  2004 by MusicAndCDs.com Available at: CDbaby.com "CD Baby is a little online record store that sells CDs by independent musicians. We're just a few people (details here) in a cool Portland, Oregon, CD warehouse that looks like a playground. We listen to every CD we sell before we sell it, so we can help you find other albums you'll like. We only sell CDs that come directly from the musicians. No distributors. Musicians send us CDs. We warehouse them, sell them to you, and pay the musicians directly." The Electric Fetus: (612) 870-9300, Minneapolis Store, 2000 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55404. "The Electric Fetus has supported local musicians for many years through our distribution center and our three retail locations. Now, you're able to order their product on-line. You are already able to search our site by band name, but what we'd like to do is dedicate an area of our site just to the local scene. This page will constantly be growing, adding new links and info about the local acts on a regular basis. Local artists, if you have any info you'd like to see on our website or you have web addresses we can link our customers to, contact Mike Elias at 612-870-9300 or at elias@electricfetus.com." Cheapo Disks Uptown, Cheapo Parent Company Webpage: (612) 827-8238, Cheapo Discs, 1300 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408. Let it Be Records, (612) 339-7439, 1001 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403. "Let It Be Records is an independently owned record store based in Minneapolis. This site is fully integrated, offering everything from live, real-time online auctions and secure commerce transactions to new release information and staff recommendations. We specialize in indie and import rock and pop, house, techno, drum and bass, experimental and modern classical recordings, and a fine selection of major label items, on vinyl and compact disc. We order from a multitude of vendors to provide you with the best selection of music that we can, and we have the ability to find almost anything in print in a timely manner. We also offer an expansive selection of out-of-print vinyl, limited-edition singles, collector's items, books and videos." Treehouse Records,  (612) 872-7400, 2557 Lyndale Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55405-3320. Treehouse Records is on the corner of 26th Street and Lyndale Avenue in South Minneapolis next door to Lyndale Country Boy Store.  "one of Minnesota's newest and greatest record stores and we look forward to your business. We specialize in having the hottest new and used music, along with rare LPs, an incredible number of '45s, and a large collection of vinyl albums." Root Cellar Records, (706) 354-7930, 289 Seminole Ave., Athens, GA 30601. Dan Connor.com, Dan's new album, Sonoluminescence is available at The Electric Fetus, Cheapo, Let it Be Records, Treehouse Records, and Root Cellar Records. Soon albums will be available for purchase right here on DanConnor.com. Music and the arts in the Twin Cities: City Pages, 401 North Third Street, Suite 550, Minneapolis, MN 55401.

Amazon.com "Amazon.com seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and sellers offer millions of unique new and used items in categories such as health and personal care, jewelry and watches, gourmet food, sports and outdoors, apparel and accessories, books, music, DVDs, electronics and office, kids and baby, and home and garden."

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djangos.com "The independent stores we allow to be a part of our online inventory have a long-standing reputation for providing the deepest & most up to date music knowledge, the best overall selection, and the coolest neighborhood atmosphere in the biz. Djangos has become a true "clicks-and-mortar" business. We now boast friendly, hip and independent stores in cities all over the U.S., and with our entire used and new inventory available online we feel that we are offering our customers value that can't be beat. Our stores have an inexhaustible passion for music, and we are excited to bring that feeling to our web customers as well."

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