The Picture Has a Voice!

After many months of hard work, Jedediah Jones and Ryan DeRamos are in the final stages of the sound design. I was extraordinarily pleased with the first draft and after making just a few key notes, the guys are polishing the music and sound for what seems to be only a two draft process!

Of course Ryan and Jed each had several drafts as Ryan honed the score and Jed, the sound design and dialog in what many would consider a tedious process in which one must balance one's own sensibilities with the pre-made world that we had created so many months before. As the director, I have been pleased to see Ryan's and Jed's sensibilities craft something unique that took many of my ideas and not only elaborated on them but often re-envisioned completely in order for them to become the perfect auditory compliments to the visual world that we had created.

With color correction finished and the sound scape nearly complete, we have only the credits left to do before we have ourselves a finished film. I look forward to unveiling it to everyone soon!

"Yield" at Ten

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the release of what I think is the finest Pearl Jam album to date - Yield. To me, it represents a culmination of the whole "grunge" phase of the band - from the out-of-the-gate commercial successes of Ten / Vs. / Vitalogy to the shedding of fair-weather fans (who moved on to the next MTV trend of the '90s) with No Code. Yield marks the beginning of the an era of sum-of-its-parts synergy from the band. Instead of being merely Stone's album (with Ed's lyrics) or Ed's album with some collaborations, each band member contributed to album with their own songs, in their personal style:

"Brain of J.," "Faithfull," and "Given to Fly" are Mike McCready's wailing rockers. Stone Gossard's penchant for groove and rhythms butting against each other are evident in "No Way," "Do the Evolution," "In Hiding," and "All Those Yesterdays." Jeff Ament contributes yet another melancholy song in "Low Light," and the emotional residue thereof is also glimpsed in the rocker "Pilate" and the spoken-word groover "Push Me, Pull Me." Of course, Eddie Vedder lent a hand in several of the aforementioned tracks, as well as penning some minimalist rock 'n roll with "Wishlist" and "M.F.C."

Not to be left out, then-drummer Jack Irons wrote a transitional track - the one labeled with a red dot - and in future albums, current drummer Matt Cameron has had several songwriting contributions.

Pearl Jam has since left their previous record label Epic (Sony BMG) in favor of a quasi-a-la-carte distribution deal with J Records (another Sony BMG label) and other media outlets (like Rhino/WEA), so consumers will probably be spared from some sort of special anniversary repackaging of the album with a bunch of bonus material or whatever record companies do these days to siphon money from people. It's something neither the band nor its fan base probably will tolerate, in any case. However, if you want to celebrate the album Yield with auxiliary material, the band released such material throughout the calendar year 1998:

1. In August of '98, the band released a making-of-Yield documentary film called Single Video Theory.
2. In November of '98, the band released a Yield Tour compilation called Live on Two Legs, which features the band in another transition, with former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron keeping the beat.

So here's to my favorite album by one of my favorite bands. If you follow the syllogism, then Yield would have to be on my list of favorite albums.

Mutiny Universe Promotes Growth (Radio@MU #24)

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The grand irony is that this 30-second promotional spot ("commercial") for Mutiny Universe and the Radio@MU Podcast took the same amount of time as producing about three 30 minute podcasts.

Stay tuned for new Radio@MU episodes in February, with great music from great independent artists. And if the muse bites me (or is that a mosquito?), there will be more installments of Video@MU in the future.

Ryan's List-Worthy from Last Year List: Books I Read for the First Time

Since I didn't read any books last year...there's more to this sentence...that were published in 2007, I'm going to list three good reads from last year, regardless of release date. Why only three books? I only read about eight and a quarter books in 2007, which is probably an 825% increase than the previous handful of years combined.

1. My Ishmael by Daniel Quinn Buy from Amazon.com
Along with Ishmael (which you'll have to read before this one), The Story of B, and Beyond Civilization, this book is a great read for those who have enough chutzpah to leave the pyramid schemes of the world and run a small business (or similar way of life) that isn't very pyramid-like. And if you can't totally leave the pyramids behind, there's a lot of philosophical stuff that might help subvert the status quo...in a good way, of course. And if that doesn't sell you on these books - the hero is a wise, telepathic gorilla.

2. The Art of War by Sun Tzu Free e-Book | $1 Audiobook | Free Audiobook | Buy from Amazon.com | Buy for Kindle
If the above selection (and related books) represents yielding to nature when it comes to lifestyle (in general) and business (if applicable), then this one represents badass, yet strategic, warmongering - which is slightly necessary when it comes to competing with rival businesses and bigger fish. I personally feel that several seemingly contradictory qualities are necessary for success. Then again, I am neither a self-help guru nor a life coach. In any case, The Art of War just badass.

3. Old Greek Stories by James Baldwin Free e-Book | Free Audiobook | Buy for Kindle
I love anti-Zeus/Jupiter propaganda. Textbook author James Baldwin's interpretation of Greco-Roman myth is light on the Greek and heavy on the Roman, even to the point of ignoring the whole Cronus/Saturn eating his children storyline. It's this kind of storytelling that makes you want to play God of War II (where Zeus is also the bad guy), or at least watch a YouTube video or two:

By the way, Kindle e-Books require a reader, like Kindle: Amazon's New Wireless Reading Device.

If this list doesn't float your boat, you can always watch (good) TV:



Francisco Goya's "Saturn Devouring His Son" rocks.

Ryan's List-Worthy from Last Year List: Non-Podcast Rock Music

Other than spinning the fine music heard at Radio@MU, I haven't consumed much music in 2007. Early in the year, I cut demos to some of the Elan Vital soundtrack. In the middle of the year, my band The Society of Gloves recorded a couple of tracks. At the end of the year, and continuing to this day, I've been tracking music for the Elan Vital score. Instead of listening to new music, I've produced music and grooved to a bunch of classics released in previous years.

Anyhow, here's a sadly brief (but great-sounding!) list of three good songs released last year. They're not necessarily my top favorites from 2007, but each song comes from some of the new albums I spent a great deal of time to listen last year:

1. Radiohead "Reckoner" | Amazon.com MP3
BAD. ASS. You can't get anymore badass in 2007 than Radiohead's In Rainbows and the way it was initially for sale - and Mutiny Universe broke the news (at the same time as virtually everyone else), too! "Bodysnatchers" was initially my favorite track off the album, that is, until "Reckoner" got under my skin! Here's a video of a live performance of "Reckoner," and it is IMPERATIVE that you concur that the song is badass:

2. Eddie Vedder "Hard Sun" |
Into the Wild is a fantastic soundtrack/solo album by Ed. I haven't seen the film, but I've heard great things about it. I'm also partway through the book of the same name, and my brother (who read the book before me) says great things about it. Ed has written great songs, and continues to do so - but this selection is a cover song, which goes to show that Ed can consistently record great cover songs, with or without Pearl Jam: "Love, Reign O'er Me," "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away," and "Last Kiss," to name a few. Here's a music video that promotes the film:



3. Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin "United States" | Amazon.com MP3
On paper, they're called the Smashing Pumpkins, but since they recorded the album Zeitgeist and their latest EP American Gothic with neither the two other original or the three new Pumpkins, they might as well stick to calling themselves BC/JC. Anyhow, Zeitgeist was a better-than-average comeback album that has been tainted by typical record company greed: Multiple versions and album colors, as well as Ford commercial airplay. Ironically, the previous Pumpkins album, Machina II, was a loud-and-clear F-YOU to the record industry, as the band gave the music away for free online. On any other list that involves new Pumpkins tracks, I would have written "Bring the Light" instead, but "United States" is a nearly-ten minute heavy rock epic, and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin recorded the drum track in ONE TAKE and NO CLICK TRACK. Supposedly, there's one flubbed note in there, but I'll take a Jimmy Chamberlin flubbed note any day to my flubbed notes! Here's a live performance of the song:



So that's my short list. It's definitely missing a lot of good stuff from 2007, so I guess I'll have to catch up in 2008.

Haiku Current Events

Here's to Stu Nahan!
Radiohead's Greenwood's score.
I need to catch up.

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #23: Double-Episode

Ryan wishes you all a Happy Saturnalia, Happy Life Day, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, etc., for this special hour-length double-episode.

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1. Elsie Baker "Silent Night, Hallowed Night"
2. Addictive Tragedy "Miles in Between"
3. Lionel Neykov "Miss Your Kiss"
4. Sumner Brothers "Goin' Out West"
5. ANTIQCOOL "All My Rivers Run to You"
6. Ryan (accompanied by an electronic glockenspiel) reads most of "The Golden Age" by James Baldwin, courtesy of Project Gutenberg
7. The Spaceshots "Greetings My Glorious Graces"
8. DJ JOHN X "Bangers 'N' Mash" Download
9. Peter Chavez "A Newfound Hope"
10. Matt Ritchey's Shakespeare Coach
11. Michelle Newman "Goodnight Kiss"

Net Neutrality

As I was browsing through the Internet (actually the links on my Mutiny Universe biography page), I stumbled onto a link on Pearl Jam's activism page: A website called Rock the Net. Apparently really cool bands 'n stuff are for keeping the Net neutral.

And that reminded me of one of my posts on Mutiny Universe's ill-fated discussion forums, from October 31, 2006:

This may not be the most glamourous of socio-political causes, but if you're reading this RIGHT NOW, this definitely concerns you. (Keep in mind that I do not profess to be an expert on this topic, as I'm still gathering knowledge about it.)

It's called Network Neutrality. Basically, it means that over any given network--in our case, the World Wide Web--there is equal treatment to all sources and all data. It's like a freeway without a carpool lane. Videos, emails, music files, and computer viruses (unfortunately but necessarily) travel the same road at basically the same speed limit (the actual speed to your computer depends on your connection, obviously). In the same way, big websites like Google and Yahoo! must also observe the same speed limit as small websites like Mutiny Universe.

My belief is that Net Neutrality is a GOOD THING. Unlike the real world (location, location, location!), this virtual world is an equal-level marketplace (relatively speaking). It seems that true supply-and-demand, non-monopolistic capitalism flourishes under Net Neutrality. The obvious examples of the little guys becoming the big guys on the Net are Amazon.com, Google, MySpace, and YouTube (which Google bought a couple of weeks ago). Because they had the same opportunity to reach your computer as the already-established, wealthier companies, they had an opportunity to succeed. Opportunity doesn't automatically guarantee success, but they did succeed.

Those in opposition to Net Neutrality cite a concern that a free-for-all Information Highway will lead to perpetual rush-hour traffic. Some in this camp propose that there should be specialized lanes for video, audio, text, etc. Some also suggest that virtual toll roads would decrease congestion. Meaning, websites using these premium roads will load faster onto your computer than others. It is also possible that the non-toll road websites will "time out" on your web browser and never load at all.

The problems with charging a toll for the proposed premium road are obvious. Whoever is in charge of the virtual toll road controls the World Wide Web. Small companies cannot afford the premium as already-established, large corporations, so the playing field becomes analogous to the real world marketplace. There will be no more MySpace-type successes anymore; rather, there will be the same old, same old. Furthermore, the gatekeepers of the toll road (most likely telecommunications corporations--phone and cable companies) get to decide who can use the toll road. They might filter out voices due to political affilitation, ideology, and whatever suits their agenda. Bloggers, some of whom rival CNN and Fox News on the Web, will be silenced--effective censorship--if and when they are barred from the virtual toll road.

Anyway, keep your ear to the ground when it comes to issues like these. And remember to vote. For more information on Net Neutrality, you can go to the most dangerous/fantastic source for community information/disinformation: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality). You can probably say bye-bye to the Wikipedia if the gatekeepers have their way.

Cheers...alright,
Ryan

Anyway, I went out on a limb and signed Mutiny Universe up as a supporter of Net Neutrality on Rock the Net (my band, The Society of Gloves, also signed up). As it is, we're still one of the little guys, who like to support our peers (i.e., our podcast)...and Net Neutrality will only serve to help us on our journey.

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #10

Ryan talks briefly about the Presidents of the United States of America (band) and the actual Presidents of the United States. Also: After a week break, another installment of Katy's Daily Traffic Report. And Sports!

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1. The Spaceshots "Greetings My Glorious Graces"
2. "Denial" by Katy M. Savage
3. Starlight Cinema "Left Coast Cinderella"
4. Act As If "Please Catch Up"
5. Negatrude "Go to Sleep"

Notes: Wikipedia is considered too liberal by the creator(s) of the Conservapedia, which in turn is considered too hypocritical by the contributors of RationalWiki. If you want some food for thought, look these up on Google, as I won't link them here.

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #9

Ryan talks about recording a podcast (how reflexive!), the Youtube/CNN debate (which he didn't see), and documentaries.

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Notes: Podcaster > Pop filter > Microphone (on applicable mic stand) > XLR cable > USB-powered pre-amp > USB cable > Computer > Recording program (as simple as Audacity, or as overkill as Pro Tools, which is Ryan's weapon of choice).

Check out this week's Podcast Artists on the link list to the right:

1. Michelle Newman "Pay It Forward"
2. Negatrude "Home"
3. Lythium "Say Goodbye"
4. Michelle Newman "One Last Time"

More notes: Ryan recommends reading Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. It's guaranteed to either preach to the choir or piss off the opposing point of view, or any reaction in between and beyond.

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #8

This is one strange trip of an episode: New Co-Host, uninvited guests, new Traffic Report, and...well, Ryan and music.

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1. Heather Donaldson "Lonely Without You"
2. Heather Donaldson "Honeybee"
3. Negatrude "Save Yourself"
4. DREAD:WAR "Blood of the Pharaoh"
5. Liquid Blue "Rescue"
6. Michelle Newman "Pay It Forward"

(Check out our list of Podcast Artists on the right-hand side of this page for links and more information.)

Cheers...alright,
Ryan

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #7

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Exhausted and with nothing otherwise useful to talk about, Ryan reads and answers some "Would you rather?" dilemmas at http://www.wouldyourather.co.uk/. In between that, he plays some music:

1. Heather Donaldson "Honeybee"
2. The Spaceshots "Greetings My Glorious Graces"
3. Michelle Newman "Silly Girl"
4. Chelsea Williams "You Don't Wanna Know"
5. Moxy Phinx "Centerfold"

Cheers...alright,
Ryan

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #6

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Happy Independence Day/National Holiday to the following countries (from Wikipedia):

• July 4: United States (Independence Day)
• July 5: Algeria (Independence Day)
• July 5: Venezuela (Independence Day)
• July 6: Malawi (Independence Day)
• July 6: Lithuania (State Day - King Mindaugas of Lithuania crowned 1253)
• July 9: Argentina (Independence Day, 1816)

The music of this week's episode comes from the public domain/Creative Commons library of Archive.org:

1. Jimmie Rodgers "Hobo Bill's Last Ride"
2. Lucille Hegamin "Everybody's Blues"
3. Eddie Cantor "Hungry Women"
4. Kelly Harrell "I Wish I Was a Single Girl Again"
5. Mary Stafford "I'm Gonna Jazz My Way"
6. Dave Kaplan/Kalpan and His Orchestra "Good News"
7. Paul Whiteman "My Blue Heaven"
8. Elsie Baker "I Love You Truly"
9. Elsie Baker "Hush-a-bye Ma Baby (Missouri Waltz)"

I believe I dyslexically pronounced Dave Kalpan as "Dave Kaplan"...sorry, Mr. Kalpan...unless that Archive.org page misspelled his name, in which case, I retract my apology.

I also mentioned Jerry Stiller's audio autobiography. You can listen to the sample by clicking here, or go to www.kingofqueens.com/stiller.php to read along with Mr. Stiller.

Let's play some records,
Ryan

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #5

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Ryan rants about pants, Pay Per Post, and possible police brutality in a YouTube video (see video below).

1. Michelle Newman "Goodnight Kiss"
2. Chelsea Williams "Run"
3. Lythium "Fish Out of Water"
4. The Outside "Blame You I Do"
5. Act As If "On Your Hands and Knees"
6. Moxy Phinx "Reynita"

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Pearl Jam "Live at the Gorge" (7 CD Box Set)

Let me first say that this isn't so much a review as it is a fanboy's reaction. I'm writing this as I'm listening to Pearl Jam's Live at the Gorge. So if you don't care about the music created by Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Ed Vedder, and Matt Cameron - with "Boom" Gaspar - stop reading now. If you're just a casual fan (i.e., only like the radio singles, which only date from 1991 to 1994), this is not for you. No worries, it's cool that you're digging on "Jeremy" everytime it shows up on your randomized iTunes playlist. Anyway, bottom line: Only two kinds of music listeners should pick up this live box set.

The first kind are fanboys and fangirls, people who are members the Ten Club...like yours truly. In fact, I'm listening to my Ten Club copy, which (like last year's self-titled album) doesn't have any UPC bar codes. That itself is cool. But even more so is that I received this box set on Saturday, when the official release date is tomorrow.

OK, so the three concerts presented in this box set took place at the Gorge, in George, WA. Yes, I said the Gorge in George, Washington. There's a gorge in George Washington. (I should've ranted about that in my podcast). Like I said, you really need to be a better-than-average Pearl Jam fan to enjoy this because the whole thing is a sing along. It's like church, but with Ed's warm baritone and Mike's blues-infected leads and Stone's riffage (and vice versa for Stone and Mike) and Jeff and Matt's groove. Boom's Hammond B3 drives it home. The first songs on the first disc are definite sing-alongs: "I Believe in Miracles" (Ramones cover), "Small Town," "Off He Goes," "Low Light," "Man of the Hour," "I Am Mine"...etc., etc., etc.

There's this vibe because of the outdoor venue. The open air reduces any sort of reverberation, with all sounds leaking into space (if that were possible). So far, it feels totally different from the show I went to last year (at an indoor venue). Anyway, this particular show was recorded near the end of summer, so you can almost feel the heat. And it's freakin' hot right now, so it's perfect. I can't wait to listen to the July 2006 Gorge shows because that's when it was a really scorching summer. So I'll stop writing this non-review and continue listening (whilst I work).

Oh yeah, the second kind are people who are open to music and open to more Pearl Jam. You might not like it in the end, but at least you took a chance. Well, you can always go to http://www.pearljamlive.com/ to listen to a plethora of other shows (and thus save some bucks).

This is not much of a review. Sorry. Go to www.pearljam.com/goods for the special fanclub package, otherwise pick it up elsewhere.

I said in my podcast (which I'll post soon) that it's great to be a twentysomething/thirtysomething teenager. And it is. Next time I'll write another non-review, of the Halfing Pumpkins' return to form - Zeitgeist.

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #4

Ryan channels his inner-Jack Black (he tries to, anyway) and incoherently talks about Face Melters and their effect on faces. Et cetera. Et cetera. Peter Cetera.

Do the code. Rock ‘n roll.

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1. DREAD:WAR “Blood of the Pharaoh”
2. S.L.U.D.G.E. “Fallen Youth”
3. S.L.U.D.G.E. “Sorrowladen”
4. Midnight Run “This Is What It Sounds Like to Be Depressed”
5. Starlight Cinema “Left Coast Cinderella”
6. The Outside “Blame You I Do”

Concert Calendar/Show Schedule (details):

6.21.07 Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #4
6.21.07 The Outside @ Snitch
6.22.07 Chelsea Williams @ Universal City Walk
6.22.07 The Flutterbies @ Kulak's
6.24.07 Michelle Newman @ The Mint
6.26.07 Chelsea Williams @ Port O' Call
6.28.07 Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #5

Let’s play some records,
Ryan

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #3

Now with more Ryan rant!

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1. The Outside “Blame You I Do”
2. Negatrude “Swerving”
3. S.L.U.D.G.E. “Sorrowladen”
4. Moxy Phinx “Waiting”
5. Act As If “Please Catch Up”
6. Oliver Charles “Water”

Concert Calendar/Show Schedule (details):
6.13.07 Lythium @ The Derby
6.14.07 Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #3
6.15.07 Chelsea Williams @ Universal City Walk
6.16.07 Chelsea Williams @ Universal City Walk
6.21.07 Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #4
6.21.07 The Outside @ Snitch
6.22.07 Chelsea Williams @ Universal City Walk
6.22.07 The Flutterbies @ Kulak's
6.24.07 Michelle Newman @ The Mint
6.26.07 Chelsea Williams @ Port O' Call
6.28.07 Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #5

Let’s play some records,
Ryan

Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #2

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1. Act As If "On Your Hands and Knees"
2. S.L.U.D.G.E. "Fallen Youth"
3. Midnight Run "The 2000 lb. Man"
4. Chelsea Williams "You Don't Wanna Know"
5. Lythium "Say Goodbye"
6. Starlight Cinema "Left Coast Cinderella"
7. Moxy Phinx "Mirror Talk"
8. The Society of Gloves "White Rhino"

Concert calendar/show schedule (details):

6.02.07	Chelsea Williams @ Universal City Walk
6.03.07	Chelsea Williams @ Third Street Promenade
6.03.07	Starlight Cinema @ Fireside Room
6.07.07	Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #2
6.13.07	Lythium @ The Derby
6.14.07	Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #3
6.15.07	Chelsea Williams @ Universal City Walk
6.21.07	Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #4
6.22.07	Chelsea Williams @ Universal City Walk
6.22.07	The Flutterbies @ Kulak's
6.26.07	Chelsea Williams @ Port O' Call
6.28.07	Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #5
7.05.07	Radio@MutinyUniverse.com #6

Let's just play some records,
Ryan

Another Way to Subscribe to Radio@MU

1. Open iTunes
2. At the top menu, go to Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast...
3. Type http://www.mutinyuniverse.com/audio/radio.xml in the URL box.

Cheers...alright,
Ryan

Subscribe to Radio@MU on iTunes!

Follow these simple steps if you don't want to constantly return to this page for the latest episode (which will be available by June 7...at the latest):

1. Install iTunes.
2. Click on this link:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=256501683
3. Subscribe to Radio@MutinyUniverse.com!

Cheers...alright,
Ryan