Justin Gets Jacked -- Bieber's laptop thieved in Tacoma

It would appear that Justin Bieber was the victim of a theft at the Tacoma Dome in Washington on Tuesday. Bieber's publicist alleges that a laptop used by the tour manager was mysteriously stolen, presumably as they had their attentions diverted on the show.

Tacoma's police said that an online report was indeed filed, but that there would likely be little they could do to recover the laptop. One thing in particular has dashed their hopes -- the fact that all of this may be an elaborate hoax to hype his new music video.

While the opinion of some college kid may not be worth much, let me tell you the one thing I have learned as a student: there's a reason for everything! That Bieber may have been promoting his new music video is not so far-fetched.

After Bieber's account tweeted that the laptop had disappeared, there was a response by mysterious Twitterer (tweeter?) @gexwy that claimed he stolen the laptop, and that he had posted Bieber's supposedly under-wraps music video to YouTube. The video starts

Just one issue there, bud... it's already out!

Lee Ritenour - Niht Rhythms [JAZZ]

In keeping with the theme that I started a few posts back, I want to diversify the music spotlights that I bring to you guys, my lovely readers. ;] So, instead of posting nothing but electronic dotted with rock, I will post a wide, eclectic range of songs so that everyone can find something they like (and perhaps broaden their horizons a bit? :D).

So, here's today's selection: smooth jazz. Hell yeah, it had to be bolded AND italicized!

One of the only smooth jazz songs I really even know off the top of my head is Night Rhythms by Lee Ritenour, thanks to a last.fm radio selection quite a while back. I must say, however, that's it isn't that bad at all actually, and I'm surprised I haven't listened to more smooth jazz lately! I figure it's better to study for my classes to smooth jazz than to hard rock or dubstep, anyways. ;P

Take a listen to Ritenour's Night Rhythms below:

Knife Party - Centipede

Mmm, I love this one. For all of those who might be interested (and who don't know already, despite the song's popularity), today's choice for the spotlight is Centipede by Knife Party.

I know that I have been posting quite a bit of dubstep lately (well, electronic music in general, from dance to techno to trance), but that's just what us college kids listen to these days, I'm afraid. :P To try to mix it up for you peeps, though, I'll be sure to try something rock next time. ;D

Take a listen to the song if you haven't (hell, take a listen even if you have!) and let me know what you think of it in the comments. See ya there. B]

Metallica - Master of Puppets

I believe that I have featured Metallica before on this blog, but let me just make one thing clear: Metallica is one of the best in the genre, as so many fans have attested to. So why not give them a listen, and even more, to one of their best songs? I know I have given up my fair share of listening time for Metallica.

I digress: Master of Puppets has been called the best album of the group's long history by some fans, and is even well-received by the rest.With a deluge of songs we now recognize as classic Metallica, Master of Puppets brought thrash metal to a whole new level. I remember listening to this album over and over while studying long nights for some of my exams and papers (though, playing thrash metal as I studied for my classes doesn't make me the best college student).

Below, you can find an unofficial music video on YouTube for Metallica's Master of Puppets:

Skrillex - Bangarang

Skrillex's logo

I know that I have featured Skrillex in the past, but I gotta say that he has made some interesting little pieces during his reign as the modern, de facto king of dubstep, ruler of college parties. Whether it be the combative Santa in Ruffneck or the pedophile being stomped by a shadow in First of the Year, this student gives Skrillex a big thumbs-up.

While certainly not his best (I think that title may be reserved for the popular Scary Monster and Nice Sprites), Bangarang is definitely worth the watch (and the listen!) for all fans of Skrillex. In my personal index, it ranks in this student's Top Five, up there with the songs mentioned in this very post.

If you like Bangarang, then check out some more of Skrillex's catchy dubstep tunes with First of the Year (Equinox) or Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, both of which I'm sure you can find on YouTube with a cursory search.

Check out Bangarang below:

R/D ft. Nadine Risha - Face of God

Check out this excellent electronic song by R/D (and also featuring Nadine Risha) called "Face of God." If it weren't enough for you that this song is just ridiculously good, the music video created to accompany this piece is also quite visually enthralling.

Though all pieces of art are highly subjective, especially songs and their videos, I would like to venture a guess as to what this may have meant (and what I, personally, got from this video). The "Face of God" is supposed to be this perfect, infallible thing that would wow and amaze anyone who stared into it -- yet everyone in the video had an eccentric style not usually considered perfect.

Ignoring the metaphysical debates that seem bound to anything involving the topic of God (especially from college student redditors on r/atheism and the like, haha) I think this video shows excellently that the face of God may not be as "perfect" as you think -- especially since, after all, we are supposed to be modeled in his image. Something to chew on. ;]

Also, enjoy this little nugget: "Miracle" by Blackmill (another electronic piece).

Tool - Vicarious

Check it out, my favorite Tool song: Vicarious. This particular song was on the 10,000 Days album, which was released several years back (and was the most recent album released by the band Tool, unfortunately). Though "Vicarious" was accompanied by other really great songs, I just personally prefer this one. Maybe there will be another album before I'm through with college!

"'Vicarious' is a song by American rock band Tool. The song is the first single released from their fourth full-length studio album 10,000 Days. Debuting on April 17, 2006 on commercial radio, the seven-minute song entered the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart at #2. It received a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards." ~Wikipedia

Combichrist - Fuckmachine [WARNING: 18+]

Okay, so warning right off the bat: do not listen to this if you are the under of 18 years old. I cannot be held responsible for whatever young ears may fall on this song, as I have warned you beforehand. Continue with caution.

So this song is absolutely excellent, in my opinion. It adds so much depth from multiple genres to make a song that really resonates with each listen. This is the sign of a great song, regardless of the vulgarity or darkness that the song may harbor.

Sure, it is a bit rough and brash, and suuuure, it may not be appropriate even for most adults (imagine showing this song to your parents!) but if you are into more progressive, modern music like most liberal college / university students these days you may find this quite attractive to your aural senses.

It looks like the Grammys will be taking their awards show back to Los Angeles for the tenth year in a row on February 10, 2013, said the organizers. The annual nominations concert will also be set in L.A. for the fifth of December, this year, revealed the Recording Academy.

Lovers of music, be they older and sophisticated or younger university students, can appreciate having the Grammys in Los Angeles once more, as the city practically owns the entertainment industry. No one is surprised to hear the results.

"Both the nominations and the awards - in its 55th edition for 2013 - will take place in the city's Staples Center and be broadcast live on U.S. television network CBS.

Only a handful of the 70-plus categories for the awards are featured in the nominations and awards show, including the top honors of album, record and song of the year.

A week of cultural events and activities take place in the run up to music's biggest night, including producer Clive Davis' pre-Grammy gala the night before the awards which was struck by tragedy this past February after the sudden death of singer Whitney Houston a few hours before the party."

~Yahoo News, Music: Grammys set for 2012 in Los Angeles

Seven Lions - Isis

"Californian producer Seven Lions have given us an exclusive pre-release of their upcoming Polarized EP dropping April 23rd on Beatport.com. The new track is called ‘Iris’ perhaps reference to the goddess of Ancient Egyptians, as feels to have a middle eastern influences coming through." -The Music Ninja

Perhaps this little piece deserves being compared to a goddess, because my ears love it when I listen to Isis by Seven Lions. I found it on r/dubstep (reddit, if you don't already know, is basically a circlejerk for college students and liberals, of which I happily participate), and I have been listening almost non-stop since. Love it, hope you will, too.

Credit - Hope Anchor

Here is an epic DnB hit by Credit that goes by the name of "Hope's Anchor." I gotta say, there is just something to the way the beat sounds that is absolutely hypnotizing. Gotta love a good dubstep song that can just put you in a trance. When I'm studying for my college finals or just relaxing in bed, this is perfect.

Check out the CreditDNB YouTube for more.

Sony is top of global music production after buying EMI

So today it would appear that the European Union (a.k.a. the EU) gave their approval for the purchase of EMI, a music publishing business, by a group headed by Sony.

"Sony and Mubadala have offered to divest valuable and attractive catalogues containing bestselling titles as well as works of successful and promising authors," announces the European commissioner for competition issues, Joaquin Almunia. "I am therefore satisfied that the competitive dynamics in the online music publishing business will be maintained so as to ensure consumer choice and cultural diversity."

This deal puts Sony at the top of music production, which means we should effectively see more of the company pervading the market (though it already stretches over a vast range of music-related productions).

What does this mean for the average college Joe, just wanting to enjoy a bit of music? Well, it shouldn't actually mean much at all, since the Sony group will likely continue much of what is already going when they purchase EMI. So, no worries, your music should be safe.