Alternative Sound Bytes

Dolby has done it again! After the revolution of home theater through the introduction of the advantages of surround sound, Dolby Labs is now offering their new product called Dolby Volume. This product can be attached to consumer electronics like televisions and receivers. This latest innovation will regularly monitor the volume level that comes from the satellite box and portable media player. Then it will re-adjust the volume to your pre-determined level. The outcome is that there will be no more ear busting commercials. Dolby Volume will start appearing in the two branded LCD TV models of Toshiba Corp. in Japan this year.

The band has announced their schedule for their Spring tour pending the release of two albums, “Ursa Major” and “Ursa Minor” that are expected to be released this year. They will be in New Orleans for the first leg of the tour on March 18 as they hug the East Coast with some off-route stops in Tucson, Cleavland and St. Louis ending with a performance in San Jose California. Though no specifics as to the dates of release for the two albums are made public, Ursa Major is the group’s first major studio effort in five years making it one of the most anticipated albums by fans.
Singles have been released but only going as far as each individual song’s components for use in a mixing contest where they have encouraged fans to do stuff with them to produce a unique representation of their music. They have already chosen the winners whose work will be included in a digital compilation that would be accompanying the official album release. Ursa minor, is to be released later this year and is revealed to contain some of the B-sides of the previous album as well as rare tracks and extra’s from the Alternative rockers.

Seems the coming year would be a good one for alternative music fans the world over for Creed and No Doubt has released information that in 2009 there would be reunion tours for them. Creed who last played in 2004 has announced that it is a great possibility when the members of the band had vacant seats when their current bands have split (what’s new). Gwen and the gang have also leaked information that it would also be possible the band would be getting together for a reunion tour 2009. There are no solid facts and industry leaders are not speculating but two bands on a reunion tour, and not just any band, two of the best. Now that’s news for you. Gwen says they took a break to get their lives on the roll and to get new inspiration for the music they oh so love, good for you guys and more power.

Image source: www.worcsu.com

Alternative music is a genre coined as a sort of catch-all for those sub-genres that are unclassified but can be traced with similarities to popular genres. This alternative music is usually those that were not released commercially and are recorded on independent labels. Some music from this category, from word of mouth, would soon find its way into the mainstream and become commercially successful.

The alternative version of hip hop has not been very popular. Artists claiming to play alternative rap or alternative hip hop are non-conformists who wish to turn from the common drug and violence-directed mainstream rap. Alternative hip-hop fuses influences from funk, rock, jazz, soul and reggae.

As there will always be popular music, there will always be a spot for alternative music. After all, there will always be music that falls somewhere in-between, music that is somewhat like but not entirely the same as what is predominantly popular at a certain period in time.