John Petrucci (born on July 12, 1967), is an American guitarist known as a former member of progressive metal group Dream Theater. He is also a producer (along with fellow band Mike Portnoy) all Dream Theater albums since the release of the album Scenes From A Memory, in the year 1999
Petrucci grew up in Long Island, Kings Park exactly where Petrucci with John Myung and Kevin Moore in the same school. Petrucci playing the first guitar at the age of 8 years. And started playing with a band at the age of 12 years. Bands and guitarists who influenced his guitar playing is Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy Rhoads, Iron Maiden, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Yes, Rush etc.. Since it is growing and thrash metal rhythms, Petrucci added impact on the music of Metallica and Queensryche.
Petrucci grew up in a family that loved music. This can be seen from all over the brother who became a musician. While Petrucci himself finally choose the guitar as the instrument of choice. Petrucci began playing guitar since the age of 12 years. He spent about six hours in one day to practice guitar. No different from other children, Petrucci also has a small idol. He was heavily influenced by guitarists play like Yngwie Malmstein, Steve Morse, Steve Howe, Steve Vai, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Al Di Meola, Alex Lifeson and Allan Holdsworth. He speaks of the idol with the title “the Steves and the Als”. He was also influenced by the bands – bands like Rush, Yes, Iron Maiden, The Dregs, so Metallica. As a child, Petrucci ever make a band with his friend, Kevin Moore. After graduating from high school, Petrucci chose to go to a music school, Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Petrucci career journey began when she was in college in Barklee. Petrucci and his best friend in high school, John Ro Myung, had the idea to form a band to fill in the gaps in college. They met drummer Michael “Mike” Stephen Portnoy in one of the rehearsal space at Berklee, and after two days of negotiations finally Mike agreed to join. Keyboard position occupied by his friend as a child, Kevin Moore. While Chris Collins was elected as a vocalist. Formed a band named Majesty. Majesty himself had made a demo album. But apparently Majesty did not last long. Flow of music for different reasons, Chris Collins resigned. The place was replaced by Charlie Dominici. It turns out the name of Majesty-has also been used by other bands. By that reason, Petrucci, Myung, Portnoy, Moore and Dominici, agreed to rename their band to be Dream Theater. Dream Theater was taken from the name of a favorite movie theater his father named Mike Portnoy Dream Theatre. American spelling is different making the word theater turned into a theater.
Joint Petrucci Dream Theater released their first album When Dream and Day Unite in 1987. Petrucci’s name began to be known a lot of people when the second album, Dream Theater, Images and Words, which was released in 1992, received a good response by the American public. Video clips Pull Me Under song appeared on MTV and playing on the radio. The album also spawned hits such as Another Day and Take the Time, which makes Dream Theater is increasingly recognized. Then followed by a concert – Dream Theater concert from domestic to overseas. Until now, Dream Theater has released nine studio albums, five live recordings, albums and 7 singles. But Dream Theater is also not free from problems. From the start of internal conflict, repeatedly – change of personnel, until the problem has been faced with a record label. Finally, the formation is formed from 1999 until today is John Petrucci (guitar), John Myung (bass), Mike Portnoy (drums), James LaBrie (vocals) and Jordan Rudess (keyboards). Together with a new label, Road Runner, Dream Theater released their 9th album in 2007 entitled Systematic Chaos.
Year 1995, Petruuci make an instructional video, titled Rock Discipline. In the video, Petrucci explains techniques – techniques to play guitar for beginners. In the same year, Petrucci was also involved as a columnist on the issue of Guitar World magazine, Wild Stringdom Series. A book with the same title was also eventually published as a collection of lessons contained in the magazine.
Besides with Dream Theater, Petrucci also has side projects. Together with Mike Portnoy (drums), Jordan Rudess (keyboards) and Tony Levin (bass / Chapman stick), they formed an instrumental band called Liquid Tension Experiment (LTE). LTE produced two fairly successful albums of Liquid Tension Experiment I (1998) and Liquid Tension Experiment II (1999). Petrucci and his wife, Rena Sands, founded a music label themselves with a Sound Mind Music in 2000. The first album released by the label’s albums Petrucci is a duet between John Petrucci (guitar acoustic / electric) and Jordan Rudess (piano / keyboard) with the title An Evening with John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess. In 2001, Petrucci opportunity to participate in the G3 concert in North America together “guitar gods” such as Joe Satriani and Steve Vai. In concert G3, Petrucci is assisted by Mike Portnoy (drums) and Dave LaRue (bass). Continue Petrucci G3 concert in 2005 in Mexico and Japan with Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and Steve Vai, then in South America, returned with Satriani and Vai. While for the year 2007, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci and gathered in the G3 concert in North America. Petrucci is also believed to fill the part guitar album – another album, like the Jordan Rudess keyboard solo album, Feeding the Wheel (2001) and the Czar of Steel on the song’s solo keyboard Sherenian Derek (ex-Dream Theater keyboardist), Blood of the Snake (2006). Also in the album Marty Friedman, Loudspeaker (2007), Petrucci was present as Special Guest Guitarist. Petrucci also never fill the Sega Saturn video game soundtrack: Necronomicon. In that game, Petrucci made two songs and then given the title of Prologue and epilogue. Besides it is also quite active Petrucci guitar clinic held at various places. Petrucci is a voting member of NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences), which is an academy founder of the prestigious music awards event in the United States, the Grammy Award.
Year 2005, Petrucci guitar solo album was released first by the name of Suspended Animation. This solo album was produced by Petrucci himself and take shelter under the label, Sound Mind Music. In making that takes up to four years, Petrucci is assisted by Dave LaRue (bass), Dave DiCenso (drums) and a re-mixer, Tony Verderosa. This album was also mixed by Kevin Shirley, which is a mix engineer Dream Theater Album. Some of the songs in the album is the song that never brought Petrucci at G3 concert.
In addition to expertly play the guitar, Petrucci is also excellent at making lyrics. The theme, among others, fantasy, philosophy, family, etc.. Issues of religion are also not free from the reach of the lyric. In the song In the Name of God (album Train of Thought), Petrucci criticize religious experts on behalf of God to justify all forms of violence. Petrucci also never made lyrics for a cancerous brain his father in the song Another Day and mededikasikannya in the song Take Away My Pain (album Falling Into Infinty) after his father died. For the song – the theme song in the album’s philosophy there are many Metropolis Part II: Scenes from a Memory like the song The Spirit Carries On and Beyond This Life. Petrucci also highlighted the problems many psychiatric / psychological in song – a song on the album Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence. In album Systematic Chaos, Petrucci fiction theme like stories about monsters, vampires, spirits / ghosts, in the lyrics – the lyrics are inspired by some of comics from various countries.
As a guitarist the world, Petrucci has received several awards. Year 1992, Petrucci in-endorse the Ibanez Guitar for using their guitar products. By Ibanez, made Petrucci signature model guitar, Ibanez JPM100 namely P1, P2, P3, P4 and JPM 90th Anniversary. Year 1999, Petrucci decided to move from Ibanez Ernie Ball / Music Man. Just as time on the Ibanez, Petrucci guitar back made personally by the name of EB / MM John Petrucci BFR Series. He used this guitar until recently. Petrucci is also believed to wear products from DiMarzio (pickups), Ernie Ball (strings), Axess Electronics (foot controller), Boss (effects), Dunlop (plectrum, wah effect), and Mesa Boogie (cabinets, amplifiers). Guitar solo on the song Under a Glass Moon entered in the 100 best guitar solo of all time. Profile Petrucci been featured in Guitar Player magazine October 2007 edition. Total Guitar magazine named Petrucci as “Guitarist of the Year 2007″. GuitarOne even put John Petrucci in rank to-nine “Greatest Shredder of All Time”.
Petrucci’s personal life is no different with people’s lives as usual. Petrucci has a wife named Rena Sands. Rena Petrucci met in 1989. Rena is a metal band’s guitarist, Meanstreak, whose members include women. They married in 1993. Until now, Petrucci and Rena have been blessed with three kids, twins Samantha and Reny and Kiara. Interestingly, the same as Petrucci, Dream Theater several other personnel also married Meanstreak personnel. Like Mike Portnoy who is married to Marlene Apuzzo and John Myung with Lisa Martens. In her spare time, besides music like mengahabiskan Petrucci jokingly time with his family, vacation, skiing, watching movies and bodybuilding.
I must be getting old; I can actually remember a time when “Rolling Stone” was the best printed source for reliable information regarding music and musicians; it was timely, pertinent, and highly respected. Unfortunately, it seems to have degenerated into a sad mixture of half-baked politics, overblown hype for new movies, silly fluff about “artists” like Britney Spears, and ads, ads, ads. In fact, “Rolling Stone” is now about as relevant and meaningful as “Tiger Beat” was in its day. Do you enjoy reading about trendy “stars” who will be forgotten by this time next year? Do you like to read article-length advertisements for the latest product from Hollywood? How about some ill-informed, poorly-composed political commentary? Are you fond of being bombarded with page after page of advertisements? If so, today’s “Rolling Stone” is for you. If you are seeking worthwhile material about musicians and their music, look elsewhere – “Rolling Stone” has sold out. (Happy Customer – USA)
Remember that adorable teen from “Almost Famous,” who dreamed of writing cuting-edge rock articles for Rolling Stone? No way. Not now, anyway. Once an edgy herald of music and rebellion, Rolling Stone has lurched gracelessly into its old age, filled with a mess of stars du jour and frenetic MTV coverage.
Rolling Stone keeps an eye on the music industry — scandals, controversies, concert coverage and reviews of the latest albums. They cover quite a bit of movie stuff as well, interviewing/covering directors like Peter Jackson and Quentin Tarantino, as well as (always attractive and usually young) actors. And there’s also political commentary, stubbornly one-sided and lacking in subtlety and brains.
Long ago, Rolling Stone was a force to be reckoned with. But now it’s the magazine equivalent of a paunchy, wrinkled guy who buys a toupee and sports car, in a futile attempt to convince the world that he’s still young and cool. Newer, wittier, more musically interesting magazines like Filter, Under the Radar and the online Kludge have slipped into the place that Rolling Stone once occupied.
It certainly doesn’t help that Rolling Stone is having an ongoing personality crisis. Is it a music mag? A political mag? A movie mag? It tries to be all three, and succeeds at none. Their politics is ridiculously one-sided, lacking any complexity. And the music coverage is too mainstream to be terribly interesting. Yes, some of the bands covered — like the White Stripes — are good. But up-and-coming bands, not to mention most of the rich indie music scene, are left to languish in the shadows.
Certainly Rolling Stone can’t be commended for many of their choices — it was a welcome relief when they put rock great Jimi Hendrix on the cover. But every cover of Jimi or the Beatles is outweighed by shirtless pictures of Timberlake or Usher, or naked pictures of Britney or Christina. Even the ones wearing clothes (like wannabe-rebel Avril) seem to be appealing to fetishes. Yep, many of the covers are eye-catching mainly for the skin factor.
Even those things might be acceptable, were the writing good. But save a handful of insightful movie reviews, the writing comes across as strained and painful. Attempts at wit and jokes fall flat. And some of the “human interest” stories border on revoltingly tasteless.
Creaking and covered in dust, boomer mag “Rolling Stone” passed its prime long ago. Let the gossip and pop coverage rest. Instead, check out mags like Filter, Kludge and Under the Radar, with their rich music coverage and insightful writing. (E. A Solinas “ea_solinas” – MD USA)
Two years ago, Rolling Stone and MTV teamed up to create a list of the “top 100 pop songs of all time.” According to that list, the number 10 song OF ALL TIME is, I kid you not, “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. It was then that I started to suspect the once-great Rolling Stone was losing it.
In 1967, Rolling Stone started with a simple idea: a “real” music magazine to counteract trendy teenage fluff like “Tiger Beat.” As the years wore on, they stayed true to their mission despite the inroads of disco and the MTV pretty boys of the ’80s. Sure, artists like Duran Duran appeared on a few covers, but on the whole Rolling Stone worked hard to maintain its credibility, giving much-needed exposure to then-cutting-edge acts like Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, U2 and Nirvana.
Then, through a series of mergers and acquisitions, Rolling Stone eventually became part of the Vivendi Universal empire. Soon, pressure to increase circulation and “appeal to a younger audience” escalated. The people at Vivendi, a French water company that knows nothing about entertainment, seem to think “a younger audience” doesn’t want to read anything about artists they’ve never heard of. In fact, “a younger audience” probably doesn’t want to read at all; they just want to see a sexy pinup photo of Britney’s boobs or Justin’s pecs, whatever you prefer.
Now here’s where I lost my last shred of respect for RS: All those Britney/boy band covers and the MTV Top 100 fiasco were bad enough, but what gave them the nerve to put CLAY AIKEN on the cover?! Any magazine with a reality-show contestant on its cover instantly loses all “music” credibility. They might as well hold their own “American Idol”-style contest to pick their next cover boy/girl. (You can see where that kind of strategy has gotten Vivendi; now they’re desperate to sell off their entertainment assets so they can get back to what they know best, preventing cholera and dysentery among the French.)
In its heyday, Rolling Stone was a rallying point for those who truly appreciate great music. Today it’s a glorified pinup fanzine with slightly better writing and production values than “Tiger Beat.” Come on, Clay Aiken on the cover? Imagine the Rolling Stone of 1967 with an Ohio Express cover. (Ben Collins – Ventura, CA United States)
I recently read an interview with the editor of this magazine, Josh Jackson, and it impressed me enough to look for Paste at my local bookstore. Having picked up a copy and listened to the sampler CD it comes with, I can tell you it is well worth the price (I’ve already signed up for a subscription!). Paste deals with intelligent, well-crafted music – both faith-based and otherwise. By their own admission, the editors of paste find that “one of the most annoying things in music today is the complete segregation of genres within the industry”, so they focus on all kinds of “good music”, whatever genre it falls into. The sampler CD is excellent, and of course, covers a variety of genres and artists. The one I received had better known artists like Five for Fighting, Indigo Girls, Norah Jones and Edie Brickell, but it also introduces lesser known artists(and now favorites of mine), like The Lost Trailers, Starflyer 59, Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers, and Ben Kweller. The articles inside encouraged me to check out bands like Addison Road and Robert Randolph & the Family Band. All in all, it has been great for introducing me to some of the best ‘unknown’ music out there!
Also, in the interview, the editor, Josh Jackson says they try to make Paste a “magazine that doesn’t objectify women, that doesn’t glorify drug addiction, that tries to respect the artists it covers, and that writes about all of the grand themes of searching, of loneliness, of love, of darkness, of hope that popular music is often courageous enough to tackle.”
One warning, as a previous reviewer has mentioned, reading Paste will cause you to spend some money, as you find hidden gems of artists and albums you hadn’t heard before, and now really want to own! Amidst a sea of commercialism and crassness in music and entertainment magazines today, Paste is a weclome sign of how beauty, truth and artistry can still be celebrated and enjoyed in popular music. (David A. Vosseller “davhoops” – Chicago, IL USA)
Despite the gluey name, Paste Magazine is a satisfactory music mag that focuses on the chords, not the bods. They have a pleasantly even, serene outlook, covering good band/singers from Loretta Lynn to Guided by Voices to Grandaddy, although it’s somewhat hampered by bland writing.
Paste covers a wide range of music, including jazz, country, folk, rock, and a few dashes of alternate pop (like Eisley and the Polyphonic Spree). A lot of their smaller articles are rather bland and shallow. But the longer interviews are more in-depth, asking intelligent questions to people like Damien Rice and Jack White.
Paste also includes concert reviews, cinema studies and movie reviews; these also tend to be deeper than the small music articles. DVDs and books are reviewed as well as music, even including a translation of Dante’s “Inferno” in one issue. Perhaps the most impressive is a CD tucked into every copy of Paste, with an array of selected songs by various bonds they’ve reported on.
Don’t expect MTV-ized coverage and nalf-nude pop stars — the best word to describe Paste is “wholesome.” It’s best appreciated when sitting at a coffee shop, studying the assorted artists that you’ve probably never heard of. It doesn’t have much edge, although it verges on it at times with its reviews (such as Chun Sue’s too-hot-for-China-to-handle “Beijing Doll”).
The writing doesn’t tend to be too great. It’s not bad, but it doesn’t make you sit up and take notice. The articlettes feel a little too strained; the reviews, by comparison, are quite relaxed. While they have articles on well-known artists like Norah Jones, Dave Matthews and Wilco, they also have bands which are not so well known like Earlimart. And though it has a rather American-music slant, it keeps tabs on bands like Starsailor and Elbow.
Paste has some writing wrinkles to be ironed out before it can be a really, really good magazine. But this earnest music mag has quite a bit to offer to a serious music fan. (E. A Solinas “ea_solinas” – MD USA)
I bumped into paste magazine when browsing through Borders looking for something other than the usual pop-peddling tat found on the UK newsstands today. The cover (for issue 5) grabbed my attention – Joe Henry, Emmylou Harris, Guided By Voices – people already populating my music collection. Great, I thought, at last a magazine that fits my tastes. This should be a good read.
So I bought it, sat down with a large cup of joe & started reading. I couldn’t put it down! As well, as the artists above, there were articles on people I’d never heard of; articles on people I’d always wanted to hear something by, but never gotten around to; and articles on artists that made me want to go out & buy their music there & then. The copy I picked up didn’t have a sampler CD (someone had nabbed it from the inside before I got there!), but it made me want to read more by these guys.
I’ve since subscribed and find paste to provide wide-ranging content, not particularly genre-based (but if you were really into pigeonholing I’d probably say they covered Americana singer-songwriter artists most of all), and not always favourable. This is not a sycophantic bow to all things underground & trendy (as someone else mentioned, they know when to put a megastar on the cover), neither is it afraid to shout about music it loves from the proverbial rooftops. They’ve even gone so far as to set up their own label.
The sampler CD is a revelation as they cram it full of artists covered in that particular issue and as another reviewer wrote you will spend a lot of money trying to track down the individual CDs discussed within the magazine.
In short, this is great writing about great music, with no preconceived ideas about what great music is. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in music & culture today. (Paul Wade – Gravesend, Kent, UK)
Dear Guitar Player
For over two decades I have played guitar. Pop, Rock, Alternative, Jazz, Latin. You name it. This wonderful instrument has been part of my life since I was 8 years old, it is like an extension of my spirit. Playing guitar is such a fun and rewarding experience, yet most people fail at it. The truth is, learning is not easy, not with conventional systems. So I took this challenge: to build a guitar system that would be intuitive and simple to use, so that more people could finally reach their dream of playing guitar. What I came up with was a revolutionary idea that surpassed my own expectations.
My name is Luis Medrano, I am the creator of Guitar E-nstructor.
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Guitar e-nstructor is a revolutionary way of visualizing the guitar. You will find it easier to learn than any other system, making it the most intuitive, hassle free system available today. Functional and direct, the concept is based on something no one thought about before: colors.
What is different about Guitar E-nstructor?
In conventional systems, chord diagrams are figures that represent the guitar in a graphic way. Dots are then used to represent chords, but those systems fail in the most crucial part of all, they don’t tell you which finger plays what! And if they do, they have to add extra information that makes the diagram even more difficult to read. A very simple thing like a chord suddenly becomes more complicated.
Guitar E-nstructor tackles the problem by using a distinctive color for each finger. I like to call it subliminal information, because your brain magically absorbs it without even realizing it.
“Just wanted to let you know that I think your system using the color coding is great, and very useful. Nice job.” (Matt H. – Boise, Idaho USA)
The same color principle is applied to scales. No more brain damage trying to learn complicated patterns. I break them down in small pieces called boxes that you can easily learn. Each box is a stand alone scale, so you can have fun playing solos even if you don’t know the entire fretboard. Once you are ready to take your soloing further, you learn the next box until you master the entire fretboard. Simplicity is the key element, the easier the system the faster you learn. You spend less time studying and more time playing.
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(Paul – London, England. UK.)
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Learn how to play guitar leads, solos, and songs like a professional…in less than 3 weeks!
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Just a few years back, one would struggle to learn how to play guitar on line because there weren’t really much quality guitar lessons around. The online guitar learning experience was made worse by disorganized guitar lessons found on many sites. The motivation behind starting this website is simple – Quality & Efficient Blues, Country and Folk on line Guitar Lessons. The resources and video tutorials provided here will serve as useful tools for guitarists to learn guitar on line and improve on your guitar playing skills, and be ready to go out there and play with other musicians.
This bass really impressed me…it is very light and the sound is quite good. It is an outstanding starter bass but has the feel of a more expensive bass. The amp is well small and work fine, but a larger model is really need to sustain powerful tone. I would recommend getting additional gig bag, cord and tuner….they all work but are not of the highest quality…but what can you expect from a packaged deal right? (David Hernandez – Midland, TX United States)
Overall I love this Bass and everything with it. The Bass buzzes A LOT if you aren’t careful and if you don’t set everything up right (But I guess that’s true for every bass), but once you finish your initial set up, it works great. Definitely an excellent deal for anyone starting off playing the bass (like me haha). And easily affordable. Came with everything and then some; I was not expecting a tuner and a set of picks with it, but I won’t complain. Definitely a great product. (Mark Donald “Lord Gorlox” – Tampa, FL)
I received the Silvertone LB11 Bass kit quickly. When I opened the package I found everything in working order. The overall appearance is just as described. The coloring is beautiful. I researched the Silvertone LB11 Bass Guitar before I purchased it and found that it’s a Fender P Bass Clone. I also purchased “Hal Leonard Bass Method Complete Edition”. I’m well on my way to learning to play the bass guitar. If I ever become a professional musician, I will get a Fender or Gibson.
Overall User “Average” Ratings found in my personal research:
Overall: 9 out of 10
Features: 8 out of 10
Quality: 8 out of 10
Value: 8 out of 10
I Want It: 9 out of 10
Sound: 8 out of 10
Ease of Use: 9 out of 10
Support: 9 out of 10
(SGT – South Carolina, USA)
I just recently fell for the Bass. I was looking for a package, since I’m a noob and still have so much to learn. Based on the looks and reviews, this seemed to be the best bass kit for the price.
Like many I was kind of worried after ordering, the contents of the negative reviews began to sink deeper into my mind, but it arrived yesterday and I have no complaints concerning the BASS.
The accessories however, are pretty shoddy. The bag has NO padding and the strap is thin and actually hurts my shoulder. It would be suitable for a ukulele, not a heavy bass. These are two things I will need to replace very soon…ahhhhh more money….
I also have trouble understanding people’s complaints about the amp. I may not know much, but this thing is LOUD and I never put the volume all the way up. I can see it being covered by drums, but i play with my obnoxious nephew on his electric guitar, amp and all, and have no trouble hearing what I’m playing.
The instructional DVD is a bit….weird. I wasted about 20 mins on it…but I think that aside from maybe a scale or two you can get much better lessons and tutorials on youtube. All in all this is a great Bass for my situation. I am a beginner with my only prior musical experience being with the Violin, along with an ongoing lesson on guitar. I’m picking this up for a new hobby and so this sufficient. Very nice sound, look and weight. This is a great way to transition into the bass guitar! (Kaka4Milan)
Bought this for my son’s 16th birthday. He loved it. The guitar and amp are shipped seperately but arrived together. They are not wrapped so if it is a surprise you may want to have it shipped where the recipient won’t see it until they are supposed to. It came with everything you would need to get started. Seemed like good quality to me. The DVD was helpful, but didn’t provide a lot of info. After watching it several times, my son still can’t play a song. I would recommed this to anyone who is wanting to learn to play a guitar as it is a very good buy and comes with everything. (Tess – USA)
The item came just as presented and I was very pleased. I didn’t know that the amp and guitar were shipped separately though and I was worried I hadn’t received the amp but when I emailed Rondomusic they were quick to reply and very professional. My boyfriend was really happy with the gift also. All in all I was very satisfied with the transaction. (Ivy Maina “imaina” – Princeton, NJ USA)
The service and quickness by Rondo music was excellent. My only gripe is what other reviewers of this company have said; this product is not in a plain box. The box is just like the box shown in the picture which means if it’s a gift and they deliver it, it may not be a surprise. Since it seems Rondo music is not correcting this problem, I would suggest shipping it to a friends house if it’s a gift. Since I read the other reviews, I was ready for this to happen. Other than this issue we’ve had no problems with this product. (D. Nezat “Sometime Shopper” – Florida)
I bought the yellow guitar but no link for it. Either way this black one is the same. awsome guitar(my first) everything came fast and all came. wife wants the eletric acustic just ordered from seller. great deal. good stuff always comes from china! Good pickup, good amp(loud but not too loud)only fault is my cable already split at the ends but the guitar is still intact. (Marcus Goodwin)
Katy Perry manages to turn out some extremely catchy songs that epitomize (electro) “pop” music: the tunes are light and frothy, the vocals are sexy, and the lyrics are sassy-sweet. “California Gurls” is a perfect summer song; this is a sparkling pop ode to the “cutest girls in the world” (as Brian Wilson once put it) that you can play with your friends, laughing away the breezy days in your convertible, flying down PCH, admiring the bright blue Pacific waves off in the distance, all on a gorgeous afternoon. This song features the always fabulous Snoop Dogg in a lively guest appearance. In terms of its overall sound, the song’s composition is heavily reminiscent of the bouncy power-pop early ’80s new wave that Perry loves and also the funk stylings of Zapp. A fantastic song by Ms. Perry! (JF “Mr. A. Crowley” – IN.,USA)
There is no question that there can sometimes be too much of an artist with the same sound. For Katy Perry, she just doesn’t seem to showcase anything but being a “sex kitten” image. With her engagement to crude U.K. comic Russell Brand, and her personal life in a upswing, she just doesn’t seem to showcase that in her sound though. Her latest single California Gurls, really just doesn’t feel like she has a strong vibe here. It feels like a rehashing of her breakthrough when she came out with I Kissed A Girl a couple of years ago. Hopefully she will try and do a better sound for herself for her next single, and her next album. She really needs it, because she can’t be too much of the same singer, all the same time. Michael Kerner (“Michael Kerner” – Brooklyn, New York U.S.A.)
Wow. Thank you, Katy.
I had been complaining about Lady Gaga getting undeserved praise, but you’ve returned to remind me that things can be so much worse than copying Madonna and Ace of Base.
Gaga might be dull, but it seems that she enjoys what she does. “California Gurls” reinforces that Katy Perry is just doing whatever it takes to make a buck, including a poorly manufactured “summer anthem” for kiddies to blast through their range rovers while heading to the beach. One that sounds conspicuously like a sunny Miley Cyrus anthem for the Ke$ha demographic. One that, despite obvious employment of voice correction software, boasts singing that sounds like a poodle being stepped on. Oh, yeah, and it’s sexy too, don’t forget that. OH, and there’s Snoop Dogg there for street cred! Quite a package, right? Maybe the Dogg and poodle parallel is intentional?
Hey, I like plenty of dumb, fun anthems too–and there’s nothing wrong with making a profit–but this is crass marketing at its worst. It’s like the ads for all of those stupid toy products marketed to kids as the second coming of Christ (like the Skip-It and that ridiculous colored sand). It shows a brazen contempt for its audience that rivals the late 90′s teen pop explosion. Of course, if you didn’t see the cynicism in those acts either, chances are you’ll LOVE this new product by Katy Perry! Buy now while supplies last! (s.t. – Philadelphia)
This is an ok drum set for a beginner. The cymbal is very cheap and after a while starts to bend if you keep hitting it in the same spot. Snare needs lots of tuning and rings when you hit a tom. The toms are good but I would recommend to get some moon gel (MG4 Moon Gel Drum Damper Pads) for them so that don’t ring as much. The bass is good if you put a wool sweater or blanket in it to lessen the ringing. The cymbal stand is ok but the nut to hold the cymbal on needs to be tightened once in a while. (Valerie Clary “Trent Clary” – WI USA)
Purchased this set for my 11 year old son,which is taking advanced drum lessons.These have good quality mahogany wood shells,all stands are double braced,the Hi-hat and bass pedals have good quality chain drive. This is a complete set from throne to drumsticks. Great starter set! It will be hard to find a better set for the money anywhere! This set does come completly unassembled, but has a good website with a step by step video that makes assembly so easy that our son did most of the assembly his self. Arrived ahead of schedule in great shape! (Frank Standhardt II – Lockwood, Mo. USA)
This is the 2nd set of these drums that we have purchased….when my Husband saw my grandson’s at Christmas and his eyes lit up…I knew what he’d be getting for our Anniversary. They are of the highest quality and the price is fantastic.They were here in no time flat and the customer service is prompt and professional. If you want a great deal…this is it! (Debi “ccgirl” – BATTLE CREEK, MI, US)
John Petrucci (born on July 12, 1967), is an American guitarist known as a former member of progressive metal group Dream Theater. He is also a producer (along with fellow band Mike Portnoy) all Dream Theater albums since the release of the album Scenes From A Memory, in the year 1999
