Beatles fans & plastic rockers: mark 9/9/09 on your calendar!

professor.knowsitall@evpl — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:58:00 GMT

September 9, 2009, will be a huge day for Beatles fans and plastic-instrument musicians around the globe!

On that day, The Beatles' entire catalog will be re-released on CD, digitally re-mastered for the first time. As taken from The Beatles' official website:

"Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.

The albums have been re-mastered by a dedicated team of engineers at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London over a four year period utilising state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analogue recordings. The result of this painstaking process is the highest fidelity the catalogue has seen since its original release."

The date also marks the release of The Beatles: Rock Band on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, & Wii. While similar to previous Rock Band games, allowing wanna-be rockers to sing & play guitar/bass/drums, it will feature music by The Beatles (including several unreleased tracks) and a story mode. In this mode, up to 4 players play as the band, playing from their early years through their rise to fame.

The "Limited Edition Premium Bundle" (aka: EXPENSIVE) version will include the game, a bass guitar controller (a replica of McCartney's iconic Höfner bass), a Ludwig-branded drum set, and a mic with stand. Rumors suggest that multiple mics will be supported, to allow harmonizing on the vocal tracks.

While waiting for Beatlemania to arrive this September, check out our catalog to get your fix. Anyone else going to have a lighter wallet on 9/9?

More Information

EVPL Catalog: Find CDs, DVDs, & books by/about the Fab Four.
The Beatles' Official Website: Find out more about the digitally-remastered CD re-releases. Scroll down to the 4/7 post.
Joystiq.com: View all posts about The Beatles: Rock Band on Joystiq, a gaming blog.

Dr. Dog - "Fate"

HoodooVoodoo@evpl — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:41:00 GMT

Dr. Dog, a Philadelphia-based band, released their fifth album Fate (2008) in late July on indie label Park the Van Records. Dr. Dog began it rise on the national scene when Jim James of My Morning Jacket picked them to open for his band in 2004 after someone slipped him a copy of one of their earlier independent label albums.

When describing Dr. Dog's sound one can't help but invoke musicians and bands of the past. After I got a copy of their album, We All Belong (2007), my usual sales pitch to friends was "it's like a stew consisting of David Bowie, Elton John, and The Band, but it sounds new,". I've read a lot of reviews of Fate and many have invoked The Beatles' Abbey Road and 1960s pop in their descriptions and while I don't think it's fair to compare the two, I understand why. Fate almost flows as one singular piece than a collection of eleven songs and some of the guitar riffs sound like George Harrison was playing on the album.

Dr. Dog fully excepts the comparions of "sounding and feeling old" with their promo depression-era pics for the album and constant references to all things old in their lyrics, but somehow they manage to sound new (at least to my ears anyways). I highly recommend this album. Check it out or reserve your copy today!

For more information on Dr. Dog check out the following:

Dr. Dog's Official Home Page

Dr. Dog's MySpace Page

"Hang On" from Dr. Dog's new album Fate

(Please visit the site to view this media)

Music Blog : The Beatles

Beatles fans & plastic rockers: mark 9/9/09 on your calendar!

Dr. Dog - "Fate"