Kerascene: Rachel Mayfield

Kerascene keeps giving tips to the best in music - check out Rachel Mayfield.

"Rachel Mayfield's voice grabs you like nothing else. This girl is Liz Fraser, Bjork and Harriet Wheeler with attitude."

Liz Frazer? They got me right there.

This Is Puremusic

Check out the new issue of Puremusic.com featuring interviews with UK wonder Ed Harcourt, Caroline Herring, Blue Highway, and Mia Doi Todd.

Reviews of Gary Louris, James McMurtry, Bo Ramsey, Swamp Cabbage, Justin Townes Earle, Kathleen Edwards, The Mountain Goats, Ladyhawk, The Ruby Suns, The Chapin Sisters, The Feeling, and The Lost Soul of Philadelphia International Records.

Got To Get Around

OK my UK friends, I haven't forgotten you. I have a hot link for you if you're in need of a good ride. I'm talking used cars from BuyYourCar. Whether you're looking for an SUV to haul your equipment around in or some hot wheels to impress the babes, you can take your pick here.

Their search functions are righteous. You can look for a vehicle by the make and model and other sweet options like price range, location, dealer or private seller, colour and more. Search by highest or lowest price or newly listed ... your options are pretty well thought out for you.

If this isn't enough to help you find the ride you want, BuyYourCar also has a cool Buying Advice section to give you tips on what to ask a car seller - Number One: "Why are you selling this car?" Now that's good advice. But it doesn't stop there. The site also has a buyer's checklist, inspection points you should be aware of and other helpful advice.

During a quick search I found a sweet 1999 Chevrolet Blazer with an automatic transmission, a slick black paint job and only 69000 miles. If that won't haul all your gear, you need to ditch some band mates. This is rock 'n' roll, not the symphony, baby!

Soundplant Music Creation Freeware

Soundplant is a free self-contained digital audio performance program that turns your computer keyboard into a fully customizable sample-triggering device.

It allows the assignment of sound files of unlimited size to virtually any keyboard keys, with no external devices needed and no MIDI involved. It can be used as a drum pad, to add a live track to an already made song, to mix together tracks in realtime, to create music or loops from scratch, to quickly sketch sound designs, to give new life to old sounds, or as a performance, presentation, or installation tool. Because it is not a synthesizer and instead uses your own digital samples (it's a 'software sampler'), Soundplant is a virtually limitless electronic instrument.

A simple graphic interface provides for drag-and- drop, point-and-click configuration of each key, including several options which control the way each sound is triggered, along with pitch, offsets, looping, volume, and panning. Sounds can be easily batch assigned across multiple keys at varying pitches and offsets, and keyboard configurations can be saved and loaded. Download Soundplant.

Hot Pants

If you've been rocking in your BDUs only to have your fans tear them away like toilet paper off the roll, you seriously need to hop into the BDU Pants from LA Police Gear. These are ultra-fine ripstop pants that meet military specs for roughage and toughage. And yes, they are available to civilians and rock stars alike.

If BDUs aren't your style, but you still dig the military/cop look, you should check out their line of boots (including Bates Durashocks and Blackhawk Warrior Wear) and other cool gear.

Tech-House Free Download

Looking for some new minimal, tech-house music to get yourself stepping? Here's a free download from DJ 4tech called "Portable Vol. 2".

Includes tracks by Mick Chillage and Insert84. Enjoy irresponsibly.

Download and track list.

Take Your Time

I have a fondness for clocks (yet, somehow I'm never on time) and if you do too, you should go to 1-800-4Clocks.com.

This cool Website has mantel clocks, grandfather (and grandmother) clocks, wall clocks, atomic clocks and more - and my special favorites - Howard Miller clocks. Howard Miller has genius products. If you don't know what I mean, check out this skeleton clock.

It's not that type of skeleton. It's a type of clock where you can see the inner mechanisms working as the clock keeps time. This one is encased in acrylic and has cool brass movements and accents. Watching the movements as the seconds tick away is really compelling and relaxing. It's like meditation. Perfect for the home office, especially when the last thing you want to do is work.

If you're not familiar with Howard Miller clocks, take a look. If you prefer Kieninger or Hermle clocks or even the cool retro-like neon wall clocks you can find those as well.

Bjork Fans Listen Up

Stereogum has released a tribute to Bjork and her album "Post" entitled "Stereogum Presents ... Enjoyed: A Tribute to Bjork's Post".

The 12-track cover song compilation features Stereogum favorites and this year's most buzzed about indie musicians paying homage to Bjork with their own interpretations of her music. The tribute is available as a free download (in MP3 format, and as .zip and torrent files) exclusively at Stereogum.

Artists and songs:

1. Liars - "Army Of Me"
2. Dirty Projectors - "Hyperballad"
3. High Places - "Modern Things"
4. Bell - "It's Oh So Quiet"
5. Pattern Is Movement - "Enjoy"
6. Evangelicals - "You've Been Flirting Again"
7. Xiu Xiu - "Isobel"
8. Final Fantasy & Ed Droste - "Possibly Maybe"
9. White Hinterland - "I Miss You"
10. El Guincho - "Cover Me"
11. Atlas Sound - "Headphones"
12. No Age – "It’s Oh So Quiet"

Enjoy.

You Get Credit

If you are looking for a comparison website to evaluate all the offers for bad credit credit cards and / or bad credit loans, then take a look at BadCreditOffers.com. They have the rundown on the lenders who are willing to give people with poor credit a second chance.

Read up on your options before you make a decision. And hey, be careful this time.