Concert Agenda in Indonesia for 2011 (January - May)

Indonesians love music, there is no doubt about it. The Indonesians' enthusiasm of live music keeps on increasing every year. Next year in 2011, Indonesians will be satisfied with a lot of live concerts that will be held. Here is the list of some concerts that have been confirmed and announced by the promoters for January until May. Please take note that there are many upcoming concerts that have not been announced yet, I'll update them later as soon as they are announced.

So here are some upcoming concerts that will be held from January until May:

8 January: Secondhand Serenade live at Sabuga Bandung

9 January: Secondhand Serenade live at Gramedia Expo Surabaya

10 January: N*E*R*D live in Indonesia at Istora Senayan, Jakarta

19 January: Four Year Strong and Set Your Goals live in Jakarta at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta

22 January: Ne-Yo live in Indonesia at Istora Senayan, Jakarta

7 February: Rick Price live in Jakarta at Balai Sarbini, Jakarta

8 February: Deftones live in Indonesia at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta

15 February: Two Door Cinema Club live in Jakarta at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta

17 February: Iron Maiden - Final Frontier World Tour live in Indonesia at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta

20 February: Iron Maiden - Final Frontier World Tour live in Indonesia at Garuda Wisnu Kencana, Bali

22 February: Jakarta Jam 2011 Day 1 featuring We The Kings, Never Shout Never, and I See Stars live at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta

23 February: Jakarta Jam 2011 Day 2 featuring The Starting Line and New Found Glory live at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta

4 - 6 March: Java Jazz Festival 2011 featuring Santana, George Benson, Kenny Loggins, Sondre Lerche, Fourplay, and many more at Jakarta International Expo Kemayoran, Jakarta

13 March: Stone Temple Pilots live in Indonesia at Carnaval Beach Ancol, Jakarta

26 March: MGMT and The Whitest Boy Alive live in Indonesia at Bengkel Night Park, Jakarta

3 April: Jimmy Eat World live in Indonesia at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta

23 April: Justin Bieber live in Indonesia at SICC Sentul, Jakarta

27 April: Maroon5 live in Indonesia at Istora Senayan, Jakarta [SOLD OUT]

14 May: Hey Monday, A Rocket To The Moon, and The Downtown Fiction live in Jakarta at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta

 

Those are the concerts I've managed to track and note them down. If your favorite artist is not in the list, please be patient because the promoters still have some concerts that have not been announced yet :)

Please enjoy and I hope I'll see you in one of those concerts.

source:

http://deathrockstar.info and http://www.jakartaconcerts.com

My List: 25 Best Albums of 2010

Yesterday, I posted my list of best songs in 2010. Continuing that post, now I'll post my list of best albums of 2010. It was difficult to decide which one is the best since I listened to a lot of music from a lot of genres. In this list, I chose the best in everry genre I listened to and put them together as my 25 best albums of 2010. Here is the list:

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Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

Arcade Fire always keeps me amazed since their debut album 'The Funeral'. In their third album here, they talked about the lives of human in the suburban area. They still put the lovely sound of their orchestral-rock and also experimenting with synthesizer (try "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)"), they also put something energetic like "Ready to Start". Despite it's titled 'The Suburbs', it also reflects the life of urban people, more like battles of human within big houses and buildings.

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Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

Finally Kings of Leon have their own rival. These southern-rockers also create something worth to be compared to Kings of Leon. We cannot deny the beautiful "Laredo" or "Compliments". Bridwell's vocal is not as rough as Caleb Followill, but he has a smooth vocal which gives us something different from Kings of Leon.

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The Black Keys - Brothers

The blues brothers are back with their best record they've made this far. This album is more than we asked for from them. With four grammy nominations and Rolling Stone #2 Album of The Year made this album one of the best records this year.

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Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

The second self-titled album from Crystal Castles. Noisy yet mesmerizing. "Celestica", their best song here, puts me in some kind of a trance; hypnotizing yet beautiful.

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Deftones - Diamond Eyes

Since Chi Cheng, their bassist, got a car accident, Deftones has posponed the material entitled 'Eros' for the time being. Now, recruiting Sergio Vega as a session player, they created their 2nd best record after White Pony. Aggressive yet beautiful, heavy guitar riffs, beautiful samplings, and lyrics that will blow your mind away.

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The Dilinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis

A heavy album, yet full of honesty. My favorite track in this album, "Farewell Mona Lisa" is rough, aggressive, where Greg Puciato screamed like a mad person. Cannot fully describe its beauty since this album has its complexity which I cannot describe.

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The Drums - The Drums

One fun album created by these kids from New York. Despite the fact that they are from USA, they sound more like British bands (Joy Division to be precise). "Let's Go Surfing" taught me how fun it is to go surfing (although I cannot surf) and of course the most favorite track, "Forever and Ever Amen".

[[posterous-content:pid___8]]Eminem - Recovery

Eminem is back in the business. Don't expect the same Eminem we see on "Relapse" because he is fully recovered from his addiction in this album. He talked about dare to move on in "Not Afraid" and of course the hit collaboration "Love The Way You Lie" with Rihanna. Well, I believe that he is not lying that he is fully recovered and he is more than ready to reclaim his throne.

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The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

These New Jersey dudes are the next Bruce Springsteen. Well, Bruce Springsteen does influence the sound of this album. They succeeded in combining punk, folk, country, and a little bit jazz in this album. Try listen to "American Slang", I think that really reflects the life of the real American.

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Hurts - Happiness

In contrast with their album title, these synth-pop duo talks about sadness in this entire album. The duo brings us back to the 80s with music full of gloomy synthesizer sounds and black and white concept. I can say that's what makes this album beautiful.

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Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye is back with a new record with more magic in it. I hate it when Kanye sings about heart-breaks in his previous album, "808s & Heartbreak", now he is back with more power and created the best album he has ever created. "Runaway" is the most beautiful track in this album, an epic song for 9 minutes, and when you think the song is over that's where the magic begins.

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Kele - The Boxer

Since Bloc Party is on hiatus, Kele has gone solo and creates something different from Bloc Party. He dropped his guitar and goes solo with synthesizer and samples to create an album for the dance floor anthem. The song "Tenderoni" is sure to be the anthem of the dance floor, full of beats and energy to makes us dance.

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Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown

Well like Rollin Stone said, this is the best arena rock album of the year. The Followills managed to create something different yet better than their previous hit album "Only By The Night".

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Klaxons - Surfing The Void

This album is an unexpected album. In their first album, Klaxons created new-wave songs full of synthesizer sound. This album re-introduced Klaxons as they embarked on something different from before but also a lot better than before.

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LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening

James Murphy is back with his team and create one crazy dance-punk album this year. "Drunk Girls" has everything you want from a song, and it will surely make you drunk.

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Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns

Not the best album Linkin Park have created, but it definitely gives us something different. Linkin Park keeps on evolving from every album, looking for sound we've never imagined before. And I think this album has completed their evolution.

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Manic Street Preachers - Postcards From A Young Man

If the previous album "Journal For Plague Lovers" seems to dark for you, you should listen to this album as Manics reformed their sound and they are back on their tracks. They are back with orchestra sounds, created epic songs throughout the album, and they were heled by Duff McKagan in one of the tracks here.

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MGMT - Congratulations

Andrew Van Wyngwarden and Ben Goldwasser dropped their sounds they've created in the first album. Now, they go all psychedelic with less synthesizer sounds to create mesmerizing songs like "Flash Delirium" or "Congratulations".

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My Chemical Romance is back with another concept album. They've had enough being called emo and now they go all out and wild with the best record they've created. Being left by their drummer doesn't even stop them to create this poppiest and the most cheerful album in their career.

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The National - High Violet

The National has redefined what it means to be depressed to me. All the songs in this albumgave me a new meaning in being sad and lonely especially "Bloodbuzz Ohio", thanks to Matt Berninger's deep baritone vocal.

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Parkway Drive - Deep Blue

If you're looking for a total aggressive record, this is the album you should listen to. These Australian metalcore guys hasve refined their sounds to be more aggressiv and brutal. They ain't gonna give you a time to breath, cause every songs deliver mind-blowing hardcore riffs, screams and growls, and blasting drum beats.

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Sleigh Bells - Treats

This duo created a loud and noisy sound throughout the album and that's where they are good at. They took fun to a different level with their noisy sound.

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Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History

They defined their music as alteronica, well that already defined what this album is all about. Alternative-rock imbued with electronic sounds from synthesizers and samplings and creates a perfect harmony synchronization in this album.

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Vampire Weekend - Contra

What should I say about this album? Vampire Weekend has created something near perfection in tis album! You should listen to this for yourself since I cannot describe its beauty.

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Yeasayer - Odd Blood

These guys really are the synth wizards. Decorated with synthesizer sounds all over the album and creates a different ambience than any bands who played with synthesizer. Unique yet still has its own catchy hooks.

My List: 50 Best Songs of 2010

The end of 2010 is almost here! 2010 has been a fantastic year for music industry. Fantastic songs and albums were released every month, from January to December.

And of course, like a tradition, lists for best songs and best albums of every year is a must. Now I will give you my list for my best 50 songs of 2010. Do not blame me if there is no song title that you do not know. Here is the list (in alphabetical order from the artist):

1. Arcade Fire - Ready to Start

2. Arcade Fire - We Used to Wait

3. Band of Horses - Laredo

4. B.o.B - Nothin' On You feat Bruno Mars

5. The Black Keys - Tighten Up

6. Cee-Lo Green - Fuck You

7. Crystal Castles - Celestica

8. Crysatl Castles - Not in Love feat Robert Smith

9. Deftones - Sextape

10. Die Antwoord - Enter the Ninja

11. The Drums - Forever and Ever Amen

12. Eminem - Love the Way You Lie feat Rihanna

13. Eminem - Not Afraid

14. Far East Movement - Like A G6 feat The Cataracs and Dev

15. Foals - Spanish Sahara

16. The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang

17. Gorillaz - Stylo feat Mos Def and Bobby Womack

18. Hurts - Wonderful Life

19. Janelle Monae - Tightrope feat Big Boi

20. Jonsi - Go Do

21. Kanye West - POWER

22. Kanye West - Runaway feat Pusha T

23. Katy Perry - California Gurls feat Snoop Dogg

24. Kele - Tenderoni

25. Kings of Leon - Radioactive

26. Klaxons - Echoes

27. Lady Gaga - Telephone feat Beyonce

28. LCD Soundsystem - Drunk Girls

29. Linkin Park - The Catalyst

30. M.I.A - XXXO

31. Manic Street Preachers - It's Not War (Just the End of Love)

32. Marina and the Diamonds - Hollywood

33. Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. - Bang Bang Bang feat MNDR and Q-Tip

34. Mew - Do You Love It?

35. MGMT - Congratulations

36. MGMT - Flash Delirium

37. My Chemical Romance - Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)

38. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio

39. Robyn - Dancing On My Own

40. Sade - Soldier of Love

41. Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em

42. The Smashing Pumpkins - Freak

43. Stone Sour - Say You'll Haunt Me

44. Surfer Blood - Swim

45. Two Door Cinema Club - Come Back Home

46. Vampire Weekend - Cousins

47. Vampire Weekend - GIving Up the Gun

48. Warpaint - Undertow

49. Yeasayer - Ambling Alp

50. Yeasayer - ONE

Actually there are a lot of songs I want to put here in my list, unfortunately I decided to put 50 songs only.

I will also post my best albums of 2010, tomorrow exactly on Christmas :D

Here Comes 'The Damned Things'

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Ini dia salah satu supergroup yang ditunggu-tunggu di tahun2010 ini, The Damned Things'

Mengapa pantas disebut supergroup? Well, karena band ini bisa diesbut gabungan dari 3 band yaitu Anthrax (Scott Ian dan Rob Caggiano), Every Time I Die (Keith Buckley, Josh Newton (support bassist)), dan Fall Out Boy (Joe Trohman dan Andy Hurley).

Dengan berisikan aanggota dari band lintas genre dan lintas generasi, musik The Damned Things cukup bervariasi. Berisikan rif-riff gitar classic rock/heavy metal yang kadang agak nge-blues dan digabung dengan elemen musik ketiga band yang mengisi lineup band ini, membuat band ini ga cuma cadas tapi juga memiliki hook chorus yang catchy.

Tanggal 13 Desember nanti mereka akan merilis album debut mereka 'Ironiclast' yang dijamin bakal menggila. Grab a copy of it and let your head bangs with these heavy metal dudes \m/

 

The Wonderful Nominations of 53rd Grammy Awards

The 53rd Grammy Nominations were announced this morning. Why did I say it's wonderful? Because it has been a long time I haven't see an award which is not owned by Lady Gaga and the sissy Justin Bieber. The next 53rd Grammy Awards is owned by Eminem with 10 nominations, while Lady Gaga only has 6 and Bieber ohas 2.

Another wonderful thing is, our lovely indie rock band, Arcade Fire, got 3 Grammy nominations including 'Best Album of the Year' for their latest album 'The Suburbs'. It is surprising because I haven't seen any indie bands got nominated for 3 Grammy.

The Black Keys, a blues rock-duo consisting of Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach, got 4 Grammy nominations. Kings of Leon who previously got 4 nominations for their song 'Use Somebody' and won 3 of them, now they only got 2 nominations for their new song 'Radioactive'.

Lamb of God, Megadeth, and Slayer are back in the Best Metal Performance nominations. While in the Best Hard Rock Performance nominations, we can see the revival of grunge since it has Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden in the nominees.

Well, I can't give the full list of the nominees. But you can check it HERE

Any of your favorite artist in the nominees? Let's hope they win then :)

My Chemical Romance - Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys [review]

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Tidak mengeluarkan album selama 3 tahun kelihaannya membawa banyak perubahan kepada My Chemical Romance. Tentu kita masih ingat bagaimana mereka masuk ke dalam dunia musik mainstream, dengan membawakan anthem-anthem pop-punk dengan sentuhan emo di beberapa lagu mereka dan tentu saja dandanan gelap ala gothic.

Jika kalian mengharapkan mereka masih sama seperti 2 album sebelumnya, bersiaplah kecewa. Kini mereka berempat (minus Bob Bryar yang meninggalkan band) berubah menjadi The Fabulous Killjoys. Tidak hanya perubahan dandanan, My Chemical Romance kali ini juga mengusung musik yang lebih rock dan menambahkan sound-sound keyboard/synthesizer ala tahun 70-80an.

One of the most notable track adalah 'Planetary (GO!)' dimana mereka mengajak kita bersenang-senang dengan musik dance-rock. Tidak ada lagi lagu emo penyayat hati lagi (ingat 'I Don't Love You'?) walaupun ada beberapa lagu power ballad seperti 'SING' dan 'The Only Hope For Me Is You'.

Dan kadar kegilaan mereka tidak berhenti sampai di situ saja. Mereka terus mengajak kita untuk berpesta di 'Party Posion' dan lagu anthemic 'S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W'. Dan mereka menutup album ini dengan indah bersama lagu 'Vampire Money'.

Setelah mendengarkan album ini, tidak ada lagi alasan untuk membenci My Chemical Romance. Album ini menandai perubahan positif yang mereka alami, dari band pop-punk yang gothic menjadi para outlaws dengan anthem rock yang menggila. Lagipula, lagu 'Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na)' adalah sebuah lagu yang tidak akan kita lupakan, dan tentu saja membuat kita sing-along. Semoga saja mereka mampu menjaga style mereka sekarang ini untuk album-album berikutnya.

Maroon 5 to Perform in Jakarta

A note from Maroon 5:

Maroon5 are set to perform for the 1st time ever on Wednesday 27’th April, 2011 in Istora  Senayan, Jakarta at 8 pm.

 

 Tickets will be available on Sunday,  December 5th 2010 at IDR 600.000 for the Tribune and IDR 800.000 for the Festival at www.javamusikindo.com. There will be IDR 100.000 discount for limited tickets on December 5th 2010.

 

For further information please contact JAVA Musikindo, Plaza Mutiara 2nd floor, suite 201, Jl. Lingkar Mega Kuningan Kav. E 1-2, Mega Kuningan, Jakarta. Phone: (021) 579 88623-5 and fax: (021) 579 88 626. Follow them on Twitter at @AdrieSubono and @JavaMusikindo.

 

Yes people, they are coming to Jakarta! Just do what they say, and start to collect some money to see them next year!

Jimmy Eat World to come to Jakarta in 2011

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Sepertinya list konser tahun 2011 di Jakarta akan bertambah panjang.

Setelah kemarin diumumkan bahwa Deftones akan datang ke Jakarta pada bulan Februari, kali ini JAVA Musikindo juga mengumumkan bahwa mereka akan membawa Jimmy Eat World ke Jakarta pada tanggal 3 April 2011.

Memang banyak yang meminta band alternative-rock asal Arizona ini unutk didatangkan ke Indonesia. Band yang sudah berdiri sejak tahun 1993 ini juga baru saja merilis album baru mereka 'Invented'. Tentunya kedatangan mereka ke sini sebagai rangkain tur untuk mempromosikan album terbaru mereka.

Sementara ini JAVA Musikindo masih belum mengumumkan kapan tiket presale akan dijual dan berapa harga untuk tiket tersebut. Well, let's save up our money then!

click www.javamusikindo.com for more information

Kagrra, to Cease Activities

A notification from PS Company:

Kagrra, the band formed on June 3rd 2000, has decided to cease their activity after the live concert in Shibuya C.C.Lemon Hall on March 3rd, 2011. Thank you for supporting the band for 10 years long. The members would like to express their sincere gratitude from the bottom of their hearts.
Meanwhile, the new album "HYAKKI KENRAN" will be released on Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011, and the nation-wide tour "ANGYA HYAKKI YAKO ~YOU~" will start on February 13th, 2011. Their last activity, the live in Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall on Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 will be titled "SHUEN ~SAKURA MAICHIRU ANO OKA DE~".

Although there is little time left, please keep your support up for the band until the very end.

November 11th, 2010
Kagrra,
President Tomomi Ozaki
PS COMPANY Co.,Ltd

Statement from each members:

It's the time for Kagrra, to cease the activities, which have lasted for 11 years. This is the demise.

During these long years, thanks to the members, fans, staff and all the persons concerned, Kagrra, was able to create a unique culture pursuing the best music. However, we have found a final form in it as a result.

However, we believe that we should not be complacent with our current condition, therefore, we call it a demise.

As to the time I've spent with Kagrra, it's no exaggeration to say that there are so many memories that I can not possibly resolve my feelings, even after I made this conclusion. As Isshi of Kagrra, I want to focus all my energy on to the end with all of you.

I want to say sorry to all the fans, staff and people concerned, who have been supporting us till now. However, I still believe that the music and the words that we have left will be alive forever in the future. We will pursue all the possibilities and begin our own activities in the future, although it's hard to imagine how the future will be for myself. I will feel very happy if we can have your unchanged love from now on.

The belief that I had in saying "Where Kagrra, is, is where everyone is. Where everyone is, is where I am." will not change.

Although it's a farewell, I want to express my gratitude to all of you who have been supporting Kagrra, and Isshi.

Isshi
Kagrra,

We have a very important announcement for everyone today.

Kagrra, will stop activities after the live concert at Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall on March 3rd, 2011.

The five of us have been making music for more than ten years, as Kagrra, it has been ten years.
I've met the best band members, we shared a dream and we grew up together.
A lot of things happened; not only good things,
but we have the best memories with our fans who loving our music and the staff we can trust.

Although we have celebrated our 10th anniversary,
in order to aim for a higher place,
we have had several discussions on the course of our future activities,
and reached a tough decision after considering all kinds of opinions.

To those who have been supporting us,
I'm so sorry to make such a sad announcement.

We are a band, which can not exist without Isshi, Shin, Nao, Izumi.
Our music will remain forever because it is unique,
and I will always be proud of Kagrra, as the most important band for me.

Thank you for being with us for ten years.

In the time remaining, the five of us will try our best to present the whole world of Kagrra,
with all our might.
Please support us until the very end.

Akiya
Kagrra,

As an unexpected announcement, after the discussion among all band members, Kagrra, will cease activities and come to a "Demise" after the live concert on March 3rd 2011.

The reason differs by each member. but to me, at the moment we have done what we can do and want to do as Kagrra,. It would be by pressure only if we continued these same activities without a pause.

Thanks to the support from a lot of people, we have made it through ten years, which is a long time.
The ten years with Kagrra, have become a life style to me, and I kept growing both as an artist and as a human being.

I'm proud of the band Kagrra, and at the same time I can never thank enough to everyone who has been supporting Kagrra,.

Thanks to every member of Kagrra, the fans, and the staff concerned.

There is still a little time left before the "Demise", please keep your support up until the last minute with Kagrra, until then, we keep work as hard as we can

Sin
Kagrra,

I'm so sorry for the sudden and unexpected announcement.
Based on a lot of discussions, we decided this is not possible to keep the band anymore.

Kagrra, is a band that has been supported by a lot of fans, staff and persons concerned for ten years long.
It's been 10 years already and I keenly feel that the time goes by so fast.
Lives, tours, KITANSAI, in-store events, fan club trips. Amongst a lot of memories, the most impressive ones are "KITANSAI" and the "fan club trips".
We had a lot of fun, planning how to make everyone happy, although there were some tough times like when being too busy during recording. We have found the fulfillment and sense of accomplishment in these events.
These were some of the few events where we could communicate with you.
The final two events have been scheduled, but we will try our best to make them more fun than ever, for you to enjoy.

I have spent 1/3 of my life as Nao of Kagrra,.
And although it makes me feel anxious and lonesome to leave Kagrra, But I will not bend down my head!
I will focus on the future and move forward with belief in myself.
The announcement might make you, who loves Kagrra, sad, but please don't feel down and let's move forward.
I am proud of everyone and "Auga" who have been supporting us.
There is little time left, but I hope we can say goodbye with a smile.

Thank you for being with us for ten years.

Nao
Kagrra,

It's a very disappointing result.
Celebrating the 10th anniversary, I felt that Kagrra, would have a new start.
I wanted to continue.
No matter for what reason, I wanted to continue this forever.

We started to discuss about this even before the tour "HYAKKI YAKO" starts, but hadn't reached a conclusion for a long time. It was a tough tour.
However, we have had a lot of good memories from a pleasant tour.
In retrospect, everyone seemed to have enjoyed it.
I really felt that we could still go on.
Unfortunately, I could neither save it nor stop it.

To be honest, there are moments I feel tired.
Why someone who would like to continue have to suffer? I questioned myself, but got no answer.

It has been great ten years.
We have received a lot of passionate support from you so we could continue on.
We got a lot of experience.
We created a lot of memories.
We have gained a lot of happiness. I could never thank you enough.

I believe that Kagrra, is a great band.
Now and ever.
It's really nice to be a member of this band.
Kagrra, is everything to me.

Thank you very much to all of you.
Thank you very much for your love.
And, thanks to Kagrra,.

I am still Izumi of Kagrra, until next March.
Please keep up your support.
Let's enjoy it until the very last minute.

Izumi
Kagrra,

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I still can't believe that they will disband so soon. I've been listening to them since I was in 8th grade.

It is unfortunate they won't have a World-Tour, I want to see them so bad..

Well, goodbye Kagrra,.. Your works will always be in our hearts

The Temper Trap Live in Concert @ Tennis Indoor Senayan, 12th November 2010

Jumat malam adalah waktu yang tepat untuk para penduduk kota Jakarta untuk melupakan kesibukan mereka dan mengawali weekend untuk bersantai.

Dan kelihatannya konser bertajuk Passion Alive yang diadakan pada Jumat malam tanggal 12 November 2010 oleh ISMAYA Live ini sangat tepat karena mampu mengundang massa dari pemuda-pemudi SMA hingga yang sudah bekerja kantoran. Tentu saja mereka semua sangat menantikan penampilan The Temper Trap, yang beranggotakan seorang WNI sebagai vokalisnya.

Gerbang dibuka pada pukul 5 sore dan mulai jam 6 para penonton terlihat sudah antri untuk masuk ke dalam gedung Tennis Indoor Senayan. Dan ISMAYA Live selaku promotor terlihat sangat ingin memanjakan para penonton malam itu. Sebelum masuk ke area konser, para penonton menunggu di Starmild Lounge, sebuah ruangan indoor full AC dengan beberapa stand yang menjual makanan-minuman serta merchandise.

See the full gallery on posterous

Setelah bersabar cukup lama, arena konser pun dibuka pada pukul 7. Walaupun sudah dibuka sejak jam 7, acara baru dimulai pada pukul 8. Konser pun dimulai dengan penampilan band lokal kebanggaan Indonesia yaitu Efek Rumah Kaca.Aksi Efek Rumah Kaca malam itu menandakan kembalinya Adrian sang bassis setelah beberapa bulan menjalani masa penyembuhan setelah menjalani operasi mata. Malam itu Efek Rumah Kaca membawakan lagu-lagu dari ke-2 album milik mereka seperti 'Balerina', 'Di Udara', dan 'Melankolia'. Mereka juga tak lupa membawakan lagu baru mereka berjudul 'Hilang'.

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Setelah Efek Rumah Kaca menyelesaikan penampilannya, giliran James Yuill untuk tampil di hadapan penonton. Nama James Yuill memang masih terdengar asing bagi kebanyakan orang, bahkan sebagian penonton pun tidak tahu siapa dia dan musik apa yang dibawakannya.

James Yuill sendiri adalah seorang Inggris tulen dengan aksen British kental dann terlihat nerdy dengan kacamata besar miliknya. Tapi jangan meremehkan James hanya dengan melihat penampilannya. Dia sangat pintar dalam membawakan lagu-lagu electronic dengan sentuhan folk. Julukan "a one-man band armed with a laptop, mixing decks and an acoustic guitar" pun sepertinya tak salah.

Malam itu James membawakan lagu-lagu dari 2 album miliknya seperti 'Give You Away', 'Crying for Hollywood', 'This Sweet Love', dan beberapa lagu lainnya. Total ia membawakan 8 buah lagu. Walaupun banyak penonton yang tidak familiar dengannya, pujian untuknya terus mengalir dari penonton. Apalagi kalau bukan karena kejeniusannya memainkan gitar akustik sambil mengutak-atik mixing deck dan drum machine miliknya.

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Dan setelah James Yuill selesai, yang ditunggu-tunggu pun siap untuk tampil. The Temper Trap membuka penampilan dengan permainan instrumental yang langsung memanaskan suasana.

Tidak tanggung-tanggung, malam itu The Temper Trap dengan bantuan seorang additional player berhasil memuaskan penonton dengan memainkan seluruh lagu dari album debut mereka 'Conditions'. Penonton yang memang sangat menunggu penampilan mereka, ikut sing-along sepanjang penampilan mereka.

Komunikasi dengan penonton pun berjalan santai. Dougy sang vokalis berinteraksi dengan penonton dalam bahasa Indonesia, dan penonton pun menyambut dengan antusias. Walaupun anggota lainnya tidak ikut berbicara dengan penonton, mereka terlihat sangat antusias. Terlihat saat Lorenzo sang gitaris beberapa mengabadikan foto para penonton dengan kamera miliknya, ia bahkan membagi-bagi pick guitar miliknya untuk para penonton.

Konser The Temper Trap malam itu terbilang cukup sukses. ISMAYA Live sebagai promotor patut mendapat pujian, karena mampu mengatur konser dengan sangat rapi dan teratur.

Setelah konser selesai, pujian pun mengalir untuk The Temper Trap dan ISMAYA Live atas konser yang menyenangkan tersebut. Semoga di lain waktu Dougy dan kawan-kawannya mau untuk bermain di Indonesia lagi.

Deftones confirmed to play in Jakarta in 2011

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Setelah ditunggu-tunggu kehadirannya, akhirnya Deftones akan menyambangi Indonesia pada tahun 2011 nanti tepatnya pada tanggal 8 Februari.

Kemarin bos Java Musikindo, Adrie Subono, mengumumkan konfirmasi Deftones manggung di Jakarta tanggal 8 Februari tahun depan via twitter miliknya. Dengan hadirnya Deftones, konser musik untuk awal tahun depan serasa makin lengkap.

Bagi yang belum tahu, Deftones adalah band nu metal/alternative metal dari Sacramento, California yang terbentuk sejak tahun 1988. Deftones terdiri atas Chino Moreno (vokal/gitar), Stephen Carpenter (gitar), Chi Cheng (bass), Frank Delgado (keyboards/samples), dan Abe Cunningham (drums).

Sayangnya Chi Cheng mengalami kecelakaan mobil 2 tahun lalu yang membuatnya dalam kondisi setengah sadar. Karena kecelakaan Cheng inilah, materi album 'Eros' yang harusnya dirilis pada 2009 terpaksa ditunda dan gantinya mereka merilis album 'Diamond Eyes'  yang dirilis Mei 2010 lalu dengan erekrut Sergio Vega (ex-Quicksand) sebagai session player pengganti Cheng.

Well, mari kita tunggu kedatangan Deftones dengan penuh kesabaran. Presale tiket sendiri akan dimulai tanggal 27 November besok. Save up your money then!

ps. Check www.javamusikindo.com for more information

Transkrip Pidato Presiden Barack Obama di Universitas Indonesia

Just for sharing. Mungkin ada yang melewatkan pidato Obama tadi pagi, so here's the transript for you to read. Enjoy :)

 

Remarks of President Barack Obama -  As Prepared for Delivery

Jakarta, Indonesia

November 10, 2010

As Prepared for Delivery—

 
Thank you for this wonderful welcome. Thank you to the people of Jakarta. And thank you to the people of Indonesia.
 
I am so glad that I made it to Indonesia, and that Michelle was able to join me. We had a couple of false starts this year, but I was determined to visit a country that has meant so much to me. Unfortunately, it’s a fairly quick visit, but I look forward to coming back a year from now, when Indonesia hosts the East Asia Summit.
 
Before I go any further, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those Indonesians affected by the recent tsunami and volcanic eruptions – particularly those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been displaced. As always, the United States stands with Indonesia in responding to this natural disaster, and we are pleased to be able to help as needed. As neighbors help neighbors and families take in the displaced, I know that the strength and resilience of the Indonesian people will pull you through once more.  
 
Let me begin with a simple statement: Indonesia is a part of me. I first came to this country when my mother married an Indonesian man named Lolo Soetoro. As a young boy, I was coming to a different world. But the people of Indonesia quickly made me feel at home.
 
Jakarta looked very different in those days. The city was filled with buildings that were no more than a few stories tall. The Hotel Indonesia was one of the few high rises, and there was just one brand new shopping center called Sarinah. Betchaks outnumbered automobiles in those days, and the highway quickly gave way to unpaved roads and kampongs.
 
We moved to Menteng Dalam, where we lived in a small house with a mango tree out front. I learned to love Indonesia while flying kites, running along paddy fields, catching dragonflies, and buying satay and baso from the street vendors. Most of all, I remember the people – the old men and women who welcomed us with smiles; the children who made a foreigner feel like a neighbor; and the teachers who helped me learn about the wider world.
 
Because Indonesia is made up of thousands of islands, hundreds of languages, and people from scores of regions and ethnic groups, my times here helped me appreciate the common humanity of all people. And while my stepfather, like most Indonesians, was raised a Muslim, he firmly believed that all religions were worthy of respect. In this way, he reflected the spirit of religious tolerance that is enshrined in Indonesia’s Constitution, and that remains one of this country’s defining and inspiring characteristics.
 
I stayed here for four years – a time that helped shape my childhood; a time that saw the birth of my wonderful sister, Maya; and a time that made such an impression on my mother that she kept returning to Indonesia over the next twenty years to live, work and travel – pursuing her passion of promoting opportunity in Indonesia’s villages, particularly for women and girls. For her entire life, my mother held this place and its people close to her heart.
 
So much has changed in the four decades since I boarded a plane to move back to Hawaii. If you asked me – or any of my schoolmates who knew me back then – I don’t think any of us could have anticipated that I would one day come back to Jakarta as President of the United States. And few could have anticipated the remarkable story of Indonesia over these last four decades.
 
The Jakarta that I once knew has grown to a teeming city of nearly ten million, with skyscrapers that dwarf the Hotel Indonesia, and thriving centers of culture and commerce. While my Indonesian friends and I used to run in fields with water buffalo and goats, a new generation of Indonesians is among the most wired in the world – connected through cell phones and social networks. And while Indonesia as a young nation focused inward, a growing Indonesia now plays a key role in the Asia Pacific and the global economy.
 
This change extends to politics. When my step-father was a boy, he watched his own father and older brother leave home to fight and die in the struggle for Indonesian independence. I’m happy to be here on Heroes Day to honor the memory of so many Indonesians who have sacrificed on behalf of this great country.  
 
When I moved to Jakarta, it was 1967, a time that followed great suffering and conflict in parts of this country. Even though my step-father had served in the Army, the violence and killing during that time of political upheaval was largely unknown to me because it was unspoken by my Indonesian family and friends. In my household, like so many others across Indonesia, it was an invisible presence. Indonesians had their independence, but fear was not far away.  
 
In the years since then, Indonesia has charted its own course through an extraordinary democratic transformation – from the rule of an iron fist to the rule of the people. In recent years, the world has watched with hope and admiration, as Indonesians embraced the peaceful transfer of power and the direct election of leaders. And just as your democracy is symbolized by your elected President and legislature, your democracy is sustained and fortified by its checks and balances: a dynamic civil society; political parties and unions; a vibrant media and engaged citizens who have ensured that – in Indonesia -- there will be no turning back.
 
But even as this land of my youth has changed in so many ways, those things that I learned to love about Indonesia – that spirit of tolerance that is written into your Constitution; symbolized in your mosques and churches and temples; and embodied in your people – still lives on. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – unity in diversity. This is the foundation of Indonesia’s example to the world, and this is why Indonesia will play such an important role in the 21st century.
 
So today, I return to Indonesia as a friend, but also as a President who seeks a deep and enduring partnership between our two countries. Because as vast and diverse countries; as neighbors on either side of the Pacific; and above all as democracies – the United States and Indonesia are bound together by shared interests and shared values.
 
Yesterday, President Yudhoyono and I announced a new, Comprehensive Partnership between the United States and Indonesia. We are increasing ties between our governments in many different areas, and – just as importantly – we are increasing ties among our people. This is a partnership of equals, grounded in mutual interests and mutual respect.
 
With the rest of my time today, I’d like to talk about why the story I just told – the story of Indonesia since the days when I lived here – is so important to the United States, and to the world. I will focus on three areas that are closely related, and fundamental to human progress – development, democracy, and religion.
 
First, the friendship between the United States and Indonesia can advance our mutual interest in development.
 
When I moved to Indonesia, it would have been hard to imagine a future in which the prosperity of families in Chicago and Jakarta would be connected. But our economies are now global, and Indonesians have experienced both the promise and perils of globalization: from the shock of the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s to the millions lifted out of poverty. What that means – and what we learned in the recent economic crisis – is that we have a stake in each other’s success.
 
America has a stake in an Indonesia that is growing, with prosperity that is broadly shared among the Indonesian people – because a rising middle class here means new markets for our goods, just as America is a market for yours. And so we are investing more in Indonesia, our exports have grown by nearly 50 percent, and we are opening doors for Americans and Indonesians to do business with one another.  
 
America has a stake in an Indonesia that plays its rightful role in shaping the global economy. Gone are the days when seven or eight countries could come together to determine the direction of global markets. That is why the G-20 is now the center of international economic cooperation, so that emerging economies like Indonesia have a greater voice and bear greater responsibility. And through its leadership of the G-20’s anti-corruption group, Indonesia should lead on the world stage and by example in embracing transparency and accountability.
 
America has a stake in an Indonesia that pursues sustainable development, because the way we grow will determine the quality of our lives and the health of our planet. That is why we are developing clean energy technologies that can power industry and preserve Indonesia’s precious natural resources – and America welcomes your country’s strong leadership in the global effort to combat climate change.  
 
Above all, America has a stake in the success of the Indonesian people. Underneath the headlines of the day, we must build bridges between our peoples, because our future security and prosperity is shared. That is exactly what we are doing – by increased collaboration among our scientists and researchers, and by working together to foster entrepreneurship. And I am especially pleased that we have committed to double the number of American and Indonesian students studying in our respective countries – we want more Indonesian students in our schools, and more American students to come study in this country, so that we can forge new ties that last well into this young century.
 
These are the issues that really matter in our daily lives. Development, after all, is not simply about growth rates and numbers on a balance sheet. It’s about whether a child can learn the skills they need to make it in a changing world. It’s about whether a good idea is allowed to grow into a business, and not be suffocated by corruption. It’s about whether those forces that have transformed the Jakarta that I once knew –technology and trade and the flow of people and goods – translate into a better life for human beings, a life marked by dignity and opportunity.
 
This kind of development is inseparable from the role of democracy.
 
Today, we sometimes hear that democracy stands in the way of economic progress. This is not a new argument. Particularly in times of change and economic uncertainty, some will say that it is easier to take a shortcut to development by trading away the rights of human beings for the power of the state. But that is not what I saw on my trip to India, and that is not what I see in Indonesia. Your achievements demonstrate that democracy and development reinforce one another.  
 
Like any democracy, you have known setbacks along the way. America is no different. Our own Constitution spoke of the effort to forge a “more perfect union,” and that is a journey we have travelled ever since, enduring Civil War and struggles to extend rights to all of our citizens. But it is precisely this effort that has allowed us to become stronger and more prosperous, while also becoming a more just and free society.
 
Like other countries that emerged from colonial rule in the last century, Indonesia struggled and sacrificed for the right to determine your destiny. That is what Heroes Day is all about – an Indonesia that belongs to Indonesians. But you also ultimately decided that freedom cannot mean replacing the strong hand of a colonizer with a strongman of your own.
 
Of course, democracy is messy. Not everyone likes the results of every election. You go through ups and downs. But the journey is worthwhile, and it goes beyond casting a ballot. It takes strong institutions to check the concentration of power. It takes open markets that allow individuals to thrive. It takes a free press and an independent justice system to root out abuse and excess, and to insist upon accountability. It takes open society and active citizens to reject inequality and injustice.
 
These are the forces that will propel Indonesia forward. And it will require a refusal to tolerate the corruption that stands in the way of opportunity; a commitment to transparency that gives every Indonesian a stake in their government; and a belief that the freedom that Indonesians have fought for is what holds this great nation together.
 
That is the message of the Indonesians who have advanced this democratic story – from those who fought in the Battle of Surabaya 55 years ago today; to the students who marched peacefully for democracy in the 1990s, to leaders who have embraced the peaceful transition of power in this young century. Because ultimately, it will be the rights of citizens that will stitch together this remarkable Nusantara that stretches from Sabang to Merauke – an insistence that every child born in this country should be treated equally, whether they come from Java or Aceh; Bali or Papua.
 
That effort extends to the example that Indonesia sets abroad. Indonesia took the initiative to establish the Bali Democracy Forum, an open forum for countries to share their experiences and best practices in fostering democracy. Indonesia has also been at the forefront of pushing for more attention to human rights within ASEAN.  The nations of Southeast Asia must have the right to determine their own destiny, and the United States will strongly support that right. But the people of Southeast Asia must have the right to determine their own destiny as well. That is why we condemned elections in Burma that were neither free nor fair. That is why we are supporting your vibrant civil society in working with counterparts across this region. Because there is no reason why respect for human rights should stop at the border of any country.
 
Hand in hand, that is what development and democracy are about – the notion that certain values are universal. Prosperity without freedom is just another form of poverty. Because there are aspirations that human beings share – the liberty of knowing that your leader is accountable to you, and that you won’t be locked up for disagreeing with them; the opportunity to get an education and to work with dignity; the freedom to practice your faith without fear or restriction.
 
Religion is the final topic that I want to address today, and – like democracy and development – it is fundamental to the Indonesian story.
 
Like the other Asian nations that I am visiting on this trip, Indonesia is steeped in spirituality – a place where people worship God in many different ways.  Along with this rich diversity, it is also home to the world’s largest Muslim population – a truth that I came to know as a boy when I heard the call to prayer across Jakarta.
 
Just as individuals are not defined solely by their faith, Indonesia is defined by more than its Muslim population. But we also know that relations between the United States and Muslim communities have frayed over many years. As President, I have made it a priority to begin to repair these relations. As a part of that effort, I went to Cairo last June, and called for a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world – one that creates a path for us to move beyond our differences.
 
I said then, and I will repeat now, that no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust. But I believed then, and I believe today, that we have a choice. We can choose to be defined by our differences, and give in to a future of suspicion and mistrust. Or we can choose to do the hard work of forging common ground, and commit ourselves to the steady pursuit of progress. And I can promise you – no matter what setbacks may come, the United States is committed to human progress. That is who we are. That is what we have done. That is what we will do.
 
We know well the issues that have caused tensions for many years – issues that I addressed in Cairo. In the 17 months that have passed we have made some progress, but much more work remains to be done.
 
Innocent civilians in America, Indonesia, and across the world are still targeted by violent extremists. I have made it clear that America is not, and never will be, at war with Islam. Instead, all of us must defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates, who have no claim to be leaders of any religion – certainly not a great, world religion like Islam. But those who want to build must not cede ground to terrorists who seek to destroy. This is not a task for America alone. Indeed, here in Indonesia, you have made progress in rooting out terrorists and combating violent extremism.
 
In Afghanistan, we continue to work with a coalition of nations to build the capacity of the Afghan government to secure its future. Our shared interest is in building peace in a war-torn land – a peace that provides no safe-haven for violent extremists, and that provides hope for the Afghan people.
 
Meanwhile, we have made progress on one of our core commitments - our effort to end the war in Iraq. 100,000 American troops have left Iraq. Iraqis have taken full responsibility for their security. And we will continue to support Iraq as it forms an inclusive government and we bring all of our troops home.
 
In the Middle East, we have faced false starts and setbacks, but we have been persistent in our pursuit of peace. Israelis and Palestinians restarted direct talks, but enormous obstacles remain. There should be no illusions that peace and security will come easy. But let there be no doubt: we will spare no effort in working for the outcome that is just, and that is in the interest of all the parties involved: two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.
 
The stakes are high in resolving these issues, and the others I have spoken about today. For our world has grown smaller and while those forces that connect us have unleashed opportunity, they also empower those who seek to derail progress. One bomb in a marketplace can obliterate the bustle of daily commerce. One whispered rumor can obscure the truth, and set off violence between communities that once lived in peace. In an age of rapid change and colliding cultures, what we share as human beings can be lost.
 
But I believe that the history of both America and Indonesia gives us hope. It’s a story written into our national mottos. E pluribus unum – out of many, one. Bhinneka Tunggal Ika – unity in diversity. We are two nations, which have travelled different paths. Yet our nations show that hundreds of millions who hold different beliefs can be united in freedom under one flag. And we are now building on that shared humanity – through the young people who will study in each other’s schools; through the entrepreneurs forging ties that can lead to prosperity; and through our embrace of fundamental democratic values and human aspirations..
 
Earlier today, I visited the Istiqlal mosque – a place of worship that was still under construction when I lived in Jakarta. I admired its soaring minaret, imposing dome, and welcoming space. But its name and history also speak to what makes Indonesia great. Istiqlal means independence, and its construction was in part a testament to the nation’s struggle for freedom. Moreover, this house of worship for many thousands of Muslims was designed by a Christian architect.
 
Such is Indonesia’s spirit. Such is the message of Indonesia’s inclusive philosophy, Pancasila. Across an archipelago that contains some of God’s most beautiful creations, islands rising above an ocean named for peace, people choose to worship God as they please. Islam flourishes, but so do other faiths. Development is strengthened by an emerging democracy. Ancient traditions endure, even as a rising power is on the move.
 
That is not to say that Indonesia is without imperfections. No country is. But here can be found the ability to bridge divides of race and region and religion – that ability to see yourself in all individuals. As a child of a different race coming from a distant country, I found this spirit in the greeting that I received upon moving here: Selamat Datang. As a Christian visiting a mosque on this visit, I found it in the words of a leader who was asked about my visit and said, “Muslims are also allowed in churches. We are all God’s followers.”
 
That spark of the divine lies within each of us. We cannot give in to doubt or cynicism or despair. The stories of Indonesia and America tell us that history is on the side of human progress; that unity is more powerful than division; and that the people of this world can live together in peace. May our two nations work together, with faith and determination, to share these truths with all mankind.

Far East Movement

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Actually, I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop. Saya selalu merasa bahwa beat-beat hip-hop terlalu monoton hingga saya merasa agak terlalu membosankan. Musisi hip-hop / rapper yang paling masuk di telinga saya hanyalah Eminem, Kanye West, Jay-Z, 50 Cent dan yang terakhir masuk adalah B.o.B

Tapi baru-baru ini saya disuguhi hip-hop act yang unik dari USA sana. Far East Movement adalah nama dari grup hip-hop tersebut. Pertama kali melihat mereka adalah saat menonton video clip single baru mereka 'Like A G6 feat The Cataracs and Dev' yang sukses memuncaki Billboard Hot 100.

Far East Movement sendiri adalah grup hip-hop yang anggotanya adalah keturunan Asian-American. Kev-Nish (Chinese/Japanese American), Prohgress (Korean American), J-Splif (Korean American), dan DJ Virman (Filipino American) merefleksikan kehidupan multikultural yang ada di USA.

What makes them so interesting is that they mix together hip-hop with electronic sounds and dance music. Dengan kombinasi seperti itu, musik hip-hop yang mereka bawakan jadi lebih berwarna dan tidak terlalu monoton.

Selain single 'Like A G6' yang disebutkan di atas, mereka baru-baru ini merilis single baru 'Rocketeer feat Ryan Tedder' yang lebih nge-pop (sounds like B.o.B's music). Another nice single though!

Kedua single tersebut ada di album terbaru mereka yaitu 'Free Wired' yang juga menampilkan kolaborasi dengan Snoop Dogg, Keri Hilson, dan masih banyak lagi. Let's see if they can show the Asian pride in the US hip-hop scene

Hurts

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Bosan mendengar musik pop yang itu-itu saja? Seorang tua pernah mengasihani generasi muda sekarang ini yang dijajah budaya pop dari Lady Gaga dan Justin Bieber.

Well, mungkin pendapat orang tua itu bisa berubah setelah mendengarkan Hurts.

Hurts adalah duo dari Manchester yang terdiri atas Theo Hutchcraft (vocals) dan Adam Anderson (synth, guitar). Musik yang mereka buat adalah British-Pop dengan sentuhan synthesizer dan electronic beats. Bisa dibilang Hurts merevolusi Brit-Pop yang pada 90an diisi oleh band-band favorit masa itu seperti Blur, Oasis, dan Suede.

Pada bulan September lalu, Hurts merilis album debut mereka 'Happiness' yang berisi lagu-lagu synthpop yang menyenangkan semacam 'Wonderful Life', 'Stay', dan 'Sunday'.

Dan patut disyukuri karena album 'Happiness' milik mereka juga dirilis di Indonesia. Grab one and listen to a pop music with a better quality than we used to hear.

The Social Network [review]

Pernah membayangkan menjadi billionaire di usia yang sangat muda? Mark Zuckerberg mungkin semasa ia kuliah di Harvard tidak pernah membayangkan bahwa ia akan jadi billionaire termuda saat ini berkat social networking miliknya yaitu Facebook.

Film The Social Network ini sendiri menceritakan bagaimana Facebook ditemukan oleh Mark Zuckerberg. Dan tentu saja seperti tagline di poster film ini, kita juga disuguhi drama perseteruan Zuckerberg dengan beberapa orang yang menuntutnya atas penciptaan Facebook.

Film ini sendiri dibuat berdasarkan buku 'The Accidental Billionaires' karya Ben Meizrich, tidak berdasarkan cerita Mark Zuckerberg sendiri.

Dibuka dengan adegan di sebuah bar dimana Mark Zuckerberg (diperankan Jesse Eisenberg dengan luar biasa) sedang berkencan dengan Erica Albright (Rooney Mara). Mark yang jenius dan secara tidak langsung menyinggung Erica yang 'hanya' belajar di Boston University. Erica yang marah memutuskan hubungan dengan Mark yang membuat hatinya hancur.

Setelah patah hati, Mark berlari kembali ke dorm nya di Harvard dan dengan sengaja ia mencuri foto-foto mahasiswi Harvard dan membandingkannya dengan mahasiswi lainnya dalam sebuah website bernama FaceMash, yang hampir membuatnya dipecat dari Harvard. Walaupun begitu, website inilah yang menjadi cikal bakal Facebook nantinya.

Setelah ini, Mark bersama sahabat baiknya Eduardo Saverin (portrayed by our hot actor Andrew Garfield) membuat rencana untuk mmbuat sebuah website dimana orang-otrang bisa berhubungan satu sama lain dan melihat profil masing-masing. Sementara itu di sisi lain, ide FaceMash dari Mark membuat dua bersaudara Cameron - Tyler Winklevoss (keduanya diperankan Arnie Hammer) dan temannya Divya Narendra (Max Minghella) tertarik untuk merekrut Mark untuk mneciptakan website HarvardConnection.

Di sinilah konflik dimulai. Mark yang awalnya setuju bergabung bersama Winklevoss bersaudara dan Narendra justru meninggalkan mereka dan memulai Facebook bersama Eduardo dan teman-teman lainnya. Kemudian diceritakan juga bagaimana Mark bertemu co-founder Napster, Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), yang bergabung dengan Facebook walaupun Eduardo tidak setuju karena Sean dianggap membawa pengaruh buruk.

 

Film ini dibuat dengan skenario yang apik dan penyutradaan yang indah. Pertamanya saya dibuat bingung dengan alur cerita yang cepat dan bolak-balik antara penciptaan Facebook di Harvard, sengketa Mark dengan Eduardo, dan sengketa Mark dengan Winklevoss bersaudara dan Narendra. Tapi bila anda adalah tipe penonton yang cermat, maka anda akan cepat terbiasa dengan hal ini.

Tidak ada yang baik atau buruk di film ini. Mark Zuckerberg diceritakan sebagai orang yang tidak punya ambisi besar untuk Facebook, dimana orang-orang lain menganggap website ciptaannya adalah bisnis besar. Mark sendiri lebih dianggap sebagai orang yang menjengkelkan (terlihat dari bagaimana ia bicara), dan menganggap enteng semua masalah yang menimpanya. Pada akhirnya, Mark adalah orang kaya tanpa ambisi, teman, ataupun cinta untuk dirinya sendiri.

Film ini sangat direkomendasikan, terutama bila anda ingin lebih mengetahui sejarah Facebook. Tidak berlebihan bila sejumlah media menyebut film ini film terbaik tahun ini.

Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown [review]

Para raja dari keluarga Followill kembali dengan album kelima mereka, sekaligus termasuk salah satu album yang paling ditunggu di tahun 2010 ini.

Tentu masih segar di benak kita saat album keempat mereka 'Only by the Night' mendapat kesuksesan secara komersial. Hits single 'Sex on Fire' mendapat nominasi grammy, serta 'Use Somebody' di-cover oleh bermacam-macam band/penyanyi dan juga berbagai macam versi remix nya (yang tentu saja membuat bosan dan muak)

Bila di album ini anda mengharapkan sound yang sama seperti di album 'Only by the Night', maka bersiaplah untuk kecewa. Di album ini Kings of Leon mencoba melepaskan diri mereka dari bayang-bayang kesuksesan album mereka sebelumnya.

Simak saja single pertama 'Radioactive' dimana Caleb menyanyi 'It's in the water, it's in the story, where you came from'. Rasanya Kings of Leon seperti ingin mengingatkan diri mereka sendiri untuk kembali ke permulaan di mana mereka berasal.

'Mary' lagu dengan lirik yang flirty dan Matthew mencoba riff-riff gitar yang lebih berat dan terasa glam-punk itu. Kemudian 'The Face', sebuah power ballad yang berpotensi menjadi sebuah lagu sing-along.

Sound berbeda yang coba dieksplor adalah sedikit nuansa funk pada lagu 'Pony Up', Jared sendiri rasanya sudah menugasai bass-line funk yang dimainkan dengan sangat baik di lagu ini. Kemudian ada 'Birthday' dimana Caleb mengajak kita untuk bersenang-senang hingga 'falling and laughing at the drinks we spill'.

Walaupun tidak berpotensi untuk melampaui kesuksesan 'Only by the Night' yang terjual 6,5 juta kopi di seluruh dunia, album ini terasa lebih baik dibandingkan 'Only by the Night'. Tidak terlalu banyak lagu ballad cengeng macam 'Revelry' atau 'Manhattan', dan lebih memperkaya isi album ini dengan eksplorasi musik yang mereka lakukan. Paling tidak para raja Followill ini tidak terbuai dengan kesuksesan mereka, dan mencoba membuktikan kepada dunia beginilah Kings of Leon seharusnya.

Maroon 5 - Hands All Over [review]

Setelah 3 tahun absen, Maroon 5 akhirnya kembali dengan album ketiga mereka yang berjudul 'Hands All Over'. Di album terbaru ini, mereka kembali dengan musik pop-rock dengan balutan nuansa funk dan disco yang melekat sejak album kedua mereka.

Patut dicatat bahwa album ini diproduseri oleh Robert John "Mutt" Lange yang terkenal karena memproduseri band/penyanyi semacam AC/DC, Nickelback, The Corrs, dan Shania Twain.

Di single pertama mereka, 'Misery', Adam Levine menyanyikan lirik tentang penderitaan bersama seorang wanita (walaupun Levine sendiri tidak terdengar menderita saat menyanyikannya).

Dan tentunya kita masih ingat kalau Maroon 5 sangatlah handal dalam membuat lagu pop manis tentang cinta yang menyentuh hati (seperti 'She Will Be Loved' atau 'Nothing Lasts Forever'). Well, di album ini mereka tentu saja memasukkan lagu pop manis seperti itu lagi. Simak saja track 'Just A Feeling' yang liriknya akan mengiris anda yang sedang patah hati.

Salah satu track yang patut disimak lagi adalah 'Out of Goodbyes', sebuah lagu country-pop yang dinyanyikan bersama salah satu rising star of country music yaitu Lady Antebellum.

Walaupun diproduseri oleh produser sekaliber Robert "Mutt" Lange, album ini tetap tidak jauh berbeda dengan kedua album mereka sebelumnya. Paling tidak Maron 5 masih mampu mengeluarkan album pop-rock yang catchy, tidak kacangan, dan ear friendly, dan tentunya album ini pun selamat dari jurang keterpurukan.

Vampire Weekend live in Concert @ Bengkel Night Park, 24th October 2010

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Pada minggu malam tanggal 24 Oktober 2010, sejumlah anak muda terlihat memadati area Bengkel Night Park, SCBD, Jakarta Selatan. Mereka datang khusus untuk menonton band indie rock asal New York, Vampire Weekend, yang akan bermain malam  itu. Di depan area Bengkel Night Park pun para penonton terlihat masih sibuk menukarkan tiket dan beberapa masih terlihat membeli tiket di ticket booth yang disediakan.

Demi mendukung suasana konser, promoter Trilogy Live pun menyediakan minuman Horchata yang khusus disediakan untuk para penonton. Dan kelihatannya para penonton cukup tertarik untuk mencoba minuman asal Meksiko yang juga menjadi judul salah satu lagu hit milik Vampire Weekend tersebut. Bahkan sebelum konser dimulai, minuman seharga 15 ribu yang disediakan promoter tersebut pun habis terjual.

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Pada malam itu, konser yang diselenggarakan oleh Trilogy Live dan Spiritground tersebut dibuka dengan penampilan Monkey to Millionaire pada pukul 20.00. Trio yang digawangi Wisnu (vocal, gitar), Agan (bass) dan Emir (drum) membawakan beberapa lagu  dari album pertama mereka seperti “Fakta dan Citra”, “30 Nanti”, “Merah”, “Strange is the Song in Our Conversation” yang dinyanyikan bersama Marsha dan tentu saja hit single mereka “Replika”. Penampilan Monkey to Millionaire cukup memanaskan suasana di Bengkel Night Park sebelum penampilan Vampire Weekend.

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Setelah Monkey to Millionaire selesai tampil, penonton semakin tak sabar menunggu penampilan Vampire Weekend. Setelah menunggu sekitar 45 menit, akhirnya yang  ditunggu-tunggu pun muncul. Dan tanpa basa-basi, Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Baio, dan Chris Thomson langsung memulai aksi mereka dengan “Holiday” yang dilanjutkan dengan “White Sky”, “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”, dan “I Stand Corrected”.

Kemudian Ezra Koenig pun mulai menyapa penonton. Ezra Koenig sendiri cukup ramah dalam berinteraksi dengan penonton. Dan kemudian mereka pun memulai lagi aksinya dengan “M79”, “Byrn”, “California English”, dan “Cousins” yang membuat penonton semakin marak berdansa. Penonton pun  dibuat terus bedansa saat Vampire Weekend membawakan “A-Punk”. Mereka juga mengajak penonton menyanyi bersama saat menyanyikan “One (Blake’s Got A New Face)”.

Setelah lagu “Giving Up the Gun” dan “Oxford Comma” dibawakan, Vampire Weekend pun pamit sebentar ke belakang panggung. Penonton yang masih belum puas pun terus berteriak ‘We Want More’. Akhirnya Vampire Weekend pun kembali ke atas panggung dan Rostam Batmanglij pun menyapa penonton dengan ucapan ‘Selamat Malam’. Kemudian mereka melanjutkan aksi mereka dengan membawakan encore “Horchata”, “Mansard Roof”, dan “Walcott”. Setelah ketiga lagu tersebut selesai dibawakan, Vampire Weekend pun akhirnya benar-benar pamit dari panggung.

Hampir seluruh lagu hit dari kedua album Vampire Weekend dibawakan malam itu. Vampire Weekend pun tampil sangat energik dan cukup irit dalam berbicara, tapi saat berbicara mereka terdengar cukup ramah. Tampil dengan dandanan cukup santai, mereka mampu tampil all-out dan atraktif. Benar-benar sebuah konser penutup akhir pekan yang indah sebelum kembali ke kesibukan masing-masing keesokan harinya. Dan setelah konser usai, nyanyian ‘In December drinking Horchaaata…’ pun masih terdengar di antara kerumunan penonton yang tersenyum puas.

MUCC - Karma [review]

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MUCC, salah satu band rock Jepang favorit saya kembali mengeluarkan album terbaru di tahun 2010 ini. Bisa dibilang MUCC adalah band yang paling rajin merilis album karena sejak mereka memulai karir mereka, mereka selalu mengeluarkan album setiap tahun.

MUCC juga adalah band yang paling rajin mengeksplorasi genre musik lainnya. Pada album 'Karma' ini, mereka mengeksplorasi musik electronic yang tentu saja di-blend dengan musik khas MUCC itu sendiri.

Dimulai dengan intro 'Chemical Parade' yang benar-benar full electronic, bisa dilihat akan kemana arah musik dari album ini. Kemudian dilanjutkan dengan 'Falling Down', single yang sebelumnya dirilis tapi dalam album ini kemudian ditambah dengan nuansa electronic agar lebih ngeblend dengan album ini. Selanjutnya sampai setengah album ini, seluruh lagunya bernuansa electronica rock.

Salah satu track yang berbeda adalah track nomor 8 yaitu 'Daraku', sebuah track dengan lirik full berbahasa inggris dengan nuansa jazzy yang kental. Walaupun berbeda, bisa dibilang ini adalah salah satu track terbaik di album ini.

Setelah itu track-trak lain yang nuansanya berbeda, setelah track ke7 nuansa albumnya sudah keluar dari electronica-rock tersebut. Walaupun begitu, MUCC tetap mampu menyuguhkan musik yang menarik. Seperti 'Polaris' yang diisi dengan orchestra, string, dan biola. Dan ada juga 'Feather' sebuah lagu ballad yang indah dan menyenangkan untuk didengarkan

Overall, ini adalah sebuah album yang sangat menarik dari MUCC. Di usia band yang mencapai ke-13 tahun, MUCC sepertinya tidak akan pernah berhenti berkreasi dan bereksplorasi sampai di sini saja. Semoga di masa depan, MUCC mampu bereksplorasi dan berkreasi lebih banyak lagi.

The Playlist, Alternative Rock

Currently, I'm so obsessed with some alternative rock songs. Dari lagu-lagu band jaman 90s, hingga lagu-lagu alternative rock jaman sekarang. Mungkin ini adalah refleksi kejenuhan saya dengan musik-musik mainstream yang bersliweran, baik dari dalam maupun luar negeri. Tidakkah kalian lelah mendengar Justin Bieber dan Lady Gaga? Atau untuk dalam negeri, ST12 atau Wali? Saya jenuh, sejenuh-jenuhnya dengar lagu-lagu yang monoton seperti itu. Well, enough with the babbling. Here is my current alternative playlist:

* Angels & Airwaves - Hallucinations

single dari album ketiga Angels & Airwaves yaitu LOVE yang dirilis tahun 2010. Saya sendiri mendapat album ini secara gratis, and it's legal. Yes they gave it for free! Lagu ini sendiri sangat menyenangkan, bercerita tentang halusinasi dan mimpi. Keep your dreams on, lads!

* Bloc Party - I Still Remember

single terdahsyat dari album kedua mereka, Weekend In the City. Perpaduan lirik yang mengiris hati dan vokal khas Kele, membuat saya galau tingkat tinggi setiap denger ini. "I still remember, how you look that afternoon..."

* Incubus - Wish You Were Here

lagu yang dari album Morning VIew, salah satu lagu pembuat galau paling mantap. Apalagi kalau bukan karena liriknya..

* Incubus - Dig

lagu dari album Light Grenades yang rilis tahun 2006. Well, apa mau dikata lagu ini sangat menyentuh. Terutama saat Brandon Boyd bernyanyi "Dig me up from under what is covering, the better part of me..."

* Klaxons - Echoes

single pertama dari album kedua band asal Inggris ini yaitu, Surfing The Void. Sangat tipikal khas Klaxons sekali, dimana mereka menggabungkan sound-sound rock dengan sedikit electronic dan new wave.

* Kings of Leon - Radioactive

single terbaru dari album terbaru mereka, Come Around Sundown. Dari intronya yang sudah cukup ramai dengan sound gitar, bisa dilihat kalaui lagu ini sangat menyenangkan untuk didengar. Tapi masih kalah sih dari lagu Sex on Fire atau Use Somebody yang sensasional itu.

* MGMT - Flash Delirium

diambil dari album terbaru mereka, Congratulations, MGMT meninggalkan sound synthpop/new-wave yang mereka masukkan pada album kedua mereka Oracular Spectacular. Kini, mereka menggabungkan sound experimental rock dengan sedikit sentuhan psychedelic.

* Mew - Apocalypso

lagu alternative rock dengan tambahan shoegaze dari band asal Denmark ini. Sangat mengasyikkan, membuat kita seperti berada di dunia lain.

* Mew - Introducing Palace Prayers

single pertama dari album No More Stories.. (judul aslinya sangat panjang, jadi mending disingkat) yang dirilis tahun 2009. Dan masih sangat khas Mew, alternative rock dengan shoegazing. Oh yeah, sudahkah saya menyebutkan bahwa Mew akan datang lagi ke Indonesia? Yes, they're coming on 11th December for a concert in Candi Prambanan, Yogyakarta!

* The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio

single andalan album terbaru mereka, High Violet (yang masuk nominasi album terbaik 2010 versi SPIN Magazine). Lagu ini sendiri lebih condong ke arah post-punk, well whatever.. Masih sangat enak untuk dinikmati kok :)

* Manic Street Preachers - Motorcycle Emptiness

hit andalan Manics dari album pertama mereka Generation Terrorists (rilis tahun 1992). Lagu ini sendiri agak slow dan banyak bercerita tentang kehampaan (menurut saya sih..). Alasan lain kenapa saya lagi suka lagu ini adalah karena mengenan Richey Edwards yang hilang sejak tahun 1995 dan dinyatakan meninggal pada tahun 2008. Rest in peace, Richey...

* Manic Street Preachers - (It's Not War) Just the End of Love

lagu terbaru dari album terbaru Manics, Postcards From a Young Man. Saya sendiri sedang sangat suka lagu ini. Selain karena ditambah harmoni orkestra, James Dean Bradfield pun pamer keahliannya dalam memainkan gitar dengan solo gitar yang keren!

* The Strokes - Someday

single dari album debut The Strokes, This Is It (rilis tahun 2001) dan masih menjadi album terbaik The Srokes sampai saat ini. Kita tunggu saja album baru mereka yang (katanya) akan rilis awal 2011.

* Smashing Pumpkins - Song For a Son

lagu dari album terbaru Smashing Pumpkins, Teargarden by Kaleidyscope yang dirilis sejak 2009 dan masih berlanjut sampai sekarang (ya, mereka merilis album ini secara berkala setiap bagiannya). Kental sekali nuansa alternative dari the god of alternative rock, Billy Corgan. Apalagi mereka baru saja tampil di acara Java Rocking Land. Pastinya keren punya deh

* Vampire Weekend - A-Punk

siapa sih yang tidak kenal dengan band ini sekarang? Lagu A-Punk ini sendiri berhasil membius saya dan membujuk saya untuk mencintai band ini.

* Vampire Weekend - Cousins

komposisi paling edan dari album terbaru mereka, Contra. Just sing it loudly, "Me and my cousins, you and your cousins. It's a line that always running."

* Weezer - Pork and Beans

lagu yang kocak dari album Weezer: The Red Album (2008). Isinya tentang menyindir lagu-lagu mainstream. Rivers Cuomo sendiri mendapat inspirasinya setelah didesak pihak eksekutif labelnya saat itu untuk menciptakan lagu yang lebih mainstream, dan lahirlah lagu ini (yang justru menyindir haha). Videonya juga cukup menarik disimak, dimana video klipnya menampilkan para 'bintang-bintang' YouTube.

* Weezer - Memories

ini dia single teranyar Weezer dari album terbaru mereka, Hurley. Single yang cukup menyenangkan terutama dengan sound synthesizer di lagu ini yang membuat lagu ini juga dapat disukai anak-anak muda sekarang yang sukanya band-band pop-punk/power-pop yang bermain synthesizer

Yes, that's the playlist for now! Lain kali tambah lagi dan semoga playlist ini bermanfaat buat referensi musik anda sekalian :p Jangan dengerin musik pop mulu makanya...

Brandon Flowers - Flamingo (review)

Setelah The Killers memutuskan untuk vakum sementara, sang vokalis Brandon Flowers memutuskan untuk berjalan sendiri dulu dan mengeluarkan album solo. Dan ini dia album solo Brandon Flowers berjudul 'Flamingo' yang resmi dirilis bulan September yang lalu. Menurut Brandon, judul album ini diambil dari salah satu jalan di Las Vegas, tempat Brandon berasal.

Bagi penggemar The Killers, album ini akan terasa sangat familiar. Ya, Brandon masih memasukkan unsur-unsur musik The Killers dari album-album The Killers seperti country dan new wave. Single pertama album ini, 'Crossfire' cukup menarik untuk disimak, walaupun memang lagunya tidak begitu catchy (well, semuanya tidak catchy memang).

Sorry to say, it's not a really impressive album. Walaupun memang tidak jelek sih, tapi rasanya terlalu standar. Saya sendiri lebih senang mendengarkan lagu-lagu The Killers yang bisa lebih diajak sing-along daripada lagu-lagu di album ini.

Setelah ini sepertinya Brandon akan kembali bekerja bersama teman-teman bandnya untuk membuat album keempat The Killers, yah kita lihat saja lanjutannya.