Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Beat.
Meeting Cleopatra
Cleopatra: a woman of surpassing beauty, and at that time, when she was in the prime of her youth, she was most striking; she also possessed a most charming voice and knowledge of how to make herself agreeable to everyone. Being brilliant to look upon and to listen to, with the power to subjugate everyone.
By Andie Rooney8 years ago in Beat
SWIFT: Sweetheart or Serpent?
Within a mere four days of its release, 'Reputation' had claimed the chart's crown like a cunning king cobra and left Ed Sheeran with nothing but a snake bite as it stole the title of '2017s best selling album' from 'Divide'. After a lengthy hiatus of avoiding the spotlight Taylor Swift's follow-up album was perhaps pre-destined to become a small victory for both the artist and "Swifties" everywhere; a triumphant comeback on which, as suggested by the confrontational cover, Swift sheds her skin, takes aim at her critics and returns all guns blazing. But has the pop princess successfully grown into her new-found fangs and truly forged an identity overhaul?
By James Williams8 years ago in Beat
From Worst to Best: Rick Ross
This is a ranking of Rick Ross' albums, from worst to best. 9. 'Port of Miami' (79) Ross’s debut isn’t bad. The album was very well-produced and had a lot of guests. I wasn’t a fan of Ross at all before I heard this. Lyrically, the album is rather weak. Still though, for a 2006 rap album, it's not bad at all. Top Tracks: "Push It," "Hustlin," "White House," "Hustlin" (Remix)
By Matthew Sullivan8 years ago in Beat
Finding My Life With A Train Song
Music is such a deeply ingrained part of our #culture. Honestly, it's such a major part of creation itself. How many times have you heard of an animal singing to another, whether it's as a mating call or just a way for connection - there's just something about music that simply put, is the purest form of beauty imaginable.
By Matthew Bailey8 years ago in Beat
Stop The Music: Classic 'Friends' Song Isn't The Original!
Friends writer Betsy Borns has just shattered a little piece of the 90s for us. She revealed that the iconic song Smelly Cat, from the hit T.V. show, wasn't supposed to be about a cat at all! It was originally titled Smelly Dog.
By Tom Chapman8 years ago in Beat
How A Movie About A Music Teacher Gave Me My Dreams Back
I'll tell you this first, because I need to go on record with it - very few movies can make me cry. I'm pretty sure that I can list the number of films that induce tears on two hands: Dead Poet's Society, Good Will Hunting, Schindler's List & Mr. Holland's Opus are the first that come to my mind, and one film changed the course of my life quite dramatically.
By Matthew Bailey8 years ago in Beat
Best Reverb-Delay Combo Pedals
If you're a guitar player that loves experimentation and functionality, then looking into the best reverb-delay combo pedals on the market is something you should be doing. The great part about the combo is that you get added ambient and atmospheric sounds without adding too much unwanted complexity to your setup.
By Joseph Farley8 years ago in Beat
Green Day – Bullet In A Bible: A Riveting Live Performance by a Rejuvenated Act
Rock band Green Day rolled out a glitzy, riveting live performance in 2005, and they filmed it. The act released their seminal American Idiot album months prior and were a band rejuvenated and energised. This live performance was later placed on a DVD called Bullet In A Bible. And Green Day was always praised for their blistering live sets, but Bullet In A Bible showcased the band at their ferocious best.
By Mark McConville8 years ago in Beat
Can a Song Emotionally Help Us?
Now music. Music is how the soul moves. It’s how some people communicate, and it’s even sometimes the only thing two people have in common. Cigarettes After Sex is an American ambient pop band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 2008 by Greg Gonzalez. The band's debut was released in 2012 with the singles "Affection" and "K." following in 2015 and 2016. I was gripped, hooked onto both albums, and I must have been living under a rock since 2008—and if I’m honest I think I was. Back in 2009, a friend told me about this group that he really loved-cigarettes after sex. This was the very year my depression, among other things, decided to kick me while I was down, but depression may have taken over my mind, but it didn’t take over my soul, and when I heard Cigarettes After Sex for the first time, my inner goddess rose from her sweet slumber and I began to feel like me again. My mind cleared after a few times listening to the songs in both albums, and I felt free when I heard them. Now I’m not saying music is the answer for everything or for everyone, but it was for me. This post isn’t about what I went through but more of how I got through the things I thought would break me. With my past questionable and my future uncertain, I really thought that right now, in the present I was going to be able to cope. When you find something your passionate about whether it be a hobby, music or even a person, it really does help numb whatever type of pain your in. Now some reading this might sit there and think “but I don’t want to numb my pain, I want to get rid of it,” but here’s the thing about pain: it demands to be felt. When passion takes over your body and kicks your insecurities out the window, you find that you flourish into who the hell you want to be doing, what the hell you what to do, and that, my readers, is a beautiful thing. My idea of music is not what is latest in the chart right now, not the music everyone is listening to, and not the music you say you like to the boy you fancy just because he likes it...music becomes soul freeing and mind numbingly good when you find the type of music your into and I did! Trust me Cigarettes After Sex will not be for everybody, but it is for me and coming back to the point of this post, it helped me. This time last year I didn’t think I would be able to go in with life, with how MY life was heading, but I took depression by the balls and told it who was boss; Cigarettes After Sex helped me with that. But what I will admit is, I don’t always listen to Cigarettes After Sex. Shock, horror, I know, considering I can’t stop blabbing about them, but it’s true. I listen to Nirvana and Pink Floyd a lot of the time, and I love 60s soul. But I only ever listen to Cigarettes After Sex when I can feel a spiral of depression creep up on me. They may have helped me conquer it, but my mental illnesses still fight back, so sometimes, I have a little cry (well more of a long howl of sadness, LOL) binge-watch a series that has five seasons and 20 episodes per season, until I feel like I can get up out of bed and face the day. I may be able to control my illnesses, but I can’t out run them—and if I’m honest with you, I’m OK with that. My life and all the downs that have happened in it have really shaped me into the person I am today, and I don’t think I turned out too bad. And I have not just Cigarettes After Sex to thank for that but all the great artists I listen to. I thank the people who told me about those grey artists, and I thank mother who (thank god) has the same music taste as me.
By Scotch Vaughan8 years ago in Beat
