What a delight it was finding both Boston CDs when I got back home Wednesday. These are the remastered versions, done personally by Tom Scholz, the leader, visionary and driving force behind Boston.

Right from the start, you can hear the deep lows and bottom end that were lacking in the original CD releases 20 years ago. The music now sounds just as good as it did back in 1976, when Boston’s debut and self-titled album hit the store shelves.

The guitar now jumps out at you, and sounds much more prominent, as opposed to the original EQ’d CD mix. The original mix had all but the last remnants of the bottom end gone. These new remasters bring them back.

To say I’m happy is an under-statement. These new CDs will kick the ass of just about any artist out there today. Try and find a more driving, rocking guitar section. These releases easily get 5 stars from me. Don’t take my word for it though, listen for yourself. The album is in parenthesis.

• More Than A Feeling (Boston - 1976)
• Rock & Roll Band (Boston - 1976)
• Don’t Look Back (Don’t Look Back - 1978)

Artist: The Cars
Album: The Cars (1978)
Song: Bye Bye Love

Great debut album by The Cars. This was one of several great albums during the second half of the 1970s, including artists such as Boston, Cheap Trick, and Elvis Costello. Bye Bye Love is almost a perfect song– in the sense that it pretty much has everything a song should offer. A great song to listen to under the headphones, or blasting out of your speakers.

Learn more about The Cars.

Artist: Gwen Stefani
Album: Love. Angel. Music. Baby. (2004)
Song: Danger Zone

This usually isn’t the music that I’m into, but this album is so catchy, and the production is so well done, I just had to add this one to my library. Listening to the CD from to start to finish, there are quality songs throughout. In listening, I heard influence of Madonna, The Beatles, even Courtney Love, with whom I hear Gwen had a tiff.

Learn more about Gwen Stefani.

Artist: The Kinks
Album: Kinda Kinks (1965)
Song: Something Better Beginning

I loved this song from way back. I had it on a 1980s Kinks CD, but couldn’t find it anywhere on any compilations. Luckily, Kinda Kinks has been remastered, so I purchased the CD.

Learn more about The Kinks.

After using some god-awful cymbals for many years, I have decided to finally upgrade. I just purchased new 16″ and 18″ Zildjian A Custom Fast Crash cymbals. These cymbals have a strong initial attack, and a smooth, fast decay.

I also purchased a Zildjian A Custom 20″ ride as well. I have included some sound samples so you can hear how great these cymbals sound.

I ended up spending about $600.00 on the three cymbals, but the sound and quality will be worth it. I can’t wait to get my hands on them. They’ll be here next week. Oh, and try the Cymbal Configurator!

Sound samples: 16″ Fast Crash | 18″ Fast Crash | 20″ Ride

Update 05.25.06 - The cymbals and new stands came in today. The FedEx guy was using a rental truck because his broke down. Anyway, they sound really good. When mixed properly, they will sound like a million bucks. Only thing is, now I have to buy another mic stand and another mic so I can mic up the other crash. That will be 8 mics on the kit. That is almost insane!

Artist: Bob Dylan
Album: The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963)
Song: Masters Of War

This song is dedicated to George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld, for without whom this endless/mindless/lawless war would not have been made possible. The war on terror has become the war on Americans, with the falling of one civil liberty after another. The greatest nation on the face of the planet looks in the mirror, and doesn’t like what it sees.

Learn more about Bob Dylan.

I’m not thanking Steve Jobs’ Apple, but The Beatles’ Apple Corps. Finally, we Beatles fans need not wait much longer for the official remastered Beatles catalog. The full catalog. The real deal. Wowz0rz!

“We’re remastering the whole Beatles catalog, just to make it sound brighter and better and getting proper booklets to go with each of the packages. I think it would be wrong to offer downloads of the old masters when I am making new masters. It would be better to wait and try to do them both simultaneously so that you then get publicity of the new masters and the downloading, rather than just doing it ad hoc.”

Neil Aspinall, managing director of Apple Corps

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1966: A Documentary. This interview took place on December 28, 1983. The interviewer, my father, Leonard Los, is speaking with a “well renowned drummer,” Greg Dominique (pronounced DOMAIN)– don’t ask me!

I remember well, going to the Holyoke library and researching facts such as baseball standings and food prices for 1966– which is the year the interview is about. The interview is mostly about music and Greg’s involvement in an area band called “The Gladiators.” The interview does stray off on some topics, but adheres mostly to music. In between in interview, which is broken into sections, a song is played from 1966, almost always dealing with the previous conversation.

This interview also contains the earliest recorded voice of myself. At the end of side 2, my father hands the microphone to me, and I give a speech, although obviously pre-written, I give it none the less. During the interview, you can hear me and my sister yelling, and my mother in turn, yelling at us.

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It was twelve years ago, Friday, April 8, 1994. That’s a day I will never soon forget. And because of server/connectivity issues, you’re getting this today.

I just got home from school, and fixed myself a grilled cheese sandwich. For some strange reason, the radio was on downstairs, and my parents and a friend were in the room. I was sitting in the chair, eating my sandwich, no cares in the world. As fast as a radio wave, my world was changed forever.

In the midst of a tasty treat, I heard news that the body of Kurt Cobain had been discovered. He apparently died of a self-inflicted shotgun blast. During those few seconds, every image and thought of Cobain and Nirvana flashed through my head. I asked myself why. Why would someone choose to end their life? I thought, and still do think that suicide is ultimately for the weak, and a selfish way of solving problems, perceived or real. The people around you suffer, not you.

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Artist: The Beatles
Album: The Beatles 1
Song: Something (1969)

I spent a few hours Saturday perfecting the bass line to this song. It’s one of my favorites. Using my Rickenbacker 4003 bass and my Ampeg bass amp to get some really great bottom end, I finally got it. It’s been a while since I last played, and my fingers have some new blisters now.

Learn more about The Beatles.