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iLose: Apple Tests Digital Weight-Loss Program

Aug 082007

Losing it

Despite my well-known resistance to the burgeoning Apple iTunes Empire – or perhaps because of it – within weeks of my wife switching us from a PC to a Mac, a representative from Apple contacted me through RTH Labs to gauge my interest in participating in a Phase II study on a digital weight-loss program that is tentatively titled iLose.

I was initially flummoxed by Apple’s interest in my participation, but I could stand to lose some weight, and the promise of a steady supply of preselected, potentially weight-loss promoting tunes was hard to turn down. If nothing else, I figured, I’d get turned onto some new music, get a chuckle out or two, and stick it to the iMan by mocking this experimental program for the benefit of Rock Town Hall. After 3 weeks on the program, however, I’m becoming a believer.

The playlist from my most recent iLose session follows. Consider it a trial version of this possibly revolutionary weight-loss program!

“Clear Spot”, Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
“Walkin With A Mountain”, Mott The Hoople
“Riot Industry”, Cobra Verde
“Blow Daddy-O”, Pere Ubu
“Allah Wakbarr”, Ofo The Black Company
“The Blue Mask”, Lou Reed
“St. George`s Dragon”, Baby Grandmothers
“Ship Of Fools”, The Doors
“Amazona”, Roxy Music
“You Baby”, The Turtles

Before continuing, please read the following Disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER: The health information contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace a discussion with a healthcare provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare provider and consider the unique characteristics of each patient.
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Downloads to Spare? Try The Éthiopiques Series

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 312007

Hear it here!

As some of you know, a complimentary month’s subscription to eMusic is available through the link on the right column of Rock Town Hall. Some of you might find it worth a try, and some of you might stick with it. I’ve been a subscriber for about 6 months now, and as a rock ‘n roller I’m usually disatisfied with the ample selection of crap modern music that the indie rock reviewers/publicists tout. As an older head, eMusic is not loaded with those elusive reissues of Eric Burdon and the New Animals b-sides that are so easy to buy when faced with a Hobson’s Choice. Most months I need to do a little work to fill my shopping cart with 30 downloads, but I always come home satisfied with some cool stuff I might otherwise have never tried.

Sometimes I try on a Neu! for the fifth time and and find that, after having thought little of them the first four times I was exposed to their music, they now work like a charm! Lately I’ve been dipping my toes in international waters, primarily music from various parts of Africa I, sadly, could not identify on a map lacking labels. This month I downloaded a heap of Ethiopian music from something eMusic featured called The Éthiopiques Series. As I listen back and forth to Townsman Hrrundi’s latest edition of Thrifty Music and these new, old finds from Ethiopia, I thought I’d share a few with you. I know nothing about these artists and the songs, although I read that one of the artists is a key to the extremely groovy soundtrack of Jim Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers. Remember that cool music that plays throughout? Some of that stuff is from this Ethiopia scene from the late-60s through mid-70s. But I know nothing about any of it. Other than what I’m spinning this week. Enjoy the following tracks, about which I cannot even discern the artist vs track name!

Mahmoud Ahmed, “Almaz Men Eda New”

Milhnu, “Thwhldh Rhdda”

Tlahoun Gessesse, “Tezalegn yetentu”

Getatchew Mekurya, “Almaz Yeharerwa”

Tezeta, “Nostalgia”

You can read about this series here.

Now Playing: iTunes Radio

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 252007

Townswoman Crystal reports that she has been spending a lot of time in a computer lab for her digital art class doing homework. She’s been slowly making notes of the different iTunes radio stations for her personal use, and she wanted to share them with her fellow Townspeople. Here’s what she’s finding.

Worthy of listening to
Ghetto Radio. It’s primarily ’80s, but it’s like old radio stations. They’ll play Aerosmith next to Eddy Grant. They did a block of Rush next to Genesis’s “Land of Confession”, which I promptly left but later they played New Order. So you’ll never know what you get.

Fresh Air – The Alternative. It’s worth it for the Edinborough accents alone. Sometimes, it’s dance music, and then it will be a show on internet dating.

Music to work by
Baroque classical station. Insert your own joke here, but very calming.
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iTunes Partners with Rock Town Hall

Posted by The Back Office

Mar 052007

In yet another move that will incite cries of “Sell out!” from mothers’ basements across the outposts of Rock Town Hall, we have partnered with the Almighty iTunes Empire to provide opportunities for you to sample and download new music for your iPod as well as contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of Rock Town Hall’s humble IT department.
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