We've concluded our initial round of submissions and voting over on the Discord server. Now, we're bringing the top 19 Movie Theme submissions to Patreon for another round of voting.
VOTE FOR UP TO SIX selections that you'd like to see prioritized for the coming video.
These selections are all included in an unlisted YouTube Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO0n3LrU...
2023-05-22 15:32:44 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm pleased to present my reaction to Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin. This was a really fun reaction...especially tickling my rhythmic curiosity. The only song on this album I have previously heard is Kashmir. Other than that, it's all hitting me for the first time. I hope you enjoy!
Unlisted Link: https://vimeo.com/827450871/8410cf602c?share=copy
2023-05-17 00:46:37 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm returning once again to Gentle Giant to pay tribute to Ray Shulman and to break down On Reflection, which is from their Free Hand album.
Unlisted link: https://vimeo.com/825240167/7dcf573e8b?share=copy
2023-05-09 21:31:25 +0000 UTC View PostHi y'all,
Our Fan Favorites for May is now active, and we're looking for your favorite Movie Themes!
We’re dedicating our Fan Favorites theme for May to the celebration of music in movies. Think original score…not a song from a movie. For instance, the Theme from James Bond is appropriate while Live and Let Die is not. The score can be any variety of musical forces, be they an orchestra, jazz combo, solo piano, or fully electronic.
As usual, we'd like public YouTube link...
2023-05-07 18:32:39 +0000 UTC View Post
In April, I went to Maine for a short vacation with Megan and John. On our last day there, we went across the bay from Bar Harbor to the Schoodic peninsula. This land is also within the Acadia National Park, and we were able to walk right out on the rocks all the way down to the water, catching a glorious sun setting behind Cadillac Mountain.
This real-time sunset video will be going public on the Aphoria YouTube channel soon. (This is John Franek's channel, and Megan and I assist.) Thi...
2023-05-05 22:04:12 +0000 UTC View PostHi y'all,
After hearing some Led Zeppelin again in the latest Fan Favorites, I thought that it's past time to get to some more LZ in the Extended Play Lounge. I'm really interested in the band's approach to rhythm and their overall sound...and I'm eager to give Robert Plant more chances to impress me. :)
I listened to Houses of the Holy in Episode 13. I've listed the band's other 5 top albums (by sales...in order). Choose the one you think I should listen to next.
2023-05-05 14:49:25 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm pleased to present this episode of the Extended Play Lounge, featuring Kansas for the first time. Point of Know Return won our poll, and I had only previously heard Dust in the Wind...although, I realized that I had heard the title track as well as soon as I heard the organ riff.
So, I hope you enjoy this proggy gem of an album as much as I did!
Unlisted Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/82314650...
2023-05-02 21:20:39 +0000 UTC View Post
I thoroughly enjoyed all of these selections for International Guitar Month. Y'all have come through again with a great collection of songs that feature the guitar. And, this was almost entirely a set of first-time listens.
So, sit back, relax, or play along. I hope you enjoy!
Unlisted link: https://vimeo.com/822213204/09edd207bd
Sylvia - Focus
Ruhkukah - Allan Holdsworth
Brighton Rock...
2023-04-29 03:06:29 +0000 UTC View Post
This was supposed to be today's episode, but it got blocked.
I'm hoping to release it on YouTube by the end of the week. But, for now, I'm pleased to share it here on Patreon. As usual, please don't share this unlisted link!
Vimeo Link: https://vimeo.com/821389773/026a827eb1?share=copy
2023-04-26 18:36:21 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm pleased to offer this little history lesson and harmonic breakdown of Because by The Beatles.
I, of course, have heard the song many times...and have joined in the singing with the band. But, this is my first time really digging into the harmonies. I was especially interested in Lennon & McCartney's odd resolution (and lack thereof) of a diminished chord.
I hope you enjoy!
Unlisted Vimeo Link: 2023-04-25 02:17:48 +0000 UTC View Post
This is a bit of an odd poll, as I'm interested in all these albums for different reasons.
With Kansas, Trower, and Zappa, I know one or two songs and want to hear the rest of these respective albums.
The Waters and Yes albums have been talked up to me for a long time, but I haven't yet heard anything from these albums.
SO, help me decide which one to listen to first. Pick your favorite from this list!
2023-04-22 18:48:57 +0000 UTC View PostWe've concluded our submissions and up-voting on Discord for this month's Fan Favorites, where we're counting down our favorite guitar tunes.
Here's the list of 18 choices that made the cut. Vote for up to 6 of your favorites from this list.
We'll run the poll through Monday the 24th. Happy voting!
Here's a YouTube Playlist with all of these submissions: ...
2023-04-21 15:56:26 +0000 UTC View Post
Y'all...
I'm still processing hearing this album for the first time. I had heard Anesthetize previously, but it was a live version. And I haven't heard any of the other songs yet. I've had the album for about a month, and I've not listened to it yet.
Well...now I have...
And, I have to say that this is a really powerful and expertly crafted album. I think it exemplifies the best of the spirit of progressive music...topical and important song meanings, intricate arrangements,...
2023-04-18 22:49:26 +0000 UTC View PostHello friends,
For our April Fan Favorites, we're asking for your favorite guitar songs. All of the submissions are being gathered and voted on over on Discord. I look forward to seeing your submissions and recording the video later this month!
2023-04-08 16:29:49 +0000 UTC View PostMany of our more recent Extended Play Lounge Episodes have featured classic albums from the 1980s and before. This time, I'm interested in listening to a great Prog or Prog/Metal album from the first decade of the 21st century. Here's five options to choose from!
Pick your favorite from these options!
2023-04-07 17:40:09 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the latest update to the master list. Thanks for your continued recommendations!
2023-04-07 17:03:08 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm VERY excited to announce that I'll be team-teaching a course with my wonderfully talented colleague John Franek. We're calling it The Composer's Toolkit.
We're meeting for Five 90-Minute Sessions on Mondays in May. *One Month Only*
We'll be talking about compositional tips and tricks as well as doing some tutorials on notation software and digital audio workstat...
2023-04-05 21:52:37 +0000 UTC View Post
As the calendar turns to April, I'm making this episode of the Extended Play Lounge a Doug's Choice. And, I picked Rick Wakeman's 1977 album, Criminal Record.
I was really drawn to the prospect of hearing his track Judas Iscariot...especially during the days leading up to Good Friday and Easter. So, I listened to the entire album (presented here for you). I'll, then, release the Judas Iscariot portion on YouTube on Good Friday.
I really enjoyed the listen. Given the general ...
2023-04-03 22:51:43 +0000 UTC View Post
I really enjoyed recording this month's Fan Favorites video. The music is all so good, representing a variety of styles and genres. Thanks again to the community for your participation and your voting.
As we celebrate Women's History Month, this month's theme was (broadly) on music by women. The artists and songs include:
- Donna Summer (State of Independence)
- Linda Ronstadt (Blue Bayou)
- Roberta Flack (The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face)
- Tori Amos (Flying Dutchman)...
This is it...the last song in the set of 'The Four Last Songs' by Richard Strauss. Written just a year before his death and published posthumously, these songs are among the most beautiful in the entire repertoire.
Im Abendrot is performed by Jessye Norman with the Gewandhausorchester from Leipzig, Germany. Kurt Masur is the conductor.
I'll show you the full orchestral score briefly. Then, we'll dive into a piano reduction to reveal the secrets behind this masterpiece. I hop...
2023-03-28 00:26:05 +0000 UTC View Post
In Episode 40, we're listening to Heart's debut album, released in September of 1975. As I say in the video, I had only heard Magic Man and Crazy On You...and I'm really glad that I finally gave this album my full attention.
While it's not a concept album, most of the songs are on the topic of love and relationships. The guitar work is superb, and Ann's vocals are sublime. I hope you enjoy!
Note: I updated the original post with a correction to the song listing during side 2.
2023-03-23 01:20:06 +0000 UTC View PostHi y'all!
In the wake of all of these blocks on YouTube, we're starting to try to work ahead with uploading our videos. I am accustomed to researching, recording, editing, and premiering all in the same day, but that is becoming increasingly problematic...as I can't accurately anticipate how YouTube will handle that day's upload.
So, for the past week, I've been uploading like crazy behind the scenes. I'm preparing future episodes so that I can pick and choose from the ones that Y...
2023-03-21 22:15:14 +0000 UTC View PostWe've been collecting submissions and upvotes over on Discord for the first half of the month for our next Fan Favorites video. The topic this month is on women in music, as it is Women's History Month.
We have a wide variety of musicians and musical styles in this list. 17 songs made the cut. Vote for up to 5 of your favorites from this list!
The poll will be active through Friday, March 24. Happy voting!
Here's a YouTube playlist of all these selections: <...
2023-03-20 16:09:39 +0000 UTC View Post
I had planned to release this Metal Monday episode (Ep. 546) yesterday, but YouTube had different plans and blocked it. To my surprise, my appeal has been rejected, and the video remains blocked! So, I'm making it available to my Patrons. I hope you enjoy the episode!
***Please do not share this link***
2023-03-14 23:50:43 +0000 UTC View PostFor our next Extended Play Lounge, I'm looking to review a classic album featuring performances and songs by women. We're celebrating Women's History month with our Fan Favorites, and these albums are some that I wish to look into more specifically. I've never heard any of these all the way through...but I know a little from every album.
Select your preferred choice! The Poll will end
2023-03-11 19:05:21 +0000 UTC View Post
I'm really excited that this famous orchestral movement has been so strongly requested by the community. I think this is one of the important works of the early 20th century, and we're starting an exploration of The Planets out with the first movement, Mars: The Bringer of War.
I'll guide you through a bit of background information and the instrumentation before looking at a score reduction and full score, featuring recordings by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Berlin Philharmoni...
2023-03-10 22:16:25 +0000 UTC View PostOur new #Fan-Favorites for March is live! This month, we’re looking for your favorite song performed and/or written by women. I look forward to seeing your submissions, submitted via the Fan Favorites channel on our discord server. Make sure you review the instructions before posting! Thanks for your participation!
Doug
2023-03-06 00:51:45 +0000 UTC View Post
We continue to be amazed at the generosity of this community with the gifts of vinyl records. This is the current list of what we have.
Cheers!
2023-03-05 20:54:05 +0000 UTC View Post
Here's the updated Master List of songs that we're actively considering. To add your suggestions to the list, please log onto our Discord server and submit in the recommendations section.
Thanks so much for all of your great suggestions!
2023-03-05 20:47:20 +0000 UTC View Post
In this edition of the Extended Play Lounge, I'm returning to King Crimson with their 1973 album Larks' Tongues in Aspic. This album won our poll by a large margin, and after listening to it, I think I understand why. The album was immediately approachable and fascinating to me...and I think it's my favorite (so far) of their albums that I have heard. I'm pleased to share my reaction with you all! Enjoy!
2023-03-04 18:45:33 +0000 UTC View Post