(#8) down memory lane at penang road

[entry #8 utk cabaran 1 hari = 1 entry = 1 malaysia abg ben]

khamis 29/10/2009 - dkt2 1000hrs aku turun from hotel oriental. pagi ni je ada peluang nak jln2 sbb ptg nnti lps 1400hrs aku kena pi balik pulau kursus kenegaraan BTN. pi jln2 sepanjang penang road, tujuan aku nak pi db music centre (komtar) and then on the way balik nnti bleh sggh2 beli souvenir, jeruk dan lunch. btw, last skali aku lalu kat penang road ni was back in 2007, time tu ada kursus kat sg petani then kursus lg kat langkawi, so aku lepak bbrp hari kat penang (hotel yg sama)

campbell street... ada gerbang apa ntah

zmn aku tggl kat penang dulu (1997-2005) jarang2 aku lalu penang road ni kecuali klu nak pi beli jeruk buah pala kat chowrasta tiap2 kali nak cuti blk kmpg... kira mcm down memory lane la ni. btw, penang road ni mmg tmpt yg unik... apa yg ada kat sini, itulah 1st impression about penang secara amnya (pelbagai kaum, makanan, kebudayaan, senibina bangunan) 1 malaysia la katakan~

klu xsilap, plaque ni kat kimberly street dkt dgn nasik kandaq line clear (sblm campbell street), klu smpi skrg trem ni masih ada kan best... mcm kat san francisco nun

jejantas crossroad antara penang road dan burma road... once upon a time, sepanjang jejantas ni dipenuhi dgn pengemis membuatkan aku mls nak naik jejantas ni, tp skrg 'bersih' dah sorg pun xnmpk... i wonder

lps turun jejantas on the way pi komtar... semuanya dah jauh berbeza. aku xtau apa nama laluan ni, dulunya xberbumbung dan dipenuhi dgn penjaja jalanan (dan 2-3 org pengemis)

tangga2 ni agak familiar... dulu2 slalu naik kat atas nun ada food court, bersebelahan dgn super komtar yg skrg dah tutup (sama nasib mcm yaohan) diganti dgn pacific komtar. sepanjang laluan pejalan kaki dari jejantas ke prangin mall mmg dah berubah... yg aku prasan ada deretan gerai2 berhiasan ala siam, ada yg masih blm buka dan ada yg tgh renovation, sehinggalah aku terserempak dgn benda kat bawah ni!

aku ingatkan mmg betul2 sami buddha ni bertapa dlm kaca... rupa2nya patung replika yg diukir drp kayu, diulangi PATUNG. wtf? mmg detail gila ukirannya... kecuali kain kaler oren tu la, yg tu kain betul2. time aku tgh snap pic ni ada 2 org aunty india ni borak2 dorg ckp org ni mmg betul2 wujud tp dah meninggal, umurnya 100+ thn

yg ni papan tanda detail cerita pasal patung replika tu, sapa sami buddha tu, kehidupannya, bla bla bla... mls nak baca sbb pnjg sgt

smpi2 je kat komtar, aku terus pi db music centre... tp hampanya hatiku, kedai ni tutup (or belum bukak lg). fyi, db music centre ni dulu tmpt aku slalu beli kaset/cd metal (antaranya rock in rio, the eye, ruh zaman, the very best of dokken)

lbh kurg mcm kat campbell's jugakla, aunty yg jaga kedai ni knowledge pasal metal pun power jugak, dia tau apa yg dia jual... sket2 info pasal band, album dan perkembangan semasa. konon2 kali ni aku dtg nak jumpa aunty ni borak2 sambil cari kot2 ada cd metal yg berkenan di hati... tp apakan daya, dgn perasaan yg sdkt hampa akupun balik pi hotel (xnak sggh kat prangin mall, awal lg kedai2 blm buka)

persimpangan penang road, dato kramat road dan gurdwara road. gama yg dah xbest, cravan cafe pun mcm dah xde org dtg... bangunan tggi kat background tu klu xsilap penang times square (corrects me if i'm wrong). kat dpn gama dulu ada restoran nasik kandaq bleh kira sedap jugak la namanya nasi kandar bakar... tp skrg dah tadak, diganti dgn nasi kandar kassim (bkn kassim mustafa)

on the way balik, dpn balai polis berhampiran chowrasta aku tgk ada bbrp buah beca tgh parking tersusun, pengayuh2nya tgh dgr briefing... rupanya2 ada rombongan pelancong (tempatan) nak naik beca beramai2 keliling penang road

aku rasa aku stop smpi sini dulu. ada lg smbgn utk entry ni... bab chowrasta dgn buah palanya, nasik kandaq line clear dan odeon cinema. but that was another story... (ngantuk ni)

to be continued...

_____
p/s: time deepavali kat penang road ni jd musim kelapa

(#7) the famed yNot studio (part 2)

[entry #7 utk cabaran 1 hari = 1 entry = 1 malaysia abg ben]

[kesinambungan drp entry ni] rabu 28/10/2009 - akhirnya dpt jugak aku jumpa yNot studio ni stlh tawaf 2 kali... yup, dulu time aku keje kat penang mmg aku ada jugak pi area farlim ni (bandar baru ayer itam) delivery pc pi rmh kastemer, tp xpnh plak round2 area angsana. credits to my AIA agent miss CLSz sbb bawa jln2

tujuan utama aku pi yNot studio ni semata2 nak beli amp (either) behringer GM108 atau roland micro-cube yg aku rasa jauh lebih murah berbanding tmpt2 lain dan kebetulan aku ada kat penang (esok start kursus kat balik pulau). aku dah buat appoinment dgn owner studio ni mr engbok yg aku nak test power kedua2 amp ni sblm buat keputusan (entry ni) nak beli mana satu

candidate utk test power (err... amp bugera tu xtermasuk), gitar yg diguna utk test power ialah gitar squier standard stratocaster (used, for sale RM650) main pakai jari xde pick... xselesa rasanya

mula2 aku test GM108 dulu... amp ni cuma ada bbrp modeling amp (marshall, vox) tp xde built-in effects. somehow aku rasa bunyi2nya xspt yg aku harapkan, semua modelling mcm sama je, clean channel bunyi xkuat... tp kelebihannya 15 watt dan murah (RM300)

bila test micro-cube, wlupun lebih mahal drp GM108 (RM380)... heh! tp spt yg dijangkakan, dan spt review2 yg aku baca kat internet, this small devil was a monster atau ikut slogannya 'big small man'... aku xnak cerita byk pasal micro-cube ni sbb nnti aku nak buat entry lain

so stlh test power kedua2 amp ni, aku pun dgn yakin buat keputusan utk memilih micro-cube. tp sygnya kat studio ni cuma ada 1 micro-cube berwarna merah... aku nak yg warna hitam, klu putih pun aku xkisah. mr engbok kata klu nak kaler hitam/putih dia kena pi amik stok baru and may take 1-2 days

drum set sonor yg jd demo set utk sapa2 yg nak try

as a mutual respect and agreement, aku bg deposit RM200 utk order unit kaler hitam dan mr engbok akan hantar unit ni pi hotel tmpt aku tggl isnin mggu dpn lepas aku dah abis kursus

mr engbok was a nice person... he knows what he's selling, very professional yet humble and friendly. wlupun baru jmpa hari ni tp terasa mcm dah lama kenal. dia jugak xkisah aku snap pic2 studio dia ni (maybe dia tau aku nak promote studio dia kot? hehehe)

ekceli aku bkn nak amik pic gitar ni (gitar jaming studio) tp focus more to triple-guitar stand yg mula2 aku teringin nak beli (RM68 je), tp disebabkan masalah2 ekonomi dan logistik aku xjd beli

gitar akustik ovation yg ada autograf (artis?) sapa ntah... aku rasa yg ni personal collection mr engbok kot?

selain micro-cube, aku jugak beli ghs fast-fret dan bbrp keping pick stagg. yNot studio ni authorised dealer utk produk2 stagg, behringer, sonor dan bbrp brand lain. more info bleh rujuk bbrp links kat bawah ni:

• MMO online musical instrument store
• ebay listing
• lelong.com.my
• yNot music studio blog

bkn senang nak cari seller yg mcm mr engbok ni, dia suruh kastemer test smpi puas hati dgn produk tu baru beli... yg ni kelebihan klu beli kat studio, outlet yg kecik atau dgn seller yg mmg ada background muzik. wlupun aku xbyk experiences beli kat tmpt2 lain tp mmg jauh beza klu dibandingkan dgn bbrp kedai muzik kat area kk yg kedekut nak mampus dan mcm nak xnak jual je. jd aku mmg rekomen gila2 kat korang yNot studio ni (yg ada kat area penang la)

well, kena tggu isnin nnti la baru dpt micro-cube hitam aku

_____
p/s: kat bintulu ni sozo music pun servis oke cuma harga instrument phm2 jela... harga borneo

(#6) penang, the wasted years... (part 2)

[entry #6 utk cabaran 1 hari = 1 entry = 1 malaysia abg ben]

part 2 - penang, i'm back!

hari ni (once again) aku menjejakkan kaki di bumi penang (sbb esok kursus BTN)... everything was a trip down memory lane, thanks to my AIA agent, miss CLSz sbb jmpt aku kat airport then pi farlim (pi yNot studio) then hntr smpi dpn hotel oriental kat penang road

gmbr hiasan, pic link drp website wikipedia

klu dikirakan byk idea aku nak buat entry2 blog pasal penang ni (so far - db music, line clear, komtar/prangin, penang road). tp disebabkan kesuntukan masa (netbook pun dah low-bat) dan ptg esok start 1630hrs aku dah berkursus BTN kat balik pulau, maybe there will be no new blog entries until monday/tuesday next week... lgpun aku tgglkan netbook aku ni kat CLSz, xnak bawa pi kem BTN. see u next week [edited 6/11/2009: aku dah edit posting date supaya entry nmpk lebih teratur ikut kronologi]

to be continued...

_____
p/s: mmg btl mcm lirik lagu iron maiden wasted years...

(#5) duran duran - greatest

[entry #5 utk cabaran 1 hari = 1 entry = 1 malaysia abg ben]

warning! non-metal (entry ni ditujukan khas buat cimca)... bungkusan no. 8 drp 14 bungkusan 9/11 dulu. bungkusan dari uk yg berisi cd duran duran - greatest. wtf? duran2? muahahahaha...

ebay purchase info

• purchased from: kardkidpool
• location: uk
• condition: used
• price paid: £0.99+2.50 (RM20.96) menang bid
• ordered: 9/8/2009
• received: 11/9/2009
• label: (p)(c) 1998 emi records ltd.
• made in: eu (uk la kot?)

cover art yg simple serba putih. jewel case, inlay dan cd nmpk mcm masih baru wlupun status used. kira berbaloi la dgn harga RM20+ mula2 aku joybid je cd ni starting bid £0.99 dan aku bid max £1.00... tup2 xde org lain bid, secara rasminya aku yg menang cd ni dgn harga £0.99

tracklist

1. is there something i should know?
2. the reflex
3. a view to a kill
4. ordinary world
5. save a prayer
6. rio
7. hungry like the wolf
8. girls on film
9. planet earth
10. union of the snake <- lagu febret cimca, muahahaha!~
11. new moon on monday
12. wild boys
13. notoriuos
14. i don't want your love
15. all she wants is
16. electric barbarella
17. seriuos
18. skin trade
19. come undone

lagu febret aku? the reflex, a view to a kill, wild boys, electric barbarella dan come undone

apa kejadahnya aku beli cd duran2 ni? ekceli koleksi cd aku ada 2 jenis... (1) koleksi discography febret band (cth iron maiden, megadeth, metallica, nirvana) dan (2) koleksi nostalgic and sentimental value (cth somehow someway, no need to argue, cracked rear view). jd sememangnya album duran2 ni mmg berada di bawah kategori nostalgic value. btw, dulu aku ada donlod mp3 album ni tp ntah kat mana aku save... maybe dah burn dlm cd, tp xpe dah beli cd ori ;)

the story way back in early 1980's... aku rasa aku mula2 dgr duran2 ni time aku masih lg tadika kot? 1984-1985 klu xsilap. dulu time kecik2, lps blk skolah tadika mmg aku sggh rmh takilala (yg btl2 sbrg jln drp tadika) tggu mak atau abg aku dtg jemput... abg2 takilala (gaban dan cimca) slalu la pasang lagu2 mat salleh terutamanya duran2 yg tgh femes time tu. ofkos time tu sepatah haram aku xphm, tp melodi lagu2 duran2 ni mmg melekat lbh2 lg lagu wild boys dan a view to a kill (lagu filem james bond dgn tajuk yg sama) zmn tu pesen rambut duran2 menjadi ikutan...

let's journey back in time with this videoclip, hahaha... mcm best je dulu2 tu kan?

jd? berteromber, sila tambah pengalaman anda... hahaha

_____
p/s: "belong to nick & roger"

(#4) ...of micro-cube and v-tone

[entry #4 utk cabaran 1 hari = 1 entry = 1 malaysia abg ben]

kpd member2 yg blh dikategorikan sbg gitaris, nak tanya pendapat... ekceli, dah lama aku nak beli amp utk praktis. dah survey utk amp (up to 15-watt) kat kedai, review internet, dll...

selama ni aku guna amp bass 10-watt BSA10 dan vintage national RQ-K12 utk praktis main mephisto (kdg2 guna headphone sony direct from effects pedal), tp kedua2nya bknla amp khas utk gitar, dan maybe xdpt menikmati 100% sonic attack. hari tu aku ada cari amp kat area kk tp mmg mahal nak mampus, dorg mark-up smpi RM200+ utk roland micro-cube! roughly harga micro-cube dlmRM400-450 tp dorg jual smpi RM695! (kautim2 plng murah RM580)

berdasarkan review, saiz, power, design, built-in effects, availability dan bajet... i've narrowed down kpd 2 calon pilihan iaitu roland micro-cube (*RM380) dan behringer v-tone GM108 (*RM300). so u guys... i need some advices based on ur experiences, which 1 do u recommend? (klik kat link bwh pic utk spesifikasi amp2 berikut)

roland micro-cube
(pic link from website roland.com)

behringer v-tone GM108
(pic link drp website behringer.de)

well, since esok aku pi penang (sbb 29/10-2/11 ada kursus BTN kat balik pulau) aku kira nak jumpa dgn mr engbok of yNot studio (ebay seller id: sell_u_cheap) sggh sat kat studionya kat farlim maybe blh test sound dua2 amp ni dulu sblm buat keputusan

*harga yg ditawarkan oleh yNot studio

_____
p/s: argh!~ aku rindu mau makan nasik kandaq abu...

(#3) nirvana - incesticide

[entry #3 utk cabaran 1 hari = 1 entry = 1 malaysia abg ben]

bungkusan no. 7 drp 14 bungkusan 9/11 dulu. bungkusan dari uk berisi cd nirvana album incesticide

teruk jugak cd ni, jewel case dah seasoned, inlay masih oke, tp aku xpuas hati dgn cd kat dlm... dah la byk calar (but doesn't effect playability) pastu mcm ada 'stain' kat belah atas cd, aku xpasti 'stain' apa wallahu'alam. cd ni nak kena sanitised dulu... rasa mcm nyesal pun ada, dah la mahal (RM31.58) rasa mcm xberbaloi je

ebay purchase info

• purchased from: ijamusic (seller yg sama utk cd digimortal, colony)
• location: uk
• condition: used
• price paid: £1.20+4.00 (RM31.58) menang bid
• ordered: 4/8/2009
• received: 11/9/2009
• label: (c)(p) 1992 the david geffen company, (p) 1991, 1990 bbc, (p) 1992, 1990, 1989, 1988 sub pop ltd, (p) 1988 nirvana <- brapa byk daaa?~
• made in: germany

tracklist

1. dive
2. sliver
3. stain
4. been a son
5. turnaround
6. molly's lips
7. son of a gun
8. (new wave) polly
9. beeswax
10. downer
11. mexican seafood
12. hairspray queen
13. aero zeppelin
14. big long now
15. aneurysm

lagu febret? dive, sliver, been a son, turnaround, molly's lips dan aneurysm... xde 1 lagu pun dlm album ni yg dorg main utk album unplugged, (polly xblh diambil kira sbb versi new wave) kenapa eh?

ekceli, aku xde benda nak cerita pasal album ni selain drp pelengkap koleksi. dulu zmn kaset, album ni antara album nirvana yg jarang aku dgr berbanding nevermind dan in utero (bleach atleast oke jugak la)...

tp apsal album ni aku rasa mcm something wrong? lain drp album2 nirvana yg lain, contohnya font yg digunakan utk 'nirvana' tu mmg berbeza dgn font pd album2 nirvana yg lain. cover art pun mcm tangkap muat je, aku xdpt nak interprete apa maksud tersirat pd pic cover art tu. line-up pun ramai, smpi 6 org! tp xmention sapa... inlay cuma skpg kertas yg dilipat dua

so, kpd pakar2 nirvana dan peminat tegar kurt cobain... tolong jelaskan

_____
p/s: looking back to those grunge days... kdg2 rasa nak tegelak pun ada, awat bdk2 skolah time tu (PMR-SPM) termasuk aku, senang nak terima grunge?

(#2) manowar - battle hymns & the hell of steel

[entry #2 utk cabaran 1 hari = 1 entry = 1 malaysia abg ben]

bungkusan no. 6 drp 14 bungkusan 9/11 dulu. bungkusan dari uk berisi 2 (used) cd manowar, album battle hymns dan the hell of steel (kpd peminat2 manowar, jgn segan2 utk komen)

cd2 ni pun menerima nasib yg sama spt kes a night at the opera, disebabkan dah dkt 40 hari bungkusan xsmpi2 so aku open non-receipt dispute kat paypal... xbyk kerenah seller pun refund blk payment, guess what? mggu dpnnya bungkusan ni smpi... heh, dpt cd free lagila aku nmpknya ;)

manowar - battle hymns

album pertama manowar, tp yg ni bkn 1st pressing... yg ni re-release under classic rock series. yg pastinya aku mengenali manowar bkn dgn album ni tp bermula dgn album fighting the world (vinyl kepunyaan cimmat yg kini diwarisi oleh takilala - ada kat entry ni) but that was another story...

jewel case nmpk dah seasoned, tp isi kat dlm like new... inlay mcm blm prnh dibelek2 dan cdnya cuma ada 1-2 micro scratches

ebay purchase info

• purchased from: helga-betty
• location: uk
• condition: used
• price paid: £2.42+3.20/2 (RM23.99) menang bid
• ordered: 30/7/2009
• received: 11/9/2009
• label: (p) 2000 liberty records, a division of capitol records inc. (c) 2000 emi records ltd.
• made in: eu (uk la kot?)
• distributed by: emi

tracklist

1. death tone
2. metal daze
3. fast taker
4. shell shock
5. manowar
6. dark avenger (with narration by orson wells)
7. william's tale
8. battle hymn

lagu febret? metal daze, manowar dan battle hymn... muziknya mmg vintage 80's metal. btw, joey's solo dlm william's tale mmg gila!

hahaha... pendeknya pedang tu, lucu... xganas langsung... bleh consider gladius ni berbanding rapier, sabre, claymore mahupun zweihander

aku beli album ni semata2 nak bg complete koleksi manowar aku, wlupun skrg ni aku mcm dah bosan dgn manowar lebih2 lagi album2 latest dorg warriors of the world dan gods of war... merepek je manjang~ benda yg sama je diulang2 ayat cedok dari album2 lama, mcm dah kehabisan idea buat lirik

manowar - the hell of steel

album kompilasi lagu2 best manowar dari album battle hymns smpi album the triumph of steel. yg pastinya album ni termasuk dlm list my top 10 most influential metal rock albums (yet again, that was another story... nnti aku buat entry lain, bak kata abg ben simpan idea utk entry2 akan dtg)

lukisan cover art ni mcm xbrapa menarik... aku rasa aku blh lukis lg cantik drp lukisan ni hehehe (eksen) aku rasa cover art album kings of metal plng gempaq! fizikal cd ni lebih kurg mcm cd battle hymns td, nmpk season tp kandungan kat dlm still oke

ebay purchase info

• purchased from: helga-betty
• location: uk
• condition: used
• price paid: £2.00+3.20/2 (RM21.48) menang bid
• ordered: 30/7/2009
• received: 11/9/2009
• label: (p) 1994 atlantic recording corp. (c) 1994 eastwest records gmbh
• made in: germany
• distributed by: warner music manufacturing europe

tracklist

1. fighting the world
2. kings of metal
3. the demon's whip
4. the warriors prayer
5. defender
6. the crown and the ring
7. blow your speakers
8. metal warriors
9. black wind, fire and steel
10. hail and kill
11. the power of thy sword
12. herz aus stahl <- heart of steel versi jerman
13. kingdom come
14. master of the wind

dah nama album kompilasi, ofkosla semua lagu best2 duh~

cd masih lagi vintage early 90s design, xde grafik best2 atas cd... sama mcm cd beast from the east, somehow someway dan operation: mindcrime

aku mula2 dgr album ni (kaset kepunyaan gaban - abg takilala) sekitar 1996 lps abis spm, keje part time kat pusat komputer (sebuting) membakut menggantikan awg raem (drummer manggas, mi scusi) yg nak sambung pelajaran kat kolej... mmg best aku dgr berulang2 pun tak bosan (time tu la, klu skrg skali dgr dah bosan kot). best punya pasal aku siap dubbing kaset tu (bersama2 album the triumph of steel) utk bekalan metal aku masuk usm in 1997

dgn album manowar ni jugak (bersama2 the triumph of steel dan louder than hell) aku berjaya me'metal'kan roommate aku yg skema (nerd) waktu kat usm dulu hahaha!~ but that's my story, what about urs?

apa2pun... hail and kill!

_____
p/s: pg tadi aku received 3 cd (are you dead yet?, tri-polar, erase the slate) dan 1 dvd (LOTR-ROTK). sblh ptg plak received 1 cd images and words. bertambah lg modal utk sahut cabaran abg ben... muahaha~

(#1) avril lavigne - let go

[entry #1 utk cabaran 1 hari = 1 entry = 1 malaysia abg ben]

bungkusan no. 3 dlm list 14 bungkusan 9/11 dulu (hari tu aku skip terus no. 5 united abominations, dan no. 4 ghost opera). bungkusan dari uk berisi cd avril lavigne - let go... wtf? avril lavigne?

ebay purchase info

• purchased from: 9972michael
• location: uk
• condition: used
• price paid: £0.99+3.00 (RM23.95) menang bid
• ordered: 23/7/2009
• received: 11/9/2009
• label: (p) & (c) 2002 arista records inc
• made in: eu (uk la kot?)
• distributed by: local bmg

wlupun statusnya used, tp cd ni nmpk quite new... jewel case nmpk baru, inlay xde kedut2 dan cd shining ada 1-2 scratches yg amat mikro. ekceli dah lama aku nak beli cd album let go ni, yg sememangnya kat m'sia pun ada jual (dan senang cari) tp paham2 jela harga cd utk international artist (ori) kat kedai2 cd semuanya RM40+ yg aku rasa xberbaloi utk aku beli album mainstream or pop-rock

tracklist

1. losing grip
2. complicated
3. sk8er boi
4. i'm with you <- ooo... i'm really with you
5. mobile
6. unwanted
7. tomorrow
8. anything but the ordinary
9. things i'll never say
10. my world
11. nobody's fool
12. too much to ask
13. naked

blh dikatakan semua lagu2 dlm album ni best2... tp febret aku ialah lagu i'm with you (yg slalu aku nyanyi waktu karaoke hehehe) sk8er boi tu telampau common wlupun satu2nya lagu yg plng rancak dan 'rok' dlm album ni. ramai yg xtau avril ni sebenarnya bknla artis single... tp ada backing band (ni mcm kes album skunkworks abg bruce la ni) most noticeble waktu MTV icon metallica dorg perform lagu fuel... tu la band avril

ooo she was so hot back then (2002-2003) very simple yet sexy in every way... dgn hype "awek liar umo 17 dah buat album pop-rock" time tu ramai jugak member2 pompuan aku (aku xsebut awek2 aku eh) yg tiru stail avril ni dari rambut ke smpi kasut... (aku rasa ayuchokichoki pun suka avril time tu, btl x?) tp skrg ni klu tgk avril... ewww~ geli rasanya

wtf? (pic link drp wikipedia)

info lebih lanjut bleh lawati avrillavigne.com atau artikel wikipedia (avril ramona lavigne dan album let go)

bila dgr lagu2 dlm album ni mcm2 memori 2003 berlegar2 kat otak aku... dahla zmn tu zmn liar aku, hehehe... time tu jugak aku tgh gila main game no one lives forever 2: spy in the HARMs way dan baldur's gate II: shadows of amn (blk keje smbg main game berjam2)

2nd album dan seterusnya aku mcm dah xberminat dgn avril... ada jugak aku pnh try dgr lagu2 dlm album baru tp still xleh masuk, agaknya sbb album 1st ni byk memori... lgpun avril ni (pndpt peribadi aku) hanyalah seorg penyanyi dan bukannya seorg penghibur, sbb klu tgk dan dgr dia nyanyi live mmg teruk. that's why hanya let go ni saja yg aku minat (atas sbb2 nostalgic value) so aku stop pasal avril smpi sini saja (unless she's made new gothic album sound kinda like nightwish hehehe)

ada sapa2 nak sambung cerita pasal album let go ni?

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p/s: aku rasa aku nak try cover bassline 1 lagu dlm album ni utk sessi jaming akan dtg hehehe

dah oke! dah oke!

pic cilok dari wordpress sapa ntah

yeyeah (mcm bdk dpt gula2 kapas) dah oke! dah oke!... finally entry blog aku dah update kat blogroll member2 stlh seminggu stuck dgn entry lama that one night

• thanks to ayuchokichoki - sbb buat entry pasal problem aku (promote tu hehehe)
• thanks to berteromber - sbb mention kat aku problem ni minggu lps... klu x, aku pun xprasan
• dan member2 lain yg prihatin menjenguk blog aku

mari kita raikannya dgn daun saderi...

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p/s: wonderpets tu sbg hiasan shj... hehehe

...of string and me (part 7)

video ni la RACUN yg membuatkan aku serius menceburkan diri dlm hobi bergitar... aku tgk video ni somewhere in february this year... MANGGAS - BATIN KERAMAT! enjoy!

so far, so good... so what?

bkn, ni bkn entry psl album megadeth... tp alhamdulillah dlm 7-8 bln ni, bermula drp zero knowledge, BLANK pasal gitar/bass... smpi skrg dah bleh main chords (powerchords je, yg normal masih lg terkial2), sket2 solo (hehehe baru blajar) dan bleh jam (bass) bbrp lagu dgn rakan2 (wlupun sumbang, hentam sajalah!)... apa2 pun aku masih lg berstatus "saya budak baru blajar..."

so as a tribute, aku ingin mengucapkan berbyk2 terima kasih kpd mereka2 ini yg terlibat secara langsung atau tidak utk ilmu2 muzik yg aku perolehi

• joad takilala of manggas - memperkenalkan brand ibanez dan ayat berhantu "ko guna saja powerchords..."
• jairo of mi scusi - patut didakwa di bwh akta RACUN 1952 hahaha! byk info, cadangan, pandangan yg berguna sblm aku beli apa2 equipment (especially effects)
• jo - my housemate, klu bkn psl gitar kapoknya, aku xde tmpt nak praktis sblm beli sendiri punya
• cimca killar - yg ni MADU dan jugak RACUN, klu x maybe aku dah pakai gitar santa cruz hehehe
• mr. ayang of zoso music - my 1st axe was purchased from him, knowledgable seller
• tom satchman - my main source for quality (yet cheap) equipments, B1X, G1X, GRG270, AX3000G
• ija medicine - utk vcd ni
• james humphries - metallica's guitar techniques dvd
• danny gill -nirvana's guitar techniques dvd
• bob kandar - drummer, yg mula2 ajar aku bassline lagu zombie... and thanks for that vintage RQ-K12 bunyi kuat mcm amp 75-100watt
• azroy - gitaris jemputan, slalu jugak ajar bbrp bassline waktu jaming
• bro adam - gitaris jemputan, pasal dia ni la lagu hati emas jd lagu wajib time jaming
• deadeye guitars - where musicians get their gears
• dan pada mereka2 yg aku lupa nak mention nama serta idola2 gitar/bass febretku

[edited: ada sapa2 tau apsal blog aku kat blogroll geng2 bloggers masih lg entry mggu lps? sdgkan aku dah ada 8-9 entry baru - thanks to berteromber, klu hang xmention aku pun xsedar]

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p/s: ntah dah brapa k aku laburkan utk hobi ni

aku, cd dan ebay... (part 3)

5 bungkusan je

mggu lps aku call brader zainal tanya pasal bungkusan2 (cd ebay) utk aku klu2 dah ada. dia kata ramai yg masih cuti raya, maybe lmbt kena hantar, klu ada nnti dia bgtau...

ptg td aku dpt slip pemungutan bungkusan... so, aku pun menapak la pi pjbt pos lgpun bknnya jauh, sbrg jln je... bla bla bla

summary - 3 bungkusan dari us, 1 bungkusan dari uk, 1 bungkusan dari kanada. berikut bungkusan2 yg diterima beserta tarikh order

1. bruce dickinson - balls to picasso (us - 16/9/2009)
   sick puppies - dressed up as life <- promo disc
2. rage against the machine - rage against the machine (us - 21/9/2009)
   ozzy osbourne - ozzmosis
3. ugly kid joe - menace to sobriety (us - 29/9/2009)
4. skid row - skid row (kanada - 29/9/2009)
   various artist - a tribute to the beast <- akhirnya dpt jugak cd ni
5. iron maiden - the best of the beast (uk - 8/10/2009)

ni yg diterima smlm

1. bruce dickinson - tyranny of souls (uk - 16/9/2009) <- dihantar oleh brader posmen sengih2
2. megadeth - cryptic writings (remixed & remastered) (us - 5/9/2009) <- self collect

yg ni plak mggu lps

1. fear factory - demanufacture (2cd anniversary edition) (us - 27/9/2009) <- self collect

cuma yg aku xpuas hati, cd2 yg aku order sblm cd2 dlm list kat atas blm smpi2 lg! hangin btl... ada 2 bungkusan yg blm smpi dah dkt2 bln ooo... klu ditahan KKDN pun atleast bg la notis mcm kes takilala

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p/s: rasanya smpi thn dpn baru setel semua klu nak review, sbb yg 14 bungkusan pun blm lg abis direview

kamelot - ghost opera (japan press)

bungkusan no. 4 drp 14 bungkusan tragedi 9/11 yg lps... bungkusan dari uk berisi cd kamelot album ghost opera (japan press) new and still sealed! yeargh!

ebay purchase info

• purchased from: stormy_fire
• location: uk
• condition: new & sealed!
• price paid: GBP4.42+2.50 (RM41.54) menang bid
• ordered: 24/7/2009
• received: 11/9/2009
• label: (y)(x) 2007 king record co ltd <- wtf was (y)(x) anyway?
• made in: japan
• extra info: (p)(c) 2007 steamhammer a division of spv gmbh, licensed by spv mbh <- pemegang copyright asal

japan press? sealed? obi strip? RM41.54? mcm xcaya plak aku ;)

tracklist

1. solitaire (instrumental)
2. rule the world
3. ghost opera
4. the human stain
5. blucher
6. love you to death
7. up through the ashes
8. mourning star
9. silence of the darkness
10. anthem
11. eden echo
12. season's end (bonus track for japan) <- kelebihan apa2 album japan press mesti ada bonus track

kamelot... selama aku dgr album2 dorg ni (from karma to ghost opera) mmg xpnh mengecewakan. mmg semua lagu best2, berbaloi klu beli kaset, cd, vinyl or whatever medium. spt biasa, album kamelot merupakan concept album... tp kali ni bkn lg cerita pasal helena (helena trilogy - karma, epica, the black halo) kali ni cerita baru... something pasal pemain biola yg dibunuh kat opera, then hantu itu ini bla bla bla...

• info wikipedia
• review metal storm
• review about.com: heavy metal
• review livingformetal.com

album kali ni menonjolkan lbh byk unsur2 muzik orkestra berbanding album2 terdahulu. maybe nak bg mood seolah2 kat dlm opera kot. kdg2 terasa ada elemen2 progresif dlm album ni. tp pd pendapat aku, kurg lagu2 yg menyengat (i mean kurg heavy) spt dlm album the black halo. skali lg simone simons (dari band epica) dijemput as a guest artist (female vocals) dlm lagu blucher dan season's end (huh! mentang2 la bopren dia si palotai tu)

standard cd2 japan press mesti ada obi strip... i wonder why? cd also comes in slipcase. tp jewel case japan press ni lebih tebal bbrp mm berbanding jewel case standard

no wonder japan press cds was sought after by collectors (dan lebih mahal berbanding american & european counterparts) sbb kandungan kat dlmnya mmg best (maybe jewel case lebih tebal)... selain obi strip dan inlay standard, kat dlm jugak ada sticker, lyrics in japanese (gila!) dan promo card/slip ntah apakebenda aku xphm sbb tulisan jepun

wlupun xbrapa heavy mcm album2 terdahulu, tp mood kamelot tu masih ada dan album ni sesuai didgr oleh non-metalheads (waktu drive klu *ehem* ada kat sblh, bleh la pasang album ni) atau mereka yg baru nak berjinak2 dgn dunia metal mahupun kamelot. so imho, aku bg rate 4.5/5

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p/s: nnti aku nak cari 2008 reissue version ghost opera - the second coming

di tangan lagi? versi abg mus...

masih dlm mood megadeth...

dean guitars - dave mustaine VMNT rust in peace

spesifikasi

• mahogany top/body
• 25.5” scale
• dave mustaine spec. set mahogany “D-shaped” neck
• ebony fingerboard
• pearl dave mustaine custom inlays
• mini grover 6 in-line tuners
• black hardware
• tune-o-matic bridge
• dave mustaine duncan live wire pickups
• hardshell case included
• finishes: “rust in peace” custom graphic

self opinion - duncan live wire pickups (active)? neck-thru construction? hardshell case included?... mesti mahal ni

dean guitars - dave mustaine VMNT X united abominations

spesifikasi

• mahogany top/body
• 25.5” scale
• dave mustaine spec. bolt-on maple “D-shaped” neck
• rosewood fingerboard
• pearl dot inlays
• mini grover 6 in-line tuners
• black hardware
• tune-o-matic bridge
• dean DMT design humbucker pickups
• finishes: “united abominations” custom graphic

self opinion - x series? dean standard humbucker pickups? bolt-on construction? rosewood fingerboard? dot inlay yg biasa2?... hmmm, i wonder~

*pic gitar2 abg mus link drp dean guitars official website

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p/s: ni apa cerita tiba2 kluar entry dean guitars abg mus ni?

megadeth - countdown to extinction

masih lg dlm mood megadeth, that's why aku lompat jauh gila pi bungkusan no. 9 drp 14 bungkusan cd2 ebay 9/11 aritu hahaha... kali ni bungkusan dari us berisi cd megadeth album countdown to extinction

ebay purchase info

• purchased from: 3dalshep
• location: usa
• condition: used
• price paid: US$3.32+6.75 (RM36.23) menang bid
• ordered: 10/8/2009
• received: 11/9/2009
• label: (p)(c) 1992 capitol records inc.
• made in: usa

cd mmg nmpk buruk, dah la harga bleh consider mahal (RM36 beb, klu RM16-26 tu xpe jugak) rasa mcm nyesal pun ada... jewel case mmg seasoned gila, cd byk calar nasib baik still playable no skips, cuma inlay je yg masih baru... but atleast ori xmcm kes cd2 ukraine aritu. nnti ada bajet2 lebih aku cari versi remixed & remastered

tracklist

1. skin o' my teeth
2. symphony of destruction <- antara lagu megadeth yg pertama aku dgr
3. architecture of aggression
4. foreclosure of a dream
5. sweating bullets
6. this was my life
7. countdown to extinction
8. high speed dirt
9. psychotron
10. captive honour
11. ashes in your mouth

dlm album ni byk lagu2 best yg slalu (wajib) kluar dlm kompilasi2 megadeth (capitol punishment, back to the start, set the world afire) spt skin o' my teeth, symphony of destruction, sweating bullets, countdown to extinction dan ashes in your mouth

this album was released in 1992, time tu aku baru form 1 blm lg berminat dlm dunia metal (apatah lg thrash dan megadeth) sama spt album rust in peace dan youthanasia yg aku ada. memandangkan aku nak kumpul album2 lama megadeth as a seriuos collection... so this is it. cuma lagu symphony of destruction merupakan antara lagu megadeth pertama yg aku dgr dan terus melekat, tu pun somewhere in 1998-1999 kot?

well, for those who've been megadeth fans from the beginning... so what do u think?

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p/s: apa motif @ maksud tersirat cover art album ni?

megadeth - united abominations

ekceli bungkusan ni no. 5 dlm list 14 bungkusan 9/11 tu... bungkusan no. 3 (ghost opera) dan no. 4 (let go) aku skip dulu sbb skrg ni aku masih lg dlm mood megadeth, layan endgame abg mus... kali ni bungkusan dari ireland berisi cd megadeth album united abominations atau lbh dikenali dgn akronim ua shj

ebay purchase info

• purchased from: elg_ireland
• location: ireland
• condition: new but unsealed
• price paid: €1.49+4.00 (RM28.24) menang bid
• ordered: 28/7/2009
• received: 11/9/2009
• label: (p) & (c) the all blacks b. v. issued under license to roadrunner records
• made in: uk

cd mmg baru kecuali jewel case ada retak sket. slps risk, aku dah mcm kurg follow megadeth lebih2 lg since abg mus umumkan megadeth dah disbanded in 2002 due to left arm nerve injury... album2 slps risk smpi ua aku xfollow (kecuali album2 kompilasi capitol punishment dan back to the start)

then in 2007 album ni kluar under roadrunner label (and endorsed by dean guitars)... ada 2 benda yg membuatkan aku nak sgt dgr album ni. 1st thing aku notice kat cover art ada vic yg agak berbeza, dressing ala2 arnold-susah-nak-sebut dlm filem terminator (berjaket kulit, pgg shotgun). info drp wiki:

All artwork for the album was selected from a contest held by DeviantArt. The contestants were asked to design a new version of Vic Rattlehead, the band mascot which appears on nearly every Megadeth album cover. Mustaine chose from the top 11 finalists to be included in the CD booklet. The cover was unveiled in August 2006, of which the image depicts the United Nations headquarters in flames and being destroyed by flying oil barrels. Vic Rattlehead (the Megadeth mascot) and the 'Angel of Deth' are pictured in the foreground. Although the cover of the CD was not the winner of the contest, Mustaine chose it as his favorite picture, and wanted it for the cover. No photographs of the band were taken for the CD booklet, leaving the entire design as fan-made artwork

dan artworks dlm album ni semuanya best2... aku rasa "angel of deth" tu dah jd 2nd maskot/trademark utk megadeth (hence, ada dean guitars abg mus signature series "angel of deth")

2nd thing yg menarik perhatian aku, bila baca tracklist ada lagu a tout le monde (set me free) - antara lagu megadeth febret aku ni, dgn hype "featuring cristina scabbia of lacuna coil"... jd apa lagi, aku pun mula la operasi donlod trial & listen. oke seriuosly, album ni yg membuatkan aku minat semula dgn megadeth dan tanam niat nak kumpul their older materials as a seriuos collections (mcm iron maiden dan bbrp band lain) sblm ni cuma ada mp3 dan beli album kompilasi shj

tracklist

1. sleepwalker <- lagu best, tp sygnya intro slow...
2. washington is next! <- intro solo mcm lagu wasted years maiden kan?
3. never walk alone... a call to arms
4. united abominations <- hehehe, the tittle speaks everything
5. gears of war <- lagu utk game gears of war
6. blessed are the dead
7. play for blood
8. a tout le monde (set me free) <- versi baru, duet dgn cristina scabbia lacuna coil
9. amerikhastan <- best tajuk hahaha
10. you're dead
11. burnt ice

masih lg dgn trademark lagu2 megadeth yg bertemakan peperangan, kemusnahan, ketidakpuashatian dan penuh dgn perasaan dendam kesumat... tp dlm album ni lebih ketara kutuk bangsa2 bersatu (pbb @ un) dan tindakan amerika dlm isu2 semasa global yg dianggap abg mus sbg tindakan yg sia2 (isu 9/11, terrorist, afghanistan, iraq, minyak)

dulu aku dah nak beli versi m'sian press kat miri, tp memandangkan economoney aku pun decide beli versi cap lanun... mmg foolish decision la time tu, tp xpe... skrg aku dah ada versi ori ;) sori ye abg mus

oke, personal opinion album ni mmg berjaya menaikkan semula nama megadeth di kalangan fans lama dan berjaya menarik fans yg baru... tema yg agak sesuai ngam pada masa dan tmptnya, old-school megadeth music with some modern touch dan lagu a tout le monde mmg hype gila! berhantu! personal rate 4.5/5 lbh sket drp endgame, but that was me... how about u?

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p/s: there was no UN only UA