Today I bring you something a bit different. A very intense, fully orchestrated 65 bpm climb that starts out very strong and then backs off at 1:59 for a quick quiet segment (which you know I love for queuing opportunities). We never lose intensity though, even in the short quiet segment. And then…bam!!! 3:30 comes along and the beautiful build starts and really hits at 3:45 to the finish at 4:27. I am so looking forward to using this X-Men First Class Soundtrack #11 (X-training) in my Thanksgiving class. I am co-teaching a 90 minute class with someone you might know…his name is John Macgowan. I gotta put together a good class for that morning! I don’t want everyone thinking he is the only one that can work them hard.
I already know that many of you would enjoy an option to iTunes or Spotify. So I started this morning at 5:30am and set about learning everything I can about Google Music. I want to be able to help you decide whether or not this new music service from Google is a good option for you as a Spinning/Indoor Cycling Instructor. I'm particularly interested to see if Android Phone users will finally have a service equal to iTunes.
You can learn more about Google Music here and get started if you are adventurous 🙂
Google Music, what I know so far:
The primary service is “Cloud” based, which means the music files are stored on a remote file server up in the clouds. Google want's all your computer files; music, pictures, software, etc… everything on their servers, not on your computer. If you use any online email service; Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Hot Mail – those are all Cloud based services. iTunes and Amazon both offer a similar Cloud based system. Why should you care? I'll be explaining that in a future post.
Google Music's files are MP3's – already for MixMeiser
The first file I downloaded was at a very high quality bit rate of 320kbps. I normally don't pay attention to bit rate but this got me looking to see how this compares to iTunes. See the screen shots below for comparison.
Yes, you could probably dump iTunes and convert over to the Google Music Player – but don't do anything drastic just yet.
Google Music free tracks! You can find here– but like iTunes, you need to set up your credit card for future purchases.
When I saw Google Music had opened my first thought was; “oh great, more new software to learn” 🙁 If you felt something similar while reading this, my advise to wait and see what happens. I will be creating a number of tutorials for our ICI/PRO members that will explain everything you need to know about using Google Music. Stay tuned…
I never imagined I would love a song that started out with a piano and Conn electronic organ, but I do. The instrumental layers and vocal harmonies of this AMERICAN (finally!) soul/indie pop band from LA are so interesting. I could suggest most of the songs off the CD, Pickin Up the Pieces by Fitz and the Tantrums, but I picked out “Tighter” for today’s Friday Favorite. It is a 60 rpm, 4:56 climb that I use as my last profile climb before heading into our final flat and recovery. The song builds nicely and at 3:05 breaks open with beautiful vocals and supporting strings for a great final push.
I hope you like it as much as I do. Here is Fitz and the Tantrums and “Tighter”:
What the heck happened to September and October?
Oh well..
Another British band makes the list for today’s Friday Favorite. Their sound and versatility is so interesting. I first heard them on “Grey’s Anatomy” and I tracked down the season’s soundtrack to get this particular song. It is the perfect length (5:27 ) and rpm’s (69) for a moderate effort climb. The title track from the “How We Operate” CD by Gomez is today’s tune. I like the musical layers…especially the banjo. Give it a listen and see what you think. I’m going to explore more by this band.
Spotify is so cool and you no longer have to be invited to join as a free member in the USA!
Beyond the simplicity of downloading the PRO Playlists we provide for every Audio PROfile, Spotify has an incredible selection of Theme music.
A search for Halloween in Spotify lists dozens of playlists and hundreds of tracks you could use for your class(s) Monday. I have two and I'm wearing my Pee Wee Herman costume!
How about spooky theme songs from scary movies and TV shows? It includes my personal favorites from Dark Shadows and the Tubular Bells from the Exorcist 🙂
I like to interject songs into my playlist that people may find vaguely familiar but may not be able to put their finger on. It’s fun to watch them try to figure out who the band is while working away on their pedal stroke and heart rate/power training. This is one of those “B-side” tunes. It is an oldie, but at goodie, from Electric Light Orchestra’s 1981 VINYL album, Time! “Ticket to the Moon” is 4:09, with rpm at 82. I am using it after a fairly intense climb- to bring HR back down closer to T1 and ride a road simulating around a 3% grade. Nice instrumental breaks occur throughout the song for variety about every 30 seconds or so.
Here is ELO and “Ticket to the Moon”: (What were YOU doing back in 1971-1986 when they were in their prime???)
