Friday 26 February 2016

What we're listening to. The Doors 'LA Woman'


This was the last Doors Album (1971 their 6th) before Jim Morrison died at 27 (and buried in Paris which has become a 'shrine') only 3 months later, on July 23. A seemingly heroin overdose coupled with an alcohol dependency.

He had been convicted ridiculously of 'indecent exposure' in 1970, meaning The Doors had radio plays banned for that year, so this was the long awaited return record.

What you probably didn't know is the classic track 'LA Woman' itself (up there with 'Sweet Home Alabama', 'Don't Fear the Reaper', 'Stairway to Heaven' etc. as an all-time great) features the signature 'Mr Mojo Rising' refrain which everyone remembers.

'Mr. Mojo Rising' is actually an anagram of singer 'Jim Morrison' and that's where it comes from. 

'City of night' gets a mention too, that comes from a John Rechy book.

This is a Classic. 

'LA Woman' (recorded in LA in fact, written by Morrison) is just a stunner played loud - but so too, 'Love her Madly' and 'Riders on the Storm'. 

If you were buying an Album for just one track even, this is it. 

You can hear the superb tight band on 'LA Woman' notable for Ray Manzarek's 'tack' piano playing (who died in 2013) and John Densmore's soft drum touches on the cymbals. Robbie Krieger brilliance in adding the scorching lead guitar. 

Recorded totally live and actually 'made up' as they went along, so you won't hear a Band playing as tight, as together. 

It's blues, it's rock but it's uplifting and everyone should have LA Woman. The Streamabout crew albeit younger, were blown away. So will you....turn it up.




And the full Album..



Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog.......Thin Lizzy Live & Dangerous; Kendrick Lamarr Butterfly; Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace; Clapton 461; Massive Attack Blue Lines; The Clash London Calling; Chris Isaak At The Filmore; Bob Dylan Street Legal;Bad Company Straight Shooter; Jackson Browne Love is Strange; Lou Reed Transformer; Steely Dan AJA; Stones Black+Blue; Stephen Bishop Careless; Nils Lofgren Night after Night; Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells; Neil Young Harvest; Led Zep 4; David Bowie David Live; Van It's too late to stop now; Wings Band on the run; Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing; Ryan Adams Heartbreaker; Santana Essential; Bob Dylan Desire; Roxy Music For your pleasure; Bob Marley Legend; Stephen Fretwell Magpie; James Taylor Sweet Baby James; Deep Purple Machine Head; Springsteen Darkness on the edge of town; Leon Bridges Coming Home; Eagles Hotel California; Jungle; Aretha Soul Queen; Neil Young After the Goldrush + Harvest; Zappa Overnite Sensation; Fleetwood Mac Rumours; Keith Jarrett Koln Concert; Doobies Southbound; Stevie Earle I feel alright; Tom Waits Closing Time; Pink Floyd Dark Side; Van Moondance; Eric Church Caught in the Act; Randy Newman Little Criminals; Elton John Madman across the water; Patti Smith Horses; Doobies Captain and Me; Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill.

Wednesday 24 February 2016

Robot Video goes viral. Scarily viral.

Robots.

They might be the future (we've worked with a few!).

Boston Dynamics, bought by Google, have produced a video showing their development and it's a bit freaky. In a good way.

Called 'Atlas' it's electrically powered with sensors (obviously) and nearly 6 feet tall.

Of course, the real application here is military so we're really getting into Star Wars. 

Over a million views in 2 days....well worth the watch.


Tuesday 23 February 2016

Fitbit shares fall but the future looks bright.




Bit of a drop in Fitbit shares (-14%) on foot of a general fall of -45% over the last 12 months.

Surprising because they're really built an extraordinary brand out of nothing. The problem is that their earnings (as a PLC) were coupled with lower than expectations for the future and we've heard that before - but pretty stunning.

They sold a staggering 8.2 million devices in Q4 2015. It seems to be the ideal Christmas gift. 21 million devices sold last year with 1.9 Billion usd in Revenue. In anyone's language that's pretty fit.

It expects Q1 revenues to be 420-440 million usd, below the 484 million expected. Although the notable launch mid March of their new 'Alta' and 'Blaze' brands (excellent as they seem to be) will in our view, be well received but they've had to suffer the costs of development before going to market.

In our view, 'Alta' is a killer product in the wearable market. It actually cracks the problem of bringing fitness products into everyday lifestyles.

So do not despair.

Monday 22 February 2016

Yahoo! It's for sale.



Reports are coming in that Yahoo! is actively starting to try and sell its core business. These substantiate the rumours we've been hearing for a long time and on Friday last, it's become almost 'official'.

Likely interest will come from Verizon, AT&T, Comcast, and buyout firms following pressure from investors (Goldmans, Morgans etc).

The entire company is valued at circa 28 Billion usd but that includes its now infamous stake in Alibaba of circa 26 Billion usd. 

So we're not sure what is and what's not included (likely Alibaba stake is not included) but we're sure that there's a sale going on.

Shares are falling on foot of it all (-10%) on top of -34% last year. Which means there's more uncertainty. 

That being the case, the answer here is to get it done and get it done, fast.