Tag Archives: music articles

Music and Freedom

  By Ric Albano • July 4, 2014

Newsletter for July 4, 2014

The Declaration of Independence

The Genius of Jefferson’s Words

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…”

As a writer and appreciator of great philosophy, I am constantly amazed by these three dozen words which lead off the Declaration of Independence. In this succinct passage written 238 years ago, Thomas Jefferson summed up the essence of freedom which has not been articulated so beautifully or accurately since.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July, everyone!

Ric Albano
Owner and Chief Web Designer
33 Dimensions LLC

The River of Rock

Hawk Mountain rock riverStarting on July 31st, we will be spinning off a new music and entertainment-oriented monthly newsletter called The River of Rock, which will coincide with the launch of a brand new information and commerce website.

Music and entertainment is a large part of our cliental at 33 Dimensions, as we currently own, operate, or support several websites. The newsletter will have two editions each month, an international version (Classic Rock Review, Modern Rock Review, etc.) and a local Central PA version (Keystone Rock Review, Cygnus Wave records, etc.).

Related Items

AjaIn keeping with our solid tradition of only naming dogs after Steely Dan songs from 1977, I’d like to introduce “Aja”, whom we adopted from the Harrisburg Humane Society this past Tuesday.

Aja arrives following the 13-year reign of “Josie”, who entered Dog Heaven this past March.

“Freedom Song”
Some lyrics from a brand new, yet-to-be-recorded song by Sinclair Soul © 2014

Let the people be free, let the people be free
Let them bend no more knees, let them crow no more pleas
Let them swing from no trees
Let them build their own home, let them roll their own stone
Let the people be free

When the people are free, all the people are free
They may rock or may breed, they may talk or may screed
But they’ll feed their own needs
They will decide on their own how to set their own tone
Let the people be free

May the people are free, all the people are free
Whether they draw from the seas or they sail on the breeze
Or they talk to the trees
The world is their zone the construct their own throne,
Let the people be free

Whether starting from scratch or adding features to an existing website, 33 Dimensions will provide you with a professional and effective design that is highly functional, informative, and accessible. We also offer many related services to help promote your website and your business and will customize an affordable solution for you.

Check out our Online Portfolio and you will see that there is no job too complex or too small for us to handle for you. Feel free to give me a call at (717) 829-4221 or email me ric@33dimensions.com and I will personally negotiate a great deal to fulfill your online needs.

33 Dimensions
P.O. Box 126
Highspire, PA 17034
info@33dimensions.com

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The River of Rock, Volume 1

  By Ric Albano • October 10, 2012

 

33 Dimensions Newsletter
October 10, 2012

The River of RockWelcome to the debut issue of the River of Rock newsletter!

This will be the single source for the latest information on all our affiliated rock and entertainment websites. To start, we’ll publish this monthly (on the 10th of each month), but do plan on expanding our content sources and publishing frequency in the future. We’d also like to establish affiliates with more musical artists, writers, merchants, and anybody else related to this industry.

If you’d like more information on becoming an affiliate or just would like to offer some feedback , please email me at info@33Dimensions.com. I hope you enjoy this new feature.

Ric Albano
Creative Director
33 Dimensions LLC

Rock n Roll

Modern Rock ReviewToday is the 2nd anniversary of the official launch of Modern Rock Review on 10/10/10. Two years ago, the site kicked off with a first-of-its-kind profile of The Badlees, which examined their career on the 20th anniversary of their own debut EP in 1990. Since that launch, the site went on to do extensive profiles on Rush, Mark Oliver Everett, Lenny Kucinski, and Coldplay, along with many more articles, album reviews, and blogs.

Today the website also announced J.D. Cook as the new Executive Editor.

   Modern Rock Review website   Modern Rock Review on Twitter   Modern Rock Review on Google Plus    Modern Rock Review on Facebook

 
Classic Rock ReviewClassic Rock Review started off as a specialized section of Modern Rock Review in 2011 but has become its own distinct website with a clear mission. The site’s primary purpose is to review significant, historic rock albums in a systematic way, by dedicating particular periods to focus on particular feature years in rock n roll. Right now the year being featured is 1987, which will continue to be covered through October 28th with the album of the year feature on U2’s The Joshua Tree. Starting in November, the site will review albums from 1972.

1987 Album Reviews
Hysteria by Def Leppard
In the Dark by Grateful Dead
A Momentary Lapse of Reason by Pink Floyd
Kick by INXS
Tango In the Night by Fleetwood Mac
Cloud Nine by George Harrison
Appetite for Destruction by Guns n’ Roses
Big Generator by Yes

   Classic Rock Review website   Classic Rock Review on Twitter   Classic Rock Review on Google Plus   Classic Rock Review on Facebook

 
Big Blue BullfrogIf you like entertainment, movies, video games, sports, literature, philosophy, politics, and yes, music, then Big Blue Bullfrog may be the site for you. This site was started in 2007 but was revamped to its current status in the Fall of 2011, and in that year has grown to be a cultural phenomenon. The site is currently reviewing the first five Resident Evil games, in honor of the release of the sixth, and the NFL features Tuesday Morning Tailback and
The Giants Blog are published weekly.

   Big Blue Bullfrog website   Big Blue Bullfrog on Twitter   Big Blue Bullfrog on Google Plus    Big Blue Bullfrog on Facebook

 
33 Dimensions
P.O. Box 126
Highspire, PA 17034
info@33dimensions.com

 

Summer Sunshine

  By Ric Albano • June 20, 2012

 

33 Dimensions Newsletter
June 20, 2012

SummerThe Most Sunshine of Any Day of the Year!

Happy summer everyone! I’d like to take this opportunity to re-introduce my web design business, 33 Dimensions, LLC. We provide Web Design, Website Management, and many other services for small businesses, individuals, entrepreneurs, and non-profit groups. Our specialty is helping our clients grow and we work hard to go above and beyond to help them realize their online promise. We can work with you at any stage of your online experience, whether you’re brand new and need a site from scratch, would like to upgrade an existing site, or just need some consultation on the latest trends and technologies.

Most of all, we provide service at the lowest practical cost and strive to reach 100% customer satisfaction. Please visit 33Dimensions.com for more information, our latest specials, and a portflio of our past work. Or please feel free to send me an email ric@33dimensions.com or call me on my cell at (717) 829-4221.

Ric Albano
Creative Director
33 Dimensions LLC

Why Do I Need a Website?

Simply put, a website along with a solid social media strategy is the most cost-effective means of advertising. The Internet is revolutionizing entire markets, allowing all businesses, large or small, the same opportunity to market their products and services in an effective and appealing manner.

Compared with attracting new customers through traditional advertising or conventional marketing, a Website is amazingly low cost and the possibilities are endless. Search engines, referrals and the vast linking mechanics of the worldwide web provide volumes of “foot traffic” unimaginable in a “brick and mortar” storefront setting.

What if my business sells products I don’t think can be sold online?

If you have a business, you should have a website. Period. Even if you deal with products and services that can’t be sold directly online, you must have a presence so that customers can find you. More than 20 million shoppers are now online, and when they are not purchasing many of them are “window shopping”. Don’t have the shutters closed when they come looking for you.

That said, it’s not enough that you just have a website. You must have a professional-looking site if you want to be taken seriously. Since many consumers now search for information online prior to making a purchase at a brick-and-mortar store, your site may be the first chance you have at making a good impression on a potential buyer.

Client News

Classic Rock ReviewLast week, Classic Rock Review published a special feature on the 50th anniversary of The Beatles First Abbey Road Session. The site is also currently featuring album reviews from the year 1992, with that year’s album of the year to be announced next week.

 
Keystone Rock ReviewOur newest site, Keystone Rock Review was launched last month as a successor to DAMES of PA. This site will focus on Pennsylvania music, artists, and events from both the present and past. The first big feature was a four-article profile on the legendary Philadelphia band The Hooters.

 
On April 21st, The Badlees released their first ever compilation album, spanning their first 22 years as a band. See Me As a Picture, The Best So Far, 1990-2012 contains 16 classic hits along with 2 new songs from the band. The CD can be purchased at the Badlees Online Store.

We strive for the growth and success of all our customers!

 
33 Dimensions
P.O. Box 126
Highspire, PA 17034
info@33dimensions.com

 

Sound Off 4 Veteran’s Day

  By Ric Albano • October 20, 2011 ,

 

33 Dimensions Newsletter
October 20, 2011

Sound Off for Veteran's DayIn just three weeks, on Veteran’s Day (11/11/11), we will be holding a special event which will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. The event is called Sound Off for Veteran’s Day and it will take place at Champion’s Sports Bar in Highspire, PA. It will feature great live entertainment as well as a dinner buffet and raffle for ticket holders.

There are several ways which you can participate in or donate to this benefit:

  1. Purchase a Ticket. This is the absolute best way to show your support. Tickets for the benefit are $20 per person (21 and over) and are necessary for access to the early portion of the show, starting at 5:00pm. Live entertainment will be provided by a diverse range of acoustic music. A complimentary buffet and soft drinks will be included from 5:00 until 8:00pm. Ticket holders will also receive 10 free raffle coupons and additional coupons will be on sale (3 for $5). If you arrive at this time with an authorized clothing item for the YWCA Homeless Vets Clothing Drive, you will get an extra 3 raffle coupons (13 total). At 8:00 we will raffle off the many valuable donated items. Ticket holders will also be invited to stay for the later concert portion of the benefit at no additional cost.
  2. Stop by Champions and Enjoy the Show. The latter portion of the benefit is open to the public after 9:00pm for a $5 cover charge. If you arrive at this time with an authorized clothing item for the YWCA Homeless Vets Clothing Drive, the $5 cover charge will be waved and you will get in for free.
  3. Make an Online Donation. Simply click on the black “Make a Donation” box on the top right of this page and you can donate in honor of a veteran you know and love.
  4. Donate an Item. If you have an item of value which you’d like to donate for our raffle, please contact Chris Nelson via email nelsoncl36@hotmail.com in the very near future. Your donation may be tax deductible.
  5. Spread the Word!. If you think this is a worthwhile and valuable cause, please help out by telling everyone you know. We don’t have a tremendous advertising budget, so word-of-mouth is the most effective way to let people know what we are doing.

Please check out this website vets.cygnuswave.com for more information. Tickets can be purchase at the site until October 25th, or email ric@33dimensions.com within the next week or so.

Ric Albano
President and CEO
33 Dimensions LLC

Client News

Big Blue BullfrogWe are proud to announce that BigBlueBullfrog.com received national press credentials for New York City Comic Con, which took place last weekend in “Gotham City”. This included access to the authors, creators, artists, and celebrities during a press-only session last Thursday, October 13th. The site continues to rapidly grow and more expansion is planned in the very near future.

 
True Fear ProductionsThe seasonal Halloween attraction, Carnival of Souls is up an running and going strong each weekend (Fri-Sat-Sun) until Halloween with a special Monday night session. The attraction is custom built, with all original props, characters, and storyline and is open to thrill seekers of all ages.

 
Classic Rock ReviewAs Classic Rock Review gets close to wrapping up its 45th anniversary look at the albums of 1966, it has started to incorporate music videos into several reviews, for a richer user experience. Beyond the regular album reviews, the site will soon begin to have “special features” which will touch on important aspects and events of Rock and Roll.

 
Modern Rock ReviewModern Rock Review recently celebrated its first birthday on October 10th and many plans are being pursued for a site upgrade in 2012 are currently being discussed. The site will continue offering in-depth profiles through the rest of 2011.

 
33 Dimensions
P.O. Box 126
Highspire, PA 17034
info@33dimensions.com

 

Elvis Has Left the Building

  By Ric Albano • August 20, 2011

 

33 Dimensions Newsletter
August 16, 2011

Elvis PresleyIt’s hard to believe that’s been 34 years since Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n Roll, passed away. Even though I was only eight years old at the time, I still remember that day in 1977 vividly. It was a hot summer day and I was riding my skateboard when a neighbor lady with curlers in her hair came running out of her apartment building shouting that Elvis had died. Soon a large group had gathered around, most of them skeptical, claiming that the news must have been part of some practical joke. Unfortunately, the news was true.

Beyond being the first real “rock star”, Elvis also played an important role in the evolution of American music. He came from Tupelo, Mississippi, right in the heart of the Delta blues scene as it proliferated through the 30s, 40s, and 50s. He took these influences and forged his own style, which sent ripples through America in the 1950s as well as Britain and the rest of the world a decade later. This opened the floodgates to some of the greatest music ever produced.

In honor of Elvis, 33 Dimensions dedicates this newsletter to the wonderful art form of music. Many of our clients are in the music industry and there will be much going on in the near future. So after a very brief business announcement, we’ll talk nothing but music.

Ric Albano
President and CEO
33 Dimensions LLC

33 Dimensions Summer Special

As we’ve been advertising since May, 33 Dimensions has been offering a 33% discount on all services through Labor Day. Response to this offer has been tremendous and we appreciate all of you who have given us your business. However, due to this tremendous response, starts to new projects may be delayed a month or two as we give existing clients their due time and effort.

We will still honor the 33% discount on any new business agreed to between now and Labor Day, with the understanding that our normally quick production time will be stretched out a bit longer.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding on this matter.

Now, back to the music…

Client News (Rock and Roll Edition)

Susquehanna EntertainmentOn August 6th we launched the new website for Susquehanna Entertainment, an artist management and independent record company founded and operated by Terry Selders. Terry is also working with The Perfect 5th Musical Arts Center in Mechanicsburg, PA, who will officially open their doors in late September in conjunction with a Master Class by guitar legend Steve Vai.

 
DAMES of PAToday (August 16th) is the official release date of The Invisible Man, the second solo album by Chris Nelson. A review of the album has been published on DAMES of PA, who brought reviewer Sigourney Soul out of retirement for the occasion. This follows a recent feature and review on the site of Hot Wing Jones and their latest album, Tanker A.

 
Modern Rock ReviewModern Rock Review recently published a profile on Mark Oliver Everett and Eels entitled The “E” Files. The site will celebrate its first birthday on October 10th with a bit of a “face lift” stylistically as well as an in-depth profile on one of Central Pennsylvania’s top musical talents, Darcie Miner.

 
Classic Rock ReviewAt the end of August, Classic Rock Review will complete its 20th anniversary look at the albums of 1991 and move on to the 45th anniversary look at 1966, a year that included Pet Sounds, em>Revolver, Blonde On Blonde, and many more true classics.

 
Imaginary LinesRumor has it that ideas are being tossed around concerning a new Imaginary Lines album in 2012. This, despite repeated pronouncements from the project’s leader that their 2009 comprehensive collection, Imaginary Lines 33, would be the final output by the band. Stay tuned.

 
Another band working on new material is The Badlees. Their website’s song of the month for August is “Four Leaf Clover” from their 2002 album Renew. Future updates to the Badlees site will include bios of each band member, a timeline of their long career, and, of course, any news about a new album or future shows.

 
Cygnus WaveA benefit concert called Sound Off for Veteran’s Day will take place on Friday, November 11th (11/11/11). Planning is in the initial stages and further information will be provided in the near future at: Vets.CygnusWave.com.

33 Dimensions is currently developing our biggest online musical initiative to date, called The River of Rock. This is still in the works but will be forthcoming sometime over the winter 2011-12. This initiative will work with many elements of the music industry to promote, document, and celebrate original music and art from Central Pennsylvania, past, present, and future. Stay tuned for much more on this in future newsletters.

 
33 Dimensions
P.O. Box 126
Highspire, PA 17034
info@33dimensions.com

 

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