The Blank Brothers Blog

New CD Out!

2008-11-04T19:55:00.003-07:00

Now available at CD Baby and iTunes. Eighteen songs total.
Go here

Download City of Dreams

2008-01-05T23:41:00.000-07:00

Here
MP3's only 88 cents each,
and protected WMA's available too.

CD Baby Review

2007-08-05T23:50:00.000-06:00

The BLANKS were just the tonic I needed to cure the "blahs,"
Reviewer: Gene Stechschulte

This is a well-rounded rock duo whose unique blend of rock, electric country-crossover, and blues just cuts right to the heart of the matter. Thirty-Thirty is a must for any serious music collector. This CD has pulsating tempo's and poignant lyrics and displays a real passion for their music. You've got to hear the genius behind the music and the storytelling. The cover song (30-30) twists you at least 5 different directions before letting you loose. Great stories and harmonies on Change, Bella Donna, and my personal favorite ballad...Back To Harmony. But then you get grabbed by the searing You Don't Hurt Me and the un- usual dissodant cachophony of Troublebound...they are both just purely satisfying. It doesn't get more earthy than the grinding Shot of Regret or Garbage Heap, which just keeps piling on the simple spirit of true rock-blues. It just never lets up, the CD tells a sad tale of gambling addiction in The Whale; then hits you between the eyes with Leave It All Behind. This CD won't let you leave it all behind...rather it leaves you with the lip-smacking Keep The Love Line Open (with a little unexpected surprise along the way). I anxiously await another Blank Brothers CD--please tell us there is more to come.

Find it here.

30-30

2007-06-09T20:21:00.001-06:00

Giddit!
Here...
Here...

New CD Just Days Away

2006-09-25T22:44:00.000-06:00

"30-30": The newest Blank Brothers' release is just days away from being available at CD Baby online!
The new CD cover will be shown in the next post here.
Produced at Graz Studios, 30-30 has 23, yes, twenty three tracks of fine Blank Brothers music.
Check back for the exact release date!

FINALLY!

2006-07-31T20:39:00.000-06:00

The new Blank Brothers CD will be out this month, August.
The title has been changed from Totally Blank to a new title...TBA soon.
Hang on, there will be 23 cuts on this newest Blank Brothers CD.

More information soon!

Blank Fan

2006-01-31T16:36:00.000-07:00

Blank Brothers Now Available at Best Buy

2005-11-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

Put us in the search panel here.
It's a new link to our CD Baby page, sold through Best Buy Stores.

Sneak Preview: "Night Dreams"

2005-08-03T18:26:00.000-06:00

For a short time, prior to the release of the Blank Brothers' new CD, we'll make available some samples. Here's "Night Dreams" from that CD:

Click here to hear 'Night-Dreams'

The Blanks Hard At Work

2005-06-25T22:42:00.000-06:00

The Blank Brothers are in production. The new CD is coming together, not quickly, but with purpose. Quality before speed. Several songs have been roughed together, and two are finished. Ten finished songs were deemed not good enough for the Blank Bros. name. This CD should be finished by late August. Working title: Totally Blank.

Listen to Pre-Release: "Light in the Void"

2005-03-15T17:08:00.000-07:00

Click here to listen. Requires Real Player, MPG format.

Go here to purchase $1 download.

This website is the unique and only source to access "Light in the Void". It has not been released for CD yet.

Blanks Are Now At CD Baby

2004-12-29T23:24:00.000-07:00

Yas, we've made the big time. CD Baby is a really fair, upfront and sensible place to place our music for availability online. They get right on each order, ship within two days, and inform us immediately of each and every transaction. Then they do all the work to get us placed at all the download spots, iTune, Napster, etc., etc. We have worked with them before, and found them to be true to their claims. So if you want to order a Blank Bros. CD (and why wouldn't you?) then, CD Baby is a safe, secure and dependable place to do it. We are now at Twist and Shout Records in Denver, and selling well. Since we are indie artists who don't get on the road, this is the only way to hear our music, unless you listen to a couple of select radio stations in the Denver/ Northern Colorado area, or subscribe to Music Oven, so we hope you will get with our humble program if you like the music. Our CD's will not be available forever, since we didn't do some RCA Victor or other major label, and our editions will run out. "I'm a Hog For You Baby" is a solid version of an old classic by the legendary duo of Leiber/Stoller, who wrote songs by Elvis, Procol Harum, and many, many others. Our version is a good one...you can hear it at CD Baby. Give it a listen, and if you own our CD already...Sincere and Heartfelt Thanks to You!

Players' Choice

2004-12-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

Fave Guitars here. The 2004 Players' Choice Awards. Some really good-lookin' axes here, but how they play and sound counts the most. Maybe they could consider that as part of the selection criteria.

A Typical Blank Brothers Fan

2004-12-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

Mr. Merde Fungipants
Staten Island, N.Y.

Blanks At CD Baby

2004-12-22T21:26:00.000-07:00

The None of Your Business CD will be up and running at CD Baby very soon: a week or so to get it in position. We will have a direct link at this blog when that happens.

Magnatune Owner's Blog

2004-12-16T20:58:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting blog with information on the buying and selling of CD's a la Magnatune, where the buyers choose the price they want to pay. The suggested price is usually $8, but can go down to $5 or up to $10. The demographics are interesting, as well. PayPal accounts for only 20+% of payments, while VISA hits much heavier.

Also: We have installed Haloscan for messages and trackbacks, and we lost some comment links in the process...sorry. Plus, we are still trying to hack out a permalinks aspect to this.

The Cheesiest Songs?

2004-12-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

MSN is laying out a list of the Cheesiest Songs , but I disagree with a couple of picks. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald is anything but a cheesy song. Bad call there. Achy Breaky Heart definitely hits the mark, though.

2 For 1 Link Exchange

2004-12-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

We want to do a new links push, and we want to connect with you!
For each one who links to us, we will put your link on Two Sites.
Simply leave us a comment, with your URL, and when we confirm, we'll gladly put your site link here and at The Cheeky Spew blog.

Where The Damageplan Tragedy Happened

2004-12-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

The Alrosa Villa in Columbus, OH.

Definitely Different Guitar Design

2004-12-11T23:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a group of truly original guitar designs...not inexpensive, we might add.

Just An Ordinary Guy Holding An Imaginary Dog

2004-12-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

People who knew the killer of "Dimebag" and the others at the Damageplan gig said he was just an ordinary guy who didn't seem unusual, other than he hung out at a tatoo parlor and stared at patrons in a fixed way. Then there was the imaginary dog that he talked to and he laughed for no apparent reason sometimes, but otherwise he "was just a quiet, ordinary guy."

"....Brey and former friend Dave Johnson said they had become frightened by Gale's behavior and distanced themselves from him several years ago. By that time, Johnson said, Gale had begun talking and laughing to himself and once appeared to be holding an imaginary dog."...full story at Blogcritics

New Quiz Farm Test: Who are you in the cool rock scene?

2004-12-09T07:57:00.000-07:00

You scored as badly drawn boy. You are Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough. You don't need boring typical sounds or structures be it in life or music - you can make something really beautiful. And while you're at it, you'll stick up for the creation, even if you have to be a bit of a jerk - because the end result will be worth it. You're that talented and complex
Who are you in the cool rock scene?
created with QuizFarm.com

Guess I need a shave....

The Kinks

2004-12-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

Amazon is offering the BBC compendium of the Kinks, and the site has, actually, some interesting reviews from just "folks". Barns Blank was especially influenced by the music of the Kinks, as were the rest of the Blank Brothers. On the first B.B. CD is a cut authored by Lieber and Stoller, the legendary duo who wrote many of Elvis' early tunes, among many others. One is
I'm A Hog For You Baby, which is arguably the best of the best.
The early, pre-Kinks version of this by Davies is totally wimpy and lacking, however (the cut is not on the above CD), but in fairness, extant recordings of that time did not indicate at all what the Kinks were cabable of doing.
Without tooting any horns (maybe a little bleat), The Blank Brothers' version of "Hog" is the definitive one, not overly driving, but substantial in form. It is not available for download or streaming because of the rights issues involved with royalty payments, but it IS on the CD, and it alone is worth the price.

New Music News

2004-11-30T20:11:00.000-07:00

We're showing some new RSS feeds(lower right column). Some of the stories are great, and some are pretty elliptical, but overall, we're pleased with the topics and information. If anyone knows a free source for developing an RSS outbound feed for this site, we would be glad to trade something (Blank Brothers CD...more?) Send us an email, because the comments section is not functioning (yay, more HTML fun).

Sorry!

2004-11-29T08:01:00.002-07:00

Our photo server is down...no idea when this will be corrected. Also, for Mozilla browser users, our apologies for the atrocious formatting. We will correct this when we fully understand the way to fix it! Any help would be appreciated.

Who Was That Beach Boy?...The Answer.

2004-11-28T22:48:00.000-07:00

Solution to the Beach Boys question: David Marks (b.1947), whom Al Jardine replaced. He is still playing music and touring. Ref: Wikipedia

I Love Rhino; I Love L.A.

2004-11-27T23:09:00.000-07:00

Rhino Records has a very fine site with Videos of some classics, including one of my personal favorites: Randy Newman: I Love L.A.....It builds so nicely from the get-go right on to the finish. And Rhino's site is cool from top to bottom. It's fun to look around.

Blank Brothers Blog Destroyed!

2004-11-25T20:52:00.000-07:00

...And a new layout created. Hope you like it.
We had a day of mysterious bugs in the XHTML, but all is fine now, save a duplicate comment entry, and comments not publishing. Sheesh. But we're working on it.
'

Who Was That Unknown Beach Boy?

2004-11-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe not unknown, but he was on the cover of the first Beach Boys L.P. also, way back when (second from left, above photo). Having more surfer hair than even Dennis Wilson, he seemed to me at the time both a B.B. template and, simultaneously, a desaparecido right after that album was released. I remember a story about him, but can't recall his name or why he missed the really big wave. And where is he now? What did missing the wave really mean in terms of longevity, relevance, identity, income, family? Fill in the Blanks?

Where Did Ozzy Osbourne's Ten Dollars Go?

2004-11-23T21:37:00.000-07:00

Ozzie Osbourne and wife have been victimized by a jewelry burglar who got away clean with the goods. Sad. But what is weird about this story is that the amount of the reward offered is "up to $185,950".

What? Will anyone tell me why this figure? I'd really like to know.

I mean, why not $185,000? Or $185,900? Couldn't it be rounded up to $186,000?

Where the hell does that $50 difference go?

A cheap (for the Osbournes) bottle of red? Parking for the limo? The bean-counters cut? Whew.
You tell me....

Terry Melcher is Gone...

2004-11-22T19:16:00.000-07:00

A major force is gone...not forgotten.

Rolling Stone Mag.: Specious, Meaningless and Silly List

2004-11-20T21:42:00.000-07:00

Article: Rolling Stone top 500 Rock Songs of All Time
Herewith an article in The Guardian, wherein Rolling Stone Magazine has the audacity to list B. Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" as the single greatest rock song ever. Ever? What a presumptuous and preposterous conclusion. It seems too brainlessly brazen a statement to bother to contradict, but it would not be difficult to put forth any number of alternatives that would be much better candidates.

Bill Haley and the Comets, "Rock Around the Clock"
The Diamonds, "Little Darlin'"
Little Richard, "Long Tall Sally"
Jerry Lee Lewis, "Whole Lot of Shakin'"

Many Elvis songs, Beatles, Jeez, any major hits from the Big 2, but Robert Zimmerman? Hey, I like his stuff too...but not that one for best of all time. The rest of the list becomes meaningless, then, of course. Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" at number 9...that alone will classify this list along with laundry and shopping lists of nameless and lost demented housewives of the 19th century. Give us all a break, "august and revered" rock mag., and keep your opinions all to yourself, thanks just the same.

VOTE IN POLL (Below)

Thanks to The Rock and Roll Report for the heads up.

Censored Shirts!

2004-11-19T23:00:00.000-07:00

Getcha Censored Shirts Heah!

To Members of the Free Blogs Alliance

2004-11-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

Make yourselves at home. Nuestro blogo es su blogo. Welcome to the flagrantly promotional, yet somehow homey and comfy on some strange level blog of the Blank Brothers. If you don't like old-school rock and roll, you won't like us. But thanks for dropping by, and maybe you can dig a link or to to the left.
Long live the Alliance. Down with floor fluff.

Don't Be A Simp!!

2004-11-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Don't be left behind. Be responsible. Be alert to change, and get All the Blank Brothers' unique and special products today before we decide they are too hot for the general public. More added soon, so bookmark our store, and don't be a simp!

Click Here

To My Old Pals

2004-11-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

Get Me Music!

2004-11-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Bros. are now available in England!

Get Me Music, a verrrry cool (and hot) place to catch the latest indie tunes, now has the Blankers. This is a site keen on new music, and the people who run it are scrupulously honest and nice to deal with. A must see.

Now £6.99 at Get Me Music

Holly Happoween

2004-10-30T13:58:00.000-06:00

Serve It Today

2004-10-28T20:20:00.000-06:00

Good Or No?

2004-10-22T21:16:00.000-06:00

Rate a song ---->"All Alone" by the Bros.

Hear Here

2004-10-20T18:54:00.000-06:00

Here's the place to go to hear The Blank Brothers stuff:

Special Runs???

2004-10-18T18:26:00.000-06:00

Since our first run is kaputt and sold out, and we don't know when the record company will make our next runs available, we have decided to make the cd available on a limited run basis.

Click on the "Get It" button in the left hand column, email us, and we will burn you one specially, rare, medium or well-done. Then we'll ship it to you for two bucks additional. $14 total and you are sitting in the driver's seat, strapped in and ready to experience the rock music that only the Blankers can conjure up. Order and Enjoy, we'll make more!

Influences:2

2004-10-18T10:50:00.000-06:00

The Beau Brummels (Caution: Popups)

INFLUENCES: 1

2004-10-18T10:00:00.000-06:00

Ronnie Hawkins, 1950's

Good Hits

2004-10-17T14:28:00.000-06:00

A Light in the Void

2004-10-16T19:28:00.000-06:00

More tracks to come on this song. Barns will add parts but here is an early version:

Impromptu Review from a Friend

2004-10-15T13:47:00.000-06:00

"(I can)...feel the briskness of autumn in your playing.
Lou Reed meets Kaleidoscope... maybe a little Fugs thrown in."

Ricky Moore,
Circle of Friends

We are not Blank Brothers Fans

2004-10-07T08:48:00.000-06:00

...Nor do we endorse their music in any way. Don't blame us if they are wildly successful.

2004-10-05T20:30:00.000-06:00

If it were 1946, these folks would be grooving to some very tasty Blank Brothers riffs. Reet!

blankbros rec3

2004-10-02T12:45:00.000-06:00

blankbros rec3
Originally uploaded by graz.

Barns Blank checks out a playback at the Blank Brothers' recent recording session.

2004-10-02T12:03:00.000-06:00

CD Inside Panel: Graz Blank at top, Barns Blank at lower right.

CD Sales Info.

2004-10-01T15:28:00.000-06:00

Right now you can't buy it. Some folks can (and are), but the initial production run is just about gone.
We Are Wanted!
The Blank Brothers are in negotiations with a couple of record companies who want to distribute and promote our music. We therefore have to wait to decide when and how to produce more CDs. Soon all will be known, soon all will be told. 'Till then, enjoy a few of the freebies that we have sprinkled around the web. Some other sites will be revealed here soon.

CD Title Song

2004-10-01T15:23:00.000-06:00

The title song will be here to hear for a short time only, then will vanish back to the CD itself: None of Your Business ...just have a listen.

Les Frères Blank Sont Arrivés.

2004-09-29T19:26:00.000-06:00

Les frères Blank sont arrivés. Trouvez-les dès que vous pourrez, et les donner à vos oreilles. Déplacez-vous d'puis à maintenant

Die Blank Brüder Sind Angekommen

2004-09-29T19:24:00.000-06:00

Die Blank Brüder sind angekommen. Finden Sie sie, sobald Sie können, und sie zu Ihren Ohren zu geben. Bewegen Sie von dann nach jetzt.

HERE WE GO...

2004-09-29T16:24:00.000-06:00

Yep, this is now the Official Blank Brothers Site....a touchstone where all the news, photos and general information about those aging yet relevant rock and roll geniuses can be found. Yes, they are still rocking, and their first CD is out. No longer must you listen to old pirated 8-tracks, cassettes, reel to reel and 78 rpm records. Now it's digital, now it's new music. Soon it will be available to purchase, if you have not been one of the lucky few who got in on the first cd run. Too bad for you, with songs like

Red Headed Lady
Magnolia
I'm a Hog For You, Baby
Hammer the Blues

and more. The CD is called

None Of Your Business

And it do rock, yas.