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Shure - SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones

Updated Dec 14, 2007

Description

I am a huge music fan and love to listen to great music on great headphones while I am out on my mountain bike or at work. Recently, I lost an old pair of headphones and treated myself to a pair of Shure 310's which are kind of pricey (~$250) but sound AWESOME!. The shure 310's have these really comfy sound-isolating foam earpieces that do a great job of blocking out external sounds and make the shures fit a bit better (the 310's are large as ear bud style headphones go so the extra foam helps them stay in your ear better which reduces ear fatigue and keeps them from bouncing out as you are walking or riding.)

From what I gather, the shure 410's sound even better than the 310's but the 310's were good enough since I am mostly going to use them while riding so it is not a silent environment around me. They sound fantastic when playing pounding electronica, spacey ambient, and even the huge ranges you encounter when listening to classical.

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West Ocean DJ Sets

Updated Nov 7, 2007

Description

Not a product per se but a site that is an AWESOME collection of DJ sets. I love, love, love electronic music, especially IDM (intelligent dance music) and West Ocean DJ Sets has hundreds of great sets from great DJ's. I used to DJ and, if I had more time, I would totally start doing it again (spinning until the wee hours is a bit at odds w/being a daddy to two toddlers, ceo of a start-up, and a morning work-out person, but hey, one day my sched will relax a bit...)

Most excellent online radio station for cranking thru a powerpoint or grooving out. (via RGold_1999)

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3 people recommended this item

KCRW 89.9FM

Updated Nov 28, 2006

1st to recommend

Description

KCRW is hands-down my favorite radio station anywhere. They play a great mix of NPR and PRI (Public Radio, Inc) programming on the talk side, as well as produce a slew of their own terrific talk shows, most notably, Left Right & Center (which is a great podcast in case you can't hear it on the air).

But the real jewel in KCRW's crown is their music programming. KCRW produces a wide range of truly excellent music programming. My favorites include Nic Harcourt's "Moring becomes Eclectic", Nocturna (downtempo/after hours stuff), The Drop (uptempo and funk), Conections (electronica), and Metropolis (more electronica). Unfortunately, they don't currently offer these shows as podcasts which is a huge bummer (and, I suspect, probably because record labels won't let them)

If you like being exposed to a lot of interesting new music, as well as high IQ talk radio, definitely check out KCRW on air or get their podcasts. Since it is subscriber supported, I encourage you to donate to KCRW if you listen to them a lot. I am a KCRW Angel which means I give them a dollar/day for a year. TOTALLY worth it

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Parallel Sound

Updated Oct 24, 2006

Description

These guys are great electronica DJ's/artists. They definitely know how to capture your body w/their beats and take you for a ride. Funky, often fierce, complex but accessible, and endorphin-pumping. I love these guys' music when I am running, biking, or pulling down at the rockwall. Also good for getting into my own world during a session work session. I definitely want to see these guys when they tour LA (via John Digweed)

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Beatport

Updated Oct 9, 2006

1st to recommend

Description

These guys have built a fantastic online record label that sources some simply awesome dance music. I think their electronica, trance, and deep house artists are especially strong. I highly recommend you subscribe to the podcast as it will give you a good smapler of what they offer and you can then click-thru to buy the tracks.

I love listening to this stuff when I am grinding out an enduro work-out, whether that be running, biking, at the climbing wall. Also good for keeping my energy and focus when working and I need to be in my own world to concentrate

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16 people recommended this item

Etymotic Earphones

Updated Sep 19, 2006

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Description

These are truly awesome earphones. They effectively block out background sound w/out forcing you to blast out your eardrums. The sound quality is very clear w/surprisingly good bass for such tiny speakers (I listen to a lot of electronica w/pounding beats so good bass is essential for me). Handles more delicate classical music well too.

Also, they are super-comfortable and lightweight- ideal for endurofest rides and runus. The extralong cord is nice but can get tangled a bit too easily (via grenadefishing)

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Global Underground: Cape Town: Dave Seaman

Updated Aug 9, 2006

Description

Global Underground consistently puts out great DJ compilations and, along w/Sasha and Digweed, Dave Seaman is one of the best DJ's on their label. Hypnotic beats, big crescendos, and uplifting, pounding anthems make this a must-have. Excellent for grinding out a brutal trail-ride or a serious session of pulling-down in the climbing gym.

GRG (via esh)

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Lost Horizons by Lemon Jelly

Updated Jul 29, 2006

Description

One of the all-time best electronica/downtempo albums. Lemon Jelly combines wit, great hooks, cool ambient elements, and great beats. Lost Horizons tends to be a very happy, positive album and you get a sense that Lemon Jelly loves to celebrate life. Ramblin' Man is a perennially inspiring song to me.

Great for long trail rides or runs, as well as those times you really just want to focus on listening to music.

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In Visible Silence: Music: The Art of Noise

Updated Jul 23, 2006

1st to recommend

Description

released in 1986, this album was so far ahead of its time. While not electronica in the current sense of the genre, The Art of Noise is well worth many, many listens. These guys broke open the border between electronic, industrial, and ambient.

Opus One is a beautiful, Reichiean round and Paranormia is just genius.

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Orbital 2 by Orbital

Updated Jul 23, 2006

1st to recommend

Description

These guys totally rock. I have seen them live. Anyone who tells you electronic music is not exciting live has obviously not seen an Orbital show.

Orbital 2 is another classic. Less ambient and more in line w/the minimalist style of composers like Steve Reich or tribal drumming, Orbital takes the discipline of layered percussion to new places w/their powerful beats, rich sounds, and somewhat tongue-in-cheek humor.

Need to get fired up- listen to Orbital 2. Halcyon is a particularly beautiful and haunting track.

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3 people recommended this item

The Orb's Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld by The Orb

Updated Jul 23, 2006

1st to recommend

Description

A classic! Released in 1991, The Orb truly pioneered the whole ambient electronica/dub/souundscape scene, picking up where Art of Noise left of years before.

Little Fluffy Clouds is simply a masterpiece, imo. Plus I love all the references to Flash Gordon and Battlestar Galactica.

As the album title promises, listening to this will take you beyond the Ultraworld

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4 people recommended this item

The Magical Sounds of Banco de Gaia by Banco de Gaia

Updated Jul 23, 2006

1st to recommend

Description

Despite the lame cover art and cheesey album title, this is an absolutely fantastic example of electronica as a complex, culture-blending, and highly lyrical (in the sense of telling an overall story w/the music, not w/lyrics per se). An arresting mix of ambient overlays and pounding beats. Excellent for a high-adrenaline or endorphin-inducing work-out trail-running or mtn biking, as well as when having to bang out an inspired power point.

This album has remained on my top 10 favorites list for years and I never get tired of it.

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3 people recommended this item

Last Train to Lhasa by Banco De Gaia

Updated Jul 16, 2006

1st to recommend

Description

A simply amazing electronic trip thru China, Tibet, and Toby Marks' (aka Banco) head. Sometimes dreamy atmospherics, sometimes pounding beats, never dull. Great for running, biking, grinding out a ppt, or just for taking a trip

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