Definitions by Bill M.
pickguard
The large plastic piece found underneath or below the strings on some guitars, usually covering most of the front of the guitar body.
Fender guitars and basses usually have a black or white pickguard screwed into the top of the guitar.
slap
(music) A bass guitar technique of hitting a string hard with the side of the thumb knuckle, producing a loud but brief snapping sound. Slapping is usually combined with popping, the act of pulling a string outward with the finger tip and letting it snap back. Invented by Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone, Graham Central Station).
Slap & pop bass sounds are very characteristic of disco and funk music, though around 1990 it got very popular again when bands like Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Primus, Infectious Grooves, and Faith No More hit the hard rock radio stations and Mtv.
Slap & pop bass sounds are very characteristic of disco and funk music, though around 1990 it got very popular again when bands like Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Primus, Infectious Grooves, and Faith No More hit the hard rock radio stations and Mtv.
Jazz players on upright bass (aka double bass) have a technique called "slapping", but it's a completely different technique that involves literally slapping the strings.
acoustic
1) A musical instrument that is not electric
2) A musical performance that uses no electric instruments (aside from microphones and similar amplification)
2) A musical performance that uses no electric instruments (aside from microphones and similar amplification)
1) Jimi Hendrix played an electric guitar on the song "Purple Haze", but Paul Simon played an acoustic guitar on Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson". Techno and dance music uses electric drums, but rock music typically sticks to acoustic drums.
2) Eric Clapton's band did an acoustic show on "Mtv Unplugged".
2) Eric Clapton's band did an acoustic show on "Mtv Unplugged".
upright bass
Another term for a double bass, acoustic bass, or bass fiddle. It's the largest of the string instruments (resembling a giant violin) and lowest-sounding instrument found in an orchestra. Can be played with a bow or plucked with the fingers. The word "upright" means that it is to be played while standing up while holding the instrument upright, as opposed to how a bass guitar is held (on the lap or at a 45 degree angle). Also not to be confused with the cello, which is smaller and played while sitting down.
upright bass by Bill M. August 27, 2004
Liberal media
A term that implies that news reporting has a bias towards "left" or politically liberal ideas, but in reality is an illusion created when highly opinionated people inevitably use selective hearing to filter out and pick up on topics they don't like, forgetting the rest.
You can find some on-line conservative newspapers that claim to be "the real news, not the liberal media kind!" as well as some on-line liberal papers that claim to be "the real news, not the conservative-bias kind!"
Liberal media by Bill M. August 27, 2004
SOD
S.O.D. ("Stormtroopers of Death") - a heavy metal side-project band formed by two members of Anthrax (Charlie Benate - drums, Scott Ian - guitar), Anthrax's roadie Billy Milano on vocals, and Dan Lilker (originally a member of Anthrax, but better known from the band Nuclear Assult).
The band recorded the album "Speak English or Die" in 1985, during a gap in Anthrax's schedule. It was essentially meant to be a novelty record, with the band planned as being a one-time side project. The album was notorious for its few outright sexist and racist themes, blue humor, plus songs that were hilariously short (the last track being "Diamonds And Rust (extended version)", which is literally two seconds long). Billy Milano would eventually form M.O.D. (Method of Destruction) his own band in a similar metal novelty vein.
However, S.O.D. achieved an unexpected cult following, and many have cited the album as being a historical bridge between the genres of hardcore punk and speed metal. The band reunited in 1992 and again in 1997, before finally recording an album of new material in 1999.
The band recorded the album "Speak English or Die" in 1985, during a gap in Anthrax's schedule. It was essentially meant to be a novelty record, with the band planned as being a one-time side project. The album was notorious for its few outright sexist and racist themes, blue humor, plus songs that were hilariously short (the last track being "Diamonds And Rust (extended version)", which is literally two seconds long). Billy Milano would eventually form M.O.D. (Method of Destruction) his own band in a similar metal novelty vein.
However, S.O.D. achieved an unexpected cult following, and many have cited the album as being a historical bridge between the genres of hardcore punk and speed metal. The band reunited in 1992 and again in 1997, before finally recording an album of new material in 1999.
wwjd
Stands for "What Would Jesus Do?", where "Jesus" refers to Jesus of Nazareth (see New Testament). Often printed on cheap bracelets or along the length of lanyards.
Articles with "WWJD?" are worn by Christians to promote and/or reflect the idea that in times of conflict or moral dilemna, one should speculate (based on the teachings and behaviors described in the Gospels) what Jesus would probably have done in the given situation.
Articles with "WWJD?" are worn by Christians to promote and/or reflect the idea that in times of conflict or moral dilemna, one should speculate (based on the teachings and behaviors described in the Gospels) what Jesus would probably have done in the given situation.
"I'm not sure if I should write this webpage script in Perl, Java or PHP. Hmm, What Would Jesus do?"
"WWJD? Well for starters, he probably wouldn't purchase and wear tacky jewelry."
"Why is exclaiming 'Jesus Christ!' considered taking the Lord's name in vain, but wearing tacky 'WWJD?' jewelry isn't?"
"WWJD? Well for starters, he probably wouldn't purchase and wear tacky jewelry."
"Why is exclaiming 'Jesus Christ!' considered taking the Lord's name in vain, but wearing tacky 'WWJD?' jewelry isn't?"