This post brought to you by Lenovo. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've been looking to enhance the sound coming out of my laptop with some inexpensive external speakers. Like most typical laptops, the sound from my laptop speakers is a bit too tinny and lack definition. Since I don't have much extra space to spare on my desk, I need something that has a small footprint.

Well, I recently came across the Lenovo speaker M0520 which pretty much fits the bill. First of all, these little speakers look great. I love the design. But more importantly, they sound crisp and clear. It's definitely a big improvement over what was coming out of my laptop. I finally can enjoy watching music videos on youtube without having to plug-in my headphones to get a decent sound.

The speakers are powered by USB so there's no "wall wart" type AC adapter to worry about. And not only can you use these for your computer but you can also use these speakers with any mp3 player. I've been testing them by playing the latest Rush single "headlong Flight" as well as the new Tenacious D album through them. I noticed that the speakers don't have a lot of low end bass but that's expected for something so small. Other than the lack of bass frequencies, I have to say that the sound is very full and pleasing to the ear.

And the best thing about these speakers? They're currently on sale directly from Lenovo (5/15 thru 5/21) for an insanely low price of $11.99. Now that's what I call a fantastic deal.

This post brought to you by Gorilla Conferencing. All opinions are 100% mine.

In the last few years, I've noticed our workgroup's travel budget getting smaller and smaller. The days of jetting off to exotic places for conferences are pretty much long gone. It's all about doing more, with less. So instead of meeting with colleagues from other sites in person, we have to resort to conference calling. And like everything else in business, instead of installing some expensive in-house phone system, we've been doing it on the cheap by relying on an outside provider. It all makes economic sense since companies like Gorilla Conferencing already of the infrastructure in place so we don't have to invest in installation, upkeep and technical support.

Audio conferencing costs as low as 2.5 cents per minute. Gorilla Conferencing offers all the bells and whistles including a dedicated dial-in number, roll call feature, security codes and subconferencing.

The web and video options provide face to face calling which is a must for presentations and business proposals. You can share documents, spreadsheets and powerpoint presentations and even an interactive white board. Best of all, this can done directly from your office which keeps things within budget.

To find out more about Gorilla Conferencing be sure to head over to their official website.

the following two lucky retroblog readers will receive the new Peter Gabriel release, Live Blood.

entry #23 – ERIC

entry #11 – JD B.

Thanks again to all those that participated in the contest.

stay tuned for more!!

Well, surprisingly this past week there has been an influx of “new titles” available on streaming.

Here’s my list of some that caught my eye. add ‘em to your queue!

1 Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell – Writer-director-comedian Kevin Smith conducts a riotous and outrageous Q & A session about the aftermath of his film Red State. His antics angered movie bloggers at the Sundance Film Festival and attracted the ire of Christian fundamentalists.

2 Adaptation – In this offbeat indie tale, Hollywood screenwriter Charlie Kaufman battles immense feelings of insecurity and impotence as he struggles to adapt The Orchid Thief — a book about a mercurial orchid poacher named John Laroche.

3 Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark – Soon after moving in with her father and his new girlfriend, young Sally discovers she isn’t alone in the house: strange creatures live there — and they might not be as friendly as Sally thinks. Guillermo del Toro co-writes this horror film.

4 Of Mice and Men – This moving adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel follows two migrant workers — one a dimwitted gentle giant and the other his judicious protector — who find jobs in Depression-era California, only to have their hopes destroyed.

5 Everything is Illuminated – A young American Jewish man begins an exhausting quest — aided by a naïve Ukranian translator — to find the righteous gentile woman who saved his grandfather when his small Ukranian village (along with most of the populace) was obliterated during the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1941. Stars Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz and Boris Leskin. Liev Schreiber directs. Based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer.

6 Drugstore Cowboy – In Gus Van Sant’s unrepentant look at drug addiction, four junkies begin robbing pharmacies to fuel their habits. Soon, ringleader Bob, his wife and underlings Rick and Nadine take the show on the road after things get too hot at home.

7 High Anxiety – Psychiatric administrator Dr. Thorndyke finds some bizarre shenanigans occurring at the Psychoneurotic Institute for the Very, Very Nervous. But when he’s framed for murder, Dr. Thorndyke must confront his own neurotic demons to clear his name.

8 Hannibal – Anthony Hopkins returns as serial killer Hannibal Lecter — one of the great villains in screen history — in this riveting sequel that finds his only surviving victim trying to draw Lecter out of hiding by using FBI agent Clarice Starling as bait.

9 Big Night – Despite its superb cuisine, an Italian restaurant run by immigrant brothers Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and Secondo (Stanley Tucci) is on the verge of bankruptcy. But the siblings risk everything to save their bistro when they get the chance to cook up a feast for bandleader Louis Prima. This delectable allegory boasts a perfect ensemble cast that includes Ian Holm, Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossellini and Allison Janney.

10 Groundhog Day – Sent to cover the annual appearance of world-famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, a self-centered TV weatherman unleashes his bitterness — and soon realizes he’s doomed to repeat Groundhog Day until he learns that his actions can affect the outcome.

11 Bubba Ho-Tep – In this black comedy, Elvis Presley (Bruce Campbell) is an elderly resident in an East Texas rest home who switched identities with an impersonator years before his “death” and missed his chance to switch himself back. When the King teams up with a fellow resident (Ossie Davis) who thinks he’s John F. Kennedy, the two old codgers prepare to battle an evil Egyptian entity that’s chosen their long-term care facility as its happy hunting grounds.

12 Cemetery Junction – After taking a new job to escape a bleak existence as a working-class stiff in a small English town, Freddie Taylor gets involved in more drama than he bargained for when he runs into his former flame in this inspired coming-of-age tale.

13 Englishman Who Went Up A Hill but Came Down a Mountain – English cartographer Reginald Anson and his partner upset an entire Welsh community when they arrive to measure the town’s peak and declare it 16 feet shy of mountain status. Incensed, the townsfolk devise an ambitious plan to remedy the situation.

14 Not the Messiah – “Spamalot” creators Eric Idle and John Du Prez penned this one-night-only musical tribute to Monty Python’s Life of Brian, an impertinent oratorio performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2009 and captured here in all its glory.

15 Insomnia – Sent to investigate the murder of a teenage girl in a small Alaska town, police detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino) accidentally shoots his partner, Hap (Martin Donovan), while trying to apprehend a suspect (Robin Williams). But in spite of his guilt, he’s still determined to solve the case. Hilary Swank co-stars as a local detective who hampers Dormer’s efforts based on her suspicions about the circumstances of Hap’s death.

anyway, here’s the official press release on all things ASIA in 2012!

BRITISH SUPERGROUP CELEBRATES 30th ANNIVERSARY WITH WORLD TOUR AND 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF DEBUT ALBUM
Asia releases new studio album “XXX” with original line-up: Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer & John Wetton

Says Asia’s guitarist, Steve Howe, “We wanted to recapture the energy of the first album, ASIA has always been about great songs, fantastic musicianship and I am sure fans of the first album, will fall in love with XXX.”

“XXX” CD EDITION – TRACK LISTING
Tomorrow The World (Wetton/Downes) 6:47
Bury Me In Willow (Wetton/Downes) 6:01
No Religion (Howe/Wetton/Downes) 6:36
Faithful (Wetton/Downes) 5:37
I Know How You Feel (Wetton/Downes) 4:53
Face On The Bridge (Wetton/Downes) 5:59
Al Gatto Nero (Wetton/Downes) 4:36
Judas (Howe/Wetton/Downes) 4:43
Ghost Of A Chance (Wetton/Downes) 4:21
[Total Time 49:41]

“XXX” SPECIAL EDITION 11-TRACK CD (+ BONUS DVD) – TRACK LISTING
Tomorrow The World (Wetton/Downes) 6:47
Bury Me In Willow (Wetton/Downes) 6:01
No Religion (Howe/Wetton/Downes) 6:36
Faithful (Wetton/Downes) 5:37
I Know How You Feel (Wetton/Downes) 4:53
Face On The Bridge (Wetton/Downes) 5:59
Al Gatto Nero (Wetton/Downes) 4:36
Judas (Howe/Wetton/Downes) 4:43
Reno (Silver and Gold) (Howe/Wetton) 5:15 (Bonus Track)
Ghost Of A Chance (Wetton/Downes) 4:21
I Know How You Feel (Midnight Mix) (Wetton/Downes) 5:23 (Bonus Track)
[Total Time: 60:20]

BONUS DVD
Face On The Bridge (Music Video) (4:33)
Faithful (Music Video) (4:34)
The Making of XXX (Featurette) (20:33)
[Total Time: 29:40]

Mainland Europe Release: June 29th
UK Release: July 2nd
North American Release: July 3rd

The 30th anniversary edition of their debut album will feature 2 audio CDs (a re-mastered edition of the debut album, plus a CD of live rare tracks), an expansive historical booklet, a limited edition ASIA T-shirt, goodies from ASIA’s 1982 tour, plus a DVD of the new band documentary: ASIA – 30 Years On. A newly commissioned painting by Roger Dean updates the symbolic dragon and pearl from 1982 to 2012, the Year of The Water Dragon (in the Chinese calendar).

and here are the confirmed dates so far for the ASIA “XXX” 30TH ANNIVERSARY World Tour:

Monday 09/24/2012 Tokyo, Japan
Tuesday 09/25/2012 Tokyo, Japan
Wednesday 09/26/2012 Osaka, Japan
Thursday 09/27/2012 Nagoya, Japan
Wednesday 10/17/2012 Red Bank, NJ
Thursday 10/18/2012 Boston, MA
Friday 10/19/2012 Edmonton, AB
Saturday 10/20/2012 Glenside, PA
Sunday 10/21/2012 Wilmington, DE
Monday 10/22/2012 Verona, NY
Tuesday 10/23/2012 Ridgefield, CT
Thursday 10/25/2012 Uncasville, CT
Saturday 10/27/2012 New York, NY
Sunday 10/28/2012 York, PA
Saturday 12/15/2012 Tavistock, United Kingdom
Sunday 12/16/2012 Holmfirth, United Kingdom
Monday 12/17/2012 Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Wednesday 12/19/2012 Salisbury, United Kingdom
Thursday 12/20/2012 Birmingham, United Kingdom
Friday 12/21/2012 Manchester, United Kingdom
Saturday 12/22/2012 London, United Kingdom

OK, so does that clear things up a little?

In any case, I love all the re-arrangements of PG’s greatest hits so it’ll be nice to have the full audio of this performance.

Here’s the press release from Eagle Rock Entertainment:

EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT PREPARES A TRANSFUSION OF WARM RED PULSING LIVE BLOOD
Following last year’s stunning New Blood Live in London DVD, Blu-Ray and 3D Disc & New Blood studio album comes LIVE BLOOD, via Eagle Rock Entertainment, a newly remixed and re-mastered live 2-CD set recorded at London’s iconic Hammersmith Apollo on March 23rd last year.

DISC TWO:
1 Digging In The Dirt
2 Signal To Noise
3 Downside Up
4 Mercy Street
5 The Rhythm Of The Heat
6 Blood Of Eden
7 Red Rain
8 Solsbury Hill
9 In Your Eyes
10 Don’t Give Up
11 The Nest That Sailed The Sky

The new 2-CD set will be out in stores THIS WEEK (April 24, 2012).

And thanks to our Eagle Rock PR rep, I have two (2) Live Blood CD sets to giveaway here on retroblog!!

if you’re interested, register for the drawing using the rafflecopter widget below. Two lucky retroblog winners will receive Peter Gabriel’s “Live Blood” on CD.

The contest ends May 8th, 2012. Please note, the contest is open to U.S. residents only. thanks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

The tour begins on September 7th in Manchester, N.H. and winds down in Houston on December 2nd. For now, at least. There are a lot of areas that aren’t covered in the initial itinerary so I’m guessing that there’ll be more shows added on later down the road. Keep your fingers crossed. Also, be on the lookout for presale info at the usual places.

Here are the 2012 tour dates:
Friday 09/07/2012 Manchester, NH
Sunday 09/09/2012 Bristow, VA
Tuesday 09/11/2012 Pittsburgh, PA
Thursday 09/13/2012 Indianapolis, IN
Saturday 09/15/2012 Chicago, IL
Tuesday 09/18/2012 Auburn Hills, MI
Thursday 09/20/2012 Columbus, OH
Saturday 09/22/2012 St. Louis, MO
Monday 09/24/2012 Minneapolis, MN
Wednesday 09/26/2012 Winnipeg, MB
Friday 09/28/2012 Saskatoon, SK
Sunday 09/30/2012 Edmonton, AB
Wednesday 10/10/2012 Bridgeport, CT
Friday 10/12/2012 Philadelphia, PA
Sunday 10/14/2012 Toronto, ON
Thursday 10/18/2012 Montreal, QC
Saturday 10/20/2012 Newark, NJ
Monday 10/22/2012 Brooklyn, NY
Wednesday 10/24/2012 Boston, MA
Friday 10/26/2012 Buffalo, NY
Sunday 10/28/2012 Cleveland, OH
Tuesday 10/30/2012 Charlotte, NC
Thursday 11/01/2012 Alpharetta, GA
Saturday 11/03/2012 Tampa, FL
Tuesday 11/13/2012 Seattle, WA
Thursday 11/15/2012 San Jose, CA
Saturday 11/17/2012 Anaheim, CA
Monday 11/19/2012 Universal City, CA
Friday 11/23/2012 Las Vegas, NV
Sunday 11/25/2012 Phoenix, AZ
Wednesday 11/28/2012 Dallas, TX
Friday 11/30/2012 San Antonio, TX
Sunday 12/02/2012 Houston, TX

head on over to Rush.com for the latest info on the band.

Asia: Fantasia: Live in Tokyo – Filmed live in Tokyo, this concert features the four original members of 1980s supergroup Asia on their 2007 reunion tour celebrating their 25th anniversary. Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton play the band’s biggest hits.

Classic Albums: Cream: Disraeli Gears – This installment of the Classic Albums documentary series explores Cream’s influential sophomore release, “Disraeli Gears,” which delivered a whole new sound to hungry rock consumers of the 1960s.

Classic Albums: Metallica: The Black Album – This documentary offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Metallica’s critcally acclaimed self-titled 1991 album via band interviews, archival footage, demos and performances. The “Black Album” launched the metal heroes into the mainstream.

Classic Albums: Phil Collins: Face Value – With his first solo album, “Face Value,” former Genesis front man Phil Collins garnered international success and acclaim. This documentary examines the making of that album through interviews with Collins and the album’s producers and engineers.

Deep Purple: In Concert with The London Symphony Orchestra – Accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra, rock icons Deep Purple perform at London’s Royal Albert Hall in this concert film recorded in 1999. The group dishes up hits such as “Smoke on the Water,” “Ted the Mechanic” and “Watching the Sky.”

Diana Krall: Live In Rio – In this concert filmed live in Rio de Janeiro in 2008, sultry-voiced jazz artist Diana Krall expands her horizons to include the smooth Brazilian bossa nova musical style, singing tunes that include “Let’s Fall in Love” and “Cheek to Cheek.”

Dresden Dolls: Live at the Roundhouse London – London’s beautiful Roundhouse Theater is the setting for this striking performance from the Dresden Dolls, with the band’s theatrical sound accompanied by a group of circus performers, gymnasts and cabaret dancers.

Keane: Curate a Night for War Child – Piano-based rockers Keane headline an evening of inspired — and inspiring — music in a 2007 concert benefiting the charity War Child. Featured artists include the Pet Shop Boys, Brendan Benson, Findlay Brown, Lily Allen and the Magic Numbers.

Queen: Rock Montreal & Live Aid – The only Queen concert ever filmed in its entirety, this 1981 Montreal Live Aid performance has been digitally restored and remixed. Featuring dynamic front man Freddie Mercury, the band puts on a high-octane show for a crowd of excited fans.

Strat Pack: Live in Concert – Masters of rock guitar celebrate the 50th anniversary of Leo Fender’s Stratocaster in this tribue concert. This set filmed in 2004 features some of the world’s best rock guitarists, including David Gilmour, Brian May, Ron Wood and Joe Walsh.

Tori Amos: Live at Montreux 1991 & 1992 – A pair of concerts from 1991 and 1992 showcase the talent and distinctive style of singer, songwriter and pianist Tori Amos during the infancy of her storied career. The set list includes selections from her debut solo album, “Little Earthquakes.”

Yes: Live at Montreux 2003 – Grammy Award-winning progressive rock band Yes deliver some of their greatest hits in this performance at the Montreux Festival in 2003, considered by both fans and band members to be the group’s greatest show ever captured on film.

Simply Red: Stars – Simply Red discusses their chart-topping 1991 album “Stars” in this documentary that’s perfect for adoring fans of the popular soul-pop band. Front man Mick Hucknall talks candidly about the creation of “Stars” and the band’s career.

Classic Albums: Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures – This installment in the Classic Albums series gives fans a double dose of Rush, examining two of the seminal prog-rock band’s most important albums: “2112,” their breakthrough effort, and “Moving Pictures,” their best-selling record to date.

ZZ Top: Live from Texas – Rock legends ZZ Top bring their trademark Southern guitar sounds and their famous hair home to Texas for this exciting performance, their first live concert film in nearly four decades as musical superstars.

Nirvana: Nevermind – In this rockumentary, Nirvana band mates Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl shed light on the group’s brief meteoric career, the recording of Nirvana’s groundbreaking 1991 album “Nevermind” and the late Kurt Cobain’s legacy.

Toto: 25th Anniversary: Live in Amsterdam – In this concert performed live at the Heineken Arena in Amsterdam on February 25, 2003, Toto serves up hit after hit, including “Africa,” “Hold the Line” and the monster chart-topper, “Rosanna.”

Classic Albums: Meat Loaf: Bat Out of Hell – When Meat Loaf released “Bat out of Hell” in 1977, the album quickly became one of the highest grossing in history. This documentary uses interviews and concert footage to illustrate the making of the album.

Chic: Live at Montreux 2004 – As the closing act of the 2004 Montreux Jazz Festival, Chic (featuring Nile Rodgers) pulled a few punches to make sure that the festival would end on a high note. Jamming on some of their most memorable funk/disco hits, Chic also threw in a medley of songs by Rodgers and Bernard Edwards that were originally performed by Diana Ross and Sister Sledge. A great video for anyone seeking a healthy dose of old-school funkiness.

Foreigner: Alive & Rockin’ – Taking the stage at the Bang Your Head Festival in Germany, Mick Jones and Foreigner dazzle a sold-out Balingen crowd with inspired renditions of hits such as “Double Vision,” “Urgent,” “Juke Box Hero” and “Cold As Ice.”

Mike and the Mechanics & Paul Carrack: Live at Shepherds Bush London –
1980s pop-rock band Mike and the Mechanics reunited in 2004 — four years after the death of member Paul Young — to record a new album and head out on tour. Filmed at London’s Shepherd’s Bush, this performance includes the group’s biggest hits.

The winner of the blu-ray edition of With the Wild Crowd is: David D. (entry #70)

and the winner of the DVD edition of With the Wild Crowd is: Lenny G. (entry #93)

Thanks again to all those that participated in the contest.

stay tuned for more!!

Here’s the official press release:

LINDSEY TAKING HIS SOLO ACT ON THE ROAD STARTING MAY 3 IN SOLANA BEACH, CA

03-May-12 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern
04-May-12 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern
05-May-12 San Juan Capistrano, CA Coach House
06-May-12 Thousand Oaks, CA Fred Kavli Theatre/Thousand Oaks Civic Arts
08-May-12 San Luis Obispo. CA Fremont Theatre
09-May-12 Fresno, CA Tower Theatre
10-May-12 Carmel, CA Sunset Central Center
11-May-12 Santa Cruz, CA Rio Theatre
13-May-12 Sacramento, CA Crest Theatre
14-May-12 San Francisco. CA The Fillmore
15-May-12 Redding, CA The Cascade Theatre
17-May-12 Bend, OR Tower Theatre
18-May-12 Portland, OR Aladdin Theatre
19-May-12 Seattle, WA The Neptune
21-May-12 Spokane, WA Bing Crosby Theatre