Rocketpoll is now LaunchAudio!

Rocketpoll.com is now LaunchAudio.com, and offers a new array of services for musicians and listeners alike. The site can still be accessed using the rocketpoll.com address, but can now also be accessed using launchaudio.com, jazzlaunch.com, rocklaunch.com, and blueslaunch.com! The site now offers dedicated pages for jazz, rock and blues.

Also new is the "listeners" feature which allows fans to register, create charts based on their ratings of songs, and make friends with artists and other listeners as well.

Another new feature is the "artists" pages that are created for each artist automatically. These pages list all the songs posted by the artists in a chart according to each song's rating!

New changes, new excitement! Check it out on LaunchAudio.com.

Lawton's "Mind's Eye" opens free jazz vision

Vern Lawton, drummer exraordinaire, has opened his "Minds Eye" on Rocketpoll, exposing a lush view to a liquid free jazz exposition. Lawton plays all instruments on the song, which includes a fretless bass, a beautifully fluid flanged guitar, but mostly Lawton's infectious drumming. Minds Eye is worth a peek! Check it out on Rocketpoll.

Whale Dance on Rocketpoll

For a taste of new age/easy listening/fantasy, tune in to Rocketpoll and check out "Whale Dance" by Tanzu. A judicious use of synths, and surprisingly no guitar, takes you on a deep sea journey with these giant titans. Check it out on Rocketpoll.

Tanzu enters the Forbidden Forest

Artist Tanzu's latest post on Rocketpoll is "Forbidden Forest," featuring a liquid guitar track over shummering Rhodes piano; Tanzu's signature. What's remarkable about the track is the rich fat and slightly saturated tone of the guitar, run through a set of vintage tubes. Check it out on Rocketpoll.

Venus Venturi swirls in marriage of electronica and rock

Venus Venturi is a remarkable blend of latin rhythms, swirling electronic synths, and a breathtaking overdriven electric guitar pushing a vintage tube amp just past its breaking point. This recent posting on Rocketpoll is by Tanzu. Check it out!

Ratcliff Bailey Rises "Above the City"

The great rock duo Ratcliff Bailey shines once again on Rocketpoll with one of its most contemplative and romantic offerings so far, "Above the City." The sparkling guitar riffs are reminiscent of early Byrds, and R_B's signature vocals conjure up Tom Waits. A very sweet guitar solo resurrects the great George Harrison. Bravo, guys! Check it out on Rocketpoll.

Crimes Rocks the Moon

Crimes in Modern Archicture's latest submission is a live recording of their recent performance at Seattle's famed Blue Moon Tavern. The track, appropriately called "Moon Dance" raucously bubbles its way through in Crime's signature free jazz approach. Check it out on Rocketpoll.

Tad Boyd: Chill! The ice age is coming!

Tad Boyd takes a new perspective on the global warming issue, serving up chilling irony with two new songs, Ice Age" and "Love Me Tonight (The Ice Age Is Coming)," both now available on Rocketpoll. On this third day of Spring where we have snow in Seattle, it certainly is easy to understand Boyd's point of view!

Ice Age" is a hard hitting rock tune with slicing guitars and a solid driving beat. In "Love Me Tonight," Boyd returns to his romantic flair, with a warm Beach Boys type harmonic vocal, tenderly imploring the object of his desire on "the last night of our lives." Check out both songs on Rocketpoll!

Sure Bet on Ratliff Bailey with "Don't Go Gamblin'"

Ratliff Bailey's latest on Rocketpoll is Don't go Gamblin', another straight ahead rocker from the Ironton, Ohio duo. The song contains their characteristic guitar and vocals and a wistful lesson on knowing what you're getting into. Check it out on Rocketpoll.

Ratcliff and Bailey step up with "Hey Boots"

"Hey Boots" is another raucous, rocking contribution from Tim Ratcliff and Ken Bailey on Rocketpoll. This track from the duo, on the universal subject of the undeniable male desire for female fashion footwear, features more rocking guitar licks (no pun intended) including a searing (although brief) double lead solo. Check it out on Rocketpoll!

Evolution of Tad Boyd - No Pigeonhole for This Artist!

Tad Boyd continues to excite with his new song "Where Do I Pay," on Rocketpoll. The song with its driving rock beat, metal guitars reminiscent of Eddie Van Halen, and ironic lyrics is a departure from what we're used to hearing from Boyd. With "Pay", Boyd breaks out of his original stable of mellow vocal-laden folk rock songs such as that "You're Not Alone," and "Back On The Farm." Keep an eye on Rocketpoll and an open ear to this obviously versatile and adventurous new artist!

New contributions from Lawton,Tanzu

Perennial favorites Vern Lawton and Tanzu have each posted new jazz instrumentals this week on Rocketpoll with Lawton's catapulting immediately to the Number 1 spot.

Lawton's contribution is Where the Desert Leaves the Sand which he describes as "Jam in A with an Arabian feel." The song is a ten minute journey through a jazzed up Arabian landscape, powered by Lawton's adventurous drums and percussion, his band's textural keyboards, and solid bass playing. Truly a trip with taking.

Malibu Rain by Tanzu is a mellow, cool journey taken with a light fender rhodes and soulful stratocaster tones. Another nice venture worth seeking on Rocketpoll this week. See you there!

New posting by Ratcliff and Bailey: "Calling Off"

Just posted on Rocketpoll is "Calling Off" by Tim Ratcliff and Ken Bailey, a biting rock piece for anyone feeling enslaved by the world and by life. As usual, Ratcliff and Bailey hit hard with heavy guitars and a hard rock rhythm. A great guitar solo with some great pounding hammer-ons appears about midway during the song. Great work! Check it out on Rocketpoll!

Holiday Music Featured On Rocketpoll

Christmas music is now featured on Rocketpoll with two submissions by Tad Boyd, "Oh Holy Night," and "What Child Is This?". Boyd's contributions add a nice holiday touch to the Rocketpoll music collection. Check it out and get into the spirit!

Ratcliff and Bailey No. 1 is a case of Deja Vu

Tim Ratcliff and Ken Bailey repeat their position at No. 1 on Rocketpoll.com with "Deja Vu Came True," a tune that rocks about seemingly remembered first impressions. In this case, of course "deja vu" is a metaphor. And Ratcliff and Bailey hit hard as usual with the rocking energy we have come to know them for here on Rocketpoll. Do it again, guys!

Artwork Thrives on Rocketpoll

Artwork submitted by the musicians on Rocketpoll thrives. Above is the artwork submitted with the song "Coffee or Tea" by Tim Ratcliff and Ken Bailey.

Ratcliff and Bailey also graced us with this image that accompanies their song "Waiting for Jesus."


These are just two of the many cool images found on Rocketpoll. Check it out!

Verndoggie Rocks!

Opus 5, the progressive jazz piece by Crimes In Modern Architecture, now enjoying the Number 1 spot on Rocketpoll, finds its origins in one "Vernodoggie," who can be found on his myspace website here. Verndoggie is Vern Lawton, a Seattle drummer. Along with "Xenomorph," an amped up version of "opus 5,", are four other tunes, "Eight Million Stories," "Dreams of Hedonistic Excess," "Coloring Book Girl, and "In a Heart Beat." A couple of the tunes are from the Professor Chadwick Sessions, done, I believe in Vern's studio this past September ('07). All of these tunes are very much worth checking out, providing tasty and inspired free-jazz-rock that is far from cliche. We here at Rocketpoll hope to hear a great deal more from these talented and seasoned musicians.

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Tanzu Slings Soulful Guitar on "Water's Edge"

Second this week on the listener rated chart at Rocketpoll.com is Water's Edge by Tanzu, featuring soulful guitar and a matching arrangement by keyboard wizard Bill Busch of the Seattle band Midnite Walk. Tanzu teamed with Busch to produce the number which, along with Tanzu's guitar features some of the most soulful genuine Hammond B-3 organ licks in years by Busch. Busch also figures heavily in the song's bridge, laying down an equally soulful piano solo. Check it out now on Rocketpoll.

Tim Ratcliff and Ken Bailey serve up biting political satire with "Bombs Away"

Rock artists Tim Ratcliff and Ken Bailey explode ontoRocketpoll.com with "Bombs Away," a biting commentary on truth and integrity and the use or non-use thereof by our nation's leaders. The lyric points no explicit fingers at those who may be guilty but suffice it to say that a familiar patriotic refrain repeats its way throughout, leaving no mistake at Ratcliff's and Bailey's target. The duo's strong rock beat, bombastic guitars and clever lyric (such as "I have lead you, I've mislead you, I must leave you . . . holding the bag") are engaging and entertaining. More significantly, it is nice to hear artists taking a stand and conveying a message rather than delivering the same vapid lyrics commonly heard in today's commercial music. After all, it is artists who bring about change in this world, and if they stop then we are all lost.