July 10, 2007
Making Up For Lost Time
I normally don't see ads on television (thank you, Tivo!) but this week, I did because my wife recorded one on purpose.
It was Elvis Costello shilling for Lexis.
Tonight, my wife comes up to my desk and drops a magazine ad in front of my face. There, in a two page spread...
Elvis Costello shilling for Visa.
For someone who went on Saturday Night Live and broke into Radio Radio, and who has always refused to license his songs for commercials, I guess he's making up for lost time.
It was a fine idea at the time...
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December 19, 2006
Holiday Music Madness!
Since I'm finished with finals (yeah!) and I've been tagged by in limine... I give you: Dave's Top 5 Holiday Songs!
5. AKIM & The Teddy Vann Production Company - Santa Claus Is A Black Man
I found out about this masterpiece on an episode of Fresh Air which featured John Waters and his new anthology CD, A John Waters Christmas. This song is everything you would expect from a John Waters Christmas and more...
4. Sloppy Seconds - Hooray For Santa Claus
This one is a cover of the theme song from "Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" which you just have to love. Plus I grew up on punk rock in Indiana, which means you pretty much have to love Sloppy Seconds.
3. The Kinks - Father Christmas
The Kinks were punk rock before punk rock was punk rock. I think they're under-rated overall, and this song is a definite Christmas classic in my book.
2. The Pogues - Fairytale of New York
Another classic, from another under-rated band. Although MXPX does a pretty good cover, you can't go wrong with the original. Considering I pretty much hate almost all Irish music, I can't help but love The Pogues.
And.... drum roll...
1. Jose Feliciano - Feliz Navidad!
If you don't like this song, you are a Grinch. Sorry, it's true.
There you have it... my list which is probably skewed towards the non-conventional, but hey, that's how I swang, yo. Merry Christmas!!!
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December 5, 2006
Suing Edgar Bronfman
It's probably because I'm studying for Business Organizations and have derivative suits on the brain, but when I saw this little tidbit where Edgar Bronfman, CEO of the Warner Music Group, admits that his kids have broken the law and downloaded music. Of course, unlike those parents suffering lawsuits at the hands of the RIAA, Bronfman preferred to "keep [their punishment] within the family".
Now, I don't know what kind of (legal) entity the RIAA is (and don't have time to look it up), but it sure would be killer if some of the "artists" or labels they are supposedly representing were to hold their feet to the fire and make them file suit against Bronfman. Why shouldn't he and his children suffer the same fate of bogus lawsuits that other parents face?
Posted by Dave! Permalink
September 27, 2006
Arson Garden!
I went to college at Indiana University, where the local music scene can be pretty outstanding. When I was in school, there was a band called Arson Garden mentioned here before.
There was also a club, called Second Story which was pretty much where all the indie bands played (they still do, from what I've seen). Well, Second Story is having a 25th Anniversary extravaganza this weekend, and Arson Garden will be playing their one (and probably only) reunion show!!
Figures, I can't go. _Sigh._ But if you are anywhere near Bloomington, Indiana this Friday night and you don't check them out, you are really missing out on a great opportunity to see a phenomenal group of musicians.
And thanks to James Combs, Arson Garden's lead guitarist/songwriter for the hat-tip on the show! He's a great solo act as well, and I highly recommend you check out his site, too.
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May 4, 2006
Jane Siberry Gets It
Jane Siberry gets it. Not only is she a great musician, she's obviously on the ball when it comes to electronic distribution, too. Her on-line music store offers four different levels to pay:
- Free (A Gift From Jane)
- Suggested Price (.99)
- Pay Later (Download Now, Pay Only If You Like It)
- Pay a "Self-Determined" Amount (More or Less Than Suggested)
You know what? The store stats show that only 17% download for free, while of those paying, 79% paid the suggested price, 14% paid above the suggested price, and only 8% paid below the suggested price. And all of this is for MP3s with no "Digital Rights Management" restrictions, etc.
Record companies should take note: people want to do the right thing and compensate the artists they love. But they want to be able to use the songs where and how they want. See what happens when artists trust fans? They make money.
[Via Boing Boing]
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January 3, 2006
What does this actually mean?
Over at The Long Tail, there's a post called The Decade the Blockbuster Died with a handy graphic that points out that of the Top 100 selling albums of all time, only 2 have come from the years 2001-2005.
But does that really mean the Blockbuster has died?
It might. There are so many more choices of music available now that maybe the blockbuster is dead. Back in the pre-MTV days, people learned about new music primarily from the radio--which meant everyone heard (roughly) the same thing. Even post-MTV, the sources for new music were still pretty limited. When the Internet globalized communications, it also made is so much easier to find more music--genres many people never had access to before, that it makes sense that the homogenized "blockbuster" that everyone "must have" should go the way of the dinosaur.
Or it could just mean that the music from 2001-2005 sucked. Bad.
Posted by Dave! Permalink | Comments (3)
December 2, 2005
Am I Suspended in Gaffa?
No, just out of touch and in law school. :)
Kate Bush has a new album out called Aerial. Definitely something to add to my wish list.
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September 28, 2005
Troubled Hubble
Alas, all good things must come to an end. Troubled Hubble will be playing their last show tonight at Schuba's. I first saw these guys over four years ago at the Hideout, and let me tell you, they are a blast. Totally infectious pop-riffs and just so much energy it's impossible not to love them.
They are calling it quits citing personal and health reasons. Let's hope "health reasons" means they are tired from touring and need a break and not anything more serious. If you haven't seen these guys, go... they are a fun, up-beat band, and it's a shame they have to call it quits. Best of luck to all of them in whatever projects come next!
[Via Chicagoist]
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August 1, 2005
The Killers
I tried not to like The Killers because they are so hot now and they are from Vegas--and face it, Vegas is where bad musicians go to fade into oblivion.
However, Hot Fuss is one, um, killer album. I highly recommend it.
Posted by Dave! Permalink
July 15, 2005
Q101
Normally, I'm pretty strictly NPR when it comes to radio during my commute. However, during a story I don't care about (or a pledge drive) I would normally flip over to WXRT... but lately, I've found myself flipping between XRT and Q101.
I used to hate Q101--I can't stand Mancow (he's just not funny) and the music format used to blow. But something's changed... they switched formats or something, because in the past week I've caught some really great stuff. In addition to the standard new "alternative" stuff, like the White Stripes and the Postal Service, in the last week I also heard old school stuff from the Violent Femmes, the Jim Carroll Band, and Ween. It was the first time I ever hear Ween on the radio. It was cool.
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June 12, 2005
The Musical Baton
Well, Raymond passed me the music meme baton... I've been asked to address the following topics, related to my musical interests:
- Total Volume of Music
- Last CD I Bought
- Song Playing Right Now
- Five Songs I Listen to a Lot or That Mean a Lot to Me
- Five People to Whom I'm Passing the Baton
So here goes!
Total Volume of Music
Okay... I have no more tapes or LPs because a few years ago, I converted them to electronic media, and I haven't looked back. As for CDs, physical CDs, I had a little over 1250 when I got married, and my wife had somewhere on order of 350--so that puts us at about 1600... I'm not going to go back and count them all, sorry! :) (As an aside, we're over 350 DVDs now, too.) I still buy CDs occasionally, but I also get a lot of music electronically (I love iTunes) and all but a hundred or so CDs (which I'm working on) have been converted to electronic format. I just did a quick check and we have about 2000 electronic albums total.
Last CD I Bought
Hmmm... The last CD I bought was Louis XIV The Best Little Secrets Are Kept. The last CD my wife bought was Tegan & Sara So Jealous which I currently have in heavy rotation.
Song Playing Right Now
Tegan & Sara "I Know I Know I Know"
Five Songs I Listen to a Lot or That Mean a Lot to Me
Damn, this is a tough one... I don't know if I can come up with five specific songs... how about five albums and I will nominate a song from each album? That sounds fair, don't you think?
The Queen is Dead - The Smiths
I am 33 years old. Anyone my age who grew up in the skater/punk/alternative scene and didn't listen to the Smiths... well, c'mon, fess up. Johnny Marr's ambling, layered guitar tracks and Morrissey's self-conscious, pity inducing voice are the soundtrack of my youth. I think most of their stuff still holds up as brilliant pop song/teen angst anthems today, but I will never be able to listen to the Smiths without thinking about high school. It's nearly impossible for me to pick one Smith's track--it was hard enough to pick one album! But if you pressed me, I think I would say, "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" which just captures my mindset at the time pretty well.
Under Towers - Arson Garden
If the Smiths embodied my high-school experience, Arson Garden is college. They are the best band to never make it that I know. From the moment I first saw them at a show in my dorm, to the last time I saw them play at Rhinos (the local all-ages club) Arson Garden is my college band. I will always remember jumping up and down, singing along to "Lash" at Second Story.
Still Feel Gone - Uncle Tupelo
I don't link Uncle Tupelo with any particular time frame in my life... but this album is really inspired. There's something about the desperation but resignation in all of their music which just really gets to me. Yes, they are the band that gave birth to indie powerhouse, Wilco, but I think the old Uncle Tupelo stuff stacks up against anything Wilco (or Son Volt) has done since. "True to Life" is a pretty apt track.
Exit the Dragon - Urge Overkill
When my friend Kate first recommended this album, I popped it in the CD player and promptly hated it. Funny how some of my favorite albums started out that way. I swear, I said to myself, what the hell is this crap?! And then I shelved it for a good four months. Then, one day, "Honesty Files" popped into my head, and I pulled the album back out... this time, I was smitten. It's rock-and-roll. The sheer audacity and ego of Urge Overkill are fantastic, and this is one of my favorite albums.
Welcome to the Beautiful South - The Beautiful South
It all started with the Housemartins, who I just adored. It was fun pop, with an occasional edge and some clever lyrics. Then, the Housemartins disbanded, and P.D. Heaton formed the Beautiful South. If you thought I was a cynic, you should listen to some of his lyrics... when they are set against the pure pop and melodic vocals, it's just a fantastic mix: catchy, utterly singable songs about murder, domestic violence, lies, bad relationships, thievery, drunkenness and debauchery. I like just about every song on every one of their albums, but on Welcome to... there's "Song for Whoever" and "You Keep It All In".
That was really hard. And if I had to do that again in another 3 hours, I'd probably pick different albums and different artists. I mean, I didn't include and Beatles, but god knows Magical Mystery Tour and Rubber Soul should be in there... no Elvis Costello, but damn, that would be so hard to narrow down to one album. Or Pop Will Eat Itself... I mean, my blog is called Preaching to the Perverted and my tag line is "Wise Up Suckers!"
There were a lot of very close runner's up... including The Beastie Boys, Belly, Bj�rk, Kate Bush, Cake, Nick Cave, Ornette Coleman, Dag Nasty, Disposable Heros of Hiphoprisy, Thomas Dolby, Dragon Ash, East of Eden, The Fall, Peter Gabriel, Game Theory, Goldfinger, The Housemartins, H�sker D�,Interpol, Los Lobos, Aimee Mann, Modest Mouse, New Order, Oingo Boingo, Op Ivy, The Pixies, Primus, REM, Radiohead, Soul Coughing, Supergrass, Talking Heads, They Might Be Giants, Toy Dolls, Veruca Salt, Voice of the Beehive, Ween, Weezer, Lucinda Williams, Wire, X, and XTC.
And there will probably be countless more!
Five People to Whom I'm Passing the Baton
This was also tough to come up with... but I chose these people because 1) they blog regularly and 2) I'm interested in seeing what they have to say. So, tag! You're it!
Kate
Ken
BEB
Ambivalent Imbroglio
In Limine
Posted by Dave! Permalink
February 19, 2005
Scent of a Robot
Wow. If you haven't seen Scent of a Robot then I suggest you check it out, posthaste. Not only is it an infectiously catchy song, it's got an incredibly well done video. I haven't seen a video this good, well, since the days when MTV actually used to show videos!
Posted by Dave! Permalink | Comments (1)
October 16, 2004
Robbie Fulks
You just have to love Robbie Fulks:
"Every different kind of professional entertainer is ultimately the same kind: a stripper. You rev up the fake fun machine night after night, you lay yourself before an endless, asinine parade of driveling half-wit fans, excelled in their native loathsomeness only by the crooked promoters, managerial slime, hired muscle, simpering ultramontanists, magazine writers, and miscellaneous nocturnal fauna that surround you constantly in your offstage hours, and soon the world begins to take on a dismal cast indeed. In fairness, though, it must be stipulated that going around the country as a stripper or a second-rate BTO act is not the best way to meet interesting people while preserving your idealism."
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July 26, 2004
Chris Isaak
My wife and I went to see Chris Isaak last night at the H.O.B. here. I have to say, that man is quite an entertainer. I'm not the biggest "rockabilly" fan in the world, actually, quite far from it. But he (and his band) really enjoy themselves on stage... they have a good time, and consequently the crowd has a good time. It was a really good show, and I would recommend catching him if he comes through your town.
Posted by Dave! Permalink
June 30, 2004
Summer Music
ambivalent imbroglio has some summer music recommendations, so I thought I'd chime in with my latest purchases...
Good News for People Who Love Bad News - Modest Mouse
I know you've heard "Float On" since it's everywhere at the moment. It's good pop tune, but not the best on the album... I like "Ocean Breathes Salty" and "Dig Your Grave" but "The View" has to have some of the catchiest pop licks on the album. Overall, the whole album is a good listen, but my fav Modest Mouse offering is still Lonesome Crowded West.
You Are the Quarry - Morrissey
Yes, I am a child of 80s alternative rock. C'mon. I was weaned on The Smiths, I had to buy this. The single, "Irish Blood, English Heart" is a decent song, and the rest of the album doesn't disappoint... it's some of Morrissey's most biting and cynical lyrics yet... but man, the music on his solo works have never held up... where's Johnny Marr when you need him?
Van Lear Rose - Loretta Lynn/Jack White
Wow. If you thought country sucked (and "radio" country generally does) then pick up this album and hear what good country music sounds like. I was worried that this would be a White Stripes album with Loretta Lynn but it's not... it's Lynn through and through, and Jack White does an amazing job as her producer... even his appearances on the album are appropriate and add quite a lot.
Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins
I'm still trying to decide if I like The Shins or if I'm ambivalent about The Shins. One minute, they sound like a well-polished pop band, and another they sound all whiny and moody. I dunno. I think this is a "listen to it a few times in a row until you get it kinda album. I know a lot of people who are way into them though, so you know. But then again I know a lot of people who were into the Flamming Lips... puke.
A Ghost is Born - Wilco
Obligatory. First, I freakin' loved Uncle Tupelo. Second, I live in Chicago. I think there's a city ordinance that you have to buy every new Wildo release. That said, I actually like the album... and I actually liked Being There, Summer Teeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot too, so who am I kidding? But I still think Tweedy was the lesser song writer from Uncle Tupelo... Jay Farrar was amazing, and the first Son Volt album, Trace is better than anything Wilco's done. But I'm getting off on a tangent...
I think I'm also going to pick up Franz Ferdinand's album, because I can't get "Take Me Out" outta my damn head... what a catchy, well crafted pop tune... and I'm super psyched to hear Interpol's followup to Turn On the Bright Lights I'll get that as soon as it's released...
Posted by Dave! Permalink
June 10, 2004
Ray Charles
Ray Charles passed away today... I can honestly say I didn't know that much about his life, other than being familiar with his "hits". Of course, I knew that he was a huge influence on soul music as well. But on NPR they were playing clips of interviews with him over the years, and one thing really struck me as being truly astonishing, not just for his time, but as also being virtually unheard of today as well:
Ray Charles owned his own music.
Not just the publishing. He owned the master recordings too. Apparently, when he first signed with Atlantic in the late 1950s, they built him a state-of-the-art recording studio in his home, but he paid for it. He retained complete creative control over his music. Atlantic told him "You worry about the music, we'll worry about the marketing." Amazing. Now that is how the music industry should operate.
Posted by Dave! Permalink
February 26, 2004
Voluntary Collective Licensing
The EFF has published a "Let the Music Play" whitepaper which outlines their suggestion for Voluntary Collective Licensing of Music File Sharing. It's a very well reasoned and workable idea. So the music industry will reject it out of hand. But it's worth a read, because to me, it's the most reasonable suggestion I've heard to solve the "filesharing" issue.
Posted by Dave! Permalink | Comments (1)
February 12, 2004
Music Plasma
Check out the awesome visual music mapping interface musicplasma.com. Type in your favorite bands and it maps out funky relations with others of similar style or musical influence.
Posted by Dave! Permalink
February 6, 2004
German Band Release CD with Blanks for Burning!
"German band Eisbrecher has decided to make a statement for its fans and for music consumers in general and is releasing their album Eisbrecher with 2 blank CD-Rs which have the same label as the CD itself. Alexx Wesselsky (singer and head of the group): "We are of the opinion that the music buyers are criminalized enough and have been made responsible for the wretched state in the music industry. We are giving them the chance to make 2 legal copies for private use with 'official blanks'."
Posted by Dave! Permalink
January 28, 2004
Scoble is Wrong
Protect your investment: buy open. Scoble has written a weblog entry about, among other things, iTunes DRM and Microsoft DRM, and whether you should get an iPod. Scoble works for Microsoft, as do a number of good, sharp, ethical people that I know, and I know him in passing, and he seems to be a good guy. With that disclaimer out of the way, let me say that I think that this blog entry of his epitomizes the sloppiest, worst thinking about digital-media in the field today. From [Boing Boing]
The above is snippet from a post Cory Doctorow has written in response to this post by Robert Scoble. Unlike Cory, I don't know Scoble, even in passing. However, having worked for a company that was acquired by Microsoft, I can say that Cory is right about one thing: the vast majority of Microsoft employees are both highly intelligent and ethical folks. Cory is right about another thing: their intelligence and commitment doesn't mean they are right, in fact, they are often incorrect as Scoble is in this case.
In his article, Scoble falls victim to Microsoft's own internal marketing. The gist of which is this: Microsoft's digital rights management protocol (WMA) will be adopted by more OEMs/vendors. Therefore, there will be more devices on the market (portable audio players, car stereos, rocket jet packs, etc.) that can play music which uses WMA vs. other technologies such as ACC (Apple's DRM Solution).
The problem is that Scoble is missing the big picture here, which is what Cory pointed out. The true "choice" consumers should be able to take advantage of shouldn't be linked to a company at all. Neither Apple nor Microsoft should win in this battle of DRM. What should be created is either a consortium of vendors (ala DVD standards) or better yet, and open standard that anyone could implement. In spite of what Scoble seems to believe, consumers do not win when any one company controls the methods by which they can use their media. Cory raises the example of Betamax vs. VHS. Just for a moment let's forget all of Microsoft's past business transgressions, and assume that they are the most consumer loving, benevolent company on earth. Even if that were true today, that does not mean that it will always be true. In fact, history has shown it's not likely to be true as DRM becomes a more important part of our daily lives. If you need some examples of that, think back to Unisys and .gifs or take a look at SCO and Unix. Even though more companies might someday adopt the WMA DRM solution, that does not mean that it will always offer more choice for consumers.
There really is only one way to ensure true freedom of choice for consumers. Freedom to choose where and when they play the music they have rightfully purchased. That is to remove DRM from the hands of any one single company which could (reasonably be foreseen) to use a monopoly in DRM to their competitive advantage. Make it an open standard. Allow anyone to implement it. Period. Create an industry consortium of vendors committed to furthering and developing the standard and simply give away (or charge a nominal fee) for vendor licensing. That would allow a true, open playing field for device manufacturers and software developers, without being locked into any proprietary systems, and would, in the end, be the only way I can see to offer consumers real choice. But I don't really think choice is what Microsoft wants to offer consumers anyway.
Posted by Dave! Permalink
September 16, 2003
iTunes Store
Okay, I have both a PC and a Mac, and I use both a lot, however for very different work. Generally, I use the PC for writing, bloggin' and technical work, and I use the Mac for video editing...
Well, today I had a client in who was trying to tell me about a song... they said "1000 Miles" by "Melissa Carlton". On a lark, I said, I wonder what's on the iTunes store? So I downloaded iTunes (never installed before) and in less than five minutes I was previewing "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton. Wow. It was quick and simple, and the preview allowed the client to let me hear the song without having to buy it. Then we moved on in the edit... but later, I came back, and I ended up buying a bunch of singles... it was super easy, and then I burned them to a CD, no sweat.
Amazing, Apple gets it. The RIAA doesn't.
Posted by Dave! Permalink
August 31, 2003
Autotuners
I don't think you can use one of these Autotuners to correct your vocals and in any way, shape or form, call yourself a "punk" band.
Posted by Dave! Permalink
August 14, 2003
The Boss
Last night I went to see Bruce Springsteen play at US Cellular Field (that's Comisky Park to most of you out there). I have to say that I never would have called myself a Springsteen fan, even though he's a decent songwriters. I mean, have you really listened to Born in the USA? It's hardly the patriotic anthem some dumbass jingoistic republicans* make it out to be... it's actually a very critical song of America. Come to think of it, have you ever read the lyrics to Dancin' in the Dark? Most people probably remember it from the silly video where Courtney Cox is pulled up on stage. But check out the lyrics... it's a bitter song about lonliness and desparation.
But I digress...
Springsteen played for over three hours, with no opening act. He came out and did a half a dozen songs without stopping... which is pretty impressive. But what really got me was the sheer level of emotional (if not physical) intensity that the entire band, and especially Springsteen, put into their performance. They just plain rocked. And in a world where fans are now suing performers for lousy shows with overpriced tickets, it's pretty refreshing to come away from a concert not only feeling that you go your money's worth, but that the performer cared about their music deeply, and wanted to share that passion with you.
*Ronald Reagan invoked Springsteen and his song "Born in the U.S.A." while campaigning in 1984. But Springsteen didn't like being quoted by Reagan, saying that instead of it being "morning in America," as Reagan claimed in his TV ad, he'd seen places where "It's midnight, and like, there's a bad moon risin'."
Posted by Dave! Permalink