Hate to say it, but it was! Talking about the subject of my first rant --- OSI's new album, Blood. It's a very logical continuation of what they have done up to this point in that a few guest appearances are by well-regarded musicians who are known for what they do and the result is stunning!
Get this - it's also possible to listen to this album in its entirety online! The pretty obvious source of music starts here with track one, but i gotta' say track two was what really caught my attention. Who am I kidding - it's a favorite band ... this is where I went - OMG! They got it! Anyway, from either of those links it's not hard to pick up the remainder of the album. There are nine tracks in all ... enjoy!
There's another alternative: go to OSI's web site and listen to a sampler of Blood. It's smidgens, but it's very well-thought out smidgens. They captured my favorite lyrics to Terminal ... the intricacy of Microburst Alert, and almost everything in between.
Here's where it gets better -
OSI's tracks have been on that awesome web site that trumps cable TV a lot of nights and a few times on Thursdays, and nobody's pulled them off. Is it a love of the band? Possibly ... Is it a lack of inaction by their label? No, because they are independent, distributed through Burning Shed. Does Burning Shed cling to their material, or the rest of the band for that matter, because they need to maintain commercial control or even sonic fidelity? No - they get it!
I hope anyone who stumbles on OSI through this or any other channel sees what a lot of others see and supports their art.
While this is not an album review per se (can't do them at the moment), let me say, just like Prophetbeatz (review coming soon) - they are getting it right -- true expression and access to the goods for listeners.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Unbelieveable! (or ... the rise of the indie in the face of music's old guard)
It's been a while since I have written a rant or a rave. It's not that there haven't been rant- or rave-worthy topics -- there have -- but my pen and paper have been moving across a lot of corporate desks lately and zapping my inspiration.
Yesterday morning, however, I read the posts on a Porcupine Tree forum and was astounded by the new heights in bricks and mortar record company stupidity. This band has an ever-growing, loyal fan base worldwide who hangs on, album after album, for their collective and individual releases. Their newest release, The Incident, is to be released in Europe in early September and internationally two weeks later.
I believe the last time I blogged it was a rant on how stupid and misguided staggered releases are, especially for bands that are outside the mainstream. When you figure bands like this usually don't book radio interviews, Graham Norton, or David Letterman, why the delay? Virtually all promotions for this band are online - there is little to no need for special handling.
Porcupine Tree's label, Roadrunner, released the video of their new single, Time Flies, on their website Monday, only to have it pulled down within hours. Why? Speculation is that parent company Warner Brothers ordered the pull. The video was also launched on an alternate video site, but can only be viewed by computers in certain countries. A couple of enterprising people have tried to post it to youtube, only to have it either pulled or kept online with the sound disabled.
Out of curiosity I checked youtube this morning. Indeed, another person tried to post the music video and again it was disabled. This person also posted it to another web site, and of course it was disabled there as well. Warner Brothers or Roadrunner are spending their valuable time and energy to ensure that their artist's music is not being heard, nor the video that the band paid good money for is not being seen.
How much sense does this make? Porcupine Tree can use all the exposure and publicity they can get; it's not likely that they will list in the Billboard Top 40, thanks to all the general pop nonsense that is spoon-fed to the public. But curious eyes and ears do translate to record sales. And Roadrunner, upon signing the band a couple of years ago, has re-worked the band's record distribution system in an effort to increase the likelihood of charting.
And then I considered how my friend Prophetbeatz, an independent musician and producer, released his own new CD yesterday, using every bit of Internet bandwidth he could to create, promote and distribute it. His business model, akin to those employed by Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails in the last couple of years when their record label contracts expired, goes to show that artists can create their own material, intelligently use the Internet to develop and promote material, maintain full artistic control, and not piss off fans in the process.
Prophetbeatz' entire CD, Live From the Gallows, is available for free download on his web site, www.prophetbeatz.com. His reasoning is that by giving people a chance to sample his material they will decide if they like it and buy future products.
"When the DVD is done and CD mastered I will release it for sale and those who like it will support it," he said recently. "People are tired of one hot song and bullshit albums. If they like the album they'll get a t-shirt or other merch available because they feel connected with you."
In addition to promoting his CD, merchandise, and clothing line online at his and other web sites such as Facebook and Myspace, Prophetbeatz also used the Internet to get a sample of the lead-in track for his CD. "Barf always brings in my albums, except for Ghost Stories, which was recorded when he was in boot camp. I give him the idea behind the album and he starts his grind, which in turn puts the battery in my pack. Within a few months we've got a fire; it's just always been the process."
This time around, Barf, stationed hundreds of miles from Prophetbeatz, wrote the poem, recorded a reading of it on his laptop, e-mailed the file, and Prophetbeatz took it from there.
"I worked with the file to make it sound more like he was right there with some reverb, compressor, and a little EQ."
The result is a very rich and fulfilling experience for this listener - stay tuned for a review.
Prophetbeatz is not doing anything different from many ambitious and forward-thinking artists. He has embraced all technologies available to him to create, promote, and make his material available to all, without any roadblocks to fans. The established record companies really need to wake up to the power of technology to keep the music alive, fresh, and what the people want to hear, without stupid limits or irrational control.
Or they just need to step aside altogether.
Yesterday morning, however, I read the posts on a Porcupine Tree forum and was astounded by the new heights in bricks and mortar record company stupidity. This band has an ever-growing, loyal fan base worldwide who hangs on, album after album, for their collective and individual releases. Their newest release, The Incident, is to be released in Europe in early September and internationally two weeks later.
I believe the last time I blogged it was a rant on how stupid and misguided staggered releases are, especially for bands that are outside the mainstream. When you figure bands like this usually don't book radio interviews, Graham Norton, or David Letterman, why the delay? Virtually all promotions for this band are online - there is little to no need for special handling.
Porcupine Tree's label, Roadrunner, released the video of their new single, Time Flies, on their website Monday, only to have it pulled down within hours. Why? Speculation is that parent company Warner Brothers ordered the pull. The video was also launched on an alternate video site, but can only be viewed by computers in certain countries. A couple of enterprising people have tried to post it to youtube, only to have it either pulled or kept online with the sound disabled.
Out of curiosity I checked youtube this morning. Indeed, another person tried to post the music video and again it was disabled. This person also posted it to another web site, and of course it was disabled there as well. Warner Brothers or Roadrunner are spending their valuable time and energy to ensure that their artist's music is not being heard, nor the video that the band paid good money for is not being seen.
How much sense does this make? Porcupine Tree can use all the exposure and publicity they can get; it's not likely that they will list in the Billboard Top 40, thanks to all the general pop nonsense that is spoon-fed to the public. But curious eyes and ears do translate to record sales. And Roadrunner, upon signing the band a couple of years ago, has re-worked the band's record distribution system in an effort to increase the likelihood of charting.
And then I considered how my friend Prophetbeatz, an independent musician and producer, released his own new CD yesterday, using every bit of Internet bandwidth he could to create, promote and distribute it. His business model, akin to those employed by Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails in the last couple of years when their record label contracts expired, goes to show that artists can create their own material, intelligently use the Internet to develop and promote material, maintain full artistic control, and not piss off fans in the process.
Prophetbeatz' entire CD, Live From the Gallows, is available for free download on his web site, www.prophetbeatz.com. His reasoning is that by giving people a chance to sample his material they will decide if they like it and buy future products.
"When the DVD is done and CD mastered I will release it for sale and those who like it will support it," he said recently. "People are tired of one hot song and bullshit albums. If they like the album they'll get a t-shirt or other merch available because they feel connected with you."
In addition to promoting his CD, merchandise, and clothing line online at his and other web sites such as Facebook and Myspace, Prophetbeatz also used the Internet to get a sample of the lead-in track for his CD. "Barf always brings in my albums, except for Ghost Stories, which was recorded when he was in boot camp. I give him the idea behind the album and he starts his grind, which in turn puts the battery in my pack. Within a few months we've got a fire; it's just always been the process."
This time around, Barf, stationed hundreds of miles from Prophetbeatz, wrote the poem, recorded a reading of it on his laptop, e-mailed the file, and Prophetbeatz took it from there.
"I worked with the file to make it sound more like he was right there with some reverb, compressor, and a little EQ."
The result is a very rich and fulfilling experience for this listener - stay tuned for a review.
Prophetbeatz is not doing anything different from many ambitious and forward-thinking artists. He has embraced all technologies available to him to create, promote, and make his material available to all, without any roadblocks to fans. The established record companies really need to wake up to the power of technology to keep the music alive, fresh, and what the people want to hear, without stupid limits or irrational control.
Or they just need to step aside altogether.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Next rant ... WTF???
This blog is built with music in mind. I will, as all good ADD folks will do, veer from time to time to say WTF about stuff that really bugs me. Sorry, back on track very soon.
Prop 8, the California constitutional amendment to define marriage specifically as a union between a man and a woman, was upheld today. Eighteen thousand gay marriages that were performed up until the passage of Prop 8 (my typing hand wants to make the 8 an * I'm that steamed .... leave the shift key alone, Justine ....) will continue to be valid in spite of this.
Talk about being fucked without a kiss.
I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV. I'm also not gay nor am I looking to marry any time soon, but I think this is pretty fucked up.
I'm also a San Francisco native ... for what it's worth ...
Gay people have been around and formed partnerships for a long time. Gay people will continue to be around and form partnerships and keep coming out and being productive members of society ... and a lot of them just might have partnerships that really rival those of their straight, bi, swinging, polyamorous, or otherwise alternative brethren. Why are all those other unions considered OK and legal? They start with a man and woman. Who can marry. And also fall under the title of "in support of families" because of that. I won't say that those unions are any more or less legit than any other, but the irony is strong. What would In Defense of Families say if they really knew what they were supporting?
Straight people also marry without certain lifestyle choices, so to speak, and divorce the moment something goes wrong. Or marry for convenience to keep someone in the country. Or just plain marry because they think it's the thing to do. The whole idea of marriage is something I personally think everyone should take very, very seriously; the alternate lifestyle couples have something that works for them just as much as the more conventional. Marriage is an emotional bond that is actually also a business partnership and should be taken extremely seriously. Says a divorced woman.
The institution of marriage started off as something involving land rights and livestock. And a really short life span. It evolved over time to mean something much bigger, and in an ideal world it means that - there is a couple in the UK celebrating their 81st wedding anniversary ... yes, they are old, and they still kiss each other good night every night, even if they had a squabble that day. Who could ask for more?
Marriage involves certain rights and obligations that will never be covered by domestic partnerships. Or, should we say, domestic partnerships can still be challenged in a way that a marriage never will be.
What are the obligations of marriage? They largely involve property and taxes --- mutual debt, different tax bracket, spousal support, child support and visitation rights (yes, sometimes gay unions gone awry have cheated all involved of visitation and parental rights at the end of the day) ... and, lest we forget, death benefits. Imagine not being entitled to your partner's social security when they die -- who will pay to bury the body?
And who is behind all this denying same-sex marriage? Largely, it's republicans --- the same folks that are charging ahead with the idea of less government and more individual responsibility. Does examining gender at the time of marriage apply? The democrats, including our president, are not that much more helpful; are they afraid to speak out for fear of losing voters, or do they just not care? The people are speaking, however, and they are mad as hell.
Love is love, and families are families. It can't be helped. Iowa, Massachusetts and Connecticut allow same-sex marriages. Vermont and Maine will follow this September. They haven't fallen off the continent or sunk to Atlantis or braved a field of locusts, at least not yet. Nor have Belgium, Spain, Canada, Norway or Sweden.
People don't choose to be marginalized. Nor do people choose who they love. It just happens.
And when it does, these people, let them be Adam and Eve, Adam and Steve, or Anna and Stephanie, deserve full rights and protection.
Prop 8, the California constitutional amendment to define marriage specifically as a union between a man and a woman, was upheld today. Eighteen thousand gay marriages that were performed up until the passage of Prop 8 (my typing hand wants to make the 8 an * I'm that steamed .... leave the shift key alone, Justine ....) will continue to be valid in spite of this.
Talk about being fucked without a kiss.
I'm not a lawyer and I don't play one on TV. I'm also not gay nor am I looking to marry any time soon, but I think this is pretty fucked up.
I'm also a San Francisco native ... for what it's worth ...
Gay people have been around and formed partnerships for a long time. Gay people will continue to be around and form partnerships and keep coming out and being productive members of society ... and a lot of them just might have partnerships that really rival those of their straight, bi, swinging, polyamorous, or otherwise alternative brethren. Why are all those other unions considered OK and legal? They start with a man and woman. Who can marry. And also fall under the title of "in support of families" because of that. I won't say that those unions are any more or less legit than any other, but the irony is strong. What would In Defense of Families say if they really knew what they were supporting?
Straight people also marry without certain lifestyle choices, so to speak, and divorce the moment something goes wrong. Or marry for convenience to keep someone in the country. Or just plain marry because they think it's the thing to do. The whole idea of marriage is something I personally think everyone should take very, very seriously; the alternate lifestyle couples have something that works for them just as much as the more conventional. Marriage is an emotional bond that is actually also a business partnership and should be taken extremely seriously. Says a divorced woman.
The institution of marriage started off as something involving land rights and livestock. And a really short life span. It evolved over time to mean something much bigger, and in an ideal world it means that - there is a couple in the UK celebrating their 81st wedding anniversary ... yes, they are old, and they still kiss each other good night every night, even if they had a squabble that day. Who could ask for more?
Marriage involves certain rights and obligations that will never be covered by domestic partnerships. Or, should we say, domestic partnerships can still be challenged in a way that a marriage never will be.
What are the obligations of marriage? They largely involve property and taxes --- mutual debt, different tax bracket, spousal support, child support and visitation rights (yes, sometimes gay unions gone awry have cheated all involved of visitation and parental rights at the end of the day) ... and, lest we forget, death benefits. Imagine not being entitled to your partner's social security when they die -- who will pay to bury the body?
And who is behind all this denying same-sex marriage? Largely, it's republicans --- the same folks that are charging ahead with the idea of less government and more individual responsibility. Does examining gender at the time of marriage apply? The democrats, including our president, are not that much more helpful; are they afraid to speak out for fear of losing voters, or do they just not care? The people are speaking, however, and they are mad as hell.
Love is love, and families are families. It can't be helped. Iowa, Massachusetts and Connecticut allow same-sex marriages. Vermont and Maine will follow this September. They haven't fallen off the continent or sunk to Atlantis or braved a field of locusts, at least not yet. Nor have Belgium, Spain, Canada, Norway or Sweden.
People don't choose to be marginalized. Nor do people choose who they love. It just happens.
And when it does, these people, let them be Adam and Eve, Adam and Steve, or Anna and Stephanie, deserve full rights and protection.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
First Rant!
I'm already hearing how cool OSI's new album is ... I have heard the sampler. In fact, in a touch of jealousy I checked it out again tonight ... but I have to wonder why Burning Shed is choosing to release the album 2 weeks later in the US as opposed to the UK ...
Do they have a media blitz arranged on either continent? Appearances, mainstream or otherwise?
This is a CD that I would like to pick up at The Sound Garden - the very best CD/record store ever ... I will look for it there, but my guess is that Blood, the CD in question, won't be readily available there, much less without support and those of us who love OSI we will have to get it online from Burning Shed ... back to the question ... why the staggered sale?
Reminds me of Porcupine Tree ... I wanted to turn a "young" listener on to them last weekend, and when I youtube'd "arriving somewhere ..." or "trains" ... much less "Trains + Porcupine Tree" there was nothing there!
If the independent labels yearn for hope, they need to make their music accessible, either in a same-day release date, or not killing youtube links.
I'm bummed that my spell check is stumbling on youtube, but I think that this is all pretty case in point that even independent labels are still missing the point when it comes to getting their music to the masses - or potential masses - who are patient with boundaries.
But not for long!
Do they have a media blitz arranged on either continent? Appearances, mainstream or otherwise?
This is a CD that I would like to pick up at The Sound Garden - the very best CD/record store ever ... I will look for it there, but my guess is that Blood, the CD in question, won't be readily available there, much less without support and those of us who love OSI we will have to get it online from Burning Shed ... back to the question ... why the staggered sale?
Reminds me of Porcupine Tree ... I wanted to turn a "young" listener on to them last weekend, and when I youtube'd "arriving somewhere ..." or "trains" ... much less "Trains + Porcupine Tree" there was nothing there!
If the independent labels yearn for hope, they need to make their music accessible, either in a same-day release date, or not killing youtube links.
I'm bummed that my spell check is stumbling on youtube, but I think that this is all pretty case in point that even independent labels are still missing the point when it comes to getting their music to the masses - or potential masses - who are patient with boundaries.
But not for long!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Here and why ...
Corporate radio. American Idol. M (fricken) TV ....
There is so much talent in the world, yet the American public has enabled and endured spoon-fed music, art and film to the point that it all blends in and looks and sounds the same after a while. Where's the innovation? Hell, where's the variety?
I was listening to the radio when I was riding in a friends' car the other day. The current number one hit in the U.S. is "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. I do have plenty of good things to say about her; she is going way beyond other popular performers with identifiable lyrics, inspired performance, and a determination to stay true to her music rather than pose for Playboy. She also brings to mind the soundtrack to some of my favorite gay bars in 1990s San Francisco.
Everything old is new again?
Please tell me no.
2005 was a banner year for me. As I was rebuilding my life after divorce, a good friend told me about a very music-friendly web site called Myspace and I got on straight away. There wasn't much there yet; it was brand-new. Over time, though, it did populate with a lot of people and musicians and it opened my eyes to a whole new world. Music and art put on display by the folks creating it. At the same time I became friends with a new set of music lovers who had already been getting their music from other means - passed on by friends, mainly, either in person or over the Internet.
Underground music is nothing new. The Internet has definitely helped things along, but I am surprised how far it has yet to go. Critical mass is one factor -- there is simply so much out there! But if I'm not familiar with a majority of the bands I see listed on a popular nightclub's calendar, that's a signal that there's still more to do. These bands are touring. They are selling tickets. They have fans. What they don't have is fame. With the state of radio, who could blame them if perhaps they don't care?
But I do. Three Days Grace has made enough money turning out the same chord progressions. Coldplay, as much as I like them, could retire soon with my thanks for all the great music they have sold. Paul McCartney? The Eagles? Please don't get me started ...
This blog is my own attempt to expose new talent --- I welcome and appreciate artist suggestions, ideas, comments, discussion, and who knows what else. It's not about stroking my ego, it's about stroking theirs. ;-)
Enjoy!
There is so much talent in the world, yet the American public has enabled and endured spoon-fed music, art and film to the point that it all blends in and looks and sounds the same after a while. Where's the innovation? Hell, where's the variety?
I was listening to the radio when I was riding in a friends' car the other day. The current number one hit in the U.S. is "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga. I do have plenty of good things to say about her; she is going way beyond other popular performers with identifiable lyrics, inspired performance, and a determination to stay true to her music rather than pose for Playboy. She also brings to mind the soundtrack to some of my favorite gay bars in 1990s San Francisco.
Everything old is new again?
Please tell me no.
2005 was a banner year for me. As I was rebuilding my life after divorce, a good friend told me about a very music-friendly web site called Myspace and I got on straight away. There wasn't much there yet; it was brand-new. Over time, though, it did populate with a lot of people and musicians and it opened my eyes to a whole new world. Music and art put on display by the folks creating it. At the same time I became friends with a new set of music lovers who had already been getting their music from other means - passed on by friends, mainly, either in person or over the Internet.
Underground music is nothing new. The Internet has definitely helped things along, but I am surprised how far it has yet to go. Critical mass is one factor -- there is simply so much out there! But if I'm not familiar with a majority of the bands I see listed on a popular nightclub's calendar, that's a signal that there's still more to do. These bands are touring. They are selling tickets. They have fans. What they don't have is fame. With the state of radio, who could blame them if perhaps they don't care?
But I do. Three Days Grace has made enough money turning out the same chord progressions. Coldplay, as much as I like them, could retire soon with my thanks for all the great music they have sold. Paul McCartney? The Eagles? Please don't get me started ...
This blog is my own attempt to expose new talent --- I welcome and appreciate artist suggestions, ideas, comments, discussion, and who knows what else. It's not about stroking my ego, it's about stroking theirs. ;-)
Enjoy!
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