Handled by Amanda Nanawa. DMW will cover as much music as it can. In addition, expect some anime sprinkled into the blogs. Actually, expect a lot of things sprinkled in the blogs.
Remember that time when people heard the song "1234" by Feist and saying things like, This sounds like something you can sing on Sesame Street. Well, Feist made her way to Sesame Street. US Sesame Street viewers can catch the new, updated version in August. She sings, cavorts with the Muppets, carries a number four -- oh, its as if she wrote this song with the full intention of getting on the PBS show. Interestingly, The Count doesn't make an appearance?????? I guess this was a full-blown solo, no duet with The Count.
What's that? You can't wait for August? You need to see Feist and those Muppets now? Ok.
"1234... I love counting, counting to the number 4...." All those kids will now be Feist fans.
That was not a typo. EMI actually showed real earnings in the first part of 2008. Amazing what cost-cutting, fat trimming and good ol' fashioned house cleaning can do to a company. Now the hardest part is to keep this going and to continue the bloodletting, I mean, the layoffs.
Here's an excerpt from the memo to staff:
"These are early days," Hands said. "And it can be misleading to look at just one quarter in isolation due to the timings of releases.
"As we all know, the recorded music business is extremely volatile and we cannot count on future quarters always being this good. Nevertheless I believe these numbers are a demonstration of EMI Music's significant progress and all your enormous efforts to transform this business."
The quarter ended just when Coldplay's Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends was released worldwide. So the next earnings report should bode well since it would show the carry over of sales from Coldplay units.
Its still too early to pop champagne corks though. There's still too much work ahead and more cost cutting to make. Plus on the flip side, EMI is hiring the best talented executives from various sides of the entertainment and tech biz to get EMI fitted for a digital future. And let's not forget Guy Hands' vision of corporate sponsorship of musicians. The artist advance will have to be re-invented in such a way that certain corporations will end up being matched with particular artists. That's my view. Instead of EMI taking the risk at 100%, the advance will most likely come from a corporate sponsor or 50% from the sponsor and 50% from revenue share sales. I can see that happening.
Shows that occur inside converted warehouses or garage are always bad places for acoustics. Terminal 5 is that such place. Ladytron returned to New York with more confidence than previous turns. First off, they're on a new label with Nettwerk. Second, Velocifero is "Burning Up" (Ha! Get it!!?!?!?!) the charts and is becoming the fastest selling Ladytron album to date.
The opening act was Norwegian band Datarock. The jumped onstage with their signature jumpsuits and got their few faithful fans to scream for joy. The rest of the patrons just stood and watched while the band performed songs "Computer Camp Love", "I Used to Dance With My Daddy".
Datarock - Photo by Amanda Nanawa
Datarock - Photo by Amanda Nanawa
The band performed a new track called "Snake" which one person from the floor yelled for joy. The band was energetic and knew which side of the venue they were getting the most love from. Ket-Ill jumped off stage and propelled himself to the front row where he took the liberty of dancing amongst the crowd. They tried really hard to get the crowd going. Eventually, the patrons started to loosen up and began dancing to the tune "Fa-Fa-Fa".
Datarock - Photo by Amanda Nanawa
They performed for about 30-35 minutes and left the stage. At that point, the venue was cheering (some really cheering for the band, most really cheering that the band was done and that Ladytron is on next). Honestly, I liked Datarock. I wasn't gushing or expecting much from them but their shows are exciting, funny and entertaining. They kinda remind me of NY band Peelander-Z with their high energy hi-jinx and crowd interactivity. I have a feeling I'll be seeing Datarock again.
Ladytron finally took the stage at around 9:30 PM and the patrons got rowdy. There is a song that is playing in the background before the band gets onstage. No one seems to know what that song is. I wish I knew too. At first, I thought it was Bulgarian but fans seem to hear some Chinese. Whatever it is, its really cool and alluring.
Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa
They started with "Black Cat" and the bass was just pounding through my body. The sound was really loud and there was no way I would've tolerated it without earplugs. The thing about Ladytron live is that they always wear black on stage. I think to Ladytron, a live gig is more akin to dressing up for a swanky cocktail party rather than a rock show.
Helen Marnie of Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa
The patrons were dancing to tunes "High Rise", "Ghosts" and fan fave "Seventeen". The setlist was a good mix of classic and new which really got the floor grooving. I am somewhat surprised that they didn't perform "Tomorrow" or "Versus". I really like those songs and wanted to see them performed live - especially to see the Daniel Hunt/Helen Marnie duet in "Versus". I guess the band felt that those tracks would've been slow but it would've been a good test to see how the crowd reacted anyway. I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking that. The band doesn't speak much but when they do, its usually a "thank you" or the name of the next tune. Helen actually said that the band is so glad to be back in New York.
The blooper of the night belongs to Mira Aroyo when she told the crowd that the next song was "Deep Blue" but it was actually "Predict the Day". Mira realized the mix-up and looked to Helen and smiled and acknowledged her mea culpa. It was really funny and quite cute to see Mira taking her right palm to her forehead - her "Doh! moment. "Deep Blue" is definitely a song meant to be performed in clubs. Its got that sultry rhythm and haunting lyrics that gets people to really grind their hips on the floor. I witnessed a couple dry humping next to me. I didn't want to notice but they just kept on going and going and I thought well, they got the idea of the song.
I noticed Helen Marnie was having a bit of the monitor sound issue during the first half of the set. I think it was during "I'm Not Scared" that she gave icy glances over to the monitor board off-stage. It was really obvious when she kept raising her right arm to signal for them to turn her up. Not just her sound but keyboards also. After the song, she walked off-stage to get this whole thing sorted and she returned several seconds later to the stage. At least the power didn't go or that Helen's mic wasn't turned down.
Mira Aroyo of Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa
Mira was really loose and totally dancing, twirling, dancing a jig while performing "Fighting in Built Up Areas". You could see her with a smile on her face as she thanked the crowd repeatedly. Daniel got into it as well. Even though he was stationed in the back, he would occasionally say the next tune. The only member of the band who doesn't have a mic is Reuben Wu. And he's always stationed in the back behind Helen. I did notice their bass player who kinda looked like a double for 1990s era Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes. And their touring drummer was tucked in the back where the multitude of lights and strobe lights gave a good portion of us epilepsy.
Daniel Hunt of Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa
Their encore featured the newest fan fave "Kletva". Helen got really into singing "Burning Up" and I'm venturing a guess that the tune is the next single - that's my guess. I think it was during this song that Ket-Ill from Datarock appeared on stage with his saxophone and performed alongside Helen and Mira. Mira smiled while Helen rocked hard and was smiling at the craziness Ket-Ill brought on stage.
To end the encore, Helen tells the crowd how grateful they are to the people who came out to see them and said something along the lines of, "I know you were all waiting for this...Here's Destroy Everything You Touch!" and the place went nuts. The best part, Helen gets on the drum kit platform and does a semi-jump off to end the song and the tiny cannons positioned at both ends of the stage shot off confetti to the crowd on the floor.
Helen Marnie of Ladytron - Photo by Amanda Nanawa
Crowd showered with confetti - Photo by Amanda Nanawa
And the gig ends and is entered into Terminal 5's archives as one hell of a loud ass show. BTW, Daniel mentioned to the crowd that Debbie Harry was in attendance. That's cool. But I still wanted the band to play "Versus" live. Maybe next time.
Coldplay's Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - Hear the Entire Album
Ok peeps. The marketing machine has begun. Coldplay's latest Viva La Vida is streaming for free now. You can hear the entire album on IHeartMusic.com (if you're in the US). Other parts of the world can access it via the band's MySpace page. Those other parts of the world are:
- UK
- Ireland
- Europe (except Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain)
- Australia, New Zealand
- Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia
- India
- Russia
- Canada
- Brazil
And yeah, the album did leak as of this past Wednesday. At first pass-through, you'll notice how mellow the album is and yet it still manages to rock out. Its the kind of album that you put on while driving or working in your drawing room. Its a hopeful album. Sure there are some forlorn messages but its heavy on optimism. Really light on Chris Martin's crooning. EMI hopes that you buy it.
What's nice on this recording is that the band brought in Davide Rossi, the violinist extraordinaire who has played for Goldfrapp countless times. His handiwork shines on the tracks "Yes/Chinese Sleep Chant" and "Viva La Vida". You probably remember him on the Supernature tour as the man who looked like Jesus on the keytar. That's him. He's awesome. Watch him perform live as he's on tour with Goldfrapp.
For the past week and a half, I've been listening to Ladytron's latest on heavy repeat on my iPod. Some fans would argue that Velocifero is similar to Witching Hour while others think otherwise.
Photo by Stephane Gallois
I am standing by my first proclamation and that is Velocifero rocks hard. It really rocks hard. I think its their most un-shoe gazey sounding release yet. Sure it has some elements that remind us of their earlier works in songs like "Runaway", "I'm Not Scared" and "The Lovers" but the rest of the album is driven by strong percussions and more Mira Aroyo. The album is balanced with equal vocal duties between Helen Marnie and Mira while Daniel Hunt and Reuben Wu continue to shine on keyboards. What's really interesting about this release is that each song is well-done rhythmically. The band literally had one day off after wrapping up their never ending Witching Hour tour last year before they flew to Paris, France to start recording. To hear these tracks, you have to appreciate the band and their work thus far. Also of note, the band never seems to keep the same label with every album release. This time, the band signed with Nettwerk - home of Sarah McLachlan and Avril Lavigne among others.
Back to the album. All the tracks are memorable and strong. You would think that the album would crap out after "Season of Illusions" but thankfully it doesn't. In fact, it gets stronger, faster and better. There's no half-way point in this album that divides the listening exeperience. It is what the title suggests - it brings speed. "They Gave You a Heart, They Gave You a Name", "Ghosts", "Black Cat", "Deep Blue", "Tomorrow", "Versus", "Burning Up", "Predict the Day" are all good tracks. One song, "Kletva", has Mira covering a famous Bulgarian tune that apparently every Bulgarian born after 1970 would know by heart. At first, I didn't think too much of it. But after delving on the net to find out what the lyrics were, I now have an appreciation for the song and why Mira wanted to cover it. Here's the song in its Bulgarian Broadway show-like glory:
The clip is from a Bulgarian movie titled "Vchera".
Nine Inch Nails collaborator Allessandro Cortini and Vicarious Bliss helped co-produce the album. It explains why some songs sound heavier while others seem to remain within its synth roots.
Now I will post my personal highlights - first reactions - from each track.
1. Black Cat - The first track is a song sung by Mira Aroyo. Yay! And in Bulgarian... wait, this is the first track? Wait a second... has this happened before? Wow, listen to those drums and the synths. Pretty strong.
2. Ghosts - Catchy tune. Makes sense why its the first single. Although, I wish Helen had more lyrics. Otherwise, I like the tune.
3. I'm Not Scared - Remnants of previous Ladytron releases can be heard in this. Its fast and dark.
4. Runaway - New wave opening notes harken back to circa 1980. I think Helen sings about a unicorn being killed. I dunno. The track is all about synths.
5. Season of Illusions - Mira Aroyo sings in English. Holy crap! This track is the kind that grows on you. At first pass-through you're thinking this can't be Mira. But then you slowly accept it and start grooving to it.
6. Burning Up - I like this tune. I'm partial to songs about burning yourself up for someone or something. Like that Springsteen song "I'm on Fire" - one of my faves. Anyway, Helen sings "I've set myself on fire without you... without you..." and I'm thinking boy Helen really liked that person a lot... or maybe she's alluding to menopause or extremely high levels of mitochondria or masturbation. You be the judge.
7. Kletva - This song is a fan favorite for the sheer fact that Mira is covering a famous Bulgarian song that's rife with political overtones, brotherhood and freedom fighting. Translation of the song title - "oath". It sounds nothing like that video I posted above. Nothing.
8. They Gave You a Heart, They Gave You a Name - My first reaction to the tune was is this about clones? Robots? I like dancing to it. But I can't help conjuring this picture in my mind of some sort of artificial intelligence. Maybe its about an iDog?
9. Predict the Day - The tune is cluby. At least it starts off that way with the whistling sounds. Then it switches up into a rock tune with churning guitars and drums pounding; it sets you into a dance frenzy.
10. The Lovers - Columbian band Somekong put some caffeine into this track. I swear to God that was my first reaction. The song itself is short. Really short. Its the shortest track on the album clocking in at 2:39.
11. Deep Blue - This is my favorite track on the album. There's something about the beat of this song that reminds me of Grace Jones. Mira sounds sensual on this track. This is the kind of song you expect to hear in a club where people are grinding their hips and whatnot against each other on the dance floor.
12. Tomorrow - Catchy track. I have a feeling this would be the second single. Its got that hook. What is Helen singing about? A car or a f*ck buddy? Or something else.
13. Versus - Daniel and Helen duet! Its almost like a nod to Lee Greenwood (who passed away last year) and Nancy Sinatra. The lyrics make no sense but that doesn't really matter. The song is all about similie.
So there you go. To compare it to Witching Hour would be a disservice. The album stands on its own. It has a life of its own and you can sense that the band has an idea of what sound they feel comfortable pursuing. I like the album. I also like the fact that i have repeated the entire album 6 times already and have replayed "Versus" over 13 times. Obviously I like the weird song.
September 20 - 21, 2008 will be the dates for this fledgling music fest that takes place on the man-made island of Treasure Island. The island is located in the San Francisco Bay and is connected to the cities of San Francisco and Oakland by a bridge that runs through it.
Here's the list so far:
Saturday, September 20
Justice
TV on the Radio
Goldfrapp
Hot Chip
CSS
Antibalas
Aesop Rock
Amon Tobin
Foals
Mike Relm
Nortec: Bostich + Fussible
- more TBD
Sunday, September 21
The Racontours
Tegan & Sara
Vampire Weekend
Spiritualized
Okkervil River
Tokyo Police Club
The Kills
Dr. Dog
John Vanderslice
The Dodos
Fleet Foxes
- more TBD
Tickets go on sale to the general public on May 30 at 10AM. Not sure if that's Pacific or Eastern time.
Five months into 2008 and EMI is hanging on for dear life to get through the year. The latest news deals with a financial extension with lender Citigroup. June 1 was the deadline for its first milestone and it seems that EMI couldn't meet its target. The problem lies with the company not turning a profit fast enough to meet that first milestone. It would've been difficult, what with the music industry sales slumping across the board. Also, it would help a lot if EMI could get more of their artists in the Top 20 sales.
So now, everyone is turning to Coldplay to save the day. Will Coldplay's Viva La Vida outpace sales of previous releases? That's a tough order to make. Its turning into a bad game of chance - hedging bets on whether Coldplay's new release will accellerate or stall.
Its going to take more time for Guy Hands to reorganize EMI. The milestones set were overly optimistic and everyone kinda knew that when he revealed it at that meeting earlier this year. Hands may be biting off more than he can chew and he's starting to realize how incredibly daunting it is to tear down an old infrastructure and make way to a new idea.
Plus, they really need to re-launch their corporate site. It really sucks.
The video was directed by Joseph Kahn. I would assume most Ladytron fans must've known that since March.
Still, my favorite Joseph Kahn video has to be the one he did for Muse - "Knights of Cydonia". Better than the one he did for The Chemical Brothers, "Get Yourself High".
I like the sleek feel of the "Ghosts" video. You can't go wrong when you add bunnies and a wolf in your video. Ladytron has grown into a fine band and I'm really looking forward to adding Velocifero to my collection.
Trent Reznor never ceases to amaze me. GO visit the NIN site and get your chance to download the new album The Slip.
Here's an excerpt from the site:
as a thank you to our fans for your continued support, we are giving away the new nine inch nails album one hundred percent free, exclusively via nin.com.
the music is available in a variety of formats including high-quality MP3, FLAC or M4A lossless at CD quality and even higher-than-CD quality 24/96 WAVE. your link will include all options - all free. all downloads include a PDF with artwork and credits.
for those of you interested in physical products, fear not. we plan to make a version of this release available on CD and vinyl in july. details coming soon.
Track listing is on the sidebar of the site. But just in case:
1. 999,999
2. 1,000,000
3. letting you
4. discipline
5. echoplex
6. head down
7. lights in the sky
8. corona radiata
9. the four of us are dying
10. demon seed
Ladytron's Velocifero on MySpace.com Music Player NOW!
Wanna know how that new Ladytron album sounds like? Go jump to their MySpace page and give the album a whirl.
Photo: Paris. November 2007. By Stephane Gallois
Note: Doesn't it look like the band is posing to create a human swastika?
First things you'll notice are the strong percussions and three tunes sung by Mira Arroyo - two in her native Bulgarian tongue and the other in English.
Velocifero is more hard-rock driven with their signature Korg synths layered into each track. The real difference are the drum lines - more forward & pronounced. "Ghosts" is the first single with the catchy verse There's a ghost in me... who wants to say I'm sorry... doesn't mean I'm sorry.
Radiohead's Social Network Experiment - w.a.s.t.e. central
In lieu of a message board, the band has launched a social networking site. It is super-niche since its all about Radiohead fans and music but its a worthy experiment nonetheless.
Let's be honest. You hate Facebook as much as I do with all those apps and shit. Who needs it, right? This social network site by the band is more along the lines of iLike or Finetune without those crazy apps. No sheep throwing or hugs to give or ninjas to train. Its all about meeting up, sharing music, talking about the band, and swapping things.
Hmmm... Now I want all my favorite bands to do this!
The first 500 people to purchase Moby's new album "Last Night" beginning at 9am on Tuesday will receive a wristband to meet Moby and have him sign the new CD:
Tuesday, April 1st -- 7-9pm
Virgin Megastore - Union Square
52 East 14th Street
New York, NY 10003
(212) 598-4666
So, its like being on standby to get tickets to be a part of the SNL audience...and yet not because you could be one of the 500 people to actually make their way to the Virgin Megastore in Union Square at 9AM to buy Moby's new CD; and actually get to meet him later on at night. Wow. That was a long sentence.
Its been a decade since French band Air has made people swoon and possibly helped lots of couples conceive kids with their sensual music. To honor the band's achievement, Virgin will re-release Moon Safari as a deluxe anniversary edition.
AIR - MOON SAFARI Anniversary reissue Released April 15, 2008
Recognized 10 years after its original release as a genre-defining classic, “Moon Safari” is not only a benchmark in electronic pop, but also the album that established Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel as two of the most imaginative musicians working today. Having sold over 2 million copies worldwide, this highly revered album has become a consistent catalog best-seller, and has garnered a loyal and time-tested fanbase, crossing many demographic boundaries along the way.
To celebrate the band’s illustrious first 10 years, in which they have enjoyed many career-defining moments and countless critical accolades, VIRGIN is proud to present this expanded, deluxe version of “Moon Safari”, a beautiful artifact which no true AIR fan will want to miss out on.
This strictly limited edition release is a 3-disc package wrapped up in a collector case bound book (DVD-size)
Disc 1 features the seminal debut album while the 10-track second Disc includes rarities, remixes (Beck, Moog Cookbook) and key songs from radio sessions recorded during 1998 on both sides of the Atlantic. Disc 3 - a DVD - is the hour-long Mike Mills documentary “Eating, Sleeping, Waiting and Playing” filmed in New York, London and Paris during Air’s first tour.
TRACKLISTING:
DISC 1: MOON SAFARI
La Femme d’Argent
Sexy Boy
All I Need
Kelly Watch The Stars
Talisman
Remember
You Make It Easy
Ce Matin Là
New Star In The Sky
Le Voyage De Pénélope
DISC 2: REMIXES, RARITIES and RADIO SESSIONS
01.
Remember (David Whitaker Version)
02.
Kelly Watch The Stars (Live on the BBC 1998)
03.
J’ai Dormi Sous L’Eau (Live on the BBC 1998)
04.
Sexy Boy (Live on the BBC 1998)
05.
Kelly Watch The Stars (Moog Cookbook Remix)
06.
Mabrouk (Live on KCRW 1998)
07.
You Make It Easy (Live on KCRW 1998)
08.
Bossa 96 (Demo)
09.
Kelly Watch The Stars (Demo)
10.
Sexy Boy (Beck Sex Kino Mix)
DISC 3: DVD Component: “Eating, Sleeping, Waiting & Playing” (Directed by Mike Mills)
- 60 minute documentary originally released as a limited edition in 1999
- Features four video clips for “Sexy Boy”, “Kelly Watch The Stars”.
“All I Need” and “Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi”
- Previously unseen album graphics by Mike Mills
With Ladytron now on Nettwerk, their upcoming release Velocifero will get a proper treatment. The album is not due for release until June (boo hoo!) but you can listen to the first track off the new album.
Photo: Paris. November 2007. By Stephane Gallois
Jump here to listen to "Black Cat". My first impression so far about the track -- it rocks hard. And Mira Aroyo singing in her native Bulgarian tongue is always a pleasure.
Sounds like Sheryl can't wait to join the AARP caravan.
DETROIT (Billboard) - Sheryl Crow's recent claim that she would be working with Fleetwood Mac surprised a lot of people -- including the members of the classic rock group.
Crow, 46, who's friendly with Mac's Stevie Nicks, told the AOL music website Spinner.com earlier this month that she and the band "definitely have plans for collaborating in the future, and we'll see what happens."
"I think we were all a little surprised (Crow) was announcing that to the world with such certainty," Fleetwood Mac principal Lindsey Buckingham, 58, told Billboard.com with a laugh.
"We have talked about the possibility of bringing another woman into the scene to kind of give Stevie a sort of foil and shake it up a little bit. (Crow) was certainly a name that has come up. We'll have to see."
Buckingham said the group, which last toured in 2004, is considering returning to the road in the first half of 2009, possibly with some new material. He said that he has "a ton of new stuff" that could be used for a new Fleetwood Mac album, its first since 2003's "Say You Will."
McVie's vocal parts do kinda suit Crow, since both can't really hit notes beyond Soprano-like levels. But this news would probably get most people excited. Personally, I say "whatever".
REM *Press Alert* - Mike Mills & Peter Buck are...
...Straight. *Gasp* :)
This was a real press release by Warner Bros. Records and an ingenious way to promote the upcoming Accelerate (April 1st). For years, fans and casual fans of the band wondered about Stipe's sexual preference. Having this fake press release was REM's way of returning the joke. Check it:
Here's an excerpt from the press release:
BURBANK, CA--(Marketwire - March 21, 2008) - R.E.M.'s Mike Mills and Peter Buck announced today that they are both, after years of awkward speculation, heterosexual, or "straight." Singer Michael Stipe declared his relief, and acknowledged that this turn of events was welcomed news, congratulating their courage and candidness.
My favorite line was when Michael said, "Its time to step out of the fog...fag...fog...fa...fog."
This is part of Warner Bros. Records "Cutting-Edge Online Marketing Campaign" for Accelerate, the band's 14th studio album.
If you can't wait for April 1st to check out Accelerate, then go to iLike starting March 24th for the online debut exclusive. iLike will stream the album in its entirety for six days at http://www.iLike.com/R.E.M. The album will also be available for pre-order via iLike's retail links to iTunes and Amazon.com, with a digital version to feature bonus live tracks.
Muse Releases Live-DVD HAARP to Select U.S. Theaters
Five select U.S. cities will show the live-DVD portion of British band Muse's HAARP; which coincides with the April 1st US release of the CD/DVD edition by Warner Bros. Records.
Filmed at London's Wembley Stadium on June 17, 2007, the DVD captures the exuberant spectacle of the band performing in front of a sold-out crowd of nearly 75,000 ecstatic fans, while the CD features audio from the band's sold-out show on the previous night, June 16th. Both discs include tracks from their latest album, "Black Holes and Revelations," including Modern Rock chart hits "Knights Of Cydonia," "Starlight," and "Supermassive Black Hole." That came straight from the press release.
What's Muse and will you like it? Why don't you watch the video (Below) to "Knights of Cydonia" and you decide. I LOVE that video.
Here's a taste of what's on the live-DVD. The song being performed is "Supermassive Black Hole":
Here are the cities that will show HAARP on April 1st, 2008:
Seattle, WA:
April 1, 7 p.m.
Pacific Science Center Laserdome
2nd Ave North
Seattle, WA 98109
http://www.PacificScienceCenter.org
San Francisco, CA
April 1, 8 p.m.
The Clay Theatre
2261 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA 94115
http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/SanFrancisco/ClayTheatre.htm
Los Angeles, CA
April 1, 8 p.m.
Vista Theatre
4473 Sunset Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 660-6639
New York City, NY
April 1, 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.)
Village East Theater
181 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10003
And on April 11 2008:
Boulder, CO
April 11, 8 p.m.
Fiske Planetarium @ University of Colorado
Boulder, CO 80309
http://fiske.colorado.edu/
Radiohead & Aniboom Launch Online Music Video Contest
Not to be outdone by Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead and Aniboom announce their online music video contest.
As reported in TV Week, the contest will award the winners a $10,000 prize to produce a full-length music video. Aniboom said the contest will be promoted on Adult Swim and MySpace, where fans can vote.
The contest begins today, with the winner to be chosen by members of Radiohead. More information can be found at http://aniboom.com/radiohead.
The spokesman said Brunkert hit his head against a glass door in his dining room, shattering the glass and cutting himself in the neck. He managed to wrap a towel around his neck and left the house to seek help, but collapsed in the garden.
A neighbor found the body of 62-year-old Ola Brunkert on Sunday evening at his house in a coastal area outside the eastern town of Arta, a Civil Guard spokesman told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Nine Inch Nails just keeps on raising the bar with Ghosts I - IV. Recently on their website, Trent says "Thank you" to all who have downloaded, bought, ordered, ripped and shared Ghosts I - IV. Step one has been a success. On to step two - the visual aspect of the music. Here's an excerpt from the posting on the site:
This record began as an experiment with us using sound as a means to describe visuals. Early in the project we thought it would be interesting to see what the community could create / collaborate on as a reaction to the music we were making. We wanted to keep the canvas as blank as possible for you, hence the lack of descriptive song titles and the primarily textural artwork and packaging.
They have collaborated with YouTube to host a "film festival" of sorts where the community will utilize music from Ghosts I - IV to make visual projects that they produce and upload.
The concept is for you to take whatever tracks you feel inspired by from Ghosts and create what you feel should accompany them visually. You will be able to see all of the submissions, and a team of us (including me) will be sorting through them and setting aside ones we feel are exceptional. Eventually (within a couple of months?) we will present a virtual "film festival" with me and some special guests presenting selections of your work.
How cool is that?
Speaking of which, remember when I wrote about how we won't know results of how Ghosts I - IV will do in terms of sales? You probably saw this posted elsewhere but to re-cap, NIN earned $1.6 Million since the March 2 release online. Apparently over 800k transactions occurred during its first week and that includes download digitals, physical and pre-orders.
Australian Woman Stabs Her Husband Over Springsteen CD
An Australian woman, Karen Lee Cooper, pleaded guilty to manslaughter when she told the court that she never intended to kill her husband.
Apparently, Cooper was drinking at home when her husband told her to take the Springsteen CD out of the player. Apparently he doesn't like Springsteen. She on the other hand, was drinking and doesn't want to be told what to do. So she stabbed him with a kitchen knife and ended the arguement. Now she will be serving eight years in an Australian prison for killing her husband...by accident.
Rumors about Goldfrapp performing at Coachella were confirmed 3/11/08 with the official posting on Coachella's site. Jump here for the rundown.
In addition, Aphex Twin, Kate Nash, Serj Tankian, Redd Kross and Adele have been last minute additions to the lineup.
And then check out the new "luxury camping" offered by Coachella. Here's a description:
The comfort packages feature air beds with sleeping bag and pillows for each camper. Beyond the sleeping accommodations, campers in this special area will enjoy larger camping plots with more privacy, as well as access to upgraded amenities including deluxe showers and restrooms, complimentary breakfast buffet and adjacent parking.
That takes "roughing it in tent city" to a new level.
Bjork Makes Future Music Acts Pay for the Price of "Independence"
Yesterday, news broke all over the wires about Bjork successfully pissing off the Chinese government and "hurting Chinese citizens feelings" when she screamed out "Tibet! Tibet!" after performing "Declare Independence". Thanks to speaking her mind in a Communist country, the Chinese government retaliates by further scrutinizing future performers who plan to include China in their touring itinerary. How strict will the Chinese government go, no one knows. Let's assume that they just get banned or censored.
Photo: AP
This is how Associated Press describe the picture in their caption: Pop singer Bjork, of Iceland, performs at her solo concert in Shanghai Sunday, March 2, 2008. Icelandic singer Bjork has ignited criticism from Chinese fans after she declared 'Tibet! Tibet!' to end a passionate performance of her song 'Declare Independence' during a concert in China. The outburst, at the finale of Bjork's Sunday night concert in Shanghai, made audience members uneasy, by publicly touching on Tibetan resistance to Chinese rule, and set off complaints online.
Ghosts I - IV Nine Inch Nails Delivers the Price Points & the Goods
By now, you have already heard (or read) about Nine Inch Nails' latest Ghosts I - IV. Taking a page straight out of Radiohead's playbook on mixing free with paid downloads, Trent Reznor goes several steps further and offers other price points with interesting value-added bundles. Digital Music News had a headline that read, "NIN Injecting Steroids into Radiohead Model" which is actually true. Apparently, the site was down Monday and then went up again today. "Not enough beer at the party," was what Reznor wrote on his site when it was down. It then pointed to other sites that offered the album while the site was going through maintenance.
The model is what I'm going to talk about. The music, well its NIN, what did you expect? Alright, Ghosts I has nine tracks of instrumentals which can easily find places in film, TV and video games.
Where the model and price points are concerned, this is what you get for the price you pay:
Price Point 1 - Free; you get nine tracks of instrumentals plus a pdf of the artwork/photographs as well as wallpapers, avatars and digital pics in various sizes. Tracks are DRM-free and of high quality at a bit rate of 320 kbps(not 128 kbps like shitty Apple iTunes).
Price Point 2 - $5 download of Ghosts I - IV; you get all 36 tracks in a variety of digital formats including the 40 page pdf. Same as above.
Price Point 3 - $10 2xCD Set; you get the physical discs as well as an immediate download of all 36 tracks in a variety of digital formats. The two audio CDs come in a six panel digipak package with a 16 page booklet. The CDs will be shipped April 8, 2008.
Price Point 4 - $75 Deluxe Edition Package; you get Ghosts I - IV in a fabric slipcase which contains two audio CDs, 1 data DVD with all 36 tracks in multi-track format, a Blu-Ray disk containing Ghosts I - IV in high-definition 96/24 stereo which is accompanied with a slideshow. This package ships out May 1, 2008 while all 36 tracks are available for immediate download in various digital formats.
Price Point 5 - $300 Ultra-Deluxe Limited Edition Package, SOLD OUT. Only 2500 were made available. What did it have that people would shell out that much money? According to Digital Media Wire, it had a four-LP vinyl set, limited to 2,500 copies signed by Reznor himself; in addition to what the $75 Deluxe Edition Package was offering.
Back when Radiohead launched their experimental pay-as-you-go service, Reznor was closely following the reactions to the marketplace as well as fan reactions. Once the band's contract with Interscope expired last October, Reznor felt confident that now is the time to try and make a go with self-distribution. Its pretty obvious that Reznor placed a lot of thought into the price point system as well as the value-added bundles and packages. We won't know until maybe next month if this system worked. My gut feeling says "yes" because the value-added bundles were actually attractive as the price increased. And not only that, the bundles didn't diminish in value, they were becoming competitive, piling on one more piece of attraction that can make the consumer pay more just to get that added product.
Where Radiohead had set the blueprint, Nine Inch Nails has raised the bar on standard. More bands should follow this approach and try to match or beat what Nine Inch Nails has offered to the market. Of course, each band is different with different needs. Self-distribution only benefits bands and musicians that already have a strong fan base and are established worldwide. It would be difficult to pull off what NIN did if a new unknown band was just starting out. I can't imagine a band like Maps or Black Kids doing this. Black Kids already offered free downloads off their EP on a promotional scale but that's all. But, its not hard for major labels to try and emulate what NIN just did. It really is just a matter of time before a major label (maybe EMI) will follow NIN's example.
All Points West - Radiohead & Jack Johnson Headline
Here's the latest on the "Coachella of the East" show aka All Points West. Radiohead will do two nights while Jack Johnson will close out the final night. Both are headlining. The first All Points West Music & Arts Festival is to be held Aug. 8-10 at Liberty State Park in good 'ol New Jersey!
Here is the tentative list with so much more to announce:
Underworld, Kings Of Leon, Cat Power, the Roots, the New Pornographers, Girl Talk, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Youssou N'Dour, Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Metric, CSS, Chromeo, the Go! Team, Amadou & Mariam, the Black Angels, Sia, the Felice Brothers, K'Naan, Jason Isbell, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Alberta Cross, the Virgins, Black Kids, Mates Of State, Duffy, Forro In The Dark, Nicole Atkins, Juana Molina, Little Brother, Rogue Wave, Neil Halstead and Your Vegas.
Tickets go on sale Feb. 29. Single-day tickets are $89, while three-day passes will sell for $258. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Friends of Liberty State Park, which is working to make environmentally friendly improvements to the venue.
Here's the initial lineup. So, no to a Led Zeppelin reunion but there will be a show by Lez Zeppelin. And this should be filed under the "Yay!" column for Ladytron, Jose Gonzalez, Sigur Ros & Black Kids
Pearl Jam
Metallica
Jack Johnson
Kanye West
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss featuring T Bone Burnette
Phil Lesh & Friends
My Morning Jacket
The Allman Brothers Band
The Raconteurs
Willie Nelson
Death Cab for Cutie
B.B. King
Sigur Ros
Levon Helm and the Ramble on the Road
Ben Folds
O.A.R.
The Bluegrass Allstars Feat. Luke Bulla, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Bryan Sutton
M.I.A.
Umphrey's McGee
Iron & Wine
Yonder Mountain String Band
The Swell Season
Talib Kweli
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival
Gogol Bordello
Broken Social Scene
Robert Randolph's Revival
Rilo Kiley
Mastodon
Lupe Fiasco
Against Me!
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
Pat Green
Ozomatli
Tegan & Sara
Solomon Burke
Drive-By Truckers
!!!
The Avett Brothers
Israel Vibration
Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck
A Very Special Acoustic Performance by Larry Campbell, Jackie Greene, Phil Lesh & Teresa Williams
Aimee Mann
Ladytron
The Fiery Furnaces
Orchestra Baobab
Ghostland Observatory
Jose Gonzalez
Dark Star Orchestra
Minus the Bear
Donavon Frankenreiter
Lez Zeppelin
State Radio
Battles
Jakob Dylan
Two Gallants
The Sword
Vampire Weekend
Little Feat
Nicole Atkins
The Felice Brothers
Mason Jennings
MGMT
The Lee Boys
Black Kids
Serena Ryder
Steel Train
Grupo Fantasma
Back Door Slam
Bonnaroo Comedy:
Bonnaroo Late Night Chat About with David Cross
Janeane Garofalo
Zach Galifianakis
Jim Norton
Brian Posehn
Mike Birbiglia
John Mulaney
Michelle Buteau
More to come...
Tickets to the 2008 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will go on sale next Saturday, February 16, at Noon Eastern time through Bonnaroo.com. The music and arts festival is from June 12 - 15, 2008 in Manchester, Tennessee.
Taking a Closer Look at Guy Hands' Strategy with EMI
If someone asked you in 1990 to predict the state of the music industry by 2000, what would you have said? If you answered, "Digital downloads are going to kill the status quo of the business and the current business model will no longer sustain the industry," then you're either Nostradamus or a freak. If you are reading this blog, you are reading it because: 1) You need to get a clearer picture of what is happening at EMI (and no - saying "you're all fucked isn't a good enough answer); 2) How other entertainment industries are dealing with a somewhat similar predicament; 3) you are a well-known musician who wants to read an intelligent commentary because all other blogs are written by fools who don't know business models or how this will actually turn out (because I seriously know where this is going).
EMI - A British Institution About to Undergo a Massive Makeover
Change scares people. The word is used a lot these days - (US politics especially). But in this arena where the music industry must survive under the daunting weight of technology, change is necessary and good.
Guy Hands, EMI's chairman (see picture below) unveiled his restructuring program to the public Tuesday where the focus is more on acquiring and retention of bankable artists and centralising the marketing and sales units from all the labels that reside under the EMI label. This could mean labels like Mute, Astralwerks and other EMI associated labels will be forced to merge and slough away their redundant departments.
REUTERS/Kieran Doherty Doesn't Guy Hands look like a fat Jerry Springer?
The task of actually re-building the record label is tough but doable. Its the task of actually re-teaching the music industry how to make money without compromising artist integrity or their welfare that's tricky. The reason most bands and musicians are voicing concern about the plan is because Guy's plan basically eradicates the decades-old system of granting advances to musicians prior to touring or making a profit on album sales or royalties (if they get any, that is). Instead, Guy's plan is more of a rev-share approach and bringing in more corporate sponsors to defray rising tour costs. Its not certain if this plan also affects lables like Parlophone, Blue Note, Mute and Astralwerks among so many others (Capitol & Virgin in USA merged last year but still retain autonomy from each other). I assume it does.
Time will tell if musicians will buy into Guy's plan. Those musicians who are balking at the re-structuring plan now will most likely eat their own words a year from now if this plan does in fact succeed. Personally, I think what Guy is doing what is necessary for an industry in need of rehabilitation. Major label artists have been sucking on the teet of their record labels for far too long (yes, Robbie Williams - that means you. Popular in the UK, not in the US). They really have to shut up and think of surviving in the business because at the end of the day, that is what making music for the masses is - a business. Musicians who are savvy and have some sort of inkling on how to be creative - financially and musically - they are the ones who will benefit from this plan.
Here's an excerpt from the plan:
In a series of presentations to staff, artists and managers, Guy Hands, EMI Group’s chairman, is unveiling a fundamental reshaping of the business to reflect the rapidly-changing nature of the music industry. The changes include:
* Repositioning EMI’s labels to ensure they will be completely focussed on A&R and maximising the potential of all their artists
* Developing a new partnership with artists, based on transparency and trust, and helping all artists monetise the value of their work by opening new income streams such as enhanced digital services and corporate sponsorship arrangements
* Bringing together all the group’s key support activities including sales, marketing manufacturing and distribution into a single division with a unified global leadership
* The elimination of significant duplications within the group to simplify processes and reduce waste
The changes, which will be implemented over the next six months, will enable the group to invest more in its A&R operations both to identify and sign promising new artists and to maximise the potential of its existing roster.
Click on the following for details on the EMI re-structure.
It seems Terra Firma is truly cleaning house at EMI Music. So far, EMI Group chief exec Eric Nicoli has left and now UK & Ireland chairman and chief exec Tony Wadsworth has been shown the door. He served EMI for 26 years. It may have something to do with this. Ahhh, the "fruits & flowers" budget. I assume the UK division really exploited that budget. Roger Ames, head of EMI Music in the US, is expected to assume UK-based A&R duties.
This kinda explains the lack of confidence publicly displayed by EMI artists such as Coldplay and Robbie Williams. Both have threatened to leave the label due to these shifting circumstances.
And the drama doesn't end there. Reports continue surfacing that EMI (considered the smaller of the big labels - Warner Music, UMG, Sony BMG) is planning to pull out of the RIAA by March 31 if things don't improve on their end.
And the latest news to hit the wires -- about 2,000 jobs will be cut from EMI's workforce -- if Guy Hands' re-structuring proposal is accepted. He still needs to reveal those plans, which is slated for later this month. Included in the slash-and-burn approach is the dropping of EMI artists - which at last count numbers at 14,000 strong. I'm not sure if that's EMI proper or includes division/labels under EMI such as Capitol, Astralwerks, Mute or Parlophone.
Follow the EMI story this year. Your favorite artists will be affected one way or another. I have a feeling that Goldfrapp's marketing camp fell victim to this already. And they won't be the only ones.
Bis fans, check out this performance of Bis' rare outings in the UK. Bis covered Human League's "Don't You Want Me?"
And visit Manda Rin's MySpace page for her solo tracks. Just a matter of time before MySpace Records wises up and includes Manda in their roster of artists. I mean, they do have Polysics for the love of God!
While people have lists and powerpoints to show their "best of" 2007, I will just forgo all of that nonsense and just write. I'll try to be entertaining.
I thought back to early 2007 and wondered what my most significant music purchases were during that time. I remember Air's "Pocket Symphony". That release was just perfect for my travel to Tokyo. Its very easy to get influenced by Japanese sounds and culture and this release was Air's way of saying "Merci" to the Japanese.
And then somewhere around Spring time, I ended up with Bjork's "Volta"
. That release was just perfect for my travel to Tokyo. Its very easy to get influenced by Japanese sounds and culture and this release was Air's way of saying "Merci" to the Japanese.