Comments

Here's hoping the full length version of "Sara" makes it onto this
I use Spotify everyday, but I've also bought more music in the past eighteen months since I can't remember when. It's probably due to the inevitable guilt trip brought on by articles like this (plus the occasional David Lowery rant) but the net effect is the same. I support the artists that I care most about and I do it frequently. As for "making it up" to musicians by buying concert tix and merch instead? Fine, so long as bands don't need to tour 11.9 months out of the year in order to survive. But you know this is exactly what they have to do. I'd really like to see a return to the days when artists could actually release a record (or two!) every single year. Tough to do when you're on the road incessantly but that's how artists grow and make thier very best music, not by making us wait an entire presidential term between albums while they tour non-stop.
I wonder if Albini is still crotchety enough to get mad at this writer for forgetting that he hates being called a "producer". Agreed though, he's mellowed with age.
What's so wrong about romanticizing 'Diane Young", Great song!
About every six months or so I see an article like this and it annoys me. For a lot of the same reasons mentioned above I feel like Lowery and ppl like him are out-of-touch and a bit cranky. And then I pause to think about the amount of music I've listened to for free lately and I feel a certain rush of guilt. I think back to being a teenager in the '90s and having to actually buy CD's. I inevitably go and purchase a bunch of MP3's on iTunes out of this guilt that I otherwise wouldn't have, out of habit, mind you. So, yes, Lowery sounds like a dipshit, most of the time. But in my particular case, I need these dipshits to remind me once every so often that I haven't been [financially] rewarding my favorite artists enough lately.
I've basically been refreshing this site ever since Hesitation Marks dropped cuz I knew it was time for a TR entry in this series. With that said...seriously that top 3 could have easily been picked by someone who just fucking Googled "NIN" and spent 5 minutes researching. In particular, time has shown that there is nothing unimpeachable about DWS. It's a real headtrip sure, but it's a mess of a record that would not...I repeat would NOT be so highly favored if it came out in 2004 instead of '94. Rock critics are such great generalists...and the years '91 - '94 are given some unnecessary hegemony of critical awe. All of this is just to say...The Fragile, WTF??? Should have been top 3, easily.
To quote Robert Duvall in Apocolypse Now "Charlie-Don't-Surf!"
Marshals are Dead. Nuff said.
I mean yeah...I would prefer not to see this sort of thing. But before getting too angry at it I guess one must wonder if Minor Threat is even relevant enough these days for this to matter that much. In 1993 of course this would have been a different story...
The least focused but most musical Radiohead record, and that's why I love it. Like the White Album or Sandinsta! this was RH's moment to just let it all hang out and be unencumbered music-makers, instead of stern artists on a mission. The odd nooks and crannies are what make this a record to return to years later.
Yeah, I believe the bar is pretty highly set for either of these artists when performing solo, let along as a duo. That said (and yes, not the greatest harmonies) live performances on network TV late shows always sound like they're marginally better than a boombox recording of me singing in the shower* *note: I sound pretty awesome when singing in the shower so that might not be that bad after all.
Issac talks exactly like he sings
I believe in Spotify. And I agree with Lowery. Spotify is a great program, in of itself. My experience is based on the free service's limited features, ads, and "that girl"'s voice every 20 min. Still, I've never had a better online music listening experience. And, a fraction of a penny is better than nothing, I guess. Being that Spotify is so good, and we ALL use it, Lowery's comments (however flawed) are necessary. I don't agree with everything he said, but I defend his right to say them. It's essential for someone like him to stir up the pot every so often on this particular issue. After his broadside last week I had to stop and put things in perspective. For a guy who used to make music purchases his top use of disposable income, I've bought scant few downloads in the past year (and nary a cd or record). Maybe Spotify is to blame for this but I've gone back and looked at my favorite Spotify discoveries and headed over to iTunes to rectify this Which brings me to my one suggestion for Spotify. They need to add a "Buy Now" button. Oh, and they def need to write Dave Lowery a check, I'm sure thier subscriber base just shot up too.
lol, I hate that girl's voice
Phantogram is amazing, but it needs to be clarified; they are not a NY band, they are an Upstate NY band. This is very important!!! ;)
There's nothing Indie Rock about her. There's also nothing wrong with that. I think Lana is just being herself (okay, despite the name). Her style and appearance is just part of an overall package. I don't think she's too concerned with credibility and being part of any scene. No, not "Indie" at all. She is however too different, too oddball to be considered truly mainstream. Yes, we are all paying attention because she is gorgeous and dresses very stylishly. But I heard something quite magical in Video Games, and to a lesser extent I hear it here too. The arguments against here are valid while we wait for her to release further material. Once she actually puts out a full-length than we can really asses her talents as an artist and creator. For now, she provides a welcome distraction from life's daily doldrums. She does it without being crass or reliant upon sex and that's not always easy for a female singer. Maybe that's all she truly wants to do is entertain people. And what is wrong with that? I say that as long as she's true to her unique (albeit unoriginal) aesthetic, that's fine with me. Hopefully she will grow as writer and performer with time.
Exactly, see my post, Upstate is where it's at.
New Paltz, Hudson, and, yup even Albany...it's all happening upstate these days kiddos, time to leave the 5 boroughs behind. F*ck Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Bed Sty, the whole nine yards. Brooklyn is done, Manhatten's a ghost town. Move out to the periphery and try to make art there. And as others have said, Texas and Georgia are great places for musicians right now too.
The only song on here that I can honestly say is both a classic tune and by a classic artist is from the 1990's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californication_(album)
Honestly, I can't stick up for this. Love the original and respect Jamie XX, but this doesn't say much. It truly sounds like the kind of interlude between two tracks that generally pads side two of a record.