Comments

Indie Niche Artist = Coldplay
I'm hesitant to respond because it looks like you're trolling. But, as a father to two little girls, maybe I can explain... There is no shortage of building kits and science-based toys in colors like green, red and blue. They are typically targeted to boys. Say what you will about the color pink, but little girls love it. They just do. I am sure there are exceptions, but I have raised my girls on punk rock and sports and they still love pink. They would rather have a pink science kit with rainbows and unicorns on it. I think that is fine. There is nothing wrong with that. I am not sure why you take issue with a blond girl as their mascot. Do you hate blond girls? They are called GoldieBlox for Pete's sake. Are we supposed to hate blond people now? Their calling is to make more girl-friendly educational toys: science, math, etc. Their calling isn't to have the most socially-conscious mascot. If anything, I take the most offense to the intentional misspelling of the word blocks. Anyway... do you have any kids?
I agree that the idea behind Spotify is a legit, but I am wondering if the cost just isn't sustainable. I mean, why do I pay $200 for - lets be honest - crap on TV and think it is okay? Internet-wise, all of the heavy lifting is done at the office (which I pay for, as well), so I would gladly pay a higher fee to unlimited access to music in order for artists to be better compensated. Obviously actors on TV are making money, right? I mean, you don't hear many stories about James Van Der Beak living in a 400 square-foot apartment, eating beans out of a can. It works for TV, so maybe it can work for music. I am trying to be solutions-oriented. I think we would all pay more for music if we knew it was getting to the artists. I am not sure Spotify is evil, necessarily. I just think they charge too little for their service. It needs to be more expensive. Someone needs to come along and create a platform where artists make a sustainable living while consumers have clear access to content. There has to be a way to make it happen, even if it requires that older music is not included. For instance, Radiohead has a catalog of music that is dripping with music executive royalties. What if they decided that all of their future music would be available to a new Spotify-like service that charges users like $100 a month. obviously, other bands could do the same and it critical mass would eventually make it worth-while to the consumer. It seems like it is doable...
The take-down notices were not filed by Lowery. They were filed by the NMPA, based on a study that he conducted. I have no opinion on Lowery's music because I have never heard it. I am guessing I might recognize that Cracker song, but I am not sure. I just want everyone to be clear on the fact that Lowery is not personally going after these lyric sites. Here is something to consider... As a thirty-something with kids, I spend almost $200 a month on a Time Warner package that I barely use. I mean, a home phone (really?), slow internet and digital cable. There is nothing on cable that I want to see, save for sporting events and the occasional news. I pay for like 600 channels of garbage, but feel fine spending $200 a month for it. Our home internet gets used, but never for anything of note: email, occasional browsing, etc. Why do we as a culture feel like that is okay but wince at paying for an album? What if a service were to charge a solid fee, like $150 - $200 a month for unlimited access to content. Could they then pay more to the artists? What if you could create an a la carte type of "channel" based on genre or something...? I feel like I would do that. i want artists to make more money. I enjoy music, but I also felt fine paying $15 for a tape or cd back in the day. That felt fair. In my book, we cannot bitch and moan about artists not making any money and then go and stream free albums all day long. Music is something worth paying for, IMHO.
I thought you were friendly and asked decent questions. He didn't really seem all that unfriendly. The whole thing just felt very awkward, especially when you brought up Ramona. From the get-go, he didn't want to be answering your questions... Since you mentioned NPR, I would recommend checking out the recent Radio Times podcast about whether we should ban tipping in restaurants. As a guest, Marty had some guy from Cornell University who is an expert on tipping. Every time she asked him a question, he seemed like it was a pain in his ass to respond and always answered in a super laconic way. You could tell she wanted to kick him in the nuts. Anyway, reminded me of this...
I have to admit that I am a little concerned about the increase in this type of thing. Maybe it is just covered more. That said, she handled this the wrong way. She should have caught the thing, taken a bite and asked if he had fries. Either that or laugh it off and hand out 100 cheeseburgers at their next show. Now she is just going to have people throwing cheeseburgers at her all the time.
I don't think I have ever heard a Foals song, so I won't comment on the band. I will say, though, that I get his point about vinyl. I mean, if you're a chef and you create a solid dish that someone decides to mush up in a blender, add water and drink through a straw, you might be inclined to recommend that they eat it the way it was intended. I have vinyl and I like it, but I also listen to digital. As a music consumer, I typically do what I can to hear music when I want (working out, at the office, in the kitchen, etc...) If I MADE music, I might have a different opinion. The guy is free to have his opinion on the issue. I don't care. Maybe I will open Spotify and listen to a Foals song.
I hear what you are saying, but isn't it less of a double standard since he is a guy and we are discussing his appearance? I mean, wasn't that Lauren's beef in the first place, that no one took her art seriously since she was a woman? In my opinion, people are going to discuss an artist's looks. As long as it is done tastefully, it doesn't bother me. In this particular instance, I do not think it should even be questioned due to his dramatic change in appearance. I mean, c'mon. He is like bizarro-Mangum here. I would hope that most people on this site can question someone's appearance and still appreciate their art. FWIW, I think Robin looks great here. I only questioned his choice of shirt. Even that was more of a "I wonder why" thing. i think the CHVRCHES thing was more about blatant sexual comments being directed towards Lauren.
I'm going to put on my stylist's cap here for a minute: I was partial to the full beard, but I think he is handsome either way. I didn't care much for the long hair, but who am I to judge another man's preference? What is with the old, dirty and stretched-out white t-shirt, though? I mean, if you're about to go on (arguably) the best late night television program, would you be like, 'Hey, I think I'll sport this old, oversized, dirty undershirt!" No, probably not. I mean, doesn't he have a few other favorite t-shirts that he could wear? I am not even criticizing him. In fact, I think he pulled it off. I am just curious. I have favorite shirts that I wear around the house... Like old undershirts that might have a rip or something. I get that. But I don't wear those to work. I have other favorite shirts that I wear to work.
Just another voice letting you know that Bleeding Heart Show is one of the better songs in the past 10 years. From any band.
If my boyfriend put on a short-sleeved mock-turtleneck, I'd probably break up with him, too.
We all need to assume that Thom is much more well versed than us in things such as digital music distribution, music consumption, etc. That is a given, so arguing otherwise is a waste of time. That being said, I don't think Thom's beef is necessarily with Spotify, per se, but the way in which humans interact with music these days. In that sense, I kind of agree with him. I am in my mid thirties and still maintain a close relationship with music. I love albums and bands. I am not a fan of the "single" culture that we have created. Digital music is increasingly about the single, not the album. Although Thom has attempted to cross this threshold himself, I do not really think it suits him. Spotify is a good service. I am listening to it as I am writing this, but it cannot be ignored that it comes at a non-monetary price (to both us and the artists). The ability to listen to everything, all the time, I buy fewer albums. I am less likely to throw down $15 for a Pinback album when I know I can just listen to it on Spotify when the desire hits. I'll still buy the new Radiohead album, but even those types of artists are getting smaller. I have always been a huge BTS fan, and I still do not own a physical copy of There Is No Enemy. I hate that about myself. I also hate that I've already heard a 3rd of the new Arcade Fire album... I miss ripping open the album and throwing it on for the first time. My issues are nostalgia, and I think that is what is driving Thom as well. That, and the thought that - along with nostalgia - he is personally getting screwed financially, which makes it all the worse. He is going to lose the fight, but maybe he knows that... the Charge of the Light Brigade and all of that...
Listen, I hate (real) criminals and I personally think the prison systems are way too cushy, but I think we all need to take a step back and look at what they are trying to do here... I think we can all agree that the prison systems in most countries are full of people with mental illnesses, screwed-up childhoods and other afflictions that they didn't ask for or want. Sure, there are also plenty of socios and psychos, but whatever. How is it bad to donate the money to music therapy programs in these places? How is that bad? Is the only argument that the money would be better spent going to some hipster rock band's tour? Really? I mean, I don't think J.S. Mill would agree with you... I think they are using the money in a noble way. I think they're using in a way that makes people uncomfortable because it exposes deep-seated bigotry. What is it? $30k? Drake spent more on his last suit. Why aren't you up-in-arms about that?
Yeah, that bitch-ass Kjartan is really kicking himself now! I bet he is sitting at home right this minute thinking about how he could have sold out to HBO, too. Poor guy.
Yeah, at a certain point I just pull away and wait for the damn album to come out. This is getting too circus-y for me.
I guess I have to say that KILAS is my favorite BTS album, but I listen to YIR more often... I love it. I also like AMOTF, too, which most people do not like. I have seen them play three times and my favorite moments are always from songs off of YIR. There is not a bad song on this album. In fact, "Goin' Against Your Mind" and "The Wait" are two of my favorite songs of all time. Doug never seems like that nice of a guy. He seems bitter and pissed off all the time, but I can't help but like him. Brett Netson seems kind of like an asshole, too. Nelson, on the other hand seems really cool. Not sure why I get those vibes, but whatever...
Well one thing is for DAMN sure... they both have TERRIBLE taste in women.
IDK... I think I might hate Hannity more than anyone, but he succeeded in making Ryan Adams look like a total fool. I even like Ryan Adams. I am not sure why he would have responded to Hannity's tweet about responsibility - which is actually somewhat true - when I would imagine 99.9% of what Hannity tweets on an hourly basis is total shit. Also, Claire, are you suggesting that calling someone out on Twitter is (debatably) the same as saying something to someone's face in real life? Really? Ryan Adams looks like a douche and it pains me that this whole fiasco occurred. The fact that you guys are trying to defend him is even worse, if only that it shines a light on everything and gives Hannity the bandwidth he so cherishes.
Okay, let's not forget that these are "private" emails between a guy and his ex-wife. It isn't like Jack is suing Dan. He didn't publicly come out and make accusations against Dan. That bears repeating, IMO. I don't like either one of these bands, particularly, but I do like some of the Dead Weather and Raconteurs songs. At least Jack White can make more than one song. I mean, come on Dan. You have like 16 albums with the same song.
This album came out the summer after I graduated from 8th grade (Catholic school). I was preparing to go to public High School and was both scared and excited beyond belief. I had always been a music guy, but without the internet or a decent music store, I was limited. I had a cousin from Chicago who would make mixed tapes and bring them to the beach every summer. I would use those to explore as much as I could: Dinosaur Jr, NIN, Minor Threat, etc. The summer prior to Siamese Dream, I remember being up at the arcade when we were at the beach and playing Tristessa from Gish over and over with my quarters. I could not find the album anywhere in my town, so I didn't have it. I had Rhinoceros on one of my mixed tapes and just loved the sound. You younger kids need to understand that there was a time when you knew that you liked an album - really wanted to buy it - and still could not find it if the local Camelot Music or whatever didn't carry it. Anyway, this came out and still brings me back to that time in my life. Late nights on my bike with friends. First beer. First "2nd base" hookup. Awesome times. Unbelievable. I pretty much hate everything they (he) has done since, but Gish and Siamese Dream are perfect to this day. Hummer by far.
Test your mettle. Not test your metal.
Why is crania americana the only person in this thread who is making any sense. Anyone who went to college, lives near a college or has ever visited a college knows about Take Back the Night. They are that annoying group of girls that shout at you as you walk through the quad. They are the ones skipping football games and concerts to sit in a group and light candles. You just know about them. Listen, i like their cause but they are annoying as hell. Still, they have a legitimate claim here. Crania, I am a bit upset that you used the Applebee's example because I honestly believe that they should be sued for approving such a blatant grammatically incorrect tagline. Okay... stop the presses. The head just exploded. I was going to say something along the lines of "imagine how bad JT would get sued if he wrote a song titled "I'm Lovin' It" and tried to take on McDonalds. When I Googled the phrase I quickly found out that he DOES, in fact, have a song titled "I'm Lovin' It" and I almost fell out of my chair... This guy just picks random advertising tag lines for song titles. Too much, I'm out.
No (but close). OK Computer Kid A Hail to the Thief Amnesiac In Rainbows King of Limbs The Bends Pablo Honey
Wow, I love both The Gloaming and Myxomatosis. Love them. I've been a fan since the days of The Bends, so this album wasn't my first rodeo, either... I love this album. I would not put it ahead of Kid A or OKC, but I think it deserves a higher spot than their first two albums (and possibly latter two)...
I don't really like this list, but I love most of the songs, so whatever. I can't really find the energy to argue against it. I just wanted to say that I have been listening to 45:33 on repeat since opening the link to this post...
Love that version of Steam engine and often listen to it on headphones when stressed at work.
This is a great list. I like Evil Urges and I would probably rank it higher than Circuital, but otherwise I like the list. Circuital has some great live songs, but as an album it just doesn't do it for me. I got into MMJ when a co-worker of mine from KY stopped by my desk and dropped off a burned copy of At Dawn. I didn't even know the guy well but he said he thought I would like it. This was probably late 2002, so the album had been about about a year I guess. Anyway, I just loved it. I went out and bought it (at Melody Records in Dupont Circle) that weekend with The Tennessee Fire and listened to them both many times on a drive down to Georgia. Really made an impact on me. Once It Still Moves was released, I was blown away. Those three mean a lot to me, but Z really kills because it was released the week my daughter was born, so that is what I think about when I listen to it... My biggest takeaway from this article is that the author was 15 when Z came out and I was having a baby. ...and I consider myself young.
Spot on list. This is the best list on Stereogum. Anyone disagreeing with this list (except the 1&2 spots, which could be reversed) is a Johnny-come-lately. Just because Plans came out during your first (of many) unrequited middle-school crush... that doesn't make it their best album.
I don't know... I just don't get it. I have a hard time with these guys, they just seem like they are messing around and being stupid. I guess I don't know much about this kind of music. Is this really good? I mean, is this better than pharcyde or mos def or jay z? I honestly do not know.
100 times better than anything on the MBV album.
What is this garbage? Horrible. No offense, but I feel like everything on this blog is awful now. WTF was with you guys and the Flaming Lips ranking? That was laughable at best.
Mexican beach hut? More like Mexican whore house judging by the photo. Just saying...
I think about that, too... 4 marriages? Why get married a 4th time (or 3rd time)? Think about the alimony. Being from the same town, I love all of the Winston-Salem references in his music. FWIW, I went to the birthday party of a friend's kid and Folds' brother was performing. He has a children's music band. The kids went nuts; Loved it. He looks like a less-famous Ben Folds.
By "ridiculous" I mean awesome. That was meant as a compliment...
Took me a couple of tries to download my shows, but I am listening to them now. In an effort to keep a lot of you from pulling out your hair, PLEASE read the "Store Help" information offered on the Dischord website. Windows wouldn't let me extract the files, even after I manually marked them safe. I went through WinZip and one other application without success before I read on the Dischord site that Windows users will likely have to get FLYzip. They link you to everything you need, and it is free. Also, I wasn't prompted to the download. I had to click through "shipped" on "My Account" to actually download manually. I am sure they are working through these issues, what a ridiculous undertaking on their part. The shows I got sound unbelievable.
You just Proved My Hypothesis.
Oh, and the whole Ben & Zooey thing? There was certainly No Joy in Mudville. There must have been a Lack of Color in that relationship.