Comments

Record of the Year recognizes pretty much everyone involved with the song. Song of the Year only recognizes the composer.
Glad Queens of the Stone Age are getting some recognition. "...Like Clockwork" is a fantastic album. One of my favorites of the year.
They're*. Dammit. I've shamed my English degree.
Their both relatively friendly but often under-appreciated?
There were a few UK vendors on Amazon US, oddly enough. Only wound up costing around $25 or so and I had it my hands within a week.
I sincerely hope this is some kind of editorial mistake. Otherwise its censorship and truly infuriating. Really glad I imported a copy a couple of months ago.
Sounds like this was a long time coming and that the band hadn't really been a cohesive whole for a long time. I'm basing this just on Bauer's comment " I don’t think we’ve been a gang properly for a long time." Sad to them go as I was just now "getting into them", as it were. Seems their leaving behind a very strong body of work though. I think that's all any artist can ask for.
Apparently some people can't deal with black humor. Hurling obscenities isn't going to help either. At least be respectful in your criticism, Wine. I don't see Kilgore's comment being any different than the litany of Michael Jackson pedophile jokes that were tossed around before, during, and after his several trials on the matter. Was the comment distasteful? Marginally. Offensive? Not really (though that's a highly subjective front). A simple thumbs down would suffice rather than name calling.
I think it's OK only insomuch that if you are paying to go see Arcade Fire, 10 to 1 you're a pretty big fan of most everything they do and will realize this is just part of the shtick this time around. I mean, "formal wear" can be acquired from pretty much any Salvation Army store for less than $20. Is it an odd request? Sure. Reflektor is an odd album though (odd being good).
I think a lot of commentators here are missing the point. He's going after sites that explicitly flaunt no rights usage. I'm sure you've all come across sites that have something like "We do not have usage rights for these lyrics." Considering that many artists find their lyrics inextricably linked with the song itself, it stands to reason there would be, albeit small, grounds here for something (on the reverse there are likely just as many you couldn't give a shit about lyrics). I do think a lawsuit is overboard. Bringing attention to the issue, much like artists have done with Spotify and the like have done without legality mumbo jumbo would've been a sufficient first step. For myself, I'm torn. I loathe capitalist systems but at the same time I can empathize with artists who, because of the conditions that surround us, have to make a buck. It's a dicey situation we find ourselves in.
I was going to add a comment but yours sums up pretty much everything. Thank you for your words.
I'm not really sure how to feel about this. It seems entirely distasteful to make a pound off of something like this. I mean, it's directly related to his death but still. I dunno. The weird feels, man.
Damon from Galaxie 500 fame had a really great article regarding Spotify, Pandora, and the like. I'm not sure if I read it on Stereogum or elsewhere, but in it, he really made clear just how big of a shaft artists are getting. If I remember correctly, he said something to the effect of "Tugboat got about 5,000 plays in a year on Spotify. That translated to roughly $1 and some change. Split between three people." Spotify and Pandora and others pays thousandths of a percent on a penny to the artist. It's beyond minuscule. As for the "clout" argument, regardless whether a band is as "powerful" as Atoms For Peace or as niche as Xiu Xiu, the artist has every right to maintain their integrity and speak out against these services. Even if their label has their hands tied, they still have more than enough clout, as it were, to voice their disdain for getting ripped off. Lastly, everyone knows vinyl is better. It's just not as convenient as digital formats. The greatest uncompressed digital format still wont' sound as good as raw analog. That, however, is another beef for another time.
I wouldn't have hated you. Mellon Collie is an album I will always consider one of my favorites. It's all encompassing in its beauty. I think it truly does encompass the breadth of human emotion on those two discs (or four LPs). I feel that Mellon Collie towers over the rest of their catalog. There is a reason every release after it was compared to it.
I disagree with Siamese Dream over Mellon Collie but other than that, spot on.
If it were me, I would not be upset, regardless of how much I paid for tickets. I would've got to see a great show and then a dance party (!) with Arcade Fire. A dance party. With Arcade Fire. Sounds like winning all day and night to me.
I think a lot of the ire may come from the fact that some of those poor sods payed upwards of $100+ for that show.
I got bugs in mah hair.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_matzylIK531rum47oo1_500.gif
So, that's pretty adorable.
Self-gratifying, sexually aggressive vindication. Something weirdly Morrissey about that (at least later Morrissey). Good job, Michael_.
My grandma, my grandma, my grandma, my grandma.
Excellent article, Michael. Very objective piece even though you too were a victim of the alleged scamming. Very sad to see someone so talented and full of potential to get bogged down in something like this. Here's to hoping this is a wake up call for Blake.
Really glad to see Sun Kil Moon make the list.
This may be the greatest thing I've ever woken up to (not sure if sad or amazing).
Mark Kozelek is seriously one of my music heroes. Amazing new track.
Smooth and sexy. Love it.
If you've not already done so, check out the genuine Albini mix and not the original release recordings.It has a rawness that very few people are able to capture.
http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr02/2012/12/15/17/anigif_enhanced-buzz-1752-1355608927-9.gif
Upon further repeated listens, I capitulate. I.e.: I can dig it.
Too much disco. Not enough suburbia.
I genuinely enjoy Parachutes to this day. It's their best album by far. Admittedly I tuned out after X&Y (I didn't care for Viva La Vida or Mylo Xyloto at all). It's got this strange mellowness and sentiment that just fits so many occasions for me. Beyond a re-ordering of the top 3, I would say this a solid list.
Rather than maligning certain types of music we should be lamenting the horrible things happening at these festivals and wondering why exactly they are happening in the first place.
Worthless band with worthless drama. Take it where somewhere cares: yourselves.