i agree completely. I dont know how hard it is to actually listen to what Stefan is saying. Watch some of their videos. How was Epic not clued into what DG was talking about in the songs. I agree this is a niche band. They are never going to be number 1 on billboard. But TMS is one of the most critically beloved albums of 2012, and no question if you go to a DG show now, they are building momentum and steam. They are becoming a band to reckon with. Epic is too stupid to understand any of this, and views things in black and white terms. Either the band is making them money, or they arent.
Anyone who thinks majors are concerned in anyway with art, morality, and ethics is sorely mistaken.
no question this is true, and epic is clueless, but none of the other major labels would have acted differently. This is pretty much standard in that way of thinking. Its clear to anyone who has any working knowledge in music in the last 10 years and the internet, that hype and buzz online, even albums released free, generate a ton of hype, and publicity and can lead to merch sales and ticket sales. A label, especially a major label is unable to see that, because a labels ONLY way of making money is via CD sales. So DG releasing an album free online is inexcusable, because thats the only way Epic is making money off them. Ticket sales and merch dont translate to Epic getting money.
And lets be clear, since the band was dropped for giving their album away for free, did Epic not study what DG had done with Ex Military and how they released that. It seems like had Epic done just basic research, they could have seen all this coming.
We can all list out the numerous bands who have benefitted from online controversy and hype as well as albums given away free online. But, until Sony and the other majors, are run by 23 year old filesharing CEO's who torrent and use mediafire, they wont understand any of this.
i dont understand this view. I could understand it, epic being mad, if DG was originally, upon their signing a choir boy, straight edge, do gooder band. They werent and never were. They graffitid the sony bathrooms on the day they signed. They use a manson excerpt to start Ex Military. They talk about dead bodies, and ankles tied to cinder blocks, and torture on TMS. Epic is the one who didnt do due dilligence. Its kind of like singing a RATM and dropping them for being politically extreme. How about the cover of TMS, did that not set off alarm bells for Epic?
All the label had to do was listen to Ex Military, and TMS, listen to the lyrics, look at their own bathroom walls, and they;d see what DG was about and what their views on the world and what the band was all about. Evidently, bizaarely, Epic, didnt know ANYTHING about the band prior to signing.
Additionally, this only reaffirms the clueless nature of the majors. Any band who has the cover that No Love has, and that sings about the things Stefan does, WHAT DOES ANY LABEL EXPECT? Do you expect them, knowing their content and views, to be some "regular" goodie goodie band?
The graffiti in the bathrooms was the canary in the coalmine any label could have taken, either as a sign that the band clearly wasnt going to listen to anything the label said, or that maybe DG and Epic werent a good fit.
Lets be clear, they werent dropped for their lyrics and their album cover wasnt objectionable from Epics point of view, because its obscene, but rather it was offensive because it made it so the album couldnt be sold in big box stores like Target.They were dropped, for releasing it free online thus the label didnt make any money. Thats why they were dropped.
I feel no sadness for Epic, had they done even a modicum of background on the band, its clear this is the path a band like DG would take. Their (Epics) research team should be fired
um. so yeah... i guess those who questioned the legitimacy of the original release of the album were wrong. Why would epic have been pleased with the album cover and the free album release.
sometimes people are too cynical for their own good.
In Rainbows is the finest thing theyve ever done. I think it was a greater shock than any of the experimental albums, because it was expected by fans they'd make an experimental odd record to follow Hail. They didnt. And made their most accessible album, as close to a Radiohead pop album as we will ever get. Every song on it though, is beautiful. Plus, the pay what you will strategy, and the post reactions to the album as you listen, aspect of it was a ton of fun. Few of their albums seem to fit the season as perfectly as IR does. It just sounds perfect on cold autumn days. Everything about it, the cover art, the sound of it, the excitement of having a mere 10 day lead up, and the feeling you had as you downloaded WASTE's link and listened for the first time. Was so awesome. For me KOL was a let down in large part, because of the highs they scaled with IR.
I miss October 10 2007. How people were going nuts, that static sound on 15 step. The guitar at 2:07 into Bodysnatchers. The groove on Weird Fishes. The danceability of Reckoner. The bizaare sounds to end Videotape.
Its a perfect album, created by a band who has had many masterpieces
additionally, i agree they are marketing/hype geniuses (DG that is), but i dont think Sony thinks of them like that. Im sure they were furious when they released it for free online, without any advance knowledge. A major label isnt cognizant of how the "new modern" band can drum up hype and ticket sales and merch sales from doing what DG did. They just dont think in that manner. All they know is that DG didnt allow them to hear the album first, and then DG proceeded to give away the album for free. Sony, or any of the other majors just are clueless about any of it
i think its obscene to even suggest Epic/sony had knowledge/okayed/was behind any of it. They lost money as a result of how DG released this, they couldnt promote it, or make money off it, what major label would ever be supportive of something that would lose them money? Second, as for the controversial cover, that too is the same. Major retailers of the physical cd, which is all Sony/Epic cares about, will flat out refuse to carry the album simply because of the album cover. Again, you'd have to be crazy to think any major label would be okay with that
As for it being a publicity stunt manufactured by DG, I think it probably was, but thats how they released Ex military. Just put it up for free on their website.
I think they were smart. They have been growing in fans exponentially, they know they have a ton of hype and praise following their every move.
Its always been a mystery why epic/sony even got involved with DG in the first place. I have a hard to thinking that the label wouldnt be skeptical of Zach and Stephan and their content, and two, that DG itself wouldnt just burst out laughing as they were signing their contracts. After all we know they graffitti'd the Sony bathrooms minutes before signing their contracts. What major label wouldnt know that they were dealing with artists who wouldnt tow the company line?
even though its not officially a christmas album, ive always felt Seven Swans works well during that time of the year. Dusting off the box set is always a highlight of the christmas season. I cant wait to listen to the old one and the 58 new songs on the new box
Im pumped for this. The first box set is a masterpiece. For those who saw him in 2006 when he released the first box set, obviously he had released Illinois the year before, did he do a christmas tour? I'd love to see him on tour, in december, doing an all christmas box set tour. Did he do that in 2006? Would be awesome to see him perform Holy Holy Holy or This Was the Worst Christmas Ever.
Becks best album. As big of a fan of him as I am, I dont think he's ever equaled the highs of this album.
Very Nick Drake like on this one.
This album was my soundtrack for awhile, sort of defines anxiety and angst and self doubt. I remember listening to Golden Age, on my bed, eyes closed, in the dark, and felt this religious experience, near the end of it, and felt an out of body experience.
Doesnt get much better or sadder than Golden Age, Lost Cause, or Guess Im doing Fine (on which he decidedly DOESNT sound fine)
Gotta drive all night, just to feel like your'e ok. Let the desert wind, cool your aching head, let the weight of the world, drift away instead. These days I barely get by, I dont even try.
ive done security for frank and his wifes band and even bagged franks groceries many times. He used to live in my hometown. Anyways, no list of Pixies best songs would be complete without No. 13 baby. One of the best outros of any song ever.
I dont think i could pick a favorite, but wanted to post how singular and unique Fugazi is. I dont think there currently is, nor there ever be another band like them. Theres only 1 fugazi, and that includes all the now near mythic stories about their ethics and moral stances. I cant think of a single band since their formation or their hiatus, who has run their band and buisness like fugazi does or did. And I dont think we will ever see a band like that ever again, sadly. I think that speaks to our culture, but also i think speaks to how hard it is to stick to your guns and morals when you become successful in any art form. And Fugazi was the only band that I can think of that did stick to their guns.
I got this record primarily because i became an activist around the release, and knew these girls were political. The record itself of course fits that ideal as well. I had heard about them originally via Pearl Jam, and im always in the mood for some great northwest rock.
I can remember in college in 2003/2004 or so, walking around campus at night, getting some air and trying to forget about exams and the war and injustice and listening to this album on earbuds and my ipod shuffle.
I think this record may be an overlooked record, and an overlooked political album in general.
One thing I love about these girls is they can really rock out, and i like when they jam. This album had some great moments of that, and they took it to the next level on the follow up to this album The Woods.
Highlights: that heavy riff in Far Away. The breakdown of The Remainder with what sounds like cello and orchestral instruments. The force that is Light Rail. The riff and Carrie's phrasing and vocal melodies on Combat Rock, sounds very Clash-esque. I love my dirty uncle sam. I think Funeral Song is catchy, theres nothing else to see turn out the lights. The breakdown on that song is great. Prisstina. When Sympathy gets going that riff is pretty damn awesome.
Janet, carrie and corin just work so well together. Such great interplay.
whats always struck me about TOTBL, was Paul's voice. It sounds, and the whole band sounds like new york at night. I feel like Interpol are hugely underrated. Great vocals, guitars and drums. The whole vibe is great. It doesnt get much better than TOTBL. PDA still leaves me in awe, that outro could be the greatest outro in history, the wall of guitars at 3:09 until the end. Beautiful. 200 couches for you to sleep tonight!
I think these guys are really adept at coming up with a insanely catchy melody. Obstacle 1 is a prime example. Pauls voice and the instrumentals just lull you into a trance. She can read she's bad, oh she's bad! And that part from 240 until 320, with sam doing his thing, the guitars chiming, and paul wailing away its brilliant. She packs it away!
This is the sound of indie rock, modern indie rocks beginning, Is This It, started us out, this continued to push the genre forward. Hope this is remembered as a stone cold classic, because thats exactly what it is.
The dark atmospherics of Leif Erickson. Picture you and me together in the jungle it would be okay. I;ll bring you when my lifeboat sails through the night.
i'd agree with at least thats what you said. That guitar outro is goosebump inducing. The live version is amazing. And i'd also go with Solitaire, the main guitar riff is so pretty, sort of this ellipitcal guitar sound, and then that thing, that sound whatever it is, i dont know if its a distorted guitar, or mandolin or violin or what at 1:30 until 1:53 may be the most beautiful sound ive ever heard
its funny, i originally got into bright eyes not too long after this was released, and it was for the sole reason that he was considered political, or that he was speaking out on social issues. I was a big time activist at the time and was soaking up like a sponge, any and all music that had any inkling of political intensions and of course given that it was post 9/11 alot of stuff was coming out in art at the time that spoke to what was going on.
nevermind that the final song is pretty much the only thing on here that could be political.
I like this album, but ive always like Im Wide Awake, more.
Ive always prefered the Jukebox version of metal heart to the earlier one. Seeing her preform it live in 2007/2008 was a life changing experience.
Additionally, so many great songs were left off this list. One could just put "entire You are Free record".
Ive always been blown away by fool, maybe not, babydoll. And suprised no ones mentioned one of the most powerful and stunning songs Ive ever heard, Names. Brutal song.
whats funny is this is a perfect example of any press is good press. Had she given a fantastic performance would she have gotten this much press? When was the last time any performance on SNL got attention from Gawker, or the LA Times, or CBS News, The Telegraph in London? Most SNL performances seem to just disappear into the ether. The press she's getting now, will only turn more people onto her music and cause her shows to be more indemand and more hyped and buzzed about.
And second, does it matter if an artist isnt talented live? Video Games is undeniably brilliant and a great tune, does it matter if she cant perform live? The translation of a song from studio to a live performance is a tricky task that sometimes doesnt work. we all know multiple bands that either arent good live, or cant translate a song or two live.
yeah alot of those acts in small print its shocking they arent in bold. kendrick lamar, dawes, neon indian, Flylo, Asap, Kaiser, destroyer, laura marling, tuneyards, company flow
has anyone ever greyhounded it to indio? i know its sort of in the middle of nowhere like the gorge or something, so i heard you cant get a bus directly to indio or something. so that would be a pain for someone like me who doesnt drive. i get why these festivals are usually in deserted out of the way places, but its also somewhat a hassle for someone like me. And in terms of the lineup, does anyone else feel like David Guetta is involved in a game of this thing is not like the others? he may be good but its like seeing Gaga on the bill or something.
has there ever been another festival in this format. kind of bizaare if you think about it. Radiohead play the 14th, then stay in Indio for a week? And just rest up, and then a week later they play again on the same bill as the week before?
why was the logo and creative design of the top 50 albums list, redone 3/4 days after it originally appeared. When this list was first published the image at the top, or connect with this was just a simple Stereogum's Top 50 albums of 2011. Now the word Stereogum is in multicolored font. The words 50 albums are in some geometric shape figure, and then you have the covers of all the albums all in this logo masthead thing.
Why redesign the logo of it? I read the list once already. Then the new logo appeared and i assumed it was maybe the Gummys or a redesigned list. All that was changed was the font and the logo attached to this story.
Bizarre.
all the late night shows usually tape only 4 days of the week. the idea of a show, any show like that being called a daily, or 5 night a week show is ludicrous. the point is, routinely the thursday and friday shows are taped one right after another, on the same day, and the jokes made for the "friday" show usually are about subjects that wont change rapidly from day to do
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