Quack Sprawl

The tree town based and Detroit loved Suburban Sprawl records have finalized their long talked about deal with the Detroit loved and tree town based Quack Media!

This brings Javelins and Child Bite in closer relation with Great Lakes Myths and the Hard Lessons and puts them all in league with the Quackies that Tally Hall picked when they turned Madonna down Badly Driz Stiz (well Maverick anyway) before eventually moving onward and upward to Atlantic.

Congrats to the union of people who give a shit and make an effort!

Trent, Dude, Trent

Wired publishes an un cut interview with Reznor that was part of a piece earlier this year. Along with the Byrne piece earlier this week they seem to be working their cred as the leading authority on creative copyright issues in the digital era (a decade late, but the thought is nice). As long as I don't have to read the Long Tail, I can get on board with it.

Here's a little clip from this very long article.

For a band like Nine Inch Nails, and I would also add the Radioheads of the world in that camp, as opposed to the Gwen Stefanis and the Fergies, we genuinely have one spike of interest now. Two spikes of interest. And that would be when the record leaks, and when the retail release comes out. And the first one in my case is a ten out of ten. And the second one is a seven and a half out of ten, because the fans already have it. And then it's just their moral remembrance to go and actually and pay for one now. After that, it's consumed and passed along, discussed furiously and then it's forgotten. And then the next level of spike comes if we tour. It used to be you had the advance single that would get some kind of bit of interest, the release date would be a ten out of ten, and then the single that comes out, the second single with a video with it. Now it doesn't make any sense monetarily to really make videos unless you can do them cheaply, because there are no outlets for them any more, because MTV's too concerned about lifestyle reality programming. There is a reason to do it on YouTube. And I found out throughout Europe they still play videos a fair amount. But where that differs from say the Fergie Gwen Stefani model, they still have those videos and they have an audience that might be technically less on top of it, maybe. But they still get dictated what to listen to, and radio still plays those things and they do what they're told in that camp. In our camp it comes out, it goes through channels, and that's where it stays. So, my theory was, after the record leaks I don't have any surprises left in terms of the music for the record. But before it leaks I've got 15 surprises. How can I seed them out in the way that I would like people to hear it? Like as an artist in a perfect world everyone would get the record at the same time, and everyone would stop what they're doing and go into a place that sounds nice, take the phone off, listen to it from start to finish, think about it, listen to it again from start to finish, go to bed that night. In the real world now its' terrible quality bootlegs file shared, I've got the third song, you've got the second song and it's jumbled around and it's — because music is primarily free I think people just want to get more and more and more. Compared to when I was growing up, I had $10 to spend on a record, I listened to that record, and I got my $10 worth, even if I may not have liked it. I fucking bought it, let me — now you just have all the stuff. I've got a lot of shit on my iPod I haven't listened to yet, you know. And it does have less value because it's free. So, what we did was strategically linked out songs ahead of time via methods we could use in the game and the story that would direct people and (taint) them what I wanted them to think about the record before the bulk of it came out. And generally it would be this is not what the rest of it sounds like, get them scratching their beards for a minute. A couple weeks later, here's something else that doesn't even sound like it's even the same band. Oh, throw them for a loop. And then punch them when the whole thing leaks out.

Once In a While People Who Know What They are Talking About Have Something To Say, Might As Well Listen

Cycling Enthusiast and world music fan David Byrne tell's the world how to make money at music in the new century.










via dmitri jr.

Amir Shows Us What He Learned in the D-League

In the fine tradition of Shaq-Fu and Chris Webber's "Gangsta Gangsta (How You Do it)" I give you a Piston's Christmas Carol via the well coifed crew at Barber College. Yes it is painful, but wait for the remix -- it's worth it.

Weak Sauce

For several years, I reviewed the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame inductees over at whatevs.org. There I outlined the classic beef -- the rock hall is more of pop hall, but pop, country, hip hop, blues, dance and jazz artists are not really judged for their success or influence in the rock era, only their "hipness." I also forewarned the obvious problem the hall is running into now -- what to do about the 1980s? After a few hip, significant commercial artists (U2, REM, Prince among them) the 1980's pose a lot of problems for the hall.

In the late 1980's when the hall started, this thing was easy. Many of the initial artists of the 1950's were still alive and kicking and the stalwarts of the 1960's were ready to praise themselves and their dead friends. But now, all those artists are now in the hall, and some artists are in several times (Clapton, Winwood, McCartney/Lennon/Harrison).

Today, they hit the 1980s and clearly they aren't going to induct a lot of the successful music of that era (Madonna clones, Hair Metal bands) and they aren't sure what to do about some of the post punky or influential but less commercial bands. My guess is that until the late 80's crop of early alt bands come up, the hall is going to have some boring, boring inductions, adding in leftover 60's and 70's bands who shouldn't be in if they haven't made it by now and a handful of recognized 80's acts.

Enough obvious complaining, the most enjoyable part of what I did in the past is running down the list of inductees and it's that tradition I'll carry on here.

Leonard Cohen -- No doubt a highly regarded song writer with an impressive career catalog. As a singer and performer, while I can appreciate his dry baritone, the production and arrangements of many of his best known songs has always given me the impression of really well done Casio demos -- they just don't hold up that well for me. But his songs in the hands of other singers always shine and while not as prolific as Dylan, his best lyrics stand strong next to that high standard -- it's hard to argue, in other words that he shouldn't be in.

The Dave Clark Five -- One of the most popular bands of the 1960's, they often knocked the Beatles and the Stones off the UK and American charts and "Glad All Over" is without question a classic single. But they were never that cool or influential not even compared to the far less commercially successful Kinks. They qualified for entry to the hall in 1990 and they're just getting in now -- they very definition of an afterthought.

The Ventures -- Speaking of an afterthought, the Hall walked and didn't run (BOOYA!) to induct these instrumental surf kings. There's no way to get around it -- surf music is corny and that's kept them out for a long time. The real reason I think they should be in is their contribution to rock education. They recorded some of the first "learn to play" rock guitar and bass records and following the lead of Les Paul lent their name to Mosrite guitars that would later end up in the hands of bands like the Ramones. Today, we expect every artist to sell a signature guitar and many have sold a "learn to play my style" book or recording. Every kid with a guitar has to start somewhere, and plenty of rock heroes started with the Ventures.

Johnny Cougar Sponsored by Chevrolet -- Mellencamp is an easy target. Beyond performing the service of singing "THIS IS OUR COUNTRY" for hire he's had legitimate heartland hits that in a purely commercial sense, probably resonated better with Americans than almost anything by Springsteen or Dylan. He also has kept Farm Aid going, which in theory helps support the small family farmer that's dying out -- but even those guys can cash in on all the odd government subsidies and are just as likely to pollute with over fertalizing or pesticides as any other part of agribusiness. In other words, I'm not sure I'm writing them a check this year. I guess when Bob Seger got in you had to let in Mellencamp, but I'm not sure either really belong.

Madonna -- She's never ever really rocked, but there's no doubt she's about as influential a force in popular music and culture as anyone in the last quarter century. Plus, unlike a lot of bubblegum pop and especially faddish dance music Madonna's best work really holds up. After Ray of Light and Music she's been in a bit of a lull, but I wouldn't be surprised if she finds a way to worm her way back into our ears in the future.

Breaking News!!!!!

.38 Special to reunite in Danny Chauncy's basement for a one time only show!

Van Zant's rejoice!



Just kidding, they never broke up.

Road trip to Tacoma to catch Treinta Ocho at the Emerald Queen Casino on New Years Eve?

NOW THAT WOULD BE SPECIAL!!!!!

Bass Face

Yeah, that's pretty best.

Like Atari Man, Played OUT

So there's this.

I have never attacked Mr. Holdship, I don't know him apart from his work and I have not used this blog to bash him. I may have referred to him on a backblog, but I really can't recall and if so, I may have been my usual callous disrespectful self.

But this is a pitiful bit of marketing and a sad attempt to get bloggers from the Blackwell end of the spectrum, to this shit hole printed on loose leaf via the technological wonder of dot matrix to link to a publication that is loosing it's franchise and whole reason for being very fast.

Let's start at the beginning. The 100 greatest songs, which I guess is sort of the quasi-topic of the post.

Why do publications publish lists? Because they are controversial, they spark debate and thus readership. It's a tried and true publishing/media tactic and one I have no problem with. The thing is, maybe they didn't get enough of a reaction, so they had to write their own blog about the reaction and controversy that hadn't happened.... this is dull.

A while back I wrote about the Detour/Blowout non-fight on this site because I found it interesting. By contrast I never mentioned the Metro Times list because it didn't seem worth it. It was frankly too obvious that they didn't secure the participation of anyone who found more recent rock or hip-hop to be that important -- but its not like I don't think Motown and John Lee Hooker are important -- they are. Boom Boom Boom Boom.

On to tactic two. Call the bloggers all out and we all respond in kind -- like the inevitable flame war the first week you got email.

This shit is just old and tired. Bill Holdonimcommin may or may not be old and tired -- but his work at Metro Times thus far has not inspired me to expect great things.

Oh did you write some important stuff in the past? Can you recall a great show when you spoke to a recognized name and had some banter about the new rock n' roller, who did I mention later changed his name to Bruce Springsteen and became very, very important? That's great man, I'm sure it would make an interesting book, I really do but right now you're making me thirsty. You have experience and credentials -- point taken, please move on.

Speaking of old and tired, were you aware that real journalists find the pseudonyms of bloggers to invalidate their opinions... fuck man, what is this 1999? Did they just hook up your Compuserve? Are you also tired of emails promising to increase the size of your penis? How about Airline food? WHAT IS THE DEAL? (This is the part where the blogger calls out the print guy who moved online and wrote something that's been said a billion times for being out of touch).

So where was I?

Oh yes. The metrotimes on bloggers.

Ben Blackwell is cool but he could be cooler and he's smart, but there just aren't enough incoherent paragraphs about him on the internet these days.

Jasper's a prick. They forgot to mention he's getting old and has sand in his va-jay-jay. His readers are worse, which isn't a big deal because there's no way their readership overlaps more than like 90-95%.

Grambo has a name, a brother with a job and has sex with Loftus (VERY VERY CLOSE!!!!). They forgot to mention its only phone sex and neither lives in Detroit anymore. May or may not have introduced sand to Jasper's va-jay-jay.

Adam the Grizz Graham works for a newspaper people like so much they pay for it everyday. His existance legitimizes his brother's existence. This is completely true, but for none of the reasons Bill Holdsteady says.

Loftus use to work at the Metro Times, has sex with Grambo and apparently has no ties to the internet worth mentioning or perhaps in an article about cowardice on the internet, someone was too scared to bring the credentialed down to this level.

Brain Smith, not a blogger but abused. No doubt very shaken up about it.

Then he goes and writes all those bad things about Motorcityrocks.com, but keeping with their new format, only releases them on mimeographed copies from his mom's basement (MCR BURN!)

Brandon has lived in two cities and has opinions. He may be knowledgeable. Time will tell. Or maybe we can get Lester Bangs on the Ouija and find out FOR SURE! (rants need caps, they just do)

Backblogs are for cowards, even though everyone knows they are a great driver of blog traffic and repeat visits and WHA, Metro Times has a backblog that rarely gets a post (much like this blog that also has no readers).

I am smarmy. I am not as funny as Grambo. I wrote something you weren't allowed to read about a use of clip art that was apparently intended to be ironic, but was the kind of ironic that needed a caption that said, LOOK AT THIS IRONIC PICTURE.

To me it came off as someone who didn't know how to use the internets and that's what I wrote -- I was censored by an Alternative Weekly for this offense.

Now this ironic I get.

It's like the WSJ stealing all the happy ending massage ads from the Village Voice -- it's funny because it's unexpected and not in keeping with their editorial values.

In closing Robin Williams, CREEM, CREEM, CREEM, Lester Bangs, CREEM, maybejasperisontosoemthingwiththisblogshitpeaceout.

Bill Holdonloosely, if this whole post was just a veil to make an apology to me about removing my 8-15 word backblog comment. Then I accept.

Last but not least, if you'd care to correspond with someone with a nickname (Grambo gave it to me, I wanted Nutsac McGee) perhaps try using the email address they provided you with.

Good luck to you in all your future endeavors like writing the linear notes for the new album by Mitch Rider's touring bass player which will never be read because downloads don't have linear notes. HEY, look at that, I just gave you a topic for a new rant, the end of linear notes. It's a keeper and for you man, no charge.

-gorilla

TIGER STYLE!!!!

More brilliant Wu Tang Clan coverage from Kotori.

Be sure to click through for the video, which features more of the RZA interviews I posted a few weeks ago as well as other Wu members.

U-god goes for the ODB memorial crazy award in this one as well... in between a monologue on responsibility and rolling blunts.

Best.