Nothing To See Here

I’m glad to see artists speaking out about high-priced CD’s. The lower prices for developing artists has been a very effective marketing ploy for me. I picked up the new Vines CD because it was priced at $6.99. I haven’t paid that price for an album since *all* albums were available on vinyl! The White Stripes album I picked up for $9.99. Same for Pete Yorn, Ed Harcourt, Elbow, etc.

And, thanks to the artists interviewed for pointing out that the people who profit the most from high CD prices are the record companies themselves. Touring and merchandise sales are definitely the way most artists (especially any artist that is not a “blockbuster” act) make their living.

I just love the fact that now the National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) are thinking about bringing back the single! Yes, the same industry that decided that they would completely delete vinyl singles, and drastically reduce the number of domestic CD singles released. They argued that releasing the “hit” song on a single, would prevent people from buying the entire album. Well, if it’s a crap band with one good song, that’s true. If it’s a good band, then it’s a great way for the listener to try out new artists (at a low price), especially since corporate radio stations predominantly play singles by top-selling artists, and seldom add newer, lesser known artists to their high rotation playlists.

Face it, record companies, you’re fighting an uphill battle, and you’re losing.

First, you decide to delete vinyl and introduce CD’s. At the time, you argued that the sound of the recordings was better, and, while initial CD prices would be much higher than vinyl, eventually, CD’s would cost less. That never happened. Meanwhile, digitizing music has allowed it to be played on many more mediums.

Then, you decided to delete singles, which allowed the casual fan to buy the songs they loved. The fan that would fall in love with a particular band, might be introduced to the band via that single, and go on to buy all of the albums. Instead, the casual fan, downloads those songs for free off the Internet!

Then, you decide to consolidate the record companies into 4 or 5 big mega corporations run by bean counters who look to the “bottom line.” So much for nurturing a truly talented artist’s career.

Radio undergoes consolidation around the same time and only a few corporations own all of the radio stations. Clear Channel currently owns 1200 stations and counting. So much for the free wheeling days of FM radio, which started as an alternative to the set playlists of the top 40 on AM stations. Days in which DJ’s played music that they cared passionately about are nearly gone. Now, it’s play the flavor of the month.

Meanwhile, music fans start gathering on the Internet to share songs and stories.

Eventually, the record companies get wind of what’s going on the Internet. They start a hue and cry about people obtaining music for free. Yet, they refuse to look at their role in limiting the fan’s choice of available music, whether by exposure or by pricing. Don’t even get me started on the lack of domestic distribution of many overseas artists.

The record companies’ solution? Create CD’s that can’t be duplicated, and oftentimes, unplayable outside of the user’s home stereo.

Yay! In the record companies’ infinite wisdom, we’ve come full circle. They are recording music onto a format that can only be played at home. It is no longer portable, except if you record onto analog tape, perhaps. That’s the exact situation we had when music was only recorded on vinyl! Now we’ll be charged more for it, with tiny lyric booklets (if even included) and tiny artwork. Less for more!

I thought it would be cool to interview people that run some of sites we feature on the site. Our first interview is with Laura from coaxme.org.

Jeans: Tell me about why you started coaxme.org

Laura: My friends got sick of me rambling about music type things and I needed somewhere to babble and rant. It’s also a place to post my pathetic concert pictures which I enjoy taking but don’t come out all that well.

Jeans: What bands are getting the most play on your stereo right now?

Laura: Honestly? Billy Idol, The White Stripes, Brendan Benson and Ben Kweller. Ben’s album Sha Sha Sha is always in my car.

Jeans: We like honesty. Which Billy Idol album?

Laura: Storytellers mostly. I just saw him live, which was basically the same set.

Jeans: Speaking of music television, do you watch it much?

Laura: Not lately. I used to, but I haven’t in months. Too many commercials, not enough music. MTV2 has turned into MTV so whats the point? I tend to try and check out new videos by my favorite bands, but thats about it.

Jeans: Do you download the videos?

Laura: I do sometimes. I dowloaded “Dead Leaves” and “Wasted and Ready,” but don’t do it all that often.

Jeans: Do you download a lot of music or would you say you buy more?

Laura: I buy more. If anything, I download a song or two just to see if I like an artist or if the CD isn’t available. My dad used to do some copyright law and stuff so we’ve always been big into paying the artist what they deserve. When napster first came out I got in trouble for having it on my computer. He doesn’t care about music downloading anymore though.I’m more likely to buy a record at a show from some small artists than at a big record store, or download a big artist and buy the small artists’ record. I usually end up buying everything I like. I’m a mess of contradictions aren’t I?

Jeans: No. Actually, it’s all kind of refreshing to hear. I think more teenagers buy music than the RIAA would like the public to think.

Laura: Agreed.

Jeans: Do you see a lot of good shows in Detroit?

Laura: I try to. My friends suck and I don’t have many people to go with. I go alone more often now though. Good bands definitely play here.

Jeans: What was the best show you’ve see this year?

Laura: Hmm, thats hard…Ben Kweller put on an amazing show in June, but The White Stripes/Strokes show was great too. Probably any of the 4 White Stripes shows I’ve seen this year.

Jeans: Any good shows coming up that the people of Detroit should not miss?

Laura: Dirtbombs, Von Bondies, and The Detroit Cobras will all be playing between now and November. Clinic and Apples In Stereo are coming soon, as are Liars with Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Jeans: Being a Detroit rocker grrl, what are your feelings on Kid Rock?

Laura: I’m not a huge fan of Kid Rock. He’s pretty trashy, but I hear he puts on a great live show. Definitely trashy, and his whole poor kid thing is crazy. His dad owns a car dealership.

Jeans: Ha! You’ve outed him, blown his cover. What about Mr. Mathers?

Laura: I think his family is messed up. I’m not a huge fan of his music, though I think he actually had a crummy childhood. I dislike the constant insults It’s kind of annoying, but doesn’t hurt my feelings or anything. Honestly though, he sort of amuses me. I can’t help it.

Jeans: I like his albums quite a bit. I think he’s got talent. Clearly though, The White Stripes are your true Detroit love though.

Laura: Well what can I say, I’m a fan. The whole image of the Detroit scene is a funny one though. A lot of the British press paint Detroit into this great romantic city, which it isn’t at all. It makes me laugh.

Jeans: I just think of cars

Laura: We don’t even build many of those anymore, although I don’t really know the numbers.

Jeans: Perhpas you can get back to us with those numbers. Anyway, thanks for your time Laura. Your site rocks.

Laura: Thanks. I need to sleep.

Understand that we have been forced to take a good idea, and make it better. In an effort to better serve the infosuperweb community, stimulate intelligent conversation and inspire whiney criticism, Chris and I will be starting The Thursday Three. Until further notice, The Thursday Three will reside here.

We encourage you to answer these questions on your own site or post your answers in the comments section of this (and subsequent) Thursday Three posts. With that, here are our first set of questions:

1) How excited are you for The Friday Five? Will you be in front of your computer hitting the refresh button so you can be the first one to post? Admittedly, I was kind of excited about participating in The Friday Five until I realized that the questions were, by and large, totally stupid and lacked in the fun department. I will not participate again, except to promote The Thursday Three.

2) Do you cry when you realize all of that time was spent in vain? Do you consider suicide? Suicide is out of the question. I love life and I love you, thus The Thursday Three.

3) Don’t you agree that The Friday Five is the lamest community-building bullshit of a web site you have ever stumbled across? Well, it’s a fine effort, but there is room for improvement. That’s where we come in. I don’t think the use of profanity or insulting another web site’s valiant efforts is called for. If it weren’t for The Friday Five, there would be no Thursday Three.

If you haven’t read it somewhere else, then let me be the first to inform you of the re-launch of The Trouser Press web site. What’s that you say? You have no idea what Trouser Press is? Shame on you. Go read. Be warned though, your day will suddenly become completely unproductive.

I dunno how much longer I can keep doing The Friday Five. They need some better questions. Cars?? Who cares?! My answers are especially snooty and short because the questions are L A M E. One more set of questions like this, and I quit.

1) Do you have a car? If so, what kind of car is it? Yes. One must own a car in LA. It’s a new German kind of car.

2) Do you drive very often? ‘Often’ is kind of relative, don’t you think? I drive when I need to.

3) What’s your dream car? I don’t dream about cars. That’s disgusting.

4) Have you ever received a ticket? What are you? My insurance company?

5) Have you ever been in an accident? Yes, a few.

I suggest that you keep these numbers handy. Perhaps you should memorize them. By all means call them to find out what they are.

212.479.7990 for NYC

323.883-1779 for LA

Toll charges may apply. Please check with your local operator as I cannot be held responsible for your stupidity. I won’t. I refuse.

[Thank you Boing Boing]

Most of the day Brutus is confined to the kitchen. He’s a 90 pound doberman that my parents rescued from the pound. He doesn’t look like a scary one with cropped ears. His ears are floppy and it makes him look a little less intimidating. Make no mistake, he’s a killer and is not to be fucked with. He likes to lay in his cage and suck on a blanket, but it’s all a big front.

When Brutus is allowed out of the kitchen he must be watched closely. As you nod off on the sofa he’ll sneak away to the basement. Brutus likes to eat cat shit right out of the litter box. He knows what he is doing isn’t right, but it’s like crack and he can’t resist.

When Brutus does something he’s not supposed to do, he gets very anxious. So anxious in fact, that he drops a load on the spot, which is found minutes after someone catches him sneaking back up the basement stairs.

Anxiety runs in the family and they say that dogs take on their owner’s personalities. I guess that would explain my father shitting his pants when my mother catches him eating junk food in the middle of the night.

I’ve added a desktop pictures section (to your left) to help dress up that boring desktop of yours. All photos were taken by me. My personal favorite is Mutilation Wave. All desktop pictures are available in 1024 x 768 or 1152 x 870. I figure people don’t use 640 x 480 desktops much anymore. If you do, it’s time to get a new monitor or some glasses. I don’t have a problem with you posting these desktop pictures on other sites as long as you link back here. I’ll be adding some new ones every so often. Enjoy.

I thought the questions for this week’s Friday Five totally sucked, and thus I am not going to participate. I know, it feels a little childish, but you know what? My dad could probably beat the shit outta your dad.