Rave On: An M. Ward Review

Whether you're new to Matt Ward cause you fell in love with She & Him, or a die-hard fan dating back to the lo-fi days of End of Amnesia, everyone can appreciate M. Ward's latest release (Febuary 17), Hold Time. From the initial track, Ward sets the tone for what seems to be a tribute to 1960's folk-rock country. According to a genre I made up for this review. In the spirit of Donovan, and even Dylan, Matt rides the dusty-road troubador vibe from beginning to end.

M. Ward - Rave On [mp3]

Track One, "For Beginners" would have been an appropriate title for the entire album, as it is easily his most accessible artistic effort. Previous devotees can appreciate a slightly sunnier, lighter collection (the road must be getting not so dusty, or the weather is shaping up). And yet the potential for drawing in new fans/the appeal to newcomers is apparent. I've logged my fair share of spins on this one, but I can't claim it as my favorite. I'm still very much enthralled with the somber sounds of Transfiguration of Vincent, the bluesy infectiousness of Post-War, and Matt's evolutionary milestone, Transistor Radio. Don't let the sunny-side up fool you though. Hold Time is chalk-full of the philosophical musings, sentimental lyricism, and downright clever quirkiness that makes Ward so captivating. If you can allow yourself to love the under-produced and less meticulously crafted side of a versatile artist, this is a must buy.

Songs We Love

M. Ward - Never Had Nobody Like You [mp3]

M. Ward - One Hundred Million Years [mp3]
M. Ward - Fisher of Men
M. Ward - Hold Time [mp3]

Bottom Line: B +

We recommend getting the record on vinyl if you can. Caution: this level of authenticity may turn your living room into a long and winding road. Yeah, a dusty one. Or possibly a front porch with a rocking chair, old guitar and flapping screen door. Keep on the lookout for some awesome cameos and guest appearances as well. We could tell you who, but there should be a little mystery left in our relationship.

P. L. And keeping the flame between us alive,
LtK

More posts are coming...

Chasing the American Dream, Up on the Big Screen

Whether you're a hater or an appreciator, America can't stop talking about Kanye these days. The man attracts more controversy than Zac Efron does 12-yr old girls (and sexuality disputes). With his latest album release standing as no exception. Out this Sunday, November 23, 808's & Heartbreaks seems to have broken the glass ceiling on critique. Love it? Hate it? Can't make up your mind about it? Maybe my track by track breakdown will help.

1. Say You Will

If robots could sing love songs, ballads more like it. In the over 6-minute record introduction, Kanye uses the most minimal of lyrics (maybe 20 different words) on the CD's most expansive track. "When I grab your neck / I touch your soul / Take off your cool / Then lose control / Hey, hey, hey / Don't say you will / You will, you will / Hey, hey, hey / Don't say you will / If you will / I pray you will..." The second, instrumental half of the track is actually preferable; akin to sitting in on some new-wave electronica choir practice.

Bottom Line: C

2. Welcome to Heartbreak (Featuring Kid Cudi)

Despite the ominous opening, this is the closest thing to actual melody I could find in eleven attempts at West singing. Maybe I should attribute the success (?) to the soundtrack-like chord repetition, or the fact that West allows an actual singer with vocal range into the mix. With all that the rapper has been through this year, I don't know why he chose to attribute "Welcome to Heartbreak" to a series of visions about the hardship of having too much wealth. It's a little less relatable than heartbreak should be. Whereas losing someone close to you, or the pain of a failed relationship - both of which Kanye has experienced very publicly - would have made more compelling subject matter than telling us how painful it is to leave your Godsister's wedding before they cut the cake. He probably had to catch a plane to Tokyo. Rough, right?

Bottom Line: C +

3. Heartless

If you haven't heard this one than you're probably not living in a cave, just ignoring everything after "Love Lockdown." It's been difficult for most of us fans to move past the Good Life into this unknown creative territory. Certainly not Top 40, "Heartless" still delivers in many ways. That crazy inescapable hook grabbed me from one second in. "In the night / I hear 'em talk / Coldest story ever told / Somewhere far along this road / He lost his soul / To a woman so heartless..." I guess this is the Heartbreak portion of the album, although a fair share of the 808 seems to be utilized. Crazy keyboard synth creates the effect of flute pipes, in partnership with thudding bass, it's enough visual for this listener to feel implemented into some tribal circle singing cautionary tales about the danger of the female species. Yeah, I loves it.

Bottom Line: B +

4. Amazing (Featuring Young Jeezy)

My favorite track off the album. The lyrics are simple, and nothing less than what you'd expect from K West. Despite some self-posturing, this is Kanye's response to 808 critique; as if he anticipated the outcry against the use of the auto tune and penned this in preemptive retaliation. "It's amazing / I'm the reason / Everybody fired up this evening / I'm exhausted / Barely breathing / Holding on to what I believe in / No matter what, you'll never take that from me / Me reign is as far as the eye can see." Though the song could do without the obnoxious cameo by Young Jeezy, I love the anthem-like quality of this track. I feel like war painting my face, throwing a paparazzi against the wall for looking at me funny, and getting gratuitously arrested. The last part being what Kanye does best.

Bottom Line: A -

5. Love Lockdown

I don't watch the VMAs unless there's promise of a crazy episode and/or Ms. Spears. And since last year had both (I was hoping Kanye would verbally assault Brit Brit for stealing his thunder yet again) I tuned into see the premiere of "Love Lockdown" in the finale. I have to admit I was impressed by the performance, thinking to myself what a risk this was for Kanye artistically. I also believed naively that it would be one genre-breaking track nestled in the middle of several familiar College-Dropoutish hits. How silly of me... Still, based on his live performance, a visually compelling music video, and the T-minus 321 remix (and 501 others) this song pushed T-Pain out of the way for the special auto tune section of my heart.

Bottom Line: B

6. Paranoid (Featuring Mr. Hudson)

Upon first listen, I thought I might have taken a Forget-Me-Now and ended up in some 1980s dancehall. Leaked onto the internet as "Anyway," this is one of the most danceable tracks on the record, which isn't saying much. With a schizophrenic beat, unapologetic synthesizers, and haphazard harmonizing I would need to be on something to really get down to this one. Still, "Paranoid" manages some sort of let's just dance appeal.

Bottom Line: C

7. RoboCop

As a woman, I felt some obligation to hate this out of the gate based solely on lyrical content. After a couple of listens though, the thumping bass and ridiculous sentiment grew on me. I won't pretend to fully understand wtf he's saying; like what exactly is a robocop? How does one move it like a robocop? Is it just some crazy obnoxious girlfriend who asks too many questions, is all up in your business, and thinks robotic 2-stepping is dancing? I'd invent my own crazy concise term for that mouthful too. Despite heavy use of the auto tune, and one methodical beat (a formulaic approach to the entire album), this one is slowly growing on me. As long as I turn the speakers way up and put my female conscience on mute.

Bottom Line: B -

8. Street Lights

I would find this track more redeeming, if once again, it was instrumental. Kanye's monotonous recitation is more than enough to make me want to rip my hair out. I know this song is supposed to be some great metaphor for knowing your destination in life and blah blah blah but I just can't tolerate enough of the boring delivery to stay awake for the message.

Bottom Line: C 

9. Bad News

A definite bright spot after it's predecessor. And here's why: A talented someone could make the most badass dance remix of this track. Although relatively quiet, and subtly masochistic, this song has one of the most promising beats. Maybe it's my inner DJ calling, but a girl can still dream of finding good news in an RAC or A-Trak reworking.

Bottom Line: C +

10. See You in My Nightmares (Featuring Lil Wayne)

I know everyone kisses the ground he walks on, but Lil Weeze doesn't add anything to this already anemic track. Leaked as "Tell Everybody (That You Know)," boring synth, no percussion, and overly-repetitive (and ridiculous) lyrics make this a complete fail. "Tell everybody that you / that I don't love you no more / and that's one thing that you know..." Childish and unoriginal. Auto tune or not, this is not the insight I expect from West.

Bottom Line: D

11. Coldest Winter

This is West's most admiral attempt at a ballad, perhaps saved for the finale on purpose. "On lonely nights I start to fade / Her love's a thousand miles away / Memories made in the coldest winter / Goodbye my friend / Will I ever love again?" Instead of alienating his female audience, West embraces the sorrow of a lost love (his mother), putting himself in a much more vulnerable position than the angry, female-hating stance heard on earlier tracks. Though still lacking that special ingredient to make the song completely memorable, the listener is left with a resolute, even serene acceptance as the album comes to a close.

Bottom Line: B

12. Bonus Track: Pinocchio Story (Live from Singapore)

Since this is a live track, I'm itching for the accompanying video. Never having personally caught a Kanye show (budget-breaking), I have heard that he doesn't disappoint. From the rhymes alone, I'm intrigued. The album as a whole lacks substance on this front, so it's nice to hear West freestyle from the heart. Delving into the philosophical realm with questions about the ever-fading line between reality and celebrity, West talks about his Pinocchio-like desire for flesh and blood. "Do you think I sacrifice real life / For all the fame? / And flashing lights? / There is no Gucci I can buy / There is no Louis Vuitton to put on / There is no [ ] that they could sell / To get my heart out of this hell / And my mind out of this jail / There is no clothes that I could buy / That could turn back in time / There is no vacation spot I could fly / That could bring back a piece of real life / What does it feel like ... / To live a real life ?" Now why did it take a bonus track to get my Kanye back?

Bottom Line: A -

LTK Says:
As much as I want to give Kanye's artistic risk a double thumbs up, the content supporting the adventure was an utter disappointment, save for a few standout tracks. Although we at GDM support creative endeavors, we believe just doing something different for difference sake is not enough. Change should be made in the name of evolution, forward momentum, or growth. Someone as big as West has reached a career pinnacle where artistic freedom knows no bounds. He has free reign to do whatever he wants, but it doesn't mean that he should. Although I commend his effort, the prowess of West's earlier work has set such high expectations, I'm left wanting more.
Bottom Bottom Line: B / B -

Peace, Love, and Moving like a RoboCop,
LTK

Check out My Gravel Pit, Then Oogle Michael Cera

Hands down the best album release of this week is Wu Tang's newest album, 8 Diagrams. I already told you guys the first single, "The Heart Gently Weeps" is pure audio orgasm; better than getting felt up for the first time in the backseat of your boyfriends Pinto. The eight of course refers the Wu member count - down one since the passing of Ol' Dirty Bastard in 2004. Lydia has always had her favorites: Ghostface Killah, Raekwon the Chef, Inspectah Deck, and an on and off love affair with the genius of RZA. The first two I respect as solo artists, as both have successfully translated the genius of the Wu into stand-alone efforts worth critical acclaim. In terms of the group, I can't get enough of Deck - always the standout lyricist with a heavy repertoire of metaphors to make his relaxed stylings go down even smoother. RZA deserves a respect and fear all his own. The producer extraordinaire has not only done wonders for the group's albums like Wu Tang Forever, but hes most recently dipped his talents into major motion picture score composition. Lydia absolutely adores the work he did on the fan-favorite flick Kill Bill. And yet, I remain terrfied of his reputation for involvement with the Gambino crime family, once headed by John Gotti, and the inspiration for FBI investigations and a general terror among fans. Some people get off on it, but organized crime is simply too messy for me. Jimmy Hoffa, I'm still looking for you.

I definitely give my go-ahead to purchase this notable album. I think you'll see a flickers of classic Wu, reminiscent of days when Flo-Rida didn't ride to the top of the charts with a shitty song called "Low." Of course, the album is not without its flaws. Several of the old-school Wu aspects are still sorely lacking, including the creepy sci-fi vibes thematic of past tracks, and the stellar collaboration chemistry between Ghost and RZA. I mentioned last week that GF's new album was somewhat of a disappointment - the rapper seems to have sacrificed his place on the 8 (hes only in 3 tracks) to concentrate on his latest, rather mediocre solo effort, The Big Doe Rehab. The magic of RZA and Ghost together is necessary. I would have preferred they collabed on one, outstanding album rather than one great album and another sub-par one for release.

I still recommend catching the group live if you can. Here are the relevant tour dates - snag tix if you're lucky.

Sun, 12/23/07 09:00 PM	House of Blues Sunset Strip Hollywood, CA	Wu Tang Clan	Find Tickets »
Sun, 12/30/07 08:00 PM	Showbox SoDo Seattle, WA	Wu Tang Clan	Find Tickets »
Thu, 01/03/08 07:00 PM	House of Blues Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV	Wu Tang Clan

Other great albums this week include the lovable, and irresistibly sweet soundtrack to the motion picture Juno. I'm so upset I didn't plug this film sooner, as it has been sitting on my list of movies I'd actually sacrifice ten dollars to see for quite some time now. Michael Cera has been charming me since his turn on Arrested Development, seemingly always typecast as the awkward ______ (fill in the blank). And Ellen Page, the lead, has definitely left an impression on my psyche since seeing her terrorize a pedophile in the insanely dark comedy(?) Hard Candy. The official tagline for the movie is "A comedy about growing up... and the bumps along the way." The bump for Page's character Juno, turns out to be an unplanned teenage pregnancy. The film is a heartwarming exploration of Juno's relationships with the baby's father (Cera), her own family, and her subsequent decision to give the baby up for adoption. A special bonus for all you cult AD fans like me, is a little on-screen reunion between Jason Bateman and Michael Cera - this time in quite a different capacity than Bluth father and son. The film also stars the hilarious Rainn Wilson; may the Dwight fan in all of us rejoice. Me lovey the comedy! Go see it.



The Juno soundtrack includes tracks from favorite contemporary bands such as Belle & Sebastian, Sonic Youth, and The Moldy Peaches, as well as old favorites by The Kinks and The Velvet Underground. Could it get any better? Well, yes it can! Cera and Page have one folkish duet on the record entitled "Anyone Else But You," and we love it! We want to ball it up and put it in our pocket and sleep with it under our pillow each night. Many people don't know this, but Cera is actually quite a talented musician. He and a friend have a band called 'The Long Goodbye' and despite the low-quality of the lone leaked track, you can tell the boy's got the chops to make it as an indie rocker.

Belle & Sebastian - Piazza, New York Catcher

Sonic Youth - Superstar

The Kinks - A Well Respected Man

The Long Goodbye - Leading Man

Other notable releases this week:

• Boys Noize - Lava Lava EP
• Damian Rice - Live from Union Chapel
• Robbers on High Street - Seasons Greetings (Single)
• The White Stripes - Conquest EP
  

In the interest of further procrastination I seem to have become obsessed with HBO's Flight of the Conchords. Usually I think I'm ahead of the curve on TV and music, but this time I've jumped on board the phenomenon a little late. Sorry Jemaine and Bret. Heres a bonus track from their EP entitled The Distant Future and a sweet video to turn that finals-induced frown upside down. Hilarious.

Bonus Track - Flight of the Conchords - If You're Into It

Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros Video - Episode Three

Welcome Back Sanity, You've Been Sorely Missed

I've missed y'all like Angelina Jolie misses carbs. Apparently the month of November no longer exists - its been torn from my nonexistent calender like it never happened. It's as if I didn't celebrate my least favorite holiday: Thanksgiving, with food I generally dislike and whose historical origins I find slightly suspect. As if those four weeks of devil's playtime (AKA school) were just a bad LSD experience, and the nightmare of midterm after midterm was finally replaced in my subconscious by the usual public nudity experience, and more recently by being trapped in Tom Cruise's basement. Surprisingly, I welcome the bad dreams of imprisonment by an insane Scientologist. Its a warm blanket compared to statistics.

My November break from sanity did allow me some restructuring ideas for Umbrellas. Since UFT has been strictly about media; music and movies since its immaculate conception, I'll be continuing on with my music blog. Sometimes I'll have other interjections - political, social, entertainment, whatever. Usually it will be something requiring excessive mocking and ridicule. If you haven't deduced so yet, sarcasm is an integral part of daily survival for me. If I can't love it or laugh about it, sometimes a combination of both, you won't find it here.

From here on out I'll be making regular posts. Every Monday, for example, I'll be putting out a Case of the Mondays Mixtape. New Release Tuesdays will round up the best of the week's releases - what music is worth your hard earned greenbacks and what CDs would be better put to use as a surface for all the cocaine you're not doing. A mirror or one-dimensional disco ball perhaps. Fridays I'll compile the best music on TV this week - that track on CSI that sealed the case for you, and the coda on Grey's Anatomy that almost made you forget how much the show currently sucks. (Sidenote: If the writer's strike continues I'll review past classic TV tracks or switch to movies). Every entry will have mp3 links to download songs I've talked about or promoted. These are for educational purposes only, and therefore will be deleted after 7 days of posting. If you like what you hear, I encourage you to support these amazing artists by buying their albums, and better yet, going to see them live.

Seeing as I missed out on a couple of integral posting opps, I'll try and best summarize this past month in music.

Best New Releases
Though I was disappointed by The Killer's new Sawdust, and the fact that they're still Mormon, there were plenty of new releases to put my non-polygamist faith back in music this month.

Daft Punk - Alive 2007
Daft Punk's Discovery changed electronic music production forever - and now, so many years later, we get to hear all our favorite classics remixed and live. Christmas comes in November apparently. Buy this CD and be amazed by how much fun sobriety can be.

Daft Punk - Around the World / Harder Better Faster Stronger (Alive 2007)
Daft Punk - One More Time / Aerodynamic (Alive 2007)


Jay-Z - American Gangster


Sean Carter has come out of retirement once again to release American Gangster along with the motion picture of the same name. Let's all thank the ROC boy for not searing our eardrums with another half-ass LP like Kingdom Come, forcing us to wade through so much smack talk, self-promotion, and boasting of his own wealth to find the few, and I mean very few, quality tracks. American Gangster was a return to the old HOVA - the sweet-flowing, former drug-dealing, unyieldingly charismatic rapper we learned to love on The Blueprint, and my personal favorite, The Dynasty. His stories might be reruns, but Jay has the ability to spit old memories of life on the streets with new, rejuvenating rhymes. Bringing the best elements of hip-hop, r&b, and seventies soul to Gangster the listener is transported into the size thirteens of street smart Sean Carter. We can feel the plight of the hustler from the comfort of our two-story home. I am less inclined to believe in Jay's promise that this is the last release of his career. LTK is most certain we'll be hearing from the mogul again - and maybe this time he'll bring us some new, more complex or layered material worthy of his insistent self-praise.

Jay-Z ft. Lil Wayne - Hello Brooklyn 2.0
Jay-Z - ROC Boys (And the Winner Is...)

The Hives - The Black and White Album


Rock out like you never expected. The spiffiest dressed rock and rollers I've ever seen deliver on their latest release, with a new unique sound, and more quality tracks (over their previous releases when quantity was the construct). Listen for a little Pharrell Williams production magic; somehow the man's talent is gold for others and Kryptonite for his solo efforts. These rockers should be praised for their 50's style throwbacks (you just don't see neckties enough in popular music today) and their quirky, infectious, chord heavy sound. More comes out of Sweden than just furniture.

The Hives - Tick Tick Boom

Favorite New Single

Bloc Party has re-released their latest, Weekend in the City to include the new single Flux. I can't say that I was impressed by the original release of the album, considering the wow factor of 2005's Silent Alarm. Why would anyone choose to watch Saved By the Bell: The New Class when you could replay your favorite Zak and Kelly moments instead? Bloc Party set the bar high with their debut, and since then it seems they've been scrambling to impress us as much as tracks like "Helicopter" and "This Modern Love" wowed us 2 yrs back. The re-release of Weekend has one standout bright spot, and that is the new track, Flux. I see a return to the post-punk energy of Silent Alarm, a reminder of the uniquely textured sound that is BP's roots.

Bloc Party - Flux


Stay tuned this Monday for my very first Case of the Mondays Mixtape. I'll also have some exciting concert news, and a plug for some of my favorite soundtracks on the scene right now.

PS. 25 Days Till Christmas! In the spirit of the Holiday, check out this insane blog dedicated to the worst Christmas music ever made! Amazing, right?

Musical Fruitcake

Albums to Write Home About

Besides obsessing about my newest Radiohead fix, I've spent much of the last week perusing my usual top 20 twenty music blogs. The message is clear: there an overwhelming amount of new (and QUALITY) releases flooding the music scene this moment. Sidenote: Is it wrong with all this great music surrounding me I'm still excited to hear the newest release (10/30) from guilty pleasure Britney Spears? Probably. But in the interest of complete honesty I must praise Brit Brit for taking shitty vocals, a synthesizer, and performing the crap out of both. Sans one VMA performance.

That being said, lets get to the paydirt. Audio Orgasms as I like to call them.
First off is actually an older release:

Audio Orgasm One
Animal Collective's Strawberry Jam
Released: September 11, 2007

Sounds Like: Grizzly Bear, Sunset Rubdown, Les Savy Fav

Climax Tracks: Fireworks, Derek, Peacebone



If you've been a fan of the quirky quartet since their 2000 inception then you've jammed along to their less accessible efforts Here Comes the Indian, (personal fav) Feels, and Hollinndagin. Fans of this genre-transcending band know that their music is both eclectic and uncomfortable, radical and familiar. Just as fans become accustomed to a particular effort, AC shocks us with something unexpected; transcultural, euphoric, technological, abstract, then direct.

A chamleon of a band, AC's newest, more mainstream effort Strawberry Jam is just as sweet as it sounds. Die-hards will once again be taken aback by the new mixture of synth ambiance and psychedelic vocals. And newcomers whose earlier impressions of AC efforts would include "cacophony of noise" or "rambling lyrics" might be pleasantly surprised with just how engaging and relatable this release is. That's not to say this album is easy listening. Like many-a-favorite album, Strawberry Jam has the ability to frustrate and confuse before enjoyment or appreciation can follow. However, if you like a small challenge this album is a MUST have. Though I can't say the album artwork makes me fire up the toaster, I will say this album satisfies the sweet tooth with more vigor and perseverance than any condiment ever could. Strawberry Jam has enough appeal to keep you entertained and enough substance to keep you curious on that inevitable 30th listen.


Audio Orgasm Two
Band of Horses, Cease to Begin
Released: October 9, 2007

Sounds Like: Matt Pond PA, Rogue Wave, Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins

Climax Tracks: No One's Gonna Love You, Windows Blues, Ode to LRC, Is There a Ghost, Marry Song

If you know me, you know I love this band. Maybe their humble Seattle beginnings give me a little of a hometown bias. Though its much more likely that my love affair with Ben Bridwell's vocals, being the longest and most committed relationship I've had, keeps their newest release on repeat. Ben draws repeated comparisons to My Morning Jacket singer Jim James. Another torrid love affair that I can't get into now. Don't want Ben getting jealous.

Though the band is really a baby in terms of musical heirarchy, it is obvious to fans that their music transcends only two releases. Ben, Creighton, and Rob have been around music for much longer than the four years they've played together. In fact, original founding members Ben and Matt Brooke, who left the band last year, were part of the now-deceased Carissa'a Weird before organizing the group that would catch critical acclaim and cult-like followers opening for Iron and Wine.

Cease to Begin has the similar ambiance and instrumentally haunting elements of its outstanding predecessor, Everything All the Time. The loss of Matt has effected neither the poignant lyrics or powerful vocals. And although some critics claim the album is less than thrilling, I think fans will be pleasantly surprised by the band's personal growth. I myself admit to feeling trance-like after Cease to Begin ceases. However, I must chastise those who were underwhlemed by this latest effort. Band of Horses has not only solidified their talent by conquering the ominous sophomore slump, but also surmounted a challenge many musicians fail at, adaptability. Despite losing a founding member, Band of Horses has remained true to their original sound and core audience, simultaneously incorporating new and pioneering sounds. Get back "Nay"- sayers, this band has enough Horsepower to take you to take you around the track infinitely.


Audio Orgasms Three - Six

• Stereophonics, Pull the Pin

Sounds Like: Bush, Jimmy Eat World, Kaiser Chiefs

Climax Track: It Means Nothing, Bank Holiday Monday

• Beirut, The Flying Club Cup

Sounds Like: Iron and Wine, Sunset Rubdown, Sufjan Stevens

Climax Tracks: La Banlieu, Nantes

• Boys Noize, Oi Oi Oi

Sounds Like: Justice, Digitalism

Climax Tracks: Lava Lava, Oh!

• Keane, Little Broken Words

Sounds Like: Mutemath, Snow Patrol, Josh Rouse

Climax Tracks: To the End of the World, Emily, What a Wonderful World


Stay tuned for Tomorrows Review (Surprise) and for a new mixtape in the LTK series!

In the meantime check out the latest LTK playlists to get "chosen" over at FIQL; both are currently displayed on the front page of the website.

Lounge Music

Old Favorites... New Light

Austa.

Music: The Nasal-Friendly Addiction

So the only thing I can stand to write about now is music. My life is terribly uninteresting; if I was a paperback B & N would have dropped me in the bargain bin ages ago.

Music is my addiction. And if Hohan and Brit Brit's nasal activity can sell a few million tabloids, I figure my less scandalous drug of choice can attract a little notice. Until the day I'm taken to Promises or some place in the middle of who knows f*ck (Utah), I can support the habit. I'm sure they'll recognize the disorder in the DSM any day now.

If you haven't already experienced Radiohead's new album, In Rainbows, I really hope you are on crack. "Do more drugs Turtle. Seriously, do more drugs."
Because Radiohead doesn't work for "the man" anymore, they've made their new 10-track album a digital release, available for download off their website. Take the time to sluggishly move your index over a few clicks and download the album for next to nothing. Now. Not because Kid A or OK Computer were both radical masterpieces, or even because the genius that is Thom Yorke can make us uncomfortable with our existence in a few sparse but powerful lyrics. Buy this record because it marks the beginning of the end; the downfall for music as a corporation. Purchasing In Rainbows is like giving a huge middle finger to the record label execs who forced you to pay 13.99 for that shitty Beyonce cd. Offense intended B.
Lets face it, the world is full of pirated music. But is it any wonder we glorify pirates, or a lot of famous thieves for that matter? It's the whole stealing-from-the-rich-giving-to-the-poor element that hero Robin Hood advocated. I've always believed music, as a form of art, should be available to the culture it was created to enrich. Do musicians really want only a certain demographic to benefit from their music? Is that really why they got into the business - to make the .001 cents or whatever the figure is off each additional record they sell? If it is, they deserve to have your record downloaded. I know its your job, and you're trying to make a living but do it with a little integrity. Have a little respect for your fans. If you don't suck balls there are people willing to pay for your record and pay to come to your concerts. Start taking notes Keven Federline.

So Radiohead is the shit. Worldwide. They have enough credit in this business to make a radical move like this because their fans are willing to pay for their music. Up to about 80 bucks in fact for their exclusive box set. Well-known, popular artists like Oasis and Jamiroquai have already said they will follow suit, and release their new albums free to fans.

The success of In Rainbows may come with a price. That being a decline in physical album sales. Hosts of the amazing podcast and radio show, Chicago Public Radio's SoundOpinions, Jim and Greg talk about this potential problem. Check out this edition of the podcast here on their website, with a links to the streaming mp3 feed. However, yours truly doesn't see this as a problem. Not yet at least. Radiohead will release a copy of the cd in 2008, and I think more than a few fans will go out and buy another copy on record. Fuck you itunes, this is one exclusive you didn't get.

PS. Check out the two new playlists posted and "chosen" to be featured by FIQL. Also check out my FIQL page which has other amazing playlists, all but one selected by the website.
- For the Indie Lover in Love
- Wake Up; I Go to Sleep

Songs You Should be Listening to Today
Peter Bjorn and John - Let's Call it Off
Lily Allen - Naive (Kooks Cover)
Aesop Rock - Water
Afrikan Boy - Marching Riddim Re-Birth
Stars - Heart

Album You Should Go Out and Buy
Boys Noize - Oi Oi Oi (Amazing!)