It is to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Graveyard Lovers release Dreamers. A personal favorite of RtBE's that made our list of top fifty albums of the decade and we were happy to chat with Zach and Tricia about the writing, recording and promotion of it.
For those who haven't heard it, do so today on their bandcamp page, if you are a fan of rock, you will not be disappointed.
RtBE has always been against the idea of streaming because of the poor financial support it gives the artists. The streaming services are exploitative, plain and simple...but we here are not business men. Steve Albini has been in the music game for a long time and has written two pieces that we have thoroughly enjoyed in the past.
Earlier this month he spent a long time chatting about the problem with Spotify, streaming in general, Neil Young, Joe Rogan, censorship, politics, free speech and much much more.
It is a long listen, but Pod Damn America let's him role along and he is much smarter on the topic than RtBE could ever be. If you got time and are interested in the music industry that revolves around these stories/issues, give this a listen.
Reports are that Bob Dylan has sold his complete songwriting catalog to Universal Music.
The numbers are presumed to be around $300 million for the catalog which the Times puts at 600 songs. The business of music is not RtBE's strength so we will leave it to others to hash out the economics and what this means to his songs and his legacy, but will "Blowin' In The Wind" be used to sell Big Ass Fans?!?
However this shakes out his songs will always live on. Here are a few:
So this weekend finds Record Store Day rolling around again and you can find a full listing of all the amazing offerings here. This is a great opportunity to support record stores and enhance your vinyl collection
There are a ton of special things on that list that we would love to own and hope you can help support this great cause as well. As for some of the things that caught our eyes, that Johnny Cash concert looks sweet as does the live Sly.
Well maybe some people can...but we would dig that freakout noiserock
We were disappointed with Jack White'sannouncement yesterday, but his offering via Third Man Records of Elvis first ever recording is pretty amazing. Below is a video of music archivist Alan Stoker with White at the Country Music Hall Of Fame where they are checking out and digitizing this piece of American history:
Neat stuff for music nerds, historian's and Elvis fans alike. Maybe Jack will cover this his first show back...
In the increasing fractured world of covers, samples and digital remixes and an increasingly fractured music business the idea of paying royalties out has become murky and the recent "Blurred Lines" case brought things to the forefront again.
Pitchfork has an article on the case written by writer/artist Damon Krukowski who agrees with the ruling but not necessarily the financial settlement which is 7.4 million dollars. He makes some interesting points, but I for one do not feel sorry for the Thicke/Williams/TI side of this one. Would it be super hard to have credited Gaye as a writer or given him credit/his family money before this went all the way to court and a settlement? (Quick side-note, we highlighted Gaye in our Full Show Friday's earlier this month).
One of the more surprising things I learned from Krukowski's piece is there is yet ANOTHER Led Zeppelin rip off issue?! The last time copyrights were discussed on the site, Zeppelin were the main focal point. We pointed out 4 songs of theirs, huge hits, where no credit was given and now there is a case for "Dazed and Confused" too?!?!
Unreal. Our dislike for LZ grows by the day. Is it that funking hard to credit someone else regarding songs when you take inspiration, or at times clearly more, from? Oh well.
We have never been to SXSW and while it may be in the cards for future years, 2015 continues the trend of us passing on attending. However, RtBE and you non Austin travelers do not have to miss out on the Panel Talks or Performances because the internet is awesome:
You can go to SXSW ON and get video streams of talks and shows. Not just the little bars and bands either, one of RtBE's favorites Spoon will be playing tonight at 8pm CDT, pretty damn Boosh. Now all you need is a case of Shiner Bock and you will be good to go.
For those of us who can't make it south this is a pretty great alternative, we will def be watching the band we rated as having the 2nd best album of 2014 tonight. Until then lets peep a quick live video of them premiering a song on NPR live in NYC at Le Poisson Rogue:
If reading long speeches ain't your thang, you can see Steve speak it right here:
He brings up lots of interesting points and comes out of it sounding rational regarding a lifer in the music industry addressing things from every angle. He truly believes things are in a great state currently and that speaks volumes coming from him. We agree, there is a lot to still say on the issue like how can bands support themselves, create art and still make a living, but those problems have probably always existed.
Over on Brooklyn Vegan they posted an interview with Bob Geldorf. A philanthropist rock and roller Geldof helped solidify charity concerts to worthwhile causes as something that can and should be done to help make the world a better place.
It is a rambling read as Geldof pontificates on lots of things from U2 to plumbers. What is striking is his personal belief in the power of music and how it is no longer as strong communally. I concur slightly but I think he is making too small a box around "rock and roll" because all the acts he mentions are pop music, more specifically Popular music.
If music brings people together on any level it can still deliver powerful results, just in new and different forms perhaps. It is a fascinating time regarding music, the "industry" and what goes on with it is anyones guess. One thing is certain though...no one likes Mondays:
This is just one more twist and turn in the ever changing music industry. In our younger days there are two main reasons we never really liked Led Zeppelin anymore than, let's say, Foghat.
One reason was that in my formidable years I had a co-worker at my first job who was a Jimmy Page fanboy to the umpteenth degree; he was insufferable with Page stories, legends and myths .
He played Zep all the time in the break room and while they were fine (other tunes played there were worse) he never mentioned the band much, it was all about Page. I have always loved Jimi Hendrix and for some reason this became an actual sticking point, with real arguments...constantly. This adversarial relationship with a co-worker turned into a pissing match about which guitarist was better...childish for sure, but forming, and solidifying, competitive feelings that still remain today, and not just with us:
The second reason is in direct relation to the article linked here today. I may have said it before on the site but the first 2 CD's I ever bought were Storm Troopers Of Death and John Lee Hooker on the same trip (an odd combo, but, aren't they all). Leaving the metal alone for now, we always have been drawn to the blues and after Hooker we got into all the greats, including Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon. To this day "Whole Lotta Love" is easily our favorite Zep song, because it is a Willie Dixon cover, plain and simple.
It is not a direct lift, but it is clearly that song, redone. Even the younger version of myself felt outraged that Zep never gave credit to Dixon until they were sued. It smacks of elitist entitlement, and exploitation of the highest order. Even more bluntly put; it is a total racist dick move by Page and company because there is no denying the connection,
There are clear race issues here which are directly linked to money, respect/disrespect, greed, white privilege, etc etc. Obviously we are not the only ones who felt that way, having settled that case the article clearly mentions 3 other documented cases the band did this! Including "Whole Lotta Love" and if the Stairway case is found out that would make 5.
Of course ideas come from different places and inspiration can strike anywhere, I could even totally believe Page thought he invented the part when he wrote it. However, once it is pointed out, proper credit is due, especially when art and commerce intersect to this great of an extent.
Well, what do you think, are the songs the same? Should credit be given? Feel free to leave your comments below.
Thanks to our uncles over @glidemag we found out that Pink Floyd are re-releasing The Division Bell. Question is, who cares?
We have been thinking a lot about the record industry over the last few years and this is clearly a money grab of the highest order. Who, outside of diehard fans, thought the Division Bell was a remotely good album? People are disappointed and rightfully so. We are not massive Floyd fans, but we do like some of their stuff, notably Wish You Were Here and The Dark Side Of The Moon. Even back in '94 this smelled like a bloated lazy half assed effort...to re-release it just seems empty and hopeless.
During a time when the industry has no idea what to do, this seems safe. Take a classic rock name, add some tracks, snazzy packaging and presto, fans who are "craving real rock" will buy it...and I am sure there will be some revisionists who claim it is great, a forgotten gem. It's not.
Those people should get online and check out different bands, prog-rock is alive and well and all you need is to click here and find an array of groups playing it on bandcamp. You can save a bunch of money, support new fresh acts and let the industry know recycling crap is for fertilizer not record players. Below are two streaming prog album we found on Bandcamp, it took us all of 2 seconds. They are a Polish group, Iceberg Soul who are also affiliated with Jar of Hope, Apple Peel in this genre.
Check out new acts, don't reward lazy millionaires.
