Showing posts with label independent music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label independent music. Show all posts
Sunday, April 8, 2007
and the band played on
In a previous post, I lamented the demise of the oh so excellent, Cool Waters Band. I was thrilled to discover that Greg Waters teamed up with Mark Little and released an album titled, The Roots. I immediately went over to iTunes to download it and discovered that it was released in 2005. I have to admit that I was a bit sad. I had hoped that this was a sign that this amazing band, who play their final concert this week, would still be carrying on in some form. I bought the CD anyway and it is fantastic, raw and funky! I sure hope that more music from these guys is on the way...
thank you for the music
I try very hard to support Canadian music. Through the magic of iTunes, I've subscribed to a number of podcasts that highlight Canadian music. Maybe I'm getting old, but I just can't get excited about any of the up and coming bands that these podcasts are touting as the best new Canadian talent. I'm starting to feel like a bad Canadian, and believe me, I am a pretty hardcore patriot!
I have recently discovered two UK bands that I just love!
The Shakes are a 4 piece from London, England. When I first heard their song Liberty Jones on about 5 million podcasts in one week, I wasn't all that impressed. Frankly, I was quite annoyed that every podcaster in the universe was playing this song. That's usually the first clue that I will absolutely fall in love with a band. And I did! Soon afterwards, I was on the Podsafe Music Network listening to Liberty Jones over and over again. The really cool thing about this band is that they don't have a record deal and they don't have a full length album out. They have been releasing singles every few months and promoting themselves through the Internet. I can honestly say that the minute they have a CD out I will download it! In the meantime, I look forward to each new single, live track, podcast, and whatever else they put out on their website or the Podsafe Music Network. These guys are totally taking matters into their own hands! It's refreshing to see a band take a different approach. I hope it's working for them.
I am also totally into The Fratellis. These guys got a huge break when their tune, Flathead, was featured in an Apple ad promoting iPod + iTunes. There music is catchy and fun with some excellent lyrics. I'm a total sucker for great lyrics! From what I can tell, they are also an indie band and seem to be developing a good following.
So maybe I'm just more in tune with the UK sound these days. Whatever it is, I highly recommend that you check out both of these awesome bands.
I have recently discovered two UK bands that I just love!
The Shakes are a 4 piece from London, England. When I first heard their song Liberty Jones on about 5 million podcasts in one week, I wasn't all that impressed. Frankly, I was quite annoyed that every podcaster in the universe was playing this song. That's usually the first clue that I will absolutely fall in love with a band. And I did! Soon afterwards, I was on the Podsafe Music Network listening to Liberty Jones over and over again. The really cool thing about this band is that they don't have a record deal and they don't have a full length album out. They have been releasing singles every few months and promoting themselves through the Internet. I can honestly say that the minute they have a CD out I will download it! In the meantime, I look forward to each new single, live track, podcast, and whatever else they put out on their website or the Podsafe Music Network. These guys are totally taking matters into their own hands! It's refreshing to see a band take a different approach. I hope it's working for them.
I am also totally into The Fratellis. These guys got a huge break when their tune, Flathead, was featured in an Apple ad promoting iPod + iTunes. There music is catchy and fun with some excellent lyrics. I'm a total sucker for great lyrics! From what I can tell, they are also an indie band and seem to be developing a good following.
So maybe I'm just more in tune with the UK sound these days. Whatever it is, I highly recommend that you check out both of these awesome bands.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Sunday, March 11, 2007
if I can, than I will wash it away...
Bum Rush the Charts
The idea is to make an independent music artist number 1 on iTunes on March 22, 2007 by getting as many people as possible to purchase one particular song by that artist on that day. The people behind this initiative have chosen Mine Again by Black Lab. Why this song and artist? Well, Black Lab was were once signed to Geffen and once to Sony/Epic but dropped by both. Why? Good question! I was a fan of their music then am again after rediscovering them on the Podsafe Music Network. Check out the album See The Sun. This music is way better than the crap they play on Top 40 radio. But we don't hear this on the radio because this artist does not have the support of a major record label behind them. Well screw the record labels! We want good music!!! We want independent music!!!
Stick it to the man! On March 22, Bum Rush the Charts!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
sound of your voice, part 1
On Friday night, Steve and I and our friends, Christine (my best friend since high school) and Stewart (her darling husband) went to the Barenaked Ladies concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. I've had the pleasure of seeing the Ladies four times now, most memorably on the Stunt tour when we sat front row at Massey Hall. One of my favourite bands in my most favourite music venue in Toronto. Priceless!
Last night's concert was unlike any BNL show I have ever attended. The vibe was totally different. Mellower, although they had just as much energy as at past shows. More mature, even though they were just a funny as ever. So what's changed?
A lot.
The band's latest release, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, takes them back to their independent roots. That's right boys and girls, no record company involved! The guys set up their own record label and took full control over their work. Instead of the standard 10-12 song disc, they released a 29 song set. Not only did they put these tunes out on physical CDs, they offered them for download and threw them on a USB drive (adorably titled "Barenaked on a Stick") that included some fun extras. It's important to mention that if you decided to go old school and purchase the physical CDs, you were only able to purchase half of the songs when they came out in the fall of 2006. You had to wait until early February 2007 to get the rest. Obviously the guys were encouraging their fans to use one of the new media methods. Well it worked for me. Up until this release, I owned every Barenaked Ladies recording in a physical format, including the groundbreaking yellow tape. Something about being able to look at my lovely pile of CDs and cassettes and say that I had all of BNL's recordings made me all warm and fuzzy. But when it came time to purchase Barenaked Ladies Are Me, it was a no-brainer. I wanted all of the songs and I wanted them now! My stack of CDs did not grow taller and I didn't miss that awesome feeling of tearing off the plastic and eagerly listening to each track while dissecting the lyrics and liner notes. I so thought I would miss that experience, but I didn't. I guess when it comes down to it, the other stuff doesn't matter. It's all about the music and how you connect to it.
Last night's concert was unlike any BNL show I have ever attended. The vibe was totally different. Mellower, although they had just as much energy as at past shows. More mature, even though they were just a funny as ever. So what's changed?
A lot.
The band's latest release, Barenaked Ladies Are Me, takes them back to their independent roots. That's right boys and girls, no record company involved! The guys set up their own record label and took full control over their work. Instead of the standard 10-12 song disc, they released a 29 song set. Not only did they put these tunes out on physical CDs, they offered them for download and threw them on a USB drive (adorably titled "Barenaked on a Stick") that included some fun extras. It's important to mention that if you decided to go old school and purchase the physical CDs, you were only able to purchase half of the songs when they came out in the fall of 2006. You had to wait until early February 2007 to get the rest. Obviously the guys were encouraging their fans to use one of the new media methods. Well it worked for me. Up until this release, I owned every Barenaked Ladies recording in a physical format, including the groundbreaking yellow tape. Something about being able to look at my lovely pile of CDs and cassettes and say that I had all of BNL's recordings made me all warm and fuzzy. But when it came time to purchase Barenaked Ladies Are Me, it was a no-brainer. I wanted all of the songs and I wanted them now! My stack of CDs did not grow taller and I didn't miss that awesome feeling of tearing off the plastic and eagerly listening to each track while dissecting the lyrics and liner notes. I so thought I would miss that experience, but I didn't. I guess when it comes down to it, the other stuff doesn't matter. It's all about the music and how you connect to it.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
when the lights go down
Just over a year ago, after my darling Steve gave me a 60GB video iPod for Christmas, I discovered podcasting. And through podcasting, I discovered some incredible music. Independent artists who should be on the radio, but aren't because the big record companies producing manufactured crap are still in control of the music industry. I will blog about a lot of these great artists in the future but for now, sad news.
The Cool Waters Band, has decided to call it quits after a 13 year run. I discovered them in early 2006 when Adam Curry played their song, 2 Car Garage on his podcast, the Daily Source Code. I was instantly hooked and the album did not disappoint. I listen to it all the time and have since downloaded (and am totally digging) a couple of their earlier releases. This is rock the way it was meant to be. Energetic, earthy, raw, funky, intense, feel good fun. The fact that we are force fed Britney Spears and Pussy Cat Dolls and don't get to hear artists like the Cool Waters Band on the radio is a crime.
While I wish the guys well in their future endeavours, I can't help but feel like this is yet another victory for the record industry and corporate radio. Another indie band dies, while Jessica Simpson earns millions on another boat load of crap. As music lovers, we have the power to change this. Turn off your radios. Go hear some live music in your area. Surf the net for some great indie music. Check out some great music podcasts, like Accident Hash. Yeah, there is bound to be some crap out there, but you just might find your next favourite band.
The Cool Waters Band, has decided to call it quits after a 13 year run. I discovered them in early 2006 when Adam Curry played their song, 2 Car Garage on his podcast, the Daily Source Code. I was instantly hooked and the album did not disappoint. I listen to it all the time and have since downloaded (and am totally digging) a couple of their earlier releases. This is rock the way it was meant to be. Energetic, earthy, raw, funky, intense, feel good fun. The fact that we are force fed Britney Spears and Pussy Cat Dolls and don't get to hear artists like the Cool Waters Band on the radio is a crime.
While I wish the guys well in their future endeavours, I can't help but feel like this is yet another victory for the record industry and corporate radio. Another indie band dies, while Jessica Simpson earns millions on another boat load of crap. As music lovers, we have the power to change this. Turn off your radios. Go hear some live music in your area. Surf the net for some great indie music. Check out some great music podcasts, like Accident Hash. Yeah, there is bound to be some crap out there, but you just might find your next favourite band.
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