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The unabomber of pop, Kid Rock, has finally struck a deal to sell his music online – but only because Real Networks have agreed that Rhapsody customers will be forced to buy the tracks they want bundled with a bunch of filler – the “only whole albums” injunction.
I’m hoping Rhapsody tries to run an ad which makes a virtue of this: “Why buy only the tracks you want? Come to Rhapsody and pay for the ones you’ll never listen to, too”.
“The real issue here is flexibility in terms of artists being able to do what they want,” said Ken Levitan, the singer’s manager.
Call me old fashioned, but shouldn’t the people who are picking up the tab be calling the shots? Would anyone want to eat in a restaurant where the manager was saying “the waiters will bring you food according to what they think you should be eating?” (I agree! Oh, and how’s that whole, “I’m avoiding iTunes!” working out for ya, dude? – Brad)
There was something inevitable about this, given how many other bands have reunited, and how there’s not really anything else for them to do: Limp Bizkit are getting back together.
A bunch of paunchy middle-aged men pretending to be teenagers?
Yes, but now they’re getting back together.
Fred Durst has confirmed the worst:
“Yes, it has been a while. But a while worth the wait. It is getting very close to time to drop the Bizkit on the universe. I say this with the absolute best intentions and motivation. We, Limp Bizkit, are excited about the future for us and for you. Let’s stir some shit up my friends.”
Well, yes, the image of someone sticking a spoon into a bucket of poo and vigorously whisking does seem strangely appropriate, Durst. Given that the comeback announcement is worded ‘drop the Bizkit on the universe’, the mind boggles at what the actual product of this union will be.
James Blunt is prepared to quit music – providing the price is right. He’s prepared to quit, if we can scrape together the cash:
“If someone is prepared to pay me enough, I’ll stop.”
The BBC have already announced plans to turn over cash from this year’s Children In Need telethon to Blunt if he just stops; the US Congress is currently discussing if they can find another $700 billion to help out.
More disturbingly, Blunt suggests that not liking him is akin to racism:
“If you don’t like my music then listen to someone else.
“It’s bizarre that I should attract all this aggression. Any judgment made on that level is a form of prejudice.”
Aggression? Eh? People saying you’re not very good aren’t being aggressive, they’re just passing a critical opinion. If you think having someone say ‘you make poorly judged singles featuring droning voices and bland lyrics’ is aggressive, what the hell were you like when you were in the army?
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Eduard von Grützner's depiction of Falstaff, a literary character well known for his joie de vivre
It’s raining here in Austin, so I thought it’d fitting to talk about an ironically named emo band that has asked me to review their music, Joie De Vivre (French for the Joy of Living). The band is pretty good and I woulda bought their 7″ on Freewheel or Caulfield Records back in ‘95, so I don’t know, maybe it’s time for the emo resurgence (REAL emo, not stuff made after ‘97, now get off my lawn!)?
A little about the band, they really wrote the article for me in their “Influences” (autumn, friends, handshakes, Mineral, The Promise Ring, Pedro the Lion, etc.) and “Sounds Like” (The band your older brother used to listen to circa 1997) sections. Not much else to say after all of that, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing if those are things you’re into. I just hope their being bitingly sarcastic in their “Quote” when they say, “chicks used to clown us… now they surround us” (I don’t know, maybe they’re Cam’Ron fans)? Black Kids are frequently shunned for their “look at us, we’re HOT SHIT!! attitude lately, I’d hate to see this group get off on the wrong foot. I think the songs up on their Myspace page are pretty good and will probably be sought after (much like Ben Nichol’s Red 40 stuff maybe) once the band gets some studio time, practice and song writing chops under their belt. Give ‘em a listen and get in to the groove as Madonna would say, be “that” guy who was there from the start who-knew-of-them-first. Myspace
October 7, 2008 at 3:56 am
believe me… it’s sarcasm
these guys have no pull with the ladies. I think that’s why they’re in a mid-90’s emo band