I've been thinking lately about the music industry and its problems. Sales of Cd's are down in every major retailer and space for the product has also been slashed. Some might think that it is because of the downloading of music that replaced the sale of the Cd.
I think that it can be traced all the way back to the days of the cassette tape and the Sony Walkman. Before the invention of the Walkman there were records and stereo systems when a new record was released fans of a particular band would get together and listen to it. In some cases it was an excuse to sit around and smoke illegal substances(I'm talking to the Pink Floyd fans). It was in a sense a social scene where like minded individuals would listen to the record and get to know the music and each other.
I guess that's why I still hold onto my records and turntable maybe sometime in the future when the economy becomes really bad we will all get together and listen to records that were either newly released or released many years ago.
Until next time
GETOUTOFMYHEAD!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
THE END
Well, since not alot of people have been reading my blog and I don't have the "nets" at my humble abode yet I am going to end this blog for awhile. I appreciate the few comments I received from family. However, I am going to create a new blog that mixes my passions of music and art what it will be called and when it will appear is to be determined. Until next time this is THE END
Monday, March 31, 2008
Well it is happening in the music world again what was popular once is now popular with the kids who were young or weren't even born yet. I am talking about RickRoll which is a renewed interest in the singer Rick Astley's one hit "Never Gonna Give You Up" for some odd reason it has become the song of protest for those who are against the Scientologist movement. It is also being used on YouTube in a number of odd ways. The
LA Times that explains it further. Anyway, it proves my theory that being a one hit wonder in music is better than being an enduring artist because people will always remember you fondly even if they hated your music at the time. The evidence is there look at all the former 80's bands like Flock of Seagulls, Quiet Riot, Poison touring the lower end of the club circuit they sell out every time and the people love them. It doesn't matter if the original band plays together as long as it has at least one original member who owns the name. I admit I was a fan of Astley's hit and got some flak for listening to it not too long ago but maybe I'm just ahead of what is culturally cool and don't realize it sometimes.
Well until next time
LA Times that explains it further. Anyway, it proves my theory that being a one hit wonder in music is better than being an enduring artist because people will always remember you fondly even if they hated your music at the time. The evidence is there look at all the former 80's bands like Flock of Seagulls, Quiet Riot, Poison touring the lower end of the club circuit they sell out every time and the people love them. It doesn't matter if the original band plays together as long as it has at least one original member who owns the name. I admit I was a fan of Astley's hit and got some flak for listening to it not too long ago but maybe I'm just ahead of what is culturally cool and don't realize it sometimes.
Well until next time
GETOUTOFMYHEAD!
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
The Grammys or as some call it the Gimmie"s and a way to fix them
Well the Grammys were sunday and surprise not alot of people watched it. Unfortunately, at one time the grammys were a big deal and this being the 50th anniversary of them it should have matttered more. I willl give the grammy judges credit for choosing Amy Winehouse giving her a total of five . I have listened to her album Back in Black ever since it came out and have yet to grow tired of it. Which is weird because I'm not much on female singers as some of my friends.
The Grammy's continued the tradition of "WHAT THE @#!%? by giving best album to Herbie Hancock who is a jazz artist and not a very good one either. It should have gone to Winehouse or at least Kayne West who both have had a up and down year professionally and personally.
In the past the Grammys gave the best album for hard rock to Jethro Thull in 89' when it should have been Metallica and of course the infamous naming of Milli Vanillin in 1990 when they found out the they didn't even sing they gave the grammys back. Then in 2001 they named Steeley Dan best album overshadowing the more popular Eminem, Radiohead. How could we fix these past oversights one may ask?
I propose that the Grammys hire myself, my brother in law Bryan blogger of Benvelont Order of Mustacioed Men to distinguish the winners every year and give the awards to the proper musicians. Of course I would be bias towards Oasis and he would be towards Tom Waits but still the two of us are more "in tune" with the music media. We could even do it in a week at the end of the year and still come up with a better list than those in charge now.
Well that is all I have to say for now until next time
The Grammy's continued the tradition of "WHAT THE @#!%? by giving best album to Herbie Hancock who is a jazz artist and not a very good one either. It should have gone to Winehouse or at least Kayne West who both have had a up and down year professionally and personally.
In the past the Grammys gave the best album for hard rock to Jethro Thull in 89' when it should have been Metallica and of course the infamous naming of Milli Vanillin in 1990 when they found out the they didn't even sing they gave the grammys back. Then in 2001 they named Steeley Dan best album overshadowing the more popular Eminem, Radiohead. How could we fix these past oversights one may ask?
I propose that the Grammys hire myself, my brother in law Bryan blogger of Benvelont Order of Mustacioed Men to distinguish the winners every year and give the awards to the proper musicians. Of course I would be bias towards Oasis and he would be towards Tom Waits but still the two of us are more "in tune" with the music media. We could even do it in a week at the end of the year and still come up with a better list than those in charge now.
Well that is all I have to say for now until next time
GETOUTOFMYHEAD
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Musicians who die before their prime (or after).
The news wasn't good for Quiet Riot fans on Monday the lead singer Kevin Dubrow had died of unknown causes. I think it was the rock n roll grim reaper harvesting former rock stars.
People will shake their heads about the brilliance of Dubrow dying while not exactly in his musical prime and he had been known to abuse alcohol and drugs in the past so why is his death suddenly mysterious?
Some brilliant musicians who died before their prime were Nick Drake who made four albums which no one ever paid much attention to in the early 70's. He died on an overdose of prescription anti depressants whether he did it on purpose or accidental is truly unknown.. Another musician was Jeff Buckley who was the son of a musician that died while in his prime (Tim Buckley) but his downfall wasn't drugs as his father it was drowning in the Mississippi River which could have been accidental from drinking too much.
These musicians were not alone in being overlooked the music labels and the public tend to dictate what becomes popular and what isn't.
Brittney Spears, Courtney Love should have burned out awhile ago because they too have trouble with alcohol, drugs, and other problems in their life. Recently, Amy Winehouse who is a fairly good singer but a troubled one has been in the news for her personal life too. For some odd reason people are interested in how many times they have been to rehab, jail, or some other trivial information instead of the music they make.
Then we can shake our heads and cry if a musician dies before his/her prime and not mourn someone who was a has been.
Until next time
People will shake their heads about the brilliance of Dubrow dying while not exactly in his musical prime and he had been known to abuse alcohol and drugs in the past so why is his death suddenly mysterious?
Some brilliant musicians who died before their prime were Nick Drake who made four albums which no one ever paid much attention to in the early 70's. He died on an overdose of prescription anti depressants whether he did it on purpose or accidental is truly unknown.. Another musician was Jeff Buckley who was the son of a musician that died while in his prime (Tim Buckley) but his downfall wasn't drugs as his father it was drowning in the Mississippi River which could have been accidental from drinking too much.
These musicians were not alone in being overlooked the music labels and the public tend to dictate what becomes popular and what isn't.
Brittney Spears, Courtney Love should have burned out awhile ago because they too have trouble with alcohol, drugs, and other problems in their life. Recently, Amy Winehouse who is a fairly good singer but a troubled one has been in the news for her personal life too. For some odd reason people are interested in how many times they have been to rehab, jail, or some other trivial information instead of the music they make.
Then we can shake our heads and cry if a musician dies before his/her prime and not mourn someone who was a has been.
Until next time
GETOUTOFMYHEAD!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Music as of late.
About Me
While I'm still writing on a rented computer I feel the need to post anyway. In my own life I have found a job, an apartment, and won't have to keep living with my parents. Perhaps, I will get my own internet connection and this blog can once again be weekly.
There seems to be a trend in the music scene former band members are reuniting for one reason or another whether it is money, memories, or just because that solo career isn't taking off as it was first thought a number of bands have decided that it wasn't so bad to play music together.
It started almost a year ago the band Audioslave called it quits they were made up of Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) and former members of Rage Against the Machine. The original members of RATM are getting back together with Zack De La Rocha and only playing dates not a tour but one off performances in various cities. I personally think that RATM isn't much of a band but a place for Zack D to scream his lungs out and voice his skewed political ideals. If they were truly Raging against any machine be it political, social, or economic they would be a self supported entity and not part of the Warner Music Group. The reunion bug has bitten other recent bands that called it quits The Smashing Pumpkins who "reunited" although the only two original members are Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin they played a series of dates in various cities and released a new Cd. I heard the other day though that Jimmy Chamberlin is having health problems so the tour may have to be postponed. another , band that recently called it quits was The Verve who were famous for their song "Bittersweet Symphony" which they didn't make a dime off of because it contained a symphonic sample from the Rolling Stones hit " The First Time," this was one of the many reasons why they quit that and Richard Ashcroft the lead singer couldn't get along with Nick McCabe the bass player amongst other reasons. Now they are getting back together and playing gigs in the United Kingdom.
Ashcroft tried to go solo with a few releases but they just didn't sell I own his first one "Alone with Everybody" and it sounds like he is trying to hard to impress maybe after a lackluster effort at a solo career he has realized that a band isn't that bad of an idea.
Bands from thirty years ago aren't immune to the reunion bug either. The surviving members of Led Zepplin were to get together in England for a one off performance of their material minus John Bonham who died from too much whiskey. However, the performance was cancelled because Jimmy Page the guitarist broke his finger. The death of John Bonham cut short the life of one of the biggest bands of the seventies and the surviving members decided that it wasn't worth it to go on without the drummer. Now they are trying to recreate something that they were and aren't today.
The Eagles Don Henley and Glenn Frey they are a band that I always enjoyed as a young child/man and was disappointed that I never saw them perform live. However, I never expected to see them get together because when asked in 1980 if they would ever do a reunion Don Henley stated "When hell freezes over," well as we all know fourteen years later they got back together for the MTV Unplugged sessions which was OK but I didn't think they would seriously consider a reunion tour.
They did and it was called the Farewell tours I and II which ran through the late nineties into the year two thousand. I thought well they must have gotten it out of their system but low and behold they decided to record new material and release exclusively at of all places Wal-Mart which I think is just wrong. It always seemed that the Eagles were all about thumbing their nose at the corporate goons that run record labels they refused for years to reunite because they knew it would just money making effort for the labels.? Did they actually miss playing music with one another or was it because Glenn Frey hasn't had a solo hit since 85' and Don Henley's last hit was in 89'. Don Henley finally released a solo disc after eleven years and it sounded like something you'd hear on a soft rock station and it didn't sell that well either.
Finally bands who have refused to reunite for any amount of money, memories, are Abba and the Smiths . It was reported a few years ago that the members of Abba were offered a billion dollars to reunite for just a few shows. The leader and other band members declined saying that it wouldn't be the same and shallow to do so. The Smiths who were fronted by Morrissey. They were offered the same type of deal to reunite however, Morrissey was sued by the drummer for royalties that he didn't receive and he won and Morrissey said that the Smiths would have to reunite after either him or the drummer died. Johnny Marr has joined Modest Mouse and improved their sound with his guitar playing so the Smiths don't look to be reuniting for any amount of money, memories, or lack of a successful solo career.
Until next time....
While I'm still writing on a rented computer I feel the need to post anyway. In my own life I have found a job, an apartment, and won't have to keep living with my parents. Perhaps, I will get my own internet connection and this blog can once again be weekly.
Former band members of the music world reunite and make more money.
There seems to be a trend in the music scene former band members are reuniting for one reason or another whether it is money, memories, or just because that solo career isn't taking off as it was first thought a number of bands have decided that it wasn't so bad to play music together.
It started almost a year ago the band Audioslave called it quits they were made up of Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) and former members of Rage Against the Machine. The original members of RATM are getting back together with Zack De La Rocha and only playing dates not a tour but one off performances in various cities. I personally think that RATM isn't much of a band but a place for Zack D to scream his lungs out and voice his skewed political ideals. If they were truly Raging against any machine be it political, social, or economic they would be a self supported entity and not part of the Warner Music Group. The reunion bug has bitten other recent bands that called it quits The Smashing Pumpkins who "reunited" although the only two original members are Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin they played a series of dates in various cities and released a new Cd. I heard the other day though that Jimmy Chamberlin is having health problems so the tour may have to be postponed. another , band that recently called it quits was The Verve who were famous for their song "Bittersweet Symphony" which they didn't make a dime off of because it contained a symphonic sample from the Rolling Stones hit " The First Time," this was one of the many reasons why they quit that and Richard Ashcroft the lead singer couldn't get along with Nick McCabe the bass player amongst other reasons. Now they are getting back together and playing gigs in the United Kingdom.
Ashcroft tried to go solo with a few releases but they just didn't sell I own his first one "Alone with Everybody" and it sounds like he is trying to hard to impress maybe after a lackluster effort at a solo career he has realized that a band isn't that bad of an idea.
Bands from thirty years ago aren't immune to the reunion bug either. The surviving members of Led Zepplin were to get together in England for a one off performance of their material minus John Bonham who died from too much whiskey. However, the performance was cancelled because Jimmy Page the guitarist broke his finger. The death of John Bonham cut short the life of one of the biggest bands of the seventies and the surviving members decided that it wasn't worth it to go on without the drummer. Now they are trying to recreate something that they were and aren't today.
The Eagles Don Henley and Glenn Frey they are a band that I always enjoyed as a young child/man and was disappointed that I never saw them perform live. However, I never expected to see them get together because when asked in 1980 if they would ever do a reunion Don Henley stated "When hell freezes over," well as we all know fourteen years later they got back together for the MTV Unplugged sessions which was OK but I didn't think they would seriously consider a reunion tour.
They did and it was called the Farewell tours I and II which ran through the late nineties into the year two thousand. I thought well they must have gotten it out of their system but low and behold they decided to record new material and release exclusively at of all places Wal-Mart which I think is just wrong. It always seemed that the Eagles were all about thumbing their nose at the corporate goons that run record labels they refused for years to reunite because they knew it would just money making effort for the labels.? Did they actually miss playing music with one another or was it because Glenn Frey hasn't had a solo hit since 85' and Don Henley's last hit was in 89'. Don Henley finally released a solo disc after eleven years and it sounded like something you'd hear on a soft rock station and it didn't sell that well either.
Finally bands who have refused to reunite for any amount of money, memories, are Abba and the Smiths . It was reported a few years ago that the members of Abba were offered a billion dollars to reunite for just a few shows. The leader and other band members declined saying that it wouldn't be the same and shallow to do so. The Smiths who were fronted by Morrissey. They were offered the same type of deal to reunite however, Morrissey was sued by the drummer for royalties that he didn't receive and he won and Morrissey said that the Smiths would have to reunite after either him or the drummer died. Johnny Marr has joined Modest Mouse and improved their sound with his guitar playing so the Smiths don't look to be reuniting for any amount of money, memories, or lack of a successful solo career.
Until next time....
GETOUTOFMYHEAD!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Still writing on a rented computer but trying not to let it get me down.
Hello to all
I 'm still writing on a rented computer but have been paying more attention to the music scene as of late. I could write about Brittney losing custody of her kids but I think enough has been written about that.
One of the Hanson brother of that fine little ditty from '97 "called "Hmmm bop" was hospitalized for an emblolsim in his heart. He's 26 and shouldn't be having heart trouble yet should he ? Maybe it is payback for all of the times he uttered that dreadful tune.
Sharon Osbourne (Ozzy's wife) is apparently in a feud with Courtney Love after calling her a "has been" well I'm certainly glad Sharon pointed this out to all of us because her husband was somewhat of a has been several times in the past. The Osbournes show put his name back out there and sparked interest in his up and down music career. It even caused their daughter Kelly to think she could sing too. We all remember the cover of the Madonna song "Papa don't preach" horrible and now I understand that Kelly is on Broadway doing the singing in the play "Chicago"? One more reason for me not to attend a Broadway Show in NYC.
I've been reading the new "Q" magazine and it lists the greatest guitar players of our time and features them on the cover and features and article on their favorite influences and songs.
They are Jimmy Page, Johnny Marr, Joe Perry, Dave Grohl, Matt Bellamy and Jack White to name a few. I agree with a couple of the selections of Johnny Marr played in the Smiths and is currently with Modest Mouse , Matt Bellamy the lead singer and guitarist of Muse , Jimmy Page the soul of Led Zepplin and Joe Perry the soul of Aerosmith.
I don't understand why they picked Dave Grohl who was and is kind of a drummer and Jack White while talented(I enjoy the white stripes) isn't the most talented of the bunch. Still it is a great articles and magazine and worth the $9.25 us dollar price.
Not much else to write so I will stop this for now and until the next time ?
I 'm still writing on a rented computer but have been paying more attention to the music scene as of late. I could write about Brittney losing custody of her kids but I think enough has been written about that.
One of the Hanson brother of that fine little ditty from '97 "called "Hmmm bop" was hospitalized for an emblolsim in his heart. He's 26 and shouldn't be having heart trouble yet should he ? Maybe it is payback for all of the times he uttered that dreadful tune.
Sharon Osbourne (Ozzy's wife) is apparently in a feud with Courtney Love after calling her a "has been" well I'm certainly glad Sharon pointed this out to all of us because her husband was somewhat of a has been several times in the past. The Osbournes show put his name back out there and sparked interest in his up and down music career. It even caused their daughter Kelly to think she could sing too. We all remember the cover of the Madonna song "Papa don't preach" horrible and now I understand that Kelly is on Broadway doing the singing in the play "Chicago"? One more reason for me not to attend a Broadway Show in NYC.
I've been reading the new "Q" magazine and it lists the greatest guitar players of our time and features them on the cover and features and article on their favorite influences and songs.
They are Jimmy Page, Johnny Marr, Joe Perry, Dave Grohl, Matt Bellamy and Jack White to name a few. I agree with a couple of the selections of Johnny Marr played in the Smiths and is currently with Modest Mouse , Matt Bellamy the lead singer and guitarist of Muse , Jimmy Page the soul of Led Zepplin and Joe Perry the soul of Aerosmith.
I don't understand why they picked Dave Grohl who was and is kind of a drummer and Jack White while talented(I enjoy the white stripes) isn't the most talented of the bunch. Still it is a great articles and magazine and worth the $9.25 us dollar price.
Not much else to write so I will stop this for now and until the next time ?
GETOUTOFMYHEAD!
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