Switcheroo!
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: February 13, 2009
This blog has moved:
http://cheshirenat.blogspot.com
As much as I love WordPress, Blogger came calling. For now…
Remix, Remix, Remix
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: September 8, 2008
- In: music
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I’m not a huge fan of remixes, but they are so popular these days they are hard to ignore. Today, fans can download a free Remix EP of three tracks from The Raveonettes 2008 disc Lust, Lust, Lust.
The Raveonettes REMIXED is just the first in a series of four digital-only EPs by the band to be released via Vice Music through the end of the year. Although touted as releases that “twist the familiar Raveonettes sound,” I suspect it’s a ploy to remind fans and journalists of the group come time for end of the year lists. (Sneak Peak: Lust, Lust, Lust will probably appear on mine!)
Following today’s release will be Sometimes They Drop By on September 23, an as-yet-titled EP in a similar vein on October 21 and one on November 25th that will feature the band’s “modern nostalgic” take on some Christmas songs. Cool Christmas music? No way!
As for The Raveonettes REMIXED, the three tracks (“Dead Sound”, “Aly, Walk With Me”, “Lust”) render their originals virtually unrecognizable, with the exception of the hookyness (well, it should be a word, spellcheck!) of “Lust”. Really, there’s nothing magical here—although it is interesting to hear markedly different takes on some great songs—but you can’t argue with free. Eat it up here.
The Raveonettes REMIXED track listing:
1. Dead Sound (80KIDZ remix)
2. Aly, Walk With Me (Nic Endo remix)
3. Lust (Trentemøeller Remix)
Axl Rose 1, Internet 0
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: August 28, 2008
According to the AP, the blogger who leaked nine new Guns N’ Roses songs on his blog back in June has been arrested. From the article:
A blogger suspected of streaming songs from the unreleased Guns N’ Roses album “Chinese Democracy” on his Web site was arrested Wednesday and appeared in court, where his bail was set at $10,000.
FBI agents arrested 27-year-old Kevin Cogill on Wednesday morning on suspicion of violating federal copyright laws. Cogill appeared in court in the afternoon wearing a T-shirt; his girlfriend sat court and afterward said, “Rally the troops,” but declined further comment.
Federal authorities say Cogill posted nine unreleased Guns N’ Roses songs on his Web site in June. The songs were later removed.
In later posts, Cogill wrote that the FBI had questioned him and asked his readers if any of them knew a good attorney. He was represented Wednesday by a federal public defender.
According to an arrest affidavit, Cogill admitted to agents that he posted the songs on his Web site. Prosecutors said Wednesday the leak could result in a “significant” financial loss for the band.
“Significant” financial damage for the band? If Axl Rose and Co. were worried about financial damage, they would’ve released the damn thing years ago. At this point, nobody is going to be swayed to buy or not buy the album based on a few songs posted online (that were removed later, I might add).
Using the internet is a large part of music marketing these days, with many high-profile albums being streamed for free via MySpace and other similar outlets the week prior to release. Although these tactics may be more beneficial to smaller, lesser known bands, Guns and Roses should be glad that people still care at all—especially after Slash, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum were no longer on board.
Axl Rose should be thanking Cogill for adding to the Chinese Democracy hype when most people are over the delay drama. If they only had forced him to remove the songs, that would’ve made enough of a ripple–The songs really do exist!!–to give the band some press.
Did Cogill break the law? I guess. Does he deserve to be arrested? I think not. Most bands make the majority of their money touring, endorsements and in song licensing and placement, NOT on album sales. Guns N’ Roses are not excluded from this. If I had numbers of how many people were able to stream the songs Cogill posted, I’d have a better idea of the so-called damage. But, seeing as the songs were only up for a short amount of time, I doubt it will have that great of an impact on the throngs of GN’R fanatics, 80′s metalheads, burnt out rockers, ironic indie kids and just curious music listeners in general from hitting up Best Buy or iTunes the day the album hits stores.
Really, it just comes out to the fact that Axl Rose needs to get his everloving shit together and put out the long-awaited album. This wouldn’t even be an issue if people didn’t care. They do. He might as well give them what they want, and, after such a lengthty and somewhat periled hiatus, be lucky there’s still an audience at all.
Besides, I know a few people who wouldn’t mind a free Dr. Pepper.
Whole lotta travesty
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: August 26, 2008
Did anyone catch the Olympics Closing Ceremonies? I only came in towards the end, but, man, what a frightening sight. Specifically the performance of Leona Lewis with Jimmy Page. Seriously, what?
Now, I get that London would want to be represented by some of their most iconic faces and sounds. According to the broadcast, Leona Lewis has topped the charts in some 25 countires, so it is logical for her to be hidden within that mock double-decker bus. And Jimmy Page is a rock hero, so no explanation is even needed.
The execution, however, was awful. Leona Lewis sounded terrible and, although he can still play like nobody’s business, Page looked like an old guy trying to rock out too hard. They both appeared and sounded incredibly uncomfortable there upon the world’s stage.
But, really, the biggest blight on the entire performance was the song. What the hell does “Whole Lotta Love” have to do with the Olympic games? The song is easly a glorified ode to Robert Plant’s manly parts–my mind does not exactly reside in the gutter, here. “I’m gonna give you every inch of my love.” Really, what do you think that’s about? Trading a baton in a relay race? I think not.
The inclusion of David Beckham kicking the soccer ball was the only thing that seemed to make sense (y’know, the Olympics are about sports). Otherwise the entire number felt like something on par with the Grammys. There was lots of flash, an odd team-up and it felt like little more than a ratings grab. Hopefully the 2012 Opening Ceremonies will get their inspiration elsewhere.
You wouldn’t like me when I’m hungry.
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: July 17, 2008
I asked if I could pick up a $5 footlong and put it in his mouth just long enough to take a picture. I’d even clean it up and everything! They said no.
Digging through the backlogs…
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: July 16, 2008
The first interview I ever did was with the Dandy Warhols back in 2003. It was just after the release of Welcome to the Monkey House and their solo tour stopped in Atlanta (at the now defunct Cotton Club) where they put on an awesome three-hour show.
Looking back, I was still pretty naïve about some things (I was a very young 20 years old), but incredibly intuitive about others. I asked great, well-researched questions and everything went really well, much to my surprise. It is still the only tour bus I’ve ever been on.
I also got stopped at the door, and their manager had never heard of me. Somehow, after several desperate phone calls and pleas to the powers that be, I made it work. I got the interview and was able to bring my sister and good friend Phil into the show with me. It wouldn’t be the first time, though, that there would be problems, but that was just another reason why it was a great learning (and life) experience. Especially since I was so determined. I almost think I had more balls back then than I do now, which is shocking to think back on.
Most of all, I was honest. I walked in, nervous as hell, and just admitted it was the first interview I’d ever done. And I’m glad I did it. It was an important lesson: always be honest and be yourself. Chances are, they will be too.
Now, the article I wrote certainly has its flaws—cheese, grammar mistakes—but the prose is better than some of the printed articles that followed it. Reading it again so many years later, it still captures so much of that night so that I can again picture it clearly in my head. I have been more displeased with articles I’ve written in the past 12 months than I am of that article. Well, almost.
The poster from that show still hangs on the wall in my living room and I still keep tabs on the buttons they gave me—one of every kind they had to go on the super-emo purse I carried at the time. They’re good reminders of where I started, and where I still want to go.
Read the article here.
Music for Money
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: July 14, 2008
- In: music
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Ever wanted to hear your name on record? In a comedic/metal track no less? Well, now is your chance.
Now, I don’t know who the band Psychostick is (apparently they do a song about beer?), but they raise an interesting issue. According to a press release, the band plans to help fund their recording time by soliciting donations from fans in the amount of $50 and, in return, will mention the fans by name in a song, working titled “400 Thank Yous,” to appear on said album.
This video can explain it a little better than I can:
So for anyone hankerin’ to get their name on disc, Psychostick are accepting donations through September 30. Businesses can also get in on the action for $250, and their website is keeping track of all the action.
While name dropping everything from Courvoisier to cars in popular tunes is anything but new, Psychostick is the first underground act that I’ve heard of to do so. Granted the money will be used simply for recording expenses (which, I doubt was Kanye West’s motivation), it follows this unsettling industry trend.
Music is commerce, sure, but it’s also an art form. Although I can completely understand why Psychostick has made this decision—despite popular opinion, most of the bands I’ve spoken with <i>are<i> incredibly poor—I can’t say I’m always in favor of it. Psychostick at least scores some points for being upfront about their dealings, and asking for their fans to take part. Artists namedrop for a reason, and it’s a big fat dollar-sign. Anyone who thinks otherwise is simply naive.
Hero in a half shell
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: July 12, 2008
I found a turtle in my parents’ yard this morning.
I wonder where he was going. I wonder if he knew. Sometimes I don’t.
Not so festive.
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: July 10, 2008
- In: music
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I hate festivals. There is nothing less awesome about a live show than thousands of people hanging around catching sets for bands they don’t really even care for.
For example, exhibit A:
It’s Bonnaroo 2006. Radiohead is playing their headlining show. I am totally stoked and super-excited until the entire group of about 15 people beside my friend and I begin to discuss how much Radiohead sucks and that nobody is there to see them. Instead of leaving, they proceed to yak about it for the entire rest of their set. So cool of them.
[As a side note, Radiohead is one of the biggest, best and most influential bands on the planet, so I think there were a little off on that one.]
ANYWAY, Yesterday I hit up the Warped Tour. I had specific work-related reasons for going (and those worked out) but overall I was somewhat unimpressed. With a few exceptions, I hardly saw anybody actually seem excited about being there. It made me profoundly sad.
So in addition to unenthused audiences, add in crappy sound and the fact that most of the time you can hardly even see the band. Woo hoo! Rock and ROLLLLLLLLLL!!! Yeah.
Warped 2008 did have its highlights. We got to catch an acoustic set by Cobra Starship in the press area. Though I am pretty unfamiliar with the band, it was a pretty entertaining thing to catch, and a lot more whimsical than the acoustic press-only set by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah braintrust Alec Ounsworth than I caught during Bonnaroo ’06. It was nice break from the lengthy distance that plagued the rest of the day.
Now, I’m not elitist enough to say that I won’t attend shows larger than the smallest of venues (I like it when bands I enjoy finally get their due), however I prefer concerts where you get a chance to connect somewhat with the band. If I want to hang out with my friends and goof off, I pick up a bottle of something and invite everybody over and consult my iTunes. Not go to shows and disrespect the band and others in the audience.
Or maybe I’m just getting too old for this shit? Nah…
America’s got….something
Posted by: Natalie B. David on: July 9, 2008
- In: T.V.
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I don’t have cable.
I’ve never been that big of a “T.V. person.” I always prefer to be out and about, doing something instead of being entertained by a big shiny box. So, throwing money every month for an abundance of channels just seems like a waste.
The downside, though, is that when I do feel like vegging out are only a handful of channels to choose from, half of which always seem to show infomercials—the lack of cable cannot stop the power that is HSN!—or televangelists. So, on a Tuesday night in what do the TV gods have for me? That’s right. America’s Got Talent, baby!
First off, for those of you who have never caught this lovely trainwreck, it’s a talent contest a la American Idol. There are judges, a host and open auditions. Only, unlike Fox’s filthy juggernaut, AGT contestants range from singers to pole dancers to baton twirlers and what the fuck was that?!?!
But that’s not the best part. Like any good reality contest, there are the perfect has-been judges: Sharon Osborne, David Hasselhoff and Piers Morgan as the trademark Brit (did I mention the show is produced by Simon Cowell?). So we’ve got absurd American talent being judged by two people from the U.K. and The Hoff (who, sadly, America wouldn’t really want to claim). Oh! And it’s hosted by Jerry Springer. So fabulous.
Now see why I love this show?
You get to see The Hoff get turned on by every contestant (maybe you don’t want to see that…), Sharon Osbourne love almost everybody and Piers do his best impression of Cowell. And America’s oddities are on display for all to admire, laugh at or hide from. Art it certainly isn’t, but it sure is trash television at its most entertaining.
