You’ve probably all read the hand-wringing articles about CD sales being off 20%. Typically, music executives blame the downloading generation for their losses. What’s not said is that the structure of the music business is radically changing and the executives are running scared. Many of the new album releases no longer come from the Big Four record companies (EMI, Sony BMG, Warner Music Group, and Universal Music Group) but from a growing community of independent labels.
Some groups skip making CDs altogether and post their music directly onto the Internet. It might be wiser for the industry to stop attacking potential buyers and get serious about promoting new music. This reminds me of how Detroit once attempted to browbeat us into buying American cars claiming the Japanese were “invading.” When the Japanese demonstrated that they could build superior cars in the States, the auto companies had to compete or die. So don’t run out to buy Led Zeppelin Sings Sinatra IV unless it was already on your wishlist. Read More »
I was in a pop surrealist gallery in Chelsea (the Clayton Brothers–great work!) and they were playing this very sad, moving music. A bit Nick Cave, a bit Tom Waits, a bit of old Lou Reed. Sad but still hip which is actually kind of hard to do.
Badly Drawn Boy // The Hour of Bewilderbeast
I have to admit I was drawn to this musician’s moniker. It’s wry and funny and fresh. I also like the faux-Bergmann (ref to Hour of the Wolf?) title. But the best thing about this album is the first song, Shining. It’s amazing, though it makes the rest of the album a bit paler by comparison.
I still find Bowie amazing, one of the few people from the 70s I can still listen to often. I know, that’s just me. I particularly like the Club Bowie concept where he took “hits” from earlier albums, like Let’s Dance, and remixed them with a club beat. It’s nice to see/hear an artist doing this to himself without being overly precious about his work. And I’m still impressed that he sold options on his future income, now that’s a smart chameleon!
Oddly, I wasn’t a big Cure fan when they were at their heyday, but now I consider it somewhat sacreligious to break away from one of their songs. They are punk royalty of a different breed than, say the Ramones and the hardcore set. They’re modern, troubled gentlemen, precursors of the modern troubled gentle generation that succeeded them. That makes them fop princes and worthy of the same respect you’d give a bratty Brit royal.
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