Indie Music Chatter

I woke up to find some very bad news today. Oink.cd, arguably one of the most loved and most comprehensive music tracker on earth was shut down by the Establishment just a few hours ago. October 23, 2007 will now live in infamy as the day when the haven for people who actually have good music tastes was effectively closed. This leaves thousands of music aficionados homeless.

The raid was done by one of the affiliate organizations associated with the RIAA. According to these officials, the raid was the culmination of a two year investigation on Oink. I think it’s a load of crap. If they did spend that much time investigating the site then why were the information they leaked to the public so wrong? First, they said that Oink asked for subscriptions to access the site. This is not true. Membership is free, although it is on an invite only basis. Second, they said that the site “releases” advance copies of albums. Oink doesn’t do that because it is just a TRACKER.

I really don’t know how the RIAA continues to go on these witchhunts that only seek to alienate true music lovers — the ones that really buy music. A vast majority of Oink members actually use the site as a way of getting listen to music to check out if they would love it. And if they do find that they like what they are hearing then they buy the CD. It makes you think that the RIAA wants to stop this practice so that music buyers would just blindly buy the crap that most record companies churn out.

The RIAA should wake to the reality that the paradigm on which they operated before is now effectively obsolete. The sooner they realize the better it will be for true music fans on the internet.

oink.cd, RIAA

One of my favorite bands in the world is set to announce their reunion — and nope, it’s not Superdrag.

Led Zeppelin, one of the most seminal rock bands of all time is set to announce that they will reunite in a press conference to be held on Wednesday, September 12. For those kids who think that Led Zeppelin are dinosaurs who should just stay in their wheelchairs, let me just remind them that a whole slew of bands owe their music to the legendary British rock group. Everyone from Soundgarden to Wolfmother can trace their sound to LedZep.

I love Led Zeppelin but I have to say that this is going to be halfbaked reunion without John Bonham. Having said that it would interesting to see John Paul Jones on stage again. More than Page and Plant, I am a Jones and Bonham fan.

I am looking forward to the new Picastro CD that is coming out this September. The band, who are known for their gloomy, atmospheric music, is coming out on September 11. The album title, in true Picastro fashion, is called Whore Luck. I am also excited to hear the contributions of Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart and Final Fantasy’s Owen Pallett on the album. I am quite optimistic that this is going to be one of the better releases this month. Can’t wait for the 11th!

A couple of months back, I blogged about my collection of The Cure Deluxe Edition CDs. I consider the Deluxe Edition releases a great bargain and a must-have addition to any music collection.

I still lack the Faith Deluxe Edition to complete my Cure Deluxe Edition catalogue (Well, there’s still that Deluxe Edition of the self titled album but that’s not really a priority), but it looks like I’ll have to save up for two more albums. Robert Smith announced that next year, Wish and Disintegration will get Deluxe Edition treatments. I am so excited about this because these are two of my most favorite Cure albums of all time. I can’t wait till ‘08!

The Cure, Wish, Disintegration, Deluxe Edition

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Now playing: Lee “Scratch” Perry - Curly Locks
via FoxyTunes

It looks like Ian Curtis is not the only tragic rock icon to get the big screen treatment. The late great Kurt Cobain (who still remains as one of my greatest music heroes) is the subject of a documentary that will be released this year. In fact, the release date has been bumped up so that it can possibly be considered for an Oscar nomination (what would the anti-establishment Cobain think about being used to get an Oscar nom?).

According to a message that director A.J. Schnack posted online, the documentary entitled Kurt Cobain: About A Son is slated to open in Los Angeles, New York and Seattle this coming October.

The documentary will feature the audio of a series of interviews Cobain granted to Michael Azerrad as material for his book Come As You Are.

To add some more indie cred to the documentary, the film score will be co-written by Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard.
I am so gonna watch this.

Kurt Cobain, Death Cab for Cutie, Come As You Are

It is quite surreal to discover a new band whose music you are so excited about only to hear some tragic news about them. I recently heard Chow Chow’s album Colours and Lines and immediately fell in love with their wonderfully unique sound. I was thinking to myself that this band has a great future and that they will likely create a lot of buzz for their great material. The euphoria I felt for listening to a great band while they are just on the brink of breaking out came to a very abrupt end though when I read that Chow Chow’s vocalist Thomas Ian Smith died almost a month ago. It is hard to reconcile what I am feeling right now. On the one hand I am excited about this band that is brimming with potential, but devastated to know that it is a potential that will never be realized.

To Thomas Ian Smith, rest in peace.

Chow Chow, Thomas Ian Smith, Colours and Lines

I am currently going crazy over the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs EP entitled The Is Is. Their blistering brand of garage punk just keeps getting better and better. the funny thing about this EP though is that the songs were made in 2004 when the band was touring in support of their first full length Fever To Tell. The songs here are so much stronger than the songs in their sophomore effort Show Your Bones. Not to disparage the second album,which is another strong effort for the band, The Is Is possesses a rawer sound that suits the YYY’s brand of music better. The five-song format also allowed the band to come out with a very focused set of songs. No fillers here, thank you.

Oh, and Karen O still gets my gonads boiling everytime.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Is Is, Fever to Tell, Show your Bones

One of my current music related obsessions is music history. I have been voraciously reading artist biographies and interesting music related books. I also love watching the various rock documentaries that have come out over the last couple of decades. I loved UK/DK as well as the Ramones’ documentary, End of the Century.

One docu-film that I am excited about is Beautiful Noise, which is about Shoegaze — probably one of my most favorite music genre.  This new documentary attempts to trace the development of shoegaze and how the works of such pioneers as My Bloody Valentine and The Jesus and Mary Chain influenced artists that came much later like Trent Reznor and Wayne Coyne (who both appear in the film). I am so stoked to see this movie! I hope filmmaker Eric Green, who is currently editing the film, will finish post production soon.

documentary, Beautiful Noise, Shoegaze

Joanna Newsom, one of the brightest stars of the pyschedelic folk movement, recently announced that she will be going on tour in Europe. The elfin faced artist has already announced ten dates in her European tour that will bring her to such countries as Germany, Austria, England and even the Czech Republic (who knew!). So if you’re living in Europe, reserve your tickets, polish your harps and prepare for the awesome Joanna Newsom.

Joanna Newsom, Germany, England

Beth Ditto is proudly carrying the torch for all of the brave and controversial women rockers who came before her. If you still doubt if Beth Ditto can rightfully claim the rock chick crown then just look at the daring cover she agreed to do for NME.

It takes a lot of guts to have your picture taken nude flaws and all. It’s pretty obvious Beth has a healthy body image and more than that, she is giving girls all over the world a clear message that you don’t need to be reed thin to feel sexy.

Beth Ditto, NME, women rockers

In what could probably be one of the more inspired marketing gimmicks in recent years, The White Stripes are offering Jack and Meg thumb drives at their online store.

The 512 megabyte thumb drives, that has a funky graphic depicting either Meg or Jack, contain an electronic copy of the band’s new album Icky Thump in Apple Lossless format. This merchandise is very limited with only 3,333 of each drive variant available for sale.

I’m thinking of getting one myself.

The White Stripes, Icky Thump, Apple Lossless Format

I recently blogged about my love for Girl Talk. I think he is one trippy DJ. Today though I have another reason to anticipate anothe Girl Talk release because of the announcement that he will be remixing Of Montreal’s song Gronlandic Edit, a cut from their new album Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?

The best thing about it though is that it will be free download. The guys at Pitchforkmedia scored this exclusive. There are no definite dates on when it will be released at the site so just check back on the site from time to time.

Girl Talk, Pitchforkmedia, Of Montreal

Matt Sharp’s post-Weezer band The Rentals was one of those bands who really made moog synthesizers cool enough for the more mainstream listeners (in other words, those who barely know Stereolab or Yo La Tengo). Their last album, Seven More Minutes, was released way back in 1999 and since then nary a peep has been heard from the group.

Well, eight years after their last album The Rentals are back with a new EP entitled Last Little Life. The trademark Rentals sound is still there — the electronic flourishes that punctuate the songs, the groovy moogs have even returned although they don’t sound as cool now what with bands like Ladytron coopting the intrinsic soul of electronic moog-based music.

The new Rentals EP is supposed to be a warmup for a full length album that the band will release next year. A number of shows are already confirmed as they will either headline or support other bands. This is a good thing because they really need to go on the road to reacquaint themselves with a new generation of music listeners who may have forgotten about them already.

The Rentals, Seven More Minutes, Ladytron, Yo La Tengo, Stereolab

Luscious Jackson fans are surely a happy bunch this year. Last February, their greatest hits compilation was released. Then a couple of months after, it was Jill Cunniff releasing her solo album City Beach. Now it’s Gabby Glaser’s turn as she releases her own solo album Gimme Splash this month (tomorrow to be exact).

I’ve always loved Luscious Jackson. I think they’re one of the coolest all female bands ever. I have loved Jill’s solo from the very first time I listened to it — in fact, it’s safe to say that it will be included in my “Best Albums of 2007″ list. I am currently listening to some of the songs on Gabby’s forthcoming album at her MySpace page and from what I have been hearing this is also going to be one solid album. I can’t wait to hear the whole album!

Gabby Glaser, Jill Cunniff, Luscious Jackson, City Beach, Gimme Splash

Ok, The Smashing Pumpkins may not be considered as indie artists. Billy Corgan, for all of his “indie” posturing, is as indie as Aerosmith. But, nevertheless, I respect the band and their music. Siamese Dream is a classic and so is Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness.

It was with great anticipation that I was waiting for Zeitgeist, the Pumpkins’ comeback album. Tarantula was not that bad and I was hoping that the whole album will have stronger cuts. But that anticipation has turned to revulsion for me — and I think it’s safe to say that recent news about the album’s release has also turned off many fans of the band.

According to a recent report, Zeitgeist will have four, yes, four different versions. Three of the versions will have bonus tracks and the fourth one won’t have anything. Here’s the deal, the first two versions (with two different bonus tracks) will be available at Target and Best Buy. The third version will be available on iTunes, while all of the other retailers will have to settle for the fourth vanilla version of Zeitgeist.

This is a great disservice to the fans of the Pumpkins. This is one of the most corporate moves I have seen a band make. To support the big retail chains that have killed off independent music retailers is a slap to the face of many music fans who never, ever buy their music from these stores. This is what has led me to write this particular entry. I hate it when artists like The Smashing Pumpkins take advantage of their fans.

I guess Billy Corgan has dried up his bank accounts and wants to suck the money off his fans. The world is a vampire indeed.

Smashing Pumpkins, Zeitgeist, Siamese Dream, Best Buy, Target, iTunes