Month: October 2009 (Page 2 of 18)

I would definitely buy “The Who: Rock Band”

October 29, 2009 /

Who

Given the success of The Beatles: Rock Band, it’s logical to think other prominent bands could get their own version of the game in the near future. Thankfully, we haven’t heard anything along the lines of Fall Out Boy: Rock Band or Paramore: Rock Band, but anything is possible these days.

The people behind Rock Band must have some serious musical taste. They are supposedly working with The Who. Roger Daultrey, the band’s frontman, confirmed the rumors:

“The game, yeah, yeah, they’re going to be doing a Who one next year. There is one planned. [The idea] is fabulous. Anything that gets non-musical people interested in music is wonderful.”

It seems appropriate that the legendary band would go with Rock Band over Guitar Hero.

Given the cinematic and conceptual nature of the Who and Pete Townshend, Rock Band seems like a better fit for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band than Guitar Hero. Whereas GH has created lifelike avatars and restored famed venues for their artist-based games like GH: Metallica or GH: Van Halen, MTV Games upped the ante with The Beatles: Rock Band, crafting entire dreamscapes to accompany the music and offering replicas of the Fab Four’s instruments, an approach that would work well with the Who’s concept albums like Tommy and Quadrophenia.

A release date hasn’t been announced.

News

David Nail: I’m About to Come Alive

October 29, 2009 /


RIYL: Vince Gill, Kenny Chesney, Train

That cha-ching sound you just heard was the royalty cash register for another mainstream pop/rock songwriter, as a country music artist has not just cut a song by the band Train, but made it the title track for his MCA Nashville debut. The artist is David Nail, and while Nail has endured ups and downs and at least one failed move to Nashville, the story has a happy ending, or at least a happy middle upon the release of I’m About to Come Alive, which might also be symbolic for the young artist. Nail has co-written about half the material here, and it might be curious that he’d go with a full blown cover song as his title track, but if you follow Train at all, you know it’s one of their best and most heartfelt songs. And it comes a couple years after Gary Allan had success with Vertical Horizon’s “Best I Ever Had.” But back to Nail, because he and producer Frank Liddell have managed to put a set of tunes together that is as good or better than anything Nashville has produced in the past decade. And the same can be said for Nail’s powerful vocal ability. Of course the title track is stellar, but there are some other beauties on here, especially “Red Light” and the Garth Brooks-ish “Looking for a Good Time,” the latter of which features some pretty guitar work. (MCA Nashville)

David Nail MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Country, Pop

Google tries to combat torrents

October 28, 2009 /

music search

Everyone and their mother downloads music illegally. I’m a self-admitted criminal, but my recent love affair with old music and vinyl records has set me on the right path. The problem is, those who download music only download music. Sure, they may buy the new album from their favorite band, but I imagine the average youngster downloads at least 90 percent of their music. I could never figure out torrents, so I don’t have one. Although they do sound appealing, I prefer the high-fidelity sound on old vinyls and those few new albums that are properly produced. Plus, I actually like having my music in a tangible format. Digital is nice, but certain aesthetics are always sacrificed. Who doesn’t appreciate unwrapping a new CD or pulling a vinyl record out of its sleeve?

Still, illegal downloading persists, but Google is trying to do something about it. The company realizes that, when people attempt to download songs on torrents, their search engine is the most popular. Thus, Google has just released a feature that permits users one free spin of their desired track. The user is then encouraged to purchase the song through services such as LaLa and MySpace.

“The best way to address that [torrent-searching] situation is to provide a really great and comprehensive and fast, excellent music service,” says R.J. Pittman, a product management director at Google. “We really feel the way is to make it much better for people — and that’s going to have a positive impact on music industry.”

With the new system, Google users will find a large “play” button at the top of the results page when they search for an artist, song or album. They’ll also get one free stream, as well as “buy” links to LaLa, MySpace, Rhapsody, Pandora, iMeem and others.

One advantage for Google is the search giant didn’t have to make deals directly with the labels to get the music — they simply let LaLa and MySpace, who already have such deals, lay the groundwork. Labels, contending with another 20 percent drop in CD sales this year, according to Nielsen Soundscan, have been more aggressive recently to remake themselves in the digital age. “They have been supportive [of the Google deal],” LaLa’s Ralston says. “They understand there’s a new world out there.”

I don’t think this will decrease downloading, but it might put some money back into the artists’ pockets.

News

Composers and lyricists to form union?

October 28, 2009 /

composer

I was shocked by this article. In the film, television, and video game industries, actors, directors, writers, cinematographers, and editors are each represented by their own guild. Somehow, composers and lyricists still aren’t unionized. The Society of Composers & Lyricists is now attempting to partner with the Teamsters in hopes of gaining the same security as their peers.

Composers and lyricists are among the few creatives left without a collective bargaining agreement. Services like orchestration, conducting and music performance are covered by American Federation of Musicians (AFM) agreements, but not the act of writing music or lyrics.

They were represented in the late 1950s and 1960s by the Composers & Lyricists Guild of America, but after a 1971 strike and a 1972 lawsuit against the studios and networks over music-ownership rights, producers refused to negotiate with them. A 1984 attempt to restart the union failed when a Reagan-era National Labor Relations Board declared composers and lyricists “independent contractors.”

The trouble with that ruling, many composers say, is that almost everyone in the biz is an “independent contractor,” agreeing to perform services on a one-off basis for producers — yet writers, directors, actors, cinematographers, editors and others enjoy protection under WGA, DGA, SAG, IATSE, the Teamsters and other unions.

Imagine if these guys went on strike. The studios would have to hire a bunch of unqualified musicians. It’s a shame composers and lyricists have it this tough. Even the ones who have been in the industry for ages still have trouble securing work.

For more information, check out composersguild.org.

News

Pavement hysteria continues, will headline Primavera Fest

October 27, 2009 /

pavement_ca

When I told my friend that Pavement was going to tour next year he said, “I bet you they play Coachella.” While they haven’t been confirmed for the gigantic festival in the California desert, they will definitely be the main attraction at Primavera Sound in Barcelona.

The recently reformed US band will top the bill on the opening day of the festival, which runs from May 27-29 2010.

It is the group’s first confirmed date in mainland Europe as part of their worldwide reunion tour.

As previously reported on Gigwise, Pavement will also play two dates in London on May 11 and 12.

All is according to plan. They haven’t announced any shows taking place after their dates in New York City. I’ll be attending their show on September 24 in Central Park, which I hope is the final date of their reunion tour.

Below is a video of Pavement’s frontman, Stephen Malkus, performing solo at last year’s Primavera Sound.

Artists, Concerts, News, Videos

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