Is Apple Playing Nice With iTunes?
On May 25th, The New York Times reported that The United States Department of Justice had begun an investigation into Apple's conduct concerning its online digital music and media store, iTunes.
Eyebrows rose at the DOJ when it was brought to their attention that Apple's iTunes was bullying MUSIC LABELS(!!!) into not doing an exclusive deal with Amazon's iTunes competitor, Amazon MP3. Labels that got into bed with Amazon supposedly saw marketing support dry up over at iTunes. If this isn't a perfect time to say the words pot, kettle, and black then I don't know when is.
Clearly there are things going on that need 'splainin.
Quick Take: Grand Avenue – Place To Fall
Place To Fall, Grand Avenue's latest album, dropped on September, 28th. They're a band I want to succeed if only because there are tons out there that have succeeded without being nearly as good. I suspect that if they were from the New York, Los Angeles, London, or Manchester more people would be aware of the band.
Place To Fall
On their last go around - The Outside - Grand Avenue focused on memorable hooks and lyrics that resonated with teenage girls. In the annals of pop that's a formula with a track record. Another part of that formula is radio and video rotation, touring, and product placement (movie or television). I think they got a song on a TV show - but what indie band doesn't get one now?
I guess that didn't work out for them because I didn't see any world tours with Grand Avenue as the headliner.
I've got no great expectations
I've got no plans or place to fall
Although taken from the last album, the sentiment fits the mood of Place to Fall. This album isn't focused on hooks - they're there but not the raison d'être. "Almost Gone" the first single and first song off the album is good - a good "pump yourself up" song. As a single it got me excited. I wasn't impressed with the other songs at first listen. I'll tell you though, I kept on listening and the album grows. I won't say they sound like nothing you've ever heard before. They've channeled New Order, U2, and INXS but Grand Avenue does have a voice and you can hear it throughout.
Place To Fall is an 7 out of 10. It's an above average work by a talented group of craftsmen. It's not a great album but how many great albums can there be before the word loses meaning? It is a good listen however. "Follow You Down" can easily be envisioned in some teen coming of age movie. "Waiting For The World" sounds like they got Joe Sumner of Fiction Plane to make an appearance. "These Days" is a good rocking tune - a strut your stuff affair.
If you get it I recommend listening someplace where you'd have a hard time changing it - in the gym on a treadmill or out cycling somewhere. You'll appreciate the advice and hopefully you'll better enjoy this latest effort from Denmark's Grand Avenue.
The hubris of youth
The hubris of youth can be a funny thing. Bands can come out with songs that include regrettable lyrics that features music that is more emulation than originality. And so it is that we have a new band featuring two dudes (drums + guitar) and an English chick on bass straight out of the Karen O mold in style called "Band of Skulls." They have a new single called "I Know What I Am. Its a good track that is a cross between Queen and the White Stripes with the lead singer and the female alternating verses that include "Hotel/Taco Bell/I got the hit but you know damn well" (the bad) and "Flick flack/No slack/ I got the wit that my enemies lack" (the pretty OK). I've listened to the album once and it OK--"Honest" is a very good song that finds them experimenting with a brit-pop vibe. Nothing great. Even though this song lacks originality and sounds completely like a White Stripes knock-off, its still good. Check it out. I bet it gets featured in a commercial soon. That foot stomping beat and chorus sounds tailored for a commercial.
One of the best albums of 2008
Oh My Heart
Out of Canada, Mother Mother, released an album in 2007 called "Touch Up" featuring one of the strangest albums I have seen in a long time. It featured an apparently rabid rooster head-banging with some blood talons. The album was a disappointment because it was such a hot mess. Mixing styles and rhythms, the band apparently was going for a ramshackle pixies genre splicing rock album. They unfortunately did not pull it off. So it was with trepidation that I approached "O My Heart", their new 2008 album featuring a gigantic fish head with a hook through its cheek and a bloody eye--another weird album cover.
O My Heart is everything Touch Up was not. O My Heart is a ramshackle genre splicing ode to the Pixies Doolittle featuring among other things harmonicas, gospel singers, trumpets, showtunes-like melodies (see "Wrecking Ball"), screaming, country music guitars and whole slew of other tricks. The lead single and first track on the album "O My Heart" is the most straight-forward song on the album and is not indicative of the rest of the album. If I had to guess it was made to garner radio play. Album highlights include "Ghosting", "Body of Years", "Wisdom", and well, jesus, the whole album from 1-13 is fucking awesome.
The best band you’ve never heard of….
self-titled album
These tracks are from a band out of LA. They're called Meho Plaza and they're self-titled debut is one of the best albums of last year. The first song is called "Your Future Looks Bright." The second track is called "Let's Play Police Tonight." I expect big things from this band. The calling card on their album is mixing great and simple melodies with some ugly and brutish samples. Other album highlights include "The Beach", "George Washington", and "I Sold My Organs." I'm surprised this band is getting more press.
Speaking of LA bands, I have to say that some of the best music these days is coming out of LA--Meho Plaza, Low vs. Diamond, Autolux, the Airborne Toxic Event, and Mellowdrone. LA may be supplanting New York as my favorite music scene.