famous music feuds

Some people seem to not understand how Contrived Conflict is used in marketing.

Heck, even brands do it within their own corporation: you create an "enemy" brand to compete with, which drives sales to both products.

Therefore, don't get your panties in a bunch over any "feuds" that your worshipful music idols may be having. You'll just get everybody laughing at you, and that's not the intent. You, most loyal and blindly obedient fan, are an innocent bystander.

In the Haliburton War, they call it "collateral damage" or "civilian casualties".

But even the most serious battles and heated conflicts, in music anyway, have an undercurrent of humor and capitalistic strategy to them.




Famous Music Rivalries,
Feuds, and Conflicts
include:




* Metallica vs. Megadeth

* Diana Ross vs. Mary Wilson

* Eminem vs. Michael Jackson

* Britney Spears vs. Christina Aguilera

* Notorious B.I.G. vs. TuPac

* Van Halen vs. David Lee Roth vs. Sammy Hagar

* Axl Rose vs. Bob Gucciano Jr.

* Sting vs. The Police

* Toby Keith vs. Dixie Chicks

* Jerry Lee Lewis vs. Chuck Berry

* Alice Cooper vs. his bandmates

* John Kay vs. Steppenwolf

* John Fogerty vs. Stu Cook

* Busy Signal (ALLIANCE) vs. Sean Paul

* Beenie Man vs. Bounty Killer

* Mavona vs. Vybz Kartel

* Easy E vs. Ice Cube

* The Eagles vs. each other

* Simon vs. Garfunkel

* Sonny vs. Cher

* James Brown vs. Joe Tex

* John Lennon vs. Paul McCartney

* John Cale vs. Lou Reed

* Debbie Harry & Chris Stein vs. Frank Infante, Nigel Harrison & Gary Valentine [ members of BLONDIE]

* Liam Gallagher vs. Robbie Williams

* Michael Jackson vs. Janet Jackson

* Michael Jackson vs. Paul McCartney

* Dylan vs. Donovan

* Nirvana vs. Pearl Jam

* Roger Waters vs. David Gillmour

* Pink Floyd vs. Syd Barrett

* Ringo vs. Stuart Sutcliffe

* Eric Clapton vs. George Harrison

* Jay Z vs. Nas

* Glen Danzig vs. Henry Rollins

* Madonna vs. Mariah Carey

* Psychic TV vs. Chris & Cosey

* KMFDM vs. Depeche Mode

* Ray Davies vs. Dave Davies (THE KINKS)

* Chris Robinson vs. Rich Robinson (BLACK CROWES)

* Blur vs. Oasis

* Lance Bass (N'SYNC) vs. 50 Cent

* Sleater-Kinney vs. The Decembrists

* Scott Wieland vs. all former bandmates

* Mushroomhead vs. Slaves On Dope

* Martin Rev vs. Alan Vega

* Tina Turner vs. Ike Turner

* Lynyrd Skynyrd vs. Neil Young

* Carrie Underwood vs. Wynnona Judd

* The Smiths vs. Morrisey

* The Killers vs. Fall Out Boy

* Dwarves vs. Queens of the Stone Age

* Dave Grohl vs. Courtney Love

* Nirvana vs. Guns n Roses

* Ludacris vs. T.I.

* Radiohead vs. Coldplay

* Brian Jonestown Massacre vs. Dandy Warhols

* Tommy Lee vs. Kid Rock



Here's a post from the E! Online forums, "Rock and Roll Feuds of Fame", which is apparently re-blogging a post by Daily News Critic-At-Large, David Hinckley.



[QUOTE]

When Simon and Garfunkel were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, Paul Simon drolly suggested the Hall might consider a special wing for all the inducted groups whose members didn't get along with each other.

Besides the obvious reference to his own ups and downs with one time partner Art Garfunkel, Simon noted the Everly Brothers, who didn't speak for a decade after Phil smashed his guitar and stormed off the stage at Knotts Berry Farm in 1973.

Simon also mentioned the fractious Eagles, several of whose members were around that time doing separate tours. (Drummer/singer Don Henley would finish his version of "Desperado" by saying, "Accept no imitations.")

Simon's point, in any case, was that creating memorable music has never guaranteed creating internal harmony. So it isn't surprising, then, that some of rock's finest will carry their issues to the stage at the Waldorf-Astoria, where the class of 2007 will be inducted tomorrow night.

That class prominently includes Van Halen, whose consecutive main lead singers, David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, get along like Sunnis and Shiites.

A few years ago, when Hagar sang "Panama," a VH number Roth first sang, it prompted Roth to comment, "I always thought that song should be sung by a girl."

Elsewhere among tomorrow night's inductees, the Ronettes broke up in the '60s and fell out of touch for years. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five splintered not long after their first hits, and various members ended up in court over custody of the name. Flash won and says they get along okay these days, but lead separate lives.

Matching some of the Rock Hall's legendary big chills won't be easy, though. When the Beatles were inducted in 1988, Paul McCartney didn't come, saying in a statement that since he was in litigation with George Harrison and Ringo Starr, it wasn't appropriate. (Harrison started his acceptance by joking, "It's unfortunate Paul's not here, 'cause he's the one who had the speech in his pocket.")

That same night in 1988, Diana Ross didn't show up for the Supremes' induction because of her long-running feud with Mary Wilson.

Drummer Levon Helm of the Band, who for years hadn't gotten along with lead songwriter Robbie Robertson, reportedly came to town on induction night in 1994 but couldn't bring himself to show up.

Members of the Impressions did show up in '91, using their speeches to say the others didn't belong.

But the Hall's peak feud moment may have come during the 1993 induction of Creedence Clearwater Revival, whose lead singer/songwriter, John Fogerty, didn't get along with bass player Stu Cook and drummer Doug Clifford. (The fourth member, Tom Fogerty, had died.)

John Fogerty, Cook and Clifford posed for pictures early on and offered pleasant generalities about the band. Only then, Cook and Clifford later said, did they learn Fogerty would be playing CCR songs without them.

So they left.

Zal Yanovsky, the late guitarist of the Lovin' Spoonful, said after their 2000 induction that he could understand how these old irritations could resurface. "Within 10 minutes of sitting down to dinner," he said, "it was exactly the same as it was when I left the band [in 1967]. All the old dynamics came right back." Still, Yanovsky added, it wasn't hard to be civil for one evening.

The night McCartney and Ross didn't show up, Mike Love of the Beach Boys gave a semi-famous speech in which he sarcastically asked, "We're talking about harmony, right?"

A few minutes later, Bob Dylan was inducted. "Peace and love and harmony are important," said Dylan. "But we gotta have forgiveness, too."

[END QUOTE]



And on the Jamaican music scene we have this: "Busy Signal doctors Jamaica's ills with harsh medicine".


[QUOTE]


... it’s almost impossible to say when the Mavado vs. Vybz Kartel beef of 2006 and 2007 began, nor is it necessarily productive to do so.

Suffice to say it had its root in the mother of all dancehall clashes, the never-ending combat between Beenie Man and Bounty Killer that stretches back to the early ’90s.

As Vybz Kartel moved towards a solo career outside the Alliance, his friendly relations with Beenie were interpreted as disloyalty by the Bounty Killer camp. Mavado took up his mentor’s cause and disses flew back and forth on the Power Cut, then the After Dark riddim, coming to a head with the release of Black Chiney’s Drumline riddim which featured both “Mofraudo” by Vybz Kartel and Mavado’s return fire “Mr. Palmer.”

Lyrical war spilled over into the streets and by January 2007 shots were fired at both artists, both denying rumors and newspaper reports that they themselves had been the triggermen. Things got so bad that fans with no direct relationship to the artists were caught up in violence with each other based on their musical allegiance.

On February 28, Kingston’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mark Shields, called a press conference with the two deejays, publicly declaring an end to the beef and appealing to their respective fans to cool things down.

Nominally a gesture of unity, the moment was recognized by many dancehall fans as an absolute low point in the relationship between reggae and reality.


[END QUOTE]




Reference links:



http://www.askmen.com/top_10/entertainment_100/121_top_10_list.html


http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/10/16/this_day/doc48f67f4cb870b263422993.txt

http://www.thefader.com/features/2008/8/19/fader-56-busy-signal-feature


http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1211/does-michael-jackson-control-the-beatles-music-library


http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2006/08/15/list-of-the-day-rock-feuds-that-should-end-in-violence/


http://www.madison.com/tct/blogs/thebubbler/256443


http://www.923krock.com/pages/2244211.php?


http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/paper333/news/2003/11/26/Arts/Rock-Feud.Hasnt.Slowed.Slaves.On.Dope.As.It.Promotes.Its.New.Album-569038.shtml

blogocombat ending in friendship

Maybe it's just me, or perhaps it's guys in general, I mean males in particular: one of the fastest ways to become friend with another feller is to argue, to fight them.

I've seen this since Junior High School: some dude gets smart with you, you arrange a time for a mutual clobbering, you punch each other repeatedly, generally nobody really wins or loses, and the next day, you're chumming around together.

It's like you now respect each other for having the guts to do battle. I've heard that military officers of opposing forces in war have respect for their enemy counterparts. At least that's what's portrayed in movies. Wasn't it taboo for soldiers and warriors to attack kings and high ranking commanders, back in the ancient world?

Recently, I've been involved in a marketing gimmick that involves one musical band "getting revenge" on another band. The loyal fans of the other band rise in defense. To perpetuate the fake "feud", I sometimes engage in a little online debate with these fans of the other band. Almost without exception, those fans and I end up friends.

We argue, debate, flame each other, even heating up into really ferocious accusations and fierce defenses...only to wind up shaking hands and telling each other to "take care, brother".

This is the ideal.

The best way to "destroy" your "enemies" is to transform them into allies, or at least you become people who mutually respect each other (redundancy intended for emphasis).

You may still disagree totally. You may become even more convinced that you are right and they are wrong. But...you were able to talk about it and have a glimpse at the other side of the story, or the spin that's put on it, even if the other side is basically insubstantial, in your opinion.

Just entering into discussion, telling a few jokes, being adamant, yet comical, has some profound effect on both "combatants".

Politicians call it "diplomacy".

Pacifists push for "more diplomatic action" as an alternative to rushing into warmongering exploits.

There is much truth to the stated claims of the efficacy of diplomacy.

Diplomacy, debate, discussions may not solve all the problems of this world. It may not prevent every war. But it's worth trying, eh?

bailout emails from Denny's

Hi Steven,



Hope all is well.



Wanted to follow up on the email I sent you yesterday about Denny's $4 Weekday Express Slam and Bailout spot...

If you have a minute, please let me know if you're interested in including Denny's in any future blogs.

... Any feedback is appreciated.



Thank you for your time.





Best,



Maria







From: Maria Salazar
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 2:30 PM
To: 'vaspers [at] inbox [dot] com'
Subject: Who's Bailing You out? Denny's Release



Hi Steven Edward,



Know that you like heads up on new news...

Thought you might be interested in Denny's new breakfast product at a great price point in light of the tough economy -

$4 Weekday Express Slam...

a twist on the Grand Slam...for four dollars and FAST... Americans LOVE breakfast and breakfast food especially now...it tastes good, fills bellies and can be eaten all day.....


Denny's know their customers' needs a break and is helping a bit to bail them out....every penny counts.



Below is a Denny's release that went on the wire this morning and a spot that is running to support the product....Who's Gonna Bail You Out?


Please let me know if you'd like to chat with Denny's CEO Nelson Marchioli or their CMO Mark Chmiel.



Regards,



Maria







October 15, 2008 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time



Who's Bailing You out?


Denny's Gives Consumers a Break
with the Weekday Express Slam



More for $4: Denny's Slams Back with a Fast Breakfast Meal at a Great Deal


SPARTANBURG, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feeling the pinch from the tightening economy?

Denny's understands.

Slamming back at the tough marketplace, Denny's is offering the Weekday Express Slam at just $4, a wallet-friendly price point for today's strapped consumers. The $4 Weekday Express Slam is a new twist on a favorite breakfast classic, the Grand Slam(r), served at express speed and hot off the grill.

"We know our customers are strapped for time and money yet they love our real classic breakfasts," says Mark Chmiel, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, Denny's. "We addressed their two key issues and have launched the $4 Weekday Express Slam which gives consumers 'more for $4'.....a real breakfast, in ten minutes for a great price. Denny's is committed to helping our loyal customers save a few more dollars one meal at a time. "

Known for breakfast at great prices all day, every day, Denny's is offering this affordable and convenient meal at a lowered price to help those on Main Street who are counting their pennies in our challenging economic times. With two large, fluffy, buttermilk pancakes, two eggs cooked to order and the choice of two bacon slices or two sausage links, the $4 Weekday Express Slam is a satisfying real breakfast.

Coupled with service in 10 minutes or less, the $4 Express Slam is the perfect meal before a long day at work, before a busy school day or at the end of an overnight shift. For consumers on the run, Denny's proprietary B-FST 2GO Dome packaging ensures breakfast travels well, keeping the pancakes fluffy and the bacon crisp.

Denny's also offers families relief with its Kids Eat Free program for children ten and younger, with the purchase of one adult meal. The program is offered every Tuesday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at participating Denny's.

The Weekday Express Slam is available in participating Denny's restaurants for $4 from Monday-Friday from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m. The $4 Weekday Express Slam program is being supported through national network and cable television advertising, in store merchandising and on Denny's website.

Visit www.dennys.com for a list of locations.





About Denny's

Denny's is America's largest full-service family restaurant chain, with more than 1,500 locations.

For more than 50 years, Denny's has been serving up real breakfast 24/7. Home of the famous Grand Slam(r) breakfasts, Denny's provides a variety of flavorful food and beverage choices.


For more information on Denny's, please visit

www.dennys.com



Contacts


[deleted]

music marketing mp3 strategy and Sound Click

As I was uploading my select mp3 library of Str8 Sounds on Sound Click, I began to formulate in my mind, to mentally articulate in sentences what I was doing. My actions were rote, routine, robotic. In what way? In my stubborn determination to provide all my music for free until I accumulate a groundswell of public approbation to justify releasing any paid product.

There's too much music in the world. Fans are overwhelmed and bewildered by all the music sites and mp3 providers. Just about any musical artist with a modern sensibility is letting fans download tons of their music, for free. Some offer paid product, that you can't have for free. Others distribute all their music for free, without any exception.

You must understand that a musician's number one problem, after perfecting songs and progressing creatively, is to cut through the clutter. Too much music. How do you get people interested in your music?

You gain attention, and eventual sales, for your music, once it's perfected, by using clever art, clever song titles, clever online distribution, clever social media campaigns by a clever marketing team.

Back to the original thought: mp3 strategy.

I am again, as always, configuring my Str8 Sounds mp3s to be available for free download, with a Creative Commons license, attribution, non-commercial use only. I wondered, "Why, again, besides the viral marketing of fan distribution systems, do I provide all my mp3s for free? Why not experiment and try to make a few bucks by charging $0.95 per download, see what happens?"

Shame on me. Must I remind myself that bands who provide only paid product, they suck? It looks bad. It looks desperate and greedy to let fans hear and have your music only if they pay for it. It makes a band seem uptight, overly commercialized, mammonist.

Here's the Secret of Free Music Marketing:

Your free mp3s are your way of paying fans to hype, share, and become addicted to your music.

I shall say no more, keeping the deep methodology for my paying clients.

But see: I share free marketing tips, but also have more specific procedures and venue ideas that cost money. But so far, I have not created or designated any music as paid product.

That day may come. But it's not near, I'm still spreading the Str8 Sounds message and charisma via the internet to get that tipping point, that critical mass of publicity and collector mentality co-dependence that will trigger vast wealth and fame and ... ha ha happiness (JOKE).

Many interesting mp3s and videos of underground music, and heated rock and roll controversy, may be found on Live Music Peoria.

true artist vs approval addict

When you think of "rock star", I hope you puke. Celebrities, in any field of human endeavor, are so 1950s. We are the media now. We produce our own music, or share music by others, with others. It's a share economy, where much of the best new music is free, at least a few tracks from an album if not the entire CD.

There is too much music in the world. Fans can't possibly figure out what bands are good, unless you provide free mp3s.

People nowadays, especially net natives, relate to music primarily as individual tunes. They care little or nothing about the artist or album. They consume distinct songs, downloading mp3s into iTunes or from the iTunes Store, and other online music sharing activity.

If an artist's songs are not good, the "rock star" will try to generate interest in his new music by virtue of who he is...or was...or thought he was.

So the "rock star" is a dying breed. The song is now the prevailing atomic unit of music. Not the band. Not the lead singer. Not the record label. Not the album.

The song is becoming everything in the music world. The growing popularity of ringtones is just one example of this trend, and how music in general is being affected, whether we like it, or agree with it, or not.

Increasing, the "rock star" is becoming a quaint but irrelevant artifact from a bygone era of hookah smoking troubadors and crooning bloodthirsty pirates. Back in the vaudeville days, here in Peoria and elsewhere, the "rock star" or "lead singer" had to do soft shoe or tapdancing to be popular. Now it's hard to see any entertainment value in such ridiculous antics.

"Rock star" conjures up images of a vain and ridiculous asshole. A person who craves attention, the center of the spotlight. Now "rock star" is used as a glutton for worship, or as a huge popular success, as a "rock star" Twitter user (give me a break!), or a "rock star" CEO (ugh!!!!), or a "rock star" blogger (what a laugh!)

In the blogosphere, we used to call "rock stars" of blogging the "A Listers".

But the whole point of the Web Revolution is an even playing field, no hierarchy, no domination, all voices equal in value, and no "leaders" dictating and unduly influencing our progress.

It's the End of Celebrity, the Rise of You and Me.

Leaders and "rock stars" just mislead and betray. If you're a fan of an egomaniacal "rock star" in any field, just be sure you always praise and cherish them, everything they do and say and believe.

The moment you disagree or critique a "rock star", is the moment they toss you under the bus, accusing you of "disloyalty" and, ironically, "opportunism", trying to become famous by hanging around a "famous celebrity".

All a "rock star" cares about is people adoring them and never questioning . They are approval addicts of the worst degree. They view dissent, difference of opinion, and independence as counter to their goal of being The One. They're just like all leaders and privileged status seekers.

To a rock star, fans are not interesting or valuable in their own right. The only value they hold for a celebrity is "how much do they adore me? in what ways can they be manipulated for my ego and advantage?"

You must hate what they hate. Like competitive bands or better musicians. Or successful artists who don't have to rely on the dubious historical value of past glories to remain relevant today.

Really great artists tend to be self-effacing, humble, attributing their success mainly to "luck", rather than them being "entitled" to it. Sure, they work hard, but for the right reasons. True artists care more about advancing their art, than getting compliments, riches, and fame.

When money and popularity is the driving motivation for a band, it comes across in their music: dull, imitative, pandering slop. Technically proficient, but the aura, the vibe is rotten and boring. The exploitation comes through in the vocals, the beat, all the instrumentation. It's a sonic stench.

We shouldn't make music to become "stars". That's sick and pathetic.

You should make music because you love doing it. And to entertain, inspire, or provoke other people. If you're a singer or musician because you want people to like you, you're an idiot and a loser.

If you get up on stage to be admired, imitated, and loved, I feel very sorry for you and your transient fans. "Love me, worship me" is a pathetic anthem for any approval-addict. Do something interesting, or helpful, or innovative. But don't expect people to adore you and be loyal to you because you "deserve it" as some kind of rock god.

Well, here's another view, but I think I can replace the cursed "rock star" phrase with "musical pioneer" and we'll be closer to the truth.

The author is describing how a true musical artist is not a sell-out, going along with the trends, imitating and adoring other performers. A true artist follows his or her own inner truth and vision.

I object to the statement that a "rock star" is narcissistic because he's focused on his musical vision. I think it's generally because he's just a self-obsessed egotist, who care about fans only when they're fawning all over him and agreeing with everything he says and does.

From The Lefsetz Letter: First in Music Analysis

"Jesus Was a Democrat"



[QUOTE]

A rock star is not someone who takes the temperature, who gauges the marketplace before he creates his "art". A rock star is someone who needs to create and is willing to tolerate the haters along with the fans. He’s someone who incites controversy just by existing.

That’s what we lost in the dash for cash. Unique voices. I’m not saying we haven’t ended up with some pleasant music, but it just hasn’t hit you in the gut, it’s the aural equivalent of Splenda, it might do the trick, but it’s not the real thing.

The real thing grabs your attention, drives down deep into your heart and lodges itself there.

A rock star doesn’t follow conventions, doesn’t go disco or add drum machines just because everybody else does.

A rock star exists in his own unique space, and if you met him you probably wouldn’t like him. Because he tends to be self-focused to the point of being narcissistic. Because he cares. He needs to get his message out.

We’re angry, that’s what pisses us most off about this financial crisis. That the fat cats took all this money and hosed the economy simultaneously. They’re sitting on piles of cash while we’re struggling.

And now we’ve got to bail them out, we’ve got to insure the credit markets in order to get the economy moving. And America is pissed.

[END QUOTE]

Eyespot CEO closes his company

Eyespot was a video website where you could collaborate with other video producers by using clips from their work in new work that you create. I tried it a few times when it first came out, then moved on.

Here's an email I received today, from the CEO.

We deeply regret to inform you that Eyespot Corporation will no longer be able to continue serving you.

For our users at eyespot.com, we're no longer allowing you to upload new videos. You can retrieve your uploaded video and mixes by going to your mymedia gallery and clicking the download link below the video thumbnail.

For our business customers in the eyespot video network, your site will continue operate unaffected for a limited period of time.

We encourage you to migrate your video solution to one of our competing providers in the video mixing (e.g. http://corp.kaltura.com/) and video publishing space (e.g. http://www.fliqz.com/) immediately. We'll soon be providing you with the means of downloading your community videos from within your dashboard at http://eyespot.com/partnerDashboard].

We have spent three years providing over a hundred thousand of you with a unique video experience. We believed that by putting creative tools and rights-cleared media into the hands of influencers and connectors, Eyespot would enable social media and participation culture like no other company.

After playing over two hundred million of your video creations, we have to stop. After assembling possibly the most potent team in digital media ever, we're now moving on.

Thank you all for being apart of our community over the past three years.

Jim Kaskade
President & CEO

replying to Hair PUddle free music marketing

Thank you, I'm not used to interacting to people, forgive my awk words, very expectantly you find me nowadays anxiously and furiously awaiting the stressful arrival of the nerve-wracking CD.

I finger-bitingly appreciate your sending me it.


The Str8 Sounds




----------------- Original Message -----------------

From: The Hair PUddle
Date: Oct 9, 2008 10:34 AM



Thanks for taking part in the project.

I'll try to get that out to you within the next couple of days.


Signed,

Mr. H PUddle




----------------- Original Message -----------------

From: STR8 SOUNDS Therabusive Noise Carnival
Date: Oct 9, 2008 7:21 AM


I have many moldy CDs of failed art music experimentation dada trips hanging around, hovering in the hair and the air...

I'll inflict some of my damaged music on you poor souls. I have many moldy CDs to send you poor sould.



Send the Hair Puddle CD to:

Steven E. Streight
aka The Str8 Sounds

[address]

The Hair PUddle and free music marketing

In my relentless quest for the Ever New and radical deployments of offbeat marketing, I came face to face with my dream. A band based on anonymous art and free, individualized music product.

That's what they're about, and what's odd is, that's all you're ever going to know about them. They, whoever they may be, believe in free music. They facelessly and namelessly provide what they can. For you. For me. For us.

The operative word in that first sentence is not "free", which is common enough thanks to the super-empowering democratic internet and shrinking bandwidth costs, but "individualized". And the customized product is cranked out by anonymous artists...who have no wish for fame or notoreity.

Their entire concept is the band and the band is nothing more than the concept. Not flesh and blood. Not known or knowable. Not personal. But very compassionate in sharing their music with others at no charge.

Their music is somewhat like Violent Femmes with electronics.

Friend them on MySpace, then you can message them your land address, and they say they'll mail you a free CD.

"Free music for enslaved people" -


The Hair PUddle

http://www.myspace.com/thehairpuddle

ABCs of High Fidelity MP3

An extremely well-written, interesting, and funny blog post on WFMU's Beware of the Blog, and a greatly entertaining audio by Electro Voice circa 1958: their "ABCs of High Fidelity".

Read it and weep, for none of us can write this good. Listen to it and rejoice, for now you will be a hi fi expert! "High fidelity is simply the exact duplication of sound down to the minutest detail." But "sounds you probably can't hear, but you feel" is creepy.

Check out the cocktail party remarks at the beginning of Side 1:


"It's a great party, but I do wish they'd get rid of the transient distortion in that tweater. It's annoying!"

"Well, that doesn't bother me as much as the peaks in the mid-range."

"You're wrong, it's down 2 db from 3,000 to 5,000."



WFMU review and mp3 of

"ABCs of High Fidelity"

by Electro Voice

http://tinyurl.com/5ote4z

music marketing art: singles or albums?

Str8 Sounds Therabusive Noise Carnival


and


Str8 Sounds Mystery Prism

on
MySpace Music

Here are some MySpace Music avatars for individual songs. It's a toss up: do you show the CD album cover that the tune belongs to, or do you display an image specific to that song, as though it were a 45" single?

If you are trying to sell a full album or EP or maxi-single, then show that image, the cover art.

If you want individual songs to be popular, as the iTune/iPod Generation seems to favor, even not caring who the artist is, just downloading tunes and ringtones based exclusively on the strength of the song itself, which is a revolutionary way of relating to music, then show art specific to each song.

For variety, many artists will use an abstract image, a meaningless bit of art, an enigmatic photo, a weird visual cue, for some songs. Or, as a last ditch effort, they'll use a picture of the band, which, even if they're nice looking guys or gals, is vain, self-adoring, predictable.

If you must show the musicians, I suggest making them wear masks, or distort their faces with fun filters and bizarre effects. It ain't no beauty pagaent, it's music for Pete's sake. Music is the most mystical of the arts, for those who can hear.

Stop with the prissing and cooing, let's make some irritating innovative (or toe-tapping therapeutic) music!













In related news, a nuisance, the La La Landers Masochistic Orchestra has declared war on Metaphysical Platypus and is planning to release their retaliatory "Volume 1" ahead of schedule.

Furious over the attention, and critical praise, that's been lavished on Metaphysical Platypus, largely revolving around their brand new EP "Levitation Rug", the LLLMO have vowed to use virtual online instrument simulations in a far more creative and powerful manner.

"Volume 1" is said to contain power techno and atonal abstractions mixed with harsh industrial tribalism, the whole mess topped off with the maraschino cherry of extremely high pitched whisper-yodeling.

"Pitches them guys never dreamed possible," chortled Black Lemonade, The Anarchy Enforcers lead guitarist. Black Lemonade sat in on a few sessions of "Volume 1" and stole copies of the mp3s of the entire album (and is circulating a bootleg CD of it), before heading off to record a scraggly new track for his band's struggling debut album, "Rules Are Broke To Be Maiden", that thanks to their laziness and disorganization issues, may not be released until January 2009.

Still, record industry observers and analysts say it's wrong for a band to call their third album "Volume 1" (their first was "This hurts us more than it hurts you" and their second is the mysterious "Endless Valvate Art Music", which, due to intra-band feuding and editing conflicts, hasn't been officially released yet, to complicate matters even more!).

All this chaos and creativity in the Sludge Farm Records family of extreme music artistry. Will it never cease?

autumn art work 2008

self and society

awakening of inner power

frozen lab zero

alien 13

famous painting

alien 35

astronome 12

the great Wall Street
bail-out swindle 2008

moon through Japanese trees

untitled self portrait #01

red lights

what we saw when we climbed
out of our spaceship

milkmaid of the moon

vacation in Tunisia

surface of unknown planet

mind waves

entering the 12th dimension

the lonely robot

particle field

mental painting for for