That’s just music

The British band Supergrass had created it’s own record label, which is called Supergrass Records, said New Musical Express. All the future records shall be released exclusively by the powers possessed by Supergrass’ musicians, and no one else will be involved. Since the beginning of this band in 1994 these guys used to co-work with the Parlophone records, which belongs to EMI, so it’s not the first time when they’re trying to produce other people’s music. Also, they believe that this move may help them to make their own stuff more easily. In other words it won’t stop on recording process, but will move onto producing, designing and distribution of the new albums. Bassist Mickey Quinn is appointed to be the director of the band’s new business. “When you’re footing the bill you pull your horns in. In a lot of way that makes you more creative,” he added.

The first release of the Supergrass Records will be the band’s new song “Rebel in You”, and it must appear on their official web site in June, 2009 (http://www.supergrassrecords.com/). This page enebles pre-ordering as well. Practically, Supergrass is moving in the right direction by making themselves more independent from the major record labels. No one wants to depend on anyone, especially on the recording bureaucrats who make things only worse.

Pearl Jam had decided to re-release it’s debut album “Ten”. This record should see the light in four variations, and each one shall include previously unknown tracks that were made way back in the 90’s. Also, it will include remixes of their famous songs, said Billboard. Originally, “Ten” was released by the Epic records in 1991 and turned this previously unknown band into something absolutely great. Practically, Pearl Jam was one of those artistic groups which formed the grunge movement of the early 90’s. “Ten” includes their major hit ‘Even Flow’, which is proclaimed to be the most successful and popular songs that were ever produced by Pearl Jam. Nielsen SoundScan says that only in the US “Ten” sold 9,58 million copies. Think about the rest of the world!

The new release of “Ten” (also organized by the Epic records) must be out on March 24, 2009. It will incorporate the early versions of ‘Breath’, ‘State of Love and Trust’ and maybe ‘Brother’ (should be different from the one released on “Lost Dogs” in 2003), ‘Just a Girl’, ‘Evil Little Goat’ and ‘2,000 Mile Blues’ (an improvised version). DVD will be accompanying each release depending on it’s variation and price.

Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan has told the press that his band shall never again release albums in the classical format, and must concentrate only on singles, said The Guardian. “People don’t even listen to it all. They put it on their iPod, they drag over the two singles, and skip over the rest. The listening patterns have changed, so why are we killing ourselves to do albums, to create balance, and do the arty track to set up the single? It’s done”, said Corgan. He just throws the reality into everybody, and practically admits everything what takes places in the music industry today. Corgan is thinking that a bad sale of their last album “Zeitgeist” (2007) is due to fans who “have stopped being alternative” and simply cannot take ten minutes long tracks. Some people who have attended their last concerts asked for return of the money. Basically it was caused by the fact that on one of those concerts Smashing Pumpkins refused to perform their old hits, but tried to promote brand new twenty minutes long guitar jams.

Also, Corgan has told Chicago Tribune that he is not interested in reunited the “golden” Smashing Pumpkins lineup, – “Now that we’ve found people who we trust and are really dedicated, the door is closed. They’re done. They’re never coming back.”

British tabloid The Mail On Sunday had created it’s own record company, said NME. The new label is called The Mail On Sunday Sounds. It’s director Peter Wright has stated that he is about to search for the new talents, and believes that this idea absolutely coinsides with The Mail’s point of view on such things. Usually this tabloid is not taking an old information from other news sources, but searches for everything on its own. It simply means only one thing, they may find someone new, and of course those can be valuable talents. Actually, this tactic is not very popular among those huge record labels, and maybe ‘The Mail’ will do something useful because it seems that nothing new gets out there. The first song which was produced and recorded by The Mail On Sunday Sounds was a Christmas melody “Holy Night” sang by an unknown church chorale - it came out on December 8.

Previously, The Mail On Sunday had tried to produce and spread music albums. In fact, it worked with Prince’s “Planet Earth” and McFly’s “Radio:Active”. These releases were given for free while accompanying their informative paper issues.

Holiday Inn’s administration (the one which is located in East London-Kensington area) had decided to eliminate one of the Slade’s songs from it’s playlist. It used to be the biggest Christmas hit way back in 1973, said The Daily Telegraph. Recently, this hotel’s residents constantly kept on complaining about the fact that “Merry Christmas Everybody” (watch it right here http://ru.youtube.com/watch?v=niIJ9Yb-xwQ) is extremely annoying and they cannot take it anymore. Holiday Inn London-Kensington’ representative said that this is the only song which was literally deleted from their playlist. Also, she has mentioned that they are ready to look after any future complaints too. Interesting, is it the first time when people actually went on to ask for something like this?  Funny anyway!  Well, old stuff is not always good, especially if it turns to be extremely boring. What about airing something less ‘goofy’? Sex Pistols for example…

Slade became very popular in the beginning of 1970’s and was often heard in the British night clubs during Christmas time. Due to this kind of demand they’ve appeared on the British music charts for more than once.

Sir Paul McCartney has denied any accusations of plagiarism, specifically underlining that his melody “Light From Your Lighthouse” (it was made up by his solo project The Fireman and can be heard on the album called “Electric Arguments”) could not be taken from anywhere else, but his own mind, said New Musical Express. Recently, McCartney was accused of stealing Blind Willie Johnson’s melody “Let Your Light Shine On Me”, but he said that this song only worked as a source of inspiration and nothing else. Also, he noted that Johnson himself had interpreted the famous American gospel melody, and therefore it belongs to a folklore-like un-authorized piece of musical creation. In other words, what is in the hands of history may be in everybody’s hands too. “His is a traditional song and this is not the first time an artist has made their own version using such a traditional song.” Quite simple…

“Electric Arguments” was released in November 2008 and became the number three in The Fireman’s discography. This band includes McCartney and an ex-Killing Joke bassist Martin Glover, also known as Youth.

BBC began to publish the list that supposedly includes the most promising musicians of 2009. Fortune telling which is mixed up with some analysis may not be very clear and solid when speaking of musical talents. In other words, only time will tell. The Sound of 2009 incorporates fifteen names made up primarely by the music journalists. Soon various experts should identify the last ten names that sound totally cool and promising. All the names which are located in between 5–10 shall be announced on January 5. After this day BBC representatives will name the rest of the lucky ones, and on January 9 we’ll know who made it to the first spot. Practically, here are some bands and artists that belong to the Sound of 2009: White Lies, Empire of the Sun, The Temper Trap, Passion Pit, (solo) VV Brown, Dan Black, Master Shortie and others. Actually, this list is set up from those who were not able to make it big in the undustry during the last twelve months.

The Sound of 2008 was lead by Adel, in 2007 by Mika, and in 2006 the winner turned to be Corinne Bailey Rae.

2005 – American indie-rockers The Bravery

2004 – The British band Keane

Amazon.com began to sell out the copyright unprotected music all around the UK, writes Musically. Previously this MP3 service worked only in the United States, and now it’s British version is offering 256kpbs quality (actually equal to it’s American counterpart) sound, notied T3. The regular price starts with 59 pences per track, but some of them may jump to 80. Albums cost is also ranging in around 6,49 pounds. Free music is still better, but it’s not the worst price anyway… On the other hand a lot of popular albums, especially if they’re absolutely new (for example, Take That’s “The Circus”, Kings of Leon, Coldplay or Girls Aloud) go only for three pounds. The UK’s version of Amazon lacks some groups that were released on the independent labels such as Oasis or Arctic Monkeys. In the beginning of 2008 Amazon had signed business agreements practically with all the major record labels, so things are moving with the universal speed. 

Amazon MP3 was created during the autumn of 2007 and is considered to be one of the biggest rivals to another MP3 giant Apple iTunes Store. It looks like their ‘war’ is making things better when it comes down to prices, even though the free music sounds better no matter what. Isn’t it true?

Velvet Revolver is planning to invite Million Dollar Reload’s Phil Conalane for the role of a new frontman, said Music Radar citing this news to those who are closely related with the band. Currently, an Irish group Million Dollar Reload is almost unknown and it may be the big push for them and exclusively for Conalane. Good luck to everybody. Earlier this year all the former Guns N’ Roses guys worked together with Scott Veiland, but in April he was kicked out for having a ‘terrible personality’. Soon after that Veiland had reunited with his original band Stone Temple Pilots and released a solo album “Happy in Galoshes”. Of course, Velvet Revolver began to search for the replacement, but without having any success until now. As the Music Radar thinks Phil Conalane was particularly invited by Steven Adler (ex-Guns N’ Roses drummer). It is also known that Phil was welcomed by the band Stone Gods (former The Darkness), but most likely he is going to choose Velvet Revolver. At this time there is no official prove from ‘Revolver’ that he is their new frontman, but Radar’s information is usually quite solid.

Guns N’ Roses leader Axl Rose is being accused of not making the band’s new album “Chinese Democracy” get on top of the British charts during the first week of sales, said The Daily Telegraph. The release of this album was awaited for fifteen years, and now it was able to reach only number two allowing The Killers’ “Day & Age” take over the number one spot. One of the Geffen records representatives has told the press that Axl Rose had to use more effort to make “Chinese Democracy” way more popular, but instead of that he just decided to disappear from everybody’s view for two months right before the release. “The label is really glad to have him back but it is frustrating because the album would have had a much better chance of going to number one if only he had been prepared to show his face,” he noted.

The release of “Chinese Democracy” was facing various difficulties including the fact that it was worked out for fifteen years. It was constantly postponed without any visible reasons, and possibly only indolence can explain such a “good” thing. Eventually it was out on November 23 getting an excellent feedback and respect from the fans.  Right now the new album is available at the band’s official MySpace web page.