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30 Jun 2009 22:15

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Biz, Music: Dear Vibe Magazine: We hope they play hip-hop at your funeral

Vibe Magazine
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

26 Jun 2009 03:18

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Music: For sale: One used 1999 Volkswagen Passat. (Owned by Elliott Smith.)

  • As music superfans, whoa. Do you live in Austin? Do you have $4,000 lining your pockets? Looking to gain instant indie cred and help a good cause at the same time? Buy this car. It’s a little dinged up, but it used to be owned by our biggest obsession, Elliott Smith. His sister is selling it. If you buy it, you too can imagine what he was thinking when he was driving around coming up with songs like “Son of Sam” and “Twilight.” Plus, even better, the proceeds – 100% of them – go to the SIMS foundation, which helps musicians with mental health and addiction problems. Admit it, you want it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

25 Jun 2009 18:34

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Culture: L.A. Times confirms what TMZ said earlier: Michael Jackson is dead

  • Pop star Michael Jackson was pronounced dead by doctors this afternoon after arriving at a hospital in a deep coma, city and law enforcement sources told The Times.
  • L.A. Times reporters Andrew Blankstein and Phil Willon • Confirming that the world’s biggest pop star is now dead. No puns. • source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 Jun 2009 22:25

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Music: ShortFormBand: Spin Alley makes “Punkhop” for the masses

spinalley0624

  • Whoa, what is this?

    In our continuing effort to try new things, here’s our latest: Band coverage! This time, Austin’s Spin Alley, who freely mixes rhymes and oi’s, goes through the short-form grinder. Want to see your band here? E-mail us or bug us on Twitter!

    Listen to them

    Q1: In 15 words or less, describe your band’s sound: Loud, punchy, auditory experience of life. Guaranteed to get you moving.

    Q2: Name three influences that inspire you, with three words each on why they’re awesome:
    Kerouac: On the road
    Whiskey: Fuels the fire
    Marijuana: Um, we forget

    Q3: What’s a recent song you’ve been digging? Write ten words explaining why:
    Downsiid – “Pole Dancer”: Epitome of Texas Crunk, keeps heads and asses in motion

    Q4: In 140 characters or less, how do you use social networking to get the word out: We’re charming bastards when we want to be. Social networks let us share our charm with the world, connect with the old and find the new.

    Q5: In 15 words or less, what’s next for you guys? Tour sell tour sell tour sell tour sell tour sell sell tour, across the universe.source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

13 Jun 2009 17:02

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Music: Bonnaroo’s trump card this year? A reunited Phish

For an event destined to draw small crowds due to a recession, this seems like a good way to prevent that. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

12 Jun 2009 20:42

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Music: The kings of mopey strummer music create their own supergroup

  • The quartet, which calls itself Monsters of Folk, will release its self-titled debut September 22. Usually we’re against supergroups, but these guys have way more pedigree than Tinted Windows. (But fewer hit singles.) source
  • Because, seriously, who can dispute the awesomeness of an indie rock supergroup that actually calls itself Monsters of Folk? It’s like the Justice League, except it’s gonna put you to sleep and make you a little sad. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

08 Jun 2009 21:31

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Music: ShortFormBand: Meet MA46. They’re post-punky and proggy.

ma46_0608

  • Whoa, what is this?

    In our continuing effort to try new things, here’s our latest: Band coverage! For our first edition, Daniel Hengeveld of MA46 has gladly agreed to be our guinea pig. Want to see your band here? E-mail us or bug us on Twitter!

    Listen to them

    Q1: In 15 words or less, describe your band’s sound: Pop-post-punk plus prog predilections. Smart lyrics and bombast!

    Q2: Name three influences that inspire you, with three words each on why they’re awesome:
    Science fiction novels: vivid cultural examination
    90s Japanese glam: Pop melodies + hairspray
    Drum n Bass: WOMP WOMP WOMP

    Q3: What’s a recent song you’ve been digging? Write ten words explaining why:
    Phantom West – “The Life of Perfect Creatures”: Biggest wall of sound, sweet melody, about Laika. (Tim’s band)

    Q4: In 140 characters or less, how do you use social networking to get the word out: Twittering, Facebooking and MySpacing of course. We did a giveaway with a fashion blog recently & sent bloggers review copies & show invites.

    Q5: In 15 words or less, what’s next for you guys? Sporadic local live schedule while we record our full-length. Then, hopefully, West Coast tour! source

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

05 Jun 2009 16:14

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Music: Meet the guy behind some of the worst album covers ever

From Pink Floyd to The Cranberries to The Mars Volta, Storm Thorgerson has been ruining the art of the album cover for four decades. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 May 2009 21:46

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Politics, Tech: Is web music retailer Lala’s business model evil and bad?

  • One CEO’s criticism Perennial startup CEO Michael Robertson, most famously of the jerked-around MP3.com, claims that Lala’s model attempts to lock users into evil major-label-supported DRM for their most popular product, ten-cent web songs. He pointed specifically to a patent they own. Robertson has a personal claim, by the way – he currently owns competitor MP3tunes.com. source
  • One CEO’s criticism Perennial startup CEO Michael Robertson, most famously of the jerked-around MP3.com, claims that Lala’s model attempts to lock users into evil major-label-supported DRM for their most popular product, ten-cent web songs. He pointed specifically to a patent they own. Robertson has a personal claim, by the way – he currently owns competitor MP3tunes.com.
  • Lala’s defense Lala, which we use here pretty regularly (it hosts our Saturday Mixtape feature), claims that there’s nothing nefarious about what’s going on. “We’re trying to provide a way so that users can have more access to their music than they had in the past,” says CEO Geoff Ralston. It’s important to note, by the way, that you can also buy MP3s of most songs available at the site. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 11 Comments • Permalink

27 May 2009 20:16

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Tech: Again, MS is late to the game with its new Zune. Here’s why.

  • Why would we want to listen to HD radio when we can stream stuff from the Internet? source
  • It refers to itself as having a HD display, but that display is smaller than the iPhone. *hmm* source
  • Just because a music player can connect to a video game system doesn’t mean it should. source
  • It supposedly has a Web browser, but if its name is “Internet Explorer,” no way Jose. source
  • Lauren probably wouldn’t want one because it’s trying too hard to be really hip. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 7 Comments • Permalink
 
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