Legacy Recordings

You know we’re missing the writers when ABC’s first coming attraction for the new season of Lost sends us into a frenzy of excitement – like kids counting down to Christmas. I have been thinking about this all week and making my plans to launch another addictive season of improbable intrigue and patchy acting.

Television series, films, and concerts have “event” status – and it got me wondering about recorded music. When was the last time you counted down to release day for something? Are we still psyched? I am not talking about merely buying an album the first week it is out, I am talking about feverishly waiting for that new release to hit the shelves - or the internet.  (Coincidentally, I have just this moment spotted a new Michael Jackson widget on the Legacy home page that counts down to the 25^th Anniversary Edition of Thriller)  First week sales of number one chart albums have been on the decline. Is it the caliber of artists? Is it a more diversified fan base – the Long Tail?

It’s not really about mass sales, it’s about individual thrill – is that consumer waiting for the album all the way at the end of the tail eagerly waiting for the Tuesday his or her niche record out? I hope so.  

So we’re into another new year. They keep on coming. And with it, a fresh start. Resolve. Optimism. And, though anxiety still fills the halls of SonyBMG, the company that’s home to the label I call home, I’m still feeling at least partially rejuvenated from the holiday break, more motivated in the fleeting afterglow of a year Legacy managed to defy the odds and actually more than hold it’s own, and hopeful that this is the year that we as a label, as a company, as an industry, stop the bleeding and find the new shape and scope that will be our next beginning. Do I know how we’ll do that? Do I have the “vision?” Man, you think I’d be sitting here writing this at this hour of the night if I did? Sorry.

But, corny as it is, what I have is this: I have faith in the music. And I have faith in the men and women here at Legacy who have faith in the music. I have faith in the men and women at the other labels here and around the industry who haven’t forgotten that music - no matter how we choose to enjoy it - still matters and can and should still come first. And let me tell you something - though we’re pretty beaten up, there are still a lot of us. Sure, there are those around still driven by their egos, still hanging on as long as they can before their bottom falls out. But you know what? There are a whole bunch of folks who can’t wax romantic for the 999th time about the wild convention in Bora Bora (there are plenty of others who can, but chose not to). There are a whole bunch of folks who, as one younger member of the Legacy family succinctly put it: “don’t remember ‘the good old days’”. As he said, “THESE are the good old days.” I wanted to kiss him for his perspective. He’s right.

These days ARE good. Well, maybe it’s more honest to say there are more good days here than one familiar with the music business in 2008 might believe. There’s so much great music out there and more and more legitimate and compelling ways to discover and enjoy it. And at Legacy, we’re offering our share. See for yourself: just before Christmas will i.am and Michael Jackson went into the studio and emerged with new versions of tracks for our 25th Anniversary Edition of Thriller that’s a blast. We finally managed to find our way to releasing the cache of Johnny Cash Television shows on CD and DVD and will continue to do more in the coming year. We got to work with artists like Son Volt and Derek Trucks, among others. We’re working on a Legacy Edition of Carole King’s “Tapestry” and Billy Joel’s “The Stranger,” in both cases having unearthed live performances from the period that are so spectacular that they’re hard to step away from. Literally. And there’s so much more done and doing - the incomparable Philadelphia International Records label catalog (when Mr. Gamble speaks we all need to listen. When Mr. HUFF speaks, we REALLY all need to listen!), Dennis Wilson’s mythical “Pacific Ocean Blue”, The Clash, Santana, Jeff Buckley, Common’s early stuff, The Foos’ “The Colour and the Shape”, Neil Diamond’s Bang Recordings, Miles…the list goes on and on and on. These days ARE good. Yes, there’s darkness, but there’s also light. Lots of it.

And so we’re into another new year. Maybe this will be the one. And maybe it won’t be. One thing I can tell you for sure though is that no matter what, we are going to keep doing the best we can for our artists and their music and their fans. I’m going to try not to let the bullshit get me or mine down. And I’m going to remind myself from time to time of something Taj Mahal once said to me during a conversation that I instantly recognized as one to cherish: Of the industry and company and selfish executives and the hating media, he said, simply and with a knowing grin, “hey man, you knew this train was going to Shanghai when you got on it.”

I’ve told that story now for the 999th time. And I just may never tell it again. With any luck, some day soon I won’t have to.

Photos of people holding up LPs with pictures of peoples faces, completing their bodies with—aw heck its easier to just show you.

I found a few new things over the past week or so that I want to share. Some of these are not really that new, but they are new to me.

1. Google Mobile Updater - Over the weekend, I clicked on some Google App on my BlackBerry. It prompted me to install Mobile Updater. I did and I now have new versions of Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google News, Google Sync, Google Reader, Google Docs, and Picasa. I haven’t really gotten to play around with everything just yet, but the new Search is at least 10x faster than the old Search.
2. Google Reader - The Google Mobile Updater made me curious about Google Reader, so I went online (thru my PC) and checked it out. I’ve only been using it 3-4 days, but it is great! So far I have subscribed to about 30 feeds. This morning it cut my normal blog checking routine down by 30 mins. It even recommends similar feeds!
3. Rhapsody on Facebook - Two of my favorite things on the Internet now combined. It is better than peanut butter and chocolate.

Though I keep hearing of things that I missed this year (MGMT, Battles), I doubt I’ll hear anything else that will make this list at the 11th hour.  So…another year passes, another list passed around.  Happy reading/listening.  Sorry in advance to go on so long about my favorite album this year.  And sorry for the length…I guess I got carried away.

A-List:
#1

Of Montreal Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
“…Nihilists with good imaginations…”

Rarely do indie rock records combine spouse separation, severe nervous breakdowns, and Nordic references; in fact, I can’t think of any.  Sure, Kevin Barnes’ voice gets shrill, and the false Brit accent gets annoying.  But the psychedelic pop harmonies are perfect.  I listened to the hell out of this record.

Be warned, this record takes some getting used to.  I had resisted this band for years; their brand of sugar-coated indie pop was never to my liking…so sweet it made my teeth hurt.  Really.  On my first listen to Hissing Fauna…, their 10th(?) release, I was still skeptical—until about the third listen, when its brilliance hit me.  As you listen closer to the lyrics, the juxtaposition of bitterness and dejection to the sunny, bright melodies might surprise you…but in a good way.  Since I never listened to them before this year, I can’t comment on how Hissing Fauna… compares.

There are no subtleties in his acrimonious songwriting, presumably directed toward his separated wife, nor does he make any attempts to hide his clinical depression:  “I found myself on the verge of a nervous breakdown while living in Norway.”  He is as brutally honest as one can be about the past year, while setting the stories to infectious tunes.  Isn’t that what comprises the best songs anyway?

“Gronlandic Exit”
**If I managed this band, this song would be in a commercial by now.  A perfect bass line by which to sell Gap jeans or Toyotas.  I guess we’d have to leave out the parts that describe Barnes’ slow descent into isolation and panic attacks, while lambasting religion as a crutch.

“The Past Is a Grotesque Animal”
**A 12-minute stream of conciousness where Barnes lashes out, occasionally repeating particularly acrid and personal lyrics with emphasis:  “But at least I authored my own disaster.  At whom is this torrent of resentment?  Who is the “you?”  I suppose his ex-wife and the mother of his child.  Though, maybe his parents.  Maybe a disloyal friend.  What does it matter?

“Bunny Ain’t No Kind Of Rider”
**A story about fighting off drunk girls and gay men at a jam-band party, as best I can figure.

“We Were Born The Mutants Again With Leafling”
**I haven’t dissected these lyrics as much, but I really like the song.

The rest:

Datarock Datarock
**Norwegian disciples of the “new rave” indie electronica.  Technically this album was released in 2005, but it just found its way to me this year.

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Raising Sand
**A very pretty album.  The lovely-voiced Alison Krauss is perfectly complemented by the Golden God.

LCD Soundsystem Sound Of Silver
**Declared in 2005 as one of the “coolest people on the planet,” James Murphy’s follow-up isn’t as fun or silly, but just as smart and clever.  Includes sarcasm and a 5-minute + lament to NY’s loss of cool:  “New York I Love You, But You’re Bringing Me Down.”

B-List

Feist The Reminder

**I’m sorely tempted to leave this off after finding it on the Blender 100 Greatest Indie Rock Albums list (WTF?).  But I did enjoy this record this year, from time to time, though I can’t imagine I’ll be listening to it next year…

Kings of Leon Because of the Times
A pretty good album, a GREAT live show.

The Brakes Give Blood
**Overall mediocre, but contains one great, 1:37 song:  “Ring A Ding Ding”

The Ponys Turn The Lights Out
**I really dug The Ponys for a while, but it just didn’t stand the test of time.

Wilco Sky Blue Sky
**The first half is a pretty decent record.  Then it loses me big time.

Best Discoveries–More Garage

The Seeds (thanks to Bob Irwin)
**Best song:  “Pushing Too Hard”

Best Shoegaze Song

The Besnard Lakes “Devastation”

Best Discoveries Carryover from last year

NRBQ
Still a very cool band.

Best album from 2003 that I still listen to all the time

Lilys Precollection
**I can’t seem to get through a week without listening to this album.  The Lilys are the coolest.  And I just found out Higgins is the new Lilys backing band?  Oh happy day.

Best Re-Discoveries

Komeda The Genius of Komeda
**Believe the title.  This album really is genius.

Slint Spiderland
See “Good Morning Captain”
**A textured, chilling, and ultimately exhaustive tribute to Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”

Best In Shows:

Black Mountain, Mercury Lounge
**A completely hypnotic show from one of my favorite 2005 bands.  Black Mountain is an unbelievable live show.

Porter Wagoner, Joe’s Pub
**R.I.P. Porter…amiable, humble, and clearly thrilled to be performing.

Spiritualized, Apollo Theatre
**A clean and redeemed J. Spaceman (does he even call himself that anymore?) with strings and gospel.

You know it is a big deal when Perez Hilton makes mention. Mariah Carey’s yuletide classic, “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” has now sold more than 1.2 million ringtones and was just certified platinum by the RIAA. Last year, when the track struck Gold status, Mariah’s new classic became the very first seasonal Mastertone to be awarded an RIAA certification. “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is the highest charting Christmas release so far this year on the Billboard Hot Ringmasters chart, where it has reached #3, and on the SoundScan Hot Digital Songs chart, where it’s currently #8.Get Official Holiday Ringtones For Your Phone
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Generally, we share our thoughts on politics elsewhere, but this seemed rather interesting.

For more info, visit www.dividedwefail.org

Here’s a little something for all you technogeeks - a tribute to those who think it might not last (set to Billy Joel.)

Watch The Richter Scales music video “Here Comes Another Bubble”

Hey Rockers –

I was front and center at last night’s CARBON/SILICON gig and I thought you might like to see the group in action. For those unaware, CARBON/SILICON is the new group fronted by Mick Jones (The Clash, B.A.D.) and Tony James (Generation X, Sigue Sigue Sputnik). They only played two U.S. gigs — NYC and LA. Check out their debut album, “The Last Post,” on Astralwerks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/worldofrandsom/sets/72157603391410314/

Yes, this was shamelessly ripped from Gothamist. But it made me laugh, and I hope it makes you laugh too.