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01-09-09 Footnotes
Show 163: Ron Asheton Obit, Buried Treasures, Animal Collective Review
Listen to the MP3 Stream of this show: (link)
Download the Podcast: (Download the MP3)
1 2008 has come to a close, and the numbers are in. According to Nielsen SoundScan’s end-of-year report, Taylor Swift was the top-selling artist of 2008. Lil Wayne and Coldplay also had good years, but overall album sales were down a whopping 14%. It’s not all bad news for the music industry, however. While physical sales for complete albums continue to plummet, music sales overall are up; over 1 billion 1 billion digital tracks were sold. And, profits from concert sales are up 8%. This figure is the result of less tickets being sold for more money, and Jim and Greg wonder if consumers will be able to keep up with rising ticket prices in this failing economy.
2 As reported in the first item, digital music sales were up in 2008, it looks like they will only continue to increase. Steve Jobs of Apple has made it even easier for music fans to purchase and download music from the iTunes store by removing all Digital Rights Management software from its files. But, accessibility comes at a price--$1.29 to be exact. Amazon and other online stores have been selling DRM-free files for almost a year, but iTunes was the last to holdout with the labels’ demands. So if both Apple and the music industry are winners, where does that leave the consumer?
3 Pioneering punk guitarist Ron Asheton of the Stooges passed away this week at the age of 60. While he was still young, Greg notes that Asheton lived long enough to be able to experience a Stooges reunion and revived fan interest. He is best remembered through his music, in albums like Fun House. And, you can listen to Asheton’s 2006 interview with Jim and Greg during this Sound Opinions episode.
4 Feeling guilty about holiday gluttony? Why not start 2009 fresh with a healthy new years resolution to find more undiscovered music. Jim and Greg are here to assist your efforts with these Buried Treasures:
Greg
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, Sunday at Devil Dirt
Springhouse, From Now to OK
Blackstrap, Steal My Horses And Run
Jim
Ponytail, Ice Cream Spiritual
Fucked Up, The Chemistry of Common Life
Women, S/T
6 Has the first great album of 2009 come upon us? That’s the question Jim and Greg answer in their review of Merriweather Post Pavilion by Animal Collective. This is the 9th album for the experimental indie rockers, and one that is inspired by the concert venue in Maryland. Their goal was to make an album worthy of such an outdoor arena, and both Jim and Greg think that Animal Collective was successful. Previously Jim has felt that they veer too much towards the jam band spectrum of things, but with Merriweather, he’s won over by the fresh melodies and dense harmonies. Greg explains that the songwriting is much stronger on this album. He calls it an “ecstatic dance record,” one that is a perfect antidote for the gloom of winter. Both critics give Merriweather Post Pavilion a Buy It.
Songs Featured in Show #163
Dead Kennedys, “California Über Alles,” Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death, 1987
Taylor Swift, “Love Story,” Fearless, 2008
Velvet Underground, “I’m Set Free,” The Velvet Underground, 1969
The Stooges, “Dirt,” Fun House, 1970
The Stooges, “T.V. Eye,” Fun House, 1970
DJ/Rupture, “Reef,” Uproot, 2008
Isobel Campbell/Mark Lanegan, "Come on Over (Turn Me On)," Sunday at Devil Dirt, 2008
Ponytail, "Beg Waves," Ice Cream Spiritual!, 2008
Springhouse, "Passion," From Now to OK, 2008
Fucked Up, "Crooked Head," The Chemistry of Common Life, 2008
Bon Iver, "Re: Stacks," For Emma, Forever Ago, 2008
Blackstrap, "Lay Down Low," Steal My Horses and Run, 2008
Women, "Black Rice," Women, 2008
Animal Collective, "Also Frightened," Merriweather Post Pavillion, 2009
Animal Collective, "Summertime Clothes," Merriweather Post Pavillion, 2009
Thunderheist, "Sweet 16," Sweet 16, 2009
The Drifters, "Answer the Phone," I'll Take You Where the Music's Playing, 1965
Weezer, "Heart Songs," Weezer (Red Album), 2008
Daft Punk, "Teachers," Homework, 1997
Neil Young, "Unknown Legend," Harvest Moon, 1992
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