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Brokencrunk

Hands up who knows what crunk is? Me neither. Like ‘emo’ before it, the latest fad seems to be some kind of genre which is totally and utterly meaningless, linking it fashion to a new genre of music. I’ll be honest and state that until I read a very lengthy thread on our forums about it, the crunk phenomenon had passed me by. That was until I read about a band called BROKENCYDE. Now if you haven’t yet heard of this band, you must stop reading this immediately. Load up myspace or youtube and check them out. Don’t forget to come back though.

Anyway, Brokencyde are from New Mexico and have band members called ’se7en’ and ‘Phat J’. They have songs called ‘Sex Toyz’ and ‘Freaxxx’. You may be able to guess where I’m going with this.

The skinny is that if you’re in desperate need of a giggle, this band will cheer you up in a heartbeat. Everything that could make a band wrong is lovingly contained within this band. Bad hair, bad clothes, bad songs…and don’t get me started on the lyrics. If you google some of their reviews the comments are incredible. “A near-perfect snapshot of everything that’s shit about this point in culture” is a very good description of just how bad this lot are.

The thing is, the kids love them. LOVE them. In the US they’re selling out shows all the time and they’re due over here very soon. It’s like danger music for pre-teens; the first sign of rebellion by adults who should know better raiding the silly clothes department at a joke shop and ‘rapping’ over a messy musical backdrop. Maybe I’m old, jaded and have missed the point. Or maybe this is a subculture and trend I really hope doesn’t catch on.

Random thoughts of the day

1. The new Brides record is the best if the year so far. I think it’s gonna blow them big. I’ve not thought much if Visible Noise’s output in 2008 but they’re off to a flyer in 09.

2. The new A Day To Renember CD is a close second. FUN fun fun!

3. I get more links to this blog via the lily Allen post than any other. She’s lovely tho, innit. And she hates the Tories.

4. Today I bought ‘is dead’ by Crime In Stereo on 12″ wax. Awesome record.

5. Lots of video content coming soon. In a band and own a video camera? Get in touch…

New music…

It’s nice to hear new music before every man and his dog has downloaded it. Review coming soon…

Yum

Just how amazing are krispy kremes?!

Maybe this will become known as the ‘Groove Armada’ model

The other day I received an anonymous email linking me up to news that dance duo Groove Armada had signed a deal with a brand of rum. Yeah I know. Rum. Radiohead paved the way for releasing music in a mainstream way by allowing people to pay what they wanted to for ‘In Rainbows’, as long as they wanted to listen to it as a MP3. That’s been manipulated and music has been handed out for free on the back of Thom Yorke and co’s success. Bands have self-released more material and indie labels have been given more of a level playing field than their major label friends. Now Groove Armada have gone one step further, ditched the traditional model completely and signed up to…Bacardi.

The band claim it has let them perform in new places around the world, given them creative freedom and allowed them to give away their music for free. I assume Barcadi either see it as a tax write off or a decent way of getting some publicity for the drink. I don’t exactly see it as a huge money maker. But it is an interesting new development when it comes to releasing music, especially as the band are adopting a relatively unique way of actually getting their music out there. The first track is available to download for free from the bliveshare.com website. To get the other three tunes, fans must share the first with their friends, who share it with their friends, who share it with their friends. Fans have six weeks to spread it, after which time all four songs will go on sale through normal digital stores.

So can we expect this model to take off? Will we see Burger King signing Rik Waller? Will the Dog and Duck down the road invest in the local covers band? Personally I’m a little sceptical as to how this will work in the long-run as the tie-in is basically a bank lending a band some cash and creaming off the profits.

Just like a record label does…

Ta!

A shit tonne of people read this blog yesterday, well over 1,000. There were links to my noise limiting blog from all over the internet, so seemed as though my thoughts struck a chord. Thanks for reading and for the comments!

Sound limiter schimiter

Over the last few days I’ve been literally inundated with emails from people wanting me to sign a petition opposing government “plans” to introduce sound limiters in all venues in the UK. Working close to decision-makers this was something I hadn’t come across and as the emails rolled in with wildly different accusations and stories it became very obvious it was all a hoax, as I stated in the PT forums. Except no-one listened and the witch hunt continued as people cried for the death of live music. Some forums blamed Big Brother (not the Celebrity one though), others blamed meddling middle-aged men out of touch with reality.

The NME, however, have got to the bottom of the riddle. And worked out that it is a hoax after all. Not that I think this article will stop the petitions or the spouting of total nonsense. The internet is the best invention of the last 50 years – but it gives people the chance to air their opinions even if they know absolutely zilch about a subject. Suddenly the world is an expert on every single subject. No-one can ever be wrong. We take everything we read on Wikipedia as gospel. Facts aren’t checked.

So the myth has been busted, but what if limiters were to be introduced? Would it really be a bad thing? No, probably not at all. I’ve been to gigs where the music has been so, so loud my ears have been ringing for days afterwards. Live music shouldn’t be about turning the music up past 11, it should be about the connection with the audience. Seeing the whites of the eyes and losing yourself in the music – not the volume. Personally, if I was King of the World, I’d make sure venues handed out earplugs when you walk into a venue. the advent of the iPod means we;ll be a generation of deafies anyway, but I think there needs to be some responsibility somewhere down the line to keep everyone in check.

Limiters? Bring ‘em on.

Download laws don’t work. Like, duh.

It shouldn’t have taken a musical genius (used loosely) to work this one out, but apparently laws in place to stop people downloading music illegally haven’t worked. I can’t say I’m surprised – shut Napster down and Kazaa sprung up. Major labels have never been able to sue every single person; just last week a survey suggested 95% of all music downloaded online was acquired illegally. Many people have been saying for years the industry needs to embrace downloading rather than fight it. It’s nice to finally see that the suits agree – kinda. What happens next is a big thing – it could shape the way in which we consume music for the foreseeable future. Let’s just hope the MP3 download – whether illegal or legal – is embraced rather than attacked.

My space or yours?

I was reading Kev at BSM’s blog the other day and read his very nice rant about myspace and bands that add you for no reason. Then two days ago I was asked to help someone’s university work by answering questions about the state of the music world and the role social networking sites play in all of that. And it got me thinking.

When I started Punktastic Recordings I was very much pro-myspace. I think the idea
of social networking sites is great, it’s basically free promotion for bands and a way of getting music to the masses for free. However, it very quickly became clear that people got bored of myspace. They didn’t accept adds, they didn’t read messages, bulletins were basically ‘add me’ spam messages. Even the streaming quality of music on myspace was terrible – it cuts out, sounds like it was recorded in a garbage can.

The idea was fine, but myspace has served it’s purpose and something else needs to come along. Does it discourage people from buying music was another question I was asked I don’t think so – if anything it acts as a ‘try before you buy’ scheme where you can sample bands and genres (although since their players became flash I can no longer listen on my iPhone on the go). I don’t think any website would stop people buying music as it’s not as convenient to listen to a website as it is a MP3 or a CD.

But one thing’s for sure, myspace is pretty much dead, for me, as a promotional tool for labels – and is a dying breed for bands to attract new fans.