The popular online streaming music application Spotify is planning to open service to American users this year. Spotify has a large and loyal following in Europe, but so far has had trouble trying to bring their streaming music application to the United States. The main component of Spotify is free ad-based application that allows users to stream music from a large catalog of content. Think of it as iTunes if you streamed tracks instead of downloading them, but for free. Spotify also offers premium subscriptions without advertisements. The main obstacle for the US launch of Spotify is the major music labels, who do not believe Spotify will be good for business. Speaking from my experience with Spotify, I think it will do incredibly well in the US if they are able to launch here in the near future. Spotify is fast, easy-to-use, and has an impressive selection of music. It may be a little too good in the minds of the major label executives.
-Daniel Wipert
In case you haven’t heard by now, Lady Gaga is being sued by her producer/ex-boyfriend (note to pop stars: Don’t date anyone you have to work with on a regular basis) to the tune of around $30 million. Rob Fusari, who co-wrote “Paparazzi” as well as Will Smith’s “Wild Wild West” and Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious” (talk about your trifecta of pop garbage), claims that he not only came up with the name Lady Gaga but also “discovered” the singer and that she signed a contract in 2006 promising him a cut of merchandising and revenue. Well, now the singer/mental patient (look at that Kermit outfit!) is counter-suing, claiming Fusari tricked her into signing an illegal contract. My prediction? Gaga throws a little cash at the guy, and everyone walks away without getting what they really want (money and fame, respectively). I’ve gone on record saying I’m no fan of Gaga (I believe the words “talentless clothes-whore” have come up more than once), but I’d imagine this is actually fairly validating for her. When you’re in a position to be sued for more money than the average person makes in a lifetime, that’s pretty special.
-Christian Hagen
This is only tangentially music-related, but it’s too ridiculous of a story to not mention. So a dude gets on the train in England. Dude gets bored because he’s on a long train ride, so he takes out a pad of paper. Dude writes the world “Killers” on said pad, somebody takes notice, and suddenly he’s detained by British Railway security. Now even if I didn’t explain to you that dude wrote the word down because he was brainstorming ideas for songs to play at a gig for his cover band (hilariously called The Magic Mushrooms, he also had written down “Cigarettes And Alcohol” by Oasis and “Take Me Out” by Franz Ferdinand as potential crowd-pleasers for the upcoming show), wouldn’t this be wayyy not enough evidence to have him removed from the train for interrogation? Apparently not, because dude also looked “suspicious” throughout the train ride. I mean c’mon, who DOESN’T look suspicious on public transportation? Especially musicians! Get the full story at The Independent.
-Chris Polley
Metric has released two new B-sides from their last album Fantasies via their Facebook page. Become a fan of Metric on Facebook and you will gain access to listen to the two new singles, “Black Sheep” and “The Gates.” “Black Sheep” will be used in the upcoming film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World starring Michael Cera and directed by Edgar Wright. The film is based on the graphic novel by Bryan Lee O’Malley about a group of young musicians and will be out later this year.
-Felicia
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Here are the albums up for OMD review this week:
-Tuesday, March 23: Xiu Xiu, Dear God I Hate Myself
-Wednesday, March 24: Mount Eerie, Black Wooden EP
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Finally, here’s our Weekly Playlist!
Chris P. -The new single “I Was Gone” by Woods dug into my mind grapes the first time I heard it. Can’t say I was completely won over by their breakthrough album Songs Of Shame last year like many people were, but due to the pure gritty/poppy hookness of this track, I will be waiting patiently for their follow-up At Echo Lake, out soon on their own Woodsist imprint.
If you want less lo-fi dirtiness and more hi-fi glitchiness, try “All In Forms” by Bonobo, aka new epic IDM music from the Ninja Tune label. Once again, an artist I’ve heard in the past but haven’t been excited by until now. The whole record from which it comes, Black Sands, is just as good as this track too, full of sleepy but energetic electronica.
Dan – Freedy Johnston, “Bad Reputation”
This song has been in my head since I was about 12 years old. It’s sad, honest, and redemptive. Freedy Johnston simply does not get the recognition he deserves.
Pete Yorn’s last solo disc did not recapture the spark and tension of his earlier releases, but this song definitely is among Yorn’s best. Yorn is best when he writes these mid-tempo pop songs that seem to glide instead of drive forward. I listened to this song on repeat.
Christian – I was recently having…not an argument, or a debate…barely even a discussion…a conversation, I suppose, with the to-be Mrs. about Gnarls Barkley. I was unaware that she’s not a big fan of their stuff; she finds it “boring.” Now, this isn’t a deal breaker (obviously, I’m not insane), but I was disappointed to hear it. Gnarls Barkley is, in all honesty and seriousness, one of my favorite groups of all time. From Cee-Lo’s unbelievable voice to Danger Mouse’s understated, experimental production, I’ve never not loved them, follow? I think the best thing about them, and what makes them more than just an ordinary hip-hop/pop duo, is their profound ability to mask lonely, sorrowful lyricism and deep emotional hurt in dance beats and flashing lights. Perfect example? “Transformer,” off St. Elsewhere, seems little more than a typical experi-hip-hop-dance track. But performed live at their Abbey Road session, the broken heart is revealed; in Cee-Lo’s transforming persona is a mask, a crutch hiding the lack of confidence beneath the otherwise street-wise soul singing rapper.
Also, to finish out this week’s playlist, what could be better than one of my all-time favorite Dylan tunes?
Felicia – I know I was already listening to The Big Pink a few weeks ago, but I just saw them live last week and have a newfound love for them. They are a million times better live than on recording. The “ambient noise” background sounds they have convey brilliantly on stage, plus they have a kick ass Asian drummer chick on tour with them right now! “Tonight” and “Countbackwards From Ten” are two of the songs I never paid much attention to from the album A Brief History of Love until they were transformed live.