Apple Is To Let You Preview Songs On iTunes Three Times More Extensively
Nothing to complain about here, really. If you are based in the US, you will soon be able to listen to 90-second previews instead of the 30-second clips that can be sampled right now on iTunes.
This is the letter that Apple itself has sent to record labels:
“We are pleased to let you know that we are preparing to increase the length of music previews from 30 seconds to 90 seconds on the iTunes Store in the United States. We believe that giving potential customers more time to listen to your music will lead to more purchases.”
The Latest Single Issued By Bulgarian Star Gergana Is A Song Dealing With Romance (And Infatuation) On The Social Site Of The Hour.
Do you remember Ismael YK’s “Cilgin” video (IE, the one I nominated as the most likely candidate for the Turkish rickroll)? It was featured on MusicKO way back in September.
Well, those of you who did like it back then (or who have taken a liking to it right now after clicking on the link above) are sure to appreciate this new one from Bulgarian start Gergana.
The song is simply called “Facebook”, and (much like Ismael YK’s clip) it tells a story of infatuation that takes place over the Social Web.
So, which one do you prefer? I know, I know. This is nowhere as interesting as something like the “XTC Vs. Adam Ant” debate that They Might Be Giants once postulated. I am the first to admit that it is hardly in the same league. But I am really curious to see which one you like best.
Radiohead Are: Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood & Phil Selway. All Five Members Met While Attending School At Oxfordshire.
Innovators in the truest sense of the word, the name of Radiohead is synonymous with the best music that came from the ‘90s. Conformed by five school friends from Oxfordshire, the band led by Thom Yorke mutated from a grungier outfit into electronica linchpins over the course of just three albums, writing the rule book as they went along with the songs they chose to release as singles.
Radiohead is also remembered as one of the biggest emotionally-tumultuous bands this side of Joy Division, The Sisters of Mercy and related acts. Yorke’s recurrent themes of paranoia and self-loathing surfaced as early as their first single, “Creep” (from “Pablo Honey”, 1993). The song was actually banned in England by Radio One on grounds of being too depressing, but when “Creep” became a surprise hit in Israel and then in San Francisco the band gained recognition in their home soil. They were thrown into an onslaught of live shows that left everyone dour, and the subsequent album was to be named after the mental condition that affects drivers that have risen to the top too quickly
“The Bends” (1995) included the desperate “Street Spirit”, the turmoil-weighed “High and Dry” and the we-have-fucking-had-it title track. But nowhere was the frustration expressed as clearly as in “My Iron Lung”, a song in which the music could barely sheathe the vitriol. Also included was the turbid yet beautiful “Fake Plastic Trees”, composed by the band the night after they attended a Jeff Buckley gig.
None of those songs managed to make them feel better as a performing unit (or as individuals, for that matter), and the sessions for their next album were the most trying ever.
But the struggle was worth it. “OK Computer” (1997) quickly became the best album not only of the year but also one of the most celebrated LPs of the whole decade. The band managed to beat lots of acts who had broader appeal like Oasis, whose “Be Here Now” was rebuffed by the public and found its way into the used racks pretty quickly. Continue reading →
One Of The Many Promotional Posters For Tron: Legacy
Tron: Legacy must be one of the most eagerly-awaited movies of the year. Part of the interest itself arises from Daft Punk’s involvement, of course. The French duo has not only composed the soundtrack to the highly-expected movie, but they also have an actual cameo.
And you can see them in the latest trailer that has been released by Disney. True to their onstage personas, the two members of Daft Punk appear fully-costumed.
This trailer doubles as a music video for Daft Punk’s “Derezzed,” a track which is included on the film’s OST.
The movie hits American and Canadian theaters on the 17th of December. I’ll post more info as it becomes available.
Fredrik Larsson (AKA FreddeGedde) Is Sweden's Number One YouTube Star
Fredrik Larsson is the YouTube star par excellence that Sweden has produced. He became popular when he recorded and uploaded a TV theme song medley way back in March, under the name “FreddeGedde”. And now he is back with more, only that this time he is singing themes from cartoons.
Duck Tales, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Animaniacs, Inspector Gadget, Ghostbusters, Digimon, Darkwing Duck… that is just the beginning of this new medley. Lasting seven minutes, it is sure to bring quite a good couple of infant memories back.
Personal favorites? The Smurfs, Bravestarr and The Gummi Bears.
And the Donald Duck impersonation at the end is radical.
A Free White Sequined Glove Is Going To Be Shipped With Every Copy Of The Wii Version Of “Michael Jackson - The Experience”
Yes, that’s right. “Michael Jackson – The Experience” (one of the most highly-anticipated games of the year) will come with a free white sequined glove, no less. The ones in charge of marketing the game are not really coy when it comes to badass product tie-in, are they?
Note, though, that only the Wii version of the game will come with one such accessory. It has yet to be revealed if other versions will also come with such an item.
“Michael Jackson – The Experience” will be available for the Wii, Nintendo DS and PSP on November 23. The Xbox 360 and Playstation versions are going to be released in early 2012.
I am in a bit of a rollercoaster right now, what with my second book of poetry (“Ten”) being published in two weeks’ time. Still, there is no way I could stop updating the blog regularly. I am more enthusiastic than ever, I can tell you.
I am sad didn’t find the time to add Radiohead to the list of featured artists, but that will be seen to before the current week ends. Still, I managed to write a very fine review of The Clash’s “Combat Rock” along with Elton John’s “A Single Man” and the “The Kids Are Alright” OST by you-know-who.
And there was no shortage of interviews either. I talked with John Jones from BuyWidget (a startup I had actually reviewed a long time ago), and Rob McCullough from Clean Tab.
The one Uruguayan unsigned artist that was included in October was Conkistadores, from the City of Maldonado. A very cool band, they are making their live debut at La Comuna the same week I unveil “Ten” to the public.
I can already tell you that in November I am writing about Gustavo Doorman, a Uruguayan musician who is very popular not only here but also in Argentina and in the South of Brazil. His first album (“Supermal”) will be reviewed this week, and I am also publishing a juicy interview for you to read.
And I don’t have to tell you that this month I am keeping you posted on the release of “Ten”.
Like Modern English sang, “it’s getting better all the time”…
YouTube’s "Musicians Wanted" Program Has Now Gone Global
People who live in the States became the first beneficiaries of YouTube’s “Musicians Wanted” program when it was announced just last year at South by Southwest.
For those who have never heard about it before, “Musicians Wanted” is basically a program aimed at new talent. Up-and-coming artists are given the chance to become partners of YouTube, and reap the full benefits of being advertised on the leading video portal on the Internet.
And if you had indeed never heard about “Musicians Wanted” before, then that was going to change in the next couple of days for sure. The “Musicians Wanted” program has now gone global.
Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, The Netherlands, Spain, the U.K., Sweden, the Czech Republic, Argentina and New Zealand are all supported now. If you live in any of these territories, you can proceed to fill out the application form and (to quote Cohen) “wait for the miracle to come”. Continue reading →
The Johnny Cash Project is a collective art initiative. People from all over the globe are invited to submit their own drawings of Johnny Cash, and these will eventually form a crowd-sourced video celebrating the release of the posthumous “Ain’t No Grave”.
In the words of the people who have created The Johnny Cash Project:
“Through this website, we invite you to share your vision of Johnny Cash, as he lives on in your mind’s eye. Working with a single image as a template, and using a custom drawing tool, you’ll create a unique and personal portrait of Johnny. Your work will then be combined with art from participants around the world, and integrated into a collective whole: a music video for “Ain’t No Grave”, rising from a sea of one-of-a-kind portraits.”
All in all, quite a splendid chance to show people from all over the world what Cash meant (and still means) to you, and let them see him through your very eyes. And if you are not a great illustrator, then you needn’t worry. You will actually be provided with an image that will act as your point of reference to draw Johnny.
Not Content With Having Announced The Release Of A Book, The Canadian Tween Idol Now Also Has Got A Movie In The Pipeline.
Scary news, huh?
Well, it gets even worse (or better, according to how maliciously you like to laugh out loud).
The movie will be in 3D.
“Inception” wasn’t in 3D. “The Dark Knight Rises” won’t be in 3D.
And Justin Bieber’s biopic will.
That’s all the more ridiculous because the movie will feature tons of homemade clips that have the shoddiest quality you could imagine. These will be interspersed with interviews and live performances, obviously. But they make the release of the movie in 3D all the more difficult not to scoff at.
This post wouldn’t be complete if I had omitted the movie’s delectable trailer. Sorry, guys. I promise to review a classic rock record tomorrow in order to redeem myself.
