LOTUSFLOW3R

This saved my life.

Prince is back. Online. And ready to take the world with his new website:

http://www.lotusflow3r.com/

It will be the only online space where prince will be available. As you may have noticed, none of his material is allowed to be on youtube or any other popular online community. Cause he now has his own.

Check out his new songs that will be released on 3 different albums over the next 12 months.

And here a great article on “A Night with Prince” – the only official report on Prince’s life ever as far as I can tell.

Germany’s new superband

Tokio Hotel won a VMA as Best Newcomer. And they seem to be well on their way to be noticed as one of the few German bands to make it internationally, following the likes of Nena, Kraftwerk, Rammstein and the Scorpions.
What is it about Tokio Hotel? Because they are a mix of EMO and POP with horrible haircuts. All very strange!

http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/tokio_hotel/artist.jhtml

Tell me what music you listen to and I tell you who/what you are

This is great. News from CMU daily musicletter (05.09.2008):

“STUDY FINDS LINKS BETWEEN PERSONALITY AND MUSIC TASTE
A new study of more than 36,000 people by Heriot-Watt University has found that musical tastes and personality traits are very closely linked. Amongst the findings, it was discovered that both heavy metal and classical music fans tend to be gentle and at ease with themselves.

Professor Adrian North, who conducted the research, told the BBC: “We have always suspected a link between music taste and personality. This is the first time that we’ve been able to look at it in real detail. No-one has ever done this on this scale before”.
He added that the findings could have significant uses for marketers. He said: “If you know a person’s music preference you can tell what kind of person they are, who to sell to. There are obvious implications for the music industry who are worried about declining CD sales”.

He continued: “One of the most surprising things is the similarities between fans of classical music and heavy metal. They’re both creative and at ease but not outgoing. The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and of being a danger to themselves and society in general. But they are quite delicate things”.

There is still time to take part in the study. Just fill out the questionnaire at www.peopleintomusic.com

Here’s what your taste says about you:

Blues: High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle and at ease.
Jazz: High self-esteem, creative, outgoing and at ease.
Classical: High self-esteem, creative, introvert and at ease.
Rap: High self-esteem, outgoing.
Opera: High self-esteem, creative, gentle.
Country & Western: Hardworking, outgoing.
Reggae: High self-esteem, creative, not hardworking, outgoing, gentle and at ease.
Dance: Creative, outgoing, not gentle.
Indie: Low self-esteem, creative, not hard working, not gentle.
Bollywood: Creative, outgoing.
Rock/Heavy Metal: Low self-esteem, creative, not hard-working, not outgoing, gentle, at ease.
Chart pop: High self-esteem, not creative, hardworking, outgoing, gentle, not at ease.
Soul: High self-esteem, creative, outgoing, gentle, at ease.”

Seems like the hip indie kids are loosing out.

digital music services

Every music newsletter I receive these days either talks about a new digital music service, debates subscription services (Napster et al) vs. single sales (iTunes et al) or the rumour about iTunes going for a subscription service OR should we stay away from iTunes et al/digital sales at all?

According to Bob Lefsetz (2008) selling single tracks via iTunes is why the labels got in trouble to begin with. Suddenly one didn’t have to buy a whole album, where 4 out of 10 songs (guestimate) were shit anyway.

Apparently Kid Rock’s huge summer hit (yes, the funny cover of Sweet Home Alabama played EVERYWHERE these days (almost as bad as Nickelback’s Rockstar)) wasn’t released through iTunes in America and was able to top the charts anyway. Now the success and apparently the non-release digitally managed to get Kid Rock a whole lotta album sales.

Yet again, iTunes has become the biggest music retailer in the US, surpassing the mighty WalMart in the first quarter of 2008.

Here’s what I think:

Digital Music is the future, although I love my CD’s (or vinyl’s if I had the money, the space and someone to help me move them every time I decide to live somewhere else).
It is inevitable to have your music available for online sales these days. The physical sales are going down and digital sales up. Just look at Japan.
And screw the people who moan about Album covers/booklets, etc. I love ‘em too but the new kids on the block don’t. Covers and booklets will only remain a part for collectors. Otherwise it is a nice, colourful but tiny addition to your iTunes / iPod – A bonus.
There are too many digital music stores out there. I love iTunes. I’ve become a mac girl. And guess what: it usually is the cheapest of all anyway with 99 US/Euro cent/ 79 pence per track while others start at 1,29 Euro cent. And yes, they might not have every track available online but certainly one of the most popular collections. And if they shouldn’t have it available I go buy it in the record store. Or amazon.
And subscription services? Great stuff for music fans, but I don’t think it will pay musicians as much as single sales would…Yet again, at least they get paid at all.
And I get too confused about compatibility, DRM free or not, will it work on my iPod and will I be able to listen to the track as long as I want or does it expire once I quit my membership?

So here is where I stand. If I buy digital I want:

• compatibility with my preferred music player (iTunes) and with my mp3 player (iPod)
• I hope for DRM free tracks
• I want an easy accessible website or digital shop that allows me to search for tracks easily
• Fast and smooth download
• I want the track to be in my possession until I decide I do not want to have it anymore (no subscription service with limited access to track once I quit my membership)
• And how about a selection of bootlegs/live versions? Add a special note to it. Or have interesting recommendation

What are your thoughts?

Top 10 bands of all time

NME reports:

Oasis‘ Noel Gallagher has revealed what he believes are the 10 best bands of all time.

“This means the Top 10 bands of all time. No solo artists allowed. No female artists allowed. No collectives allowed (Public Enemy etc.).

“This is the 1,000th time we’ve been here with this. It never gets any less interesting for me. For the record, THE DEFINITIVE Top 10 is this..”

And here it is:

1: The Beatles
2: The Rolling Stones
3: The Who
4: Sex Pistols
5: The Kinks
6: The La’s
7: Pink Floyd
8: The Bee Gees
9: The Specials
10: (Peter Green’s) Fleetwood Mac

_________________________________

I think no. 8 is an interesting choice. I will never forget sharing a limo with Barry Gibb’s wife from FLL to MIA airport, almost missing our flight back to Germany because we thought it was waaaay cooler to go in the limo than the family car. I love the BeeGees. And the Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Who.
Seems like Oasis and myself might actually have something in common.

As for myself, I wouldn’t want to make a choice yet, on the greatest bands of all time – simply, because I feel I need to listen to so many more artists named in music history.
I think the new Kings of Leon tracks sound absolutely f***ing amazing. And I just stumbled across these guys

Who would be in your top 10?

how long should a band take to release a new album?

Harvey Goldsmith, THE PROMOTER of the century (..some may say..), writes in his blog that these days there are too few superbands developing and they should be given more time. ( see his entry on June 30th 2008 at http://www.harveygoldsmith.com/harvey-blogs.php )

Then I read about MGMT on CMUdaily, a newsletter everyone interested in the music industry should read http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/:

MGMT have told BBC 6music that they’re looking forward to getting back into the studio to begin work on a second album. The duo told the station: “We’ve been longing to get in the studio for a while because we got out of it recording our last album about a year ago. So we’re definitely ready to start working on some new stuff but I think in January we’re gonna start recording and hopefully put an album out next summer.”

I think, by next summer there will still be some people discovering and enjoying the current MGMT album. And there will be enough time to let the band breathe and work on a great follow up for longer after that. Fans must also get the chance to recover and then rediscover the new works by a band.

I do understand that we work in a fast changing industry, but if we keep on pushing bands to release more material faster and faster, there will be an overkill.
These days there sometimes are only a few months between the band finishing their touring for their current album and releasing the new one. That’s definetly too short in my opinion.

Feel free to comment and discuss. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe I am right.

review of bbc’s choices for 2008

On January 4th nme.com reported on BBC’s new music talent list for 2008. (see my report and nme.com)

I was aware of the first few on the list. But I neglegted the latter. But suddenly they are all over the place. It is time to review all 10 and they are all certainly worth a listen.

It was:

1. Adele - it happened. and she went big. we’ll see what she’s got to offer in future. the game is on.

2. Duffy – mercy was and still is all over the place. great voice, but a bit to dusty springfield revival for me. but you go girl.

3. The Ting Tings – that’s not my name! what a tune. and they cover many music magazines these days.

4. Glasvegas – i’m over it, but they are slowly sneaking to the top.

5. Foals – i loved them over a year ago when i saw them at korova, liverpool. they have yet to make it big and they already had their feautre on uk’s show skins. time is running out in my opinion. sadly.

6. Vampire Weekend – very impressive melodies from these (rich boys) New Yorkers, and they are buzzing on the island.

7. Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong – mmh. Didn’t do it for me but for many others it seems.

8. Black Kids – these floridians are a huge hit at o2 wireless and a favourite these days.

9. MGMT – you can believe the hype. They opened for Radiohead and have more promising shows coming up around the world.

10. Santogold – she’s so 80’s but so much fun. a domesticated version of M.I.A. with her own edge.

It seems the BBC are doing their job! Or maybe they just are a great media company to have behind you, allowing the bands they touch become the new big thing..

new music 0807

I love.

The New Wine. jaundko also spread the love  here.

The Whitest Boy Alive. you gotta love erlend.

MGMT. they have all been right along the way.. sometimes you can believe the hype.

Younghearts. great british fun.

Boy Crisis. go nyc.

Minus the Bear. an old new discovery.

Kids in Glass Houses. still going very strong.

Vampire Weekend. another hype going around. i like it.

and the girls can be very proud of:

Lykke Li – go Scandinavia!

Martha Wainwright’s latest

Joan as Police Woman

have a listen.

thank you to Liebes and MCK.

o2 wireless festival 2008

I just got back from a long weekend in LDN, as some posh Londoners like to call their home. The o2 Wireless Festival was on for four days in Hyde Park. The spirit of the people was great and being able to walk home after a great day out at a festival was quite frankly the best of all!
This year the headliners were: Jay-Z, Morrissey, Fatboy Slim and Counting Crows.

Jay-Z played a similar set to his Glastonbury show, without the fabulous Wanderwall intro though. To be fair, I am possibly the whitest girl alive and Jay-Z was never on my preferred list of music. But he played a great set that even I could ‚bounce’ to (this sounds so wrong coming from me).

Day two saw Hyde Park filled with Morrissey fans and The Smith fanatics that still live in their beloved memories. Morrissey’s appearance is cocky as usual, but the people love it. Wandering around in a playboy shirt with his 20-something band sitting far in the back to have him take over most of the stage. He then holds a short monologue demonstrating his vegan/vegetarian lifestyle. It was something along the lines of: you eat death when eating meat. It was time for me to go.
Good show, Mr. Morrissey, I’ll give you that. But your overly slimy dramatic-ness just isn’t my thing.

Day three was the fun day of glow sticks, neon wayfarers and colourful clothes. Most of the saturday line-up where dance/indie/nuwave bands with Fatboy Slim finishing the night. I sadly was a bit late and only saw a few gigs here and there including the brilliant performance of Berlin’s own Booka Shade. Check ’em out.

http://www.bookashade.com/

The last day I spent on my way back to the pool. No Counting Crows for me.
All in all, a great weekend at an amazing city centre festival!

Have a listen to the following bands I loved at o2 wireless 2008:
Red Light Company – although I wasn’t very impressed with their haircuts at first, they are definitely pulling it off on stage!
Pete & The Pirates – English Indie Rock
Hot Chip – geeky darlings always worth watching live
Roisin Murphy – fashionable as ever with a great live performance
The Fashion – America is coming back with some great sounds
Beck – he is back and the only one that is allowed to wear Wayfarers in my eyes.
The National – I missed it but my friend said it was brilliant!
Robyn – better than expected. she blew me away.
Sam Sparro – rockin his Prince’ness.
Booka Shade – see above.

2007 in music

2008 is here. And it is time to have a look at the zillion music releases there have been in the past year. My relative, who is a fellow blogger at http://www.jaundko.blogspot.com/ - read it, it is certainly fun and interesting! – encouraged me to write my personal and own countdown of 2007 celebrated artists.
Spending most of my last few days on airplanes and airports between America, Scotland and Germany I have scattered my thoughts and top songs everywhere – my notebook (as in a moleskin book you actually write in!) and my old-school sidekick 2.0 which I have left laying around in one of my four bags in my room. And then there were the mental notes I made… But I already forget them… Time to get serious with my new years resolution of taking brain memory training… Anyway – Back to the task of creating my top 2007 music.

And it is a tough one because I can never decide which songs I like better than others maybe because I choose to listen to many, many, many genres or rather music styles. So I have decided to talk about several songs and albums I have stumbled across.

The Wombats – “A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation“ – http://www.thewombats.co.uk/ – http://www.myspace.com/thewombatsuk

Of course I have to have my local Liverpool heroes The Wombats on the list. Having witnessed the rise of their career, waiting for them to finally get signed and hit the clubs around the world! Because their music is full of energy and fun one simply cannot resist them!
PS: They will be touring the world and especially Europe this summer so have a look!

LCD Soundsystem – http://www.lcdsoundsystem.com/ – http://www.myspace.com/lcdsoundsystem

Many of my friends have told me about the rise of Justice and Simian Mobile Disco, apparently the new big thing in dance. I must admit, I never took the time to listen to both bands and yes, Justice seems to be quite the hit if you look at the 2007 chart-countdown. BUT. Have you listened to LCD Soundsystems new album?! It is brilliant…

Radiohead – “In Rainbows”

… And so is Radioheads new and scandalous release of In Rainbows. I actually paid about 3 Pounds for it! And now I wished I would have listened to my friend Lasse to pay the full amount of 40 Pounds for the vinyl, CD and digital tracks! Because it is that good and it gets better and better the more you listen to it!

Iron & Wine – “Shepherds Dog” – http://www.ironandwine.com/

When I heard the first single off of Iron & Wines new album “Boy With A Coin”, I fell in love. I put it on repeat and within one day I had listened to it about 20 times. My flatmate does not like it but I would still play it over and over again in my room, in the kitchen, on the sofa. Heaven. Then I got the album. More heaven; although “Boy With A Coin” is still by far my favourite. Apparently his earlier stuff is even better. I have plenty of CDs to listen to….

Modest Mouse – “Dashboard” from their new album “We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank” – http://www.modestmousemusic.com/

Another song I instantly fell in love with. So many times I asked my friends who was singing the song because I could never make out this up-tempo tune which is so much different to their last album “Good News For People Who Love Bad News”.

Band of Horses – http://www.bandofhorses.com/

The new hit in America and a great melancholy creeping in to your bedroom. “The General Specific”

Cherry Ghost “People Help” - http://www.cherryghost.co.uk/

More melancholy I love. They were hyped in England but never quite made it. Sadly.

Bat For Lashes – “Fur and Gold” – track: “Prescilla” – http://www.batforlashes.com/

Englands new singer/songwriter discovery Bat For Lashes. Some songs still freak me out while others like Prescilla or Whats A Girl To Do? Catch my attention every time.

Thrice – The Alchemy Index Vol. II – track: “Digital Sea” – http://www.thrice.net/

So many people have told me about Thrices history of punk rock history, one that I never encountered. Because I got to listen to their electronic project first. And I love it. “Digital Sea” is another fabulous track to be listened.

Tegan & Sara – The Con – track: “Are You Ten Years Ago” – http://www.teganandsara.com/

It made it on my myspace tracks for over a month. Catchy choruses of two lesbian girls. Go figure… mmh…

Rhianna
Although having despised and fought over her much acclaimed song “Umbrella”, which I still do not like AT ALL, Rhianna definitely has to make the list of 2007s best. Because her songs are so catchy and an amazing pop/dance/RnB production Britney could have only wished for.
And then there is the amazement that she is even younger than I am and a stunning beauty.

That is all I have in mind at the moment.

Of course there are million other apparently brilliant CDs but I have not had the time to listen to them. But Rolling Stone did. And here is what they think.

The Top 50 songs: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17601363/the_100_best_songs_of_2007/print

The Top 10 albums:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/12/18/new-music-tuesdays-the-top-ten-albums-of-2007/

And for those who wonder what I like listening to regarding upcoming UK bands (and have not read any previous blogs) look out for the following.
Friendly Fires - http://www.myspace.com/friendlyfires
Foals – http://www.myspace.com/foals
Glasvegas – http://www.glasvegas.net/
Noah and The Whale – http://www.myspace.com/noahandthewhale

SIA -  http://www.myspace.com/siamusic — love.