What Do You Do When You Just Aren’t Good Enough?

Posted on 07. Sep, 2009 by refe.

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What do you do when you find out that you aren’t good enough? Because let’s be honest – there are plenty of fish in the sea. Musicians, songwriters, and performers all but grow on trees. If you’re going to make it you’d better either be great, or have something so compelling to say that listeners are willing stick it out in spite of the rough edges. So, assuming you aren’t there already, how do you get there?

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The ‘Paradox of Choice’ in the Music Industry

Posted on 02. Sep, 2009 by refe.

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There has been an explosion of choice in music. Technology has made it easier and cheaper than ever before for just about anybody to record and distribute their music. An unprecedented number of new artists and new albums flood the market every week, every day. Not only is there an abundance of choice in new [...]

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New Music Releases – September 1st 2009

Posted on 01. Sep, 2009 by refe.

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This week brings us an interesting mix of new music. We have the always interesting mewithoutyou with It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright. The first time I saw these guys do their thing live they performed wearing wool sweaters and down parkas. It was 105 degrees. To those who [...]

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The Importance of Innovation in Music

Posted on 31. Aug, 2009 by refe.

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As a music listener, what is the most important factor that determines whether or not you like a particular song, or album, or artist? The last couple of posts I’ve published have produced quite a few comments that seem to consider innovation to be the litmus test. That doesn’t surprise me at all, and I’d [...]

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The Defining Sound of this Decade is … Undefined.

Posted on 26. Aug, 2009 by refe.

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Throughout the history of rock and roll certain bands or sounds have emerged every decade or so that have defined an era of music. Elvis, The Beatles, Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana – each one of these acts challenged the mainstream or uniquely tapped into the pulse of their generation. It’s now 2009 – who is our [...]

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New Music Releases August 25th 2009

Posted on 26. Aug, 2009 by refe.

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Lot’s of new releases this week including Blizten Trapper’s highly engaging Black River Killer, and Mew’s excessively titled No More Stories Are Told Today I’m Sorry They Washed Away No More Stories the World is Grey I’m Tired Let’s Wash Away. Imogen Heap’s Ellipse officially launched this week with a deluxe edition that includes a [...]

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Imogen Heap Shows Us That DIY Pays Off – And Takes a Lot Of Work

Posted on 13. Aug, 2009 by refe.

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Spend enough time online and you might begin to suspect that some media folks want you to think that the DIY approach will somehow be less work than then a traditional career in music. Strange, given that the term itself implies the opposite. ‘DIY’ does, after all, stand for ‘Do It Yourself.’ More rewarding? Less [...]

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New Music Releases August 11th 2009

Posted on 11. Aug, 2009 by refe.

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Summer is the season of reissues, and this week we have no shortage of them. The Cure, Fleetwood Mac, Ween – even the Flying Burrito Brothers. The big Woodstock: 40 Years On box set drops today as well, along with a live Jimi Hendrix that comes complete with a t-shirt. As for new stuff, we’ve [...]

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New Album Releases August 4th, 2009

Posted on 04. Aug, 2009 by refe.

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A lot of great new tracks dropping today, as well as several notable vinyl reissues. Modest Mouse releases their much anticipated new EP No One’s First, and You’re Next to much rock mag fanfare. Taking a page out of the Creative Deconstruction release strategies article, six of the EP’s eight tracks were released earlier this [...]