topicalhuman.com

Here are two sites I want to look at a bit more soon:

1. The Indie Band Survival Guide
2. Google Music Search

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Now playing: Bob Dylan - Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
via FoxyTunes

Issac Hayes has been found dead at his home. It appears that he collapsed while exercising in his home.

He started off as a musician playing with another of my heroes, Otis Redding. Isaac Hayes went on to make his own mark on music - he made his own style of Soul, one that would later be a huge influence on many Hip Hop artists. And, like the show or not, he became a cultural icon of another sort as the voice of Chef in the animated series South Park.

P.S. - My web host has been down for a better part of a week, so this may explain the temporary absence of this site from the interweb. But at least we’re back up now. If only I could get my email working…

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Now playing: Isaac Hayes - Theme From Shaft
via FoxyTunes

I’m back from the honeymoon (had a wonderful time, thank you), but still going to be blogging lightly for a little while I’d imagine.

Went to see John Fogerty (with Don McLean supporting) at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre last night - good times!

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Now playing: John Fogerty - Born On The Bayou
via FoxyTunes

If you’re having a bit of a bad hair day, or just need a pick me up to help you get through your day, I have an excellent suggestion.

As I’ve recently noted, one of my favourite film clips of recent times (and indeed a favourite song) is 1234 by Feist.

So go to iTunes store and download the videoclip (A$2.59), and bliss out for 3 minutes or so. Seriously, it is cheaper than a can of Red Bull, better for you and will make you feel happier. I promise.

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Now playing: Ben Folds Five - Kate
via FoxyTunes

It looks like the weather is clearing, so I may be off to work for a late start this morning. So instead of making some more meaningful posts, I’m just going to dump a bunch of links here. Check them out if you’re interested.

Very, very interesting article by Kevin Kelly called Better than Free. Read this if you have any investment in the digital, online world. Also a great essay by Kevin here I’m yet to finish reading.

I’m a bit late with this, as its already started - record an album in 29 days (this month!).

Interesting Art Dept rules - reminiscent of the Desiderata

Rudy Gay thinks he can dunk a 12 foot ring in the upcoming NBA Slam Dunk contest.

Not sure if I have linked to this in the past, but here it is…the KLF burn a million pounds.

Interesting post on forgiveness, especially self forgiveness. I agree with much, but not all, of what the author says here.

Microsoft wants to buy Yahoo - I can’t help but think that this just smacks of desperation on the part of Microsoft. They’ll screw the pooch if this goes through. More links here and here.

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Now playing: Weezer - Undone (The Sweater Song)
via FoxyTunes

Its raining heavily today, so no work. At least this will give me a chance to catch up on a bunch of stuff I’ve been wanting to post about.

In this post I wanted to link to a couple of articles. The first is an article that recently (last September) appeared in the New York Times, about Rick Rubin and his new role as co-head of Columbia Records. Any serious music fan will be familiar with Rubin and his astounding body of work over the last 20 or so years. I find it very interesting that he has taken on a role at a major record label, and hopes to turn around the flagging value of the business.

What stands out, even more than what Rubin says, is what he doesn’t say. There is no tirade against piracy, bitching about radio, or moaning about iTunes. This runs contrary to what we mostly hear from the major labels these days: ranting that avoids the fact that the market has changed forever.

Rubin however gives us a glimmer of hope:

Now people ask me, ‘Why do you want to do this Columbia job?’ It’s always the same answer: ‘I’ve always liked doing the stuff that I like.’ I just like good music or comedy or whatever it is, and now I have the chance to bring that to a big record company. I have no training, no technical skill — it’s only this ability to listen and try to coach the artist to be the best they can from the perspective of a fan.”

I must admit at first that I thought he was being incredibly naive. However, upon reflection, he has (probably deliberately) touched on the one thing that that the major labels can still/could offer to fans of music everywhere: being trusted arbiters of new music.

What does this mean? As Kevin Kelly points out people are still going to be willing to pay for a service that helps them find stuff that they really like, stuff that gives them pleasure, context, meaning. Stuff that fills the narrative gap. I’d have and enormous degree of trust in Rick Rubin’s ability to find awesome new artists and bands. So, as the distribution model becomes less and less profitable for the record labels, an honest appraisal of what they can offer customers is sure to highlight that Rick Rubin is on the right track.

Of course, that perspective is largely from the point-of-view of the major labels; what about the artists themselves? How do they navigate the minefield that is the music industry? David Byrne offers some thoughtful insights from his many years of experience and success.

Byrne points out how money can be made from a career in music, and how there are essentially six different ways to approach the business. These range from almost complete reliance on the major-label machinery, to complete independence, and everything in between. He succinctly points out the pro’s and con’s of each approach. He points out the basic realities regarding distribution and monetization of music in our digital world. But he also points out that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach:

No single model will work for everyone. There’s room for all of us. Some artists are the Coke and Pepsi of music, while others are the fine wine — or the funky home-brewed moonshine. And that’s fine.

Sounds good to me, too.

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Now playing: Frenzal Rhomb - I Miss My Lung
via FoxyTunes

Amazon is apparently going to launch their DRM free music store globally this year. It has the four ‘major’ labels, and a plethora of independent labels on board. And they’ll work with most devices, specifically of interest to me is the iPod.

Should be good.

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Now playing: The Distillers - Seneca Falls
via FoxyTunes

Right now, I’m shuffling around the house and listening to Triple J broadcast (via the interweb) the 2007 Hottest 100. The stream cuts out for a few seconds every couple of minutes, but it’s better than a kick in the shins, especially given I don’t have a conventional radio at the moment.

If that isn’t enough to keep you entertained, check out that wacky Tom Cruise getting totally excited about Scientology. Kudos to Gawker for not bowing to legal bullying and continuing to host the video.

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Now playing: “triplej 2″
via FoxyTunes

In my last post, I added a bonus link for the Top 25 Video Clips for 2007, according to Readers of Rolling Stone magazine. I hadn’t seen them all at that point, but now I have, and here are my thoughts on the ones I liked, and a few besides, in no particular order.

#2 Feist, performing “1, 2, 3, 4″ - Very catchy pop ditty; very uplifting. The simple single shot concept works superbly, the colours work extremely well, and the choreography was perfect for the song, and well-performed.

#3 Modest Mouse, performing “Dashboard” - Another great song from Modest Mouse, and a fanciful, funny and engaging clip.

#9 Bat For Lashes, performing “What’s a Girl To Do” - A slightly dark video, it seemed to me like it would fit into a David Lynch film. Loved the BMX’s, but I found the giant bunnies riding them scary. The song could really grow on me.

#21 Jill Scott, performing “Hate on Me” - I love the voice Ms. Scott possesses - she builds it up, and rips it down, and does it always right on time. A good clip that really suits the message of the song. Soulful and Funky.

#20 Battles, performing “Atlas” - One of the strangest songs, and best videos. The revolving room is a cool concept. A very unique sound, but I think I like it. I would like to hear more of them. The wah-wah vocals are far out!

#15 The Go! Team, performing “Grip Like Vice” - A clever title, wicked beats, high energy vocals and something to say makes this one of my favourite songs on the list. The fact it has a very cool video just added to my enjoyment.

#16 Tool, performing “Vicarious” - Ummm, this could ruin your day. Another brutally agonised song from Tool. It uses real news foootage, and takes segments from other music video’s. I recognised a few, but only know by name the part from the “Come to Daddy” video by Aphex Twin (that video is itself a scary thing). The combination of these elements and some other confronting footage makes this a powerful, powerful video clip that is very, very depressing, but is pretty much spot on with what it is trying to say.

All in all, I wasn’t that impressed with most of the clips. While I love a really good music video, I still firmly believe that if the song sucks to start with, nothing you can do with a video camera is going to improve the end result.

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Now playing: Nena - 99 Luffballons
via FoxyTunes

I was really impressed with this story dg linked to about the Pearl Jam song, Alive. Lead Singer Eddie Vedder explains how the audience, through their positivity and participation, changed the meaning of the song, for themselves, and ultimately for Vedder himself.

[Bonus Link] Rolling Stones Readers Top 25 video clips of 2007

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Now playing: Ella Fitzgerald - Undecided
via FoxyTunes