* Ives:
Sonatas for Violin and Piano (Zukofsky/Kalish) (Nonesuch 2LP)
* Ruggles:
Complete Music (Buffalo Phil. et al./Tilson Thomas) (CBS Masterworks 2LP)
* Charlie Parker: Charlie Parker With
Strings: The Master Takes (Verve CD)
* Sun Ra:
Astro Black (Impulse!/iTunes MP3) †
* Joseph
Jarman & Famoudou Don Moye: Egwu-Anwu (Sun Song) (India Navigation 2LP)
* Henry Threadgill Zooid: Jazz
Gallery, NYC 2010-02-11 (AUD FLAC)
* Henry Threadgill Zooid: Village
Vanguard, NYC 2014-07-31 (AUD FLAC)
* Henry Threadgill Zooid: Village
Vanguard, NYC 2014-08-03 (AUD FLAC)
* Billy
Cobham: Simplicity of Expression – Depth of Thought (Columbia LP)
* Eddie Henderson: Sunburst (Blue Note
LP)
* Bobbi
Humphrey: Blacks and Blues (Blue Note LP)
* Ronnie
Laws: Friends and Strangers (United Artists LP)
* Jaco Pastorius: Modern American
Music…Period! The Criteria Sessions (Omnivore LP+MP3) †
* Nils Petter Molvær: Khmer (ECM CD)
* Tim Berne: Snakeoil (ECM CD)
* Mary Halvorson Quintet/Septet: The
Stone, NYC 2011-10-14 (AUD FLAC)
* Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 (The
Other One) (selections) (GDP/Rhino 23HDCD)
* Goblin:
Contamination OST (Cinevox LP)
* U2: Songs Of Innocence (iTunes MP3) †
* Sleep: The
Clarity (Praise Iommi 12”) (†)
* Opeth: Pale Communion (Roadrunner
2LP)
* In Flames: Siren Charms (Sony CD)
* Triptykon:
Melana Chasmata (Century Media 2LP)
* Black
Tusk: Tend No Wounds (Relapse EP)
* Sòlstafir: Ótta (Season of Mist 2LP)
* Windhand:
Soma (Relapse 2LP)
* Pallbearer: Foundations of Burden
(Profound Lore 2LP) †
* Mortals:
Cursed To See The Future (Relapse LP)
* Krakatau: Water Near A Bridge
(Trouble In Mind LP)
†=iPod/iTunes
‡=car
Commentary:
I guess the
big news this week is U2’s new album, Songs of Innocence, released for free on
iTunes in conjunction with Apple's latest product announcement. What’s more interesting to me than the music
is the reaction to it all.
Many people
are incensed that U2 (and Bono in particular) have invaded their precious
iTunes Library, forcing them have this (presumably) horrible album appear unbidden on their
computer. Some are comparing the move to spam, the unwanted, useless data which
clogs our inboxes everyday.
Well, my
experience was a little different. I’m not a huge U2 fan, but I was curious to
hear the album for free. Why not? I loaded up iTunes expecting to see it lurking
there—but no. When I went to the iTunes Store, it stated that the item was
“purchased” but not obviously downloadable. As a matter of fact, I had to do a bunch of research and
change a bunch of settings before I finally got it to work. I rarely ever
buy downloads and don’t use “The Cloud” to store my music, so perhaps I am not
the most sophisticated iTunes user on the planet. But I certainly had to jump
through some hoops to even see the damn thing, much less download it.
Others are
annoyed with U2 for promoting the idea that music should be “free” and thereby
devaluing the art form, etc., etc. Of
course, U2 got paid (and big!)—but by Apple, not the end user. Songs of Innocence is really just part
of Apple’s new advertising campaign, which I agree devalues the art form. But
make no mistake: U2 made plenty of money, up front off this stunt. What bothers me is that a
crummy 256kbps MP3 is so massively over-valued in this move.
Ever since
the rise (and fall) of Napster, I have argued that lossy MP3 files are
inherently worthless and should be given away as promotional items, in the same
way that records used to be given away to radio stations and journalists by the
thousands back in the music industry's heyday. With radio pretty much a closed door, it would have been smart of
the labels to embrace Napster back in 2000 rather than suing their customers
and fighting tooth and nail to preserve an obsolete business model. A 256kbps
MP3 file is, sonically speaking, barely acceptable—but it’s perfect for a promotional tool.
So while I
admire U2’s seeming willingness to “give away” an MP3 of their forthcoming
album as a promo, it turns out that Songs of Innocence is not quite what it
appears. It’s still all about money, leverage and rock-star power moves. Whether or not this stunt results in increased sales once the physical album arrives later this year remains to be seen.
As for the
music, it’s…OK. Actually, better than I expected. But the reaction to its surprise pre-release has been far more
intriguing. I hope such discussion will help reinvigorate the music industry—what’s
left of it, anyway.
