SOUNDTRACK: DROMEDARY RECORDS
My friend Al started Dromedary Records many many years ago (for the whole, in depth, history read here). He released a number of cool indie rock CDs and then decided to put a halt to the proceedings.
Recently, he decided to resurrect the label, with mostly downloads as opposed to physical product (for the post about that, read this). He’s currently offering a free EP download from the great Jersey band Footstone. But more importantly, he’s gathered a number of cool indie bands who contributed a track for his new compilation called Make the Load Lighter: Indie Rock for Haiti. Proceeds from the compilation go to Haitian relief.
Al has always loved music. Dromedary was his way of getting great music out to people without all the bullshit that major labels were foisting on artists (this was all before internet music, of course). And, Al has always been a really good and decent human being (even after owning a record label for a dozen years). I’m delighted that he’s able to do a nice thing for people and still get music out to those who want it.
So, buy the download, support a good cause, and enjoy some great tunes.
[READ: February 2009] 52 Weeks Heads and Quotes
This is a day planner (sort of) and as such it doesn’t really qualify as a book I’ve read. However, The Believer published this planner which included excerpts from the magazine, so it kind of counts. Each week there’s a quote from an artist (usually a writer, but also actors and musicians) as well as a Charles Burns drawing of him or her (or even it in a couple of cases).
And since it is not tied to any year (you write in the month as you go) it has the delightful quote on the back: “You can start this planner anytime–it does not expire.” (more…)
SOUNDTRACK: SONIC YOUTH-SYR 7: J’accuse Ted Hughes/Agnès B Musique (2008).
A few years ago I was visiting my friend Roman. He asked me if I read 
SOUNDTRACK: PEARL JAM-Vs. (1993).
Ten was a solid record, and although it had diversity within it, overall the sound was pretty consistent. On Vs., Pearl Jam mixed it up sonically and otherwise.
Zadie Smith is the editor and she wrote the introduction. I like to cover all of the written pieces in the book, but there’s not much to say about the introduction except that it fills you in on the details of the collection. She thanks Sarah Vowell for the idea but I gather that the rest of the work was done by her.
I was thinking about the parallel careers of R.E.M. and U2 the other day. The both started at around the same time: R.E.M. on an indie label and U2 on a major. R.E.M. was a college band loved by critics but not really a big seller. U2 had some huge hits in their early days and slowly grew to be college darlings too. Then in 1987, they both hit it big time: R.E.M.’s Document had “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” and “One I Love” and of course, U2’s The Joshua Tree was the hugest album in the world.
SOUNDTRACK: PEARL JAM-Live at the Gorge 05/06 (2007).
PROLOGUE: When Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction came out, it galvanized the three friends I had with the most disparate musical tastes. I knew an indie rock guy, a metalhead, and an industrial/goth guy, and all three of them loved Appetite for Destruction. It was the only record that they all agreed on. I thought the same would happen with Pearl Jam’s Ten. But, the goth guy didn’t think it was dark and sleazy enough (like GnR) and the indie guy found it too commercial. And, actually, I only talk to one of the three of them these days anyhow.
SOUNDTRACK: BARENAKED LADIES-Born on a Pirate Ship (1996) & Rock Spectacle (1996).
I Just Read About That... 