• Tweet

There’s a lot of artists who are now as popdustry as can be.  But one day, a while, sometimes eons ago, had passion, originality and creative juices.  Let’s try something…Name the artist/album

Read more

• Tweet

Levi’s has started a little covers project called the Pioneer Sessions. The Shins, NAS, Swell Season and many more bands are being recruited to cover an influential song for them. An email address is all they require and then you can download the singles. My favorite thus far is She & Him (M Ward and Zooey Deschanel) covering Ricky Nelson’s Fools Rush In. They are magic anyway but when they hit a classic like this it transcends. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

• Tweet

Damn, Emily Haines looks good in this video. Check out Metric’s Stadium love from their amazing Fantasies album.

• Tweet

Cornershop are back with an great new album called Judy Sucks a Lemon For Breakfast. Seriously, their best effort to date!

Ben Ayres from Cornershop chooses obscure picks that he and Tjinder Singh recommend you find: Read more

• Tweet

Sure, there will always be another three or twelve file-sharing sites in the shadows. But, times have changed, and its just not worth the hassle to most music consumers anymore. Viruses and the constant fear of the next round of lawsuits, when will your lotto number be picked?

Last Friday (5.28.10) FMQB.com reported the end is near for Limewire…

Two weeks ago, a federal court ruled that online file-sharing site LimeWire was guilty of copyright infringement, giving the RIAA and the major labels a big victory in the battle over illegal file sharing. Now experts say that time is running out for LimeWire and it will likely be ordered to shut down in early June.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, attorneys for LimeWire owners Lime Group filed a motion with the court, asking Judge Kimba Wood to reconsider her decision, on the grounds that the judge made multiple mistakes in the case. For example, saying that LimeWire founder Mark Gorton was receiving a direct financial benefit from online copyright infringement. The motion also says that the judge did not consider whether Lime Group could actually supervise actions on LimeWire.

CNet‘s Greg Sandoval calls the court motion a “Hail Mary pass” from Lime Group, and says that instead of the judge changing her ruling, it is more likely that the RIAA will ask Wood for an injunction at a scheduled hearing on June 7, which will force Lime Wire to shut down for good.

Additionally, music industry sources tell CNet that Lime Group has reached out to the major labels to seek a compromise, but the file-sharing site has “generated a lot of bad blood with music executives” over the years by never making an effort to go legit and share its revenue with the labels and artists.

A Lime Group representative said in a statement to CNet, “We will continue to maintain an open dialogue with the rights holders and push forward with our objective of working in concert with the music industry.”

With reports of the R.I.A.A.’s inevitable lunge, what’s next? Are you someone who must soon jump ship? Or did you already adapt when Metallica brought down Napster? Are you Torrenting? Do you pay for your music?

• Tweet

A new Nada Surf album is out. It’s a cover album. Here is one of the tracks called Electrocution. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend everyone (in the USA)!

• Tweet

Sourced by Engadget and Ben Oliver
Written by Ross Miller.

We’ll let that headline sink in for a second — it gets even better, we assure you. The story goes as such: German company Medien Patent Verwaltung (MPV) claims that in 2003 it showed Warner Bros. (under a confidentiality agreement) a way to track where exactly a pirated movie came from. One year later, according to the company, Warner started using the same technology without ever providing compensation. Thus, a lawsuit is born — filed in both New York and Germany against Warner, Technicolor and Deluxe. As bad as it sounds, we can’t help but love the irony of such an accusation, but the crème de la crème of all this? The New York lawsuit accidentally cites Warner’s patent in place of MPV’s. It’s being amended now, but think about it: the name of the patent claimed to be a stolen patent was itself stolen by the original patent holder as its own patent. And that’s really fun to say out loud.

• Tweet

Oscar Albis Rodriguez is a busy man. Not one or two projects on the go but three. He is the brains behind Nakatomi Plaza / Ludlow Lions / Ghost Robot Ninja Bear. Someone this prolific is interesting to see what sort of music they listen to. Here is a list:

1. Milagres (formerly The Secret Life of Sofia)

This Brooklyn band is fronted by one of my favorite songwriters, New Mexico transplant Kyle Wilson. They play what I call Mountain music (the geological structures, not Leslie West’s band). You’ll understand after you listen to their album Seven Summits (which was released under their old name The Secret Life of Sofia).

2. New Numbers

Former Jealous Girlfriends guitarist Josh Abbot sings dreamy indie pop with a Bowie vibe. Very cool.

3. Good Luck

DIY sweethearts from Bloomington, IN. Urgent, poppy, punk rock played with a different kind of guitar shredding (think Peter Buck meets Chris Hannah).

4. Small Factory

Defunct mid-90s Providence, RI indie pop band. Check out their album “For If You Cannot Fly” and you’ll remember why you got into music in the first place.

5. Scarce

Defunct mid-90s Providence, RI recently undefunct. Wiki their history, it’s really interesting. Then check out their records. Really great songwriting and playing. Their bassist Joyce also wrote a book about her life (and her time with the band) called Aching To Be. It’s a good read, check it out.

• Tweet

Not much to say about this clever little video. Jason Collett is one of the more talented people on the Arts & Crafts roster. Enjoy!

• Tweet

Thursdays have historically been a day for boasting the all-time classic albums of indie music. A few weeks ago the staff decided to jump on a different bandwagon. Over the next few months, new staff writer Ben Oliver , and others will begin to spotlight Artists On The Verge. Artists who have stayed vigilante and true to their principals.

Remember that breathtaking whirlwind of music referred to as the Seattle Sound? Well it’s far from being dead and has evolved into an energetic and emotional new sound. I’m referring to bands like Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, Band of Horses, Postal Service, and Minus the Bear.

Read more