It's not so much a news story I'm writing about today, I just felt I should keep writing on this blog or I'll just forget about it and it will become another one of my good ideas which fades away after about a week. So today I'm going to give my brief opinions on this year's MTV EMA nominations - woo!
Album Of The Year
• Alicia Keys – As I Am
• Britney Spears - Blackout
• Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
• Duffy – Rockferry
• Leona Lewis – Spirit
I don't own any of the albums on that list, nor have I listened to any of them fully either for personal taste or just not being exposed to the album. I've heard bits of the new Coldplay album and I'm not a fan, at all. The single Violet Hill is nothing special, neither is the title track Viva La Vida. Coldplay as a whole are just one of those bands who try to appeal to everyone and succeed rather well, but nobody knows how.
I feel quite ashamed to be typing these words, but I don't actually mind Duffy. Admittedly she's one of those increasingly common UK female solo artists in the vein of Lily Allen, but it seems the UK pop music scene is swinging that way these days. The other three albums on that list I haven't heard and don't want to hear, especially Leona Lewis! So in conclusion I hope Duffy wins, she's the best of the worst.
Headliner
• Foo Fighters
• Linkin’ Park
• Metallica
• The Cure
• Tokio Hotel
I've seen three out of these five bands on the list and one of them instantly springs to mind who was best - Foo Fighters. I've also seen Linkin Park and Metallica, both of which were good and I'd most likely go see them again, however neither of them come close to the spectactle and the atmosphere of Foo Fighters live. Dave Grohl controls the stage and with anthems such as All My Life and Everlong, and there is no better or happier feeling than watching thousands of people around you all smiling and singing along. For both Metallica and Linkin Park I was 'caught in the mosh' as it were, which was good for a while but watching Foo Fighters was completely different. Everyone there appreciated the music, instead of fighting to it. Foo Fighters for the win!
Most Addictive Track
• Coldplay – Viva La Vida
• Duffy – Mercy
• Katy Perry – I Kissed A Girl
• Kid Rock – All Summer Long
• P!nk – So What
Kid Rock is awful. Enough said. He has yet to write a good song and has somehow sold over 15 million records worldwide and the track All Summer Long is another reminder of why some people shouldn't have a record deal. His lyrics too are much to be desired - "we were trying different things, we were smoking funny things" - rhyming things with things is not hard, I'm quite sure a 6 year old could rhyme the same word. However this award is not for the best track of the year, it's for the most addictive. And sadly All Summer Long was everywhere and everyone knew it, so I'm 99% positive it will win that category.
New Act
• Duffy
• Jonas Brothers
• Katy Perry
• Miley Cyrus
• One Republic
I don't actually know what to write about this award as I don't listen to any of the nominees. I suppose I have to say I want Duffy to win, plainly for bigging her up earlier in the blog. The Jonas Brothers are terrible, Katy Perry is annoying, I don't know who Miley Cyrus is and One Republic just aren't very good.
Act of 2008
• Amy Winehouse
• Britney Spears
• Coldplay
• Leona Lewis
• Rihanna
This could be a hard fought for category as each artist has done a lot this year, either in terms of their personal life or the music charts each artist deserves to be there. Amy Winehouse has been in the news a lot this year through her numerous drug binges and out of control behaviour, but she is a very talented singer. Britney Spears has also been all over the headlines for the past year for one reason or another, but again she can sing and has made a successful comeback to the music world. Coldplay are overrated and dreary, but popular. Leona Lewis can sing well but is still famous for basically one song. Rihanna is a very talented singer and has had great chart success this past year, I think she has a good shot at taking this award but I have a feeling Britney will go home with this award.
Ultimate Urban
• Alicia Keys
• Beyoncé
• Chris Brown
• Kanye West
• Lil Wayne
I don't listen to urban music and know very little about it. I have a few Kanye West songs on my iTunes and listen to them from time to time, but I'd hardly call myself a fan. I know Lil Wayne is huge in America, but have no idea how popular he is in Europe. I hope Kanye wins simply for the fact I know who he is, sorry.
Rock Out
• 30 Seconds to Mars
• Linkin’ Park
• Metallica
• Paramore
• Slipknot
The last category is best rock band, dubbed Rock Out. I don't like 30 Seconds To Mars at all, they're famous for being emotive in their music but in person they're pretentious. I can't see them winning this category at all, they don't embody the image of rock music or what it stands for. Linkin Park have a good shot at this award as they have done very well the past year with success in the album and single chart, their single with Busta Rhymes was on Radio 1 constantly throughout the Summer. Metallica have made their climactic return to the rock scene this year with their new album Death Magnetic which made it to #1 in the UK album chart and have been in most if not all music magazines in the past few months as well as being on numerous TV and radio shows to let us all know that they're back. Paramore are not rock music, they're pop-rock at best. Additionally they haven't really done anything this year, their biggest single Misery Business was released in 2007. Slipknot on the other hand I thoroughly want to win. I've been following them for the past 7 years and love their music and what they do on stage. Having been on hiatus for the past few years their fourth studio album All Hope Is Gone saw Slipknot make an awesome return to the music scene and the world as a whole. Slipknot have been on my playlist since 2001 and aren't leaving anytime soon, in my opinion Slipknot are the best rock band of 2008.
Source for nominations: MTV.co.uk
Monday 29 September 2008
Friday 26 September 2008
AC/DC Resist The Future Of Music
Whilst roaming around the internet looking for the latest music news, and amongst the latest tour dates and album releases it seems AC/DC have lost their minds.
AC/DC at present do not have any of their back catalogue on iTunes available for download, instead they are sticking to CDs.
Angus Young (guitarist) told the Telegraph; "We believe the songs on any of our albums belong together. If we were on iTunes, we know a certain percentage of people would only download two or three songs from the album. We don't think that represents us musically."
Now don't get me wrong, I agree that all songs on an album belong together. But I have three AC/DC albums and none of which would I consider a 'concept' album, it is perfectly possible to listen to one song and enjoy it without missing the backstory. However there are bands who do produce concept albums and have the songs individually listed on iTunes to download, these include; The Mars Volta, Mastodon and even Pink Floyd. If you were to download the Pink Floyd classic 'Another Brick In The Wall Part.2' then you not only have you missed out on parts 1 and 3 but the rest of 'The Wall' album. On the other hand, if you downloaded the infamous AC/DC track 'Highway To Hell' you wouldn't miss out on it's meaning or relevance to the rest of the album.
Mr. Young went on to say; "Since iTunes came into existence, we've actually increased our back catalogue sales without being on the site". Now this may be the case, but I don't think many new people have been introduced to their music. I tend to download songs from iTunes to see what a band is like - it's only 79p - but if I walk into HMV I don't spend £10 on an album that I might not like. I'm pretty positive the sales AC/DC have attributed are from present AC/DC fans, not music lovers looking for something new.
If AC/DC want to keep a fanbase and expand on it in the future then using the internet is the way forward. They have an album coming out on October 20th and I can guarantee only current AC/DC fans will buy it.
Picture Reference: http://www.virginmedia.com
AC/DC at present do not have any of their back catalogue on iTunes available for download, instead they are sticking to CDs.
Angus Young (guitarist) told the Telegraph; "We believe the songs on any of our albums belong together. If we were on iTunes, we know a certain percentage of people would only download two or three songs from the album. We don't think that represents us musically."Now don't get me wrong, I agree that all songs on an album belong together. But I have three AC/DC albums and none of which would I consider a 'concept' album, it is perfectly possible to listen to one song and enjoy it without missing the backstory. However there are bands who do produce concept albums and have the songs individually listed on iTunes to download, these include; The Mars Volta, Mastodon and even Pink Floyd. If you were to download the Pink Floyd classic 'Another Brick In The Wall Part.2' then you not only have you missed out on parts 1 and 3 but the rest of 'The Wall' album. On the other hand, if you downloaded the infamous AC/DC track 'Highway To Hell' you wouldn't miss out on it's meaning or relevance to the rest of the album.
Mr. Young went on to say; "Since iTunes came into existence, we've actually increased our back catalogue sales without being on the site". Now this may be the case, but I don't think many new people have been introduced to their music. I tend to download songs from iTunes to see what a band is like - it's only 79p - but if I walk into HMV I don't spend £10 on an album that I might not like. I'm pretty positive the sales AC/DC have attributed are from present AC/DC fans, not music lovers looking for something new.
If AC/DC want to keep a fanbase and expand on it in the future then using the internet is the way forward. They have an album coming out on October 20th and I can guarantee only current AC/DC fans will buy it.
Picture Reference: http://www.virginmedia.com
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