Showing posts with label Amoeba Records. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amoeba Records. Show all posts

Friday, September 30, 2016

News and Muse: September 30th, 2016

Today at 11AM Kathleen Hanna (the Julie Ruin /Bikini Kill) will be talking with Meredith Graves (MTV/ Perfect Pussy) live for the Talkhouse Music Podcast.

Oh no! This is how a woman really sounds when she sings? The weirdest thing I have read in ages is the technical evaluation of the new Lady Gaga single that some people find to be nails on a chalkboard. Some listeners can't wrap their head around a singer belting out a melody without the technology to clean it up so it sounds inhumanly in tune and like an unfeeling robot. I am baffled by the unnecessary push back to this very common approach to recording vocals.

In more befuddling reads, there are a lot of people who still buy CDs and Noisy wanted to know WTF. Hint, some people like physical stuff, enjoy the full journey of following a release from start to finish-getting the artist's full story, there is loyalty to the artist, that is how I listen to music in my car, I don't know how to download or I don't trust digital files, and you are probably over the age of 30.

Spotify is in "advanced talks" to buy SoundCloud; so much room for potential or disaster. Either way it threatens Apple music and will allow Bandcamp to remain more of an indie artist favorite when compared against these European superpowers in digital music.

"Girls Own Love" is an all female Andrew W. K. tribute band from Athens, Ga that features Kay Stanton who is currently also playing with Pylon Reenactment Society and Casper & the Cookies.

Amoeba in Berkeley, California goes green meaning they just got license to sell marijuana.

There is a battle brewing over the digital download cards that may or may not be included in that new record you just bought. Love 'em or hate 'em, there are lots of interesting opinions here from various record label owners.

Well that was fast; goodbye G.L.O.S.S., we hardly knew ya.

Sheila B, one of my favorite ladies and an extraordinary DJ (tune in today to WFMU to hear why) recently toured Europe and recapped it for fans here. Cha Cha Charming indeed.

Montreal has a public vinyl archive at the Never Apart Gallery and venue and it tells a story you once had to stay up very late to hear.

Congrats to Kathleen Brennan for receiving an award for writing "Song Lyrics of Literary Excellence"! If only some of the bigger press outlets called you by your name rather than just Tom Waits' wife. We know that a woman is more than who she is married to.

Harlem based producer Veronica Lauren turned bedrest from a botched spinal injury treatment into music.

Dolly is a beacon of strength for women. Oh come on. There is only one Dolly and we all know it.

This remarkable computer program essentially reads data and can turn it into music. Listen to the sound of climate change and learn more about this musical technology that will forever change how our brains can take in information. Woo your elitist music snob friends when you tell them your new favorite genre is "data sonification'.

Vinyl record sales are down 9.1% this year but we all already knew that the bubble has vinyly burst - right? See what I did there?

This interview with the Chicago rapper Noname also features her new album and both are worth your time.

What does The Boss have to do with one feminist's life journey?

There is a 16 year old editor in chief of a hopelessly cool biannual that showcases youth talent. Elise By Olsen started "Recens Paper" at age 13 which should all make us feel like we should probably all be doing more with our lives right about now.

Mexican duo Lorelle Meets the Obsolete has a new album out entitled Balance and why aren't more music sites talking about it yet?



Friday, September 16, 2016

News and Muse: September 16th, 2016

Before you post something about how the sky is falling because you skimmed a headline and believe Amoeba Records in Hollywood, CA is closing, read this. Read the full article before posting outrage people!

My ears are reminding me that this was the best thing it heard this week: Sampa the Great from Australia.



Aphex Twin and Bjork you say? Christmas comes early this year in Houston, TX.

Ladies, Yoko Ono wants you! Tell her about the trauma you have suffered for no other reason that being a woman. Her son Sean also made the news this week when he shared his unfortunate thoughts on mansplaining.

This is the most talked about music news story of the week; G.L.O.S.S turned down an Epitaph Records contract. To me the bigger story is that they might be the only band I know who talks about pressing 20k of a record out of the gate. Now that is the real story here.

Have you ever wondered why you hated the sound of your own voice? This article explains why. Science! 

England has two female revolutions happening; music (meet The Tuts, the newest in a seemingly endless crop of killer bands) and fashion.

The lesson here is one of determination and no apologies for being who you are. Publicist Michelle Kambasha shares her experiences as a black woman in the independent music world.

The New York Art Book fair is THE place to be this weekend. Somebody go and report back for me - please? You can get a Kim Gordon or Genesis Breyer P-Orridge tattoo! Oh, and in other Kim Gordon news, there is this short film made by Carrie Brownstein for the Kenzo fall/winter campaign. And wait! More KG news! She has a new single out too!



Amy McGrath of Denver, CO has written an essay about why women rock on and off the stage.

What does Marnie Stern have to do with Seth Meyers and his late night television show? Her enormous music talent is being put to good use.

These songwriters are fighting the Justice Department because of their recent music copyright ruling as it relates to digital streaming compensation.

Modular synth fans, don't miss this 25 minute non-tradional documentary on the making of the collaborative LP between Suzanne Ciani and Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith. Think of this as a visual companion to the music rather than your typical thing where artists talk about their project.

I have produced records with just about every vinyl pressing plant there is since the early '90s but my favorite experience remains with Erika Records. I first heard about them because they were partners with Sub Pop early on but I remain dedicated to them because they are owned by Liz Dunster. Oh the things this woman has put up with over the years because of her gender. I have so much respect for her and her dedication to producing top quality records in a professional manner. Check out this recent article on her and her company.

Nothing says objectifying and marginalizing women in a really stupid way quite like this very real recent music group comment. Tell me more about women in your creepy shoegaze fantasy world. Oh wait. Don't. Just don't. It is exhausting (not to mention insulting) to see comments like this about women in bands that treat us more like an accessory than a talented member of the band. We are real people who make art.

























This article slipped through the posting cracks a few weeks ago. Why are more women freelancing?

Titwrench is raising the bar for music festivals according to this story.

Shirley Manson has some words for you about fetishizing the '90s, body image, and well, click here to see what else.