Hey everyone,
How’s it going?
Today in the corporation we have some fine releases including PAUL MCCARTNEY, BEACH BOYS,PREFAB SPROUT, COLVIN AND EARLE, GREEN DAY, TOM ODELL, WEEZER, LAURYN HILL, THE POLICE,THE STONE ROSES, ELO and VAN MORRISON.
Or for those who prefer the video, ye know where to go! Bobby’s back this week! May have to get him a bit more!
Roll up, roll up then for the biggest release Friday of the year so far on the 17th of June (have a great day Dave from Cork by the way!)… Four or five big releases… Two mammoth releases… The mightyRADIOHEAD are back with their ninth album ‘A Moon Shaped Pool’ (some would have mentioned their omission from the greatest band of the 90’s category.. Huge merit in that argument.. Others mentionedNIRVANA.. Same goes there.. More on that debate later)
THIS IS THE BIGGEST RELEASE OF THE YEAR outside BOWIE ‘Blackstar’ album, which grew legs because, well you know why.. I have kept myself from listening to it.. Not even 10 seconds.. So really looking forward to it..
We have some very exciting news about this physical Radiohead release for next Friday June 17th.. Very special promotion happening, with us being one of only three shops in Ireland participating.. Only news we can say for now :
”A UNIQUE RADIOHEAD EVENT TAKING PLACE ON FRIDAY JUNE 17 AT RECORD STORES GLOBALLY. FEATURES AN EXCLUSIVE DAY LONG AUDIO STREAM FROM THE BAND, COMPETITIONS, INSTRUCTIONAL ARTWORKS AND MORE.”
Check out your favourite little corporation here on the very unique Radiohead map :
http://www.amoonshapedpool.
We will have more detailed news on this to follow up next week, so keep an eye on the emails.. Very exciting stuff..
The Radiohead album is out on XL Records via PIAS and I can’t wait!
PIAS
PIAS also have the new SWANS record, ‘The Glowing Man’ on 2CD/DVD or 3LPS.. A fine release in it’s own right..
The second mammoth release on the 17th of June is the new RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS album, entitled ‘The Getaway’ on CD and Double LP Gatefold + printed insert through Warner. I like the new single.. A lot actually.. I know a lot of Chili hardcore fans are unsure about it.. Another one to listen on Friday!
WARNER
Also Warner are reissuing the BOWIE ‘Live in Santa Monica 1972’ on LP.. (It’s a breakout from the 5 Years vinyl boxset), as well as the live ‘Ziggy – Motion Picture Soundtrack’.
NEKO CASE, LAURA VEIRS and K.D. LANG release an album on Anti Records, Indie exclusive white vinyl on this one..
Some reissues out from Warner on the 17th also include J.J CALE final studio album from 2009 ‘Roll On’, AMADOU + MARIAM’s ‘Welcome to Mali’ on 2LP or CD…. First time on vinyl in this territory……buzz word… (Multi channel consumption is still my favourite buzz word at the moment though!!).. And finally, aWALTER TROUT ‘Alive in Amsterdam’ release on Provogue on 2CD or 3LP with codes.
If anyone who reads this has bought off the website I would appreciate it if you had thirty seconds to put a quick review here.
https://musiczone.ie/
If you have not bought off the webstore and want a little game of roll-play…. I don’t mind (really) if you want to pretend that you have bought off the webstore and leave a few lines there also… If you have 30 seconds.. No panic either like!!
UNIVERSAL
Universal have the new JAKE BUGG record out on the 17th of June also… I like this kid.. Always did… Time for him to take a real step forward I hope.. So another one to listen to!! Bit spoilt for choice next week… Need a few days off to recover from all the listening, I must do… Tough auld station sometimes…
MUMFORD AND SONS have a new EP out with BAABA MAAL which is excellent!
It’s on 10’’ vinyl EP, CD or cassette.. Yep.. Cassette.. Mix tapes are back as pressies I was told by a 15 year old.. Mix tapes are back… The plunge into cassettes lies in the corporation’s future with some replica Irish European championship medals.. Only slagging… COYBIG
Universal are reissuing GRACE JONES’ ‘Warm Leatherette’, 27 track collection.. Original album, plus mixes and B-Sides…
Uni have the MARVIN GAYE 71-81 7CD boxset out as well as the latest STAR WARS / JOHN WILLIAMS‘Force Awakens’ hologram vinyl.. Lastly Universal have a couple of LIL WAYNE vinyl reissues..
SONY
Sony for the 17th have the LAURA MVULA record ‘The Dreaming Room’ on CD and LP.
Essential for the 17th have the 10th Anniversary of THE ANSWER’S album ‘Rise’..
Cargo for the 17th of June have PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING ‘The Race For Space’ remixes on Test Card Recordings… The two boys choose their remix partners and it is supposed to be stunning… If you missed these boys till now, well worth a listen.. Doing something a bit different.. Fresh.. Sounds great in my opinion.. Check out here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
This remix album is on limited orange vinyl for Indies only..
CARGO
Cargo also have SONIC YOUTH’s ‘Spine Head’ reissue which has been previously unreleased from 1996.
Republic of Music have some JOHN CARPENTER’s 12’’ picture disc singles of ‘Halloween / Escape from New York’ and a reissue on vinyl of the 1975 CROSBY, STILLS AND NASH album ‘Wind on the Water’..
The mighty STONE ROSES have dropped the second single of new material at 12 o’ clock last night.. Haven’t heard it myself yet… Have been getting texts all morning saying ‘not as bad aye?!’.. It was the first thing Bobby working in the shop mentioned today.. ‘Ray have you heard the new single? 7 minutes long, funky and more classic Roses sounding’.. I have to say All For One is growing more and more on me.. But looking forward to hearing this now!
That’s it!!
I wasn’t bullsh*tting when I said it is a Freaky Friday, Fab Friday, Financially Fecking Me Up Friday, Fearless Friday… Whatever floats your boat Friday.. Walk down the aisle Friday… For some Daithi anyway!
Right moving on for a few minutes… Some interesting responses during the week from a few of ye, RE : The Great Debate… Where have all the great bands gone?… I know some of you are maybe cold to this pig and pug show but let’s drive on for a small bit more on it… I have 3 various responses here, all male aged 27, 28 and 18 respectively..
(First Response)
Secondly, that questions of rock music has been asked recently on metal Ireland but in terms of black and death and to boil it down, people under 25 who are into Machine Head and that ilk are not going to be interested in the likes of Bathory. I reckon this is a view of patrons of more alternative scenes, music has evolved past our individual tastes and due to the fact trends change so quick now, you’re not going to get these super band’s of eras anymore. The closest to them these days is Biffy or Kasabian but there no Zepellin or Sabbath, not even an Oasis.
(Second Response : @MusicBlabber on Twitter)
I’ve been intrigued by your rantings on the state of modern music from yourself and your
customers over the past few weeks Ray, basically because it’s something I have often discussed
(and ranted about) myself, especially when you look at the amount of reissues of 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music that has been going on over the past few years. I am from a generation that was conscious of the change between the physical and virtual, a generation that understands that both formats are as essential as the other. As a teenager I grew up in a rock filled environment where nu metal was taking off and could be argued was the last real version of rock and roll. If you look at how rock music evolved from the middle of the last century, there has been little or no evolution in rock since 2007/2008. The whole landscape of music has changed drastically in the past six years. There’s so much more sounds, equipment and technology influencing bands now that the sound has changed hugely. Pop music has never been more influenced by the hip hop beat blueprint and even a lot of electronic music now interchanges with trap style sounds.
Ten years ago when I was not long out of school, you could name out most music genres in a minute or two. Now you need a degree to break down the amount genres there are. Look at rock, there’s art, folk, alt, post, soft, hard, indie and no doubt I’m forgetting a couple there. At this point you might be wondering where is he going with all this but Ray like I pointed out in the heading, you’ve hit the nail on the head, “they love their tunes as much as we did.” The only difference now is choice. There is so much choice, the general fan bases are spread wider. I often hear people say there are no bands like Queen, The Stones, Zeppelin or The Beatles nowadays. If you mean making music, there is but there just not in the “Beatles Mania” side of things. There are artists today bigger than them just in a different genre. I’l get annihilated now for saying this with the old school rockers but acts like Beyonce, Kanye West and Rihanna are as big or bigger than the heavy hitters mentioned earlier. Now I don’t want to admit it but you can’t argue with the facts. Ask any average person in their twenties to name ten songs from Beyonce and Queen, I bet you Beyonce will reign superior. Unfortunately, we have our brutal radio service to thank for the majority of that but that’s a discussion for another day.
With regard to artists taking political stands there are plenty doing it though again it’s a different genre. Look up Kendrick Lamar on youtube and you’ll see the amount of his music has been involved in civil rights. The guy has been pretty much the soundtrack to the black lives matter campaign in America. I think the problem is most modern “rock stars” got too image conscious. It all became the look of being a rock star instead of just going out and rocking out to songs with depth. Instead now poser pretty boys like The 1975 are considered the rock stars but unfortunately they just amount to the tired old rock and roll cliché. I’ve worked in a lot of schools and to say that young people don’t feel music anymore couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything there more experimental with music than ever before, the old dinosaurs just need to realise that their beloved rock and roll got pawned off to the posers (The 1975) and the popstars (Coldplay). I better leave it there but to go back to your original point, there are kids in garages making unreal music, there just not the same garages.
Third Response
Hi Ray, one of the highlights of my week, every week, is reading these newsletters. I’m in Leaving Cert year and I don’t have a lot more to look forward too haha (thankfully it’s almost over) I thought your friend made some very strong points in regard to music for the youth. As an 18 year old I can tell you I most certainly still do care about music!! But maybe a bit more than some of my friends…a lot of my friends don’t understand why I collect records..they tell me why don’t I just use spotify? or why don’t I just torrent it? I also am waiting for that next ‘mind blower.’ There hasn’t been a band in my generation that has got everyone talking like the Beatles did, unfortunately. I grew up listening to the Arctic Monkeys and Gorillaz, which still are 2 of my favourite bands. ‘Demon Days’ by Gorillaz was the catalyst for my love of music and it had such a profound and lasting impact on me but I don’t think it had that sort of impact on everyone my age which is unfortunate and I’m still waiting for that band to blow me out of the water. I think he made a very good point about young people going to concerts, a lot of us aren’t interested in doing that and would rather go on a night out in town, its a pity. I’ve often asked friends to go to gigs and concerts etc and majority of the time they’ve no interest. It’s frustrating. Only a few weeks ago my uncle bought me a ticket to go see the Frank and Walters with him in the Opera House.. I had never listened to them beforehand and all I knew about them was that they were from cork but I thought I’d go to escape the study for a few hours. It turned out to be a great gig!! They truly put on a great show and so did Ruby Horse, supporting them and I’ve been a fan ever since. I also went to see Sufjan Stevens with my dad last August in the Helix in Dublin and I was the youngest person there. I don’t think there was anyone under 30 there which was a real pity. anyway I’ll leave it with that and I’ll be in buying more record when my exams are over!
So, three fresh interesting opinions there… I won’t pour my opinions down your throats on this after tonight, but please feel free to offer us your opinion… I am going back to the fav industry buzz term at the moment.. ‘Multi Channel Consumption’.. Some people will choose beef from a menu, others fish, others chicken, others vegetarian… We probably are the vegetarians of the music industry.. Maybe even the fruitarians!!
It has changed dramatically and probably will again… Shifting sounds and sands the whole time, musicians, record companies, retailers… I do still believe if you are really good enough… You will avoid the dilution and sanitization… The next supergroup is out there.. I do believe that.. I still argue none has been born yet this century, but I feel they will appear…
Words and melody.. Words and melody.. It’s what gets us, whether you like death metal or Coldplay.. Words and melody.. I started in music retailing 20 some years ago and then the only way you could get music was tape it from the radio, or buy it in a shop.. It’s a different world now.. But they’re out there… Maybe the supergroups are like buses…..theres one…oh theres another one
Anyway,
Sin é,
Thanks for listening,
Ray