A Solid Call 2.0

• Variable Bit Rate MP3 files
• $0.98 - $1.25 per song
• Secure credit card transactions

Some other elements needed some work. It was very difficult to browse the shop. Artist names are not hyperlinked – so getting full lists by artists while browsing was a chore. In fact, all lists had to be generated via the search box or the vague genres. There’s also no way to buy a full album – you have to add all tracks individually. That was annoying. Finally, the generic shopping cart software asked for my shipping address. This never inspires confidence when buying downloads.

I assume that they will work out the kinks in time if they last that long. The content they have is really, really niche. The most mainstream label they carry is probably Om Records. Who else would let you search for your favorite Drill n Bass or glitch/pulse downloads? But, I can’t complain since I was so excited to find out of print minimalist techno 12K stuff from Taylor Deupree -- the first artist I ever e-mailed back in '94. If you’re in the mood to get really out there, you could do worse than to support some artists by using Nufonix.

DR Update: While "Fix Up" is giving North America a shot, they're already deep into the next single across the pond. Make sure you're up on "Jus' a Rascal" before anyone else by checking the video from XL. That's some mad speedy rappin', there son. Oiii! (P.s. ALL the videos on the XL site are pretty cool - worth a browse on a Sunday)

The odd thing about DB is how well-financed they seem. The production of their album couldn’t have been cheap and their video looks rather expensive as well. (It’s recommended viewing – including higher-than-high-res versions.) I wonder if they are being backed by a secret cabal of satanic elite from the dark upper echelons of old Europe. It’s either that or modern production techniques are cheaper than ever.

Hmmm...

My take is that EMI should license it, but this "protest" is probably not the best way to go about it. Why not sell the album for $8 and cut a check to EMI for what you think a fair royalty cut would be? Obviously that's much harder and gutsier, but I think it would be a much more sincere and meaningful statement. Of course if only 37 people bought it, you wouldn't have much of a story... but those are the sort of numbers that the copyright holder (EMI) has to look at when considering this kind of thing. They can't spend time licensing every request that comes across their desk. If this was licensed, how much would it sell? Giving it away for free will not be a good indicator of that -- and will possibly do more to hurt the cause of compulsory licensing.

Food for thought, I guess.

It's a smart move to enlist these names to sell otherwise nondescript catalog tracks. The tracks are probably owned by other labels, but hopefully, DMC gets the songs cleared for reasonable rates, and they can make a few bucks off fun project and interesting projects.

I have been meaning to check out the Morrissey collection for Under the Influence and these other names look interesting as well. I will admit that the past few BTM comps have started to feel a little jumbly, a little ephemeral -- they are interesting the first listen, but you dont want to repeatedly listen to familiar old Cure tracks. The first ones were cool because the tracks were obscure and were new to me. The Audio Bullys' edition had too many tracks that I already knew from the old days that I dont need to hear more than once every 12 months. I have yet to pick up Death in Vegas' BTM.

The original NACC statement said "“It was the most disgusting set of racial stereotypes aimed at American Indians that I have ever seen on TV,” said Sean Freitas, a board member of NACC. “It was on par with white people dancing sexually in black face, or yarmulkes, or the vestments of the Catholic Church. I am shocked and outraged.” Clearly, Mr. Freitas has not watched much TV, especially any music video in the last decade which shows perople of the same ethnicity behaving is a much more lascivious nature without any sort of stylized dress reminiscent of Native American vestements. If anything, the participants in the Grammy performace were more restrained than usual. Clearly, to call it "most disgusting set of racial stereotypes aimed at American Indians that I have ever seen" is purely disingenuous and insulting to victims of real stereotyping and real racism. I would like to know how, exactly, a joyful dance in celebration of a big win will make people think that all Native Americans are somehow denigrated.

Unfortunately, this pitiful boycott call does more to damage racial legitimate sensitivity than Outkast's silly performance. All it does is stultify any real discussion of issues and media criticism and turn it into a knee-jerk reactionary exercise in intractibility. It's just sad.