5 Steps to Greatness

I see and hear a lot of bands these days that are totally interchangeable. So many of them sound alike, which I attribute directly to the internet and the fact that artists and bands no longer develop on their own, away from outside pressures and forces (think about pre-internet instances such Nirvana toiling in Aberdeen, Washington, or REM in Athens, GA, or Prince in Minneapolis, or NWA in Compton, or pretty much all of the amazing bands to come out of Dunedin, a small town on the South Island of New Zealand).

The incredible homogeneity among today's scene has gotten me thinking about all of the truly unique artists and bands that have come along, and the factors that contributed to their greatness and staying power. And though this post is kinda tongue-in-cheek, I really do think that if a band follows these steps, they'll have a much better shot at god-like status. So kids, here's some advice from an old guy (by rock standards) who's seen a lot:

1. Dial in a unique tone on your instrument. Think Peter Hook's bass sound in Joy Division/New Order, or Steve Albini's guitar tone in Big Black, or John Bonham's drums on pretty much everything.

2. Write some incredibly good songs.

3. Find a visionary producer. Someone who can elicit amazing performances from you and your bandmates. Listen to what he/she says. Be clay in their hands.

4. Cultivate an image. Even if it's a non-image (see: Grunge) - and dress to the nines.

5. Strike a pose. Find someone - Anton Corbijn or Charles Peterson would be good - to take lots of black and white photos of you in accidentally iconic poses (see: The Velvet Underground, The Smiths, Bob Dylan, et al). These will look really good as posters on dorm room walls and the inevitable coffee table books about you.

Then what? Well, the rest is luck, timing, who-you-know and a bunch of random variables that you have no control over. You're either destined to be a legend or you're not. But if you follow my 5-step plan, you just might make it. Bon chance, mes amis. ~ Tim

Favorite things, ca. now

Ok, it's been an absurdly long time since we posted a blog entry here. Just in case you were afraid Brandracket had become some kind of music agency ghost ship, drifting listlessly upon the sea, never fear, we are indeed extant. In fact, we'll be announcing a couple really cool things shortly. Meanwhile, here's a list of 10 things that I really love right now, in no particular order:

1. Dr. Rockso. Still.
2. "Pizza Guy", You Am I
3. Rain in California...at long last.
4. Playing live rock 'n' roll music and in doing so, being reminded why I've devoted my life to this stuff.
5. "Hurtin' Crew", The Descendents. Is Green Day paying this band monthly royalties? Because they're pretty much the architects of GD's sound (at least until a couple albums ago), one which they've taken to the bank, many, many times. To Billy Joe's credit, he's probably the first person to admit this.
6. Having a home for the holidays when so many do not.
7. Gingerbread cookies. (In fact, cookies of all kinds. Any cookie. Seriously.)
8. Revisiting the brilliance of Scooby Doo on a daily basis with my 4 year old.
9. "Silver" by Echo & The Bunnymen. Is there a guitar band that's this good today? Seriously. I'm not some out-to-lunch, over-the-hill dad that listens exclusively to the Collective Soul cassette that's stuck in my car's stereo. I'm immersed in new music 24 hours a day, listening very keenly. And I'm pretty sure there isn't a rock band anywhere near as good as Echo & The Bunnymen when they made Ocean Rain in 1984. I welcome any suggestions to the contrary.
10. Jawbox reunion on Fallon, 12/8.

Happy Holidays, everyone. ~ Tim

The Rock Star Myth

I was walking around my local mall with the wife and kids on Saturday and noticed the increasing fascination with what I'll call The Rock Star Myth. Everywhere I go, I see people of all ages with shirts that say "Rock Star", or they're trying to look like rock stars - the ones they see on TV, in movies, and in video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band.

Remember that show called Rock Star, where the guy got chosen to be the new singer for INXS? It was truly hilarious/horrific in the way that it reinforced middle-America's idea of what a rock musician is. It was all leather pants, died black hair, 27 bangles on each wrist and Les Pauls scraping the stage. You could almost picture the manicured network suits in their corporate conference room, sipping their lattes and talking about how they wanted the show to be "edgy", when in fact it was Appetite For Destruction scrubbed clean and served up for a polite studio audience.

Now, to anyone who's ever actually been in a working, touring rock band (cough, cough) this stuff is hilarious. Because we know how far from reality all of this lame posturing and imaging really is. Yes, there are many people in bands who look like the animated characters in Guitar Hero, but their reality is sordid, I can assure you, no matter how big of a legend they are in their own mind. Sleeping on floors, all night drives, crappy food, in-fighting, poorly attended shows, indignities at every turn - it's just the tip of the iceberg when describing what a real rock, uh, "star" endures on a daily basis.

Ultimately, shows like Rock Star, tween-focused movies like Band Slam, and games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero just propagate an entirely BS notion of what being a working musician isn't. Now, don't get me wrong. I love the rock. I'm all for youthful enthusiasm and chasing the dream, and I sincerely hope that the kids at the mall someday get to experience what it's really like to be in a living, breathing rock band. But once confronted with that cold, hard reality, I suspect many of them will retreat to their Xboxes before they even make it onto a stage. ~ Tim

Never Trust A Ho (Especially If It's The Media)

If there is a shining, definitive example of the hypocrisy and craven lack of integrity inherent in 99% of today's media outlets, the coverage of Michael Jackson's death is it.

In the eyes of The Media, Michael Jackson was a walking freakshow the morning of June 25th. Someone to be ridiculed, made fun of, attacked, investigated - you name it. And then, in the time it took his last, shallow breath to pass over his (we can only assume) painted lips, he magically reverted to Michael Jackson, The Greatest Entertainer Of All Time. Someone to be celebrated, lionized and worshipped like it was 1983 all over again.

It's amazing what a short memory we have as a culture. Celebrities are crucified and resurrected in a matter of months. And why not? Otherwise there wouldn't be any celebrities to worship. But Michael was the exception, being pretty much under siege for the last 2 decades (granted, usually due to his own bizarre/suspect actions).

Ultimately I just feel sorry for MJ. A clearly sweet kid who had his brain warped at an early age by external forces (his dad, fame) that he couldn't control. I'm actually kind of glad that it's over, 'cause I'm scared to think about the state he'd be in at 70. So RIP, Michael. If there is a Heaven, I'm sure you moonwalked straight through the Pearly Gates. ~ Tim

Yeah...What He Said

Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot recently released a book entitled Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music, in which he offers some keen insights into to the creation of the new digital music landscape.

In this recent interview with Time magazine, he perfectly articulates something that we here at Brandracket tell artists and labels all the time: people can't pay you if they don't know who you are. Here's the choice quote (I've done some bolding for emphasis):

"The biggest problem a band has is getting its music heard. For years, the music industry was confined to four multinational corporations that dominated the revenue stream of 70% of the music coming in, and four or five radio conglomerates that controlled what music was going out. Now all that has been broken up into millions and millions of little pieces and subcultures and niches that are serving small, really dedicated communities of music lovers. Listeners may not necessarily pay for that one song or the one album, but if they're intrigued enough, they're going to start following an artist or band. They show up at the gig or buy the merchandise or buy the next CD or the vinyl version of the MP3 they just downloaded. If you're a good band and making quality music, your fans are going to want every piece of what you put out. Once an audience is there, there are all sort of money-making opportunities."

It's simple kids: think of a free MP3 as a sample piece of chocolate fudge sitting on a confectionary counter. Give people a taste and they'll want more. Don't give them a taste and they'll never know how delicious you really are. Free (in moderation) does not equal giving away the farm. It equals awareness, which is the first step to cash in your pocket and food on your table. Learn it, love it, live it. ~ Tim

Thank you, Children

Went to Aidan and Sean's daycare the other day to play some music on the acoustic guitar. It was your standard stuff - "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", "Wheels On The Bus", "War Pigs" (just kidding). And truth be told, it was the best audience I've had in years. I mean, who would you rather play for: 1) drunk, stinky, cooler-than-thou hipsters or 2) rapt, bright-eyed, unbelievably cute 3 and 4 year olds?

The thing that struck me was just how excited these kids were to hear the songs and see someone playing music in their classroom. For a brief, fleeting moment, I was bigger than Barney.

I read somewhere that drug addiction is the #1 occupational hazard of anaesthesiologists. I think the #1 hazard for those of us who toil in music is becoming totally, hopelessly jaded about it, and art in general. Stick around long enough in this racket and you will eventually start to take the music - the thing that attracted you in the first place - for granted. It happens to all of us, and we must be ever vigilant against losing our passion for awesome tuneage.

Whenever it happens to me, I know it's time to go to a show, pound 3 beers, and stand right in front of the stage. Or simply listen to one of the many seminal songs or albums that inspired me to devote my life to this stuff.

Seeing these kids at school, and the absolute wonder in their eyes as I strummed "I'm A Little Teacup", it just reminded me of the transcendent power of music. We must never forget, people. Never forget. ~ Tim

Silversun Pickups - "Swoon"

I received an advance of the new Silversun Pickups record, “Swoon”, over the weekend. I’m happy to report that it lives up to the high hopes I had for their sophomore release…no sophomore slump for SSPU’s! This record is sure to put a smile on the face of anyone that enjoys stomping on a Fuzzface or Big Muff π.

Chris

TMI

I read an interview with Tom Morello in the LA Times this past weekend. Here's an excerpt:

LAT: People are so desperate to sell records that they think they have to do anything.

TM: One of the things I enjoyed about bands growing up was there was a sense of mystique about them. I didn't know what they were eating in catering at their gig every day as they Twittered it to me. Maybe there's something to be said about that.

I think there is something to be said about that: it sucks.

What happened to staring at album covers and band photos for hours on end imagining what incredible, debauched lives our favorite rock stars led? What happened to the mystery?

I really don't want to know what Jimmy Page or Morrissey or Pete Buck are having for lunch, or how much they love CSI: Miami. I want them to exist the way that I envision them - as removed, untouchable, above it all, outside of the pedantic boredom of every day life. Yet thanks to the miracle/curse of modern technology, we can now keep up with our idols' every move. Every boring detail is now available for us to savor while we wait for the next tidbit of useless information about their everyday lives. That is so not rock 'n' roll.

My response: no thanks.

And Twitter is only the latest nail in the coffin of rock mystique. Things really started to go to hell when Ozzy was put on display - in a track suit, no less - in the Osbournes' reality show. I want to think of Ozzy as growing old in a darkly-lit mansion in Birmingham somewhere, not hanging out with Pat Boone by the pool.

So rock stars, I beseach you: resist the urge to tell us everything about yourselves on a minute-by-minute basis. We're already so constricted in this world - at least let our imaginations run free. Even if you are wearing a track suit. ~ Tim

Negative Reinforcement

NOTE: this is not a stab at urban music. There's a lot of awesome hip-hop and R&B that's being created as I type, by a lot of folks who are true artists. But this Ciara clip? It's just wrong on so many levels.

Let's start with the tune itself, which is built around the melody of Gamble & Huff's "If You Don't Know Me By Now". Note to Ciara's songwriters: write your own melody.

Then there's the laser focus on bling and material possessions. At the beginning of the clip you've got Ciara's girlfriends basically saying: "If the guy's not loaded, he's not worth being with." That's a great message to send to the legions of 14 year old girls watching the video. Then you've got Young Jeezy waving around wads of cash. I mean, it's 2009. Is this not the most clichéd, lame video construct ever at this point? We get it, man: you're loaded. Now get back in your stretch Hummer.

Speaking of getting it, it's made abundantly clear that Ciara is attractive. But how sad is it that her label reps/management/people in charge feel that we need to see her looking like a stripper in order to appreciate (and buy?) her music. Our culture's fixation on physical beauty and the major label recording industry's full-scale embracing of looks-over-talent marketing continues to be a huge bummer.

And finally, what's the deal with the reel-to-reel tape machine rolling throughout the clip? I'd wager a huge amount of money that Ciara has no idea what that contraption is or why it's in her video. Random and annoying.

Yes, I know: this is pop. It's designed to be escapist and disposable to take our minds off of our Real Problems. But the culture that created this video is a Real Problem. It's a culture that reinforces the perceived importance of material wealth and physical beauty above all else. And that affects you and me and our kids because we have to live with the people who buy into that crap.

Ultimately, it's just sad to see so many resources and so much energy going toward reinforcing notions that are truly harmful to our society and our culture at large. And this issue is by no means limited to urban music. In fact, modern country music is one of the worst offenders when it comes to reinforcing clichés that perpetuate a warped, bogus view of the real world.

I just hope that the kids watching this stuff can distinguish between what's real and what's faux. ~ Tim

Doers vs. Talkers

I was talking with a fellow "industry professional" today about how there are soooo many people in our line of work who love to spend HOURS at panel discussions pontificating (or listening to others pontificate) about "the future of music." You know what the future of music is? Continued massive upheaval and disruption. Now get back to work.

Seriously, do you think we as a company have time to wring our hands about where music is headed? No, because we're in the trenches every day trying to do work, chase down clients, respond to 18,000 emails and generally do all of the things that people who run businesses need to do. I don't have time to sit around in an ivory tower wondering where the Industry will go. If all of the people at these panel discussions devoted more of their time to actually working, they might arrive at a sustainable model, instead of lamenting that fact that they don't have one.

Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoy lively discussion as much as the next guy. And I also know firsthand that lively discussion leads to great ideas, which is how we progress, both as a society and an industry. So far be it from me to poo-poo creative thought and intellectual discourse. But there comes a time when you need to stop talking and start working. And for many of these folks, that time is way overdue.

With the music business, the only thing that's certain is uncertainty. Yes, there will be pivotal individuals (Steve Jobs, the MySpace dudes) that will change our way of thinking and steer things in new directions. But we cannot all be those people, at least not all the time (even Jobs has to answer his email at some point).

Ironically, Chris and I have been working on our own potentially game-affecting concept. It's called BrandsForBands and it'll launch soon. But even though it's required hundreds of hours of discussion over the last 2 years, we still managed to increase our company revenues by 10% last year. In other words, we talked about The Big Picture - and are poised to contribute to it significantly with B4B - but not at the expense of getting our everyday work done.

So, fellow music professionals, I beseech you to spend more time on your work and less time worrying - and talking - about where things are headed. That's important, but it don't pay the mortgage. Less talk, more rock. ~ Tim

The D-Process

If you’re at all like me, you’re trying desperately to make sense of the sh*tstorm that we call our nation’s economy. I found this recent interview with Ray Dalio in Barron’s (by Sandra Ward) to be very enlightening:

http://online.barrons.com/article/SB123396545910358867.html

Mr. Dalio is the Chief Investment Officer of Bridgewater Associates, one of the larger hedge funds out there. He was one the earliest people to sound the alarm about “the dangers of excessive financial leverage.” He does a great job describing the deleveraging and deflationary process that has been happening around the world…what he calls the “D-Process”. Batten down the hatches everyone…we’re in for a fun ride over the next couple of years. ~ Chris

Suddenly, Everything Is Right In The World...

Well, maybe not everything. But the Doves just posted "Jetstream," a new track from their forthcoming album, Kingdom Of Rust, and I'm pleased to report that it's excellent and, as with most music by the band, keeps getting more excellent (excellenter?) with each listen. Download it for yourself.

I'm an absolutely massive Doves fan, and I don't quite know why. I guess it's something intangible that just hits me right here. They're just three dudes from Manchester, but the sum is infinitely more than the parts. I was telling someone yesterday that Doves may be the only band that I would follow around like a Deadhead. Something tells me that that scene would be a little less, shall we say, colorful than the one fostered by JerBear & Company. I can see it now: a bunch of record store clerks in hoodies standing around mumbling about B-sides and bonus tracks, not making eye contact. [shiver] Now that I think about it, I think seeing Doves in LA will be sufficient.

Anyway, back to "Jetstream." It's a bit of departure for the band, with more of an electronic influence, but it's still classically Doves. If the rest of the album is this good, it's gonna be a corker.

This was supposed to the year that I went to England with some friends, including a pilgrimage to Manchester, the home of a great many of my favorite bands. Sadly, the economic apocalypse has thrown a wet blanket over that idea. But at least I'll have a new Doves album in April. Hell, that + a few pints of Guinness and I can just pretend I'm in Blighty. It'll have to do for now. And I'm OK with that. Kinda. ~ Tim

Glasvegas!

Call me a sucker for a thick Scottish accent, a female drummer and gratuitous use of reverb, but I just can’t seem to get enough of the new Glasvegas recording. Dylan aside, it’s the best thing to come out on Columbia in quite some time. You can check out the band here…http://www.glasvegas.net/us/frontpage - Chris

Oh, 9!

"This place, is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can't go on no more
The people getting angry
This town, is coming like a ghost town"

Those words were sung by The Specials in 1981. The band was lamenting the depressed state of their native England, deep in the throes of Thatcherism with nothing but darkness on the horizon. But those words (soon to be sung again at the band's reunion shows) do an excellent job of describing the current situation we Americans find ourselves in.

And speaking of ghost towns, we were in Vegas earlier this month for the Consumer Electronics Show. The place was (relatively) deserted, with half-built hotels flanking The Strip. It was eerie.

As you may have read, attendance at CES was down about 25% which, despite being a bummer for the CEA, actually made the show a much more pleasant experience for attendees. The usual cattle call was replaced by something resembling a dignified gathering of CE professionals and various hangers on (ahem). We were able to park with ease in the Hilton garage (score!) and experienced very few lines. What struck us though was that every single person we met with said the same thing: "I hate Vegas." Seriously. Everybody. Now, Brandracket's disregard for Sin City is well established, but I always figured that most people liked it. Turns out that's not the case. Frankly, I think the whole "adult Disneyland / 'what happens in Vegas...'" schtick is played out. Do I need to go to Vegas to get drunk or cheat on my wife (hi, honey!)? Not really. I can get thoroughly debauched in my own zip code. So why go? Gambling? Yeah, right. The shows? No thanks. In fact, it's been really entertaining reading the positively brutal reviews of Criss Angel's Believe show.

So, yeah, I don't really know why anyone would want to go to Vegas. And I sincerely hope that the CEA will consider moving it to a different locale. Like one where I don't feel like I need to take a shower just by being there.

In other news, I'm finding it hard to contain my excitement at the fact that the Oval Office is now occupied by a smart, articulate, exceedingly competent human being who claims to like Wilco. Finally, I feel like the POTUS may actually be the smartest guy in the room. Here's hoping that our man lives up to his potential. My gut feeling is that he could be one of the greatest ever, but only time will tell.

Now please excuse me, I'm stimulating the economy. Are you?? ~ Tim