A Rubber Door

So I picked up the latest Foo Fighters release In Your Honor yesterday at the local Tower. I opened the cd and then looked at the front to realize that this cd has copy protection to prevent unauthorized duplication. Basically it requires you use Windows Media Player to transfer files to your portable player. Only problem is that the ipod, the player with upwards of 75% of the portable market, is not supported by Windows Media. As a matter of fact, if you are a mac user, there is no Windows Media player that supports DRM.

Turns out that you can use this cd on your Macintosh no problem. If you’re a Windows user, not so easy - you have to copy the cd to Windows Media Player, burn an audio cd, then import that audio cd to itunes. Nice.

The reason I even mention all of this is so that I can ask this question: who is RCA to tell me how I can listen to my music? I did not steal this cd - I paid my $12.99 for it but yet I’m being treated as a thief. So there are ways around the copy protection, I shouldn’t have any obstacles in order to listen.

I did get an email from the creator of the copy protection, Sunncomm, that gave me directions on how to install the music to itunes, and then asked me to ask Apple to support their efforts. Question - who’s the fly on who’s ass here? Shouldn’t Sunncomm have to adjust for 75% of the portable market, not the other way around.

The music industry is so out of touch with reality. For every obstacle, there are a dozen ways around it. Instead of putting up barriers, why not work with consumers and make things easier for them in a way that allows them to profit? Nah - that’s a language they don’t understand. My suggestion, don’t buy this cd - that they understand. If you must have it, get it off of limewire. Maybe then they’ll understand.

I have to rant for a sec - last night I drove to the airport here in Philly - on the way home I was stuck in traffic jam caused by the work being done where I-95 and I-476 intersect. I’ve been driving for 20 years and I cannot honestly remember a time when there wasn’t some major construction going on.

- I-76 in Philadelphia reconstructed in the mid to late 80’s
- I-476 didn’t open until the early 90’s but is already under construction
- Interstates 202, 76, and 422 a major reconstruction in Montgomery County from 2000 through 2003
- Route 309 major reconstruction (current)
- I-95 undergoing major construction for at least the past 2 years

It seems that for the last 20 years PennDot has followed up one major road project by starting another major one immediately. We never have a moment of peace here. On top of it, their planning is horrible. For example, Route 309 is currently under construction. What do you do when a major road is under construction? Find alternates - well, Route 73 which parallels Route 309 is also under construction, closed in a couple of spots. What sense does this make?

I know that the PennDot is on a never-ending quest to justify their existence - I mean make the roads better, but if you’re constantly working on them, isn’t the construction itself is the problem?

Please Governor, senators, congressmen, lackeys - please stop the madness! Just give us one year without a major road project - please.

You know the title of this site is taken from a great line from the Michael Penn song “Me Around” from the cd Resigned. As such I thought I should point out great lines here and there. The following is from the Rilo Kiley song “Portions for Foxes”:

“There’s blood in my mouth because I’ve been biting my tongue all week.”

That line has been in my head all week and I hadn’t heard that song in months. Great line.

Kind of remiss in posting this but here’s a link to a free download of the song “Walter Reed” from Michael Penn’s upcoming cd Mr. Hollywood Jr. 1947 to be released August 2nd.

Walter Reed (mp3 / 3.4MB)

Yes - this MP3 is legal

OK - When you listen to as much music as I do, sometimes you miss something or just don’t get it the first time through. I’m talking about those artists that I listened to before and either didn’t or did like and then changed position 180 degrees.

So here is my inaugural “What the fuck was I thinking” list - to be updated periodically as I clean the wax out of my ears.

(Links take you to the appropriate section on iTunes)

Gomez - I had their cd Liquid Skin for a couple of years on a recommendation. Never listened to it - and then at some point in 2004 realized how good they were.

PJ Harvey - I really must have been high on this one. Because of the song she did with Thom Yorke called “The Mess We’re In” from Stories from the City - Stories from the Sea - I decided to take a listen again. I had her cd To Bring You My Love when it was released back in 1995 and hated it. I screwed up royal on this one.

Sleater-Kinney - I Had their The Hot Rock for years. Carrie Brownstein’s voice can be tough to get past, but recently I can’t stop listening to them. They are among the best musicians in modern rock, especially drummer Janet Weiss.

The Cardigans - This band I simply dismissed thinking that they were light and without substance. After hearing the song “Live and Learn” on the TV show Grey’s Anatomy, I picked up the cd Long Gone Before Daylight. Lead singer and songwriter Nina Person tends to be more brooding than I ever expected from the person that wrote “Lovefool”. Listen the the song “And Then You Kissed Me”.

That’s enough for now - but tell me your “what the fucks”

I just got the Sleater-Kinney cd The Woods (Sup-Pop) today and it is all I thought it would be. This is not a band that is going to be played on the radio (especially these days). They can be discordant and I think they like that. If you give them a shot…

About the cd - first off drummer Janet Weiss is the best drummer in modern rock. Tell me who’s better. I know that Carrie Brownstein’s vocals can be harsh - but it works - I don’t think she’s ever sounded better. This album is noisy and jarring but fun to listen to. It is so far the best cd I’ve heard this year. I was a bit afraid when I heard that SK was going in a different direction, but I see it as evolution as opposed to decomposition.

Go get this cd.

Listen to Sleater-Kinney on iTunes

Why do I find this headline so ironic:

“Bush urges Mubarak hold fair elections”

Well Live 8 is on it’s way here to Philly and what do I have to say?

What’s on TV that night?

You think I’m joking? Here’s a rundown the Philly show:

Bon Jovi, Maroon 5, P Diddy, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, the Dave Matthews Band, Sarah McLachlan, Rob Thomas, Keith Urban, 50 Cent, and Kaiser Chiefs

Respectable - Jay-Z and 50 Cent are at the top of hip-op. DMB? Fratboys of the world rejoice! But let’s take a look at London:

Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Dido, Keane, Elton John, Annie Lennox, Madonna, Muse, Scissor Sisters, Paul McCartney, Joss Stone, Stereophonics, Sting, Robbie Williams, U2, R.E.M., Velvet Revolver, Bob Geldof, the Killers, The Cure, Snow Patrol.

They have 6 icons in their line-up and that’s not even including Coldplay who after their next cd probably should be included. Their line-up more than makes up for Mariah Carey being there. (Jesus, how’d she get into that lineup anyway? I feel sorry for those brits…oh wait, U2 and Coldplay on the same bill - nevermind.)

Honestly - the second rate London acts by themselves make a better show than we have here - how much would you pay for Muse, Scissor Sisters, Stereophonics, The Killers, and Snow Patrol on the same bill?

I live in Philly and I won’t go see our show for free.