Visualize Sound

Day 5: 5 albums you cannot live without.

No More Kings (debut album) - No More Kings

Capacades - Obi Best

Without Finesse - The Poor Souls of Pompeii

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix

by Lathum N

Unsigned artists have a greater chance of success today than ever before. On one hand, composing and performing songs without the shadow of a struggling record label hanging overhead leaves musicians free to express themselves instinctively from the soul. On the other, it requires a lot of work behind the scenes, but can offer can offer greater rewards in return.

Brooklyn-based band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah broke through in 2005 as a result of the commotion started online among a community of blogs and music sites, such as Pitchfork Media. As a result, their self-financed, self-released and self-titled debut album has sold more than 200,000 copies. Band bassist Tyler Sargent explained to Paste magazine (12/6/06) why the band has remained unsigned, despite their success: “Because there are so many new avenues opening up these days…if you have good songs and the right relationships you can just totally bypass this whole label system. Which is just great for independent music…and this way, we get 80 percent, or at least a larger chunk of (our earnings). And it just makes more sense.”

The truth is, the major label end of the music industry is in “turmoil,” as noted by CBS Evening News (5/28/07), as “CD sales plummeted 20 percent the first three months of this year.” In the same piece, Wilco’s lead singer Jeff Tweedy stated that “Technology has evened the playing field. If the artist can gain more power over the situation—over the economics of the situation—why wouldn’t they take it?”

While the Internet has become the most vital and effective marketing tool, taking music to the streets has become the bread an butter for many acts. On a smaller scale, Heath & Jed have made a living off of the CD sales and tips they’ve received playing the streets and subways of New York City. In their Gothamist tour diary (8/14/06), they revealed: “We’ve sold over 10,000 CD’s this year. One fan at a time…We came and we conquered and we made some money to live another day as musicians, doing what we love.”

Sony’s Connect music site did a feature on unsigned Fullerton, CA band Cold War Kids who “have risen to the top of the hipster rock heap through their relentless touring.” In the related interview, lead singer Nathan Willett talked about the process of peddling their homemade EPs during their non-stop tours: “Basically (the EPs) were available at our shows at best, and we ran out of them a lot, and it was kind of a bummer because we couldn’t put the effort into being at home and getting more made. But it was cool because we had a limited amount of them and people seemed to want them, and we were surprised that people wanted them as much as they did.”

There are no rules to follow when it comes to unsigned bands promoting their music. From utilizing their fan base to promote local live shows, new releases and merchandise, to reaching new fans outside via online communities like Facebook and social music sites such as Echoboost, the extra effort will only aid them along the way. As long as they have quality songs, the talent to perform them live and a dedicated work ethic to spread the music, nothing can stand in their way.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/726594

(Originally submitted September 11, 2007)

OH HOLY ?I*@p^&%?IUER+)+][[‘;3BISD

Well… It seems I haven’t been on here for a whole month or so. Why? School work and school related frustration a suppose. Well, now it’s summer so I have all the time in the world, right? Not exactly. I have approximately the rest of this week. The rest of tomorrow and the days after that until the upcoming Sunday to swim in my love (a.k.a. the wonderful accessible internet in all its glory). After Sunday it’s a three week trip to the Philippines for me where I would have a 5 percent probability to be able to get on here again. So there goes a another month for me. BUT, I’ll continue on my music challenge and music video analyses like nothing ever happened, because well I’m too lazy to do anything else about it. My procrastination and lack of any over-achievement whatsoever shows brightly now doesn’t it? 

Day 4: 4 songs that never fail to make you smile

• Mardy Bum - Artic Monkeys
• King of Spain - Moxy Fruvous
• The Old Walking Song (I) - The Tolkien Ensemble
• Girl in the Sea - No More Kings

From the first time of hearing “Mardy Bum” to even now, I can’t help but smile at how cute the song is. I’m not quite sure if it’s a good thing, but for some stupid reason whenever I hear the lyrics “I see your frown and it’s like looking at the barrel of a gun, and it goes off” it always reminds me of my boyfriend. I’m not quite sure if that’s a valid reason why I tend to smile during the playing of this song, but either way, it’s a good song.

Moxy Fruvous is, in all ways, god-damned perfectly witty in every way. The lyrics in each and every one of their songs I’ve heard are amazing and would much rather spark the enthusiasm of a joker than a king. I am quite proud that I know almost all the lyrics of the songs in their Bargainville album. (It’s a dork-ish sort of pride, but it’s pride none-the-less)

The Tolkien Ensemble features songs and poetry from the many books of J.R.R. Tolkien and his amazing world of Middle Earth. “The Old Walking Song” (also known from the beginning lyrics “The Road Goes Ever On and On”) took the simple lyrics Tolkien (or Bilbo) wrote and added a melody that steals my heart away every time. The violin solos are simple yet beautifully breathtaking and are accompanied by the guitar. I am currently trying to play by ear and learn the violin solos myself, ever since the first time I heard the song. (I almost cried… It was that beautiful)

“Girl In the Sea” also has a wonderful violin solo (I think that’s my weakness) and the sweetest lyrics and melody. This song parts ways from the funk-type of style that Pete Mitchell had recently based his music on. Truly, all the music him and Neil Robins make together turn out unique and perfect. (Though I’m quite biased) Also the song was made to seem like you were literally at sea and - as a PotC fanatic - I was born to love it.

Day 3: 3 songs that are your soundtrack for today.

• The Distance - Cake
• Last Leaf - Ok go
• Time to Pretend - MGMT

These are just the first three songs that came on while I was typing this. I also just realized that I tend to start my day with some Cake. The radio alarm came on this morning and Long Time was playing… It was a good morning…

Day 2: Your 2 most played songs

Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

Lisztomania - Phoenix

Day 1: 5 bands that sum up your music taste.

• No More Kings
• Phoenix
• Modest Mouse
• CAKE
• The Strokes

Frankly, my music taste is way more diverse and has a larger range than just these five. Let’s just say these are the most frequent bands I listen to. There are so many more I want to add on this list, it’s killing me.