big teddy
  • Apr
    13
    Hey Mr. Record Man the Joke’s on You
    by mike at 7:35am

    Recently the darling of my afternoon commmute radio station has been MC Lars. The song they’ve had on heavy rotation is “Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock”. Which, quite frankly, I think is the one of MC Lars’ weaker works not to mention I firmly belive theres a special place in hell for those who want to tell me what is and isn’t punk rock, biting social commentary or no (of course saying what is and isn’t punk rock is very punk. But that’s another post). Despite this I was intrigued so I downloaded a couple of post-punk-laptop-rap songs and gave them a whirl. The more I listened the more I got interested and did what I usually do when I find a new artist I like and started reading his bio and what he’s all about.

    The more I read and listened the more I think this guy is going to revolutionize the music business. It’s not his music that blows you away. The music is way to much bubblegum and the rhymes while smart aren’t going to give eminem a run for the white rap crown. (Note: I enjoy it a lot. It’s just not going to be the next Radiohead). But his method of making music while not unique is proving the viablity of producing legitimate music on a laptop. With a Mic a Preamp and a drive chock full of samples you can make a professional level rap CD as good as anything out there. Add a $99 USB keyboard and Reason and you can do damn near anything. I realize that there’s definately some studio time here, I mean The Matches did the music for the Hot Topic song. But really the only thing that really takes a studio (or really cool neighbors) are drums. As much as the pros are going to tout their analog Neve consoles for the “warmth” there’s really no reason to spend a lot of time paying $200-$500 an hour to make a record in a professional studio anymore.

    The other thing he’s doing to change the game is releasing his album on his own indie label. This in itself isn’t new there’s some very succesful acts like Fugazi and Ani Difranco have both done quite well going this route. But really what makes MC Lars the harbinger of things to come is that he’s doing both. Cheap recordings done well without major label backing. Really what I think he’s ushring in is the era of the middle class rocks star. Up until now with label control there’s basically the stars and the little niche players who really get distributed by the labels. But with the advent of itunes, desktop production and MP3s becoming the major medium for recordings there’s really no need for major labels to release an album (marketing a Britany Spears? yes. little indie band with a myspace account? no). It seems that this is the way of true indie punk moving forward and I think MC Lars is going to usher the way.

  • Apr
    03
    China Update.
    by mike at 7:52am

    Can’t help but follow on that long winded China Post without mentioning this in today’s NYTimes Business section

    Labor Shortage in China May Lead to Trade Shift

  • Apr
    03
    Play Ball
    by mike at 6:51am

    Giants ImageAh the boy’s are back in town. April 3rd 2006 San Francisco Giants Opening mid-afternoon (Come on what the heck is with a 4:00pm start time?) I think this year is going to be a telling one for my Giants. Love him or hate him I’m not sure Barry’s going to make it back for a final year in a Giants uni. If he plays next year I have to believe it’s going to be in an American League team as the designated hitter since Barry refuses to allow himself to be hidden over at first.

    Apparently some people are already want Barry traded.

    Ah screw em. I just want the weather to get back to normal so I can actually feel like it’s baseball season. Not to mention those dulcet tones of Kruk and Kuip on the mic. Krukow Quote of the day

    No one can hit that pitch I’d throw it all day. You can’t hit that pitch with a boat oar.