Free Music?, A defense of artist rights Options

[Jeff Truzzi]

There are a lot of happy and satisfied women out there. None of them have ever met me. ;-)

[Dr Hugbine]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[miles aweigh]

With everything being instant, it's entirely possible to download, say, all of the Beatles albums, or all of Dylan's 60's work, or all of Bowie's 70's work, and burn through them in an afternoon. I see so many younger people with 18,000 songs on their I-Pods doing this, and bragging out their knowledge, not realising that:

- they're completely missing the context of the work within both the time of the recording and the artist's discography;

- they don't posess the focus required to process the work for greater understanding, (which i suspect is at least eight listens);

- they haven't had the downtime between albums to learn to anticipate future releases.

I had to be selective growing up about bands I chose to follow because the money required to purchase an album was a large financial outlay, and I've noticed those that endured for me were consistently good or improved during their lifespan. The big problem I have now is honestly finding new artists who can deliver just two good records in a row after a three year delay between releases, which is too long a break to maintain a strong interest in an artist for me.

That being said, I'm glad I've gone back to vinyl. I have to think about what I'm going to listen to, and often lie and read the lyrics sheet and look at the cover as I listen. It's *active* engagement with a work, rather than it just being the soundtrack to doing something else.

I don't know how many of you, beside Brian, that have read Thomas Wolfe's novels (the early 20th century one.) There was a scene that took place in one, when the protagonist is visiting a rich friend and is left alone in his library. At first he is enthralled by the vast numbers of books and their consolidation of human knowledge and art. But gradually it all turns bitter in his mind, each of these great books is merely a dusty reduction of a once living person, and all stacked together, the good and great works are just empty fragments left behind and forgotten.

These albums and artists like the Beatles, Dylan, Bowie and XTC, gave us so much and were were totally engaged with their music. It gave us something to believe in, to look forward to, to forge friendships around etc. And now all their beloved and influential works are lists on computers, not dissimilar to the library in the Wolfe novel. Perhaps drowned in a sea of downloads and temporary impulses. UNLESS, we decide to reengage like LM, or Mr Tein, turn off all the distractions and give the work some respect. When you do, you might remember how great music was and how it still can be.

[donavan]

turn off all the distractions and give the work some respect. When you do, you might remember how great music was and how it still can be.


Hmmn. You can't try to fall in love, it just happens, despite any distractions. And music is great and always will be. I think if you have to force the issue you are probably fighting a losing battle. I think we are all just getting a bit old and turning into our parents. There's no easy fix for that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Dr Hugbine]

A spring clean is sometimes necessary. Two weeks ago I hired a skip and threw out all the crap that's been accumulating in my house and garden for the last decade as I realised I'm not really going to sell it on eBay, or give it to my unborn grandchildren, or actually learn how to operate a knitting machine. Next up I'm going to go through the 7,103 tracks in my iTunes library and get rid of all the ones that I skip past or don't recognise, or are by Ultravox or Emerson, Lake and Palmer. (Although I usually skip past these too unless it's the hilariously execrable "Pirates".)

[Mr Tein]

must check how many difital tracks I have tonight...

[miles aweigh]

turn off all the distractions and give the work some respect. When you do, you might remember how great music was and how it still can be.


Hmmn. You can't try to fall in love, it just happens, despite any distractions. And music is great and always will be. I think if you have to force the issue you are probably fighting a losing battle. I think we are all just getting a bit old and turning into our parents. There's no easy fix for that. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I've already turned into my grandparents.

However, we have art museums for a reason. It doesn't hurt to treat music with some respect, in making a little time to listen openly. Now get off my lawn.

[donavan]

I've already turned into my grandparents.

Hope you didn't hurt them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Dr Hugbine]

7,127 - my daughter wanted me to put Now That's What I Call A Load Of Crap 82 on to her iPod.

[donavan]

Now That's What I Call Christmas is my fave.

[Dr Hugbine]

Do They Know It's Christmas being the most festive track...

[Mr Tein]

I am about 11,000 tracks... I have two version of do they know its christmas

[donavan]

I am about 11,000 tracks... I have two version of do they know its christmas

Lucky You

[Mr Tein]

Lucky You

it wasnt luck at all. I deliberatly went and bought them

[donavan]

it wasnt luck at all. I deliberatly went and bought them

Do you ever undeliberately buy things?

[Dr Hugbine]

I undeliberately bought a purple jacket today. I didn't want it and I didn't like it and I can't afford it but I just sort of panicked. I shall have to learn to like it. And then I shall have to learn Mrs H to like it. Much trickier.

[Mr Tein]

purely by accident I bought a Dalmation coat. I spotted it in TK max. it was only when I left the shop I realised I had bought it. of course, I lost the receipt and couldnt change it.

[Spastic Minnow]

Ever watch "The Other Guys" with Will Farrell?
Did buying the dalmatian coat also cause you to undeliberately become a pimp? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[donavan]

Ever watch "The Other Guys" with Will Farrell?
Did buying the dalmatian coat also cause you to undeliberately become a pimp? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Why? Do you want some action?