Radio Ga-Ga

I had a call yesterday from one of these advertising companies asking me about what radio stations I listen to. I’ve stopped listening to the radio almost completely in the last six or so months. I have close to 400 cd’s, and my iPod – this allows me to listen to the music I want to listen to, when I want to listen to it. Ironically the radio station I listen to most is the classical one, mainly because I’m more likely to hear Led Zeppelin or the Doors there (even if it classical versions!) then on the local contempary station.

So the guy asked me to listen to some clips and rate them as to whether I liked them or not. It was a case of No, no, no, no, no, maybe, no, no, no…. Out of 30 clips, I probably liked 2 or 3. Which pretty much sums up why I don’t listen to the radio any more. I’m young, single, have plenty of disposable cash, and yet there is no radio station that plays the music I want to listen to. The times that I do turn onto the local station they will play one of the big hits at least 20 times during that day, it will be mainly dance music, and the occasional classic hit. It gets a bit annoying.

So what would make me listen to the radio again? Simple, more rock, more classics including stuff from the 60s and 70s (the station only plays music from the 80s onwards), and fewer adverts. Which basically means I won’t be listening to the radio any time soon.

CDQuest: Radiohead - In Rainbows

OK, so this isn't strictly a cd (yet). Downloaded it (5 quid if you're asking), gave it a listen, and I like it. Need to have a couple more listens but first impressions are good.

CDQuest: Johnny Cash - American IV

I have a playlist on my iPod that covers songs that are guaranteed to make me cry. It includes older songs such as Danny Boy and Going Home, as well as some newer ones such as Sometimes you can't make it on your own by U2. This list also includes the heart breaking Hurt by Johnny Cash, arguably one of the best cover songs ever.

I first came across the music of Johnny Cash in the film "Walk the Line". I purchased his Greatest Hits, which contained Hurt. I've since purchased most of the American Recordings series, and finally managed to get my hands on American IV - The Man Come Round. I think I may be adding one or two more songs to my sob story playlist.

The album starts with The Man comes round, a song full of imagery from the book of Revelations. It continues with Hurt, and then Give my love to Rose. Other notable tear jerkers include covers of Simon and Garfunkels Bridge over Troubled Water, The Eagles Desperado, and the classic Danny Boy, finishing with We'll meet again. This album is sad, and yet there is always an element of hope. He had a good life, and at the end of it, it is not surprising that there is an element of sadness and acceptance of death in this album.

Rating: 9/10. Note to self, don't listen to this album while driving again - it's very difficult to drive when you can't see through the tears

CDQuest: Oleta Adams: Circle of One

In 1989 British band Tears for Fears released their album The Seeds of Love. One of the hits released of that album was Woman in Chains featuring Oleta Adams. While not a huge hit, it did lead to the start of Adam's successful solo career. There had been two albums released prior to Circle of One, but they were not commercially successful.

Circle of One was released in 1990, with it's biggest hit being Get Here which was a Top five hit in both the States and the UK, with the album going to No. 1 in the UK. The album was produced by the members of Tears for Fears, who also co-wrote some of the tracks on the album. Musically it's very much a laid-back, jazzy sound; perfect for background listening. It's not really a Tears for Fears sound. Highlights of the album include Get Here (unsurprisingly!), Circle of One, and I've got to sing my song. So, it's the perfect album to put on in the background and just chill out to. Probably 6.5 / 10 tending towards a 7. Not a fantastic album, but not one I regret buying.

More music idiocy

Relatedly to the story that Sony lawyers think that copying your own cd's is stealing, comes this story from Scotland
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7029892.stm

Slashdot commentary
http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/07/10/07/2335244.shtml

So, making a copy of a cd is illegal, playing the radio in public is illegal.... What next?

My criminal tendencies are showing

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071002-sony-bmgs-chief-anti-piracy-lawyer-copying-music-you-own-is-stealing.html

Oh well, obviously I need to be downloading all the music I buy as well as having a copy on CD....

Except that I don't live in a country with a iTunes store, and the one music store that does forces you to use Internet Explorer, which is a deal breaker for me.
Except that I like music, and buy quite a lot on a monthly basis
Except that I have a 160 GB iPod with 98 % of the music on being music that I have bought on cd
Except that I don't like being told that I'm a thief because I buy music legally, and make a copy for my personal use on my iPod....

I guess I won't be buying any music from an artist released by Sony