As far as file sharing goes, 2002 was a year of loss and gain. Audiogalaxy and Napster bid final farewells, and cdcovers.cc were forced by the RIAA to remove their music CD covers. On the bright side, Soulseek and Directconnect (and its wonderful open-source client DC++) emerged as useful alternatives for those of us looking to sample music. For live music fans, Furthur upgraded its client software and is slowly expanding from the jam bands that made up most of its content originally to indie shows from bands like Wilco, the Replacements, Robyn Hitchcock and Talking Heads, among others. Gnutella-based filesharing is still alive, with my favorite client being the spyware-free Xolox. If you feel you must use the Kazaa network, please use Kazaa Lite, also free of spyware.
My favorite file-sharing programs:
Soulseek:
Advantages: Recursive file downloading; bitrates of mp3s visible before download; a mere $5 a month grants a move to the front of every queue; much eclectic music; buddy lists move friends up in your download queue
Disadvantages: Queues can be very large; terminating the program moves you to the end of the queue; program is a resource hog
DC++:
Advantages: Recursive file downloading; large hubs with varied software, music, movies; DC++ client small and inobtrusive
Disadvantages: Hubs often require an enormous amount of shared files for entrance
Furthur:
Advantages: Live shows from bands that allow taping; well-organized downloads with useful documentation; growing base of both available bands and users; high quality sound (in general).
Disadvantages: Only downloads of complete shows currently.
Stylus lists their top 20 singles and albums of the year.
Dance on over to Fluxblog to grab the posted mp3's, including a dub of Soft Cell's Tainted love vs. "Where Did Our Love Go?"
A list from NPR of their favorite songs of the year. This is the first list that I've seen that even mentions one of my favorite bands, Japancakes!
Gratuitous Japancakes mp3
Have a life-changing question you've been searching for an answer? Ask Ozzy and he'll mumble the answer (yes or no questions only).
In an age where it seems everyone feels might is right, download and print these stickers and spread some peace around your neighborhood.
<-- nerdball
John Vanderslice, talented solo artist and manager of San Francisco's venerable Tiny Telephone recording studio, has made many mp3's available by The Mountain Goats, Steven Malkmus, Bright Eyes, Clinic, American Analog Set, Elf Power and many others, sorted by artist and by single. Also check out tiny telephone radio.
Ice-T is pushing Posse Pops ice cream, the "first ice cream ever to target the urban youth market."
<-- metafilter
Get a jumpstart on your 2003 holiday mix and download these two songs from the Fountains of Wayne website:
I Want An Alien For Christmas
Man In The Santa Suit
"I Want An Alien For Christmas" is pure powerpop goodness, I highly recommend it.
Great little online football game, pass and kick your way to victory!
The Observer lists their top 25 albums of the year, a diverse list that refreshingly doesn't automatically eschew either the popular (Nelly, Sringsteen) or the exotic (Orchestra Baobab).
From Splendid, Christmas Music That Does Not Suck.
Happy holidays (Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, Solstice week, Festivus, etc.) to all.
Go Home Productions offers a sweet mash-up of J-Lo vs. Paul McCartney just in time for the holiday. As always, their other mixes are worth downloading as well.
John Waters tells us why he loves Christmas:
Christmas day is like an orgasm that never stops. Happiness and good cheer should be throbbing in your veins. Swilling eggnog, scarfing turkey and wildly ripping open presents with your family, one must pause to savor the feeling of inner peace. Once it's over, you can fall apart.
NORAD is tracking Santa, find his exact current location!
Wal-Mart muscles video game producers, forcing changes from box design to actual changes in the games. They can do this, since they sell 25% of all computer and video games (according to the article).
Now, I like Wal-Mart, the ability to go to one store and do all my shopping is a great boon, but I only can wonder what else they want to censor (movies, music, etc.).
The Village Voice's Robert Christgau returns to reviewing music, and manages to prop the Mountain Goats and Kimya Dawson.
Download the Belle & Sebastian Peel session from December 18th here. Photos are also posted from the show, which included holiday clasics as well as new tunes from B&S.
If you've heard the infectious single, "Don't Mug Yourself" by the Streets, now play the game (flash). If you aren't singing the chorus repeatedly, download the tune (the first mp3 listed).
Elephant6 band Of Montreal has several choice mp3 files available online, including an entire 2001 Atlanta show.
Notes From Slipping Acres has posted his Christmas mix, a wonderful eclectic holiday mix ranging from Merle Haggard to the Bell Rays. MP3's are available, download some holiday cheer today!
Joe Strummer, R.I.P.
Every cheap hood strikes a bargain with the world
And ends up making payments on a sofa or a girl
Love 'n' hate tattooed across the knuckles of his hands
The hands that slap his kids around 'cause they don't understand
How death or glory becomes just another story
How death or glory becomes just another story
'N' every gimmick hungry yob digging gold from rock 'n' roll
Grabs the mike to tell us he'll die before he's sold
But i believe in this-and it's been tested by research
That he who fucks nuns will later join the church
From every dingy basement on every dingy street
I hear every dragging handclap over every dragging beat
That's just the beat of time-the beat that must go on
If you been trying for years-then we already heard your song
The Clash, Death Or Glory (Strummer/Jones)
The list so far includes the Breeders, Yo La Tengo, Melt Banana, Neko Case, The Boredoms, the Melvins and more... Anyone in LA have a spare bedroom?
The Riverfront Times looks at musical guilty pleasures:
Sure, taste is subjective. There's no right and wrong when it comes to art, no solid, rational proof that can be used to establish the worth of a film or piece of music. You can sit around and listen to the Average White Band and eat Moon Pies and watch Touched by an Angel all day long, and nobody has the right to judge you.
My guilty pleasures don't tend to be specific artists, but the occasional pop, country or classic-rock radio in the car, or singing along with Les Miserables (at full volume) as I get ready for work.
<-- alt-log
Catchdubs is posting his twelve days of Xmas, complete with a guide to egg-nog and homegrown mp3's of Christmas songs. Seriously funny and irreverent.
Ever wanted a portrait of you and Stevie Nix? This artist can accomodate your dream.
Paul's Page has uploaded Paul Westerberg covering Bowie, the Monkees, Elvis, Hank Williams and Johnny Cash live.
With apologies to the Superdrag-sters, here's my top eleven albums of 2002:
1. Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
2. The Mountain Goats, Tallahassee
3. Apples In Stereo, Velocity Of Sound
4. Breeders, Title TK
5. The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, Behind The Music
6. Sigur Ros, ()
7. The Flaming Lips, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
8. Sonic Youth, Murray Street
9. The Streets, Original Pirate Material
10. The Reindeer Section, Son Of Evil Reindeer
11. Enon, High Society
Plenty of MP3's available at Stratford-On-Guy on a rotating basis, worth checking out occasionally for live shows and demos.
My Christmas mixes (both naughty and nice) are finished and in the mail. Now I can start worrying about Christmas shopping...
Steve Gullick is a fantastic rock photographer, his portraits are amazing.
For those of you loving the new Roots album Phrenology, you can download an entire Roots show from January of this year (shows are rotated monthly).
The White Stripes have an entire show (Stockholm, 3-12-02) and videos of their Saturday Night Live appearance available to download from their website.
Plenty of indie 1980's mp3's are available at Indie MP3. Some great tracks from Primal Scream, Baby Lemonade, the Charlottes and many others.
IBeck (with backing band the Flaming Lips) will appear on Austin City Limits January 4th, followed by Spoon and Ben Kweller on the 11th. Since these four bands released four of my favorite albums of the year, I'll be sure to watch.
In related news, Apple is releasing the Beck limited edition iPod...
The film adaptation of The Adventures of Kavalier and Klay is moving forward, with Michael Chabon writing the screenplay. I guess I should be happy, this was the best book I've read in years, and even if the movie turns out bad, people will still read the novel who ordinarily wouldn't even pick up the book.
<-- Bookslut
Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick names his top 10 records of the year.
The Irreverent Guide To Barbra Streisand (or Baghdad Babs, as the site sometimes refers to her).
linenoise creates his own alternative soundtrack to the season, including my favorite Christmas song, Low's Just Like Christmas.
I finally finished up my holiday mix today, after much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth (hey, I do live in the Bible Belt). Two mixes evolved from the process: Christmas At The Largehearted Lounge and I'm Getting Coal (Because I Made This CD), I'll post the tracklistings in a week or so, after everyone on my list receives them in lieu of holiday cards/
Slate enters the list fray with their top 5 indie albums of 2002.
Georgia Tech's eclectic campus radio station WREK will live up to its reputation this week. Wednesday evening they will begin playing Merzbow's Merzbox in its entirety, a 50 album, 40+ hour collection of sonic experiments and conceptual noise.
Spiderman, J-Lo, IKEA, and Britney Spears, according to the Google Zeitgeist. Biggest loser of the year? Nostradamus.
I've put GBV Radio on hiatus until early January, until my upload speed problems are solved (probably by an ISP change). My apologies to the faithful listeners, but the reincarnation will be significantly better, offering 24k, 56k and 128k streams.
The Norwegian government gave the Cato Salsa Experience a grant to tour the US as cultural emissaries. Now that's my kind of culture! I strongly recommend this funky band, check out the mp3's listed below, especially the first one (So, The Circus Is Back In Town).
Check out the Creem magazine archives, complete with cover photos of every issue published. You have to search through the issues to find the articles that are available, but if you're diligent you can unearth gems like a 1970 Lester Bangs piece on the Stooges.
<-- ToT
Massive Attack finally launched their new website, titled 100th Window, just in time to hype their upcoming album and tour.
I've been keeping up with a couple of top album lists of 2002 (it's been easier to read others than finishing my own), most notably This Is Not An Exit's countdown. Included are mp3's from the selected albums, an excellent way to catch up on the quality music you may have missed during the year.
The latest bootleg available at Go Home Productions. Check out all the songs available...
Download the Loose Fur 12/7/02 show (tracks will rotate weekly).
Shopping + Google = Froogle. A great idea from a truly innovative company.
Do You Feel Loved has shared some new MP3's, including a Fischerspooner Kylie remix, a Liam Lynch single and a Chemical Brothers track featuring Richard Ashcroft.
If you like what you hear, then please consider buying the CD; it's only fair.
Robyn Hitchcock is the guest diarist at Slate this week.
THis year has been good for Robyn, with the release of his album of Dylan covers and the new Softboys record. Both are fantastic, especially the Soft Boys release.
Catch Interpol in their AOL Sessions and see for yourself if the hype is warranted (I think it is).
Bryan Adams, "Reggae Christmas"
Keith Richards, "Run Rudolph Run"
Weezer, "Christmas Celebration"
<-- Randy's Rodeo
Appearing live December 18th: The White Christmas Stripes: A Tribute to the White Stripes and Little Baby Jesus.
Another Liz Phair link, Capitol Records' Flash page for her upcoming release. It's good to see she's still beautiful and talented...
I'm making dinner, bouncing around to Max's Top 20 Of 2002 CD, a welcome danceable change to the indie, jazz and holiday music I've been subjecting the wife to lately. Who would have known there was a Hello Kitty Christmas album?
Watch the Hewlett packard commercial featuring the Flaming Lips here.
The Liz Phair album we've been awaiting for years is close to completion, here's Take A Look, from the promo: mp3.
Some live Liz Phair: mp3 mp3 mp3
Here in Alabama, everyone's waiting for the white smoke from the University of Alabama athletic department's chimney, signifying the signing of a new football coach. The news is saturated with rumors, and departed coach Fran is despised on a level usually reserved for mass murderers and loud Yankees...
Radio 1 followed the Strokes around to find out what life was really like inside the bubble of arguably the most hyped band on the planet. Listen to the show, watch the Strokes' latest video (witha GBV cameo).
Does your favorite school or team sweatshirt have a gang association?
How a Brooklyn band took the name of a New York Times science writer, and her response:
"Well, I do think it's hilarious," says Gina Kolata (real name: Gina Kolata), "but my friends say I don't have a sense of humor."
This preacher dresses like Tom Jones and uses his songs to spread the word.
My top Christmas songs (of the moment):
Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland - Grandaddy
White Christmas - Melt Banana
Just Like Christmas - Low
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Tiny Tim
Blue Christmas - Bright Eyes
The Little Stinkers - I Farted On Santa's Lap
The Las Vegas Weekly reviews the new Circus Devils album, The Harold Pig Memorial:
Cranked up loud enough, the effect is mind-altering: Imagine attending a wake in the company of your grandparents while struggling through a bad acid trip, and you may start to get the picture.
Ryan Adams speaks out about his ongoing feud with Jack White, which started when Adams disparagingly changed some words to a White Stripes song.
<-- the modern age
The Swear-O-Tron, taking the strain out of verbal abuse.
A satirical review of The Two Towers from the always-funny bunch at Landover Baptist:
We need to mention here that most Christian movie critics believe that Satan instructed the director of the Two Towers to exhaust every available resource in order to find a way to promote his perverted sexual agenda.
Kim Novak has put together an indie Xmas playlist of Christmas songs that are sure to warm up any cold holiday. Check out Shoutcast for other streaming holiday music of all genres. My current favorite: X-mas In Frisco.
Kim also collected holiday webcams from around the world, definitely worth a look if you're far from home this Christmas.
Rumors have Polly Jean Harvey collaborating with REM on their next album, and possibly with Josh Homme (of Queens Of The Stone Age) on his next Desert Sessions cd.
If it's true, great news! P.J. is one of rock's great talents, her first two albums are played often around here, and "Yuri G." is possibly my favorite song of all time.
Grab 'em here, and listen to the latest from Dave Lowery and his band.
<-- the holiday decorated Slatch
Win two tickets to the Guided By Voices show in Indianapolis, along with a hotel room and dinner for two.
Make a mix CD for Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt.
A holiday gift for the person who has everything: the Enron neon rotating "E" cube. This would make a perfect disco centerpiece.
thecatbirdseat lists his top eleven albums of 2002. I've been working on my list, and six of his choices are getting serious merit on my part.
I love these year-end lists, there is so much music available and so little time to listen, that good music often slides by and this is the time of year I can catch up and hopefully find some hidden gems.
Amazing names parents stick on their progeny.
<-- the null device, who read that the uniqueness of names is inversely proportional to the intelligence of the parents, which was apparently supported by an ongoing survey of the births column of a local newspaper.
Or more specifically, the odds currently being given in the UK for these to be knighted next year:
Eric Clapton 11/4
Ringo Starr 3/1
Sting 3/1
David Bowie 5/1
Fatty Gilmour 9/1
Roger Daltrey 9/1
Roger Waters 9/1
Michael Eavis 10/1
Pete Townshend 10/1
Rod Stewart 12/1
Keith Richards 16/1
George Michael 25/1
Chris Martin 66/1
Damon Albarn 100/1
Noel Gallagher 100/1
Jarvis Cocker 150/1
Liam Gallagher 150/1
Richard Ashcroft 150/1
Shaun Ryder 250/1
Remember Taylor Dayne? She's attempting a comeback, and her new single includes 20 versions of the same song (and I thought Yo La Tengo's four versions of Sun Ra's Nuclear War was overkill, as also did Pitchfork).
Can you tell your arse from your elbow? Apparently I don't, having only scored 4/14 on the quiz...
Baltimore's City Paper reads the comic strips, then relates synopses to save you time. A sample:
FAMILY CIRCUS: "Three things make me laugh," Dolly announces Thursday. "Jokes, cartoons, and tickles." Note: "jokes" and "cartoons" are two separate categories. This, Funny Paper suspects, is a crucial insight into the work of Bil Keane.
<-- alt-log
He runs a music label, he raps (and beats raps), and now he wants to run for president?
According to the Associated Press, Combs says there's not enough party people out there who'll suit his idea of a presidential Cabinet. "There's not enough fun, sexy, crazy people in the world for me to put on my Cabinet," says Combs.
Today is World AIDS Day, a time to focus on a disease that takes too many lives all over the world.
In the mid-90's I spent considerable time volunteering at an AIDS hospice in Minneapolis, cooking and relieving the permanent help in the evenings. I saw firsthand that the hospice was always scraping for funds and volunteers, so if you have the money or time, think about donating either to this cause.
For more information about AIDS, check out the National Library of Medicine, and AIDS Hotlines.
<-- Link And Think