Rocknerd

DENY: Parasite Paradise (2018).

2 June, 2018 Metal, Punk 0

Barely intelligible lyrics, fast, simple-guitar lines, and overwhelming drums.

Just as God intended, damnit.

YouTube Music: your move, Spotify.

22 May, 2018 mp3 0

Good thing I eventually got that Spotify article done, hey.

Stelliferous: Canine Familiar (2018).

14 May, 2018 Metal, Record 0

Ugh, it’s actually irritating how much I like this record. It’s like a white noise machine for ADHD.

Links: Albini on In Utero (again), the inbox flood, Level Music, blockchains (again).

13 May, 201814 May, 2018 Industry, Links, Punk, Writing 0

“We’ll save music on the blockchain!” Ethereum can’t scale up to cat pictures.

Shezoo: Agony Of Doubt (2018).

10 May, 201810 May, 2018 Metal, Record 0

Agony of Doubt is a fun, fantastic, big-hair-eighties-style metal album that goes hard and fast but stays fun the whole way through.

How to make Spotify suck less than YouTube for streaming.

9 May, 201828 June, 2023 mp3, Opinion 0

I actively try to use Spotify, because I like the idea that the artist will get at least a penny shaving. So why do I keep just using YouTube? Because it’s not a goddamn pain in the arse.

Mark Rye: Inside Looking Out: More Rock’n’Roll tales from inside the British music business (2017).

6 May, 20186 May, 2018 Pop, Rock, Writing 0

First-hand tales from the people down in the engine room.

Ryder: For What It’s Worth (Live) (2018).

4 May, 20184 May, 2018 Record, Rock 0

Buttrock band.

HARKII Of Sound Mind podcast Episode 1: “Why I don’t think blockchain will change the music industry.”

30 April, 201830 April, 2018 Industry, Rocknerd 0

In which I go on a podcast and talk about why blockchains are still trash, particularly for music. Don’t fall for resentment-based marketing!

Gary Miller: Anarcho-Punk Albums: The Band’s Story behind Anarchist Punk Music (2018).

29 April, 20186 May, 2018 Post-Punk, Punk, Writing 0

A document of anarchopunk of the late 1970s and early 1980. It’s short, but it’s cheap and a great read.

Felix Colgrave: Royal Noises from Dead Kingdoms: The Music of Double King (2018).

25 April, 2018 Film, Record 0

Colgrave’s animation is beautiful. It is alternately stark and lush, full of repeating patterns and startling aberrations and the score, Royal Noises from Dead Kingdoms, mirrors the hypnotic visuals in its layered, thoughtful construction.

Nekrogoblikon: Welcome to Bonkers (2018).

24 April, 2018 Metal, Record 0

A lot of metal is full of goofy bullshit, a lot of which is very somberly growling about satan, hell, torture, shit, darkness, and other suitably grimy and nasty metal things. And sometimes it turns out that goofy bullshit is pure, distilled perfection and the concentrated essence of joy.

The Cascades: Diamonds and Rust (2017).

23 April, 201824 April, 2018 Goth, Post-Punk, Record 0

While the rest of the world moves, changes, shifts, reshapes itself, and discovers irony you can always return to the comforting refuge of goth rock.

Links: High-Definition Vinyl, Brian Hooper RIP, Eventbrite’s we-take-all ticketing contract.

21 April, 201821 April, 2018 Audio, Indie, Industry, Links, Rock 0

At least Twitter reaps a bountiful harvest these days.

Links: Spotify windowing, Spotify and The Pirate Bay, industry shows piracy correlating with music industry success, Section 26.

14 April, 201815 April, 2018 Industry, mp3, Pop, Post-Punk, Your rights 0

The record industry is being blustering idiots about piracy again.

Oh, eMusic, no — don’t go blockchain! Another Kodak moment.

6 April, 201817 July, 2018 Industry, mp3, Opinion 3

It looks like eMusic’s attempt at a comeback last year didn’t work out so well. Behold: the eMusic Blockchain Platform! … a Kodak moment indeed.

White Cross: Take heart. You’re not alone.

5 April, 201813 May, 2018 Indie, Record 8

Australian indie guitar favourites from the late 1980s, their complete catalogue available once more.

Nemesis Inferi: A Bad Mess (2018).

4 April, 20184 April, 2018 Metal, Record 0

The record is a solid piece of work with plenty of power. A sound that wavers between groove and thrash from song to song.

Nervenbeisser: Zeitenwandel (2017).

29 March, 2018 Industrial, Metal, Record 0

If you’ve been hankering for some growly Germans who make music that complements PVC outfits and stompy dancing, Nervenbeisser might be for you.

Links: Dragon Ball Super mass piracy, origin of the gated reverb snare, the return of illegal raves.

25 March, 2018 Dance, Film, Links, Musician 0

Plus Salman Rushdie’s disco turn, and “Ace Of Spades” played on an actual spade.

Links: NME goes out of print, write about music anyway, Qwant music search, how to write a hit in 2018.

18 March, 2018 Links, Media, Pop, Writing 0

Choreography about architecture.

The Frozen Autumn: The Fellow Traveler (2017).

14 March, 2018 Goth, Industrial, Pop, Record 0

Are you into synthpop? Do you believe in heaven above, do you believe in love?

Reviews: Cloud, LisaWars (2017, 2018).

11 March, 201811 March, 2018 Indie, Post-Punk, Record 0

Cinematic indie pop and some NDW revival.

Links: Andrew Hickey “Monkee Music,” Paul Morley and Propaganda, Kim Deal, YouTube finances, Bananarama and the legal system.

4 March, 20187 September, 2021 Dance, Indie, Links, Pop 1

There are many legal inaccuracies and errors that Bananarama fall into here. I think it’s important that we address them.

Andrew W. K.: You’re Not Alone (2018).

2 March, 2018 Metal, Record, Rock 0

How do you feel about relentless positivity and good cheer? I’m a bit cynical about it myself, but once in a while something comes by that slaps a smile on your face and won’t get out of your head.