Author Archives: robert duffy

We are birthing ideas here.

I always tell people that donewaiting.com is a music criticism, surveillance, hype and activism website. Well, it’s time to start the activism one state at at time.

Protest the war and make money off of it. Mixed signals being sent there, I think.

Madonna is selling her new antiwar single, “American Life” on her Web site, charging $1.49 for the download of a high-quality, wholly unrestricted MP3 file. Her publicists started taking preorders a week ago, and in a novel move for a high-profile recording artist, enlisted fans to help sell the single on their own Web sites. (full story)

If every other major and minor band wasn’t giving their shit away for free, Madonna’s use of the MP3 format would be shed in a better light. But it’s not.

I’ve been spending some time lately on Fluxblog by Matthew (last name unknown).

It’s got a solid stash of music info, mp3s, and commentary. Make with the clicky.

Especially worth it if you’re a Royal Trux fan. See what I mean. As of writing this the word “Trux” appears on the top page eighteen times.

You remember the Cardigans, right? “Love me, love meeee, say that you loovveeee meeeeeee.” Anyway, donewaiting.com’s Steve Miller certainly remembers the band, as discussed in his latest column regarding their new album:

Even so, I didn’t expect a return to form as stunning as Long Gone Before Daylight. The pop hooks of old are still there, if less obvious, but we’ve got a suite of songs about love, the kind of love that makes you change yourself to please somebody else, love that leaves you begging, love that makes you stay up all night worrying where it’s gone. On their earlier albums it would probably be fair to tag Nina’s lyrics as superficial but on this one, they’re achingly real. (full story)

Thanks, Miller, now I’m gonna have to buy it.

You really can’t get anything past The Smoking Gun:

In conjunction with the Rock the Vote organization, Lenny Kravitz has just released an anti-war song that’s supposed to help the group motivate young people to vote and defend free expression. But the rock star himself hasn’t seen the inside of a polling place in nearly 11 years. (full story)

Earlier today on Stephen Mejias’ donewaiting.com column Bridges and Tunnels he tipped us off about the new record label from Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, Protest Records.

After doing a little digging, I found this article from the New York Times. Highlights:

Another one of Mr. Moore’s longtime fantasies was to have a label that gave away music free. “I thought it would be great to be in a band that made millions of dollars that could do something like that, but it never panned out,” Mr. Moore said, referring to earning millions. “I liked the idea because it would drive retail stores crazy. Originally the ideas were more far-fetched, like hiding the records around the city so that people had to find them.”

And here’s some more information about the nature of the free music being distributed:

So he decided to start Protest Records, so little-known musicians and songwriters could have their work appear alongside that of higher-profile bands. He is accepting any protest music by any act, especially those making more challenging and avant-garde music. And the songs do not all have to be about the current war, he said; they can be in opposition to any issue. (full story)

Write your protest songs, people, and make them good.

David A. Cobb, author of donewaiting.com’s Houston Calling, talks about two 80s albums (The Cult’s “Love” and U2’s “War”) that are still important to him to this day in his latest column. Go. Read. Now.

Maybe if George W listened to these two records the world would be a different place.

(seriously, who am i kidding with that last sentence. answer: no one)

BEGIN.WHITE.STRIPE.SATURATION:

The White Stripes will overtake NBC’s “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” next month for musical performances on four consecutive nights, according to a spokesperson. Beginning April 22, the Detroit rock duo will play a different song each night, including material from its new Third Man/V2 album “Elephant,” due Tuesday (April 1). (full story)

I said it before but I’ll say it again: the new album is amazing. It is going to take over the world and there’s nothing you, George Bush or Stephen Mejias can do about it. It’s amazing.

Okay, first off, thanks to Brother Stephen for manning the helm of donewaiting.com while I was out rocking to Zwan in Cleveland OH.

Second, the new Linkin Park album came out today, “Meteora.” I’m halfway through it and so far so good. I know I lose all my credibility to you indie scenesters out there when I say that I like this band, but what the fuck can I do? I get just as excited to hear about a new Malkmus release as I do LP.

But here’s the thing — corporate gigantic chain Best Buy is selling the new Linkin Park for only $9.99. That’s a nice price point.

And finally, in case you haven’t seen this enough all over the web, here’s some Radiohead news:

Radiohead will release their sixth album “Hail To The Thief” on June 10. The first single off the album will be “There There.” Hail To The Thief features 14 tracks and was recorded in Oxford and Los Angeles. It was produced by Nigel Godrich and Radiohead, and mixed by Nigel Godrich.

The track listing is:
2 + 2 = 5
Sit Down. Stand Up.
Sail To The Moon
Backdrifts
Go To Sleep
Where I End And You Begin
We Suck Young Blood
The Gloaming
There There
I Will
A Punch-Up at a Wedding
Myxamatosis
Scatterbrain
A Wolf At The Door

Everyone can just calm down.

Ha ha, funny and sad world:

Before even having a chance to leave the [gas] station, the group was reportedly surrounded by police cars and FBI agents who, a representative for Chicago’s Abbey Pub, where the band played this weekend, said had guns drawn. The band was held for questioning for roughly three hours before finally being released as innocents. “They get hassled by The Man regularly,” said Bruce Adams, co-founder of the Chicago-based label Kranky. “Police pulling them over, anything you can imagine. It’s just the feeling in the country right now.”(full story)

Everyone is getting insane.