Friday, 30 May 2008
Tuesday, 27 May 2008
Death Cab For Cutie's Narrow Stairs Is A Major-Label Album With An Indie Mindset
It's a story as old as rock and roll itself (or at least as old as Jawbreaker or Jawbox): beloved — yet idealistic — indie band signs deal with evil major label, gets lost in the shuffle, is chewed up and destroyed by the machine, subsequently breaks up.
Death Cab for Cutie knew all this when they signed to Atlantic in November 2004. Their fans did too, and they let the band know about it. History, they said, was not on their side. This could not end well.
Only, Death Cab didn't listen. Their first major-label record, Plans, was certified platinum, thanks in no small part to the fact that the band agreed to put in the work, touring relentlessly, playing the rock-radio-festival circuit and doing reams of interviews. They shouldered the load, played ball and, as a result, were given the time and space they needed to make their new album, Narrow Stairs (due May 13), a sonorous and sanguine effort that's very much the sound of a band pushing the borders.
"When we signed to Atlantic, we told them and ourselves that we were going to do the work," DCFC frontman Ben Gibbard said. "We weren't going to be that indie band that signs to a major label and gets really precious about everything, or decides that we want to go about our lives the way we did when we were on Barsuk [Records], and then wonder why we didn't sell any records.
"That's usually the end of 'indie band signs to major label': things don't happen the way they wanted it to," he continued. "Because nine times out of 10, people don't want to do the work. We said to ourselves, 'We're going to do all the work, all the touring, all the press,' and that's what we did."
Simply put, Death Cab earned the right to make Narrow Stairs, and you can hear them rejoicing in that fact throughout. The much-discussed first single, "I Will Possess Your Heart," is eight and a half minutes long, just because the band wanted it that way. "Pity and Fear" floats along on a layer of skittering Tabla drums. "You Can Do Better Than Me" kicks off with a massive timpani roll, explodes orchestrally, and then ends abruptly. It's very much a record that pushes the limits, and the band is clearly relishing in it.
"We could see the light at the end of the tunnel throughout everything we did for Plans, and we knew that we were going to get to that point," Gibbard said. "So, by the time we got to December 2006, we knew we were there. It wasn't as if we were like, 'If we're feeling it, we'll get back into the studio this summer.' It was, 'OK, on August 15, 2007, we'll get back into the studio and start working on a record.' And that's what we did."
And though there never was a conscious decision to blow people's minds (I mean, when is there ever?) Death Cab ripped through Stairs with a reckless abandon that's typically unheard of for a major-label act following up a platinum album. It's less from the brain and more from the gut — recorded in just 44 days in three studios — and there's an energy that crackles throughout. Part of that comes from being free of expectations, and part of it comes from knowing they've earned the right to be that way.
"I think that at this point, I feel — for better or worse — that a lot of people have made up their mind about whether or not they like our music. I mean, you never want to give people a loaded gun, but the gun's been loaded for a long time," Gibbard laughed. "So I feel like the same things a lot of people like about this record, a lot of people will take issue with — and that's totally fine. I'm really at peace with anybody's take on this album, because we had such a great time making it. I feel like there is an honesty and inspiration on the album that's undeniable. And even more undeniable is the fact that nobody can come at us and say that we didn't try to do something different."
Death Cab for Cutie knew all this when they signed to Atlantic in November 2004. Their fans did too, and they let the band know about it. History, they said, was not on their side. This could not end well.
Only, Death Cab didn't listen. Their first major-label record, Plans, was certified platinum, thanks in no small part to the fact that the band agreed to put in the work, touring relentlessly, playing the rock-radio-festival circuit and doing reams of interviews. They shouldered the load, played ball and, as a result, were given the time and space they needed to make their new album, Narrow Stairs (due May 13), a sonorous and sanguine effort that's very much the sound of a band pushing the borders.
"When we signed to Atlantic, we told them and ourselves that we were going to do the work," DCFC frontman Ben Gibbard said. "We weren't going to be that indie band that signs to a major label and gets really precious about everything, or decides that we want to go about our lives the way we did when we were on Barsuk [Records], and then wonder why we didn't sell any records.
"That's usually the end of 'indie band signs to major label': things don't happen the way they wanted it to," he continued. "Because nine times out of 10, people don't want to do the work. We said to ourselves, 'We're going to do all the work, all the touring, all the press,' and that's what we did."
Simply put, Death Cab earned the right to make Narrow Stairs, and you can hear them rejoicing in that fact throughout. The much-discussed first single, "I Will Possess Your Heart," is eight and a half minutes long, just because the band wanted it that way. "Pity and Fear" floats along on a layer of skittering Tabla drums. "You Can Do Better Than Me" kicks off with a massive timpani roll, explodes orchestrally, and then ends abruptly. It's very much a record that pushes the limits, and the band is clearly relishing in it.
"We could see the light at the end of the tunnel throughout everything we did for Plans, and we knew that we were going to get to that point," Gibbard said. "So, by the time we got to December 2006, we knew we were there. It wasn't as if we were like, 'If we're feeling it, we'll get back into the studio this summer.' It was, 'OK, on August 15, 2007, we'll get back into the studio and start working on a record.' And that's what we did."
And though there never was a conscious decision to blow people's minds (I mean, when is there ever?) Death Cab ripped through Stairs with a reckless abandon that's typically unheard of for a major-label act following up a platinum album. It's less from the brain and more from the gut — recorded in just 44 days in three studios — and there's an energy that crackles throughout. Part of that comes from being free of expectations, and part of it comes from knowing they've earned the right to be that way.
"I think that at this point, I feel — for better or worse — that a lot of people have made up their mind about whether or not they like our music. I mean, you never want to give people a loaded gun, but the gun's been loaded for a long time," Gibbard laughed. "So I feel like the same things a lot of people like about this record, a lot of people will take issue with — and that's totally fine. I'm really at peace with anybody's take on this album, because we had such a great time making it. I feel like there is an honesty and inspiration on the album that's undeniable. And even more undeniable is the fact that nobody can come at us and say that we didn't try to do something different."
Geri Halliwell - Halliwell Parties With Kids At New Book Launch
Former SPICE GIRL GERI HALLIWELL treated youngsters to a lavish tea party at London Zoo to celebrate the launch of her new kids' book series UGENIA LAVENDER.
The singer invited over 70 children to the bash on Sunday (27Apr08), at which she gave a reading from her self-penned stories, before meeting each child and distributing goodie bags to each attendee.
Halliwell's set of six stories, entitled Ugenia, will be published monthly in the U.K. between May and October (08).
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New High School Musical on the way
The stars of 'High School Musical' have agreed deals to star in a new movie, 'High School Musical 3: Senior Year'.
Variety reports that Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman will all return for the film.
After the success of the first two, made-for-TV films, the new sequel will be released in US cinemas on 24 October.
The new film will follow Troy (Efron) and Gabriella (Hudgens) as they face up to the fact that they will be separated when they start college.
To mark the end of High School, the duo and their classmates stage a musical which looks to their shared pasts and hopes and fears for the future.
Variety reports that Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu and Monique Coleman will all return for the film.
After the success of the first two, made-for-TV films, the new sequel will be released in US cinemas on 24 October.
The new film will follow Troy (Efron) and Gabriella (Hudgens) as they face up to the fact that they will be separated when they start college.
To mark the end of High School, the duo and their classmates stage a musical which looks to their shared pasts and hopes and fears for the future.
Metner
Artist: Metner
Genre(s):
Classical
Discography:
Koncert ¹3
Year:
Tracks: 3
Koncert ¹2
Year:
Tracks: 3
Dve Pjesy
Year:
Tracks: 2
May's New Music DVD Releases: Carlos Santana, Meat Loaf, Marvin Gaye
Eisregen
Artist: Eisregen
Genre(s):
Metal: Death,Black
Rock
Discography:
Wundwasser
Year: 2005
Tracks: 12
Farbenfinsternis
Year: 2001
Tracks: 12
Leichenlager
Year: 2000
Tracks: 13
Fleischfestival
Year: 1999
Tracks: 5
Zerfall
Year: 1998
Tracks: 9
German dying metal band Eisregen is in the main notable for singing in their native lyric instead than English and for existence "indexed" by Die Bundesprüfstelle für Jugendgefährdende Medien (i.e., the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons). For example, the band's album Krebskolonie (1998) is banned from being played in public for interview members under the age of 18, a fate known as verbreitungsverbot, on explanation of its lyrics, which were deemed "grausamen, menschenverachtenden, frauenfeindlichen und verrohenden" (i.e., cruel, human-despising, misogynous, and brutalizing). Other Eisregen albums, including Farbenfinsternis (2001) and Wundwasser (2004), were indexed as well -- actions that sternly circumscribed the band's commercial ability patch at the same prison term engendering infamy. In fact, it was in the wake of Wundwasser's indexing that the band enjoyed its best chart debut to escort, as Blutbahnen (2007) entered the German album chart at number 32.
Eisregen was formed in Tambach-Dietharz, Thuringia, in 1995 by singer Michael "Blutkehle" Roth, guitarist Michael "Bursche" Lenz, keyboardist Daniel "DF" Fröbing, and drummer Ronny "Yantit" Fimmel. Rounds of demonstration recordings preceded the band's official debut release, the 7" single "Fleischhaus" (1997). A recording narrow with Last Episode resulted, and Eisregen went about recording Zerfall (1998), their full-length debut for the label. Next came Krebskolonie (1998), which, as said, was by and by indexed by the BPJM in August 2003 upon its reprint. Krebskolonie is noted as well for its inclusion body of fiddler Theresa "2T" Trenks, world Health Organization would put up to the band's albums henceforth (until her release in 2006, that is), and the record album remains a fan favourite.
After a few more releases -- "Fleischfestival" EP (1999), Leichenlager (2000), Farbenfinsternis (2001) -- Eisregen left Last Episode, which was facing insolvency, and signed a new undertake with Massacre Records. The label number 1 reissued a duo back-catalog items -- Krebskolonie in connective with the "Fleischfestival" EP in 2003, and Zerfall with the Dassie Ende stilboestrol Weges demonstration in 2004 -- and then finally released the get-go all-new record album by Eisregen in tercet years, Wundwasser (2004). It was the band's first to chart, expenditure i hebdomad at figure 87. A CD-EP/DVD, Hexenhaus (2005), followed not farseeing thereafter, and in 2007 Eisregen returned with another full-length (Blutbahnen) and follow-up EP (Eine Erhalten).
Steve Kujala
Artist: Steve Kujala
Genre(s):
Jazz
Discography:
Voyage
Year: 1984
Tracks: 5
An atmospherical flutist in a contemporary, spinal fusion, and new age mode, and an superstar composer whose topper work is in the future.
Lord Of The Rings - Mortensen Leading The Charge For Dances With Wolves Sequel
LORD OF THE RINGS star VIGGO MORTENSEN is leading the race to replace KEVIN COSTNER in the sequel to DANCES WITH WOLVES.
The Holy Road is the follow-up to the hit 1990 western, which Costner directed and starred in, but Costner didn't want to reprise his John Dunbar character.
Free Willy director Simon Wincer will take over the film, and insiders suggest producers want Mortensen to play Dunbar.
Graham Greene, Mary MCDonnell and Wes Studi are expected to reprise their roles from the original film, according to movie news website MovieHole.net.
See Also
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