Based on the information presented in: this article, are you planning on:
[A] Re-buying all your DVDs (again)
[B] Just the really cool ones
[C] Waiting for the inevitable HD-DVD-SD-WTF format
or
[D] None of the above (please specify)
Archive for February, 2004
This legislation seems to jibe pretty well with Bush’s plans for borrowing money from the unborn. I wonder if I could bring a class action suit against Social Security on behalf of some of these kids?
If you’re having Sales Problems, I feel bad for you son
Published February 24th, 2004 in Uncategorized. 1 Comment
I got 99 Problems, but your shit ain’t one. Today is “Grey Tuesday” and websites everywhere are participating in an act of civil (and techincal) disobedience by turning grey and hosting some contraband MP3s. Here’s the backstory… Rapper Jay-Z released his “last” (publicity stunt) album several months ago. It’s called The Black Album. You may already be familiar with The White Album. Stick your chocolate in my peanut butter and what do you get? You guessed it: The Grey Album. This one’s by an artist who goes by “DJ Dangermouse,” and what he’s done basically is build a track for track remix of Jay-Z’s album, using only samples and instrumentation from The Beatles’ LP. A circling pack of lawyers picked up the scent, descended on the scene and, using their sharp beaks and talons, tore the new creation apart. Then they shit all over the place and sent out an invoice. So anyway… To own, share, copy, play or otherwise enjoy The Grey Album is now a crime. Literally… It is a work of art… In America… In 2004… That has been made ILLEGAL! Now, if you’re like many internet citizens, you may be thinking to yourself: “This is teh sux0r! But what can I do?” Well for starters, you can visit several sites that will provide more information about the situation. First, take a look at GreyTuesday.org, the organizers of this protest. Next, check out Seren.net, where you can download the album in its entirety via BitTorrent (more info about BT is available on the seren.net page). Also, check out Illegal-art.org, the home of this and many other works of dubious copyright status. You may want to hold off on visiting these guys right now though, as they are getting slammed pretty hard right now by people downloading the album, but it’s definetly worth a look at some point, if only for the classic GI Joe mash-ups. =) Finally, since what would be the point of all this if not for some law-breaking of my own, I present you a selection of downloads from The Grey Album. I could host the whole album, but if that’s what you’re after, I think the Seren.net link above is the way to go. I’m posting these files here to exercise my fair use rights to include sections of a work being discussed as a part of that critique. My favorite track from the original Black Album was “99 Problems” and I think it’s interesting to hear how Dangermouse builds a new track around the vocal, which works similarly to the Jay-Z / Rick Rubin production, but with a fresh twist. Check it out:
So there you have it. And while I’m at it, here’s another recent hip-hop song with a Beatles sample.
This is based on a sample from a cover version of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” but it’s probably safe to assume that it’s illegal too. I mean, after all, isn’t that the way that the record companies would like it? For all of us to just “assume” they own every recording ever made, and forget the concept of a “public domain” ever existed? I certainly hope that’s not the case, but I really wouldn’t be shocked if US Copyright was extended from whatever the hell it is now (90 years? 100?) to infinity and beyond! Perhaps Ghostface says it best: “Y’all niggas kill me and y’all know y’all booty, so please get your punk ass off the streets…” Seriously.
Is the slogan for this fine product. Note also, the bizarre use of flash on their website. I saw a commercial for these guys during a late nite episode of “The Family Feud.” Which I was watching because it was the “Stars on Ice Special” and Oksana Baiul was ripping it up with some of the most insane responses I’ve ever heard on “The Feud.” The category was: “Things you try to do quietly, late at night.” Her first response? “Swimming!” She got another chance and tried “Driving a Car!” Later, the category was: “Places you don’t want your cell phone to ring.” Again, she got a big red “X” for her team with her response: “During a television interview!” It was quite entertaining. Also, on the “Girls” team was Jamie Sale, who failed to win the “Final Feud” or whatever the hell it’s called by answering “Hockey!” for “A kind of ticket.” That’s really only worth mentioning because I wanted to link to the “Diary” section of her website, which is in and of itself pretty great =) So anyway, score one for late-nite, free TV: America’s #1 Source of Amusing Surrealism! (ps. the most popular response for “Things to do quietly, late at night?” You guessed it (as did Scott Hamilton)… Love Making!!!)
Interesting post over at le blog de Momus about Finnish musician / innovator / etc, Erkki Kurenniemi. You can read some more about him here. He’s currently reworking all of musical theory, eliminating such unneccessary concepts as “scales” and such. And I quote:
Musical theory has stayed totally unchanged since the days of Rameau in the 18th century. We are needlessly the prisoners of traditional instruments and notation, since computers have already liberated us from them. The flypaper of tonal music does admittedly caress the ear, but it is interesting to investigate atonal music through some larger form. Such as sculptures or architecture. I am interested in what happens when we go from the art of music to the science of sound.
The DVD with his works and bio-documentary sounds interesting, I’d like to see it, but not enough to buy it (in expensive euros, no less!) Perhaps Facets can help, but their server is fucked at the moment. =P
I’ve been working on a project to automatically monitor a community of blogs lately, and I thought I’m make a post about it here, for a couple of reasons:
1) These are cool sites and they should be checked out! All the blogs post MP3s on a semi-daily basis, and they’ll introduce you to music you would not hear elsewhere.
2) I’ve been colloborating with a number of people while creating this tool, and posting here should hopefully give everyone a place to post comments and feedback as we continue development!
So anyway, the applet itself is hosted at:
http://universal.antinomian.com/
Check it out and score some cool music while you’re at it!
Marshmallow Gun!! and other DIY / instructional cartoons at: howtoons.net. (Via: dashandthedot)
Not trying to pimp them out or anything, especially since I’m sure few people reading this, myself included, can afford their wares =), but this month’s Design Within Reach Newsletter (next month’s too, apparently) is all about Chicago, in anticipation of their grand opening here soon.
###Nerd Alert###This came up doing some research on DNS for work. The band name? The Root Server Operators. The album title? Who Are The Root Server Operators? The follow-up? Where is the Edge of the Internet? Now I just can’t decide if they should play metal or space jazz? =)
I am right now drinking delicious coffee out of a mug reading: Go the fuck away! I’m working on some bad-ass computer shit right now! I have no time for Team Spirit Meeting! I purchased it from here, but it’s out of print. There are plenty of other fine products available, however, including the ALL NEW WEB COMIC, “Adventures of confessions of saint augustine bear.” Can you not see how excited I am?! Check it out… Now!! (NB: I am also wearing a shirt that reads: “Good With Computers.” =)
