Oh, I know… I’m being obnoxious. But he’s dead wrong on this one.
And here’s how strongly I feel about it.
You can pre-order hard copies of the new Silver Seas album Château Revenge here. If any of you are inspired to buy a CD and you don’t like it, I’ll buy it back from you.
I’m totally serious.
Why?
Daniel Tashian is by far and away one of the most talented songwriters and performers alive today. And as someone who receives hundreds of records in the mail each week… I don’t say that lightly.
What’s more, Château Revenge is easily my top pick of 2010. I’ll be surprised if that changes.
Confession: I didn’t love it at first. But those are the best albums, aren’t they? The ones you grow to love, the ones that sneak in and grab you by surprise. That’s what makes music timeless.
Simply put, I believe in this band (LOL, you think?). Heck, I actually believe that music can change the world — that Daniel Tashian’s voice can change the world. And if I can help, awesome.
What’s the Drawback? Using your newsletter/blog power to diss perfectly amazing talent.
4/26/10 | Comments (1)Tags: Bob Lefsetz, daniel tashian, The Silver Seas —
Highlights of what’s been running through the speakers here at OUTLANDOS HQ the last month or so:
1. Luke Doucet and the White Falcon, Blood’s Too Rich
I think I’m in love. Seriously. Massive man/guitar crush. He is wicked. Don’t let the fact that he’s Sarah McLachlan’s guitarist spook you.
2. Broken Records, Until the Earth Begins to Part
Edinburg seven-piece (apparently, Edinburg is having an uberchic moment), old U2 meets one fierce violin.
3. The Silver Seas, Château Revenge
Yes, still on this one 
. Just can’t seem to stop. You know a record holds up when you can keep it on replay. Daniel Tashian (son of Barry Tashian, of legendary New England garage rockers The Remains) et al. Château Revenge’s on sale this month at your favorite usual spots, sneak listens to almost every single song, its entirety, at the links below (we featured them all last month on THE DAILY DOSE):
Best Thing in Life
What’s the Drawback?
Somebody Said Your Name
Home & Dry
Candy
Help is on the Way
Those Streets
From My Windowsill
Jane
xo
4/12/10 | Comments (0)Tags: Broken Records, Luke Doucet, THE DAILY DOSE, the remains, The Silver Seas —
Here we go with another edition of LETTERS FROM THE ROAD, our guest-post series where we invite musicians we shamelessly adore to take over and write whatever they like. 2 rules: it has to be in the form of a letter, it has to have something to do with music. This week’s LETTERS FROM THE ROAD guest author is a new friend, the kind that reeks of contagious inspiration, the multitalented Rob Giles. Take it away Rob…
I don’t think of my life as a career. I do stuff. I respond to stuff. That’s not a career — that’s a life!
— Steve Jobs
Dear Steve,
I am so excited about the iPad. I am probably going to even shell out the money to get one before we go on our summer tour. You had me at the Netflix app. I have been reading reviews voraciously, as if a lost Beatles album was just unearthed. Words like “interactive,” “immersive,” “intimate” can’t help but intrigue me. “Will it be the new model for media?!” “I’m not even sure what its used for, but I want to use it for everything!” And apparently iBooks is to Wii what Kindle is to the Atari 2600.
I didn’t read anything about it, but I am guessing there is also an iTunes app? You know, for music?…
It got me wondering, Mr. Jobs, do you remember listening to records? Did you spend any Saturday mornings or Friday nights studying the liner notes of your favorite albums again and again? The artwork!? The glorious mysteries and journeys that album art could catapult you through? (I learned Spanish one summer in Mexico by trying to describe Metallica and Iron Maiden albums to my “Mexican brother” Saul.) Did you ever get images seared into your mind by reading and rereading the pages of recording info and who played what? I can still see clearly that Nikki Sixx, in his musical genius, played not only the bass, but the 8-string bass, the 12-string bass, AND the bass pedals on “Shout At The Devil”!! I am still wondering if the legendary Russ Kunkel looks like what I think he looks like.
Imagine what stuff I could claim to have played on the new Rescues album (out this summer on Universal Republic — Free Single of the Week please, Steve?).
It got me thinking; maybe we should cut a deal:
1. We artists will start to create a LOT more content that is perfect and exclusive for the iPad, and you once again get the credit for creating interest in albums again. I know, I know, you have the “iTunes plus” option with more pictures of John Mayer than anyone could possibly want. I don’t mean creating interest by allowing for a decent bandwidth choice or allowing more content per album. I mean you spending some of your power, ingenuity and money to start even more trends with ingenious designs — you could personally lobby congress to get serious in creating and mandating strict laws about downloading free intellectual property.
2. You could lobby to repeal Clinton’s 1996 Telecom Act, and let radio (celestial or otherwise/app) try to thrive again.
3. Somehow get your gifted design team to make it cool again to buy albums by creating the new music format. Remind us that behind these songs is a band or artist who has dedicated their life (or, if you are Ke$ha, your summer vacation) trying to create something wonderful, honest, timeless, badass, true, fun, beautiful… Something you can spend an evening with. Get us all interested again in the way only you can.
4. You could start a campaign saying, basically, what we all know: stealing music is totally lame.
Deal? Cool. I will go ahead and buy an iPad, then. And I will start dreaming up ways to make Apple the only place worth buying and having an intimate, interactive, immersive experience with my albums again.
And thank you. Thank you. For never giving up. For everything.
On the edge of my seat,
Rob Giles
www.therescues.com
Tags: iPad, LETTERS FROM THE ROAD, Rob Giles, Steve Jobs, the rescues —
