The Wheel's Still In Spin

New Releases – 31 March 2009

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Aceyalone – Aceyalone & The Lonely Ones | CD MP3
Download “The Way It Is (feat. Bionik)” (mp3)
This album takes its influence from doo-wop, ‘60s and ‘70s soul. The additional vocals from Bionik give it the doo-wop sound while the bass lines and horn chops add the lively, soulful sound. Aceyalone’s raps overtop of the diverse music is a fantastic combination.

Notes and Scratches – To the Other Side | FREE download from Rock Proper
The online distributor Rock Proper keeps releasing quality albums as FREE downloads. The latest addition is this album by Notes and Scratches. Like most of the albums on Rock Proper, this band is from the Chicago area and recorded this project at Pieholden Suite Studios. To the Other Side is an indie pop album with layers of guitars, organs, piano, trumpets, and much more.

Maria Taylor – LadyLuck | CD MP3
Download “Time Lapse Lifeline” (mp3)
Probably best known as being one half of the Saddle Creek band Azure Ray, Taylor has released her third solo album. This is a strong release of folk based songs and adds another good record to Taylor’s collected catalog.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Internet Radio News

With the rise of Internet radio, The Wheel’s Still In Spin lists the recent online news articles about the future of Internet radio.

The Performance Royalty Rate: What May Happen
At Radio Business Report’s website, Doug Perlson outlines what he believes will be the affect of the performance royalty debate. As CEO of TargetSpot, Perlson assumes that “Internet radio will start to look a bit more like terrestrial radio – with more ads and…” “Internet radio will get serious about ad targeting.”

Top Radio Station Yanks Internet Stream, Despite Potential
MediaBuyerPlanner.com discusses WBEB-FM, an Adult Contemporary radio station. The station is no longer streaming online “to protest the new SoundExchange rates for songs streamed on the internet - and it looks like the move is permanent, despite the fact that internet radio, by most estimations, is the future of the radio medium.”

Last.fm to Charge Users for Internet Radio Service
According to the Calgary Herald, “Last.fm, will soon charge $3 a month for users outside of the U.S., United Kingdom and Germany.”

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New Releases – 24 March 2009

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Coltrane Motion – The Year Without a Summer / Maya Blue [EP] | CD Vinyl
Download “The Year Without a Summer” (mp3)
Coltrane Motion is an energetic electronic indie rock duo fronted by Michael Bond and complemented by Matt Dennewitz. On their previous releases, they mix synths and guitars into an exuberant and catchy sound. This 7” release adds GD Mills on drums and kicks up the spry musical commotion. The CD, released by 75 or Less Records, includes 2 additional remixes.

Condo Fucks – Fuckbook | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “What’cha Gonna Do About It” (mp3)
The Condo Fucks are actually Yo La Tengo. On Fuckbook, the band tackles retro garage rock covers with lo-fi production, faster tempos, and meatier guitar parts. The bands they cover include The Troggs, the Beach Boys, the Kinks, Small Faces, Richard Hell, Young Rascals, and more. Even consisting of covers, its still a strong garage punk album.

The Decemberists – Hazards Of Love | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “The Rake’s Song” (mp3)
Colin Meloy has always been known for his expansive and literate lyrics. As he set out to write a new song entitled “The Hazards of Love,” eventually an entire full-length album was written to tell the story this time. Full of rich arrangements and powerful guest vocals (Lavender Diamonds’ Becky Stark, My Brightest Diamond’s Sarah Worden, and My Morning Jackets’ Jim James), this album steps up the sprawling sound of the band’s past releases.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Internet Radio News

Most of the news articles concerning Internet radio for the past two weeks have focused on the effect of the possible ratifying of the Performance Rights Act, which has been mentioned in these posts in the past, and Billy Corgan’s testimony to Congress. Here are some other recent online news articles about the future of Internet radio.

35% of Public Radio Listeners Stream Weekly
As Radio Business Report explains, “A recent survey of Public Radio listeners found that 35% listen to Internet radio weekly or more often. That number increases to 49% of listeners to Public Radio AAA formats.”

Sirius XM Tuning in to iPhone Application
CNet.com covers Sirius XM’s announcement of the development of an iPhone application. The company’s goal is to allow both existing customer to access their radio stations and “allow new customers to subscribe to our service without having to buy a radio.” As the article notes, “Sirius XM is planning to launch an iPhone application by June in a move to expand its market, the satellite service provider said Thursday during an analyst conference call.”
“Sirius XM charges $12.95 per month for its Internet radio service. It is not immediately clear whether iPhone and iPod users will incur the same service fees.”

Canada Digital Media Hearings – What’s Next
Dr. Michael Geist speculates on the results of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s New Media hearings, which concluded last week, including his assumption on the CRTC’s recommendations for Internet radio regulations. “Notwithstanding the urging of Sirius satellite radio for new measures to address competition from Internet radio, there was conflicting evidence on the scope and importance of this delivery channel. The Commission is likely to say that Internet radio is still in its infancy as a genuine competitor to regulated radio services and that it should remain unregulated in Canada.”

Web Services Go Offline
As The Straits Times reports, “A dispute over licence fees has forced most of Singapore's radio stations to stop streaming online.
“Following an amendment to the Copyright Act last November, the Recording Industry Performance Singapore (Rips) asked radio broadcasters to pay an annual licensing fee if they wanted to continue their Internet radio service.”

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New Releases – 17 March 2009

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

An Horse – Rearrange Beds | CD
Download “Postcards” (mp3)
This Australian duo has released a strong debut full-length album. Kate Cooper’s unadulterated vocals drive overtop of the 3-chord guitar rhythms and stop-and-go drumming. While the album starts out with some indie pop that may seem recognizably customary, the album reaches it best moments in the final few tracks.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Beware | CD Vinyl MP3
As the latest Will Oldham album, Beware, is full of the expecting countrified folk songs. However, on this release, Oldham adds more supporting instrumentation that his previous albums With pedal steel, fiddles, banjos, and an intriguing low end, the album is more expansive and produced than other Bonnie “Prince” Billy albums, but still retains Oldham’s signature nature.
After the jump, watch the video for “I am Goodbye.”

Mazes – Mazes | CD
Download “Cat State Comity” (mp3)
Download “I Have Laid In the Darkness” (mp3)
Mazes started as the solo project for The 1900s’ Edward Anderson. With addition of The 1990s’ band mate, Caroline Donovan, and Charles D’Autremont, Anderson fleshed out the sounds of this mellifluous indie pop album.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

New Releases – 10 March 2009

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

Arbouretum – Song of the Pearl | CD Vinyl MP3 | Directly from Thrill Jockey
Download “False Spring” (mp3)
On the band’s third album, Arbouretum have created an expansive album. The melodious music exhibits the dreamy opulence of a classic rock album matted with the placidness of a band that has been entrenched in folk rock.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Advance Base Battery Life | CD
Download “Old Panda Days” (with Nick Krgovich) (mp3)
Download “Graceland” (Paul Simon cover) (mp3)
This album is collection of rarities, singles, and covers from Owen Ashworth. As a collection of unreleased or limited released tracks, the album has a strong flow with its keyboard-heavy songs overtop of controlled electronic beats.

Cursive – Mama, I’m Swollen | CD MP3
Download “From the Hips” (mp3)
Cursive has shifted their sound and lyrical themes throughout the albums of their catalog. On Mama, I’m Swollen, the music is as diverse as ever while still retaining an energetic approach. Tim Kasher’s lyrics deal with larger-than-life themes, but through his realistic, down-to-earth style.

Julie Doiron – I Can Wonder What You Did with Your Day | CD MP3
Download “Consolation Prize” (mp3)
Julie Doiron is an honest and genuine songwriter. This album showcases her folk side with tracks where her earnest voice is supported by only her guitar. A majority of this album also demonstrates her indie rock roots as an electric trio.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Internet Radio News

With the rise of Internet radio, The Wheel’s Still In Spin lists the recent online news articles about the future of Internet radio.

Listening to Internet Radio Increased 37% Last Year
RadioBusinessReport.com reports on the increase of Internet radio listenership. “AccuStream iMedia Research reports that in 2008, total listening to Internet radio was up 37.6% over the previous year, to 6.67 billion hours.”

Internet-radio royalty dispute heading to court
In a commentary on MarketWatch.com, Therese Poletti discusses some issues with an upcoming court “appeal filed by an industry association representing Webcasting companies like Pandora and Live365.
“These companies are fighting a ruling by the Copyright Royalty Board, part of the Library of Congress. In May 2007, this ad hoc group imposed a sharp increase in performance-royalty rates these stations now pay the recording industry.
“The CRB mandated that the stations increase their current royalties by 2.5 times, a hike that threatens to put many Webcasters out of business.”

New WiFi Devices:
Logitech

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I Need That Record: The Death (or Possible Survival) of the Independent Record Store

I Need That Record, an independent documentary by Brendan Toller, was shown at San Francisco’s Artists’ Television Access as part of Noise Pop 2009.

The feature-length film examines the reason for the closing of over 3,000 independent record stores in the past decade. The movie looks at the effect of the rise of e-commerce, a dwindling in diversified support from corporate radio, the rise of the digital music revolution, and the missteps of the major record labels. As the overall record industry has compounding years with fewer sales, more independent record stores are closing their doors. The major labels rely on sales from big box retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy more than the locally owned and operated shops.

New Releases – 3 March 2009

Here are The Wheel’s Still In Spin’s suggested new releases.

The Antlers – Hospice | MP3 | Buy the CD from Insound | Buy the CD directly from the band
Download “Bear” (mp3)
Download “Two” (mp3)
Peter Silberman, the main creator behind The Antlers, moved to Manhattan in the winter of 2006 and became a shut-in. This album of dynamic and elusive chamber pop attempts to explain his self-imposed isolation. With a smooth flow, this self-released album swirls with layers of mellifluous effervescence.

Boston Spaceships – The Planets Are Blasted | CD Vinyl MP3
Download “Big O Gets an Earful” (mp3)
This indie rock super group is comprised of Robert Pollard, The Decemberists’ John Moen, and Guided By Voices’ Chris Slusarenko. Pollard has more bands or musical monikers than I can list, but Boston Spaceship is the most consistently reputable band of his current prolific projects. The Planets Are Blasted, the band’s second album in as many years, is a fantastic indie pop record with Pollard’s blend of classic rock and punk substance.

Neko Case – Middle Cyclone | CD Vinyl [Import] MP3
Download “People Got a Lotta Nerve” (mp3)
Case’s powerfully enticing voice is in fantastic form on Middle Cyclone, her first studio album since 2006. This album encompasses themes of nature, which can be oversimplified by the cover song “Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth.” The music, which is performed by her touring band and numerous guests including M. Ward and Garth Hudson, is full of dynamic and enriching layers.

Say Hi – Oohs & Aahs | CD Vinyl
Download “Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh” (mp3)
Download “November Was White, December Was Grey” (mp3)
For Say Hi’s first Barsuk release, Eric Elbogen creates another catchy indie pop album to add to the previous five releases of the band (dating back to when the band’s name was Say Hi to Your Mom). This album continues the evolution of layered sounds expected from the band while Elbogen’s lyrics remain nerdily kitschy.

After the jump, there is a list of more new releases from this week.

Gogol Bordello Non-Stop

One of the great things about the Noise Pop festival is the myriad of bands it hosts in San Francisco for live performances. In addition to the concerts, the festival also hosts art shows and a music film festival. One of the most anticipated films of the festival was Margarita Jimeno’s Gogol Bordello Non-Stop. The sold out showing at the Artists’ Television Access on Friday, February 27th was well received.

The documentary follows Gogol Bordello from the band’s inception in 2001 through 2006. It focuses on who the band is, who the individual members are, and how they became Gogol Bordello. It delves into what the band stands for and represents.

The beginning club performances show Eugene Hutz as less of a lead singer and more a leader of a musical party. He easily pulls more people into his wild festivities. He draws more musicians, more dancers, and more fans. The community that Hutz created, much like the band, is equal parts international and free spirited punk. Early on, Hutz establishes a motto for the band: “Drink Locally, Fuck Globally.”