http://homepage.mac.com/scartmill/iblog Welcome to Music For Life where people can read more about the music I love and share their thoughts and feedback with me. What am I listening to? What am I recommending? shane@music4life.info © Shane Cartmill Tue, 18 Oct 2005 13:19:56 -0400 Tue, 18 Oct 2005 13:20:11 US/Eastern iBlog 1.3.4

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]]> Wed, 12 Oct 2005 12:22:15 -0400

(photo NBC via AP)

Ashlee Simpson apparently sang on SNL last night.

But this begs the question – if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it, does it really make a noise?

Perhaps I'm getting old. Or perhaps the show really has become insignificant. But does anyone really watch Saturday Night Live anymore? The only attention I'd given the show in the past year was U2's appearance and the morning after Simpson's original, ill-fated appearance. I taped the U2 episode and skipped to the performances. I watched Simpson's fiasco online.

So the fact Simpson made a triumphant return to the show last night is really of little matter to me. Without an acid reflux-incduced chicken dance, Ashlee Simpson performances leave me feeling a little empty.

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British media are claiming Boy George (O'Dowd) is facing an uphill battle to save his career following Friday's drug arrest in New York City.

Stop the presses! Boy George's career is "in trouble"? Who knew?

For goodness sake, Boy George's popular career has been non-existent since 1984. Only die-hards will remember 1986's From Luxury To Heartache and the top 15 single "Move Away." Heroin and weirdness rivaled only by Michael Jackson effectively grounded the career of the early-80s icon. Admittedly George has registered a few blips on the radars in the years since. But we'd be hard pressed to call it a career.

The good news is George has Rosie in his corner.

It IS a miracle!

]]> Sat, 08 Oct 2005 22:42:13 -0400

Gretchen Wilson's debut Here For The Party was no fluke. The singer's sophomore effort, All Jacked Up, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Record buyers must have agreed with Music 4 Life's assessment as they grabbed up 264,000 copies of the disc in one week. That figure tops last year's record setting debut Here For The Party which sold 227,000 copies in its No. 2 debut.

Wilson has quickly become one of Music For Life's favorite female singers despite her views and opinions which sometimes run contrary to ours. This set, like the last, is poised to spawn several country and crossover radio hits. Take note of "One Bud Wiser" and "Politically Uncorrect." The real gem is, however, the Billie Holiday-inspired "Good Morning Heartache" which could expose Wilson to an even bigger audience.

]]> Fri, 07 Oct 2005 23:14:54 -0400

Duran Duran fans like me are always ready for a concert from the original MTV poster band. But as the tour in support of Astronaut draws to a close in Europe in the coming months, the chances of seeing them anytime soon are slim. Unless, of course, you catch the spectacular forthcoming release Duran Duran Live From London.

Slated for an October 25 release in the States, Live From London will be issued as a single 20-song DVD or a deluxe combo containing the DVD and a 10-song live hits disc. The single DVD also will include a documentary, photo gallery, 4-page booklet and an audio track voiceover on 10 of the songs (two by each member of the band). The double disc edition will tack on a 3D bonus song ("I Don't Want Your Love"), a 12-page booklet and deluxe packaging.

The preview clips I've seen from this collection are incredible. You can view one of the stunning clips online at SRS Labs' web site. This marks the first time the reunited Duran Duran will appear on a live disc. The collection was culled from the band's record breaking 2004 run of sold-out concerts at London's Wembley Arena.

Order your copy today from Mike at Medazzaland Discs. Tell him Music 4 Life sent you.

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O.A.R.'s new disc Stories Of A Stranger hit stores today. Arguably this is the most powerful release from the Maryland by way of Columbus outfit yet. Amazon.com says Stories puts the listener "center seat, a few rows back" at an O.A.R. show. But fans will pay a premium for this experience if they buy from iTunes - $14.99 in fact.

This is the most expensive single-disc new release I can remember being released on the iTunes Music Store. Apple touts the release as the "Bonus Video Version," offering a "making of" video, a digital booklet and two useless dub versions of "Program Director" and "One Shot." I will say it again. In fact I will scream it...

$14.99 IS ENTIRELY TOO MUCH TO PAY FOR AN ALBUM DOWNLOAD ON iTUNES OR ANY OTHER DOWNLOAD STORE.

There. I said it. And I will keep saying it as long as record labels continue to put pressure on Apple other digital retailers to pump up the price of album downloads.

I can buy Stories on CD for $9.99 at a variety of brick-and-mortar retailers this week. A video and two throwaway remixes do not make it worth $5 extra. Sorry O.A.R. Sorry Apple. Sorry big record labels. Music For Life will be skipping this new release in protest.

]]> Tue, 04 Oct 2005 23:29:34 -0400

Lately I can't get enough of The Rolling Stones. Since the release of A Bigger Bang and all the hype surrounding their latest tour, I've been spinning The Stones almost non-stop. Its great to rediscover gems like "She's So Cold" and "Loving Cup" while also enjoying the hell out of their finest album of new material in years.

Unfortunately, I had to skip their Columbus performance last week as I just couldn't bring myself to spend the $175 for a single upper level ticket. I figured I'd put on the Live Licks DVDs or enjoy a bootleg copy of the September 24 show.

I didn't realize how many Stones t-shirts were in my wardrobe, either. I've got the classic tongue shirt. I've worn my Forty Licks shirt to near threads. I recently acquired a new "logo tee" at Target of all places. And I was lucky enough to score three t-shirts (Boston, Columbus and tour dates) from the current tour without having to cough up money for a ticket.

I'm disappointed Sirius chose not to continue their Stones channel into October. Now I'll just to wait for the next television special of CD/DVD documenting the current tour. What are the odds one will be out sometime next year?

]]> Sat, 01 Oct 2005 16:46:41 -0400

18 Years and $104.30 Later: A Bon Jovi Ticket Story

Early in 1987 Huntington, WV was rocked by the news that Bon Jovi would headline a show at the rarely used Huntington Civic Center. Without a doubt this would be the hottest ticket in the River Cities since Elvis was slated to open the facility in 1977 (he died before the show, though). Bon Jovi was sitting atop the charts with "You Give Love A Bad Name" and the album Slippery When Wet was a must-have for everyone aged 8 to 38, give or take a few years either way.

Sometime in February of that year my dad dropped off me and a friend at Scratch & Tilt, Huntington's most famous arcade and official ticket outlet. These were the days before Ticketmaster, ticket brokers and elaborate schemes bilk fans of hard earned money. About 200 of us gathered to draw numbers for the chance to buy tickets. I vividly recall pulling number 15 out of the hat. Jean jacket clad teenagers, Marshall students and some older "kids" our parents warned us about formed an orderly line.

A few minutes later I plunked down $15 for a ticket to see Bon Jovi in Huntington, WV. I couldn't believe it. The biggest band of the year was going to play the 9,000-seat Huntington Civic Center. My parents couldn't believe I was spending a week's worth of lawn mowing money to see them.

Fast forward almost twenty years -> -> -> -> Staying true to the marketing push behind Bon Jovi's latest effort Have A Nice Day, I couldn't help but have a smirk on my face as I hit "Purchase" on Ticketmaster's web site yesterday morning. I had just spent $119.30 for two upper level seats to see Bon Jovi play Columbus' Schottenstein Center. Who would have believed on that cold morning in 1987 that two decades later I'd spending $104 more to see the aging rockers crank out their arena friendly hits?

Had I opted to purchase the lower level or floor seats for the November 9 show, I would have had to shell out more than $200 after facility fees, handling charges and Ticketmaster "convenience" charges. Since I just purchased a new home and realized this would be my 10th time seeing Bon Jovi, I rationalized the upper level "cheap" seats would be more than acceptable.

]]> Fri, 30 Sep 2005 15:47:12 -0400

Tupac "2Pac" Shakur is not dead. No way. You can't convince me.

Has anyone else noticed this is the most prolific "dead" guy in history? There has been more than a dozen Tupac album releases since his death in 1996. Although many are remix or live discs, at least a half dozen albums of original material have found their way to record store shelves.

Now comes news that a Tupac screenplay is heading to the sliver screen. Live 2 Tell is being developed as a feature film and will begin shooting in March 2006 according to Billboard.com.

Also, on a recent trip to an urban record store I noticed an abundance of 2Pac merchandise - calendars, posters, stickers, etc.

Something just isn't right here.

]]> Thu, 29 Sep 2005 01:36:47 -0400

Most of us would be thrilled to find a $20 bill in the pocket of the jacket we stuffed in the closet after Winter. Could you imagine the feeling experienced by Library of Congress engineer Larry Appelbaum last Spring when he accidentally uncovered a jazz gem in an unmarked box?

Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane has worked together in the late 1950s. Sadly, their studio legacy consisted of only three songs. Now fans, scholars and musicians can rejoice with the release of 52 minutes of two immortals sharing a chemistry of which others could only dream. Recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1957 as part of a show for VOA (Voice of America), the set is the jazz album of 2005. I would go so far to say this may even be the best album from all genres this year.

Coltrane is, on the tapes, brilliant. Monk is nothing short of genius. The result is a recording of both power and significance. Rarely do you musicians who compliment one another so well. And it is even more rare to hear two jazz giants push one another to dizzying new heights. As fantastic as Harry Connick Jr.'s and Branford Marsalis' Occasions project is, it falls well short of this pairing.

Something once thought lost forever is now available for everyone to enjoy. You can read more about the discover on Library of Congress' site.

]]> Wed, 28 Sep 2005 01:16:21 -0400

Coldplay's X&Y was the first album offered for pre-order on the iTunes Music Store. One week later came the opportunity to pre-order the Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business. Then came a steady stream of pre-orders - Bon Jovi, The Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, Fiona Apple, Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand – and the list goes on.

I will admit it's a pretty sweet deal at first glance. As an iTMS customer, I get the chance to pre-order a hot album with the promise of extras and bonuses not offered on the standard download. Typically it's a bonus track or a video. In the case of Depeche Mode, its access to a pre-sale code for concert tickets. Cool, eh?

But look deeper. These pre-orders often carry a price tag heftier than their standard download counterparts - $11.99 instead of $9.99. It also gives the big labels leverage to tout these new albums in interviews and in the media. The labels can now say "Artist X's album had 40,000 pre-orders through iTunes." I realize this isn't any different than pre-ordering the disc through Amazon.com. But there the albums are frequently discounted.

I also have to ask if the bonuses are really worth the extra two bucks? Usually you receive a "bonus" track that was actually deemed a throwaway by the band or the label. Why wasn't it good enough to be included on the album in the first place? For completists, it may be worth it. For casual fans, perhaps not.

And I still can't get past paying for videos. These are supposed to be free! I remember MTV's purpose in the 80s. Music videos are commercials for an album. Do you pay Aquafresh to see ads for toothpaste? No. So why do I have to pay Sony for a John Mayer video?

]]> Tue, 27 Sep 2005 00:08:03 -0400

I'm sure the question on everyone's mind is "what has been Music 4 Life been listening to recently?" It certainly hasn't been a quiet summer. And the slate for fall looks pretty full, too. But for now, six albums from artists everyone knows is getting a lot of air time on the iPod.

Gretchen Wilson had a huge task following up her 2004 quadruple platinum Redneck Woman. All indications are All Jacked Up will continue to enhance Wilson's country music superstar status. The title track and lead single deepens her redneck image. And "One Bud Wiser" is a cute, albeit silly, play on words. But guest spots from Merle Haggard (on "Politically Uncorrect") and Paris Hilton bashing (on "California Girls") remind the listener this is good, old-fashion country music.

Blues rock fans everywhere are rejoicing the new releases from Eric Clapton and The Rolling Stones. Fans in the know are calling the Stones' A Bigger Bang one of the band's best efforts in years. A friend of mine went so far to name Bang their best album since 1971's Sticky Fingers. I'm not sure you can ignore Some Girls or Tattoo You, but I will say that Bang breathes new life into a career that just doesn't seem to have an end.

Clapton, meanwhile, can't go wrong with a parade of guests that include John Mayer, Steve Winwood and Billy Preston. Amazon.com calls Back Home "Clapton in a good mood." And the surprising mix of material is indeed the perfect cap to a recent trifecta - a period that has included the 2005 Cream reunion and the highly successful Me and Mr. Johnson project.

Paul McCartney, like the Stones, must have received the memo stating one can't live on past successes alone. And while no one could blame McCartney for coasting on Beatles or Wings hits, we certainly can expect more out of one half of the world's greatest songwriting team than we've received over the past several releases. Chaos and Creation in the Backyard delivers some of the best music we've heard from a Beatle in decades. The album is as depressing as it is good, though. Powerful, haunting and sensitive are adjectives I've read to describe the effort. I'd agree.

]]> Mon, 26 Sep 2005 22:22:42 -0400 After an extended absence, Music4Life finally returns. I know that for many it seems we've fallen off the face of the earth. Email went unchecked. Albums not reviewed. Concerts missed. What on Earth happened? Well, it's too complicated to explain. And the most important thing is this...
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Word on the street is that Apple is in negotiations with record labels to sell music videos. Am I the only one who thinks it is a bad idea to pay for what is basically a commercial for a song? Perhaps my age has something to do with this. I remember watching NBC's Friday Night Videos (pre-MTV for you kids out there) for the latest, hippest clips from the likes of Duran Duran, The Police and The Cars. Obviously I remember also when MTV actually played music videos.

The funny thing is that I really don't miss music videos that much. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who loves music as much as I do. But music videos I could live without. Sure, I tune in to the VH1 countdown, MTV 2 or MTV Hits everyone once in a while. And occasionally I will check out the video section in the iTunes Music Store. But would I pay to see these clips?

Sorry, but my answer is a resounding NO. These are commercials folks. The entire purpose of a music video is to sell records (or CDs or downloads) and merchandise. I realize musicians and labels are looking for as many revenue streams as possible. But this is not something that is going to take the over-30 crowd by storm.

Can Apple revolutionize music videos (and possible movies) they revolutionized portable music with the iPod? All I can say is I might pay attention if the product was as or more interesting than the current iPods. No way do I want to watch a music video on a two inch screen. Nor do I even want to think about downloading a blockbuster movie to only be able to watch it in QuickTime on my Mac. Bring me a revolutionary product and I promise to open up my mind again.

]]> Tue, 19 Jul 2005 00:56:23 -0400 What is going on with all the covers albums? Is Rod Stewart to blame. This trend really seemed to take off when Stewart delivered The Great American Songbook Series to masses of baby boomers eager to hear mellow classics from a one-time rocker. Now we have entries from Rick Springfield, Carly Simon and Michael McDonald. Erasure even got in on the act with the shamelessly titled Other People's Songs.

I'm not sure what disturbs me the most - the fact so many artists are choosing the remake route or that I actually like some of these albums. Many singers and musicians can breathe new life into classics. And likewise, these classics can breathe new life into stalled, failing or forgotten careers. At the same time, it is almost sacrilegious to take on the Motown catalog or eighties classics.

Now, let's just hope this trend doesn't carry over to shows a la Clay Aiken and his Jukebox Summer Tour 2005. The American Idol will play songs from the 50s through today because he "thought it would be cool to sing a bunch of covers and relate to everybody." And while this formula is successful, I'd rather "relate" to a band or singer based on the feelings I have and connections I made based on their original music.

Still, I think this is going to be a lasting trend. Most of the remake albums are selling very well. The Clay Aiken tour is apparently doing good business. Most people, it seems, aren't bothered by the Nick At Nite approach to music. ]]> Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:38:50 -0400