Franz Ferdinand will be releasing a new album in two weeks. And that’s cool. But I’m not so sure I even liked their first effort. I listened to Franz’ self-titled debut quite a bit, smiled inwardly when MTV and VH1 played the video for “Take Me Out†and then never wanted to hear that tune again after Sony bought it to use in their PSP commercials.
And now, I just don’t think I care. Franz Ferdinand’s new album You Could Have It So Much Better is alright. Alright in the sense that I didn’t hate it as soon as I hit play. They added some harmony here and there, went for a more expansive sound and generally improved on what they did the first time around. So . . . bully for them, eh?
Of course, I’m just going to feed into the whole Franz Ferdinand Love Fest that is going on in Hipster Nation right now. I’ll put on my shiny, better-than-thou, preaching shoes, write a positive review of You Could Have It So Much Better and have it printed in the monthly entertainment section of the paper I work for. Some people might read it and, mistaking my privileged place in the media for real, honest to goodness music knowledge, actually buy a CD that I would never dream of paying $16 for.
Stuff to Sample: From Franz Ferdinand’s You Could Have It So Much Better “Do You Want To†and “What You Meantâ€
I think you bring up an interesting point. Not regarding Franz Ferdinand, but are any of us willing to pay $16 for a CD anymore? Are we stepping outside the bounds of capitalism into a world of free-flowing product and information? And think about this: as we that do not pay for music grow up and spawn children who engage in the same clandestine activities, what happens when we want to form a band, make a record, and are unable to because no one buys our album? Chew on that, it's delicious.
I lie. I paid $16 bucks for a CD last night but I did it at a semi-independent (i.e. not Sam Goody or Best Buy) record store. And I bought the disc because I knew none of you jerk-offs would have it. But you're all welcome to a copy of mine if you want it.
[1] "What happens when we want to form a band, make a record, and are unable to because no one buys our album?"
We were in a band. Remember? It was fun for a bit. Remember? But then it broke up. Remember? And not because no one would buy our CD. Remember? Because we never made a CD. Remember?
This digital revolution was needed, good or bad. It will change the way the industry operates. And by the time any of us have kids who are old enough to have musical "tastes," music and music distribution will have changed so much we probably won't recognize it. Besides, how many real people know what we know about getting music?
And the reason none of us "jerk-offs" had the CD you wanted is because ABBA sucks. Remember?
the romantic in me says that people will always purchase music in a physical form... be it 8 tracks, tapes or cds. or maybe that is my materialistic side that is a total sucker for packaging. granted, i buy music for what it is but the artwork, lyrics, dedications, etc. that go into the album are a huge part of its appeal. i will forever dish out $16 for an album. digital music may a cheap, quick way to check out a new band but it killed my dream of opening a music store with my sister on the jersey shore (called "tramps like us" after the boss). support your local record store. long live vinyl!
Wow, beefers, in some small way I almost feel responsible for crushing your dreams, so I sincerley apologize. I too, had my dreams crushed once. long, long ago, I had aspirations to be a world class flautist. Those dreams were crushed by Steve Perry.
But there are two very important lessons to learn here 1) always follow your dreams no matter what Steve Perry says and 2) the digital revolution was necessary if not inevitable. In fact I will make a post about the digital revolution.
But as much as I extoll the benefits of digital freedom, I too still pay $16 for music. The difference now is I am much more selective about what I buy. That is until I walk into the local record shop, which is right down the street from my job (and I can go down there during the day and discuss "work related issues" with the shop owner who happens to write a column for the paper). Then I go on a vinyl free-for-all. I love buying vinyl. It's priced so low, it sounds so great and nothing beats the smell of new vinyl and lovingly used vinyl. Plus, vinyl is the epitome of great packaging. Long live vinyl!
[4] Three things:
1. I know we had a band, and it broke up. I was putting out that "What if we form a group and want to sell a record" statement more as a hypothetical situation. Robbie Wagener once hypothesized that the digital revolution, if given the opportunity to develop to its true potential, would make record sales a thing of the past. This in turn would force artists to make a living the old fashioned way: performing and composing. Hello, 19th century!
2. Steve Perry in a Journey song, arguably THE Journey song, admonishes us to "don't stop believin!" He also told Sherry to "hold on." Hence, it is my contention that Mr. Perry has and always will be an individual who extolls the virtues of hope in a hopeless world.
3. It wasn't ABBA. Good lord, gimme some credit.
[5] 1. Robby is right, though the digital revolution will probably never make true record sales a thing of the past, musicians these days are finding out that record sales are not big money makers. To make money they must tour - it is the ticket and merch sales that sustain them.
2. I know how the Journey song goes. Let me tell you a story. Once, I was little. I spent my days running wild outside or playing Atari in the family room. Long before I knew the atrocities Journey had commited on the eardrums of our fine nation, my favorite Atari game was Journey Escape. the object of the game was simple, help all the members of Journey escape from backstage. I could get through all the stages until it was time to help Steve Perry run the gauntlet. It took me months to beat that level and you know what happened when I finally did?!? The game just reset. It fucking reset! I saved Steve Perry's ass and he couldn't even thank me. I realized then that Steve was wrong. I had never stopped beleiving and when I finally achieved my goal, I was sent right back to the beginning. So what is the point of trying in the first place? If you want to have your dreams crushed, I still have the game, we can play - and then cry.
3. I've seen your record collection. I will give you no credit.