Although it would hold more water if it was someone other than Kid Rock making this arguement, he is right.
That's the problem, though. It's Kid Rock making the argument.
I'm sorry, but I was not able to read that article with a straight face. Now, if it was Roger Waters or James Hetfield or... I don't know, Chris Martin speaking, I'd give it my attention.
But Kid Rock? If Kid Rock had to rely on "hit songs" to make his money, he'd have about $6 to his name. He needs people to buy his albums, because they cost more and he gets more.
I just feel sorry for the people that have to buy the whole album just to hear that one verse in the one song that may have come close to resembling music.
My understanding of that article, he's not saying that he doesn't get paid for individual songs, he's saying he gets paid MORE for full albums. Since no one in their right mind would ever buy a full Kid Rock album, instead of just the one song they like, he's feeling like he's getting ripped off.
In reality, he's the very example of what's wrong with the industry. Make something worth buying first, then worry about getting paid for it after.
Edit: I just wanted to add that first people were downloading songs for nothing. The artists (rightfully so) were upset about that. Then along came iTunes and the iPod and now people can download the songs they want, while paying for them (and thereby paying the artist for the song). Now, all the bands that make quality ALBUMS are happy (hell, even Metallica's full catalogue is available on iTunes), but the "artists" who are notoriously known for spewing out albums full of filler (Kid Rock, Jay-Z, etc) aren't happy because now people are only paying $0.99 for that one song on the album worth buying, instead of $20.00 for the whole thing.
My opinion: Tough. Make something worth buying then.
So, I guess there's always that route for Kid Rock. Why wouldn't he be willing to do something like that? Probably because it would hit him in the wallet. Or whatever it is cowboys from Detroit use to hold their singles on the way to the scrip club.
That's the problem, though. It's Kid Rock making the argument.
I'm sorry, but I was not able to read that article with a straight face. Now, if it was Roger Waters or James Hetfield or... I don't know, Chris Martin speaking, I'd give it my attention.
But Kid Rock? If Kid Rock had to rely on "hit songs" to make his money, he'd have about $6 to his name. He needs people to buy his albums, because they cost more and he gets more.
That's exactly right. Look at the artists stated in the artickle: Kid Rock, Estell, Jay-Z. Artists who are more likely to sample tried-and-true songs, throw in their own lyrics and try and pass it off as their own material than they are to put the thought and work into crafting an album with a theme or that tells a story.
The article goes on to say that AC/DC sold nearly 3 million albums with their last release, without it being on iTunes. Proof that if you make your own original music that's worth listening to, people are happy to put out for the album.
Just to add to what I stated earlier in the thread, one of my all time favourite CD's is 'New Miserable Experience' by the Gin Blossoms. Odds are I wouldn't have heard of any of the tunes on this album other than a couple of singles if I hadn't bought the whole CD. That would have been a shame because I LOVE every track on this CD...EVERY track.
I could say the same about Michael Penn's 'March' or Peter Himmelman's 'Synesthesia'.
that song that mashes Sweet Home Alabama with Werewolves Of London is a crime against music
theres a certain 3 letter acronym that fits perfect here. this is quite possibly the best thing i have read on this board for months. i was just made aware of that crappy song on wednesday and i made my wife turn it off. it made me want to become emo so i could cut myself. that song is AWFUL!
regarding the general topic, i would say most of the albums i have i can listen to the whole thing and enjoy it. there are some that i like about half the tracks and very few where i just listen to the tracks i like. i think if we are talking about genuine music, people will say that the best tracks on an album aren't even released as singles. if we are talking about bubble gum pop music, chumbuwumba was a good example, then most likely every album is only going to get cherry picked. but in my opinion, the people that like the single and hate the rest of the album, probably wouldn't like the single if it wasn't the 'popular' thing to listen to. its all about the marketing and getting people to jump on a bandwagon of bad music.
Just to add to what I stated earlier in the thread, one of my all time favourite CD's is 'New Miserable Experience' by the Gin Blossoms. Odds are I wouldn't have heard of any of the tunes on this album other than a couple of singles if I hadn't bought the whole CD. That would have been a shame because I LOVE every track on this CD...EVERY track.
I could say the same about Michael Penn's 'March' or Peter Himmelman's 'Synesthesia'.
And I have a friend who swears 'New Miserable Experience' by the Gin Blossoms is the worst CD she has ever purchased.
(I have it too and am decidedly meh about it).
Then there are albums like Filter's "Title of Record". People who bought that thinking it would be an album of songs like "Take a Picture" were in for a surprise.
__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
HA, I can't view youtube at work. Thankfully. I don't know if I am prepared to hear something like that in the morning. I will watch when I get home tonight and have had some rye...
He works hard to evoke the ghosts of the past, hoping that all his allusions will give him classic rock cred by association, when it only winds up underscoring the distance between him and his heroes. Nowhere is this truer than on "All Summer Long," a spin on "Night Moves" built entirely upon the chords from "Werewolves of London" with a slight lift from "Sweet Home Alabama" on the chorus, which only brings to mind how much better those three songs are than this mash-up.
I was 'happily' washing dishes in a Cardiff Bay restaurant when I heard the first notes of 'Werewolves of London' strike up on the radio and thought to myself; "Wow, they're playing Warren Zevon!" But suddenly something terrible happened, this processed drum-beat kicked in over the top, I feared a remix, but little did I know things were about to get a lot worse. Along came a vocal, it sounded uncannily like Bryan Adams circa 'Summer of 69' and it was singing out lyrics even more redundant, yet thematically related; however instead of reminiscing of his 'first real six string' he was prattling on about 'dancing to Sweet Home Alabama' and it was then that I began to notice the all-too-familiar chords of that guitar riff. Suddenly things had taken a turn for the nightmarish, whoever this was had not only ized Mr. Zevon but now Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Sweet Home Alabama' was being sampled for the benefits of a 'summer pop hit'. I was horrified, and when I found out the culprit responsible was Kid Rock I was baffled. Foolishly, I ignored my outrage, and carried on with my life.
A few weeks later and I was shopping in my local Co-Op when suddenly I heard the first notes of 'Werewolves of London' strike up on the radio and thought to myself; "Wow, they're playing Warren Zevon!" But again, something terrible happened. It couldn't be? It was! That processed drum-beat kicking in once more, and the return of that vocal returning like the supposed dead serial killer at the end of the horror movie. I had almost even blocked out the memory of its next victim, until that 'Sweet Home Alabama' referencing prelude to the chorus began sending an icy shiver down my spine. But still, despite the horror of hearing this song again, I carried on with my shop and continued about my business; thinking that if I ignored it it would just go away.
At long last I understood my purpose, I had to warn others of this song, even though the release date had long since past and the song had already reached number 1 on the UK singles chart. I hope that this tale will reach those yet to be corrupted and spare them the awful fate of spending three minutes and forty six seconds (that's just the radio edit) in the company of Mr. Rock and his mash-up of doom.
Though now, looking at it, I begin to suspect that I have not been sent this single as a catalyst to prompt me into action. I think that it is a token of mockery, reminding me that I was given two warnings, two chances to try and halt the rise of Rock and I failed. The one time I, as a music critic, would be able to make a difference and I let everyone (and myself) down and now I must live with this single as an albatross round my neck.
First things first ... there were 2 Presidents of the United States of America albums? I'm not being snobbish, I was just never aware!
This itunes thing is tricky business. Times are changing and digital distribution is throwing the entire business around. It seems to me that while there are many dinosaurs out there that seem intent on reverting us back to the format we used to live in, things aren't going to be changing any time soon. Meanwhile, there are companies and bands (itunes, NIN, and radiohead come to mind) who are actually seeing that there's money to be made if you go about it in a smart enough way.
IMO artists who say things like Kid Rock is saying are treading on semi-dangerous ground. Itunes makes boatloads of money despite a free, drm-less alternative being available (albeit illegal). If you make a system like itunes more restrictive than it currently is, I believe you'll only push more people to piracy.
I don't necessarily disagree with Kid Rock's statement (never thought I'd be writing that). There are many albums that I didn't like the tracks from, but over time developed a strong connection to. I see his point in that for many artists (hopefully all of them) the album is a complete story or unit that is meant to be heard from A-Z. It's a shame that many people will miss out on some great music because of the a la carte ways of itunes, but the fact is people will go elsewhere if it isn't available that way (imo).
He works hard to evoke the ghosts of the past, hoping that all his allusions will give him classic rock cred by association, when it only winds up underscoring the distance between him and his heroes. Nowhere is this truer than on "All Summer Long," a spin on "Night Moves" built entirely upon the chords from "Werewolves of London" with a slight lift from "Sweet Home Alabama" on the chorus, which only brings to mind how much better those three songs are than this mash-up.
so why do i care what Stephen Thomas Erlewine has to say?
i like the song, quite a bit actually...
music is simple ... it comes out of a speak, creates vibrations in your eardrum and your brain interprets it as sound. if you like the sound, thats life!
The article goes on to say that AC/DC sold nearly 3 million albums with their last release, without it being on iTunes. Proof that if you make your own original music that's worth listening to, people are happy to put out for the album.
It's pretty funny that you use AC/DC in your argument as a band that doesn't put out good singles and then a bunch of filler.
I love AC/DC, but let's be realistic here: they put out the same CD every couple of years. If any band was a poster child for single song downloads it'd be AC/DC.
so why do i care what Stephen Thomas Erlewine has to say?
i like the song, quite a bit actually...
music is simple ... it comes out of a speak, creates vibrations in your eardrum and your brain interprets it as sound. if you like the sound, thats life!
I would love it if we could keep talking about iTunes and the selling of singles rather than discussing whose musical tastes suck...
Russic: I agree, and it is a shame that people are missing out. I have never bought through iTunes, are full albums availible or do you have to download an album a song at a time??
