It's Been a Long Time Since I Rock and Rolled

Wow, so I guess the past five or six years have really flown by. Are you still out there? Probably not.

On a personal level, too many things to mention. But the main thing is that my passion for music really hasn't abated much. And thus, with a little bit of spare time on my hands, I guess I'll re-enter the sphere for awhile. Or should I be doing this on Tumblr? That's where all the hip kids are these days.

There's no need to serve any claim chowder at this point--it was easy to predict the implosion of the music industry, it was something that I have been doing ever since MP3s and the iPod showed up. The reality is that the Old Guard has taken a long time to die out. The music business has changed forever.

But it's still an incredible intersection of art and commerce. And it's still worth commenting on.

Mom and pop stores are dying.

the Lowell Sun ought to put this prism (EVIL BIG BOX STORES ARE KILLING THE BIZ) on virtually every other retail sector.

This is not news, it is not a unique situation, and it's not even that sad. I'm sad for my friends who have seen their indie record stores go the way of the buggy whip, but the biggest reason for their demise has been a) their business practices and b) an obvious, enormous shift in the market that they cater to. Those that haven't made a concerted effort to go virtual aren't going to be in the game five years from now.

50 more CDs that won't be found on my year end lists. Or my gift lists.

ony Releases List of 50 Rootkit Infected CDs

19 Albums that won't make my best-of list. Or even into my CD player.

hypebot: At Least 19 Sony BMG Titles Including Trey Anastasio And Our Lady Peace "Protected" By Controversial Rootkit Software

And it's too bad, because I was looking forward to hearing the Coral's new album and also had interest in the Neil Diamond record as well.

It makes you wonder how Sony decided which ones get the rootkit treatment--I notice that the Bruce Springsteen "Born To Run" box set (to be released on Tuesday, November 15th) isn't on this list. Yet.

Digital music isn't saving the business

but it's probably providing CPR.

Playing God with their music.

Growing up, one of the things I always hated about LPs and cassettes was having to sit through a bad song (or, more than often, a bad side in order to hear other songs on the album. Of course, my own laziness often empowered those technologies to possibly makes me more patient with the album format (growers!), but I can easily remember one of the things that I most looked forward to with compact discs was the ability to instantly skip songs. And while CD players routinely came with programmability, it was always too much of a pain in the ass to actually do.

"Playing God With The Verve" reminds me of one of the great aspects of the digital realm: rethinking albums on the fly. Yes, you could do this back in the day by making a mixtape, but the immediate gratification is so much more appealing on iTunes and the like. In that article, Nick Southall talks about re-sequencing the Verve's Urban Hymns and subbing a few b-sides while clearing out the clutter. It's a novel idea, a one-up from simply unchecking the songs on an album that I don't want to hear in iTunes.

Similarly, Nate Patrin goes over some novel ways to use the iTunes smart playlists, taking a large dose of creativity from the creators and giving new life and new context to his library.

It's creativity like these examples that continues to push the old way of doing things out the door. Consumers are responding, the model is shifting, and those who embrace this opportunity will prosper.

The Apple Polishers - Explaining the press corps' crush on Steve Jobs and company. By Jack Shafer

Jack Shafer hates all the good press that Apple gets. Even if it's deserved.

The Music Dope loves Apple for many reasons--quality products, a history of innovation, a brand that exudes passion and aspires for market dedication.

But every company apparently has it's haters, and Jack Shafer is really, really tired of Apple getting good press. You see, he's a media critic and therefore, he wants more criticism of the company.

It's the most boring argument in the world.

A few column ideas for Jack Shafer:

- The John McCain Polishers: the free ride afforded to the "Straight Talk Express"

- The New York Times Polishers: the syndicators of Paul Krugman and Maureen Dowd, who continue to publish dishonest and misleading discourse

- The Japanese Car Polishers: everyone knows that Honda and Toyota make cars that last longer because the press says so

- If It Bleeds It Must Lead: the mainstream media's obsession with violence and bloodshed

- Press Releases: the best source for business and political news

- Major Political Party Talking Points: how the front page is framed

- Union Polishers: the unions are working for the people!

OH, AND BY THE WAY MR. SHAFER: It's not lost on anyone that you are writing for MICROSOFT. What a dumbass.