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Monday, December 15, 2014

Music News and New Music For December 15th, 2014

So of course, when running your own blog it can be tough to keep up with the s**tload of stuff that comes across our ears over a weekend!  Some good, some bad, some not even worth mentioning.  I guess that's how I use AFGM in general.  These articles that I go through everyday from various sites (Blabbermouth, CBC, National Post, AV Club, Google, Wired, Exclaim, Music News, Rolling Stone, etc.) and sort of "filter" some of the nonsense news such as the latest fashion design, who's got beef with who and who ISN'T doing music...still.

These articles brought forth are for a few different reasons:

1. It is relevant music information that pertains to you as a reader, no matter the level of intent or the genre.

2. They are relevant to the music I would be currently listening to or a genre I have put some attention and focus on.

3. I am rather patriotic about my Canadian music, so that always comes as a first for me.  I enjoy music from all parts of the world respectively, but I still have to promote local if I can.  Canadian music rocks!

4. Because it's humorous and we can always use a good laugh.  Rarely will it be at someone's expense...but then again I am just the guy talking about it.  They're the ones causing the comments.

So in closing, I trust you all will not read EVERY single article posted here.  But I hope you find something of use here and keep the conversation going by forwarding it onto someone else.  Click on each article heading for redirection to the full article.  Cheers!



Canada's Only Vinyl Pressing Plant RIP-V to Close:

"This news doesn't come as a complete surprise, since rumours have recently been swirling that the company would be selling its equipment to a U.S. company. Exclaim! reached out to RIP-V for a comment last week, but we received no comment on the matter. Now, the bad news has been confirmed."


Why we love hating the music we hate as much as we love loving the music we love:

"It’s all gone now, of course. Not just the magazines themselves, but the legendary bile and high-handedness of old-school rock criticism have been swept from the map. Such magazines as survive are ‘fearful of alienating the readers and advertisers they still have, whereas music magazines of the pre-internet age could alienate their readers and advertisers all they liked, secure in the knowledge that there was nowhere else for their readers and advertisers to go. But it’s a logic that denies a fundamental truth of the relationship that the sort of people who buy music magazines have with music: they love hating the music they hate nearly as much as they love loving the music they love.’"


R.I.P. Island Records Co-Founder and Pioneering Reggae Engineer Graeme Goodall:

"Goodall was born in Australia and later moved to England. In the '50s, he went to Kingston, Jamaica, to set up a commercial FM radio network. He later took a job at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation and engineered some classic early reggae recordings. His credits include Bob Marley & the Wailers, Toots & the Maytals, the Skatalites, Jimmy Cliff, Derrick Morgan, Prince Buster, Millie, Desmond Dekker and many more."


The Internet, Not the Labels, Hurt the Music Industry:

"But maybe this music shouldn’t be heard. The Internet has enabled anyone with a computer, a kazoo and an untuned guitar to flood the market, no matter how horrible or simply unready the music is. This devalues the great music that is truly worthy of being heard, promoted and sold. And it is much more than just an endless supply of choices. The Internet has become a forum for all, regardless of talent. Anyone can be a writer. Anyone with GarageBand can make a record."


Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith Answers Your Twitter Questions:

"I would love to do some more Chickenfoot, but it takes four people to be in the same place at the same time. Sam [Hagar] does other things and, of course, I'm busy with my band. Joe [Satriani] has his solo career. Mike [Anthony], I think, is pretty open; he's kind of hanging. But it was a really fun thing to do. I haven't been very available. They had to get a different drummer, Kenny Aronoff, to tour the last record. I wouldn't be able to do any extensive touring with them, but I would love to make another record. I love the creative process, and I hope that we can do that in the future. But right now there's no plans for any new Chickenfoot stuff." -Smith


Fall Out Boy Detail 'American Beauty/American Psycho' LP, Share New Single:


1. Irresistible
2. American Beauty/American Psycho
3. Centuries
4. The Kids Aren't Alright
5. Uma Thurman
6. Jet Pack Blues
7. Novocaine
8. Fourth of July
9. Favorite Record
10. Immortals
11. Twin Skeleton's (Hotel In NYC)

"this photo was meant to capture the threshold between the american beauty and the american psycho… what rages on the inside- how we what we all feel is permanent and impermanent all at once. we can change but do we really want to? activate yourself, protect your dreaminess. or break it- 'because without the cracks the light couldnt get out.'

Rock and roll doesn't necessarily mean a band. It doesn't mean a singer and it doesn't mean a lyric, really. It's that question of trying to be immortal." -Malcom McLaren




Pirate Bay Has Been Raided and Taken Down: Here’s What We Know:

"But just last month, Neij was arrested at the Thailand-Laos border on the 2009 conviction.

And last week a French court ordered ISPs in that country to block access to Pirate Bay, as well as any of its mirror sites, from within French territory.

Then days ago Google removed and banned a number of third-party Pirate Bay file-sharing apps from the Google Play store. The apps help users circumvent blocks instated by ISPs to prevent users from accessing Pirate Bay."


'Each time police shut Pirate Bay, we’ll multiply other servers':

“It was already shut down in 2005, and the result was the creation of a party called Pirate Party coming with all the ideas of sharing of information, of knowledge and culture on the internet. And freedom on the internet.

So they came up with this: basically, each time you shut the Pirate Bay down, we will multiply." -Kramm


Apple Pulls White-Power Music From iTunes:

"An Apple spokesperson confirmed to Rolling Stone that music was removed. The company was not involved in the creation of SPLC's report, but took some of the music down as a result of the publication. A SPLC spokesperson tells Rolling Stone that he compiled the list from monitoring 15 to 20 white-power websites, combing through the catalogs of defunct white-power label Resistance Records and cross-checking to see if they were hateful."


Christmas music in stores: Lifting spirits or boosting sales?:

"But that affinity for Deck the Halls in the shopping malls varies amongst age groups and the sexes. While older shoppers said they enjoyed Christmas music at the mall, younger people said they preferred more variety to their holiday tunes. And men, more than women, would pass on the Christmas melodies as they wander the malls, said the report.

Some shoppers --29 per cent --said they stayed in a store longer because they enjoyed the Christmas music, while 36 per cent left because of it.

The new poll may be interesting for stores that choose to skip Christmas music altogether."


Audiam Raises Additional $1 Million From Music Biz Investors:

"Some of those investors already contributed to the $2 million the company had previously raised since its launching in the first quarter of 2013. Audiam initially targeted the opportunities created by user-generated videos on YouTube, whereby its automated system seem to only catch and identify about 50% of the videos that use music. But Audiam has since diversified into the broad music publishing administration sector. Its clients include Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Trent Reznor, Steve Miller Band, the Four Seasons, Victory Records, Epitaph Records, as well as publishers like Imagem, House of Hassle Publishing."


Microsoft's giving 100 more insanely great music albums away for free:

"The terms of the deal are the same as before. You’ll need access to Microsoft’s Music Deals app to see the freebies, which then bumps you over to the Xbox Music app when you select a free album—meaning you’ll need Windows 8 or Windows Phone 8. You’ll also need a Microsoft Account to snag the songs. The last giveaway was a U.S-only deal, and it's very likely this one is as well, though I've yet to confirm that."


Chris Martin: David Bowie Rejected Coldplay Collaboration:

"Martin made the revelation at the inaugural BBC Music Awards on December 11th during a video tribute to Bowie, a nominee for the British Artist of the Year award. "One time I sent him a song to ask him to sing on it. He called me and said, 'It's not one of your best,'" Martin admitted (via NME). "He's got very high standards and I appreciate that. It inspires the rest of us to keep our standards high." Martin didn't elaborate which Coldplay song Bowie had turned down."


Standing At The Intersection Of Music And Tech:

"By virtue of the aggravating competition, it’s my estimation that a TuneLaunch commercial will stick out against the din of car insurance plugs and campaign advertising—for a TuneLaunch spot features something mainstream radio supposedly champions (unadorned music, front and center) and something it palpably doesn’t (independent music you haven’t heard before)."


Awesome Lego Album Covers:

(Photo courtesy of legoalbums.tumblr.com)

Click on title for more albums.


Nearly half of Canadian web users now streaming music, most using mobile:

"According to a telephone poll conducted late last year by the Media Technology Monitor, Google's YouTube was far and away the most popular source for streaming music online.

Half of the anglophone Canadians who told MTM that they listened to music online said they used YouTube for streaming, while only about 20 per cent said they used a specialized music streaming service."


Former Apple engineer tells court that tech giant DID block rival music on iTunes - but insists it was just a security measure:

"Apple is accused of abusing its monopoly position in the digital music player market, and only earlier this month lawyers claimed the firm deliberately deleted rivals' song from iPods.

The case went to trial in California last month, after being filed a decade ago.

Plaintiffs are claiming Apple's restrictive software froze out competitors and allowed it to sell iPods at inflated prices.

They are seeking $350 million (£224m) in damages, which could be tripled if the jury finds Apple broke federal anti-trust law."


It's Too Hard to Manage Music Now:

"If I'm out and about and listening to music via headphones, those songs get interrupted by text message notifications and email dings all the time. I'm so used to it, but when I think about it for a second, I realize how crazy that is (and yes, I know I can turn my phone sounds off, but sometimes I have to be alerted to things quickly). Apologies if I sound like Andy Rooney, but the truth is I’m not railing against newfangled tech or yearning for a distant past—I’m frustrated to have to abandon a recent solution. It wasn’t long ago that I’d get annoyed when music skipped on Discman as I walked to school. The iPod was the answer. That's when we fixed all these problems."


Sirius XM: Its Free Music Counterparts Less Of A Threat:

"In addition to music, Sirius XM offers a variety of other content such as talk shows, news, sports shows etc., the full range of which is a disincentive to switch to a streaming-only alternative. The satellite radio provider’s business is much more sustainable than free music services, which indicates that while Sirius XM is well equipped for the long run, the future of free streaming services is somewhat uncertain. To this end, the most recent example is the proposed rise in royalty rates for Pandora, that has put a question mark on its future profitability. In addition, Sirius XM still has substantial room for growth in form of the used car market, which should ensure that its subscriber growth is not be affected by what free music providers are doing."


Shazam Overhauls Its App to Take on iTunes and Pandora:

"On Wednesday, Shazam launched an update to both its app and its website. Until now, people have primarily used the app to identify songs and keep lists of songs they’ve previously identified. But the new app emphasizes finding new music—not just identifying what you’ve already found—with charts that show which tracks are trending in the app, when, and where. It also includes an Amazon-style recommendation engine to help users discover new music. Through an integration with Spotify, it will now let you actually play those tracks within Shazam itself (if you’re a Spotify member). And the company is launching its own music Hall of Fame for songs that have been Shazamed at least 5 million times."


Shazam update brings Spotify integration, real-time music data, & better song discovery:

“People don’t tag songs they already know and love, so that presented us with some interesting challenges.  Shazam won’t give you the top 100 hottest tracks, but what we’re hoping to do is give you the next 100 songs that people are listening to." -Daniel Danker


Jack White Releases 3D Virtual Reality App:



"The app has rather specific compatibility requirements to use properly, since an announcement notes that it works only with recent Android phones (five-inch or six-inch) using a Google Cardboard virtual reality headset. Without the headset, it works in regular 2D, or it's possible to make your own Cardboard-style headset. Meanwhile, iOS users are out of luck."


CIA Torture Songs - How Music Was Used To Create A 'Sense Of Hopelessness':

"A cable described Abu Zubaydah's cell as white with no natural lighting or windows, but with four halogen lights pointed into the cell. An air conditioner was also in the room. A white curtain separated the interrogation room from the cell. The interrogation cell had three padlocks. Abu Zubaydah was also provided with one of two chairs that were rotated based on his level of cooperation (one described as more comfortable than the other). Security officers wore all black uniforms, including boots, gloves, balaclavas and goggles to keep Abu Zubaydah from identifying the officers, as well as to prevent Abu Zubaydah "from seeing the security guards as individuals who he may attempt to establish a relationship or dialogue with.” The security officers communicated by hand signals when they were with Abu Zubaydah and used handcuffs and leg shackles to maintain control. In addition, either loud rock music was played or noise generators were used to enhance Abu Zubaydah's "sense of hopelessness." Abu Zubaydah was typically kept naked and sleep deprived."


Copyright Law Is Being Rewritten Right Now, and You Can Help:

"Copyright isn’t just about pirating music or downloading DVDs anymore. Like a creature alive, copyright is evolving and expanding. Traditional “dumb” products are being replaced by an internet of things — and copyright is hitching along for the ride. Its DNA is being woven through the programming that powers your car, the firmware in your phone, the code in your kid’s talking teddy bear, and the software that calibrates your hearing aid."


Musx overhauls its streaming music app, raises $500K:

"Today the startup is rolling out a major overhaul for the app, which features a new home screen with a “Play Stream” button to get you listening to music aggregated by friends faster. You’ll also be able to favorite songs as they play so you can return to them later, navigate to other users’ playlists, find music more easily with an improved search tool, and more."


Coal Chamber To Tour North America With Filter, Combichrist, American Head Charge:

Mar. 06 - Tempe, AZ @ Marquee
Mar. 07 - Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
Mar. 08 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Grand
Mar. 09 - Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
Mar. 11 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market
Mar. 12 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Mar. 13 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
Mar. 14 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Mar. 16 - Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
Mar. 17 - Wichita, KS @ The Cottillion
Mar. 18 - Tulsa, OK @ Cains Ballroom
Mar. 20 - Milwaukee, WI @ Rave
Mar. 21 - Detroit, MI @ Harpos
Mar. 22 - Joliet, IL @ Mojoes
Mar. 23 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue*
Mar. 25 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
Mar. 26 - Toronto, ON @ Opera House
Mar. 27 - Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theater
Mar. 28 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
Mar. 29 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Mar. 31 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live
Apr. 01 - Hartford, CT @ The Webster
Apr. 02 - Patchogue, NY @ The Emporium
Apr. 03 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Apr. 04 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Apr. 06 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls
Apr. 07 - Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
Apr. 08 - Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
Apr. 09 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
Apr. 10 - Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
Apr. 11 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Apr. 12 - Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Live

Tickets are on sale now!


Alrosa Villa rampage a decade ago has left scars, bonds among 3 men:

"The three men, who didn’t know one another before that night, refer to themselves not just as friends but as family. Halk and Niggemeyer are in the same fantasy football league and played together in an adult baseball league. Both occasionally attend concerts at Alrosa Villa to support and reconnect with Cautela.

The friendships are among the reasons that Halk focuses on the positive when he speaks about the events that occurred 10 years ago today at the nightclub on Sinclair Road."


YouTube For Android Gets Offline Playback… But In India, Indonesia And Philippines Only:

“Asia has proven itself to be a mobile-first world in terms of smartphone adoption, but access to high-speed, affordable data remains a big challenge. In response, we’ve been working on ways to lessen the demands of speed and data for people using our products in places where there are challenges to access." -Google


Spotify Now Converts What Friends Listen To Into A “Top Tracks In Your Network” Playlist:

"To make it easier to find people to Follow on Spotify, the music streaming service now shows the faces of friends who listen to the artists and playlists you play. You can quickly click or tap through to Follow them and start getting their listening habits in your “Top Tracks In Your Network” playlist. It looks at the past week of what the people you follow listened to, and tries to pull out tracks played by many people you follow, or that one person listened to over and over. You’ll find the playlist if you go into the Browse feature in the navigation menu, then click the Top Tracks button."


Warner Music Says It Loves Streaming Music — As Long as Listeners Are Paying for It:

"In our view, right now, enabling meaningful global growth in the number of paying subscribers is the best option for artists, for songwriters, for copyright owners and for the services themselves. Subscription streaming is not only a fantastic offering for music fans, it will propel the long-term health of the music industry. We look forward to continuing to work closely with our partners to turbo-charge the adoption rate for subscription streaming.

We were pleased that two of the biggest streaming services in the world have taken meaningful steps to convert segments of their massive customer bases into paying subscribers." -Stephen Cooper


Century Media Records Release Burning Church Snow Globe For The Holidays:

"Keeping it warm since ’88, celebrate the holiday season with this black metal themed snowglobe. Limited to 500 pieces, all of which are hand numbered. Shake it up to see the fire and ash circle around this burning church surrounded by black fencing and tombstones.. A 3” diameter glass + 1 ½ inch base/poly resin globe that will be housed inside a box with a polybag and Styrofoam (2014)."


Anti-Flag Add Canadian Leg to 'Terror State' Anniversary Tour:

01/02 San Francisco, CA - Slim's *
01/03 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour *
01/04 Mesa, AZ - The Nile Theater *
01/06 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theatre ^
01/08 Austin, TX - Mohawk ^
01/09 Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey ^
01/10 Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's ^
01/11 New Orleans, LA - Tipitina's Uptown ^
01/13 Jacksonville, FL - Free Bird Live ^
01/15 Fort Pierce, FL - The Inlet ^
01/16 Tampa, FL - The Cuban Club ^
01/17 Orlando, FL - Plaza Live ^
01/18 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade ^
01/19 Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre *
01/29 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop *
01/30 Indianapolis, IN - Emerson Theater *
01/31 Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock Club *
02/4 Asbury Park, NJ - Asbury Lanes *
02/5 New York, NY - The Gramercy Theatre *
02/12 Toronto, ON - The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern *
02/13 Montreal, QC - Les Foufounes Electriques *
02/14 Peterborough, ON - The Red Dog *
02/15 Hamilton, ON - Club Absinthe *
02/17 London, ON - Call The Office *
02/18 St. Catharines, ON - L3 Nightclub *
05/29-31 Nürburgring, Germany - DER RING - Grüne Hölle Rock
05/29-31 München, Germany - Rockavaria (Olympiapark)
08/06-09 Blackpool, UK - Rebellion Festival

* The Terror State show
^ with Pennywise, A Wilhelm Scream


THE EXPLOITED To Release New Studio Album Next Summer:

"It was very important for us that Wattie cures completely. Now he's recovered and we can go on working with new power.

We're totally hooked to enter the studio to record new songs, and, of course, we're thrilled to play the upcoming live shows.

Watch out / get ready, THE EXPLOITED is back — better than ever!"


Bose is staffing up to launch new music streaming service:

"Audio manufacturer Bose is hiring staff and moving 'quickly' to build and launch its own 'next generation streaming music platform'. While Bose could integrate their music service within their own audio products, the company still faces very steep competition. And this new move is likely to displease Apple, who recently pulled and then reinstated Bose products from its Apple stores. 

Bose is currently advertising for a Senior User Experience Designer of Cloud Music Services. According to the ad, the company is 'seeking an expert Experience Designer to lead design and prototyping of our next generation streaming music platform and ecosystem of products.'"

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