There’s something to be said for audio streams. In the eighties, record labels promoted new album releases with lavish bios printed on heavy stock paper, replete with 8 X 10 glossies and fan lapel buttons. They even sent critics picture discs on occasion. Sometimes, we were even treated to margarita parties and backstage passes.
We loved all that attention, probably a little too much. All the perks and extras made us feel way too special, and diverted our attention away from the core reason any of us there were there in the first place—our devotion to music.
While I’m not knocking the excesses of the eighties (outside of the fact that I’m left with a buttload of promo nonsense, the significance of which escapes me now 25 years later), I rather like the audio streams the labels often send me now. I know I’m in a bit of a minority among my contemporaries, but the notion that we need a physical object to remind us of the importance the music makes to us strikes me as daft.
Downloaded audio streams force us to focus purely on the music. That’s a good thing, I think. It divorces our opinion from extraneous factors like graphics, microscopic liner notes and lyric sheets, and allows us to concentrate purely on the music.
The latest release from Foo Fighters, Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace, is a case in point. I had a graphic of the album art—a bomb presumably descending on a target, and the music. That's it. Nothing else—no liner notes, no lyric sheet, nothing but the music. In other words, it came as a rock critic’s worst nightmare. It’s like flying blind in a snowstorm in the middle night—no press release reference points to guide me, no fan and pan feedback, nothing but the music and me, mano y mano.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
As one of those "contemporaries" of yours Ray, let me just say that I've got nothing against streams. It's just when I sit down to listen to a piece of music, I've gotten quite used to kicking back with a beer, a glass of wine, or whatever and pouring over the information on a sleeve. To me, it just makes the experience a lot more personal.
And yes, I love holding that little disc-box (or Lp) in my hands. I'm just old fashioned that way.
-Glen
2 - Mark Saleski
so far, i haven't written one review based on the music heard via a stream. one of my contacts has gone to them, but i just use it to see if i want to request a cd or not.
the key, i guess, is that i don't use my computer to listen to music.
3 - Glen Boyd
Me neither Mark. I had to sit in front of my screen for the first few days after I downloaded the new Radiohead (before burning it) and it drove me freakin' nuts!
-Glen
4 - Ray Ellis
Pardon my tardiness, guys.
I feel your pain, Glen. But to me, albums haven't really existed since the advent of the CD, at least, not in the sense of them being an event loaded with extras. Whether that's a good thing, I don't know. The CD booklets never cut it for me--and how you can read 4pt type is beyond me. I do applaud your mutant vision, though.
I have to cop to the fact I use my computer quite a bit to listen to music, Mark. I also use it to read lyrics, do research-- hell, I even watch movies and TV on it.Admittedly, I have a multimedia computer, so it's no more a distraction than my stereo.
It occurred to me that my daughter, born in 1985, cannot relate to those 12" vynyl albums. She also can't remember my Criterion laserdisc collection (thankfully sold before that medium died its
death.)
All that said, yeah, i sometimes wax nostalgic about how cool all that was. But that was then, this is now. CDs killed the vynyl star, and CDs are going the way of the dinosaur, too.
5 - Mark Saleski
CDs are going the way of the dinosaur, too
we'll see about that. perhaps they will...maybe this generation will not want to be bothered with purchasing a physical product.
if things go the way of download-only, my consumption will drop off dramatically.
6 - Ray Ellis
Actually, I believe downloads represnt a transitional phase of music delivery. But I do believe the CD will go the way of vinyl within two years--tops. It's just no longer economically viable. CD sales, even as we speak, represent the only downside in music profits, and artificially represent a decline in sales.
What I think will happen is that music will be customized to the individual. And delivery will be digital. Lyric sheets, bios, etc. will be available to those who care-for a price, of course. But let's face it--the average consumer wants the "hits". And unless there's a concerted effort by artists and industry, music will return to its single-oriented roots.
You know what? I think we have the basis for a roundtable discussion here. Anybody up for it?
7 - Mark Saleski
check out this viewpoint.
two years, eh? hmmmm....
8 - Ray Ellis
Two years was a very conservative estimate, Mark. The holiday season will pretty much decide the fate of the CD. Of course, there will always be--always has been-- a niche market for the vinyl connoisseur. There's also an 8-track cult. Neither are going to save the industry as we know it. There's a change afoot, and its name is digital.
9 - Mark Saleski
i don't think cds are going to go away until downloads make up a vast majority of sales. when that happens is anybody's guess.
10 - Glen Boyd
I know an invitation to wind me up when I see it. Count me in on the roundtable if it happens. But be warned cause y'all may need to sit back when I go OFF on this subject...
-Glen
11 - Pico
Please have at it, gentlemen. This should be a good discussion.
12 - Glen Boyd
Unless I'm mistaken, you have also been invited to join in Pico. Check your email.
-Glen
13 - Pico
Got it. I'll add my two pesos if y'all want it. Thanks, Glen.
14 - El Bicho
"She also can't remember my Criterion laserdisc collection (thankfully sold before that medium died its death.)"
I had a "friend" try to get me to buy his LD player in 1997. He was selling it so he could upgrade to DVD, so I asked him why wouldn't I want a DVD player then. Needless to say, he had no response.
okay, now about music:
"unless there's a concerted effort by artists and industry, music will return to its single-oriented roots."
I believe it's already there.
15 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
What?! I don't get an invite? That's fine, I understand. I've been way too argumentative this year on the subject of music... Here's my two cents:
The current industry is about convenience! It has nothing to do with audio quality(Ha!and musical quality either). I don't believe that the DJs & Indie kids are buying vinyl because they understand the analog wave...I think that small group of people are just "retro" fans. Maybe I'm wrong but I just can't wrap my brain around the vision of some Indie rock dufus or some Hip-Hop materialist whose music is minimalist at best spending most of his income on an audio system that could support the "analog groove" that vinyl has to offer. I highly doubt that those types of bands are really interested in recording at top sampling rates either.
(excerpt from Mr. Saleski's article)"Another reason for vinyl's sonic superiority is that no matter how high a sampling rate is, it can never contain all of the data present in an analog groove, Nyquist's theorem to the contrary.
"The digital world will never get there," said Chris Ashworth, owner of United Record Pressing, the country's largest record pressing plant."
The digital world could get there but the consumer doesn't support it. You want evidence? Look at the SACD & DVD-Audio formats. Still a physical medium (DVD-A had lyrics and liner notes on your TV screen)and the audio was at a much higher sampling rate than CD. People didn't want spend more money on something they thought they had already purchased(Believe me, I worked retail at the time). Alot of people felt that if they couldn't hear the difference on the shoddy systems that Best Buy & the likes have to offer then it really doesn't matter. I used to get in trouble all the time for referring people to Spearit Sound here in Boston.(F*ck that Bose shite)
Honestly, I don't know what else to say. Look at how long it took for High Definition TV catch on and I wouldn't be suprised if a good portion of consumers still don't utilize that. But, that's another story for another time.
16 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Actually, I do have more thoughts on the matter. Look at the discussion about Radiohead's latest internet release & how people didn't understand the problem with getting music compressed @ 160Kbps. Some paid almost CD prices for that d/l & were happy with getting an inferior product... It amazes me. And, then when you mention FLAC or Ogg Vorbis you get alot of confusion. The masses just don't do research anymore....