Album artwork Vs the digital revolution

How many times have you gone into a record store and bought and album simply because the artwork caught your eye?  My answer based on my own opinion is never. Surely you buy your music based on the concept that you actually like it. With album artwork in mind why does it matter about it? We live in a digital world now, and most of our music is stored upon a little device that has a screen of 2.31 inches wide and 4.86 inches long. Do artists care about their artwork, or are they putting all their creativity into the music that you are paying for.

Over the years there have been many artists that have found publicity through the use of controversial cover on their album. Guns ‘N’ Roses have never been a band that are conservative. But the original cover for their album Appetite for Destruction showed an open shirted woman, who looked like she had been raped by a robot, and was then going to be crushed by a metal avenger. Some music channels were refusing to play any of the tracks because of this cover. Due to this it was then changed to show a tattoo that Axl Rose had on his forearm, which was, 5 skulls on a cross.

The Original artwork

            

The artwork that replaced the original

Some would say that it is a bit extreme that people would stop playing the music due to a picture on the front. It is however just a cover, the music on the inside will still sound like it should. The music also may not even represent the actual cover, it could just be that it is there to shock and get people talking. It certainly worked for Axl and the boys, although people were always talking about them.

Rhydian Dafydd the bassist out of the Joy Formidable has always been involved in doing the artwork for the bands releases. He was the artist behind the artwork of the Big Roar. Their second album Wolfs Law featured a wolf lying down with flowers growing out of its body. Dafydd was not the original artist behind this one, but still has strong views on why artwork is so important.

 “I do think it is important that it says something about the songs and lyrics. It kind of goes in tandem with it basically. It is not just that you give it away to commission so that it doesn’t say anything about what you are actually singing about. It is a very important factor.”

With this in mind then it is hard not to see why artwork is not that important. I have asked a number of music fans if they care about the artwork when they are buying an album, 80% of them said no. one even said that buying online can and will “see the end of album artwork at some point.”  For me even when I do download from ITunes, I still have to have the artwork, and it is a pet hate of mine when it doesn’t transfer from ITunes to my IPod. Even when it is just one simple block of colour such as the D.O.Ts And That album. That is just one big block of red. This did not annoy me simply because it was a cover that went with the music, and that it did not look out of place on my IPod. This could be down to me being a little OCD about these things but what the hell.

The D.O.T - And That

You would certainly see this standing out if it was seen in a shop. But that’s the thing this album was available as download only, so was there even a thought put behind this artwork, since it was just download only. Or was this just an ulterior motive on Mike Skinners and Rob Harvey’s behalf. Do they want you to think about the colour? Red is an angry colour, it has a lot of negative connotations, so this could mean something that the D.O.T are trying to get out to the people. On the flipside red can mean passion, love and seduction, so this could also be put into the artist’s music.

When you start a project, then in your head you can always see the finished outcome. A little like putting an outfit together in your head whilst shopping. Well when girls go shopping.  You buy separate items in different shops see a picture in your head and you have the end result. It seems that some bands are not to keen on doing this, they are pretty happy just to give away the artwork to anyone, have a little in put and use the finished product.

Maybe now that the digital revolution is taking over and CDs don’t really have much future, we shouldn’t be bothered about what is on the album cover? Or do we feel cheated that we are paying for something with only half the effort put into the product?

I personally like to see the artwork of bands and see the link between the music and the cover. That way if the album is not up to much I still have a pretty picture to look at.

Rochelle Massey

Introducing the Young Aviators

Take 3 young Irish men who start a band, move to Scotland together and sound upbeat, with plenty of harmonies, quite heavy at times and quiet at others. There songs are about everyday life and is usually the inspiration, though most of their songs at the moment, ‘False Education’, ‘Life in the Front Seat’ etc, are about being a young person in the 21st century, how things are all messed up and fast moving and jobless.

These 3 young men are known as the Young Aviators. I first saw them when they supported the Subways at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds back in 2011. Since then they have been out and toured their own tour, just finished their debut album. 2013 is going to be a year for Young Aviators.

Below is a small interview that i did with guys a while back but it will give you insight into them and what they are like, also check out the video.

Firstly how did you guys get together?
We started the band back when we were spotty, angst ridden teenagers. Growing up in a small Irish town meant that there wasn’t a whole lot for teenagers to do that wasn’t illegal, so music seemed like a healthy way to spend your time, which may also increase your chance of getting girls. We were roughly around 13 when we started jamming together in the basement of a local church.

What made you go from Ireland to Scotland?Primarily, University really. We took a year out to go on tour and concentrate on becoming a better band after our A-Levels, and after that was finished we all thought it would be a shame to split the band up, so we decided to go to Glasgow Uni together (also the only Uni that all three of us were accepted into). Plus, Scotland (much like Leeds) is good banter.

Markey, you have landed a part in a film. How did that come about?I did some things that I’m not particularly proud of to obtain that role. The film is called ‘World War Z’, starring Brad Pitt…and myself. Look out for the awkward bearded guy being chased by zombies across the streets of Philadelphia wearing a suit and walking like John Wayne.

Who are your main influences?
We all have varying influences, and our shared influences have obviously changed over the years. I’d say quality modern three-piece groups have always inspired us, bands with three members, who are louder and more impressive than bands with 5 or 6 members. Bands like Muse, The Subways, Green Day, BRMC& The Vines (when they were a three-piece), The Jam Etc…

Dead or alive, who would you put into your super group?
Awesome question!!! Right, on drums it has to be (drum roll please) Dave Grohl. On bass guitar Chris Wolstenholme from Muse, on guitar, Paul Weller, and on vocals Freddy Mercury. What a band that would be!

Can we have 3 facts on each of you so that new fans know a little about you?
Decky: I never travel in lifts by myself. I was born in Manchester. I really love Football.
Markey: I have a webbed finger. I have been a nude model and worked in the Disney Store. I’m a grade 8 tuba player.
Kyle: I am a male model. I only wear y-fronts. I’m terrified of commitment.

Is MTV still relevant?

Remember how MTV used to be all about the music. I delved into the world of MTV to see what people think about the channel now and also to see if music videos are still relevant today?

Lisa Marie Glover interview

So instead of you wonderful people just reading what I do and who I interview I thought I would turn my audio clips into a video, just so I can share them all.

First up is folk singer songwriter Lisa Marie Glover. This woman is a true delight to see at a gig, a true delight to listen to and also to interview as you will soon hear. So settle down with a brew and hear what she has to say about how she go into the music industry and what inspired her.

Danny Mahon

You probably get inundated with new bands that you should listen to and check out. Well here is another one for you to get in to.

Danny Mahon - Odd Socks

Danny Mahon is a singer songwriter from Manchester. He has recently supported Liam Fray from the Courteeners, on his acoustic tour. He has also been supporting another Manchester band Inspiral Carpets this past week. Have a listen to this wonderful number, if you like it then find out more here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An influential artist

Asking any music fan about who they like is always a difficult task. There are so many bands out there that we often forget about the ones that have influenced us the most. more often than not there is a special event that threw us into the arms of that band, and this is what this feature my Rapture is about. Maybe you will read it and it might make you think of how it got you started.

So have a read and a little listen.

How much of a cliché is it, when you say music has been in my life since I can remember?  It is a huge one, but one that is so true to many music fans, I included in this statement. My Dad is a massive music fan, and it is him that I have to thank for my music taste, and one of the most influential artists I have come across. My Mum played her part with the Motown and Northern Soul. Even my beloved Nan and Granddad were exposing me to the music from their era whenever they looked after me, from Nat King Cole, Andrea Bocelli, to ol' blue eyes himself Frank Sinatra. So it was no surprise that I picked up the music bug really.      

My most vivid memory from childhood, is waking up on a Sunday morning to the sound of my Dad singing (badly – don't ever ask for him to sing China girl) whilst doing the general things round the house, and getting our Sunday roast ready. He would sing anything from Bowie, The Smiths and Pink Floyd. As the years went by his singing never improved but the bands did. Waking up to China girl was now waking up to 'What took you so long' by The Courteeners and with a hangover this was not a good combination.

Although these bands changed from week to week one always remained consistent and that was Pink Floyd. When I was developing my own music taste I never understood the true meaning of Pink Floyd and why my Dad loves them as much as he does. The comments came such as “they are a classic”, “they have amazing songs”, “the lyrics are so powerful” and “the guitar playing is beyond anything else out there that you are listening to”. Probably at this point I was going through my girly boy band stage (this lasted a year) but I still could not understand what the fuss was about them. So I just trudged along listing to Nirvana, Suede, Manic Street Preachers and such not.

That was until something quite prolific was about to happen in my life. It is amazing how things change when a situation arises. You see things differently and you certainly listen to music differently, you try to get where the writer is and feel how they are feeling. This something has shaped me to be who I am today. My Nan was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. This woman had been in my life from the beginning and now she was not going to be there. She had always taught me to be who I wanted to be, was only round the corner from where I lived, and one huge influence on my life. So coming to terms with not having her was something I could not get my head round, but the world still keeps going even though you are going through something so big and hurtful. It is only here I that realise the power that Pink Floyd actually has, and why my Dad loved them so much. It was in the final stages of my Nan's illness that I picked up on it. I had come back from seeing her in the hospice and Dad was doing whatever he was doing round the house, and it was playing. The song that would change me and the way that I listened and thought about music. That song was 'comfortably numb' by Pink Floyd.

This whole song summed up everything that I was feeling, and how my Nan was in those final stages of the illness. If you have ever seen or been through watching someone battle cancer, then you will understand this song and how it relates to everything you and the person going through it are feeling. “There is no pain you are receding, a distant ship smoke on the horizon, you are only coming through in waves, your lips move but I can't hear what you are saying”. This particular lyric will be forever with me and will always make me think of my Nan. She was comfortably numb towards the end.

So from this horrible loss, I gained a new band, not much of a consolation, but was something that she gave to me before she went. From this I delved further and further into Pink Floyd much to my father gloating and saying the obligatory “I told you so”. But I didn't care I just wanted to hear more of this band. I was hooked from then on and have been ever since. If I am ever caught off guard and hear 'Comfortably numb', then it does bring a tear to my eye, of course it will, that event was a life changing one. One of my other favourite Floyd songs is the early one 'See Emily play', which ironically enough was penned in my college, where I studied journalism. Another is of course 'Shine on you crazy diamond’ all 7 parts I might add. You can not listen to it in a single part. I often listen to that on my bus journey home from work. Listening to each chord played, each bass line and all the other effects going on in the back ground.

Pink Floyd are a classic bands, who have stood the test of time. I only wish that I had listened to my Dad sooner and took advantage from an earlier age. But it is these things that make us who we are, and I doubt that if things had not of happened they way they have, I wouldn't be concentrating on my career as a music journalist. I do know one thing for sure that I will be introducing my children (when I have them) to the music of Pink Floyd and any others I feel they need to know about. Although I won't torture them with my Dads singing.

The D.O.T Live

This was a while ago but a gig that has stood out so read and watch people. 

The Video below is of the new single, new album is out May 6th 2013 and a 3 date tour is following the same week. Get tickets here.

Live @ the Brudenell Social Club Leeds
27/10/12

“How is the hospitality in Leeds…I want to get drunk on whisky…someone get me a whisky. Two songs in and Skinner is living up to his reputation.

Mike Skinner ended the Streets when he felt the time was ready. He had done all he wanted to with that project, and if you read his book ‘The Story of the Streets’ you get a feeling that he just wants to produce music. Fans felt let down that he wanted to shy away after he had been so open throughout his music. Would they still feel the same if they realised he had learnt to write his lyrics from reading country and western song writing books?  

Rob Harvey was from Leeds band the Music, who had helped out Skinner on his final edition to the Streets saga. Harvey is no stranger to the music industry he has been open about his struggle with depression, drink and substance abuse, which has landed him a brief stint in the Priory.

This dynamic duo have formed the D.O.T; it is a collaboration that when looking at it should not work, but does in so many ways, the Streets mark 2 this is not.

The crowd are amazed that this pair are playing in such a small venue, but when you look at the rest of the tour, they are all small venues. The pair are greeted with a howling of cheers, and a few heckles of Yorkshire.

They wave, the power into the first track ‘and a hero’, this is a soulful track that has techno vibes that intertwine with piano keys. When the beat breaks so does Harvey’s iconic dance moves.

During ‘Weapon of Choice’ Skinner’s vocals come along a lot better than before, but he is not about that anymore, with him behind the keyboard and mixer you can see his more dominant role of producer.

The D.O.T started out as an Internet project, and some of the tracks they have do not appear on the album like ‘Whatever it takes’ is one of these, but is still featured in the set. It has an anthemic chorus, big bass riffs and mixed with a funky house beat. It was more than a crowd pleaser, with people from the back moving closer to the front.

The first half of the set closes with ‘Right Side of Madness’ a slow and swaying ballad that highlights Harvey’s vocal abilities at his best. The set closed with ‘Goes Off’ a huge rave tune that will have you dancing around as if you were back in the 90s and on acid.

Any doubters that were in the crowd that Skinner was unable to leave the Streets behind will be put to rest. He still has his cheeky chappy aura about him, and mixed with Harvey’s quiet and reserved personality, it is certainly something to be watching. 

The most controversial acceptance speeches.

Award ceremonies in the music industry can be quite a controversial affair. Both the Brits and NME awards have recently happened, and these can be a place for artists to vent out their feelings and opinions without being edited out, unless the even is not live. NME tend to leave these sorts of events in to give the brand a little more edge, where as the Brit awards are to be seen as a clean-cut event. So with all of this in mind we can now delve into the world of award ceremony acceptance speeches, and what makes them so great, or for the producers not so great. But that is all part of live T.V and giving musicians alcohol

Adele – acceptance speech cut short.

2012 was a momentous year for Adele she won 6 Grammys awards for her second album 21. She is now the only the second ever female to win that many awards at the event. In the same month she won another 3 awards at the Brit awards for the same album. Feeling a little over whelmed with the recognition, Adele was struggling to get her words out to thank her fans. She was soon cut off by host James Corden, and was seen to be giving the middle finger. Who said crooners were just shy and retiring.

Liam Gallagher Vs. Peter Kay.

Who hasn’t had a public spat with the rowdy Gallagher brother? It seems he cannot go to an awards ceremony and behave, but who would have thought Peter Kay would have been his next victim. Having Liam pick up the Brit for best album for 30 years for Oasis’ (what’s the story) Morning Glory? At the Brits 2010 was always going to be a bit of a risky job. Plough the Manc with beer stick him on live T.V what did they think they were going to get… If you're wondering, this is what he said, "Listen kids, I wanna thank Bonehead, Guigs, Alan White and the best fucking fans in the world, live forever" PETER KAY - WHAT A KNOBHEAD

Robbie Williams Vs. Liam Gallagher.

Yes you have guessed it another Liam Gallagher spat. Well an awards show wouldn’t be any good if there weren’t one now would it. If you want to make headlines then invite Liam Gallagher, or so it would seem. The Brit awards 2000 was no different, Robbie Williams and the Gallagher’s were already involved in public spat. but who knew that Williams would offer Liam Gallagher a fight when he was picking up the gong for best British video for the hit She's the One. People are still ready and waiting for this fight to happen. Check out the video here.

Not all award ceremonies are violent or aggressive some can be just funny. Some can make you feel happy for the person who has won it, and some just know how to act in front of a camera when they know it is being filmed.

Noel Gallagher – Receives Godlike genius award.

Not all the Gallagher’s act like fools at award ceremonies, stick them at the same one then that would be a different story you might get Wibbling Rivarly part two if they did. Since Oasis ended Noel has been pursuing his High Flying Birds, and has gained the most prestigious award that NME give out and that is the Godlike Genius Award in 2012. He may be full of himself, but he does deliver a good speech.

Dave Grohl – the nicest man in rock.

Everyone loves Dave Grohl so it was only right that in 2011, NME named him Godlike Genius. Grohl being the Drummer in Nirvana, creating the Foo Fighters, drumming for Queens of the Stone Age and forming them Crooked Vultures. If it weren’t the Godlike genius award he won then it would have been the hardest working man in rock award.

Kanye West – a little stage invasion goes a long way

In 2009 Kanye West got people talking by invading the Grammys whilst Taylor Swift was giving her acceptance speech for best video. His outburst even got a response out of the American President Obama who called him a 'Jackass'. West had a problem that his best friends wife Beyonce did not win the award. Should have been Beyonce throwing the diva and strop not Kanye.