Comments on: more thoughts on the gang of four album http://www.pampelmoose.com/2007/11/more-thoughts-on-the-gang-of-four-album music . media . web. culture Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:09:51 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Of Montreal, new album available by Lantern, Wall Stickers, T-shirt and more | pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang of Four's Music and Media Blog http://www.pampelmoose.com/2007/11/more-thoughts-on-the-gang-of-four-album/comment-page-1#comment-99320 Of Montreal, new album available by Lantern, Wall Stickers, T-shirt and more | pampelmoose Dave Allen of Gang of Four's Music and Media Blog Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:05:48 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1125#comment-99320 [...] This was exactly the way I wanted to release new Gang of Four material. Of Montreal’s new album ‘Skeletal Lamping’ will be released on CD of course and [...] [...] This was exactly the way I wanted to release new Gang of Four material. Of Montreal’s new album ‘Skeletal Lamping’ will be released on CD of course and [...]

]]> By: Dave Allen http://www.pampelmoose.com/2007/11/more-thoughts-on-the-gang-of-four-album/comment-page-1#comment-47576 Dave Allen Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:08:56 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1125#comment-47576 Harold, You make a good point re the younger crowd buying the single online, but if Apple is to be believed it would seem all demographics are buying tracks in ones and twos and not full albums, hence their campaign "You bought some tracks, now buy the album without paying for those tracks again..." I believe there is a mix of folks who want to be able to get music in as many formats as possible - MP3, vinyl and CD. I'm not suggesting that Gang of Four would avoid any format, it's just my opinion that the CD was a mistake in the first place that set up the recording industry to lose control of the ones and zeros. Now we have a chance to test out what the new paradigm might be. Remember, the buggy whip manufacturers tried to stop the onslaught of the motor car by having Congress pass a law that required a person to walk in front of the vehicle ringing a bell as a warning to the public. We all have a deep and emotional connection to music and one way or the other we find a way to get access to it; that doesn't mean it should be delivered in an album-length format or as a single for that matter, it's how the recipient wants to receive it that's important. What I'm really saying is that we can't please everyone.... Harold,
You make a good point re the younger crowd buying the single online, but if Apple is to be believed it would seem all demographics are buying tracks in ones and twos and not full albums, hence their campaign “You bought some tracks, now buy the album without paying for those tracks again…” I believe there is a mix of folks who want to be able to get music in as many formats as possible – MP3, vinyl and CD. I’m not suggesting that Gang of Four would avoid any format, it’s just my opinion that the CD was a mistake in the first place that set up the recording industry to lose control of the ones and zeros. Now we have a chance to test out what the new paradigm might be. Remember, the buggy whip manufacturers tried to stop the onslaught of the motor car by having Congress pass a law that required a person to walk in front of the vehicle ringing a bell as a warning to the public. We all have a deep and emotional connection to music and one way or the other we find a way to get access to it; that doesn’t mean it should be delivered in an album-length format or as a single for that matter, it’s how the recipient wants to receive it that’s important. What I’m really saying is that we can’t please everyone….

]]> By: Harold Grey http://www.pampelmoose.com/2007/11/more-thoughts-on-the-gang-of-four-album/comment-page-1#comment-47534 Harold Grey Sun, 09 Dec 2007 05:58:03 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1125#comment-47534 While it is very interesting to see what Radiohead is doing, I have also been impressed with Wire's recent output on their own record label (Pink Flag) distributed through PostEverthing. Their most recent output, Read and Burn 3, has only four songs and was reasonably priced. There are MP3 versions available as well as an optional CD format. With Graham Lewis living in Sweden, Colin Newman also spoke of working remotely to collaborate on the songs and went Pro Tools for the final product. I would also encourage you Dave to consider your audience. Is it 20 year olds who get their music one ditty at a time via iTunes, 30-40 year olds who have familiarity with traditional formats, or some mix in between? While I sometimes buy digital music (primarily for the immediacy), I prefer CDs because when I used to buy albums I was buying an experience. It is a much different experience downloading a song. With albums, and less so with CDs, I would pour over everything that the artist delivered: the music, the artwork, the liner notes, the lyrics. Yes, I wanted to be entertained, but I was also interested in the artist's overall POV. A PDF of liner notes just doesn't really cut it. It almost feels like the music industry (in a way) has come full circle to the 1950s, when singles were king. While it is very interesting to see what Radiohead is doing, I have also been impressed with Wire’s recent output on their own record label (Pink Flag) distributed through PostEverthing. Their most recent output, Read and Burn 3, has only four songs and was reasonably priced. There are MP3 versions available as well as an optional CD format. With Graham Lewis living in Sweden, Colin Newman also spoke of working remotely to collaborate on the songs and went Pro Tools for the final product. I would also encourage you Dave to consider your audience. Is it 20 year olds who get their music one ditty at a time via iTunes, 30-40 year olds who have familiarity with traditional formats, or some mix in between? While I sometimes buy digital music (primarily for the immediacy), I prefer CDs because when I used to buy albums I was buying an experience. It is a much different experience downloading a song. With albums, and less so with CDs, I would pour over everything that the artist delivered: the music, the artwork, the liner notes, the lyrics. Yes, I wanted to be entertained, but I was also interested in the artist’s overall POV. A PDF of liner notes just doesn’t really cut it. It almost feels like the music industry (in a way) has come full circle to the 1950s, when singles were king.

]]> By: What we all want: a new Gang of Four album? at superproduct http://www.pampelmoose.com/2007/11/more-thoughts-on-the-gang-of-four-album/comment-page-1#comment-47059 What we all want: a new Gang of Four album? at superproduct Mon, 03 Dec 2007 01:37:36 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1125#comment-47059 [...] Well here it comes: according to bassist Dave Allen, there’s a new all-digital Gang of Four album in the works. If I had to point the finger at just one, I’d say that Gang of Four’s first release Entertainment! is possibly my favourite album ever, and the follow-ups Solid Gold and companion EP Another Day, Another Dollar are also fantastic. Then they lost their rhythm section and everything went a bit wrong until 1995’s Shrinkwrapped. [...] [...] Well here it comes: according to bassist Dave Allen, there’s a new all-digital Gang of Four album in the works. If I had to point the finger at just one, I’d say that Gang of Four’s first release Entertainment! is possibly my favourite album ever, and the follow-ups Solid Gold and companion EP Another Day, Another Dollar are also fantastic. Then they lost their rhythm section and everything went a bit wrong until 1995’s Shrinkwrapped. [...]

]]> By: gang of four » Blog Archive » new song demos, a little rough but worth it… http://www.pampelmoose.com/2007/11/more-thoughts-on-the-gang-of-four-album/comment-page-1#comment-46868 gang of four » Blog Archive » new song demos, a little rough but worth it… Fri, 30 Nov 2007 06:16:11 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1125#comment-46868 [...] Ok, song demo number 3 - American Man is the working title. In case you missed the update I’m posting MP3s of rough (at times very rough like this one!) ‘work-in-progress’ demos of new songs that we, Gang of Four, are currently working on. The full story is linked to here. We are hoping to release four new songs as a digital EP in Spring 08. Another demo of a song called Password can be found here. And a demo of a song called Second Life can be found here. Song number four will be posted later this week. [...] [...] Ok, song demo number 3 – American Man is the working title. In case you missed the update I’m posting MP3s of rough (at times very rough like this one!) ‘work-in-progress’ demos of new songs that we, Gang of Four, are currently working on. The full story is linked to here. We are hoping to release four new songs as a digital EP in Spring 08. Another demo of a song called Password can be found here. And a demo of a song called Second Life can be found here. Song number four will be posted later this week. [...]

]]> By: Tom Maguire http://www.pampelmoose.com/2007/11/more-thoughts-on-the-gang-of-four-album/comment-page-1#comment-46634 Tom Maguire Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:36:14 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1125#comment-46634 Hi Dave, Great blog, very interesting comments and ideas...but one thing seems to be missing from your considerations: What about sound quality? I surely can't be the only Jurassic Park-era audiophile with an absolute loathing of the crappy sound of MP3. Call me a dinosaur if you will, but I far prefer the sound of CD to its inferior digital counterparts. In fact, that was one of the main reasons I picked up five of the double-CD "Return the Gift" albums when they came out in 2005, so I could gift my friends with some superior audio quality. I realize that digital distro is a LOT more profitable for the artists, who don't have to deal with the manufacture and transport of physical product; however, I'd hope that, ultimately, a limited physical release would be considered for those few people these days who actually give a hoot about sensational sonics.... Hi Dave,

Great blog, very interesting comments and ideas…but one thing seems to be missing from your considerations:

What about sound quality?

I surely can’t be the only Jurassic Park-era audiophile with an absolute loathing of the crappy sound of MP3. Call me a dinosaur if you will, but I far prefer the sound of CD to its inferior digital counterparts. In fact, that was one of the main reasons I picked up five of the double-CD “Return the Gift” albums when they came out in 2005, so I could gift my friends with some superior audio quality. I realize that digital distro is a LOT more profitable for the artists, who don’t have to deal with the manufacture and transport of physical product; however, I’d hope that, ultimately, a limited physical release would be considered for those few people these days who actually give a hoot about sensational sonics….

]]> By: masterlink http://www.pampelmoose.com/2007/11/more-thoughts-on-the-gang-of-four-album/comment-page-1#comment-46630 masterlink Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:20:08 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1125#comment-46630 Hi Dave, Great ideas and great demos. Bringing back the original sounds, attitudes, and ideas of G4 is exactly what the music world needs. You are a smart man to be able to recognize the changes within the industry and be able to figure out the best way to make it (the music industry) work for G4. I think you are on the right track as far as reaching your core fans first and letting them do alot of the marketing (word of mouth) for you. Thats basically the way it started for G4 and with the sounds of the new demos this shits gonna snowball into a full-on rockstar world tour! I saw G4 on the "songs of the free" tour in East Lansing, MI. The show was at the Outer Limits/Bus Stop lounge. Basically it was a kind of disco that I thought at that time was a weird place for G4 to play. I couldn't believe the energy when G4 started to play. I can't wait for G4 to tour again. Just leave out the disco crap! Good luck Hi Dave,
Great ideas and great demos. Bringing back the original sounds, attitudes, and ideas of G4 is exactly what the music world needs. You are a smart man to be able to recognize the changes within the industry and be able to figure out the best way to make it (the music industry) work for G4. I think you are on the right track as far as reaching your core fans first and letting them do alot of the marketing (word of mouth) for you. Thats basically the way it started for G4 and with the sounds of the new demos this shits gonna snowball into a full-on rockstar world tour! I saw G4 on the “songs of the free” tour in East Lansing, MI. The show was at the Outer Limits/Bus Stop lounge. Basically it was a kind of disco that I thought at that time was a weird place for G4 to play. I couldn’t believe the energy when G4 started to play. I can’t wait for G4 to tour again. Just leave out the disco crap!
Good luck

]]> By: Phil http://www.pampelmoose.com/2007/11/more-thoughts-on-the-gang-of-four-album/comment-page-1#comment-46626 Phil Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:42:47 +0000 http://www.pampelmoose.com/mspeaks/?p=1125#comment-46626 Get in touch with Mike Watt (www.hootpage.com). The Minutemen put Double Nickels on the Dime (a double album) together in 10 days, soup to nuts. Get in touch with Mike Watt (www.hootpage.com). The Minutemen put Double Nickels on the Dime (a double album) together in 10 days, soup to nuts.

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