Sing It from the Treetops! Half-handed Cloud to Release Rarities Collection
By David Nadelle on Oct 5 2009
I don't need to tell you that consideration is a thing of the past. If someone isn't driving like a displaced Berserk gang member from Mad Max to get ahead of you at a stoplight then they are cutting their own mother's throats to ensure acquisition of the last bag of Sun Chips at the local 7-11. You don't even have to leave the house to see people's unwillingness to going that extra inch. You are no doubt familiar with the newsletters and press releases that bands and record labels e-mail out and have secretly wished, "Gee whiz, it would be super swell if these good company people did something a little more spiffy to get my attention for their retail product! Hopskipideedoo!" Well, not content to whisk off an e-release to our already over-crowded inboxes with the speed and brevity of a teenager's morning wood discharge into a bedside sweatsock, the Michigan-born, everywhere-based label Asthmatic Kitty did something unique for one of their latest records -- it sent an ancient seer to select online publications to spread the word.
Top analysts Tiger Beat refused to let the prophet in (no gel, no cheekbones, no service) so he shuffled to our door in order to fill his quota. After an awkward introduction, we were face-blasted with a shitstorm of prophetic ranting from the old sage. Then, just as quickly as he had began, he ended his diatribe, tented his fingers, squinted his eyes, and proclaimed, "Half-handed Cloud will release a rarities compilation called Cut Me Down & Count My Rings on November 3 on Asthmatic Kitty. For some reason, he then produced eight "silver gewgaws" (Hershey's Kisses rewrapped in cigarette foil) and stormed off in a fury of tongue-spoken rage. We weren't entirely convinced of this character's character and suspicion was rightfully aroused when he was spotted goose-stepping into an '82 Chevy Caprice with Foghat cranked to a Pitchfork-approved 7.8 on the Pioneer deck. Thankfully, authenticity was re-established when he stopped, reached his bony hand out the window, and stated again, "November 3!"
Cut Me Down & Count My Rings is a 46-song collection by John Ringhofer's Half-handed Cloud and it contains unreleased and previously released songs originally found on harder-to-find vinyl, cassettes, limited CDEPs and CDRs, with zines or on compilations, Christmas-themed releases, a cassingle, and wax cylinders issued during the decade hilariously known as "the noughties." With 46 songs on one disc, Ringhofer takes a minimal approach, with no extended lead-ins, noisy tangents, or solos. For all of this, J Mascis HATES him. Guests include former Wookieback bandmate Brandon Buckner, Cryptacize's Nedelle and Chris Cohen, WHY?'s Yoni Wolf, and an unknown, up-and-coming indiefolk musician named Sufjan Stevens. Ringhofer knows it's good to give a leg up to amateurs. He also knows that extensive song details and immaculate design are destined to make this a magical, mysterious package.
When overwhelmed with dread, drink up these spirituals:
1. You Call Yourself Our Shepherd
2. It’s Better to Follow the Shepherd
3. The Shepherd’s Reach
4. Always Running Away
5. All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
6. Good-Good Path
7. What Great Things…!
8. Leaving the Ninety-Nine
9. Clothe Yourself Within Us
10. You Call Yourself Our Shepherd (Reprise)
11. Cot-Roof
12. He’s Not the Swindler We Are
13. Dear John (original version)
14. Was He Really Doubting?
15. Couple Kings Close the Road on a Giant (parts 2-4)
16. Once, Twice, Seven Times a Werewolf
17. Bees Are Trying to Build Their Nest in You
18. Bees Baked a Loaf for Me (or Flour from Flowers?)
19. Who Brought These Up?
20. Isaiah 49
21. Never in Labor!
22. We're Not Getting Well
23. Took Your Tablets
24. I Got a Letter
25. Ten Commandment Tombstone
26. Here's a List
27. Sewing Wind to Fabric
28. Chins
29. Finding
30. Oily
31. Ploughmen
32. Buffet
33. Pause
34. When Overwhelmed with Dread
35. Missing
36. Winding
37. Cut-down
38. Got-it
39. To Fill
40. Loathed
41. Couple Kings Close the Road on a Giant (part 1)
42. Pre-teen Apocalyptic Film Acting (WHY? Medley)
43. Ode to Team Pinecone
44. The * That Moved-Around the Night
45. Plant a Little Fir Tree
46. Home for Christmas
Apple and Eminem’s Publisher Settle Their Legal Dispute
By Brom on Oct 5 2009
Last week, we reported that the court case between Apple Inc. and Eight Mile, Eminem’s publisher, had begun. The dispute centered around Eight Mile’s claim that Aftermath Records, who controlled the recordings of the little-known white-boy rapper’s music, did not have the authority to strike a deal with Apple to upload his music onto iTunes.
However, on October 2 Eight Mile’s attorney, Richard Busch, revealed the two parties had settled but did not disclose any details.
Anyone know who this Eminem guy is (no-one at TMT has a clue!)?
RIP: DJ Mr. Magic, hip-hop pioneer
By Shane Mack on Oct 2 2009
From AllHipHop:
Legendary DJ Mr. Magic has died from a heart attack, AllHipHop.com has confirmed with various sources.Mr. Magic was a legendary DJ who debuted in 1979 on a pay-to-play broadcast on WHBI 105.9's "The Mr. Magic Disco Showcase."
In 1983, he launched "Mr. Magic's Rap Attack," in New York City which featured a young DJ Marley Marl in addition to future Co-Chillin Record label owner Tyrone “Fly Ty” Williams.
- DJ Mr. Magic Wikipedia entry
- DJ Mr. Magic MySpace
Google Removes Pirate Bay from Search Results
By Rachel B on Oct 2 2009
Google appears to be suffering from a great deal of "don't kill the messenger" syndrome these days. As much as they'd probably like to sneer at their accusers and say "we're just doing our job," they have little choice but to comply to certain demands, such as weeding out search results the Chinese government deems unsuitable and more recently, taking down Pirate Bay's front page.
Of course, this isn't the first time Google has been asked to take down torrent sites, what with the current war on file sharing and all. Google takes down its content primarily because copyright holders get wind of their material being downloaded for free -- and it would be a lot easier for them if the world's most popular search engine got behind them in stemming the flow of free stuff. The copyright owner (a porn company, in this particular case) then files a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) complaint, and bam, problem solved... somewhat. The leaked material is still on Pirate Bay, but at least the front page has been removed from Google's search results.
Google's only comments regarding the request go something like this: “In response to a complaint we received under the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act, we have removed X result(s) from this page. If you wish, you may read the DMCA complaint that caused the removal(s) at ChillingEffects.org.”
What is also notable however, is that the entire Pirate Bay domain hasn't been removed -- just the front page. Oh, loopholes.
Warner Music Group Continues Layoffs, Still Cannot Figure Out Where It Went Wrong
By Annapocalypse on Oct 2 2009
Warner Music Group is still searching for answers. It's losing money and not sure why! Soon, however, there may not be any major labels at all, if they keep laying off their employees. This week, WMG announced more layoffs at Warner Bros. Records, with reports of 10-13 employees being placed on the chopping block, among them Senior Vice President of Sales Dave Stein. Additionally, WMG is also cutting employees from distribution group WEA and indie distribution division, Alternative Distribution Alliance, who are responsible for stocking independent music retailers all across the U.S. with all the hip new indie stuff.
Recently, Rhino reduced its staff and Sony is expected to do the same. Sigh.
