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Free Music / Free Speech

Sunday, February 27, 2005

No; I don't want to sound like Prince during his Emancipation period! I want to highlight two things in this blog entry; the great free music available online and the state of our great English language.

I was hunting around the web to find out more about Pod Casting and ended up browsing further.

Two great music sites I came across were Static Discos and 3 Hive. These sites illustrate that there really is a wealth of musical talent worldwide and the majority of it does not need to appear on Pop Idol or have a record contract to get noticed. (Although some of them deserve a contract).

I am not saying all free music is good, far from it, but there are definitely artists worth listening too.

One very good female vocalist is Natalise, I used the MyMusic search box for artists that "sound like" Janet and although Natalise isn't that close she does fit the R&B Diva genre quite well. I especially like the remix of "Watch This" which can be downloaded from MySpace.

This isn't to preclude that all music on these sites is classified as pop or chart orientated. Music is available to suit just about every taste.

The Same Fate

I had a search around for other artists and genres, on such being Electronic and came across Marbles. His music is quite edgy but also very listen-able - especially the track "Out of Zone". He does not have the best voice ever but hey the guy is giving it a bloody good go.

Moving onto another genre and another great band - The Same Fate are a very good indie/surf rock outfit. The kind of band I'd expect to see at The Bait Shop (The OC). I love the guitar work on Static - it's so encouraging to hear an independent band play so well.

The Bravery are an act that prove that this is a good basis to start a career and that the industry does pay attention. I have heard them recommended on The Culture Show and they have performed on The Friday Night Project all to promote a legitimate single release. It may not be best practice to keep free downloads online so if you like the boys music grab the free tracks while you can. (An EP is also available on iTunes)

We did attempt to watch the New Ten Commandments last night and if this is any sort of reflection we are aggrieved by the state of our nation. I don't believe any of the program to be honest and think that most people asked, answered the poll as they wanted things to be, not as they actually see them.

The nations number one commandment is supposedly Do not unto others what you would do to you. I don't believe this for a second. If this was the case I would never have been attacked. This country would not have such problems with it's hooded masses or football hooligans etc. For that matter we wouldn't need an army! It is all so saccharine and idealistic.

This program just highlights my continued misgivings about the culture of the UK and the fact that the current Labour government has just pulled us down. The New Ten Commandments does fell like a very New Labour type of program - illustrating the bleeding obvious to everyone, nannying us as usual.

Whilst watching BBC Breakfast this week, there was an article regarding a film festival in London which (funded by the Lottery Charity Commission), illustrates WWII to the young generation so they do not forget what their relatives went through. My initial point has to be why can't these children and their families just sit down and talk about it?

After watching the article I now know realise it is because our children have become completely illiterate. The journalist interviewed someone from the charity and a couple old ladies who survived the Blitz in London which was fine. It all fell apart when some New Labour producer decided to ask the kids.

Two questions were put to a group of four or five boys around 8 - 10 years old and the result was a very painful ten minutes of live television. Not one of the boys managed a coherent sentence, actually none of them managed a complete sentence! All we heard was "em, well, yeah, and, it was, and, the war, and like, and stuff! WHAT?!

I fell that I must live in a cocoon and am privileged to be blessed with literature, language and conversation - lord help us when then next generation start to "get jobs". I guess we'll be reverting to the tin mines by then!

[iTunes: "No Brakes" : The Bravery]


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