Alright, so I have decided to change my mind set for this blog. As opposed to focusing solely on music and everything oriented around SXSW, I will put forward to many things I find interesting and wish to share my thoughts and other stuff of interest. I mean seriously who doesn’t like to read?! So to start off with, a couple of documentaries that are kind of closely related to one another. At least in my mind. They all deal with music in one way or another. That’s the connection.
In a time where classical music and Schlager music reigned, some felt the music of their time did not correctly demonstrate the state of the country. Spawning a genre, that abstracted itself from everything, since the musicians wanted their own sound. Wanting to new make music while not replicating the explosions of genres from the states and the Britland. Then came the synthesizer… But enough discussing of the actual documentary. Many, many interviews with many of the Krautrock Pioneers. Can, Neu!, Tangerine Dream, Faust, hell, even Iggy Pop! It’s nuts.
That being said, if you want to check out any of the bands from the Krautrock genre, German Oak, would definitely be up there. Despite the fact only 11 of the original 213 pressings were actually sold during it’s time. Recently, it was re-issued, if you can, grab a copy. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
I came across this in my first year lecture at University of Toronto, (Roll Over, Beethoven: Music, Media and the Marketplace – Seriously take it if you have the chance to). It may be a bit dated now, but nonetheless brilliant documentary. But to be honest I have not watched this documentary, so the details are a bit fuzzy. It does go into Clear Channel, and that I find to be the most interesting segment, by far. Seriously, a company that owns over 900 radio stations and has a net income of nearly one billion dollars. Let me say that again, Net Income of One Billion Dollars. And people wonder why the radio often sucks. If I recall it also goes into autotuning as well as songwriters versus singers.
Now this is a documentary, that I just rewatched. Why you ask? because I enjoy the topics it approaches. And with the band of Canadians artists that are suing some of the major labels for not paying them royalties. No small amount either, a reported six billion dollars. But seriously, since this documentary was released a couple years ago, the main thing they talk about with Pirate Bay was the raid. Other things approached in this documentary, is the Gorbuska Market in Russia, musician Girl Talk throws his two cents in, hell it even talks about the largest film produced country in the world. No not India, Nigeria. That’s right. You may not know it but there exists a Nollywood, in a country without copyright laws. Nuts, eh? Describes what Creative Commons is for those unaware that there exists something other then just straight out Copyright law. But, the best thing the documentary touches on? Danger Mouse‘s infamous The Grey Album. A mash-up of The Beatles’ White Album, and Jay-Z’s Black Album. An album you should definitely check out. But hey, cheers for now.
