Last Friday, record stores in Australia decided to put Pink’s Funhouse on sale a day ahead of schedule, what with the album having leaked a couple of weeks ago and the stores wanting to get product in their few remaining customers’ hands in a timely manner. Sales weeks Down Under traditionally run from Saturday to Friday, so albums are usually released on Saturdays in order to maximize first-week sales totals and crow about their records’ No. 1 debuts–but the rogue stores wound up selling enough copies (7,120) on Friday to force Funhouse to debut at No. 4 a week ahead of schedule. The album wound up being removed from the “official” chart, as did AC/DC’s Black Ice. MORE »
Posts Tagged ‘Cmj2008’
the biz
Release Dates: People Just Don’t Care Anymore
Idolator goes to cmj
CMJ Day Five: In Search Of A Happy Ending
Saturday’s Daytrotter/Take the Handle/SnowGhost Music showcase at Brooklyn’s Glasslands Gallery had two things going for it: Wye Oak was on the bill, and it was in the afternoon. Hoping it might end my CMJ coverage on a much-needed high note, I camped out for most of the afternoon and heard some genuinely recommendable music at a lovely, mercifully couch-equipped venue. MORE »
Idolator Goes To Spain
CMJ Day Four: Idolator Goes Back To Spain, Gets Carded
After much begging, pleading, questioning of press credentials, and discussion of karma, the doorman at The Annex mercifully let me–and my hands, each of which was decorated with a massive “X”–into Friday’s “Sounds of Spain” showcase. I went in expecting to find mostly mediocre psychedelia and mumbly alt-rock (Spain’s genres of choice), and came out pleasantly surprised. I’d like to dedicate this post to that reluctant but accommodating door man; he was the only one to let me in anywhere on Friday. Join me after the jump for hot Spanish dudes and the unfortunate experience of being an actual 20-year-old college student at CMJ. MORE »
Idolator goes to cmj
CMJ Day Three: A Triumphant Return To Mediocrity
The disadvantage of being an “actual college student” while covering CMJ is that you have to, you know, go to college. When I got home from the Beach House show at 2:30 a.m. Thursday, I had to write my recap post then and there because I had class starting at 9:30. Which means that I was facing last night on three hours of sleep and a full day of school. Under the circumstances I decided to take it as easy as possible last night, so I headed over Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg hoping it would be a hype-free zone with seating. The good news is that I was right on both accounts; the bad news is that people are still trying to drive me slowly insane with generic folk. A more nuanced assessment of that situation, plus some Western swing, after the jump. MORE »
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Please Tell Me Why People Outside Of NYC Should Read CMJ Coverage, Or “I Don’t Care How Long The Line At Pianos Was”
Trying to find interesting content today has been a bit of a challenge thanks to the music corner of the internet’s 24/7 fascination with CMJ clogging up the tubes. And that–coupled with my current location some 2,500 miles away from New York City–is making me beg for the music media’s outsized obsession with this festival to end, or at least abate a bit. MORE »
Idolator goes to cmj
How Does CMJ Choose Which Bands Get In? An Idolator Special Report
Just yesterday, intrepid reporter Kate Richardson asked a very pertinent question about CMJ 2008: “Who are all these bands?” Up until very recently, I worked as a publicist for an indie PR firm, and I know a ton of small acts because of it. Some I worked, some I tried to work, some I researched, and some I know from competitors and colleagues. I also read/skimmed nearly every magazine, indie Web site, and blog out there, particularly looking at coverage of small bands. Plus, I’m in a few bands myself, and have played with a bunch of different out-of-towners. My point here is not to brag, but to state my qualifications: I’ve heard of a ton of indie bands, and a lot of them aren’t good. When I haven’t heard of an artist, I get rather suspicious of quality, to be honest, but, then again, I regard all new acts with a measure of suspicion.
Looking over the CMJ 2008 lineup, I have to second Kate. MORE »
Idolator goes to cmj
CMJ Day Two: I Have To Admit It’s Getting Better
If Tuesday night was the epitome of all that is irritating and mediocre about CMJ, last night was somewhat redemptive, though I still think the organizers should just gather the best acts and put them in one place. But hey, the evening was so pleasant, in fact, that I don’t even have any bingo squares to mark off! MORE »
Idolator goes to cmj
CMJ Day One: All-You-Can-Eat Music From Brooklyn Vegan
Like a shy loner whose mom pressures her to go to the middle school dance and socialize with her classmates, I have been thrust into this year’s CMJ coverage. Of course I’m always delighted when Maura is generous and crazy enough to grant me a press pass, and Lord knows I’m not complaining about free shows all week, but let’s do some real talk: CMJ is ridiculous. Who are all these bands? Couldn’t they have just narrowed it down to a few actually good ones and put on just one or two great concerts instead of a hundred mediocre shows? Oh wait, I forgot–the point of music is to consume as much as possible in the shortest amount of time. Join me for a recap of day one’s journey into the heart of darkness: Brooklyn Vegan’s showcase at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. MORE »
tell me something good
In Which I Give You The Power To Plan My Evening
It would appear that everyone in the music business has decided to defer to Axl Rose and not make any news today, so I’ve spent the last hour or so trying to figure out who I’m going to see during my own personal CMJ Day One. (See, last night I saw this awesome act called The Insides Of My Eyelids–they performed for 11 1/2 hours straight, and had all these whacked-out conceptual pieces about the protagonist, who looked a lot like me, wearing wide-brimmed ceramic hats while trying not to embarrass herself in front of people she wanted to impress. Fun times!) I’m working off the official schedule, although I’ll probably peruse some no-badge-required listings on the subway downtown. Here are five acts I’m interested in tonight–feel free to add your own recommendations! MORE »
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CMJ 2008 Bingo: One Way To Sort Of Have Fun This Week
The 2008 CMJ Music Marathon–New York’s annual mishmash of bands, brands, free liquor, and desperation–kicks off today, and Idolator will be skulking around, trying to find the artist who, despite the current economic climate and the music industry’s even worse state, dreams of being the next Annuals. (Hey, who knows, it could actually be Annuals at this point!) In an effort to bring together our readership through the power of social gaming, we’ve put together our own version of CMJ Bingo, where you keep your eagle eyes peeled for various trends, people, and other items in an effort to win valuable prizes. (Or at least bragging rights.) The full board is after the jump. MORE »
