Do Record Labels Matter?

All Songs Considered ponders this question in their current Podcast.

My answer to the question currently is ‘yes.’ Record labels are still entrenched in the music industry and for your album to get any wide distribution you’re going to need a record label and all the resources that it provides. In the near future however, the role of the record label will shrink and shrink since the distribution of music is becoming easier and easier thanks to the internet. If you can generate enough internet buzz, your album can be successful.

People use Radiohead as an example of not needing a record label, but Radiohead already has a huge following, thanks in part to a record label or labels when they were breaking onto the music scene. They don’t have a label now, but they used to, when it mattered most.

For now record labels are still necessary, but their end IS near.

Movie Review : Halloween (2007)

I’ve got say, I’m impressed. I’m not much of a fan of the current horror movie “scene” and I guess that’s precisely why I liked Rob Zombie’s rework of the classic horror movie, Halloween.

Rob Zombie co-produced, directed and wrote this retelling of the story of Michael Myers with impressive results. Zombie could have easily gone the Saw/Hostel route with this movie, with ultra-gorey special effects, and long drawn out torture scenes but instead he created a version of Halloween that stuck close to the original with fresh twists.

The music was good as well. He kept the original theme by John Carpenter which was totally necessary, but also included a creepier version of “Mr. Sandman” which was also in the original film. The song “Don’t Fear the Reaper” was quite comical one scene. Tyler Bates’ musical score kept the perfect amount of suspense without you actually noticing the music, which in my opinion means the composer did his job perfectly.

There were many shots in the Zombie version that were homages to scenes in the original movie, and Zombie even used fans’ knowledge of the original movie against them by making them think they knew where a particular scene was going by keeping the scene true to the orignal, and then changing it at the last minute.

I’d also like to point out that Zombie is a pretty damn good director. He managed to create angles that maintained suspense, intensified surprise, and kept the movie pacing perfect.

If you’re a fan of the original movie, give Zombie’s remake a shot. If a movie snob like myself can appreciate it, you won’t be disappointed.

Futurama Returns in Mid-3010!

Erm, I mean 2010!

From the LA Times website :

Past Emmy winner “Futurama” got axed by Fox network in 2003 after five seasons, but it’s developed such a strong cult following since then on DVD and TV reruns that Comedy Central has picked up the show.

“A spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Television confirms that the cable net has ordered 26 new episodes of Matt Groening and David X. Cohen’s late, great animated series to air beginning in 2010,” reports Mike Ausiello at EW.com.

Apple Announces New OS, iPhone OS, and New iPhone 3GS

  • Apple’s new operating system “Snow Leopard”, focusing on performance improvements rather than features will cost $29. AWESOME. Consider it the “Superer” version of Leopard.
  • iPhone 3.0 releases next Wednesday, June 17th. Includes many new features like : landscape keyboard and searching thoughout the OS, parental controls, cut, copy and paste, MMS, rent and purchase videos from the iTunes store, tethering (although AT&T doesn’t support it yet) , support for streaming audio and video, “Find My Phone” in conjunction with MobileMe, push notifications, and performance improvements.
  • New iPhone versions : iPhone 3G – 8GB : $99, iPhone 3GS 16GB : $199, iPhone 3GS 32GB : $299

    The new 3GS has faster internal hardware, a 3MP camera with auto focus, a built in compass, voice control, and video recording.

    • Full Keynote summary, HERE