DJ Shadow: classic or dud?

It's not "poor U2" it's "There isn't going to be a next U2" except there also isn't going to be a next Talking Heads or a next Nirvanna or a next Steely Dan or a next Michael Jackson or a next Sonic Youth even.

And whatever, maybe that's just the way it is. There was no Sonic Youth of the 1920s, why should there be one of the 2010s? Just saying that you can't expect to keep getting all music for free and not see any impact of any kind on the music.

I'm not saying there isn't going to be any impact. I am just saying that music will a) still be produced and b) I don't really give a shit.

About the plight of musicians that is.

Even bands I like.

Like U2.

oh hey you totally won the battle of who could care less, well done

Woo hoo! I'm off to go buy some used records and paperbacks. Sucks for you, DJ Shadow!

don't buy them all, dj shadow needs to use some to make things to sell us

Again, I don't think it's really about the "plight" of U2 so much as whether the conditions exist for another band like U2 to ever come about again. I mean if all you want to listen to is homemade glitch-hop and cheaply recorded garage bands then it doesn't really matter I guess, but it takes resources to create outsized "artists" of the kind that we're used to from the last four or five decades of music.

forget it, hurting. he doesn't care.

he probably hasn't even bookmarked this thread.

black people don't listen to 'turntablism' anyway

I forgot c) actually which is that this is a done deal so basically any time DJ Shadow spends complaining about for "free" on the internet is time that DJ Shadow should really spend either making more music or searching for a day job.

Admittedly, I'm sure a lot of Shadow's particular bitterness is his own fault for not ever really being able to top his debut and for his last album completely sucking balls.

Yes fans of "outsized artists" should definitely be spending more money on trying to create more "outsized artists". Can't expect the internet to do that for free. Not when there are YouTube videos of Boise State cowbell girl to watch anyway.

I know you're being sarcastic, but that's basically OTM.

I'm not a fan of many new "outsized artists" though so I am more than willing to wait to see how the smarter "outsized artists" figure out this little conundrum.

Well I mean, there aren't as many new "outsized artists", and I can't help but think that might have to do with how much record sales and other revenues are down.

I think all the reunion tours aren't helping out either.

I actually assumed the reunion tours were more a matter of the industry finding it harder to make money off new artists and relying instead on the baby boomer generation. Admittedly, this is really the outer limits of what I give a shit about.

I think the lack of new "outsized artists" (and I think there are a lot of reasons for this lack and free downloads are only one of them, the market has really fractured in ways that prevent all but the biggest blockbuster thing--a la Susan Boyle or Avatar--from taking hold) has helped created a nostalgia market for reunions for older acts w/ respectable (but not huge) audiences. I don't think it's particularly boomer driven either (unless you think the Pixies or Mission of Burma or MBV are boomer acts.)

Anyway now I really am leaving to record shop.

"basically "no man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money.""

Lot of blockhead writers out there, I guess.

― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Saturday, January 9, 2010 7:02 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

pretty much yes, it's called the blogosphere.

I am just saying that music will a) still be produced and b) I don't really give a shit.

― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Saturday, January 9, 2010 7:26 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

About the plight of musicians that is.

― Fig On A Plate Cart (Alex in SF), Saturday, January 9, 2010 7:27 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark

nice.

Lots of used DJ Shadow records @ Amoeba btw.

DJ Shadow, one of the most ground-breaking, forward-thinking and influential artists in modern music, has delivered two new tunes, “Def Surrounds Us” and “I’ve Been Trying”, directly to a number of record shops across Eastern Europe where he is currently on tour. A limited number of the 12inch only releases, featuring original artwork hand-drawn by the artist, have been given to selected stores in the UK and US. Shadow, who has been working for the last year on his new album which is pencilled for release in May 2011, will be releasing new music as he completes it via limited runs of vinyl and downloads.

The two new tracks will be available for free from www.djshadow.com

on 13th September, and will then be available to buy from iTunes et al from 20th September.

Speaking about this novel way of making his music available DJ Shadow had this to say :

"The idea is 'shop-placing;' it's the opposite of shoplifting. You go into a store, and leave your record in the racks to be discovered later. It's not about being cute, it's about passing the music along in the most unobtrusive way possible. No hype, no shouting, no shot-in-the-void online campaign. Just, 'here you go...I'm glad you found it, and I hope you enjoy it.'"

"All of the covers are different. Some are intricate, some are simple, but the theme is 'don't think, just draw.' Almost like a stream-of-conscious, ongoing series of cartoon doodles."

"I'd rather give away free vinyl than a download, because to me, downloads are so impersonal and soulless. In 2010, it has become akin to sending your Dad an e-card on his birthday; no personality, no class. And from an artistic point of view, I think it sends a negative message about the worth of the music."

"Still, there are plans to eventually offer the music on download...at least for a while. I realize that many people don't use vinyl anymore, and I don't want to be intentionally obscure."
"Then after the dust has settled, I'll see what worked and what didn't. It's all about trying as many different methods as possible, so that when the album comes out next Spring, I'll be informed and hopefully be able to offer an experience that resonates with people beyond the realms of what they're used to."

You go into a store, and leave your record in the racks to be discovered later. It's not about being cute, it's about passing the music along in the most unobtrusive way possible. No hype, no shouting, no shot-in-the-void online campaign. Just, 'here you go...I'm glad you found it, and I hope you enjoy it.'"

THEN YOU DO A BUNCH OF INTERVIEWS ABOUT IT

one of the most ground-breaking, forward-thinking and influential artists in modern music

lol

such a joke, this guy

lol cos hes putting them up for DL anyway but hey i like this guy, even if i dont much care for his music, at least not entroducing, which i still dont really get the appeal of

love most of Shadow's music, he's just one of those guys that shd never do interviews ever

find this sort of thing endearing
obvs i don't agree with him

no, he should do lots of interviews. thats one of the things he does best.

^^^ Praise from Caesar

one of the most ground-breaking, forward-thinking and influential artists in modern music

lol

such a joke, this guy

He was plenty groundbreaking in 1996 and this press release would make a LOT more sense if it was written nearly 15 years ago, but...

setting aside uh 'shop-placing', i don't think there's anything that controversial or dumb about being dissatisfied with releasing music via digital download.

That soul patch is dud.

The last LP was so misguided. Let's hope he can return to form on the next one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suoQtW9UxBI

new one leaked

Anyone hearing this? Drunk in AC right now and its sounding good

It's amaaaaazing! Such a relief after the wtf misstep of The Outsider. Welcome back!

dj shadow is an angry -- and sometimes funny -- fellow (e.g., 10th worst thing about the music industry is "Too much Shakira, not enough Charo. At least Charo was in on the joke.")
.

Just threw on In Tune And On Time. Really solid live dj record. Too bad he fell off so hard -- any standout tracks from his last couple? I can barely listen to them.

He and Cut Chemist are now touring and spinning vinyl from Afrika Baambaata's large vinyl archive. I dunno, kinda would rather hear Baambaata behind the wheels of steel.

can't front on "what does your soul look like", "in/flux / hindsight", "lost & found / s.f.l." EPs imo ... destroy everything else, i think.

i still have the "brain freeze" and "product placement" mixes. very much less than the sum of their parts. it's great music, if sometimes kinda hokey, and the dj'ing is technically great but somehow underwhelming. maybe should listen again.

i also have a thing where q-bert cuts up and scratches over a bunch of dj shadow tracks. really gotta wonder how that's held up to the test of time ...

i think the "brain freeze" / "product placement" issue boils down to they don't know when to stop, they keep piling shit on.

i still like psyence fiction too.

Endtroducing is awesome! Fuck all the revisionist critic shit like "so many fools pretended to like that album when it came out"

have never been convinced by endtroducing. plodding compared to the earlier EPs.

'the private press' is super underrated

by who?!?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Private_Press

^ check the ratings

if anything i would say those tracks are overrated over lots of other "big beat" tracks