In Praise Of Amazon Cloud Player

It's very rare that a big company gets something right in regards to digital content... As one who's very outspoken about that, I thought I'd bite my tongue for a second. Amazon has just announced their 'Auto-Rip' service, where your CD purchases are automatically added to your Amazon Cloud Player for downloading or playing through the browser or mobile app. **UPDATE** as of April 3 this now includes vinyl purchases! What's more, is that past purchases from the last 15 years are added in as well! It's refreshing that they did not feel the need to cripple the service with some sort of restrictive DRM, which would essentially render the entire thing useless.

I received this email from Amazon:

You may have noticed that songs from 45 CDs you have purchased from Amazon were added to your Cloud Player library. This means that high-quality MP3 versions of these songs are available for you to play or download from Cloud Player for FREE. You can find your songs in the "Purchased" playlist...

In addition, we're excited to announce AutoRip. Now when you buy any CD with the logo, all songs from the MP3 version of that album will instantly be delivered to your Amazon Cloud Player library for FREE. 

Check it out:

Music Business - Recommended Reading

For anyone interested in music industry news and commentary, I would highly suggest checking out the blog and email newsletter of Bob Lefsetz.

 Who is Bob Lefsetz?

"Bob Lefsetz is the author of "The Lefsetz Letter." Famous for being beholden to no one and speaking the truth, Lefsetz addresses the issues that are at the core of the music business: downloading, copy protection, pricing and the music itself.

His intense brilliance captivates readers from Steven Tyler to Rick Nielsen to Bryan Adams to Quincy Jones to EVERYBODY who’s in the music business.

Never boring, always entertaining, Bob’s insights are fueled by his stint as an entertainment business attorney, majordomo of Sanctuary Music’s American division and consultancies to major labels.
–Rhino

"The Lefsetz Letter" has been publishing for over 25 years. First as hard copy, most recently as an email newsletter and now, for the first time, in blog form." --From the blog The Lefsetz Letter

S.H.S. Label Spotlight - Grindcore Karaoke

http://grindcorekaraoke.com/

Grindcore Karaoke is an independent music label founded by J. Randall, vocalist of the band Agoraphobic Nosebleed in 2011. To date, they have over 300 albums on the website, all available for free downloads. For any new or seasoned grindcore fan, knowledge of this site is crucial, as many of the releases have risen in prominence within the scene. What began as a place strictly for one-man GC bands to call home, starting with the album 'Grindcore Lu'au,' by Wadge, has now grown to include other genres, such as sludge and noise rock, as well as hyped up acts including the 3-piece band 'Cloud Rat,' who will be releasing a new album 'Moksha' on Jan. 22 via Halo Of Flies. Grindcore Karaoke is also home to 'False Light,' a band which appeared on many 'best of 2012' lists recently. A few other recommended bands are Jarhead Fertilizer, Robocop, and Water Torture.

New Young And In The Way

Blackened Crust/Hardcore group "Young And In The Way," from Charlotte, NC has released a new track from their upcoming split with Withdrawal. I saw YAITW perform for the first time at the A389 records showcase last January. They were excellent and had quite the stage presence as well. Whether you are just getting into them now, or have been a fan for a while, you have to be excited that they are not only planning to release this split, but another with Mortal Void and also a full length this year. Check out the tracks and a video of them performing below.

http://youngandintheway.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-w-withdrawal-2013

http://youngandintheway.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-w-moral-void-2013

The Top Bands I Slept On In 2012

I am only now discovering these bands exist...

Vaura - great experimental metal

Bell Witch - can I call this doomgazing? I love this.

Rival Mob - great HC band

Ash Borer - black metal band

Mutilation Rites - sick black metal from Brooklyn!

Desecresy - Finnish death metal

Merky Ace - new-ish UK Grime MC

God Seed - black metal, ex Gorgoroth

Anhedonist - excellent black metal

Hounds Of Hate - NYHC/straight edge band
Column Of Heaven - highly lauded, conceptual powerviolence

Top EPs, Splits, Demos, Tapes, ETC of 2012

10. Desaparecidos - MariKKKopa/Backsell

http://desaparecidos.myshopify.com/products/marikkkopa-backsell 

9. Only Living Boy - Spread Your Butter b/w Scrambled Eggs

http://onlylivingboy.bandcamp.com/album/spread-your-butter-b-w-scrambled-eggs

8. Disobey cassette

http://disobey.bandcamp.com/album/disobey

7. Boddicker/Kata Sarka Split

http://boddicker13.bandcamp.com/music

http://katasarka.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-boddicker

6. Altered Boys Katorga 7"

http://alteredboysnj.bandcamp.com/album/katorga-7 

 

5. Black Kites - The Last 3 Songs cassette

http://blackkites.bandcamp.com/

4. Nails/Skin Like Iron Split

http://deathwishinc.com/estore/product/SLINLS001v.html

3. Ugly Parts - Taste EP

 http://mindmelt.bigcartel.com/product/ugly-parts-taste-7-inch-ep

2. Old Wounds II cassette

 http://oldwoundsnj.bandcamp.com/album/ii

The Top 10 Full-Lengths of 2012

10. The XX - Coexsist

http://coexist.thexx.info/

       -Congratulations to the XX for overcoming the hurdle of being 'just another over-hyped indie band' who fails to deliver, and is ultimately forgotten after their initial recording. They have done quite the opposite, delivering a solid, critically acclaimed follow-up LP. Having personally felt some stirrings traverse the great black chasm where my heart should be in 2012, this LP arrived just in time to capture some of those things I could not say, and it serves to comfort the savage beast as well. A perfect soundtrack for your long drive home.

First Post - Welcome to S.H.S.

I introduce to you...wild eyes, and such holy yells.

I will unite within you the light and dark through cathartic ceremony.

I define vertigos...

Who am I?