::: Off the Radar :::: brit-pop

Seems bands are starting to take the cue from Radiohead and releasing Digital Versions of their albums for FREE! They're pretty much reitirating what alot of people have been saying. Most young kids nowadays are getting their music for Free on the Internet and for every CD sold they're being copied 9 times over. Might as well release the albums for Free. Increase your exposure and make money at the concerts and through merchandising. Seems to be the way of the future. Eventually CD's will become like fancy business cards. The more bands keep doing this the more it'll become the norm.

The Charlatans aren't a run of the mill band either, they've had a few #1 albums in the U.K. and I've been a fan for years. Even going on memorable group trips to see them perform in Orlando.

This is their 10th studio album and so far it's being compared to New Order. The Charlatans do a New Order type album. I've been listening to it and it's pretty good stuff. Downlaod it for Free on the Famous British Radio Station XFM who's hosting.

Thanks to Joaquin who sent me a message/link for this on Myspace.

Below is their latest video for the title track 'You Cross My Path' and the links for the Download are here....

http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2008/download-charlatans-new-album-for-free

Direct download: http://mediaweb.musicradio.com/mp3/The%20Charlatans%20-%20You%20Cross%20My%20Path.zip

P.S. Seems Nine Inch Nails/Trent Reznor has kinda gone to a similar route as Charlatans/Radiohead with the release of their latest album Ghosts I-IV. It was released through their website this past Sunday. It's 36 Instrumental Tracks that they completed in 10 weeks. You can get the first 9 tracks for Free on their site www.nin.com or buy the whole album/36 tracks for just $5! They also have various special collectors edition CD's etc you can purchase if you prefer. Do I smell a trend here?? Here's some stuff he wrote about the release on his site...

Trent Reznor explains, "I've been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years, but by its very nature it wouldn't have made sense until this point. This collection of music is the result of working from a very visual perspective - dressing imagined locations and scenarios with sound and texture; a soundtrack for daydreams. I'm very pleased with the result and the ability to present it directly to you without interference. I hope you enjoy the first four volumes of Ghosts."

Been on a Pulp kick lately... It happens to me with all my favorite bands (depeche mode, the smiths, the cure, new order, franz ferdinand, the verve, james, postal service, belle and sebastian, figurine, tribeca, pulp, suede, etc...) I usually end coming back and revisiting them from time to time. Isn't it great how memories get attached to music. You hear a track you loved and bam in a flash it can take you right back to that point in your life.

Since it seems many kids nowadays have short memories or were too young to even go out when Brit-Pop was king in Miami Nightlife say (98' to 02') or so, before Electroclash then Indie Rock rolled upon us. I thought I'd start doing spotlights on some classic albums and maybe introduce some of them to the younger generation.

One of my favorite 90's Brit-Pop bands of all time was Pulp, fronted by the amazing and enigmatic Jarvis Cocker. Most kids nowadays (in the US at least) probably only know of Pulp's big hits 'Common People' and 'Disco 2000' (both from Different Class).

In my opinion Pulp basically has 3 must have albums. 1994's dance-a-thon 'His 'N' Hers', 1998's more mature 'This is Hardcore' and their critical and commercial peak with 1995's 'Different Class'. It was hard to decide which one to spotlight here, because I love them all, but I figured I'd go with Different Class since it's probably their best all around album. Although I'd still recommend getting all three, especially if you find yourself digging Different Class. All classics! Depending what kinda mood I'm in it'll decide which CD I pop in.

With Different Class Pulp had their biggest hits 'Disco 2000' and 'Common People' which seems to be constantly reaching for a higher peak at a dizzying rate until it's final climactic end. The lyrics deal with class struggles between the have's and have-not's. A consistent theme throughout the album as well as revenge, spying, alienation, drugs (you know the usual teenage/young adulthood issues). The whole album is amazing, not one filler in the bunch! It's one of my favorite all time albums, up there with classics like 'The Queen is Dead' by The Smiths or 'Violator' by Depeche Mode.

Many great tracks to adore here. Besides the big hits there's also I Spy, MisShapes, Monday Morning, Underwear, Sorted for E's and Wizz, Something Changed and many more.. Gotta love the way Jarvis delivers his storytelling lyrics from a whisper one minute to a scream the next.

Here are a few of my favorites from Different Class as well as a couple videos from the time and some newer videos of Jarvis doing a cover of Heaven 17's 'Temptation' at last years NME Awards Show with Beth Ditto from The Gossip, plus a great video from his solo album 'Jarvis' for 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time'. In it he's a taxi driver running over people whilst giving advice to his passenger. Great one!

Here's to Jarvis reading this and reuniting for a New Pulp album/tour! Even though his solo album had some good stuff they should reunite for one last Pulp album. The last one, 2001's 'We Love Life' was a little weak and uninspired. Definitley not worthy of being the last Pulp album.

Love ya Jarvis! Come visit us in Miami!!