Tuesday, October 09, 2007

The Money Shot: 10.9.07

Today's headlines...

Interview: Steve Earle (Pitchfork)
The Money Shot: "The difference between us and the animals is not an opposing thumb. It's the fact that we make and consume art. That's one of the most fucked up things about American society. We think art is an elective. We call them elective subjects in school. But it's not an elective, dude. It's sustenance to human beings, just like food is. This is hat keeps our souls from dying. It's what keeps us from becoming Dick Cheney."


'It's the most over the top thing that I've ever done' (Scotsman.com)
MS: It's an odd position for a major band to be in, where their music could be perceived to be of little monetary value while the artwork costs a bundle. But for Radiohead, Donwood's apocalyptic visuals have long formed a vital part of a complete package. They perfectly complement the songs, from the weeping cartoon minotaur of their Amnesiac album to the grim painted street plans of Hail to the Thief, plastered with words such as "snakes", "poor souls" and "venture capitalism".


PJ Harvey: "There are no rules, and you can make anything up you want" (Drowned In Sound)
MS: I don’t think about the end result when I’m making things. I certainly don’t think about how I want to make people feel, because I’d be crippled with fear. I couldn’t possibly write if I thought about those things, about how it will be received. It’s not something I can fill myself with when I’m doing my work. But, at the end result, when a record’s being finished, if I hope for anything it’s for people to feel something. Sometimes I think I’m happier if people intensely hate the record or intensely love it but just so they’re moved one way or the other. You know, to not have any affect would be awful but to have some sort of movement of some kind, that’s all I really try to do


Oasis to release next album as free download? (NME)
MS: According to industry sources, Oasis - who are not currently contracted to a record label and are releasing their digital-only single 'Lord Don't Slow Me Down' through their own imprint, Big Brother - are considering offering future recorded work to fans in a similar way to Radiohead.


Sex Pistols classic: fans and stars aim to send punk anthem to top of charts (NME)
MS: When the punk anthem was first released in 1977 it made it to Number Two in the singles charts, however there was a strong suspicion that the authorities had banned the track from topping the charts, as it was the Queen's Silver Jubilee and the song's anti-authoritarian power was deemed unacceptable to the Establishment.

Those responsible for collating the chart suspiciously refused to deny the track had been banned from Number One, but Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon has told NME.COM he firmly believes the band were victims of a conspiracy.

"Let's be honest it was Number One anyway," he declared. "They were taking us as a serious threat to an establishment and an industry. We were discussed in the Houses Of Parliament under the Treason Act!"

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