[calverson]

Obviously.

I am listening to the album Transatlanticism now - so damn good.

I really am into them, here is proof...

I dont think that they will overtake NOFX, though.

[calverson]

Hmmm... Also a bit of The Decemberists in there...

Ain't nobody can say nothin about them!

[shifuimam]

Originally Posted by scaught 

Rather short sighted, here. While I'm not the biggest proponent of majors, there are lots of reasons why bands sign with a label, such as "making a living" and "being able to afford the best possible scenarios for creating the best album they can".

Except that they generally end up getting completely FUBARed by big labels who force them to pay back debts from the start of their fancy contract...many bands don't break even before the first year of the contract is up, because they owe so much back to the labels.

Then there's the issue of labels owning rights to the music, so that bands whose labels drop them can't even release the music they've worked so hard to create, because they don't technically own the IP rights to it.

Bands don't need to sign on with one of the RIAA labels to be popular. If your music doesn't suck, you can make it big enough with an indie label - The Shins have made themselves into a great example of how this can be done.

"Making a living" doesn't have to be equated with "living the high life with a seven-figure income". You can "make a living" in a band without selling out to the RIAA.

Two of my favorite bands were dropped by the RIAA after one album (both had previously recorded and distributed under smaller labels) simply because they didn't pull in enough profit for companies that already make billions. The artists got screwed from the start. I don't call that "being able to afford the best possible scenarios for creating the best album they can"...

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by shifuimam 

Bands don't need to sign on with one of the RIAA labels to be popular. If your music doesn't suck, you can make it big enough with an indie label - The Shins have made themselves into a great example of how this can be done.

The Who?

[shifuimam]

Hilarious.

[iMOTOR]

Originally Posted by Laminar 

The Who?

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

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by shifuimam 

Except that they generally end up getting completely FUBARed by big labels who force them to pay back debts from the start of their fancy contract...many bands don't break even before the first year of the contract is up, because they owe so much back to the labels.

Ways and means around the whole "sell your soul to an RIAA label" thing whilst still being signed to them. For those who know what they're doing, obviously.

[scaught]

Originally Posted by shifuimam 

Except that they generally end up getting completely FUBARed by big labels who force them to pay back debts from the start of their fancy contract...many bands don't break even before the first year of the contract is up, because they owe so much back to the labels.

Then there's the issue of labels owning rights to the music, so that bands whose labels drop them can't even release the music they've worked so hard to create, because they don't technically own the IP rights to it.

Bands don't need to sign on with one of the RIAA labels to be popular. If your music doesn't suck, you can make it big enough with an indie label - The Shins have made themselves into a great example of how this can be done.

"Making a living" doesn't have to be equated with "living the high life with a seven-figure income". You can "make a living" in a band without selling out to the RIAA.

Two of my favorite bands were dropped by the RIAA after one album (both had previously recorded and distributed under smaller labels) simply because they didn't pull in enough profit for companies that already make billions. The artists got screwed from the start. I don't call that "being able to afford the best possible scenarios for creating the best album they can"...

The bands are only taking the money and agreeing to things they CHOOSE to agree to. It isn't indentured servitude. Many bands own their own publishing rights. The problem is when a band has been a "starving tour the country in a van" artist for years, established a decent amount of popularity, THEN have a fancy slick A&R guy with tattoos (who sometimes was even in a prominent band back in the day) show up at their shows and dangles a contract in front of them.

Yes, bands can make it on their own or with an indie label. That doesn't say that there aren't benefits to signing with a major. I never said anything about 7 figure incomes. There are insanely few musicians/artists making that kind of money. Almost noone in the spectrum we're talking about is going to do that, the few exceptions being someone like green day or something.

The shins are on an indie? Sub pop is an indie label? They're half owned by warner brothers.

[calverson]

I am not sure how this became a debate about the RIAA and that.

IMO it is a stupid discussion. I listen to music if I like it. I love the Shins (listening to Oh, Inverted World now, what an awesome album) but whatever.

Anyway...

[scaught]

No you don't. You're concerned that listening to "a lack of color" on repeat is making you a sissy.

[calverson]

No, "we looked like giants"

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by scaught 

No you don't. You're concerned that listening to "a lack of color" on repeat is making you a sissy.

Whoa there now, Mr. Pants. That’s not what he said. He was concerned it was making him gay, not a sissy.

’Cause while listening to Death Cab for Cutie will almost certainly not make anyone gay (except in very extreme cases of overdoses), it will most certainly make them sissies.

[calverson]

Was that an insult?

[Oisín]

Only if you consider being a sissy an insult.

Personally, I embrace my sissiness; but knowing you, I suspect you may feel differently.

[calverson]

Hey, I just looked up sissy.

Yes, I am insulted.

[Oisín]

Ah well. It’s your own damn fault for letting your girl trick you into listening to Death Cab for Cutie in the first place.

[calverson]

Well, it is worth it.