New Anti?-Piracy System

The so-called Center for Copyright Information began rolling out a new anti-piracy system this week, and they are taking an interesting approach: They are aiming to educate consumers, rather than punish them. If you get caught trafficking in copyrighted material, they will send you alerts in a sort of "three-strike" system. If you ignore these alerts, ISPs apparently have the right to throttle your bandwidth or block certain websites.

It seems to be a commendable effort, but I have little faith in its efficacy. If providers don't make their content available in alternative formats, things like Game of Thrones being the most-pirated show of 2012 will just keep happening.

Here is what seems to be a good synopsis of this new development in the online music industry:

If You’re Still Mass-Pirating Music, Expect a Letter From Your ISP

Freedom

Love it will not betray you
Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be

Sigh No More
Mumford and Sons

TRON XTENDED

Oh how I want this.

I want to

I want to reconcile the violence in your heart

I want to recognize your beauty is not just a mask

I want to exorcise the demons from your past

I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart

Deer Tick - Christ Jesus

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]


Chills.


(via)

Extra Track

Madeline - Tickle Me Pink

This is a very powerful song I spontaneously found in my iTunes library yesterday after adding another song by the band.

Tracks of the Day

Bullets - Editors

This is basically a very catchy song by a very cool band. I won't pretend that the fact I can sing along with him makes it that much better.

Go Do - Jonsi

Jonsi, the lead singer of Sigur Ros, has released his first solo album. Fantastic is probably a decent adjective to describe the result. This is the opening track, and the first single. Watch the beautifully artistic music video too.

Everything In Its Right Place - Radiohead

I've heard of Radiohead for awhile, but this is the first album I've actually listened to. The bizarre etherial synthesized atmosphere and effected vocals are interesting and unique. Good music for writing too.

Also check out Hammock. I'm a sucker for sweeping classical-esque instrumentals.

Recent Music Additions

• We Were Here - Joshua Radin
  
  Beautiful acoustic guitar and meaningful lyrics. Good stuff. Special thanks to Sierra for introducing me to his music.


• In Our Bedroom After the War - Stars
  
  Good good stuff. Especially "Personal" (See previous post) and "Barricade." Also thanks to Sierra.


• EP - Annasay
  
  Really polished sound and catchy songs for a band you've never heard of.


• Notes and Rhymes - The Proclaimers
  
  The duo has released possibly their best album ever.


• I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers
  
  Nice folk/country sound with good lyrics and quirks that keep you listening.


• He Poos Clouds - Final Fantasy
  
  Complex violin parts and unique songs written by a total nerd. As before, good stuff.


• Live at Schubas - Zoe Keating
  
  Experimental cello music using a sampler and a lot of talent. Incredible music.


• Music for Egon Shiele - Rachel's
  
  Modern classical. Extremely image-evoking and powerful to hear.


• Lantern - Clogs
  
  Also modern classical. Maybe a bit "edgier" than Rachel's, and very deep and intriguing.

I highly recommend them all.

Stars - Personal

Lyrics

30 Seconds to Mars - This Is War

I believe in nothing

Not the end and not the start

I believe in nothing

Not the earth and not the stars

I believe in nothing

Not the day and not the dark

I believe in nothing

But the beating of our hearts

I believe in nothing

100 suns until we part

I believe in nothing

Not in sin and not in god

I believe in nothing

Not in peace and not in war

I believe in nothing

But the truth in who we are

This album really resonates with me. Literally, and figuratively. While many of the lyrics don't seem incredibly profound or deep, they exude a simple air of quality. Jared Leto's voice and the backup choir of fans give a special something to the music I haven't heard in recent memory. If you've looked at 30 Seconds to Mars before and didn't like them, now is the time to look again.

Watch the Kings and Queens music video. Maybe it's just my imagination or bias for liking the band, but they seem to care. They put more into their music (and Mr. Leto, with his film experience, creates amazing videos under the auspices of Bartholomew Cubbins, a fantastic Dr. Suess reference) than other bands. They're conscious of the world and what they're doing in it. They make statements without beating people over the head.

To the leader, the pariah, the victim, the messiah

This is war

Fighting is not always a bad thing. If necessary to create the kind of world we want, let's do it. Do what you want to do, not what anyone tells you do to. Stand together. Whatever you may believe in, fight for it.

And the Result Is...Music

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Musician Doo doo de doo waaaa doo de doo! (<-- That's you playing something.) Everyone appreciates the band/orchestra geeks and the pretty voices. Whether you sing in the choir, participate in a school/local band, or sit at home writing music, you contribute a joy to society that everyone can agree on. Yay! Welcome to actually doing something for poor, pathetic human souls. (Just kidding.)
Drama Nerd
Social Nerd
Literature Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Anime Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Well, it's not a big surprise. I suppose I'll take it as a sign from Allah that I've found the career I should follow. I don't care for the title "nerd," though. It has a duragatory connotation. I will simply choose to see it in the best light possible: focused, driven, and passionate. Which is exactly the way I feel about music.

Good Songs

Swimmin' in the Water

Is it any good? Let me know.

Re-Using Music

I recently watched Gladiator with Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix, and it was a pretty good movie. At a few points in the movie, I noticed a theme in the music that sounded extremely familiar:

It took a couple times of hearing the theme, but I did eventually realize where I had heard it:

So dramatic. That's Russell Watson singing the theme on his album Amore Musica, appropriately titled "Il gladiatore." It really fits in the movie. According to Wikipedia, Pavarotti sang it on one of his CDs first, and almost sung it in the movie.

An interesting find.