Nine Inch Nails' online exclusive album "Ghosts" earns Trent Reznor $1.6 Million

(click here to visit the official site and buy the album)

Nine Inch Nails' new instrumental album "Ghosts I-IV" has been out for 1 week now, and has already amassed Trent Reznor $1.6 million dollars. The album has been available exclusively through his own website, at several different price points including a free download, and an uber limited $300 box set.

Coupled with the success of Radiohead's release of their most recent album, "In Rainbows," as an online exclusive, a new trend could be brewing as top shelf acts pry away from record deals with major labels. While a higher revenue share for the musician is a definite plus, this new model might not work for every major band out there. For one thing, both Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails definitely seem to have the type of audience that's tech/web savvy- not all acts have such audiences. Furthermore, while this may work for bands with a large pre-existing fan base, how it would work out for a low-profile artist is yet to be seen.

Discussions on the future of music distribution aside, go visit NIN's cleanly designed website for "Ghosts"- Even if you don't want to pay the $5 for the full high quality album, you can still download 9 of the 36 tracks for free and download a 40 page liner notes booklet.

Checkout this streaming player for previews of a few of the tracks:



For more Trent Reznor music goodness, checkout his guest vocals on the Cassette's Won't Listen Remix of El-P's "Flyentology" on FoundTrack's April '07 MixTape.

Yellow Bird Project - T-shirts for Charity designed by Cool Musicians

This is one of the coolest charitable projects I've heard of in a while. The good folks at "Yellow Bird Project" in their own words, "collaborate with musicians (such as The Shins, My Brightest Diamond, and The National) in designing a T-shirt, we print and sell them on our website, and all of the money we make goes to charity. Which charity? Each of the artists gets to choose their own."

While I picked my three favorite t-shirts to post here, several amazing musicians have taken part in the project including Wolf Parade, Devendra Banhart, The Shins, Wolfmother, Rilo Kiley, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

Listen to The Shins on FoundTrack's November '06 MixTape, My Brightest Diamond on the October '06 MixTape, and The National on the May '07 MixTape.

Sourced from the always stylish Kitsune Noir

FoundTrack 2007 Year-in-Review Compilation Cover Art

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Don't Quit Your Day Job, Superhero

A few months ago i was spending way too much time staring at my computer screen and compiling our March 2007 mix on a gloomy sunday so I decided to listen in motion and run to and through Beachwood canyon. After all, I never mind being the third wheel on a date between my ipod and my running shoes. For some reason i felt like reliving my times in New York running past the sidewalk traffic, dodging them as if i was returning a kickoff.

Therefore I turned right onto Hollywood blvd. on my way to the canyon and approached the fatal fanny packs of the visiting world descending upon the walk of fame in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater. At this point in my run came my first listening session of Arcade Fire's Neon Bible on shuffle and the song that hit as i had been tackled by traffic was "Ocean of Noise". I can only assume you too know the first impression of a great song and so i just had to stop, walk , and surrender. The crowd huddled around the predictable team of superheroes including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and of course Spiderman. What wasn't so predictable was the juxtaposition of these characters with this sad love song on this dark day. I then listened to the second half of the song from their point of view. Them being the actors not the actual superheroes. I wondered what else these people have on their minds other than of course saving the world, fighting crime and greatly appreciating tips. In case you're also curious in unmasking some of our favorite childhood heroes Laemmle's music hall 3 is going to be screening "Confessions of a Superhero" until Thanksgiving day.



To hear Calexico's rendition of "Ocean of Noise", check out our August 2007 edition.

iPod Touch Ad created by student (featuring music by CSS)

I read about this on Five Four Clothing's Blog earlier and thought I'd share. British student Nick Hale, an Apple fan and a fan of CSS' music, created his own ad for the new iPod Touch and uploaded it to YouTube, where it quickly became a popular video. Apparently, someone at Apple marketing caught on to the hype, got in touch with Nick, and had Apple's ad agency cleanup and remake the video which is now running on national TV.

Nick thought that CSS' lyric “My music is where I’d like you to touch” fit perfectly with Apple's new device the iPod Touch. "Music is my hot, hot sex" is one of my favorite FoundTrack tunes we've featured, and Nick's video is pretty stylin'. It's always awesome to see amateur work be recognized. We're living in a world where it's getting more and more accessible for people at home to create professional level art and content, so hopefully all this technology will make set the competitive bar higher for everyone.

Checkout Nick's original version, followed by the national ad... it remained pretty faithful to the original.

Nick's Original spec:


Apple's National ad:


Find the original article from the New York Times, here

Check out the featured tune, "Music is my hot, hot sex" by CSS on FoundTrack's July '06 Edition

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Double the Fun for Tim Burton fans...

So I'm sitting here after a really crazy day of work sipping on a yummy Irish whiskey on the rocks and reminiscing about old times... wow, I feel like FoundTrack Partner-in-Crime right now. Ok, I'm getting side tracked here. On to the topic at hand-

The October '07 edition of the FoundTrack mixtape features "This is Halloween" (and perhaps more?) from the The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack by Danny Elfman. Contrary to popular belief, Tim Burton produced, not directed this classic cult animation sensation (based on poems and sketches of his). Call me Professor Cheesy, but I love the film because it combines my two favorite childhood times of year, Halloween and Christmas. In fact, the movie's probably my favorite musical of all time (or is that only?).

The aforementioned nostalgia aside, it's time for you Tim Burton fans out there to listen up... you're about to get a double dose of festive silver screen action. First up, Nightmare is being re-released in 3D for a limited engagement. If you haven't had a chance to see it on the big screen or haven't seen it at all, do yourself a favor and check it out. Take your family, a friend, significant other, significant other of the week, etc, and enjoy.

Next up is a project that's sure to be another cult sensation- Sweeney Todd (Well, maybe not quite the cult sensation that is Michael Keaton dressed as a bat, and Jack Nicholson in clown makeup, but a sensation nonetheless). Burton's film interpretation of the misadventures of anti-hero Sweeney Todd, 'The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' has been getting a ton of hype. According to early word from a few friends that have seen a rough cut, the film is living up to said hype. FYI for those of you are new to the madness that is Sweeney Todd, he's a fictional villain/anti-hero that cuts his victims throats with his barbering straight-razor. Origins of this crazy guy date back to the 1800s, and he's been featured in stories/books/a musical, and more. Burton goes to his golden boy Johnnie Depp to fill Todd's shoes. Several others including Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, and everyone's favorite Khazakhstani/Intellectual-Brit, Sasha Baron Cohen, round out the cast. Here's a glimpse of what you'll see in theaters this X-mas:



Check out Danny Elfman in his pre-Tim Burton film-scoring days, rocking out with Oingo Boingo and partying with dead-men, on the October '06 MixTape.

Not interested in partying with dead-men? Party with us instead.

Not Just a GOOD party @ Natural History Museum

It was a great party put on by the people of GOOD magazine for their first anniversary series, which basically is their way of celebrating their bday the whole week like we do and not just on the actual bday. Only difference is they get to go to different cities like DC, NY, and now LA and rent out the coolest museums in the country. I'm a little late on the GOOD tip but from what i gathered they are a magazine that brings together people with a shared interest in giving a damn and changing the world in whichever way they choose fit. All of the proceeds from subscriptions goes to help the organization of your choice. They also gave away really comfy shirts like the ones "from that team building exercise you did for your old work".


I came to the event to support my buddy Knew-Jack who'd helped with the outdoor playlist but when a little L.A. drizzle turned into a downpour, Natty History was like "You can stand under my um-bur-ella". The shelter housed the wet angelenos, dinosaurs, elephants, bears, moose, and DJ's remixing some naturally historic jams. Squeak E Clean got the party started right and quickly and handed it off to a ridiculous set of pumps and a bump from the Spank Rock DJ's Devlin and Darko.



Check out Spank Rock's new project, Bangers and Cash, for the amazingly filthy track "Bitch" featured on the October '07 edition of the FoundTrack mixtape.

How Band of Horses killed it @ Amoeba

1)Detlef Schrempf
Detlef Schrempf was a crucial player for the Seattle Supersonics in the early 90's but these days he spends most of his time as track 4 on the band of horses new album, Cease to Begin. The song has nothing to do with him but its as beautiful as his white-boy jams which in this picture he's about to do unless Jeff Hornacek is waiting above the rim of course.

Purchase Detlef Schrempf's rookie card here
Purchase Jeff Hornacek's rookie card here

2) Stage Presence
Any time a singer closes their eyes yet looks in depth to try to find a place where their voice can rise....that my friends...is a performance..i think i just closed my eyes and made that rhyme....anyhow, back to Ben now ; ) him and the rest of the herd put every ounce into each his own instrument and i became just as interested in their lives as their music. I wanted to travel across country with them and wondered the moment Ben discovered the strength of his voice.




3)They leave me wanting more
Hopefully a live performance of the song "Cigarettes, Wedding Bands" when they return to LA in November and maybe a song on their next album called "Sedale Threatt. Tyler Ramsey, who helped out on guitar at the in-store told me after the show that he was going to open for them at the Avalon show on Nov. 24th. Buy tickets here before they sell out.

4) "You make me feel alive"
This was a shout out loud from one of the spectators between songs. Ben Bridwell smiled with his thumbs up in the middle of a song and pointed to a couple who had crammed under the listening booths upstairs to catch sight of his band (two heads above the info. sign)..



5) Mt. Pleasant
The Band of Horses signed my Cease to Begin vinyl insert of their new home where they recorded most of the album... The insert was a photograph of the setting sun hugging the cirrus clouds in Mt. pleasant , SC. I have a feeling this scene produced the lyrics "the world is such a wonderful place" from "Ode to LRC." This is going on Nass' list of places to see before i lied-dee-die.

Hear Band of Horses on the October 2007 MixTape

New Radiohead LP "In Rainbows" now Online

(click here to visit the official site and buy the album)

Hola Amigos, the new Radiohead album "In Rainbows," is out and available for purchase as a digital exclusive. If you haven't heard yet, Radiohead's no longer on a label, and are therefore letting the consumer pay as much or as little as they want to download it. Later in December the album will be released as a collector's edtion box set with a bonus disc and vinyl as well.

Can't wait to hear how many downloads and sales Radiohead gets off this thing. Gotta give them props for the progressive strategy to distributing music. Word on the interwebs is that Jamiroquai, Nine Inch Nails (recently free of a label as well), and Oasis are following suit.

Over the past year, Radiohead has been previewing some of the tracks off of "In Rainbows" (aka LP7). Here is a performance of "Videotape," the last track on the album, live from Bonnaroo 2006:

Kanye and Timbaland fine-tune "Stronger"

I've wanted to put in my 2 cents about Kanye West since "Stronger" was leaked, but figured it was a totally saturated point of discussion. Nonetheless, I found this behind-the-scenes video on Kanye's official blog, and it's pretty awesome. It details the process of fine tuning the mix-down of "Stronger," and it shows a side of Mr. West far from his usual public persona. Apparently, Kanye was unhappy with the drums on the track and asked Timbaland- Master of the drum track himself, to consult:



In my opinion, Kanye can talk as much smack as he wants... he's the only guy in the mainstream music game that can back his words up with 3 solid albums in 4 years.

Check out the Mano Remix of "Stronger" on the August '07 FoundTrack MixTape
Check out Timbaland's "Give it to Me" on the March '07 FoundTrack MixTape

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Lost in the Village Green

In high school as a big FU to the general establishment and the majority of fellow students which I had loathed and envied through my four years of internment, I played a song called 'Lola' at a senior brunch. For those of you unfamiliar with old rocker music 'Lola' is about a regular guy out one night who meets this hot girl. They are dancing, they start getting freaky and what does the guy eventually find out...Lola has got some extra equipment. (The Pharcyde may have run into this same imposter in 'Oh Shit') So I have to tell you there really is no emotion to describe what it was like to be singing about a transvestite while people are eating brunch.

The song 'Lola' is a great window, but not nearly an abstract, of who The Kinks were. Or more importantly who Ray Davies, the off-key singer and writer of The Kinks' sound, was. Like the Rolling Stones, David Bowie and other British rockers, The Kinks somehow managed to stay in decent popularity and only recently broke up in the late 90's. The Kinks were often political, usually humorous and writing about what they wanted and saw at the time. In a recent blog article I caught a foolish webhead making a list of the top ten worst album titles of all time. 'The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society" was listed as one of them. How he missed 'All My Friends Are Dead" by Freddie Gage, I'll never know.


But forget titles for a second you'll uncover something lovely about 'Village Green'. It was a concept album for The Kinks but one that had nothing to do with heavy handed political agendas or stabs at any person, place or thing. The album was an ode to simpler times of English Hamlet life. Seems almost silly but its an album of songs that have quickly become favorites for any listeners of the era. Ridiculous title or not I think I'll stick to living in the 'Village Green' versus drinking 'Crunk Juice' in the city.

Checkout The Kinks' "This time Tomorrow" on the September '07 FoundTrack MixTape

Going to Where the Tea Trees Are - Peter Von Poehl

July 2007 Edition - Track 18
Album: Going to Where the Tea Trees Are
Label: Graefe Recordings / Tôt ou Tard
Release date: Out now
Referral:Rudy Chung - Hit the Ground Running
http://www.myspace.com/petervonpoehl

I don't know much about Peter Von Poehl but i can tell he's got great stage presence. How do i know? Cuz he sticks one of his thumbs out when he puts his hands in his pocket, which shows he's not a conformist. The Swedish singer-songwriter hasn't found the path to his debut solo effort an easy one. After moving to France in '98 he met French Pop Producer Bertrand Burgalat who tried to fit Peter in an offbeat boy band to add some sauce to Bertrand's Tricatel label. Peter used various fell through's as fuel including a role in Bertrand's backing band , A.S. Dragon, and was thus equipped with the tools to work on his solo career.

The titled track of his debut reminds me of Phil Collin's "In the Air Tonight" remixed by Air. If the rest of his album is like the songs on his myspace page then i'm going to start a record label myself just to release his music in the states. He recently was part of the great lineup of bands at Montreal's Osheaga music festival and he will continue touring through Europe this fall. Oh and if you want to go to where the tea trees are, head to Australia or New Zealand.

Can't Stop Moving - Sonny J

July 2007 edition - Track 20
Album: Disastro
Label: Stateside (EMI)
Release date: October 1, 2007
Referral: www.stereogum.com
http://www.myspace.com/sonnyjmusic

If you thought D.A.N.C.E (April 2007 mixtape Track 9) was the only Jackson 5-esque hit you were going to here this past summer then drink again. One of this summer's biggest hits has to be Sonny J’s feelgood track, "Can't Stop Moving", which has been gaining considerable radio airtime in the UK.

Here is an unofficial video for the track...although the sample is still unidentified, the son of the brilliant editor of those old Bruce Lee classics has done a good job of convincing us that its the Jackson 5.

Now that the summer is officially over...how about your opinions on the best track of this summer so that the "Young Folks" (July 2006 mixtape Track 1) can pass the torch down.

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