Rock legend Neil Young has advice for PC manufacturers and summary other parties getting trounced in the music market: Get off the MP3 standard and go hi-res. It's a sure-fire way to differentiate yourself from what Young considers to be the currently sad state of sonic integrity.

"I think there's a huge opening for PCs here to establish themselves as the quality instrument over the convenience instrument," he explains in a video posted Wednesday on CNN Money. "I think hi-res music should come right into the earphones."

Like other professionals and fans, Young doesn't see why listeners should have to settle for crappy sound to support an industry that has plenty of tools and technologies, but no vision. "In the 21st century," he adds, "with these beautiful computers and incredible capabilities, hi-res music is one of the missing elements. [But] I think that's the future of music."

Continue reading "Neil Young: Hi-Res Music is 'The Future.' What's the Freakin' Holdup?" »

There's nothing like a potent dose of beautiful ax noise to clear out the mental cobwebs. But who would have thought that three normal dudes in sweater vests and polos could bring that noise? Oxford Collapse, that's who.

Like its Sub Pop labelmates No Age, who so far has recorded the rock effort of the year in this journo's humble opinion, Oxford Collapse speaks softly but carries a mighty big sonic stick. Which it has no problem beating you over the head with. The trio's latest effort Bits is due August 5, but you can taste its visceral jam on the stream or download for "The Birthday Wars" below. Short but sweet in the vein of its heroes The Minutemen, the song is a panic attack of riffage, feedback and thunderous drums, one that grows on you like Swamp Thing.

STREAM: Oxford Collapse's "The Birthday Wars"

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Continue reading "MP3: Oxford Collapse Builds Bits, Makes 'Wars'" »

Once known as Solesides, Quannum has been a prime destination for indie-hop, thanks to its star chamber,which includes DJ Shadow, Blackalicious and more. In October, it will splice some laid-back Sao Paulo funk into its DNA with the release of Curumin's JapanPopShow.

Just watch out for those Os Mutantes comparisons.

To be sure, the chilled croon of Curumin sometimes resembles Jack Johnson more than it does Los Bros Baptista, especially on the streamed version of "Compacto" below. But stick around for the psychedelic guitar solo on the hyperactive "Magrela Fever" or the groovy stomp of "Sambito," and you might end up believing he's a long-lost Mutant. He's already a Jedi disciple, as the poster above for Curumin's show in 2004 illustrates rather nicely.

STREAM: Curumin's "Compacto"

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Continue reading "MP3: Curumin Mashes J-Pop, Hip-Hop, Tropicalia " »

As part of a policy proposed by the British government that has been agreed to by six of the nation's largest ISPs, any internet account that is used to share copyrighted material without permission there is subject to surveillance and potential throttling of their account, regardless of whether the person sharing the files is the account holder.

That means that if a child shares music and the ISP's warnings are ignored, her parents' surfing habits will be put under surveillance and their connection speed limited, as The Times points out, making large files especially hard to download. The limitations would have harsh ramifications, especially if those parents rely on connectivity to do their jobs.

ISPs who agreed to the government's Memorandum of Understanding with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) include Virgin Media, Sky, Carphone Warehouse, BT, Orange and Tiscali. All parties agreed to start developing ways to implement traffic management measures and identify certain content on their networks so that it can be more easily tracked.

Mistaken identity has long been a problem for the copyright police and their unwitting victims. Several RIAA cases have involved parents taking the fall for their children's infringement, and file-sharing neighbors who pilfer access via Wi-Fi put other people at risk of a lawsuit (or now, in Britain, restricted internet access).

Once the participating ISPs start sending warning letters to hundreds of thousands of suspected file sharers, and then begin curbing the internet access of repeat offenders, British parents and anyone with open Wi-Fi access will be at risk of having their internet access tampered with.

Continue reading "British ISP File Share Smackdown Targets Accounts, Not Users" »

A wax model of Amy Winehouse believed to be distinguishable from the original appeared at Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum in London on Wednesday. Winehouse's likeness will be preserved in a yellow mini-dress, black beehive and her customary sailor tattoos with a microphone in her hand.

The golden-throated siren didn't attend the unveiling, according to the Associated Press, but her parents (pictured with the wax version of their daughter) were on hand. Pop Mitch Winehouse said, "This is the reward for her musical achievements and her talent." Hopefully it's not the only one -- her recording contract shouldn't be all too shabby at this point either.

Winehouse, who had already been partially reconstructed in Lego form, was thought to have been suffering from early stage emphysema late last month.

A spokeswoman for the soul diva clarified somewhat, "She is not diagnosed with full-blown emphysema, but instead has early signs of what could lead to emphysema." Her father had mentioned nodules and dark marks around her lungs, which operate at 70 percent capacity.

Continue reading "Amy Winehouse Memorialized in Wax" »