Selling Out Pt. 2

This article is continued from our April 1st blog post:

 And without getting too deep into it (because I feel it’s pretty cut and dry), bands don’t make money off record sales anymore. This isn’t 1964, and the model has changed. Bands make money through other avenues, and if you dig a band and want them to thrive, there is a 98.9% chance that they will need lots of money to even simply exist as a band. That’s not counting the copious amounts of useless green paper it takes to even get an album recorded.

So you don’t misunderstand me: I don’t do this band to make money. Meaning, I don’t sit down and say “Ok..what sound is hot right now! Because that’s what our next single is gonna sound like. I can just hear those checks rollin’ in already!”. My heart is totally devoted to crafting songs that I find beautiful, inspiring, exciting, real, and memorable. But if I can do music I truly love, and feel has integrity, sincerity, and passion, and someone wants to pay me lots of money so I can quit all my other obligations and do music full time, I would be a moron to say no. If I felt like I was going to lose sleep over something, then I won’t do it. Making the decision to wear trucker hats because it’s “cool” and because it might get my band some attention, and agreeing to let someone sync my music so I can make a living off what I love, are two very different things. And besides, shame on any musicians who are wearing trucker hats.

In many ways, I find it ignorant, and frankly damaging when fans heavily scrutinize a band for getting attention, or getting their music placed in a way that would allow a larger audience to hear them. Just because your average ‘layman’ simply has the recorded audio of a brilliant band transmitted into his ear canal, does not mean that somehow that band has magically become less brilliant. If anything, thank the Maker (and depending on if you are religious, or just a Jedi, that could mean Darth Vader) that someone who’s musical diet consists of expected pop-rock crap, might be given the chance to like a kick ass band who stands for something more than Forever 21 stock shares.

This article will continue, and finalize, in its third part tomorrow! Stay Tuned!

No, this is not an Aprils fools joke. I wish the state of modern music was though.

I think there is a serious difference between getting exposure and selling out. For one, exposure is simply the act or strategy of putting yourself in places where lots of people can see/hear you, with the intention that this action will get you fans, record sales, Facebook likes etc.

Lets try and dissect some of the concepts discussed above in the video.

In my mind, selling out entails changing, cheapening, or altering yourself, your music, and/or your image to hop on a bandwagon, or attain success in the short term. Selling out, in my world view, is getting cheap and crappy because you know it can get you somewhere quickly, cheaply, or on the back of a movement. It is the total the opposite of what art is, in that it is really the pursuit of success or fame for success or fame’s sake.

And to further back this idea up, I 100% agree with the comment in the above video, on music being the only art form where the idea of making money is selling out.

Rembrandt van Rijn is by far one of the most famous western painters. In fact, I actually got to see a lot of his art at the De Young museum in San Francisco two weeks ago (I also got to see “Girl With The Pearl Earing” in person at the same exhibit and it was pretty crazy to see one of the worlds most famous paintings right in front of me. It was like meeting Keith Richards, just not as wrinkly). My initial impression of him, was that he was some intellectualized, artsy fartsy painter, who was amazingly gifted but died penniless because he pursued his art in such a pure, hermit like manner, and the world just didn’t get him.

See, the reality was, Rembrandt was actually incredibly popular! He made a good living painting amazing portraits. Not only that, but he did what I can only describe as the 1600’s version of going platinum: He did etchings for books which were sold all across the world. A large part of his fame was due to the fact that he did a commercialized form of art, where he would create etchings which were then put into books, mass produced, and then sold all across Europe. He did die penniless though, but only because he spent his money up too fast partying harder than Andrew W.K. locked inside a ‘Party America’ store.

If a sweet Science Fiction movie wanted to use a Picture Atlantic song for their trailer, I would assess what the message of the movie was, whether it seemed like a good movie (at all), and if both these elements were positive for me, I’d say “Here is my home address for a check”. How is that selling out?

My music is still the same music. My personality is the still the same. I am still the same. If they said “Ok, here is your check, but you also have to start wearing Diesel jeans, and getting full body tans at ‘Snooki’s Beach Tan Parlour’ every week” I would say “Take that check and shove it”. Even more simply, if that logic were applied everywhere, anyone doing any kind of fine art or craft should be scrutinized for charging. Sorry Fender! Your guitars are amazing, but shame on you or charging us to buy them! You’re only cheapening the fine profession that is being a Luthier.

Yeah right. Get real people.

-Nik

This article will be continued with a second part tomorrow! Stay tuned in!

Last night we visited the wild town of Hollywood! Thank you everyone who came out! It was an exciting blur. Also thank you to The Viper Room for having us, as well as This Passenger, and Armada for sharing the bill with us!

We’ll be back - Nik

The Album Review For People Who Just Can't Be Bothered To Read Anything

The Brian Jonestown Massacre are widely known for their “riot” at The Viper Room for an industry showcase in 1996. After watching the film “Dig!” which chronicles some years of their journey, I was moved to give their albums a full listen. 

"Take It From The Man" was the first of three records released by BJM in 1996. Below is my review in the now infamous Tweet format:

1. “Vacuum Boots” Sounds like this would/could/should be huge right now. If this came out in 2013 they’d be an English, Pitchfork buzz band with drug problems

2. “Who?” Now it’s like early Oasis type britpop meets the Kinks or something. This song is awesome.

3. “Oh Lord” Now I can see the Rolling Stones references. This sounds like it came out in the later part of that era. Really sloppy vibe

4. “Caress” More of that bluesy stuff. This music is making me lose my mind. HBO should use this song, too

5. “(David Bowie I Love You) Since I Was Six” They’ve moved into some post-Beatles/Bowie territory (obviously). Such a nice way to mix up the album. You won’t expect it. Excellent song

6. “Straight Up And Down” This song sounds like the best 60s song and best 60s song rip off at the same time. Kings of Leon could have lived on if they’d done this

7. “Monster” Now they trip out while soothing you at the same time. Would have been on that show, “The Wonder Years”

8. “Take It From The Man” Rolling Stones are back. If Blues pirates existed, this would be the swampy tune they got down to. RTT should cover this song

9. “B.S.A.” Reminds me of Paul Weller. Or that album the Jesus and Mary Chain did in the 90s that was like The Verve. They’re all connected! Conspiracy?

10. “Mary Please” This song is a bit boring compared to the rest. Not bad but just jammy

11. “Monkey Puzzle” This song contrasts by being one of the most exciting on the record. I wonder if they add these jammy songs in to make the others stand out

12. “Fucker” The arrangements are awesome. The lyrics are either really good or really bad. Haven’t decided.

13. “Dawn” This song is awesome. One of the best songs on this album. 

14. “Cabin Fever” So many bands are trying to do this sound. This song is definitely an odd single

15. “In My Life” I think this is a Matt Hollywood track. Good thing Anton let him put it on the album

16. “Be Song” Alright track. A bit forgettable though. How did it go again?

17. “My Man Syd” Could have ended on a stronger note. Makes me consider why they didn’t trim the album down

Overall, Take It From The Man is a good album that shows how much potential BJM had. At 17 official tracks, the album is a bit long, especially considering some songs wouldn’t have been missed if omitted. But this album is enough for me to consider myself a fan of the group and I’m looking forward to getting into their other records. Also, anyone know Joel Gion? I want him to play on our next album! 

As a reminder, we’ll be playing the world famous Viper Room in Hollywood, CA tonight at 7:30. We go on at 8pm sharp. Also playing are Armada and This Passenger. More info and tickets are available here. 

-RB