A few weeks back I briefly mentioned a new music service called Spotify.  Basically, it catalogues music from bands and allows you to simply play them.  This is similar to other current services and so nothing is spectacularly new there.  It’s a nice, downloadable interface that allows you to create playlists, access favourite artists, and play what albums and song collections are currently available.  So, not bad.  I like the service.

But I began thinking beyond this service.  Recently, I have begun to moan and groan about my burgeoning CD collection.  After I ran out of space, I removed all of the CDs from their jewel cases and placed them into thin sleeves tossing the cases.  That helped for a while…until I began to run out of space again.  This problem prompted me to begin searching for a new solution.  There is the ease of Sonos, but that requires that I put all of my music onto a HD that Sonos could access and I have no time for that. 

Realizing that I’ll never be able to see this accomplished unless I take a few months off and do what is necessary to achieve this, I began to bitch and complain to anyone who would hear me.  All I got were violins.

Now it’s dreamtime.

I have always felt that portability is the key to the future.  I don’t have the time to sit around anymore.  I find myself on the go in many ways; to stores, to a family-planned weekend, on a vacation.  Now we have music and film content problems.  I refuse to carry cumbersome equipment to gain some advantage, even if there are iPods to do the heavy lifting for me.  My problem is the ability and time – once again – to get content onto the iPod in a manageable form.

This leads me back to a service like Spotify, which is currently in beta and attempting to become a service that can stream all of the world’s music.  If Spotify, or ANY service for that matter, can provide to me a limitless stream of available music on my iPhone (or other smartphones), then my problems are solved.  If a service could stream every song ever made, no matter how obscure (yes, this is quite an accomplishment), then I no longer have much of a need to buy CDs beyond the absolutes.  Scenario:  On a midnight train to anywhere (I couldn’t help it – it just popped in there), I feel the need to listen to an album by Focus from the ‘70s.  I access my streaming app, search for the band, select the album, choose all, and I can enjoy what I want at the time I wanted it.  This eliminates the need for any management on my part.  I no longer need a massive inventory of physical product.  If I have a favourite band, I can search, find and play any of their albums, get news on the band, even find out new releases from them in the future.

Now, having said all of that, I really do believe that is our future.  I believe that some enterprising company will work all of these deals, provide such a service (pay service of course), and stream me every song I’ve ever heard, on demand.  I don’t have to “own” the songs if I can get them at any time, wherever I am. 

If I want better sound than streaming offers then I can purchase physical music with higher bit-rates and then listen to them on higher quality equipment at home.  I won’t have to go overboard with my purchases, only the absolute necessities ( the music I HAVE to have).  Yep, it’s coming.  We’re living in a time where the rules are constantly changing.  Music is looking for a monetization, where an artist can make a good living on his/her body of work.  The current method is going belly up.  It doesn’t need to entirely as there are STILL those of us who want a CD/LP/SACD with glorious sound and enjoyment.  But it is becoming a niche market.  The internet has effectively killed that market.  But if we’re moving forward, then let’s do it.  Let’s get it done now.  Streaming is the new distribution method.  Let’s fully realize it so that we can get back to the business of nurturing talent instead of fighting about how to distribute and monetize it.

However, if no one is thinking along these lines, perhaps I’ve found my next venture.

Last month, we retired our Albums You MUST Hear Before You Die! I had lost two emails and could not locate them for the life of me. Last week, one of our lost emails came back to us via the author and so we're posting his selections now. Enjoy #39! It comes from Craig, who provides a synopsis after his selection of 13 'must hear' album classics:

1. Some Great Reward – Depeche Mode – Many will go with Black Celebration or Violator, but this album has no clunkers.
2. The Unforgettable Fire – U2 – Even more so than War, this really showed how great U2 is.
3. The Hurting – Tears for Fears – Deep yet accessible, I can still listen to this over and over 25 years later.
4. Hotel California – The Eagles – Simply classic.
5. Rumours – Fleetwood Mac – Ditto.
6. No. 1 In Heaven – Sparks – The blueprint for synth-pop and new wave.  And done with no drum machines.
7. More Fun In The New World – X – Their most refined album and some biting lyrics
8. Ten – Pearl Jam – Nirvana is the face of grunge, but this is the best album start to finish.  Too bad they couldn’t keep it up.
9. Thriller – Michael Jackson – Like him or think he is a whack job, 25 years ago the man knew how to make cool music.
10 Speaking in Tongues – Talking Heads – What a blend of tribal beats, new wave, rock, and rhythm.
11 Standing on The Beach/Galore/Greatest Hits – The Cure – Cheating as they are all greatest hits albums, and there is lots of repeats, but these three get you all the key Cure songs.  The pieces (songs) have always been better than the whole (albums), but the songs are amazing.
12. “Greatest Hits” – Foo Fighters – Not released yet, but when it is…wow.  Dave Grohl is simply amazing – usually about 3 or 4 songs per album.
13. “Greatest Hits” – Linkin Park – Not released either, but again, wow.  3 or 4 songs per album here too, but a great combo of rock and hip hop.

We have a review of an EP by NJ resident, Rick Barry called This Antediluvian World. It's a fascinating album.

We'll see you on Friday.

If you have missed the last As The Disc Spins (updated), check it out here.

To access the previous site and catch up, click here.

Here they come.  We knew it was coming and now they’re here.  UMe, who assumed the Rolling Stones contract along with their non-Abkco titles, will reissue some Rolling Stones titles on the UMe label.  I’m guessing that there is no re-mastering or expansions but, rather, just getting these physical discs into stores with the “proper” labeling.  The affected titles, planned for May 5 are: Black and Blue; Goat’s Head Soup; It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll; and Sticky Fingers.

Hip-O Records will be releasing a Barbra Streisand Blu-ray Live DVD called simply Live in Concert 2006.  It is currently scheduled for April 28.  Hip-O will also release a standard DVD for Streisand called The Concerts, same date.

Hear Music will release a DVD from SIA called TV is my Parent.  It is planned for May 19.

Polydor Records will release a DD (Digital Download) ‘best of’ for the Five Man Electrical Band (anyone remember “Signs”?).  It is planned for March 31 and is called Absolutely Right – The Best of Five Man Electrical Band.

Rounder Records will release a Johnny Adams album called Essential Recordings: The Great Johnny Adams Jazz Album.  Joining that Essential Recordings series are discs for Clarence Brown (Flippin’ Out); Ruth Brown (Ms B’s Blues); Loudon Wainwright III (One Man Guy); Johnny Copeland (Down on Bended Knee); Tracy Nelson (The Soul Sessions); Duke Robillard (Rockin’ Guitar Blues); Ted Hawkins (Cold and Bitter Tears); Mississippi John Hurt (Candy Man Blues); and Solomon Burke (It Don’t Get No Better Than This).  All titles are scheduled for April 28.

Eagle Rock Entertainment will release a Live album from Black Crowes called Warpaint Live, scheduling the album for April 28.

Universal Republic will release an album from Tori Amos called Abnormally Attracted to Sin on May 19.
Coming out this coming Tuesday is The Best of AR Rahman: Music & Magic from the Composer of Slumdog Millionaire.  From Legacy on March 24.

The previously unknown Herb Alpert album coming from Concord Jazz on May 26 will be called Anything Goes and is collaborated with Lani Hall.

Interscope Records will release an Expanded Edition of One Foot in the Grave by Beck, planning the reissue for April 14.  It will be a re-mastered 15th Anniversary Edition carrying a collection of 16 extra bonus tracks, 13 of them previously unreleased.  This reinstalls a previously OOP (Out of Print) title, only better.

Universal Republic will release Drama Junkie Queen by Billy Boy on Poison on June 2.  Check them out.

Philadelphia International Records with Legacy, will release a 2DVD VA set called Love Train: The Sound of Philadelphia – Live in Concert Volume 2.  This was recorded in June of 2008 with The Blue Notes, the O’Jays, Three Degrees, Delfonics, and many more.  It is scheduled for April 28.

429 Records will release I Know That Name from Paul Carrack on May 5.  Also by 429 is the upcoming and previously mentioned Toni Childs album called Keep the Faith.  Originally planned for January, and then April, the album’s date is now scheduled for May 5.  Also watch for Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey by Cracker, same label, same date.

Concord Records has an album coming from Chick Corea and John McLaughlin called Five Peace Band Live.  It is planned for April 28.

Concord Records is readying an as-yet-untitled Frank Sinatra disc, planning the release date for May 5.

Rick Barry is a singer/songwriter from New Jersey who has created a grand album of insights. This album is actually an EP with 6 tracks. But the tracks are excellent making This Antediluvian World an acquisition of interest. Investigate!

The Library is making some very exciting music, showcased on their preceding 4-track EP whilst they cook up the real deal full length. But from what we've heard, we're gonna like the upcoming album quite a bit, maybe even more than that. Check out their music on MySpace (link in the review).