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The Problem With Promotional CDs
By Charlie | February 8, 2009
To begin with full disclosure, I have been reviewing CDs and writing about bands since college. I like doing it, particularly because I get free music. No denying that.
Now I’m not a picky man. Usually the CDs I get are not the full package. This is standard practice for record companies and promotional material in general. That’s fine. If I receive a disc in a paper sleeve with a handwritten track list, no problem, I still get to listen to the music. That is all I really care about anyways. If I get a disc in a clear case, with no sleeves, no info, well that’s ok too. Though a little help from the company is always nice.
But I understand, I am a professional. I would also like to take this moment to point out that I never (repeat NEVER) share this stuff on the internet or burn massive copies for friends. It’s just not good practice, plus I don’t know how to post this stuff online and I don’t have any friends, but regardless, I keep this unreleased music to myself.
So with that I will now go on a slight tirade.
I got two CD’s to review last month, the first by the artist Papercuts.
The upcoming album, You Can Have What You Want (due out April 14), sounds amazing. It is an ambient and melancholy expression of beauty wrapped in reverb, sonic malady and Jason Quever’s plaintive vocals. I am really liking it and the package it came in, the retail digipack in it’s entirety. This way I can enjoy the artwork, read the liner notes and musician credits and enjoy a more complete picture of the album as a whole.
For example: Beach House’s Alex Scally plays on several tracks-want to bet I mention that in the review? And I get a lyrics sheet-want to bet I recite my favorite lines in the review? You see where I am going with this, right? Reviewers like this stuff. It helps us.
Now the other CD is Bill Callahan’s Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle (also the be released April 14).
This is the polar opposite of the other CD mentioned above. This came in a paper sleeve. OK, no beef there. It came with no musician credits, lyrics, or info about the album in any way. Oh well, I guess I’ll have to do some homework then. It came with a watermark and a warning about said watermark. Ummmm, why?
But the real kicker is what is actually on the CD. Inserted within the songs, right in the middle of them, are loud car honking sounds and beeps. Right in the song!
WTF?
Written on the sleeve, and the disc, is the following explanation. I am typing this word for ridiculous word so don’t blame me:
“This promotional (HONK) CD has been overlaid with car horn sounds in order to (BEEP) discourage illicit copying. Do your part and (HONK) leave it uncopied, and off the internet.”
Why such tactics? I am a pro, not some sniveling little hacker, bent on spreading free music to the masses. A simple “please don’t copy this shit” would have sufficed. Now I jump at least twice every track due to a heart attack inducing car horn.
If you know anything about Bill Callahan’s music, either under his previous moniker Smog or his own name, you know the songs are lulling, patient and introspective wanderings. Now, cut that up with rush hour traffic and you have a mess.
While the album sounds good, very much like Callahan’s entire catalogue, this anti piracy stuff has got to stop somewhere. A little courtesy is all I’m saying.
Topics: Music News, Random, Rants, Reviews |