As part of Radiohead's Nude Remix contest they're selling "stems" of Nude on iTunes at $1 a piece. "Stems" are the individual instrument tracks like Drums, string FX, guitars, Vocals, etc. This contest has helped propel Nude to position 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart! Here's how: First, iTunes is now officially the largest music retailer in the U.S. Second, each "stem" downloaded counts as a download for the single Nude. Third, to quote Rich Bradley, "It's not the quanitity of people buying the song, it's that each person who does is buying it 5 times." Not since Creep has Radiohead had a single in the top 40. Dishonest, Clever, Smartest boys on the block? Leave it to Radiohead to keep paving the way forward for the music industry in the 21st century. I wonder if they'll notice. And the #1 Nude remix right now? It's by Holy Fuck. Wonder if that one will end up on the Hot 100 charts....
Just over a week ago Warner Brothers released HAARP- a live performance CD/DVD of Muse recorded at Wembley Stadium (the "church" of English football). It was sold out two night June 2007 affair with over 70,000 fans in attendance. I've only listened to the CD so far and It. Fucking. Rocks. Night two is on the DVD. Here's all the proof you need that Muse, headlining V Fest in England this year, is one of the tightest live bands on the planet. From HAARP:
I am not a Pitchfork nerd. I am not a Pitchfork nerd. I am not a...oh hello there. I know, two posts IN A ROW!?!?! C'mon Jon get off the god damn band wagon. Fuck it. I LOVE me some Thermals. Especially their excellent 2006 release The Body, The Blood, and the Machine. Here's "Returning to the Fold" from that very album...
Monday Pitchfork launched an on line music video channel that documents independent music. Welcome to Pitchfork TV. The production quality is pretty top notch. However, the video quality varies wildly. Definitely check out the Radiohead exclusive video which looks phenomenal. Sadly, it's not embeddable. But don't worry Jay Reatard will rock your socks off.