Wow! I am writing an update on Tuesday which actually makes my blog make some sense. Well let me reassure you this blog probably won't make much sense at all. I have a couple new albums to fill you in on and some other stuff too.

Guns n' Roses - Chinese Democracy

17 years we waited??? Well, maybe waited is a strong word...let's try anticipated...no no that is too strong as well. Okay Okay I have it. For 17 years we were mildly curious as to what Axl Rose would put out without the help of amazing guitarist Slash. Well it is finally out, it is #1 in a number of countries since it's release and the reviews have been fairly good. Now, I am not the biggest GnR fan, but curiosity got the best of me. Rose certainly tried to capture that "November Rain" vibe on a number of tracks, all in all the album was good but not 17 years of mild curiosity good. The tracks lacked that solid heavy guitar sound. Buy it one day.

Shugo Tokumaru - Exit

I read about Shugo Tokumaru in a Spin Magazine while on my Thanksgiving trip to Montreal/Toronto. A multi instrumentalist from Japan, Exit came out earlier this year in North America and in late 2007 across the sea in Japan...hopefully someone gets that reference. The album has a very indie pop sound and although I have no idea what the lyrics are the sound is great and can be put in the category like such bands that I enjoy such as Sigur Ros, Amiina and SSLYBY. Check out some tracks online first.


Marnie Stern - This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That

That is an insane title, well Marnie Stern isn't the most sane person. To pay for a traffic ticket that she received on tour they decided to set up a kissing booth at their shows. The repetitive title certainly sets you up for the album and the tracks do repeat a lot. It is a high energy run from start to finish. It plays well and can be a good album in the right moment. Not sure I was in the right moment when I checked out this album. Check out something else first.


Other Stuff:

For those who don't know I am in marketing and I love ads. In the last few years advertisers have wised up that good music can make a good ad great. Take Apple for example they began a trend of putting indie songs into their ads that people would google find the artist and then they would buy that album on iTunes in a perfect world. Now a lot of advertisers are using bands the masses haven't heard of and are putting them into great ads. Such as the latest from genius creative agency Sid Lee who is in charge of the Adidas Originals new store concepts and their ads.



The ad has a great remix of the Four Seasons - "Beggin" by DJ Pilooski

Recently, I was watching television and saw an ad for the new Prince of Persia game and instantly I heard one of my favorite bands and one that I did not expect to hear in any ad ever. Sigur Ros was playing and it was a very well done advertisement.



The track is "Saeglopur" off the Takk album. These are just a few examples of the new ways people are finding their music. Some may disagree with it, but as someone in marketing and someone who loves a lot of indie bands I think it is a great thing and I can't wait to see some more great ads and hear some more great tunes.

Till next time.

- Dave