OK Go might have gotten their big break with their imaginative, and yet incredibly simple, video for “Here We Go Again”, which, when it came out, was pretty much posted on every website ever. Things have changed now, however, with EMI disabling embedding of their new music video for “This Too Shall Pass”. Damien from the band writes a pretty comprehensive explanation about why the label has chosen to do this. In short, it’s all about money. To oversimplify, embedding the Youtube video means that EMI can’t monetize the content on someone else’s blog or website or what have you, and the label certainly doesn’t want to lose out on the few pennies they get from Youtube. So no embedding means that you’ve got to go to Youtube to see the video, as well as whatever ads are chucked up alongside it. The internet is all about monetizing things these days.
Several sites and blogs are remembering Kate McGarrigle with some truly beautiful tributes. Carl Wilson writes a beautiful piece, as understated and simple as the music that Kate was known for. Neda Ulaby and Noah Adams from NPR share their memories of Kate. A recording of Kate and Anna McGarrigle performing along with Rufus Wainwright at a tribute to Emmylou Harris is available on NPR’s site. The Cover Lay Down blog shares several songs by Kate and her family, as well as other artists covering “Heart Like a Wheel”, by Kate and Anna McGarrigle.
Music For Relief, a nonprofit organized by members of Linkin Park in the aftermath of the 2005 tsunami, is offering a compilation of unreleased music from artist such as Peter Gabriel, Alanis Morissette, Lupe Fiasco, and the Dave Matthews Band in exchange for donations to the relief efforts in Haiti. Paste Magazine is doing something similar, offering access to 250+ songs, many of which are otherwise unreleased. Are you aware of any other artist giveaways or fundraising efforts? Drop links in the comments if you’ve got something of interest.
Martha Wainwright hasn’t let the recent birth of her son (Arcangelo, 10 weeks premature) stop her. The Telegraph reviews a recent show, where she was joined on a few songs by her father, Loudon Wainwright III.
Owen Pallett gives a track-by-track guide to Heartland to Drowned in Sound.
Coachella has announced its 2010 headliners: Jay-Z, Muse, and Gorillaz. Other artists appearing include Pavement, Phoenix, Them Crooked Vultures, Grizzly Bear, the Avett Brothers, La Roux, Vampire Weekend, the xx, Camera Obscura, Old Crow Medicine Show, Florence and the Machine, Miike Snow, Owen Pallett, Girls, Ra Ra Riot, Hockey, Kate Miller-Heidke, and pretty much every band that has ever existed.
New Zealand’s Under the Radar interviews Neko Case, who talks about the origins of her music, her work with the New Pornographers, songwriting, and why there are thirty minutes of frogs and crickets at the end of Middle Cyclone.
The 2010 edition of Starbucks’ Sweetheart series is out now, and say what you will about Starbucks, but they definitely promote great music. Artists included on this year’s compilation include Jose Gonzalez, Spoon, Elvis Perkins, Diane Birch, and the Avett Brothers. (Incidentally, I noticed the other day when I was in a Starbucks that while they sell I and Love and You in the store, they’ve changed the album cover to be headshots of the band rather than the less-yuppie-consumer-friendly painting of the woman with the skull.)