They say that if you share what your wishes are, they don’t come true. I know this myth to be false.
Back when I was maybe 12 or 13, I stole a bunch of CDs from a store in the mall. Back then, there was no internet piracy, so we had to steal things the old fashioned way. A friend and I ripped the CDs out of their packaging, put them in a bag that I was already carrying, and walked out. Within minutes, we realized that someone was following us. We walked into other stores, made random turns throughout the building, and realized that this guy was definitely tracking our every move. I said out loud to my friend, “I wish we could just go back and give him the CDs and he’d let us go.” It seemed unlikely, but it was either that or running, and this guy trailing us looked like a pretty good athlete.
So we went back into the store, heads hanging low. Everyone there knew what was up, and the guy who had been following us came in and motioned us into a back room. It was not the first time I had been in one of these back rooms, and I was sure that someone was keeping a “permanent record” of this kind of stuff and that my kleptomaniacal tendencies would be exposed and I’d have to, at the very least, take some kind of class to better myself and learn how to be a good citizen. But nope.
It turns out the guys at the store really didn’t care much about us stealing. We handed over the stolen goods, and he gave us a little speech. I don’t remember what he said but I’m pretty sure he called us stupid at one point, and he ended with, “You’re just lucky my boss isn’t here today.” Then, he just let us go. My wish came true, and ever since then, I say most of my wishes out loud, and I feel just as lucky as the next guy.
The moral of the story: don’t hold those wishes in. Here are some of P&P’s wishes for 2012.
Rappers would stop comparing themselves to aliens
We get it, you’re all from a different planet. Can we talk about something else now? I don’t know who started this all. I mean, great for you coming up with a metaphor that separates you from the rest of us simple human beings, but when you ALL do it, it kind of loses the effect.
Radio stations would stop playing the same 50 songs on shuffle
As a blog, the number one problem we have is that there is too much music. There’s so much good stuff out there to support, so many artists trying to get heard. I’m sure there is plenty of good business reasoning behind it, but it’s crazy that radio stations stay so limited in what they play.
More independent artists would experience mainstream success
Hating mainstream music got kind of corny post-Y2K, so it’s cool to see some independent acts start to go mainstream without signing to a major. Nothing against major labels—they are still a very important part of the industry, but there’s always been something extremely gratifying about rooting for the indie artists that get by on the merit of their art and the power of social media.
We could find clarity on the issue of free streaming
We can all see it right? The current business model isn’t working so well. The state of the music industry is like a big battle royale between labels, consumers, artists, and the mess that we call the internet. The issue of free streaming is one of the potential game-changers, but it’s still a blurry mess of grey areas and disagreement. Can we just sit down and figure this shit out? There has to be a way that we can all benefit from this.
Justin Bieber would go silent
Just figured we’d throw this in there to counter all the people who are like, “You know what, he’s actually a pretty good rapper.” Next thing you know, Lil Biebz is gonna be bragging about his MC skills comparing himself to an alien. We’d prefer if he just stopped… just stopped everything.
Dr. Dre would admit Detox isn’t happening
Just give it up, Dre. At this point, we’re all ready to just accept the fact that it’s not coming, but by not actually saying it’s not coming, your “highly anticipated album” is becoming more and more like a recurring itch. Last time we heard, Dre was working on those Slim The Mobster and Kendrick Lamar albums and then taking a break from music for a while. So if anyone actually believes Detox is coming out in 2012, hit me up on Twitter and can put some money on it.
LCD Soundsystem would reunite
It hasn’t even been a year, but we miss LCD Soundsystem. If they were irrelevant or past their prime, we could have accepted their decision to stop making music, but with three solid releases they had become a staple in the indie world, and James Murphy’s creative genius was still flowing. They went out with a real bang during their final Madison Square Garden show, and it just feels wrong that we’ll never have another LCD Soundsystem album. We want them back.
Lex Luger would make a pop song
One of the enemies of creativity is predictability. Lex Luger makes some good stuff, but eventually, the trick is going to get old. Like, I thought it was awesome when my dog learned how to “shake,” but after a while, it just got to be annoying. Okay, you little show off, you are really good at shaking. What else can you do?
Indie bands would start making mixtapes
We’ve been saying this for a while, but rappers are onto something with the mixtape game. A steady release of (free) music is a way of staying relevant and keeping fans satisfied. It’s not a replacement to touring, but it does ensure that 50% of your fan base isn’t going to forget that you exist by the time you announce your next album. We’re consuming at all-time high rates. An album every few years just doesn’t cut it.
Album leaks would stop happening
We’re probably alone on this one, but we think the album leaks are getting a little out of control. These days, it’s more surprising if an album doesn’t leak online before it’s actually on sale. It’s cool to get an early listen, but the artists should have some control over it. Even if music fiends want to play by the rules and not download albums illegally, the album leaks are so tempting, and nobody wants to be the last person on Earth to hear the new Drake album, right? It seems like pre-release album streaming could play a big role in solving this one.
What do you wish for music in 2012?
This may seem a bit cliche Con but I really hope for another Watch The Throne this year. A sequel to one of the years most interesting albums would be well appreciated. Oh and Adele putting out another record. Peace
Absolutely with you on WTT. I’m kinda on Adele overload, though.
This is a list I completely agree with, especially about the biebs, that kid needs to go.
lmfao @ “justin bieber”
The only rappers that can say they’re aliens are Outkast.
Would like to see some solo material from 3000 this year too, if not a new Outkast album.
One thing I’m hoping, and I know P&P is crazy for it, but I’m crossing my fingers for a return to a more pop/indie inspired rock like part of the 80s/90s (think The Cars, Third Eye Blind, Foo Fighters). Rock music that shows some signs of balls and not so much the “We recorded our vocals in a really long hallway” sound. The bedroom/dream rock is good on occasion, but it’s not going to save the genre.
And I meant crazy for the lo-fi, bedroom-type stuff.
Definitely agree. There’s way too much of this lo-fi bedroom stuff right now. I really love some of it, but there is just way too much. I wouldn’t be mad at more poppy indie rock. I think Foster The People do that really well, but I guess they lean more towards pop than rock.
Agree on the Andre3K material a few comments ago.
I wish for people to be a bit more accepting of music they don’t like. I think people all need to realize that there is an audience for just about everything and if we would stop wasting energy getting worked up about something we DON’T like then things would be a lot better for everyone.
I definitely want to see us get another Kendrick Lamar project. And I hope we see a lot less politics in music.
I’d also add that the Protect IP Act completely disintegrates into oblivion. That act could totally destroy music blogs, youtube, soundcloud, and music on the internet as we know it.
@Joanna Don’t forget SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act)! Too many bills that have to be supported now. Especially since Obama signed the NDAA bill… but that’s for another discussion. This is a music blog. *end your rant, A.J.*
@PigsandPlans (Confusion)
To reply to the “stop album leaks” segment of the article, it’s entirely possible. There’s actually an interesting article Billboard wrote about the process of how “Watch The Throne” didn’t get leaked. Apparently, there were three major factors in it not getting leaked.
1) NO Wi-Fi was allowed during the recording, mixing/mastering process. This eliminates hackers from being able to jack unfinished versions from the network, etc.
2) EVERYTHING had to be done IN PERSON. All beats, all verses, everything. Nothing was sent via online. On top of that, all the hard drives with the sessions were under lock-and-key at all times.
and number 3) (which was the most genius idea from a G.O.O.D. Music associate) To drop the album ONLINE FIRST and then release it physically. I’m sure we all were kinda scratching our heads when we first heard about this strange and unconventional marketing tactic, but it was far from a marketing ploy or even to increase sales. In fact, it may have cut sales in half. No, the point of dropping it online first was to, in essence, beat the leak to the punch. When an album is approaching release, the record label has to send the master copy to their manufacturing plant, right? But what if someone “accidentally” loses a copy? All it takes is one copy to leak and you might as well wave the white flag. This tactic of preparing for an online release first and then preparing for the physical duplication process cuts that event from happening.
If more acts implemented these kinds of strategies, we would see a dramatic decrease of album leaks.
- @theajcrew
with you 100% especially on the idie bands making mixtapes. Chester French did something of the sort a year or two back.
Oh, PS: “Too many bills that have to supported”… to remedy and amend the terrible provisions of idiotic bills like SOPA, PIPA and NDAA. Sorry for the confusing language.
@AJ Crew Yeah, I think that digital-only release was a big factor. I’m not sure how many acts could pull that off. Jay and Ye have a lot of power and can call the shots like that. I’m not sure what the benefits/downsides of that strategy are for the label. But also, even with that strategy, hackers said they could have leaked it earlier but didn’t out of respect. They hacked onto a WTT producers Twitter and leaked a Wiz Khalifa video to prove they were serious. I don’t know how legit that whole thing was, but that album not leaking was a very rare case.
Lex Luger did kind’ve do a pop song this year…that Wale song with Rick Ross and Jeremih? I mean, it’s not literally a pop song, but it’s not the same Lex Luger song as the rest of them.
yes on all these points
Pokey’s point +1
Good point. Thought about taking the Lex Luger thing out, but it’s more of a symbolic thing to wish for, like we wish artists would break free from their formulas, etc. Maybe Luger wasn’t the best example.
Your mix-tape idea is something I’ve thought about for a while. I’ve seen it done before with mild success from Dan Black. It seems in the case of a band making new stuff, yet not quite enough for an album, they go the EP route instead of a full LP (B-sides even?).
There definitely is a trend at least with a few indie bands covering their favorite current songs fairly quickly after their release.
theory: if we stop talking about bieber, wont he just eventually go away? ie. rebecca black
Taking the mixtape idea one step further, I think we’re going to see a lot more garage rock, indie rock and indie pop bands working with rappers on mixtapes and collaborations this year, a la Cults’ upcoming project, The Black Lips doing that song with GZA, and what The Black Keys did with Blakroc. If done properly, these projects will definitely benefit both sides. Bands could have rappers on older songs to avoid using material that could be saved for a full-length album.
nice list :) i agree with everythig on here, especially stopping leaks. only thing i didnt agree with was the need for indie artists to put out mixtapes. id rather have a focused and polished work that takes a few years than lots of decent compilations. plus it always sucks when a new album drops and you’ve already heard almost half of it.
I hope that Kid Cudi-I mean WZRD-’s album won’t be as bad as rebirth. Also, a new Kanye album would be nice
@Confusion Yeah, I wonder how legitimate that whole Twitter hacking of Mike Dean’s account was… it was the “No Sleep” video they leaked, I remember that. Weird stuff… Also, to comment on the Luger thing: I’m sure we ALL were taken aback by the fact “That Way” was produced by Lex… because it sounds NOTHING like what he does normally. But more Lex pop (or hell, even R&B) songs would be interesting. True.
@Max Another BlakRoc project would definitely be dope. I agree.
Unfortunately, I doubt a fair amount of these wishes will come true, but they’re definitely nice thoughts nonetheless. It sucks there are still people who refuse to listen to anything mainstream. I talked to people the other day who insisted Kanye West was a terrible rapper because he’s mainstream. I’m not even sure how to respond to those comments. And I still want Detox to happen, but by now you have to assume it’s not happening until it’s literally in my hand (or the mp3 files are literally on my computer). I don’t think indie bands are going to stop making mixtapes for a very simple reason: It’s much easier for rappers to take beats from other popular rap songs (or even make simple, not-that-good-or-complex beats) and write a few unimportant bars over them than it is for indie bands to come up with entirely new music. And, as a poor college student, I love album leaks and I support artists as best I can either through social media stuff or through going to concerts when I can, but I can understand artists wanting to get paid for the work they make.
@CK While I agree with the fact that bands would have to record from scratch, it doesn’t necessarily mean they would have to record all-new music. You could easily argue that a band could record some covers and just learn how to play the chords, then package it as a promo “EP” as most bands label their smaller scale projects. I think it’s somewhat unfair to blanket statement the process of making a mixtape by rappers, because while the artform started as rapping/remixing over industry beats, it has dramatically shifted since then and most people are creating full-length album worthy material and releasing it for free. Not “writing a few unimportant bars” as you put it. Just saying.
@A.J. Crew: To add on to my original comment, maybe it’s the differences between the different types of music. If indie/rock bands cover songs, they usually release the covers as one-off things or make an entire album of covers. If they make original music, they save it for an album, b-sides of singles, or EP’s. The types of music are just so different I don’t think indie/rock bands would make a mixtape and call it that. They might make what amounts to a mixtape and call it an EP/cover album. On the other hand, rappers don’t really make EP’s or cover albums. I think it’s basically different names for the same things in different genres.
Indie bands with mixtapes would do them a lot of good. Like 5 or 6 songs would be enough.
@Batmayne: But that’s the definition of an EP, essentially. They DO make releases of that length, they just call them EP’s, I think that’s just the nature of making music in indie rock vs. making music in hip hop.
the Justin Bieber comment made me love this blog a lot more. Complex is actually hyping Bieber as a rapper and are looking forward to his album release, hoping to have some rap on it. im like WTF.