September 2007 eMusic Downloads
There’s been a lot of shakeup in eMusic land in the past few weeks. Epitaph, homebase recording label for Mr. Brett and Bad Religion, is has left eMusic. Apparently, they wanted $1/track iTunes pricing, and that’s not how things work here. (Dumb move, Brett!)
To go along with their new fresh-out-of-beta download manager (that STILL doesn’t remember your $#@! login), eMusic has also announced that they’re releasing MP3 audiobooks. Sounds like a good idea at first, but they’re only making it available as a separate subscription. Therefore, I can’t buy books with my music subscription (or vice versa). I wouldn’t mind picking up a book here or there, but subscribing to a service like that doesn’t really appeal to me. I’ll probably just stick with the library for the occasional “read”.
- Black Francis — Bluefinger (12 Tracks)
- The name change says Pixies, but the music sounds like Frank Black. “Threshold Apprehension” and “Tight Black Rubber” have that Pixies vibe, but it eventually fades away to reveal yet another solid solo album. Not that any of what I just said is bad, just don’t go into this one thinking the Pixies reunion rewrote the rules.
- Unsane — Blood Run (11 Tracks)
- Wish I had gotten into these guys sooner. Not as strong as previous month’s download Visqueen, at least at first listen, mainly because the lyrics are made mostly incomprehensible by the mix. Bonus points for the use of the phrase “disorienting, bowel-loosening miasma” in the AMG review.
- Ministry — The Last Sucker (11 Tracks)
- Said to be the final Ministry album, Al and the boys wrap up their anti-Bush trilogy with… more songs bashing the current administration. Subtlety went out the window a long time ago, kids.
- Oneida — Seeds of Contemplation (13 Free Tracks)
- Released as a free for all album, it’s easy to see after getting a few tracks in why there was no charge involved. The drummer seems to be the only talented member of the band, a downfall which is particularly magnified in the songs that don’t have any drumming. I’m willing to give the record one or two more listens before doing anything drastic, but at this price I won’t feel guilt hitting delete.
- Funkadelic — Maggot Brain (7 Tracks)
- Rounding out the month are the seven tracks making up the original release of Maggot Brain. (See? I’m not always about the angry white guy music.)
Those who really dig simple arithmetic may have noticed that my total track count for this month (not counting the free album) is 41. I was granted an extra download for pointing out a problem in one of the tracks on Bluefinger.
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