Awwwwwww, sheeeeeeeeet…. February 3, 2010
Posted by McNeillR in : Lol, YouTube , add a commentI’m presuming this has been LOLBLOGGED everywhere, but I’ve yet to find anyone print-screening an avatar sized snap of his guilty puss:
Scooped a gudyin!
Downloading Both Barrells January 10, 2010
Posted by McNeillR in : 365, Comment, Media, Music, Spotifive , add a commentSpotifive 5 Track Blog Mix
I’m still reeling from the all in all awesomeness of the Beastie Boys reissue of their seminial sample heavy classic Paul’s Boutique reissue from this time last year. What was most reassuring about the pre-ordering process was not having to wait around to hear the slick remasterings.
The commemorative pre-order package offered:
- High Quality MP3 Files (320Kbps, fully tagged, will play on any MP3 player)
- FLAC Lossless (CD quality - will not play in iTunes without being converted)
- Apple Lossless (CD quality - will play in iTunes)
- All files are 100% DRM free
Since Radiohead offered up ‘In Rainbows’ quite literally downloadable for free, and magically earning a fair amount of money from it, the online musically freebie ride has yet to start spinning.
The Beastie’s attempt was clearly a nod to their dedicated troops. The FLAC format being as close to CD quality sound as digital music can easily muster and for little extra cost; the MP3’s at a full fat 320KBPS for portability; the Apple Lossless format to apease the masses of iPod users missing out on FLAC-action.
Astonishing efforts to supply an astonishing album, but not something which has really been taken up in the 12 months, especially with the stagnation of digital downloading and the increase of the cost-to-capacity scale on 1TB iPods or something.
FLAC and Lossless formats should be seen as at worst an untapped crevice for wealthy Joe Walsh fans keen to hoover up the best they can buy, even though ten minutes setting up EAC to convert their existing CDs would save them the funds but not the bother.
At best shepherding downloaders into higher and higher quality downloading would have a domino effect, new echelons in quality established across the mainstream and customers demanding the best out of their 99p download of Paper Planes by M.I.A (obviously, cheap neds with taste and decency).
The next achievable step is certainly to be offering digital downloads as a default option when purchasing something physical. Obviously, this is going to harm the +1 factor when trying to scale the charts but slapping a ‘free download’ sticker on an album cover just HAS to even that out by getting people back buying the music in the first place.
Yesterday (Jan 08th) Pavement released a full download of their golden Gold Soundz for nothing more than a few clicks. You didn’t even have to sign up to the emailing list for the ‘Quarantine The Past - The Best of Pavement’ that it was promoting. Just download that shit!
The quality of the aforementioned was telling. And idential to that of Radioheads ‘In Rainbows’ at 160KBPS. This certainly seems to be the ‘WEB CD’ throwaway standard, obviously leaving room for improvement both for the listener and the artists bank balance. The exact double of 320KBPS being the maximum available MP3 bitrate perhaps is far from a coincidence, especially with the clear jump in quality from 128KBPS already offered at 160.
The power of the download was undoubtedly evident in RATM’s Christmas top spot, but it’s difficult to see the justifacation record labels will have in pushing digital downloads inside record booklets without fleecing the public for it under ‘Deluxe Download Edition’ round ups. It’s also difficult to see them employing some tea boy to sit and rip FLAC quality conversions off CD, never mind a qualified remasters expert to do so.
I don’t need to write about my unbound love for Spotify but this platform, especially with advancements in mobile internet connections, to usurp all but the biggest players in the downloading market unless the rest can change their footing over the next year.
Pavement - Gold Soundz (Remastered)
Spotifive 5 Track Blog Mix
FREE! (”And we’re coming to the chorus now…!”)
This blog was sparked by picking up Tom Waits Glitter and Doom Tour vinyl which offered an easy route to downloading the entire album on 320KBPS.
Who’s this cunt think he is?!
Satellite White…would have been my punny headline. January 8, 2010
Posted by McNeillR in : 365, Comment, Hail To The Ale, Media, Music, Spotifive , comments closedIt’s very VERY rare when one photo features identically in ever paper. Obviously, you don’t see a paparazzo greasing himself slipping seamlessly into an astronaut suit. At least not last decade.
(Neodaas/University Of Dundee (naw, not Abertay))
See how I chucked Ireland in? Because Cork and Kerry have green in them!
Also, another wasted squirt of journalism turned bloggoism: did ‘Global Warming’ change it’s name officially by deadpoll before the Copenhagen convention to ‘Climate Change’ or what?
Pinchy Stryder More Like! November 19, 2009
Posted by McNeillR in : Music, Spotifive , comments closedFirstly, before endulging my pun-tastic action which was obviously too good for The Sun, a moment for Brother DB:
http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/tinchy-stryder-robbed_1122656
Members of his entourage reportedly confronted the two men before around 30 police officers arrived on the scene.
Wut? 30? The man hours and mobilisation involved in that probably cost £10,000! Amazing scenes.
In fairness, I’m tempted to start my own “Cunt In Da Hood” clothing line to rightfully claw back the tax payers money for this policing travesty.
Spotifive - ‘Take Me Back’
Newsfeedtube ¤ 2: That’s No Moon! October 8, 2009
Posted by McNeillR in : Lol, Media, Newsfeedtube, YouTube , add a commentI don’t know how long I’ll keep this up for, but it makes for interesting combinations that I’ve Youtube explored in the past few weeks. It’s less up and running, more not even got it’s shoes on…
Tomorrow, at lunchtime in the UK, NASA will blow up (a tiny part of) the moon:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/main/index.html
David Cross and co ’sketch’ about the same thing. The NASA project is called…LRCROSS!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Csj7vMKy4EI&feature
“…and we’ll do it during a full moon! To make sure we get it all!”
Fantastic show by the way. I doubt staring blanky at the sky after watching the NASA live feed tomorrow will be quite as entertaining.
Newsfeedtube #1: Dopio Cannovaro
Posted by McNeillR in : Uncategorized , add a commentThis has happened twice today already so well worth another half arsed attempted at a ‘running’ feature…
Fabio Cannovaro fails doping test whilst playing for Juventus, 2009.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8298063.stm
Fabio Cannovaro gets friendly dose of Vitamin C in a hotel room whilst playing for Parma, 1999.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtkLX5ByTi0&feature=related#
Bang on the 02:00 mark. Looking pretty pleased with himself.
Good one Fabio!
The nights are drawing in… October 1, 2009
Posted by McNeillR in : Music , add a commentIn some attempt to update Wordpress I’ve binned all update up to Easter and some before then unlinked to the hosted blog.
I am dissapoint.
Also about 16 people mentioned that the nights are drawing in to me today, and one of them was Morrissey.
“I neeeeeeeeed adviiiiiiiiiiiiiceeeeeeeeeeeee……..”
Hail To The Ale ¤ 4: Wychwood - Circlemaster March 28, 2009
Posted by McNeillR in : Hail To The Ale , add a commentWychwood - Circlemaster - ¤¤¤¤ Alc. 4.7% Vol. 500ml Recommended @ 6°c £1.49/ 4 for £5 (Morrissons, Ferry Road, Edinburgh
At first sniff, this organic ‘Golden Pale Ale’ has the waft of a straight forward mass produced lager, before eventually opening up to a creamy pale ale nose.
Again, the taste initially is a lot rougher and maltier than the end product, making the organic neck label stand out during the supping.
However, after settling into the glass overpowering malt notes melt neatly into the hop action for what eventually is a decent, but bog standard ale. Not a touch on Caledonian’s Golden Promise but flavoursome enough for an organic effort.
The boring bit: Initially overpowering malt froms a ‘unique blend of organically grown Plumage Archer barely’ settles alongside tasteful and a sweet but soft citrus finish that remains bright and fizzy to the last drop.
Internet Oops ¤ 3: WAG Spray Can March 22, 2009
Posted by McNeillR in : Internet Oops, Media , add a commentI can’t believe someone gets paid to do this:
The image alone probably cost as much as Photoshop to purchase and publish and some Picture Editor has used MS Paint? SERIOUSLY?!
Internet Oops ¤ 2: Keeping a cool head March 11, 2009
Posted by McNeillR in : Internet Oops , add a commentTelegraph enters Brasseye territory with this quote:
Keeping A Coole Head