Well after Rachel challenged my fanboy-ness (*ahem* 150+ Pumpkins shows on CD *ahem*), I went to Zwan's website and listened to the new album. Rumors of the greatest album ever and Billy saving rock and roll again are grossly exaggerated, but after one listen of almost all the songs I'd give it the Obsessive Pumpkins Fan Seal of Approval. It is definitely more "feel-good" music than anything Billy did with the Pumpkins, but not as feel-god as, say, James Iha's solo album, which was generally blasted by critics and fans (although I liked it). Most of the pretentiousness is gone, fortunately for all of us who suffered through Glass + the Ghost Children on Machina (the Pumpkins' penultimate album).

However, this evening while watching television I was horrified to witness a commercial for the album. I expect that kind of thing from the Cash Money Millionaires and Creed, but not from legitimate musicians who are supposedly "in it for the music". Not that I believe in the whole "selling out" concept, that people buying your albums is a bad thing, but your album should sell on musical merit if it's good enough.

Unfortunately, in today's climate of file sharing, a lot of albums aren't. Selling that is. My roommates and I were discussing our top 5 albums of 2002 the other day, and I don't think I could even come up with 5. Something Corporate's "Leaving Through the Window" was fantastic, and there were a few others that I enjoyed, but for the most part 2002 was a crapfest where the top sellers were a Canadian "punk rocker" who drew tattoos on her arm, 3 country singers who butchered Landslide, and a rapper who advertised shoes. Instead of the industry moguls racing to see who can blame their financial situations on Kazaa, perhaps they should look at the bands that they sign and the price they charge for CDs. I don't know a lot of kids who will pay $17 for an album they might not like. I do know kids who would pay $5 for an album they've never heard and then tell all their friends and go to concerts if they like it. The most successful albums are successful because of word-of-mouth, and you can't generate that if no one is willing to try out your product because it is too expensive. Add value (the free bonus DVDs are an interesting idea), lower prices, promote more of a variety, do SOMETHING, but for goodness sake stop complaining that the consumer is the reason you can't sell your own product. Nothing says we HAVE to buy the crap that you peddle just because it's out there. (*steps off soapbox*)

(*steps back on soapbox*)

This Friday I was planning on seeing Something Corporate and The Juliana Theory at Mississippi Nights. However, the show is sold out. The show has been sold out for awhile. While I am happy that the bands I like are finally becoming successful, I am upset that this new found success means legions of annoying teenage girls as fans who make it so that I can't go to concerts anymore.

Arch-Nemesis #8: Teenage girls.