Indie Life

Gorillaz: Plastic Beach

2010-07-02T10:53:00.001-07:00

This 2010 release caught me by surprise with how well it was put together. Very polished and extremely catchy, it’s one of those albums that you can listen to from beginning to end and don’t want it to end.

Each song is different and makes it a really interesting listening experience, especially for the first listen.

The album crosses genre’s with Stylo which features one of my favorite artists of all time Mos Def, to Empire Ants which a synth happy ethereal quality. to Welcome to the World of Plastic Beach, which features Snoop Dog and some soul dub that makes for an interesting collaboration.

It’s easy to read too much into this album, but it’s hard not to really get into it. It’s very unique and has convinced me that Damon Albarn is a genius with the way he sandwiches amazing 70’s soul, with 80’s synths and 2010 beats. Fantastic album that is at the top of my 2010 list at the moment. Get Gorillaz - Plastic Beach here!!

Nano-Ingredients: Giant Risks on a Small Scale

2010-05-01T11:35:00.001-07:00

While the world hurries to get the message out about transfat and regulation of genetically modified foods, another threat seems to be slipping under the radar. Nano-particles; the touted next evolution of science are being used unregulated and on a wide scale.

The idea that nanotechnology can solve the world problems like water filtration, and improving solar power has the medical field thinking that these microscopic sized particles can do no wrong. And it is under this guise that the food industry has jumped head first into using nano-titanium on many of it’s products and packaging.

So what’s the Big Deal?

The problem is that the effects of nanotechnology on the human body has had not been tested extensively, or if it has the labs have not released their results. In fact much of the testing that has been made public is not very favorable. Bénédicte Trouiller, a UCLA molecular biologist, conducted testing on the effects of nano-particles on rats. She noted repeated negative effects on mice on the molecular level and cautioned the use of nano-titanium dioxide.

Kraft, one of the stronger proponents of nano-ingredient research, was an early adopter of laboratory testing in 2004. After all their research they have yet to release any findings from their extensive studies and they no longer remain the cheerleader for the pint sized particle, going as far to disavowing the practice.

"We have not nor are we currently using nanotechnology in our products or packaging," Richard Buino – Kraft Spokesman

Once ingested nanoparticles can travel anywhere in the body, even through cells where they inflict their damage. They can cause single and double strand DNA breaks which are known to play a role in the development of cancer. The body cannot eliminate these particles so they generally hang around major organs and the brain.

What products contain nano-ingredients?

Thanks to the general lack of transparency and loopholes in the FDA’s guidelines, no one knows for sure how many products contain nanoparticles. But it is estimated by The Environmental Working Group that the total is at least 10,000 different products. The main areas that nano-titanium dioxide are being used is in the cosmetic industry, food and drug development, and agricultural markets. The cosmetic industry focuses on multiple products including makeups and sunscreen. It’s also being used extensively on foods like breads to make them have a shiney gloss, aid in new flavor creations, and on packaging materials to help slow the speed of food spoil. The pharmaceutical companies and the farming industry have jumped on board to use nanotech to aid in the better absorption of key drugs and pesticides.

Another nanoparticle that is being used extensively is silver. Silver is a known antimicrobial agent and the nano sized version is the same, but with the unfortunate side effect of causing molecular damage to humans and potentially a great threat to us since there is no oversight into using these ingredients.

How come the FDA isn’t doing anything about this?

The sad but unfortunate answer is that the FDA doesn’t think nano-scale materials act any different from their larger counter parts despite vast and growing documentation to the contrary. They think if the original is safe, then the nano version is safe was well. They do not oversee any research or regulation of these materials as long as they are already on the approved list of materials. It’s the stunning lack of effort on the part of the FDA that really makes this situation frustrating because it is reminiscent of the early days of genetic modification in food. After years of complacency the FDA decided to act and start regulating this practice. With with a stunning display of mediocrity it failed the public by not requiring genetically modified foods to be labeled as such.

What do we do?

As long as products that use nano-ingredients are not required to labeled we have our hands tied. We need transparency and governing bodies to oversee the research of the safety of these materials in application, whether it be the FDA, EPA or Department of Agriculture. Proper research will lead to a better understanding on what risks are involved an what we need to do to ensure the public’s safety.

Fanfarlo – Resevoir

2010-04-18T22:55:00.001-07:00

I’ve noticed that I go through different phases of music listening depending on what’s going on in my life, what type of day that I’ve had or that I’ve attached myself to a certain genre. I get bored because everything sounds the same until a hear a band that is very unique, and it cleanses the palate. Fanfarlo was that for me last year.

The band was formed in 2006 by a Swedish singer musician named Simon Bathazar and quickly started performing in many different indie clubs in the UK. They released this album in February 2009 under their own label and really started to make a name for them in the indie scene.

The feel to this album is very European folk, with a major indie rock influence. Every time I listen to this album I picture myself seeing these guys perform in a rustic pub somewhere with the patrons drinking and dancing strangely choreographed numbers while everything has a strange sepia tone like the album cover. Strange, I know.

The album has many uncommon instruments like horns, clarinets, mandolins and a plethora of electronic sounds that shouldn’t blend well together, but they do. Each track of the album is well crafted and well thought out, and as an avid listener I appreciate that. Too many times have I eagerly awaited an album only to realize it was a set of singles that have nothing to do with one another. Few bands do this well, but in this regard Fanfarlo is up there with The Decemberists, Beirut, Bon Iver, and Animal Collective.

Here are a few favorites of the album that everyone should check out. But to get the full experience you must buy the album and give it a listen from track 1 and on.

Invitation to Flight

2010-04-15T23:28:00.001-07:00

Such frantic motions spent in blind pursuit
Of norms defined by cultural expectation.
Wondrous places await in undilute
Expressions of purist inspiration.

Splendific odor of social decays
Beg for the masses to bathe in new scents.
Dried up traditions; death of the old ways.
Alive in the choices true freedom presents.

Renaissance; spontaneous creation.
Adventures of fantasy and surprise.
Lyrical, musical, imagic explorations.
The end of blind pursuit with open eyes.

A lurch to the left, then step off the edge.
Fly up to the moon and beyond my fledge.

I wrote the above poem a few months back, and it first appeared over on my personal poetry blog, A Muse in Me. It really captures the essence of what IndieLife is all about. I hope it drives you to pick up any dream you’ve swept under the rug, and encourages you to color outside the lines. The Dream Big sign above is the latest to go up on The Fence over at the Free Art Project.

Sneak Peak

Soon I’ll be doing IndieLife’s first one on one interview with Leah Patrick. She defines herself as a lovingly sardonic tattoo artist and is an active member of the Ladies of Liberty Alliance. Check out this video of her being interviewed at the Tax Day Tea Party in Huntsville, Alabama, yesterday:

Free Art from the Heart

2010-04-13T10:38:00.001-07:00

No, this post is not about crafty things to do with kids using only what's in your kitchen. Sorry to disappoint. But trust me, this is cool. Riley and Derek Porritt of Kelowna,B.C.,Canada, have started a creative project in their corner of the world. It's a simple idea that they hope will become a movement. All they'd like to do, is spread some free art and good vibes!

One day when Riley came home she saw Derek’s sign that he’d painted, then zipped tied, to the fence surrounding an abandoned building right next to a church. The abandoned building was covered in various graffiti messages such as "666", and they hoped the church wouldn’t mind their positive antidote to the negativity.

They have continued to add messages such as “stay true”, and “peace” to the fence regularly. The “one love” sign was made by their friend Carli, and they have friends come over to help make art once a week. When signs go missing, it puts a smile on their faces thinking its new owner might now have the message up on their wall at home or maybe even on their otherwise dreary gray cubicle at work. They post photos and updates regularly on their Free Art Project blog, and they hope others might share some art and love in their communities and then send photos in, which they’ll post up on their blog as well.

There’s an old gas station that closed down over a year ago not to far from where I live. It still lays abandoned and littered with garbage. I’m thinking it might need some love…

Phantogram – Eyelid Movies

2010-04-06T21:16:00.001-07:00

It’s hard to classify Phantogram, it depends on who is singing at the moment. The duo consists of Josh Carter (guitarist) and keyboardist Sarah Barthel and they put their own personal flair on each song they are featured on independently.

The guitar on first track “Mouthful of Diamonds” really caught my attention and contrasts really well with the dance beat and background instrumentals that progressively get’s more catchier as the song goes on. Barthel really slams the slow interlude and harmony and has a very nice quality to her voice.

Other tracks Josh Carter takes over have much more of a street feel to them. A bit grittier and with more of a hip-hop sound with a mix of more intense dance beats and ambient sounds, but it still retains the pop vibe that gels the whole album together.

I’m really impressed with how put together this first album is; not overproduced but really thought out. It has lots of textures and keeps you interested the whole album. This was only released in February, but it's definitely near the top of the best albums of the year so far. If you like Metric or MGMT then you'll really appreciate Phantogram, it's definitely worth a listen.

Broken Record: The Demise of the Traditional Music Industry

2010-04-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

Times have changed, but unfortunately nobody told the recording industry. Lawsuit after lawsuit and dwindling profits have the mega corporations scrambling to save their traditional business model while alienating their customers.

With the advent of the internet, print media was the first to feel the tidal wave of change when people realized that the internet was an immediate source of up to date news, without the hassles that print media faced. With print you had to wait days, weeks, or months to read news that happened days, weeks or months prior to when they wrote it. Not to say that the content wasn't high quality, since the most talented writers worked in this medium. But it became more convenient to go online and read the news as it was happening in the moment. News companies were slow to catch on to this and are still scrambling to change their business model to stay afloat. In a smart move tech magazines like PC Magazine have made the switch to all online media since their core demographics where computers users, and far more likely to get a large customer base and online advertisers.

With smart phones, Netbooks, and other popular appliances hitting the market, a great deal more people are accessing the internet exclusively to get news and information.

This brings us to the major music companies that are clawing their way to keep their dated business model. Times are changing, but they always have. In the case of the music industry, "piracy" really started out when cassette tapes were invented. One had the ability to make copies of their cassettes, and make mix tapes to share with friends and even record their own music on 4-track and 8-track machines far easier than ever before. Everyone did it, and it became ingrained in our culture. I can't count how many bands and artists that I learned about by having someone make a mix tape or give me a copy of an album. Afterward I would buy every album they made, see them in concert, buy their shirts and merchandise. Many people did the same, and the recording industry flourished.

Then the trend went to CD's, and CD burning. Same story, different decade. But in this case it was far more beneficial for the recording industry since CD's were far less expensive than clunky cassettes. The record industry was not effected.

And then it went to MP3's and Napster. This gave millions access to the same procedure that had been going on for ages prior, but the problem is that the recording industry didn't foster the change, it bucked it. And by doing so they missed out on a great opportunity. Just imagine being in the home of millions of potential customer's homes 24 hours a day, having practically free advertising that is generated by your customers for you. Not having to manufacture hundreds of thousands of CD's, pay for shipping, pay your reseller a portion of the profit, advertising to promote the CD, spoil that comes from broken CD's during shipping, housing of stock... you get the idea.

They could have had a direct connection with their audience. They failed to see the bigger picture. They only saw CD sales loss, rather than digital sales increase, merchandising opportunities and internet broadcasting possibilities.

The artists have been eager for the most part, seeing the opportunity of hitting a wider audience then ever before, and being able to have more attendance for their performances. This is the main area that they make their money. Some artist like Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails and others have either ditched their labels or made content free or at a greatly reduced cost..

I think the record companies have forgotten the main reason we listen to music. We don't listen to music to support the label, we listen to music to support the artist.

I'm not a music label hater or anything like that. Obviously they are essential to the whole industry since they give money to artists to work full time, get better equipment and studio time and publicize. But taking nearly all the profit from album sales and only giving a fraction to the artist, forcing them to tour for years to make money, has come back to bite them.

Do I think we shouldn't have music labels? Well, in a lot of the cases the music and artists that they produce are not done on musical merit, but are signed solely because of marketability. So if less garbage is produced I'd be okay with that. In the case of the Arctic Monkeys, their talent and musical merit led them to rise to the top without a label. There is something to be said of a band that makes money because they are good, not because someone paid their way to the top by clogging the dozen or so major broadcasting outlets. If labels would focus on quality, not quantity, then they would make more money per artist and improvie the state of the music industry.

The main takeaway here would be that there are far more lucrative ways for the recording industry to operate, rather than alienating your customers calling them pirates and thieves, and spying on colleges and creating lawsuits with your clientele. This is a new revolution in music and I'm curious to see what the next step is going to be. I think if the RIAA keeps on it's same path we will see the fall of an empire, I'm sure.But what do you think?

Welcome to indieLife

2010-03-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

I'd like to welcome everyone to indieLife and I'm really excited to be starting this blog up. I've dabbled in blogging here and there but never had a good vision of what I'd like to write about. I've turned a corner in my life and have found that a lot of the information that is given is done with a huge bias. Whether it be propaganda, monetary or with other intent, media has been used as a means to an end rather than being what it has been designed to do. Inform the masses.

Obviously the main culprit is news, but music and art have not been immune to tainting as well. So this blog will promote original thought that may be controversial, original music that does not get airtime because it's not social engineering, and art in the form of short stories, essays and poems that challenge the reader not numb their mind.

I invite everyone that likes to participate in any way. Send articles, send music, send poems, send feedback. All will be well received.

--James