001Collective Is Where It's At!

“We dream of an age where artists don't create out of greed, but out of love; a golden age of the arts not seen by any time in history. Sales and promotion don't generate income, fans do. And artists who climb a human pyramid to live in luxury are finding that they have an ever dwindling number of fans to step over.”

This is a passage from the site’s Declaration of Independence. 001 Collective’s purpose is to build a community of artists and non-artists that share music and more. The music is free, but by using BitTorrents instead of straight downloading a community is developing.

When people started downloading music I was ardently against it because most people (in my mind) who downloaded music did not give back or contribute in any way. These songs became disposable objects and, “Who cares where they come from as long as I am entertained.” In many ways this belief still holds true, but by using BitTorrents and creating a forum and a blog, people can share their own music and music of people that the really love; everyone gives and takes for equal measure. They also have links to all the artists sites to buy the hardcopies if you still love the gift of handmade art and liner notes.

And there are so many good artists on here already; Tinyfolk, The Lonesome Architects, Existential Hero (sorry, had to plug!), Dustin and the Furniture, and more coming everyday!

I don’t believe mainstream music is dead or even close to dying, but the distribution methods are so outdated that it is too hard to connect with those artists releasing their cds at Best Buy.

Since I’ve joined the 001Collective I really now believe that this is the best future for musicians like myself and you folks out there.

Link:
001Collective: Your new family is waiting

Mp3s:
The Lonesome Architects-"Echolocation"
Tinyfolk-"Do Animals Get Lonely Late At Night?"
Existential Hero-"A Terrible Postmodern Experiment

The Lonesome Architects: The Ocean at Night (2007)

The Lonesome Architects are a band (Josh and Martin) originating from LA who play dare I say, “Folktronica”? Is it possibly the greatest antithesis to rap/rock? Genre-bending aside, their latest EP The Ocean at Night is a surprising album given their more acoustic background. However there were inklings of the sound on their last record 15 songs of loss, love and longing. This mixing of folk and electronic music is simply stunning and each form compliments each other greatly. The warm intimacy of acoustic guitars entwined with the cold discipline of electronic beats really recreates the surreal landscape we all live in. So what is this EP all about? Well relationships are one big answer and our relationships to those relationships too. It’s very post-modern; the very best kind. I think I really like The Lonesome Architects because of the pervading sense of individualism that comes from these two guys. It isn’t a selfish or self-absorbed type of individualism, it is us the individual who looks and feels and perceives. I could go on and on about this type of stuff (I’m taking culture and film theory at the moment), but I think what will really win you over is their craft at coming up with very memorable melodies and interesting song structures. “Julie Vignon” is an instant classic. It has a very biting edge to it; a synthesized beat intermixed with some screeching guitar, handclaps and a killer hook, “And now I’m living alone/ just like Julie Vignon/you can catch me by/ the swimming pool anytime.” I’d be afraid to be this girl. Josh and Martin mentioned at the Muddy Waters show yesterday (Read my review here) that while making this record they decided to make it a dance record, or an attempt at one. Now I wouldn’t necessarily call this a dance record, but if some DJ were to remix it I’m sure it would be tearing up the clubs. The song, “Was It You?” Is the most obvious of their intentions. It is the kind of dance song all young un-dance oriented guys would make who wished they had moves (like me): earnest, serious, and a bit cute (in a good way!). The poetry is something else when Josh sings, “And in to this field of schemes/ that once was filled with dreams/ but dreams do rot/ and fruit gets soft/it’s true or is it not?” Attempt to get The Ocean at Night any way you can right now. It is necessary for anyone who’s ever thought about our place in this world and with everyone else.

Mp3:
The Lonesome Architects-“Was It You?”

Their Myspace with "Julie Vignon"!
On Virb!

The Mutineers, The Lonesome Architects, and Watercolor Paintings at Muddy Waters

I always enjoy the shows at Muddy Waters down on Haley Street, but yesterday was special. I saw The Lonesome Architects in February and I was blown away. Finally after much delay they came back to Santa Barbara. Due to some pulled wisdom teeth, Thousand Oaks’ own Hell-Kite could not make it to the show so several random audience members (including me) played a song or two to warm things up for the main bands.



The Mutineers played first and brought everyone into their enjoyable form of folk-rock. They played a song every young twenty something who’s looking for a job and likes to get wasted on coffee can relate too. She definitely could relate. The end of the set concluded with a wonderful ode to country music and a great tribute to death metal (On two acoustic guitars and a tambourine mind you).



Next up was The Lonesome Architects. This time around they had an expanded set with the addition of a keyboard. Comprised of Josh and Martin, they trade vocals, guitars, and all the other random instruments they use (melodica, harmonica, and keyboard). The opened with “Echolocation,” one of my personal favorites and played a bunch of songs off their new EP (My review is here). They put new live spins on “Julie Vignon” and a really old song that I heard back in February, “Anna’s Hands.” Overall their set was as great if not better than the first time I saw them (I also helped them move a table. How often can you say you’ve done that with Bright Eyes?). More time on the road has made them better musicians and the new keyboard works so well with the songs. This was the last night of their tour for now, but if they come around to your area do not miss them.




Next up was the always enchanting Watercolor Paintings comprised of Rebecca Redman and her older brother (king of all beards) Josh Hoshwa Redman. I have seen them play about two dozen times and in various incarnations (the drum phase, the Rian James phase, etc.), but I really dig what they are doing at this moment. The set nowadays always involves her harp, a baritone ukulele, a soprano ukulele, and a classical guitar. She played such classics as “Happy Ships,” “Gold,” “Hello Out There,” “Smile,” and “Tender Loving Care”. She also played a song called “Sailboat” that she has yet to make a releasable recording of (It’s really sweet). Watercolor Paintings is touring soon and if you want to see the sweetest vegan punks play, you should definitely check them out. I’ll post the tentative dates and locations soon.

Muddy Waters is a great little coffee shop that is welcoming to all kinds of wonderful local and touring bands. Last night was another fun and enlightening time for “little music made by people with big hearts.”

Mp3s:
The Mutineers-"Coffee Mug"
The Lonesome Architects-"Echolocation"
Watercolor Paintings-"Happy Ships"

Links:
Muddy Waters
The Mutineers' Myspace
The Lonesome Architects' Myspace
Watercolor Paintings' Myspace