Is ‘Chinese Democracy’ the last Old Media album?
November 25th, 2008 by Wade Tatangelo in Reviews
The most striking part of Chuck Klosterman’s Chinese Democracy review — he gave it an A- in The Onion, about the same as my 3.5, reduced to 3 star, review — is his argument that the disc will be remembered as the last physical record that anyone gave a shit about.
For one thing, Chinese Democracy is (pretty much) the last Old Media album we’ll ever contemplate in this context—it’s the last album that will be marketed as a collection of autonomous-but-connected songs, the last album that will be absorbed as a static manifestation of who the band supposedly is, and the last album that will matter more as a physical object than as an Internet sound file. This is the end of that.
It’s a smart statement. But I’m not sure I’m buying it. The new Eminem album, for instance, will likely move a million units and so should Dre’s. I’m betting the next Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus discs will as well. Acts that truly grab people — yes tweens count as people — have fans still interested in owning a physical copy. Look at Radiohead, the British alternarockers gave away In Rainbows sound files and still topped the pop charts when they released the actual CD. The disc isn’t dead yet. Or is it????
November 25th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I don’t think things ever end when people call it. Especially media. I’m not as familiar with McLuhan as I should be, but his basic ideas concerning technology connected past technologies with the up and coming. For example, in the realm of news media, newspapers were visual, radio auditory and television a combination of both. Blogging links back to newspapers even stronger, even though we can include music (mp3s) and video (youtube). There is no end to technologies. (except 8 track)
That is a completely bastardized version of Marshall McLuhan’s thoughts but it should work for a blog. I’m glad you’re questioning Klosterman: he’s been getting a free ride lately.
November 25th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
I don’t understand how teh interwebs works, so I posted this with the last comment I made. But Klosterman is soooo wrong, that I feel the need to post this in the right spot, so here goes…
And Chuck Klosterman is once again blowing hot air. He may have funny things to say, but they are not always relevant. What exactly is the album going to be replaced with? Where is the physical object going? The way of the digital download? That’s pretty short sighted. I think more likely, we are going to see Of Montreal type releases, where products are released with a digital download code. You want a new pair of shades, just like the ones Bono wears? Guess what, they come with the new U2 album. People want objects, something to represent the money spent. You think we saw big gaudy album releases in the past? Just wait, this is the beginning, not the end.
That Klosterman review is hilarious by the way, but I turn to him for humor, not musical insight.
November 25th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
8 Track is not dead! If you own an El Camino. Seriously, though, you both make interesting points. I especially appreciate the Marshall McLuhan reference, which makes me want to watch “Annie Hall” again, one of my all-time faves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpIYz8tfGjY
November 26th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I love my 8 track player.
It works and 8 tracks themselves only cost about 25 cents at thrift stores.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:34 am
It’s a Weltron 2001. very hip.
http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o40/mymanotis_2006/47f35bf5.jpg
November 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I stand corrected! Don’t tell me you have a 45 player in your car, too. I would be impressed and a little sad.