My Morning Jacket

Off-Topic => Off-Topic Ramblings => Topic started by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 03:36 PM

Title: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 03:36 PM
Some of you may know me from other rants, such as "unions killed my music", "Bonnaroo is starting to suck", and "I won't buy music through iTunes but Candles and Panties made me do it anyway".

Well, I broke that promise to myself, and since I've been in a musical drought as of late, I decided I'd actually buy the new Umprhey's McGee after hearing so many great things (and 2 awesome tracks on Sirius).

So I bought the album, and I look at my downloads: 3 files were broken and did not download properly, and now 4 do not appear in my liberry. iTunes response, so far: oh, you lost them, shoulda back them up".

15 years ago, the idea of releasing a single song meant  that album sales would go up, thus encouraging the art of the album - the inclusion of that roar at the beginning of at dawn to the eventual face-punch of Strangulation - the effort of choosing what track goes where, the opener, the closer, etc. Now, it is my fear that not only is the downloading of music discouraging album art, the cohesive album structure, etc, but the service that was supposed to revitalize music  and end the concept of a wallet-raping industry seems to be double-raping me, requiring me to pay for the same songs twice.

This is why the music industry can't have nice things. It's because they treat their customers like mindless saps.

/rant over

[size=8]And yes, I know that the oldsters complain that the CD meant the end of strategic openers and closers for each side of an album, but still. [/size]
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: searchinbig on Jan 21, 2009, 03:44 PM
Ranting is good.

I have not purchased a single song from Spytunes, including Candles And Panties.

I would not even have an ipod in my house if not for my daughter.

Sooner or later I may give in but at least I have some thing to look forward to.

I agree something is lost here as far as art and something in the physical sense.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 03:47 PM
Did it have to be the second thing I ever purchased though? Really? Is it that bad of a service that a screw up was just that likely?

I love my iPod. I have close to 50 different Ween, Wilco, and MMJ shows to take with me wherever I go. It's great.

However, gone are the days of waiting and waiting with anticipation for that new album to come out - sitting in school, getting all antsy knowing that I'd be riding my bike to the local record store to get it before my friends.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: Angry Ewok on Jan 21, 2009, 04:21 PM
My response to the broken files that you paid for -

Limewire.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 04:33 PM
I use audiogalaxy, but I've started only getting live tracks. I'm in law school for Copryright law after all...so, yeah...haha. Though my approach is that the RIAA is wrong, and I'm here to learn how to better fight such asshattery.

edit: I do not know why I typed audiogalaxy, I meant to say soulseek. However, it should be noted that the world's greatest downloading service to never make it still stands strong in my memory.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: Taterbug on Jan 21, 2009, 04:46 PM
QuoteI use audiogalaxy, but I've started only getting live tracks. I'm in law school for Copryright law after all...so, yeah...haha. Though my approach is that the RIAA is wrong, and I'm here to learn how to better fight such asshattery.

We could of used your expertise back in april or may when  a former member posted a link to a leek of evil urges.  It got pretty exciting around here for a while to say the least.  

I love my Ipod touch, you just gotta back-up your shit.  I don't buy much at the store.  I do have my entire MMJ catalog on it.  

Plus it also helps me calculate kentucky windage and distance with my sniper rifle  ;)
(http://www.powerpage.org/bulletflight.jpg/bulletflight.jpg)
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: Angry Ewok on Jan 21, 2009, 05:08 PM
As the forum's official NRA representative, I do not endorse the sniper rifle iPhone accessory.

;D
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 05:20 PM
My "leak" was the NPR stream. I listened to it non-stop at work.

I don't have much expertise yet; I won't get to the meaty stuff until next semester. I'm just getting rid of the pre-reqs now. My school has a concentration specifically geared towards this area of the law though.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: Taterbug on Jan 21, 2009, 05:27 PM
QuoteAs the forum's official NRA representative, I do not endorse the sniper rifle iPhone accessory.

;D

Good god Angry. I thought squirrels stored there nuts in there mouths ;D.
He has some  enormes pelotas :)
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 05:30 PM
Quote
QuoteAs the forum's official NRA representative, I do not endorse the sniper rifle iPhone accessory.

;D

Good god Angry. I thought squirrels stored there nuts in there mouths ;D.
He has some  enormes pelotas :)

Non-sequitor: I'm listening to the outro of Run Thru and it totally syncs up with your avatar
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: aMillionDreams on Jan 21, 2009, 05:31 PM
QuoteMy "leak" was the NPR stream. I listened to it non-stop at work.

I don't have much expertise yet; I won't get to the meaty stuff until next semester. I'm just getting rid of the pre-reqs now. My school has a concentration specifically geared towards this area of the law though.

Oh, so you have no respect for the band?

Just joking. Just wanted to give you a taste of what it was like around here then.  

I understand your position but you kinda sound like my father in law when he waxes poetic about how much 8 track machines rocked. the world of music is changing because technology is changing. some shit itunes does gets on my nerves (DRM), but I get over it.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: Taterbug on Jan 21, 2009, 05:36 PM
Quote
Quote
QuoteAs the forum's official NRA representative, I do not endorse the sniper rifle iPhone accessory.

;D

Good god Angry. I thought squirrels stored there nuts in there mouths ;D.
He has some  enormes pelotas :)

Non-sequitor: I'm listening to the outro of Run Thru and it totally syncs up with your avatar

Which one ? My more cowbell or Angrys swaying nut pouch ?
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 05:38 PM
Quote
QuoteMy "leak" was the NPR stream. I listened to it non-stop at work.

I don't have much expertise yet; I won't get to the meaty stuff until next semester. I'm just getting rid of the pre-reqs now. My school has a concentration specifically geared towards this area of the law though.

Oh, so you have no respect for the band?

Just joking. Just wanted to give you a taste of what it was like around here then.  

I understand your position but you kinda sound like my father in law when he waxes poetic about how much 8 track machines rocked. the world of music is changing because technology is changing. some shit itunes does gets on my nerves (DRM), but I get over it.

No you're right, but not all tech advances are necessarily beneficial. Like I said, the purists ranted about this when CDs eliminated the double-side, so you no longer had to orchestrate an album to have a side A opener and closer and a side B opener and closer.

The bigger picture I worry about is that when the whole art of creating a cohesive album is no longer relevant as a selling point, and only becomes a point of artistic endeavor that labels will no longer invest in such artists or albums. The industry model will become the iTunes single - singles that don't even have a b-side.

And the NPR stream was totally legit! it was on their site with the Whigs and Yo La Tengo.

I could only imagine the debates that erupted when the album came out. Especially that EU had such force behind it.

Still, the over all theme here is that the laws are still analog while the world is becoming increasingly digital, which is a problem. And the answer is not suing your customers and putting stupid little tricks on your products so your customers can't really use them. Glad to know apple eliminated the DRM.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 05:40 PM
Quote
Quote
Quote
QuoteAs the forum's official NRA representative, I do not endorse the sniper rifle iPhone accessory.

;D

Good god Angry. I thought squirrels stored there nuts in there mouths ;D.
He has some  enormes pelotas :)

Non-sequitor: I'm listening to the outro of Run Thru and it totally syncs up with your avatar

Which one ? My more cowbell or Angrys swaying nut pouch ?

Your cowbell. It was the kickdrum in Run Thru
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: aMillionDreams on Jan 21, 2009, 06:08 PM
I agree with you about losing the concept of an "album".  It's a damn shame, but it's the new reality.  I know I'll still cherish gems that pop up from time to time that throwback to this concept like At Dawn.

And hey, the purists who said that vinyl will never die might have been on to something.  Hopefully the album will live one as well.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 06:13 PM
QuoteI agree with you about losing the concept of an "album".  It's a damn shame, but it's the new reality.  I know I'll still cherish gems that pop up from time to time that throwback to this concept like At Dawn.

And hey, the purists who said that vinyl will never die might have been on to something.  Hopefully the album will live one as well.

I think the album format will survive in the hands of a few bands like MMJ and maybe UM. But that's not the problem - I mean I'd love to produce an album in this style, but people like me aren't the ones that are playing the instruments and getting places with them. I've tried, I can't even get a drummer let alone an album together haha
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: el_chode on Jan 21, 2009, 06:55 PM
Ok, after pushing it (kindly, I must add), I got through to a rep who has placed the missing tracks in my Queue to be downloaded at no charge.

I am now content! (but don't let that end any ranting)
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: Crispy on Jan 21, 2009, 07:12 PM
QuoteI agree with you about losing the concept of an "album".  It's a damn shame, but it's the new reality.  I know I'll still cherish gems that pop up from time to time that throwback to this concept like At Dawn.

And hey, the purists who said that vinyl will never die might have been on to something.  Hopefully the album will live one as well.
This is why I'm back to only buying records. Pretty much everything that I'm interested in is now being produced on vinyl, and I think it's getting bigger - the stacks at the record stores are growing anyway. Also most include a digital download code or even a cd inside.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: goose on Jan 24, 2009, 03:11 PM
I rented movies from i tunes when I went out west.  IT was wonderful. You can save them for 30 days.  Once you watch you have 24 hrs then it just drops them off you ipod.  They even stopped downloading in the middle when my comp shut off cause the battery sucks ass.  I turned it back on, and they started downloading from where they stopped.  No problems at all.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: Jaimoe on Jan 24, 2009, 04:02 PM
I don't have any intention of ever buying anything from iTunes. I don't own an iPod, cellphone, blackberry etc...

I like albums in their physical form. Downloading can never give you the same intimate experience you have with an actual album, no matter how many virtual bells and whistles come with the download.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: thatswhatshesaid on Jan 24, 2009, 08:55 PM
i had a similar problem with iTunes after christmas, however this isn't the first time it has happened to me, nor to myself alone. my brother has had a similar experience as well. anyway, i got a few gift cards as presents and downloaded TV on the Radio and Dick's Picks vol. 6 from the Grateful Dead. For some reason, they just "disappeared" from my music catalog with no warning after the download was completed. since iTunes' policy is that you are only entitled to one download per purchase, i questioned the honestly of their software. because this isn't the first time this has happened to me, i expressed my opinion that they are scamming customers who have downloaded their musical selections only to have them mysteriously disappear out of the iTunes folder. of course, iTunes can say, "you should have backed it up," and not have to worry about it. therefore the customer has to spend more money on buying the same download over again. after i mentioned this to them, they very promptly posted my purchases back to my account and i was able to re-download them. i know this is a bit of a conspiracy theory, but i found it interesting that they replaced the downloads as quickly as they did with no questions asked.
Title: Re: Why I won't use iTunes to buy music
Post by: goose on Jan 25, 2009, 03:22 PM
QuoteI don't have any intention of ever buying anything from iTunes. I don't own an iPod, cellphone, blackberry etc...

I like albums in their physical form. Downloading can never give you the same intimate experience you have with an actual album, no matter how many virtual bells and whistles come with the download.

By not having a cellphone do you feel like technology will pass you by like my grandparents?  Not to say you are wrong, i just wanted to inquire.  do you work with comps alot?