Aaron Riveroll | Photographer

I went to Best Buy tonight. I had money burning a hole in my pocket and figured the only way to put it out was to spend some of it on the necessities of life.

I finally picked up the new Nickel Creek album, Why Should The Fire Die?, which is really good. So stinking good. I highly recommend it. I also picked up Tristan Prettyman’s Twenty three. Amazing. She’s a San Diego artist and has a really great sound. But that isn’t to say that my enjoyment of her album didn’t come with a price…

Rant begins here…
In an effort (a sad one, at that) to prevent piracy, certain music labels have been installing encryption on their albums. What this means is that normal, honest people like myself who legitimately buy a CD to listen to it on an iPod are suddenly out of luck because they can’t import the music to their iTunes library. Granted, there are work-arounds; as a matter of fact the bands themselves, such as the Dave Matthews Band and Switchfoot, actually provide the means for their fans to enjoy their music while mobile. But it is unfortunate that it creates so much frustration in the interim.

You see, the problem is all about the big buck. I am a musician, so I understand that for an artist, their livelihood is based on people purchasing their albums. This is why I make every effort to obtain music legally, whether it be purchasing their album in the store or online. I understand not everyone is honest…and I, at times, have downloaded music not-so-ethically…but for the most part, I know that I am contributing to the greater good by forking over the money for artists I enjoy. Consider it a drop in the hat, the guitar case, or any other money collecting receptacle.

But it’s not the artists that are concerned about the money. It’s the industry itself. And that’s pretty darn pathetic. Sure, money is important. But making music is more important. Music makes people happy, and that’s important. And if the RIAA had the artists’ best interest at heart, then sure, I could see why people are making a big stink out of it. But the sad, unfortunate truth is that the execs are concerned with lining their own pockets. Sad. So sad.

If anyone from the music industry was listening, they would hear something they’ve heard a thousand times…limiting what we can do with our legally purchased music and the emerging technology will not make your pile of green any bigger. What it will do is infuriate, frustrate, and ultimately discourage fans from buying your product. The more your try your sneaky ways, the more we will just eventually say, “this isn’t worth it,� and stop buying.

Any marketing genius can see that this is bad for business. The technology is here to stay.
End of rant.

Anyway, needless to say, Tristan Prettyman rocks. :)

I finally saw the new Willy Wonka. I must say I’m quite disturbed. It’s definitely different than the original, which is by far my favorite of the two. The new one is okay…but Gene Wilder definitely makes a better, and less psychotic, Willy Wonka. Think of it this way: Wilder’s Wonka is just eccentric and perhaps a little trippy. Depp’s Wonka definitely has some daddy issues to work out…and most of the time, it’s like he’s high on something. The film definitely had some funny moments, but in my opinion, wasn’t as good as the original. But that’s just me.

I still want to ride in a glass elevator, though. And lick a snozberry.