Radio Free Hipster EP. 14: Greed (or E.F.F. the R.I.A.A.)

It’s easy to see the Electronic Frontiers Foundation and the Recording Industry Association of America as diametrically opposed forces in the war of fair use vs. intellectual property, but there’s more to both organizations. However, at the end of the day, I can’t help but see one side as the folks that helped Steve Jackson Games (a company whose tabletop offerings I have various fond memories of) find justice in the aftermath of an illegal raid and the other as a group that sues the pre-pubescent and the elderly. Is that a “fair and balanced” assertion? Probably not, but those are the kinds of things that stick out in my mind. I reckon I’m just funny that way.

I understand the need for a corporate structure at the heart of the music biz, but the current age has seen more heartless scheming and sanctimonious grandstanding from the RIAA than most of us care to recollect. Things like file sharing undermine record sales to a degree, but so do the relative quality and price of the albums in question. Furthermore, it’s hard for me to buy the “don’t hurt the artists you love” bit from a group who seeks to pay their songwriters less. For me it’s simply too tough a pill to swallow. And don’t get me started on the industry’s vilification of mash-ups and other “unauthorized remixes.”

Modern music has become so pre-packaged, so commercialized, that it’s no wonder that many of us look for our fix outside of MTV and Top 40 radio. Whether it’s a club DJ cutting a Destiny’s Child a cappella with an Iron Maiden break, an unknown MC spitting rhymes on his bedroom Mac, or the enduring image of a bunch of kids in the garage trying to find four good chords, there’s no shortage of fresh, new, talented musicians out there with real heart. And if the parties in questions are a little on the nerdy side? Well, shit; that’s what I’m here for.

Download Radio Free Hipster EP. 14: Greed (or E.F.F. the R.I.A.A.) Size: 40.9 MB Running Time: 44.45

Show Notes

Intro: Futuristic Sex Robotz – “Law & Order” / “Fuck the MPAA”
I’ve been listening to the track for months, but I still find the “Law & Order” bit really funny! Listen.

Z’s 1^st interlude: “Lars Ulrich is a dick.”
You heard it here first, kids.

Track 1: Weird Al Yankovic - “Don’t Download This Song”
I think you can still snag this track at Al’s MySpace.

Track 2: MC Frontalot - “Charity Case”
Frontalot played this track last year when I saw him in concert, and then proceeded to give me a free t-shirt. I am a contributor to the Front’s destitution. :(

Track 3: Go Home Productions - “Pretty Rudy”
I’m not blaming record industry red tape for all of TLC’s financial woes - Christ knows catching an ex-boyfriend’s house on fire is costly – but the girls should stand out as an example of how artists’ hard work make their handlers rich.

Track 4: funky49 vs. Beastie Boys – “Pass the Mic”
Read the whole sordid tale here.

Track 5: Beefy - “Buy This CD”
Rent ain’t free. That’s why Beefy lives at home. ;)

Track 6: Camp Chaos - “Sue All the World”
"I can't go on knwoing everyday / That my songs aren't generating any pay."

Z’s 2^nd interlude: “Anthropomorphic dog-men.”
K.K. Slider’s contributions to modern music are far more artistically valid than, say, either of the Simpson sisters. I’m just sayin’.

Track 7: Depeche Mode - “Everything Counts” / Antisocial - “Double Standard”
I really hated that most of the songs in this podcast had to be so heavily edited, but such are the travails of podcasting within time constraints.

Track 8: Jay-Z vs. The Verve – “Bittersweet Dirt Off Your Shoulders”
Can anyone find me the name of the cat who mashed this? I couldn’t seem to find a definitive answer.

Track 9: Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson - “Write Your Own Songs”
Lyrics like "You call us heathens with zero respect for the law / But we're only songwriters, just writing our songs, that's all" just become more and more relevant.

Track 10: MC Lars - “Download This Song”
Check out this excellent video (that uses the alternate version of the Lars classic) by ChurchHatesTucker.

Z’s final interlude: “Screechy McMallPunk”
The frontman for Bowling for Soup is actually named Jaret Reddick. Apparently Screechy McMallPunk sings for Good Charlotte. I apologize for the mistake.

Track 11: Beatallica – “Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band”
Metallica also supported Cheap Cologne’s Double Black Album. A change of heart from the boys or damage control from the post-Napster anti-Metallica sentiment? Who knows?!

So… um… yeah. I… uh… got kinda preachy there towards the end, didn’t I? I’m quite sorry.

I hope, aside from my brief sermonizing, that you enjoyed my little podcasting effort. Moreover, I hope you find your way back here to listen again sometime. I’ll try to reel in my righteous indignation if you do. :D Questions, comments, or suggestions? I’d love to hear ‘em. Complaints? Well, yeah, you can send those too.