Music

[SKT]

Some love for The Smithereens

[Jett129]

Love the Smithereens,and was listening to them today at the gym while I worked out.

[Aetas]

[Matt]

@Jett129:

Love the Smithereens

[Matt]

WTF!!  Especially For You isn’t on Spotify. They’re really pushing their luck this year.

[Jett129]

Love how they did this….   

[SKT]

@Jett129  There’s a lot going on in that video!  Andy Garcia is doing something and the girl from Ferris Bueller shows up and all the Jean Claude stuff. It’s fantastic in other words and I’ve never heard their cover.

@Matt Yeah Spotify is killing me. My wife and I share a duel account and it works so well. I hear Apple is good but I hate switching. Ugh. They’ve got Green Thoughts though which is awesome.

I got into the Smithereens about the same time as the Replacements and X. They were also kind of a natural extension of my love for Marshall Crenshaw too.

[mclaincausey]

Apple Music is good IMO. I liked Google Play, but didn't like the change to YouTube Music and also was trying to deplatform from Google and Facebook a bit, so I made the change.

I've never liked how Spotify treats artists, so I've been off that platform for a while. I guess it's "pick your poison" as far as that piece goes though.

[Matt]

I’m in the same place with them now.  It’s a complicated call for me.  My kids have phones with no service that they use for Spotify to listen to podcasts and music so we’re in pretty deep.

I’ve seen Replacements and X but never Smithereens.  Would have been great.

[popvulture]

I've never been a fan of Spotify's rep, but then again pretty much all streaming platforms are bad in terms of payment to artists. I will say that Spotify's done some particularly egregious shit, though. That said, I've used them since the get-go and I've built up so many playlists and liked music, etc. It's super frustrating.

My only rationalization for contributing to Spotify is that I also buy tons of vinyl. I've got a pretty strict policy of buying any record that I discover on there and end up playing a lot. Still doesn't always feel right, though.

Lastly, it's positively annoying how good their algorithm has gotten. I'm a horrendous nerd with pretty snobby taste and it's recommended all kinds of good shit I've never heard. Sigh.

Edited to add: the only truly ethical online source of music I've found is Bandcamp. God bless them.

[SKT]

@popvulture  I’ll echo what you said about Spotify…building playlists and how good their algorithm is. I’ve discovered so many great new artists (to me) using the app. And I do try to buy vinyl and go to shows to support the acts.  I need to spend more time figuring out bandcamp.

[popvulture]

@SKT I buy a lot of vinyl through Bandcamp, which is cool because a lot of times it comes directly from the artist. Also, they do Bandcamp Fridays the first Friday of every month, on which they waive their fees and give all the money to the bands. Great stuff.

[SKT]

That sounds great. I’ll check it out.

[Jett129]

@SKT The Smithereens are currently doing shows with Marshall Crenshaw,I think,in the band with them. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[popvulture]

Whoa, that sounds like a great fit. Love Marshall.

[Jett129]

I went to their site and confirmed that he’s touring with them as a guest singer.

[SKT]

@Jett129 Thanks for the heads up!  I got on the site and unfortunately they’re not playing anywhere near me (per the norm for lots of my favorites).  I really love Marshall.

[Jett129]

[SKT]

@Jett129 That’s great!  Marshall’s guitar is killer and I’ve always loved Jim Babjak’s playing. Great band…thanks for sharing.

[steelworker]

playing  the Ardmore outside Philly next month.