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Turin Brakes — Self Help
Album: Ether Song
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 496









Released: 2003
Length: 4:23
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Breathe in good, breathe out bad
Remind yourself of the things you have, it's easy
Pull a smile onto your face
Understand that making friends is easy

So tell yourself it will be ok
Remind yourself that you're not just in it for the money
The end, the end, the end, the end,the end
My friend, where's the end?
You're up, you're down, you're in the ground in the end
My friend, where's the end?

I've found myself deep down in the dirt
I got to get myself to my feet, yeah

So tell myself it will be ok
Remind myself that I'm not just in it for the money
The end, the end, the end, the end, the end
My friend, where's the end?
You're up, you're down, you're in the ground in the end
My friend, where's the end?
Comments (61)add comment
 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:


The RIAA is of course claiming that CD sales are dropping due to piracy, but deeper statistical studies don't bear that out. It's more likely that music sales are dropping because the labels are selling shitty music and the radio stations are playing shitty music, and nobody thinks that shitty music is worth buying.

It's never been easy making a living as a musician, because even once you get signed to a label, the label pays you peanuts. Even the biggest stars need to tour to make decent money, and music sharing probably increases tour revenues (free publicity).

The labels always pled the high costs of distribution and marketing as excuses for charging customers lots of money and passing on almost none of it to the musician. Since the advent of digital file sharing, the cost of distribution has dropped to almost zero, but customers didn't see a drop in CD prices, and artists never saw increases in their royalty rates. Is it any wonder that former customers are downloading music free now, and that major artists are leaving the big labels and selling to their fans directly (Radiohead, NIN, and I think even Metallica was looking at getting into direct sales)?

The economics of selling music in America is changing, and frankly, if a bunch of record weasels have to find a new career because of it, I don't much care. The artists will figure out how to get paid for their work by fans who love the music.
 

WELL PUT...


in addition the labels have been shedding infrastructure like snakes shedding their winter skins for years and as a consequence the positive effects of a handful of label reps WOULD have had on a developing artists career have become systemically anachronistic...not to forget the effect of online downloading and satellite radio...

but I REALLY agree with your premise "nobody thinks shitty music is worth buying" ...  {#Lol}


P.S. Todd Rundgren predicted ALL of this decades ago!!!

Can't explain it, but i always seem to like this guy's voice... reminds me of the Shins' singer
 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
The RIAA is of course claiming that CD sales are dropping due to piracy, but deeper statistical studies don't bear that out. It's more likely that music sales are dropping because the labels are selling shitty music and the radio stations are playing shitty music, and nobody thinks that shitty music is worth buying. 
 
What numerous studies bear out is that there is more direct competition for the same entertainment dollar than in the past: gaming, on-line music sales, and Blu-Ray/DVDs head the list. It's easy for the RIAA to blame the spending shift on piracy because it has been and still is prevalent. (BTW, there is no moral argument—i.e., "the labels screw the artists and/or make too much money"—that justifies stealing, which is what piracy is. Oh, yes, there's the dashing cavalierness of it all, but in the end it's theft, and in my world you just...don't...take...what...isn't...yours. And I'm leaving file sharing out of this, because IMHO "ownership" of the file is a gray area.) The RIAA was late out of the gate; the labels didn't get the paradigm shift; and the whole distribution and delivery system is in flux. Good time to be alive. Tons more music that we used to have, and so many ways to get to it.

And $1.00 for a song (which after all is simply a compressed, duplicated file) is IMHO a ripoff. A CD costs less and has eight times the fidelity.
I want to rate this higher, but the problem is, I heard this track less than 3 minutes ago, and I don't remember.  That says something about me, not about the artist or the music.
 warderblu wrote:
sounds like Supergrass....
 

I was just thinking the same thing!
sounds like Supergrass....
 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:


The labels always pled the high costs of distribution and marketing as excuses for charging customers lots of money and passing on almost none of it to the musician. Since the advent of digital file sharing, the cost of distribution has dropped to almost zero, but customers didn't see a drop in CD prices, and artists never saw increases in their royalty rates. Is it any wonder that former customers are downloading music free now, and that major artists are leaving the big labels and selling to their fans directly (Radiohead, NIN, and I think even Metallica was looking at getting into direct sales)? The economics of selling music in America is changing, and frankly, if a bunch of record weasels have to find a new career because of it, I don't much care. The artists will figure out how to get paid for their work by fans who love the music.
 
Quite. Whenever I can I buy music CDs (can't be doing with electronic tracks) directly from artists, either on their websites or at gigs. I'm happy to pay a tenner or more for a CD if I know for sure that most of the money's going to the artist, but I don't want to enrich the record companies who've made obscene amounts of money in the last few decades out of ripping off artists and treating them as bonded labour. The more record companies go after file sharers for ludicrous damages and talk moralistic bolleaux about 'theft', the more I want them to go f*ck themselves in a corner The great thing about the Web is that artists can now communicate with, and perform and sell to, the public directly, without intermediaries, and that alone is going to send record companies to the dustbin of history where they will deservedly moulder for all eternity.


 Huey wrote:

Je*us..you want music want even cheaper? In Europe we pay way more than you guys for almost everything. I buy all my CD's via Amazon and have em shipped over, thats way cheaper than buying them down the road.
 
It is true. CDs and the like are considerably more expensive across Europe than in the US. We clearly live in the most cheap music saturated period in the history of the planet. And this country appears to be the epicenter.
 jagdriver wrote:

Only a buck!? That still makes the average CD about $15.

How about 15 cents a track? Make it thus in the U.S. so I'm not tempted to go to illegitimate foreign sites.

 
Je*us..you want music want even cheaper? In Europe we pay way more than you guys for almost everything. I buy all my CD's via Amazon and have em shipped over, thats way cheaper than buying them down the road.


Smooth ... me likes ... {#Chillpill} {#Sunny}
these guys, devendra, and a couple other vocalists all sound like t. rex—-i like them all—-glad to hear this.
I know it's early in the morning, but this isn't doing anything for me...
 westslope wrote:
Your lawlessness also helps put pressure on the biz to find new ways of capturing lost revenues.
 

Yeah, well, the music industry's business model has changed.  They're still in denial about it.

I read a good blog post (here) yesterday that put forward the idea that this is a great time for anyone producing music if they care about "music" more than "industry". It is so easy to distribute music to a large number of people globally it's ridiculous.

The sad news is that the days of making serious money off selling music is over. The pressure on professional musicians now is to make money touring or other activities that benefit from the exposure their songs bring them.

The recording industry and the old methods of distribution will shrivel and die.  Should we give them a bailout like the auto makers & banks?


I keep trying to shake the notion, but every time I hear TB, it is always there - all their songs sound the same!
 Bluesgrrl wrote:
Well, musicians for one. It's not easy making a living as one, and royalty checks have dropped off tremendously, mostly because of free downloads. C'mon, a download is only $1!

 
Only a buck!? That still makes the average CD about $15.

How about 15 cents a track? Make it thus in the U.S. so I'm not tempted to go to illegitimate foreign sites.

 westslope wrote:
horstman,

You are not stealing music, you are borrowing music for no charge, and then paying for it if you like it. You do, however, help keep copyright violators in business. Your lawlessness also helps put pressure on the biz to find new ways of capturing lost revenues.
 
Thanks for the thought Westslope. What a lot of folks don't understand is that allofmp3 is no longer available to the western world. I haven't used them for over a year. Would I use them if they were still in business here in the good ole USA? Probably.

I now have to get music like everyone else. I go to amazon.com and the library and my friends and coworkers to help distribute music. And I am buying far more music now (and did when I used allofmp3) since listening to Radio Paradise.

This station, and the internet in general, have made great music available to everyone in this country and the world. Radio Stations don't get it by broadcasting crappy, "marketable" music that only teenagers and adults with teenager taste buy. I have dollars to spend as well and won't buy into the capitalistic scheme of tastelessness.

Others in this thread have concluded that the current scheme for purchasing music doesn't work very well and that changes are necessary and are occuring.

Hopefully there will be easier ways to increase the use and distribution of music that benefits both the creator and the end user. I think the middlemen have to be trimmed back so that the consumer doesn't have to pay so much for music and the artist/musicians get more of the profits.

Sounds a little like Supergrass to me.
great song and great album!!
Bluesgrrl wrote:
Well, musicians for one. It's not easy making a living as one, and royalty checks have dropped off tremendously, mostly because of free downloads. C'mon, a download is only $1!
The RIAA is of course claiming that CD sales are dropping due to piracy, but deeper statistical studies don't bear that out. It's more likely that music sales are dropping because the labels are selling shitty music and the radio stations are playing shitty music, and nobody thinks that shitty music is worth buying. It's never been easy making a living as a musician, because even once you get signed to a label, the label pays you peanuts. Even the biggest stars need to tour to make decent money, and music sharing probably increases tour revenues (free publicity). The labels always pled the high costs of distribution and marketing as excuses for charging customers lots of money and passing on almost none of it to the musician. Since the advent of digital file sharing, the cost of distribution has dropped to almost zero, but customers didn't see a drop in CD prices, and artists never saw increases in their royalty rates. Is it any wonder that former customers are downloading music free now, and that major artists are leaving the big labels and selling to their fans directly (Radiohead, NIN, and I think even Metallica was looking at getting into direct sales)? The economics of selling music in America is changing, and frankly, if a bunch of record weasels have to find a new career because of it, I don't much care. The artists will figure out how to get paid for their work by fans who love the music.
I liked their previous ep I think it was The Optimist. I haven't heard much from them since that I really liked. This is one of the better songs on a pretty average album.
EssexTex wrote:
Whine whine....A whole album of that would send me running
Run Forrest, run!!!
I have this CD now (THANKS RP!) and it's one of my favorites. Good stuff if you like Iron/Wine.
TB: Compelling and annoying all at the same time? ------------- horstman, You are not stealing music, you are borrowing music for no charge, and then paying for it if you like it. You do, however, help keep copyright violators in business. Your lawlessness also helps put pressure on the biz to find new ways of capturing lost revenues. All those in the audience who have not "borrowed" software for some length of time, please raise your hand. Ways of trying out new music already exist and will continue to develop. Musicians will increasingly directly market their cultural wares to consumers. Eventually it will settle out; in the meantime that colossal net exporter of culture--the US economy--will suffer somewhat during the restructuring phase. Good or bad? You tell me. A tough love kick to the nuts has always had a certain appeal in contemporary American culture and self image. It is part of the charm and fascination that keeps us Americanophiles glued to our seats and avidly following.
Bluesgrrl wrote:
Well, musicians for one. It's not easy making a living as one, and royalty checks have dropped off tremendously, mostly because of free downloads. C'mon, a download is only $1!
After reviewing these albums, I did go out and buy them. I respect your opinion as an artist, but quite frankly, for me to buy into your art, I'd like to try it out. And this is a good medium for it. I am a Landscape Architect and while I don't design and have some one install an athletic field or a parking lot or a residential garden to some one and say "What do you think? Do you like it? Can I get paid now?". I do however, give references, show similar work and let the client decide. Usually they come back for design services. And if they don't, no big loss. I think musicians need to have a similar venue for distribution of "trial basis" music only. Although you can go to a record store and listen to albums before you buy it, it really isn't a good environment to make a financial decision. Needless to say, we could argue this to death. Let's leave this with the simply philosophy of "We agree to disagree". Because it basically comes down to that and nothing more.
Whine whine....A whole album of that would send me running
Well, musicians for one. It's not easy making a living as one, and royalty checks have dropped off tremendously, mostly because of free downloads. C'mon, a download is only $1! horstman wrote:
No, not really. Used to buy albums based on one or two songs. Most times, I found myself with an album that had one or two songs that I liked and a lot of songs that were crap. So, for MY dollar, I'd rather try an album out at 192 kps (illegally?) and if I like it, then I buy the album. That's my system. If you think I'm a thief, that's your opinion. I think the capitalistic system steals from us pretty damn hard and anyway, ANYWAY we can find a better road is a better way to spend our dollars. Plus, itunes charges the same for mp3 quality files as you pay for a cd file on a CD. Now who's rippin who off?
mojoman wrote:
Do you never get tired of admitting that you're a thief? It's on iTunes, and I bought it from Amazon. Yeesh, get a life and start paying your way!
No, not really. Used to buy albums based on one or two songs. Most times, I found myself with an album that had one or two songs that I liked and a lot of songs that were crap. So, for MY dollar, I'd rather try an album out at 192 kps (illegally?) and if I like it, then I buy the album. That's my system. If you think I'm a thief, that's your opinion. I think the capitalistic system steals from us pretty damn hard and anyway, ANYWAY we can find a better road is a better way to spend our dollars. Plus, itunes charges the same for mp3 quality files as you pay for a cd file on a CD. Now who's rippin who off?
revsully wrote:
For some reason, this reminds me of that 4 Non-Blondes "What's Going On" song...
It's in the vibrato of his voice at ceratain points. He sings that he's not in it for the money, but believe me, he is.
QueenLucia wrote:
I don't understand why you keep bragging about being a thief! That's not only wrong, it's stupid.
I was thinking that too. I was about to make a comment about supporting the Russian mafia in addition, but I don't want to wake up with my pot bellied pig's head in my bed.
For some reason, this reminds me of that 4 Non-Blondes "What's Going On" song...
horstman wrote:
Got this album via allofmp3.com. It is very good. Will buy the cd if I can find it anywhere local. Otherwise, the Russians get my pennies!
I don't understand why you keep bragging about being a thief! That's not only wrong, it's stupid.
horstman wrote:
Got this album via allofmp3.com. It is very good. Will buy the cd if I can find it anywhere local. Otherwise, the Russians get my pennies!
Do you never get tired of admitting that you're a thief? It's on iTunes, and I bought it from Amazon. Yeesh, get a life and start paying your way!
Got this album via allofmp3.com. It is very good. Will buy the cd if I can find it anywhere local. Otherwise, the Russians get my pennies!
Got this Cd from a friend that worked at a music store...was really surprised how cool it was. I was just listening to it over the weekend! I wish they would tour the states.
black321 wrote:
Sounds like T Rex. Hey, how come we don't hear T Rex on Paradise?
Yeah...like he said...WTF...
ChardRemains wrote:
but it's like Marc Bolan is singing...
My thought exactly.
but it's like Marc Bolan is singing... Mr. Bill, can we have a separate scale that isn't "bad" to "excellent" but "unimaginative" to "inspired"?
I dig this song!
Geckex wrote:
This is not one of their best, though it's good. "Painkiller" and "Save Me" are absolutely superb songs (and should be playd on RB!!!!)
While I like Self Help, your right, Painkiller is a really great tune.
NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote:
By the way, where did they get their name from?
Um... I tried to search it out, and found several conflicting stories. Nothing conclusive to post for you yet, sorry.
guiguy wrote:
Never heard these guys before, yet a few chords in they have got me listening.....very cool....hear the Everly Bros. meet BRMC.
I bought two of their CDs on the basis of RP's airplay and Driftersescape's recommendation. They are both pleasant to listen to.
lunar1963 wrote:
Radio Paradise with a cold
I'm sorry. I just always break into that other song when I hear this one.
Never heard these guys before, yet a few chords in they have got me listening.....very cool....hear the Everly Bros. meet BRMC.
AliGator wrote:
Both songs are on the playlist and have been played. PS: What's RB?
Radio Paradise with a cold
Geckex wrote:
This is not one of their best, though it's good. "Painkiller" and "Save Me" are absolutely superb songs (and should be playd on RB!!!!)
Both songs are on the playlist and have been played. PS: What's RB?
Im getting 'The Funky Chicken'
coding_to_music wrote:
by golly, I hear it too !
wish I WAS hearing it. no this song is not too bad but I don't hear 4 non blondes. By the way, where did they get their name from?
BooKitty wrote:
WTF?
You're obviously not up on your LOTR minutiae.
trekhead wrote:
Are those the ones used to slow down the runaway Mithril ore carts in Moria? Oh, sorry, those are Thorin Brakes.
WTF?
This guy needs Self Help :chillpill.gif:
madtowner11 wrote:
Sounds like a cross between Wilco and the Beatles. In other words: Not too shabby.
I'd agree to that tentatively...throw in a certain Radiohead-esque quality and you've got yourself a deal. Maybe I'm brainwashed, but I really like these guys, no matter what they do.
definitely a worse version of WHAT'S GOIN ON...
AliGator wrote:
"I say Hey yeah yeah yeah , hey yeah yeah yeah I say hey, WHAT'S GOING ON?" Sorry, but I'm totally hearing 4 Non Blondes here...
by golly, I hear it too !
"I say Hey yeah yeah yeah , hey yeah yeah yeah I say hey, WHAT'S GOING ON?" Sorry, but I'm totally hearing 4 Non Blondes here...
Are those the ones used to slow down the runaway Mithril ore carts in Moria? Oh, sorry, those are Thorin Brakes.
This is not one of their best, though it's good. "Painkiller" and "Save Me" are absolutely superb songs (and should be playd on RB!!!!)
I too thought it was an incarnation of Marc Bolan of T-Rex! But different too, somehow. Yes, please some T-Rex! --Shari
Sounds like a cross between Wilco and the Beatles. In other words: Not too shabby.
Sounds like T Rex. Hey, how come we don't hear T Rex on Paradise?