The news that MySpace Music would become a label (of sorts) after a deal with the Big Four major labels is really nothing new as we have been hearing about this for a while.  The idea is that you will be able to stream the music for free, paying only when you download a track (Amazon will handle this part).  Once you download a track, the labels would take a cut of the pie.  In essence, that is what MySpace has been doing for the long haul, although selected tracks graced a band’s page rather than the whole album.

I think that this is a great idea.  And it serves several noble purposes.  The first and foremost is that it presents music in an unprecedented way.  This allows a band a central point where bands congregate to allow potential fans to find them.  With a simple “word of mouth” pass-along link, a band can be wonderfully represented by the page providing a searcher with access to song streams, performance details, videos, and, at times, free download tracks. 

Labels are beginning to move closer to their consumers in the world that those consumers live.  A hard-learned lesson, no doubt, on the part of the labels but one well learned, taught by fans who demand to listen and acquire music differently than had been done in the past.  The indie labels are feeling left out but I’m sure that as the site improves – and it will – those indie labels will be able to do the same as the big guys.

Another noble purpose to this potentially new paradigm is that it will open up discovery to a wider audience.  With iTunes linked exclusively to those with iPods and iPhones, MySpace Music will be available to all.  Whether listeners prefer to stream their music from the internet, their PCs, their phones, or a myriad of portable players, MySpace Music can lead the way to a new era.

As always, you’ll still need that word of mouth.  Friends, music sites, magazines, radio, etc will name names or/and provide links to a complete page of information and music, and you’ll do the rest.  When TAP reviews an album, we always try to include a link to MySpace because there you can more fully become acquainted with a band, songs and all.  I like MySpace Music even if it is still a bit under-powered introduction-wise.  Look at sites like MusicTAP as a magazine that can lead you to bands that you might like.  Back in the ‘60s and magnificent ‘70s, magazines like Creem or Crawdaddy! pointed out new bands.  But you often had to either pay out to see if you might like a recommendation or wait until you might hear them on an FM station.  With the MySpace Music site, things should begin to centralize much better.  It may take some time but with the members that they have, it is likely just a matter of time.

This is purely my personal view.  Our love of music drives us to places where a fix can be had 24/7.  I sift through MySpace pages a lot.  When I stumble on something that I like, I pass it on to you, always.  Bands that are similar often frequent the same pages, and so a bit of “friend-surfing” occurs.  With luck you can hit several excellent bands in a matter of a few days.  Whether or not those bands can survive a long term relationship with you depends on your taste in music.  But I’m betting that you’ll add to your list of favourites by checking a few out on  steady basis.  Now, with the MySpace Music label coming down the road, I believe that we’ll all get more out of it.

We have a few reviews for you that include the upcoming (Sept 30) Ani diFranco album called Red Letter Year. The other album is the awaited The Walkmen album that doesn't disappoint called You & Me.

We'll see you back here on Monday! Enjoy the weekend.

If you have missed the last As The Disc Spins (updated), check it out here.

To access the previous site and catch up, click here.

The anticipated release from Susan Tedeschi called Back to the River will be issued by Verve Forecast on October 28.

Fuel Records will release an 18-track Various Artists collection called Super 60s Hits on October 28.  It is my duty to let you know what tracks will be on this nice little collection:

• Tell It Like It Is (Aaron Neville)
• Sugar Sugar (The Archies)
• Laugh Laugh (The Beau Brummels)
• Kind of a Drag (The Buckinghams)
• San Franciscan Nights (Eric Burdon and the Animals)
• Let’s Work Together (Canned Heat)
• Spooky (Classics IV)
• Pied Piper (Crispian St Peters)
• Ferry Cross the Mersey (Gerry and The Pacemakers)
• Light My Fire (Jose Feliciano)
• Judy in Disguise (John Fred & the Playboy Band)
• Black is Black (Los Bravos)
• Go Now (Moody Blues)
• Barefootin’ (Robert Parker)
• Gimme Some Lovin’ (Spencer Davis Group)
• Tracy (The Cuff Links)
• Silence is Golden (The Tremeloes)
• You Just Keep Me Hanging On (The Vanilla Fudge)

ECM Records releases more from the Touchstone series, a batch of –re-releases from 40 years of Jazz catalogues.  The new October 28 issues include Animato (John Abercrombie); Full Force (Art Ensemble of Chicago); The Great Pretender (Lester Bowie); Conte de l’incroyable amour (Anouar Brahem); Duas Vozes (Egberto Gismonti/Nana Vasconcelos); Power Spot (Jon Hassell w/Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois); First Circle (Pat Metheny Group); Ecotopia (Oregon – Gurtu/McCandless/Moore/Towner); Rypdal/Vitous/DeJohnette (Rypdal/Vitous/DeJohnette); and Kultrum (Dino Saluzzi). 

Decca Records will release a Sonny Rollins Live DVD called Live in Vienne.  It was filmed in HD on a show in Vienne, France on June 29, 2006.  Decca will enhance further by adding in Surround Sound mastering.  This Amaray-packaged, 5 performance track DVD will be released on October 28.

Peak Records will release a 10-track retrospective of Charlie Brown TV Themes called Jazz for Peanuts.  The set is mostly re-recorded tracks by David Benoit, who has his name on the collection, but also contains a few re-mastered original gems including “Linus & Lucy” by Vince Guaraldi.  This album is expected on October 21.

Fania will release a Deluxe Edition of Siembra, celebrating its 30th Anniversary.  Siembra is from Willie Colon and Ruben Blades.  This Deluxe Edition will add in early takes of key songs on the album as well as a 28-page booklet.  It is planned for October 21.

Verve Records will continue their Originals series reissues with Tell it Like It Is (George Benson), Just Kickin’ It (Walter Beasley), Come Together as One (Will Downing), and Soul Box (Grover Washington, Jr).  Also included in the Originals series is an Expanded Edition of Black Orpheus, the film soundtrack from Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfa.  All will arrive in stores on October 21.

MARKETING OVERLOAD ALERT - KISS fans will be quite happy with the upcoming 4CD collector’s package called Ikons.  Each disc pays special attention to each of the members, playing to their painted alter-ego, Gene Simmons (The Demon), Paul Stanley (Star Child), Ace Frehley (Space Ace), and Peter Criss (Cat Man).  Each disc contains the songs that they sang for KISS.  The good thing from all of this is that there are tracks not found on other KISS collections prior to this.  Ikons will be released to KISS fans on October 21 with a 24-page booklet, an O-Card (slipcase) with glossy finish and silver metallic foil, new notes, and 10-panel softpack thanks to Mercury Records.

Low Altitude Records will release an indie self-titled effort from Lydia.  Lydia (the album) will be released on October 21.

Varese Sarabande Records will release three upcoming soundtracks on October 21.  They are as follows: Passengers (Edward Shearmur), Pride and Glory (Mark Isham), and from the fantastic TV series, Pushing Daisies (James Dooley).

MCA Nashville Records will release Call Me Crazy from Country star, Lee Ann Womack (LAW as she is affectionately called by fans).  The album will issue on October 21.  This will make Noelle happy.

Duane Leyva let me in on a secret several Walkmen albums back and I've been a fan since. This new album does not disappoint in any way. You & Me is The Walkmen's new album.

Blacklist is another band from NYC that I have discovered amongst MySpace pages that I like pretty well. With a sound like the stuff from the '80s and sounding so NYC, it's hard to avoid this stuff. PLUS, they have a free downloadable EP (Blacklist EP - 2005) of music, along with their newest one, Solidaire, available to purchase. And you could even download a song from it for free. Check these guys out. I think that you'll become fans. Click the MySpace button below for access to their music and EPs.