Staffan Malmgrens blogg

Ed Felten kommenterar gårdagens WSJ-nyhet om att studenter vid amerikanska universitet, som har gratis tillgång till s.k. “lagliga nedladdningstjänster” för musik (exv nya Napster) ändå väljer att antingen ladda ner via icke auktoriserade tjänster eller köper filer från ITMS — det måste ses som en ganska kraftig spik i kistan för stereotypen att fildelare är snåla jävlar som inte vill betala för sig. Det handlar inte om betalningsovillighet — det handlar om man vill ha ett system som drar största möjliga nytta av teknikens möjligheter, inte ett worst-of-breed-system som kombinerar alla nackdelar med fysiska exemplar, digital förgänglighet och fingranulerade restriktionsmöjligheter. Bekvämlighet, flexibilitet, framtidssäkerhet, och det faktiska ägandet (med vilken följer rätten att sälja sin musik i andra hand, eller låna ut den till en kompis) är minst lika viktigt som priset.

Eller, för att ta ett exempel. För en månad sedan släpptes Entombeds nya EP, “When in Sodom”. Jag har inte hört den än. Den finns inte på svenska ITMS. Den finns inte på CDON downloads. På Homedownloads kommer jag inte ens in, varken med Firefox eller IE. Den finns inte ens på de vanliga nätbutikerna, ni vet de där old school-relikerna som säljer plastbitar. Gissa vad som är det bekväma alternativet?

Last time i saw Nicke Andersson behind the drums, he was playing with death’n rollers Entombed. Tonight, I saw him behind the drums with his soul project The Solution, which of course was nothing like Entombed (the years with Hellacopters seem to have changed him a bit). Anyway, they did rock. If you’re planning to go to Hultsfred and/or Roskilde, don’t miss them.

• Google being irrational in the best of ways: Google expects to bring in $eB ($2,718,281,828) in their IPO. If you ask me, they’re worth at least $πB.
• There has been a lot of buzz about the newest publication from Microft’s Pattern and Practices group, “Improving .NET Application Performance and Scalability”. Since I’m not finished with “Improving Web Application Security” yet, I’ve only skimmed this one, but it seems to approach it’s subject with similar throughoutness. However, can I ask for a PDF version?
• Keith Pitty gathers introductory links to Java Server Faces, which for me as a .Net developer seem to correspond nicely to ASP.NET WebForms. While I really only focus on the .Net platform in my day-to-day development, I make a point of staying somewhat in touch in what happens in the Java community, if for no other reason to be able to contrast the platforms and knowing the strength and weaknesses in their differing approaches. Since I’ve been looking into Code access security, I should probably read up a little on the Java security manager. After all, the Java camp has been thinking about these issues for ten years now.
• Omar Shahine tells how to get PDF’s to open in Acrobat Reader instead of in the browser. As added bonus, he gives pointers on how to make recent versions of Acrobat Reader start quicker.
• L-G from Entombed is apparently a guest on Eurodisco star E-Type’s new record. E-Type has already enlisted Motörhead drummer Mikey Dee, at least for performances, but I still don’t think this is going to get him respect in heavy metal circles.

So, here’s a mini review of friday’s Entombed gig: “Like a steamroller with a groove”.

• Nico does a good job of filling Jörgens shoes bass-wise, but it’s hard to look as cool as Jörgen when he’s doing the devil sign.
• I’m amazed of how easily the band switches from old songs to new and back again. I think “Revel in flesh” (from their first album, “Left hand path”) was followed by “Retaliation” (from the latest album, “Inferno”)
• Still no “Night of the Vampire” in the setlist. Pretty please with sugar on the top, bring it back!

This might just be this year’s most interesting compilation:

On the bonus-CD you will find such cool projects as: C.Aarmé with the help of At The Gates and Entombed members on a new C.Aarmé track, Nine with vocalist(s) from Haunted doing “United Forces” by S.O.D., Division Of Laura Lee and Ebbot from Soundtrack Of Our Lives punking up Minor Threat, Millencolin doing an Asta Kask cover with Miezko from Nasum on guest-vocals, and Turbonegro featuring Brody Dalle from The Distillers on vocals covering Agent Orange.

Not out until August, though.

The bad: Jörgen SandströmleavesEntombed. Jörgen had an awsome stage prescence the times I’ve seen them live, being almost as much of a front man as L-G.

The good: Nasum wins the public service radio award “P3 Guld” for best (swedish) Rock/Metal. I agree.

With the pseduo-journalistic M.O. of running a blog comes a free license to write “best of the year”-lists. I might be a few days late, but what the hell. Also, it seems from looking at the server logs that band names are one of the most common ways people end up here from search engines.

The main focus of the list seem to be albums that helped me get through the autumn. Therefore, a little more Emo than what I would usually pick. If I’m really bored some other night, I might link up all bands, albums and song titles so you can go clicky like mad.

1. Lost Patrol - Songs about running away
   I read an article about Dennis Lyxéns new solo album and it’s focus on a relationship breakup, which sounded strange (as I’ve always associated Dennis with strongly political lyrics in all his bands) but interesting. I downloadeded “Going going gone” from burningheart.com, the next thing I knew I had listened to it on repeat for an entire afternoon. I bought the album the same day. The Lost Patrol also performed what might be last year’s best concert at Debaser in the late summer (but also see Entombed).
2. Dashboard Confessional - A mark, a mission, a brand, a scar
   In particular “Hands Down” which might just be the best song about kissing a girl for the first time ever, even surpassing Jawbreaker’s “East Bay Invitational”. The other songs pale a bit in comparison, but are still very good.
3. Moneybrother - Blood Panic
   Another album with a epic song that stand out amongs a bunch of what would otherwise have been considered brilliant songs — “It’s been hurting all the way with you Joanna”. My largest regret this year concert-wise is that I missed all chances to see them live (which in a way is a wierd accomplishment as they’ve seem to played just about everywhere)
4. Nasum - Helvete
   I saw these guys at The Shrine early this year, when they gave a incredbly intense gig with a very well-defined sound. The album was likewise intense, to the point that I couldn’t take it all in at once. I had to listen to a few songs on repeat at a time, until I was familiar with the entire album.
5. The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the comatorium
   This years big hype in hard rock circles, and not unjustified. This album also took some time to digest, but Televators might be one of the finest, most elaborately disguised ballads this year. The way it was played at the Stockholm gig this autumn (at first only with electic piano and vocals) is even better than the album version.
6. Entombed - Inferno
   I didn’t think much of this when I first got it — another solid death’n roll album, but nothing spectacular — but after the Debaser gig this september, which may have been the best gig this year, in fierce competition with The Lost Patrol, I realized what gems were actually hidden on this album
7. MBMA - Nu ännu drygare
   This is just an EP, but amazingly varied. The title track is a football-crowd-singalong-hiphop-anthem of previously unheard proportions (as well as a nice 12-bar-blues-ish chord progression), “Förr eller senare” is a wonderful narratory song with first-class guest, and “Småsaker” is a surprisingly sensitive song.
8. Jose González - Veener
   I got in way too late on this hype, but this is an amazing demonstration of how strongly emotions can be conveyed with an acoustic guitar and a voice.
9. Sick of it all - Life on the ropes
   The first SOIA album produced by themselves, and it feels amazingly vital, fast, agressive and with just the right amount of melody. And the anthemic (is that a word?) “For Now” is wonderful.
10. Turbonegro - Scandinavian Leather
    I was a little disappointed in this, but then I had very high expectations. It does not have the energy of “Ass Cobra” and “Apocalypse Dudes”, but “Fuck the World” and “Ride with us” are still very good songs.
11. Calm - Are we supposed to be…
    I went to Club Nirvana with some friends, not expecting anything in particular, as this band started moshing all over the stage as well as the audience floor, scaring all of the audience up against the wall. After the first two songs I hated it, after the following two I loved it.
12. MC Solaar - Mach 6
    As a whole, this album is not that excellent, but “Guerilla” and in particular “La Vie Est Belle” are incredibly good. The latter also have the perfect tempo and dynamic structure for running, it’s going to help me during this year’s marathon.
13. Danko Jones - We Sweat Blood
    If this had been a live album, it would likely place higher. The album is good, but pales in comparison to the live show I saw this autumn.
14. Poison The Well - You Come Before You
    I liked “Distance Makes The Heart Grow Fonder”, and had high hopes for this Swede-produced major label debut. However, most of the songs did not stick, with the exception for “Ghostchant”
15. Fireside - Get Shot
    Another album that I had high expectations for, and the single “Throw it away” as well as the album starter “All you had” promised much, but I haven’t found myself coming back to this album often.
16. Funeral for a Friend - Casually Dressed & Deep in conversation
    I saw the video for “Juneau” by accident, found it an interesting screamo song, and downloaded some songs. The emo parts are very good, but I don’t care much for the heavy metal-ish guitar licks. Still, a good album, now if they could just play a little less on the next one…
17. Hatebreed - The Rise Of Brutality
    As this is essentially “Persevearence” part 2, and that album was one of the best of last year, maybe this should place higher, but then again, I already have that album when I’m in the mood for brutal metalcore.
18. Östermalm - Aldrig Mer Teater
    Again, an album with a really strong starter song (”En Lyckad Kväll På Indian Star”), that makes me remember the best parts of KSMB, but the rest of the songs don’t reach the same heights.
19. Dimmu Borgir - Death Cult Armageddon
    Clearly this year’s best epic symponic black metal album. I haven’t been much in the mood for that this year, though.
20. Lisa Miskovsky - Fallingwater
    I loved what Lisa Miskovsky did on the Lost Patrol album. If she had had Dennis Lyxén as partner for this album instead of that Kent dude, this might have placed much higher.

Well, I went to the Close-Up Made Me Do It finale, but only got to the show just in time for Entombed. Their set was as solid as could have been expected, even though it wasn’t quite as amazing as their September show in Stockholm. I hadn’t seen Turbonegro since just after the release of “Ass Cobra”, when they played Kafé 44. The fan base has grown quite a bit since then… It was a good show as well, although the sound could have been better at times, particularly Hanks between-the-songs commentary.

Today and tomorrow I will NOT be attending the very special Moneybrother christmas shows at Debaser, as I found out about them too late (all tickets are sold out). Damn!

This really sucks. I’ve been looking forward to the “Close-Up made us do it” tour finale in Stockholm because it had such an insanely good lineup (Raised Fist, Disfear, Entombed and Turbonegro). A while ago it was announced that Raised Fist would cancel the tour and Nine would take their place. Since Raised Fist’s “Dedication” was possibly the best record released under 2002, and I had heard much about their insane live shows, I was not too pleased. However, Nine has some decent songs and are a good live act as well, so it wasn’t too bad.

Now, Nine cancels as well, due to a planning fuckup. What the hell?! RF canceled because their singer got vocal cord inflammation (is that the proper english term? “stämbandsinflammation”) which I can sort of understand, but canceling due to bad planning? Come on!

Also, due to schedule conflicts I will most likely miss Disfear, so I’ll probably end up just seeing Entombed and Turbonegro. However, as I’m getting older I find it harder and harder to enjoy really long show. Maybe it’s all for the best, just two intense shows with two really really good bands.