Digital Rights Vs User Rights

Since DRM (Digital Rights Management) is an issue to everyone that loves music and movies, I thought the article I came across on the tech website Ars Technica would be relevant to everyone.

I'm sure anyone that is reading this has come across DRM in one form or another, this could be anything from only being able to put your iTunes Store music onto a handful of devices, not being able to copy a DVD to your portable media player or even just reading the news about the Sony Rootkit scandal.

DRM is about controlling how movies and music can be used, what devices they can play on, how often they can be played, etc. As an example, it is DRM that prevents music purchased from Apples iTunes Store from being played on any MP3 player except an iPod. It does have it's uses, however the primary argument is that it is to fight piracy, however every time something new comes along in the DRM world, crackers usually have it beaten in a very short space of time rendering it next to useless. So who does DRM actually affect? It doesn't affect people who want copied movies and music, they can find it DRM-less without much trouble. It affects the people that actually pay for their music and movies - is it even possible to buy a DVD these days without having to sit through 4 minutes of anti-piracy 'awareness' messages each time you want to watch it? You can be sure that those with the pirate copy do not have to sit through that, only those that have actually bought the thing have to be treated like criminals!

I would recommend that anyone who likes there movies and music have a read at the following article, it is important that people know about these things before they have the chance to become too overpowering and controlling.

Privately, Hollywood admits DRM isn't about piracy:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070115-8616.html

Iron Maiden live

The Swoj Staff were at the mighty Iron Maiden's sold out show in Glasgow on Friday night (we've only just recovered enough to tell you about it!). Opinions were mixed it has to be said. Special guests Trivium went down a storm but the headliners themselves picked a more 'controversial' set list with the first 1 hour and 20 mins being devoted entirely to promoting material from the new album which only left 35 mins (5 songs) for the old classics.

As I've written before, Maiden make no apologies for playing a lot of new material in their set because they see it as their way of staying relevant and offering the fans something different each time, and I have no problem with that. In fact probably most people dont have a problem with that when it is normally split 50/50 but I heard a lot of disgruntled fans leaving the venue and in the club later that night. Personally I thought it was fine but slightly overkill. I dont think the new album (A Matter Of Life And Death) is as great as the rock press would have you believe (an 8/10 in my books) but as always, Maiden's material sounds 10 times stronger live than it does in the studio.

Possibly detecting a note of unrest (or having picked up on it elsewhere in the tour) they have vowed to return next year and play a UK festival and play a greatest hits set. If that happens then all will be forgiven!

In case you're wondering the old classics were: Iron Maiden, Hallowed Be Thy Name, 2 Minutes To Midnight, The Evil That Men Do and Fear Of The Dark (not in order).
This led to much discussion over a couple of drinks about which favourites were missed...lads, fire away with your own personal faves that were skipped...

Ramones - End Of The Century

I finally got round to watching the Ramones documentary End Of The Century last night. I've been really keen to see this since it was released last year but ended up missing the cinema run and then only just got round to watching the DVD.

It's a documentary that left me with mixed emotions. On one hand I found the history of the band (and punks origins) absolutely fascinating, but on the other hand none of the band members came across as particularly likeable people, especially ever-present guitarist Johnny Ramone, but then again you had to applaud their honesty and to tell the story exactly as it was without trying to cover anything up. You'll be amazed at how a band that lasted this long and has such cult status struggled all their career, never achieving the recognition of the bands they inspired, and had such damging internal friction!

I would definitely recommend seeing this as it's a real eye opener but already owning a couple of Ramones albums, I have to say, I wasn't exactly desperate to go out and buy more by the end of this film. 8/10

No Jackson for The Hobbit

I'm sure I'm not alone in loving the Lord Of The Ring movies, they were simply amazing. For years now there has been ongoing speculation about a movie version of The Hobbit (the prequel to the Load Of The Rings), with the main question being, "When will it be made?". Almost everyone had assumed that Peter Jackson would continue the work he did with Lord Of The Rings and get his go at making The Hobbit, sadly it is looking like this will not be the case - the film is going into production, but without Peter Jackson.

With Peter Jackson engaged in legal action with New Line Cinema over unpaid royalties, they seem to have given him the ultimatum of drop the law suit, or don't direct the Hobbit.

This obviously has annoyed a lot of people, with so many fans wanting to see the Hobbit done by Peter Jackson so that continuity in the style and tone can be carried over, but if Jackson is not involved, then neither will his special effects company Weta, so the new production team will have to start from scratch - which is unlikely to provide the same look and feel as people are wanting.

While I think it doesn't give the Hobbit much chance of living up the Lord of the Rings, others feel a little more agrieved. Sir Ian McKellen has voiced support for Jackson to make the film, and it is sound like if Jackson is not involved, neither will any of the original cast. As a result, fansite TheOneRing.net has started a 'Boycott New Line' petition.

However, do not lose all hope yet, some reports are surfacing that the ultimate rights owner of the Hobbit/LOTR series, Saul Zaentz, wants Peter Jackson on board. Rumours have also surfaced that Evil Dead/Spiderman director, Sam Raimi, has been offered the job, so maybe all is not lost yet!

For Ruin now on Myspace

Upcoming Irish death metal band For Ruin, fronted by the dedicated John Murphy, have now set up a Myspace site. The site features several of the songs from their latest CD, Obsidian. This is the first CD release since the band expanded from being the solo work of John to being a band, with new members Barry English, Drew Myers and Barry O´Sullivan joining up.

For Ruin have a number of gigs coming up in the coming months (starting as early as December), so check out their tour list on the MySpace site.

Visit the new For Ruin MySpace site:
http://www.myspace.com/forruinband

Visit the main For Ruin website:
http://www.forruin.com/

Long live the Barrowland Ballroom

The Swoj boys were out for a gig last night and we were delighted to be back in the Glasgow Barrowlands. Over the last couple of years a new venue has opened in Glasgow holding a similar capacity and seems to have taken a lot of business from the Barrowlands. If you ask any Glaswegian what his/her favourite concert venue is, chances are he/she will answer the Barrowlands no matter what style of music they go to see (ok maybe opera excluded!). The Swoj team have been going to this place for years and love it to bits. Don't get me wrong, it's an absolute flea pit and stinks but it has an atmosphere, layout, accoustics and just all round general vibe that is second to none, that seems to be a feature of most best gig venues (I'm sure I've heard CBGB's was disgusting in the 70's).

So it was all there last night just as we remembered it: the neon signs on approach to the building, that first sweaty smell as you walk in the door, followed by the dodgy hot dog smell upstairs next to the merchandise stall, the disgusting toilets, the perfect floor & stage layout, the crazy crowd, the flying beer, the band feeding off the crowds energy, the night getting better and better, the soaking wet floor - to that final crush to get out the doors at the top of the stairs and take a gulp of fresh air...

We wouldn't change it for anything! Here's to more gigs at the Barrowlands and it's future on the concert map!
http://www.glasgow-barrowland.com/ballroom.htm

Gun'n'Roses album info

Came across this link today with information about the massively anticipated and massively delayed new album from Guns 'n' Roses.

It doesn't really give us too many details on what the album is going to sound like, beyond using phrases such as "massive riffs", "modern sound" and "almost like doom metal". The article does give the intended release date as November 21st, so I guess we won't have long to go until we can judge it for ourselves!

Check the article out: http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/1258736