What precise power do Dora the Explorer and Elmo have that infects our youth like an infant form of crack cocaine?  My 18-month-old can’t even say her sister’s name but she knows how to stand in front of the TV and with perfect pronunciation, shout “Elmo, elmo, elmo” on endless repeat as she furiously points at the blank screen.  It’s like she’s warning me that at any moment, Elmo is going to explode into flames.  And only I can stop it.  I won’t of course.

 

My kid is so obsessed with this fictional character that I worry about what’s going to happen when she actually becomes infatuated with a real human being.   She can literally spot a Dora the Explorer pencil from across a crowded Target with more estatic energy than a clueless teenager emits when staring down an undead serial killer.  In fact, I actually think a serial killer would have less of an impact, because the kids will probably be pre-occupied looking at all the Elmo backpacks (there’s like 10 different kinds…really). 

 

 

1.  Orange Crush

2.  Find Yourself A Safe Place

3.  I Buried the Devil

4.  Come Share the View

5.  Lullaby

6.  Banging Heads

7.  An Eye For An Eye

8.  The Picture

9.  Road To Nowhere

10.  Open Up

11.  A Thousand Pieces

12.  Some Kind of Spark

13.  Bonny

 

Buy The new Expanded Edition of the Editors’ In This Light and On This Evening.

 

For years, records companies have spanked loyal fans by releasing deluxe or extended editions of releases. Most recently, this happened with Lady Gaga and Eminem.  For all those honest fans who go out and buy the album the day/week it comes out, they are stuck in a quandry when bands “re-issues” the same album a few months later with a couple more bonus tracks.  Now, you’re either cursed to go out and buy the new version of the album for a couple more songs that are in all liklihood not as good as the other tracks since they were left off the original release…or you illegally go and download them.  I understand the record company’s tactic in trying to lure new fans to an aging release by giving them a bonus…but the problem with this…is that it only targets the fringe fans.  You may get a minor boost from new buyers…and a couple of hardcore fans will re-purchase it.  But in the end, you’re disenfranchising the only people who are still buying music.  This is your base.  Don’t piss off your base!  We’re the last people buying your music…don’t force us into downloading.  Isn’t this what you’re trying to avoid? 

 

Here’s an idea…let’s call if a compromise.  I will support your re-issues…but in return…offer the loyal fans a way to get the new songs without having to re-buy the whole album…maybe a bonus EP…or something along those lines.  Sounds fair?  I think so.

 

In the Editors defense, they added a whopping 5 songs…and the price is still reasonably cheap.

 

 

1.  Let Your Good Heart Lead You Home

2.  You Are Fading

3.  Colours

4.  Release

5.  Forest Fire

6.  French Disko

7.  Crawl Down The Wall

8.  Disappear

9.  The Diplomat

10.  From The Outside

11.  Dust In The Sunlight

12.  Head in Bags

13.  Time To Slow

 

Buy Editors – In This Light and On This Evening (Extended Edition 2CD) 

The story of Anvil is that persistance can be stronger than talent.  When the Editors came out…they were blasted as an Interpol knock-off.  And on the their sophomore albums…Interpol received critical praise while Editors didn’t even receive a call back.  But on the 3rd outing, things begin to change…Interpol’s album was…well…just okay.  Meanwhile Editors, after being dumped from their label, took a little longer.  They challenged their traditional sound…and went darker (which IMO is always better).  Their newest release is a gothy dripped electro trip through the Euro club scene stuck somewhere between 1983-1984.  If Martin Gore hears this, he might cover one of the songs on his next EP.  If Robert Smith hears this, he might cry.  And if Interpol hears this…they’re going to be racking their brains to figure out how to catch up.

 

 

1.  Munich (The Back Room)

2.  Bones (An End Has A Start)

3.  An End Has A Start (An End Has A Start)

4.  Fingers in the Factories (The Back Room)

5.  Racing Rats (An End Has A Start)

6.  Lullaby (B-Side)

7.  Camera (The Back Room)

8.  Open Your Arms (The Back Room)

9.  Orange Crush (B-Side)

10.  Fall  (The Back Room)

11.  All Sparks (The Back Room)

 

Buy the Editors new album, In This Light and On this Evening.