Cops-R-Us by Weird Al.

I’m a huge fan of Weird Al. I think his voice and his humor are fun. It’s always interesting to hear what he has to say. And he’s clearly got talent. But I just didn’t think that Don’t Download These Songs was a great album. I could tell that the songs were the results of Al taking songs that weren’t necessarily his and making them his, which is not always a bad thing. There are some really funny songs on it, but it was just an overall mediocre effort for me.

As an indie music lover, I’m thrilled that the digital format exists, but for now, it’s just not really a viable format for the vast majority of people. Most people aren’t into buying a song unless it is a big hit from a known artist. The people who do buy music generally want to buy CDs or download an entire album, but many have little chance of finding an entire album. Plus, on a digital format, the music can be shared more easily. So I think CDs are still the best way to promote your music.

Dwight I didn’t think Don’t Download These Songs was a bad album, but that is only because the songs are so obviously the result of his creative efforts. The album has a certain amateurish charm to it. The music is amateurish, and the vocals even more so. When he is actually performing, he does sound pretty good. But I’d rather hear an actual rock album rather than one of these Weird Al parodies.

Yeah. That’s the problem with this album. Al is great at parody. But can he go one step further? Can he actually write a song of his own?

I do know a few people that have put together some parody albums of their own. With any luck, we’ll start to see people like Dwight put together a few serious rock albums of their own.

http://www.maclife.com/article/columns/weekly_recap_weekend_music_news_new_releases_tunesmiths_dave_cassaro#commentsColumnsDave CastroDave CasoniTunesmithsWeekly Recapweekly recapWendy MacGregorWebcastsWed, 30 Nov 2011 17:56:48 +0000Wendy MacGregor13548 at http://www.maclife.comWeekend Recap: Weekend Music News, New Releases, Podcasts & Videohttp://www.maclife.com/article/columns/weekend_recap_weekend_music_news_new_releases_podcasts_video

A week means a lot of news here on MacLife.com, as we round up our weekend highlights from the world of Mac, iPod, iTunes, and more. Each week we collect the best and most interesting stories around, and share them with you. Enjoy the Weekend Recap!

Friday

“It's a party every day in iTunes.” That’s right, we’ve got a new episode of iTunes.com’s Episode 10: All Songs Considered, a series where we talk to the music industry’s biggest names. We had the great pleasure of interviewing Eminem and his manager, Paul Rosenberg. In this new episode, Eminem answers some of his biggest fans’ questions and opens up about his thoughts on his new album “Relapse.” The episode also includes a special performance by Eminem with The Roots, Ben Abraham and Mike Tolbert. You can listen to all of these guests and others on the new episode, starting Friday, Nov. 4. Now that’s something that will get you out of your house and moving.



Saturday

In honor of Black Friday, we’re giving away two Apple TVs. The winners will receive an Apple TV each. All you have to do is be a fan of music on Facebook and leave a comment at the end of this story to enter. We’ll pick the winners at random, and announce the winners tomorrow at 11 a.m. EST. Sound like a good way to spend the day? If you’re looking for some real gifts, check out these fun holiday gifts to find something for the person on your list that doesn’t cost a fortune.

Sunday

I love music, but I don’t feel the need to own a hundred different music players and devices. I don’t even own a proper MP3 player. I have a simple iPod, and that works just fine for me. But I think it’s silly when people argue over who can build the best MP3 player. In this Weekly Recap, I said that iTunes isn’t going anywhere, and I stand by that. I still think that the iPod is the best, but that doesn’t mean there’s not room in the market for new MP3 players. I mean, there’s a lot of great and innovative MP3 players out there, but I just don’t think there’s any perfect match for the iPod. There are a lot of factors to consider: your needs, your budget, your taste, and more. I’d like to know what you think about these different music players, because I want your help in making my decision. My problem is I don’t know enough about them. So if you want to show me your favorite player, or if you think you’re the ultimate MP3 buyer, tell us about it on our Forums. And don’t be shy -- tell us what music player you use the most. I can tell you that last weekend I purchased eight digital music albums for a total of nine songs.

Itunes Top Downloads - Week #18

As you can see, it’s a really exciting time to be a music lover.