Every New Year, in my country, we have a tradition of burning firework life-sized figures of people that have been bad during the past year. This will make things go great the next year, free of these illnesses. That’s what I want to do. I want to get rid of the bad stuff that troubles us now and start anew; see a brighter 2009!

So, before you continue reading please know: “this is not a love story.” Don’t despair.

// I refuse to do a best of 2008 list. Seems unfair as I’ve loved so many songs and bands over the year. Maybe I should write a book about it. That could be fair.

// All of the end of year lists kind of look the same. Vivian Girls, Crystal Stilts and Cause Co-Motion are up there. I don’t get why they are up there. Some do deserve to be repeated in these lists like the fabulous Liechtenstein though.

// People don’t change. Our other favourite label will continue releasing series of compilations. Some bands have been asked four dollars so they can be part of it.

// A revitalized label that enjoyed praise on 2008 will start releasing records in digital form. One more goes down to the dark side. Are we all trying to follow the major label model now?

// Magic Marker once wrote: “Starting a record label at this stage seems moronic. I was pretty impressed with Cloudberry though. It is the now classic Long Tail business method. Selling a little of a lot of bands. That was pretty much genius. What a great way to make a name for yourself and raise funds.” – what does he mean?

// Again Magic Marker: “I am not really sure what I am trying to say. I guess that illegal downloading is illegal downloading please don’t justify it. I download stuff as well”. – again, what does he mean?

// Twee.net poll winners most probably will be (fill here), because they ask their bands to vote for themselves and their label. No wonder the first place last year. I love these ethics!

// A label releases a great tribute album. But I believe tribute albums should happen when people are alive. I bet they had good intentions, but it also feels like pure gimmickry. How do you feel about it?

// Bloggers shouldn’t take credit for “mixes” they do. Keep it to your friends like the old times, pass the tape, swap your CDRs. Of course back in the day fanzine writers did take credit for their tape mixes, indeed, but they made it happen, asking bands to be part, organizing it, and recording them! What’s so great of choosing 12 songs (which bands/labels are totally unaware they are being featured) and putting them on a zip file? Anyone can do that. Or is it that these bloggers have such an exquisite taste that we are all in awe?

// “How can you trust someone that sells a CD-R (with 3 songs) for $5 that costs about $2 to produce (an incredibly generous estimate on my part), does no promotion for that release, sells that release by building up a brand, like any good capitalist does, and then claims to be an anti-capitalist representing DIY ethics and the “indie-pop way”. – someone needs a calculator. Hopefully got if for Christmas.

// Procrastination is not something to be proud of.

// I will be called grumpy after this post.

// They will ask me to keep things private.

// That won’t be a New Year’s resolution.

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Listen
Yeah Jazz – This is Not Love