Fountains of Wayne's "Traffic and Weather" and CD prices

I got the Sunday Sun all full of hope only to have it dashed away when I opened up both the Best Buy and Circuit City weekly ads to see absolutely no touting of the sale price for the new Fountains of Wayne CD, out today.

I'd not "preordered" (what a stupid word that is) it because I figured I'd get a much better deal waiting for opening day.

Wrong!

The CD lists for $15.98. Bestbuy.com is selling it for $14.99. Wow. Now that's what I call a bargain! I didn't even bother checking Circuit City's site. Websites are mostly selling it for $12+, so with shipping and handling, I'm much better off buying it in person somewhere.

I figured I would be able to pick up a copy for $9.99 or thereabouts somewhere. The cheapest I've been able to find it for is $12.99 at a store around here. Of course, I drove right by it earlier today and didn't bother to stop in to see what their price was. Oops.

Usually, record stores try to "move those units" by pricing a new release way low. Makes sense. Now, I don't know if Richard Branson (forgive me if I offend by leaving off the "Sir", sir) is trying to pay to fix global warming all by his lonesome, but if so, he's off to a good start. Virgin Records, am I doing my share to help the environment by paying out the ass for this CD?

I did research many years ago on the price of a CD, and where the money actually goes. Actually, it was for vinyl, but the same thing, really. Most of the money from a CD goes straight into the pockets of the record execs. Not the bands. The bands/artists make most of their money from touring. Even artists with a really, really good contract aren't going to make a killing off of CD sales, unless they sell a skidillion copies or something close to it.

So, why the high price? If record labels kept their damn CD prices reasonable, fewer people would be turning to the Internet to download the record illegally, like that kid did that I met at the FoW showcase a couple of weeks ago. I didn't approve of what he'd done, but now, I'm beginning to understand why.

Music is still your best entertainment value, at least if you like the damn CD. If it sucks a big one, then you're screwed. I know I'm going to play the living hell out of this baby when I get it (I wonder if I can say the same about the new Nine Inch Nails CD when that comes out in two weeks, as I've not liked the two songs I've heard online), so it's not like it won't be worth the money, but still, you'd think that record company execs would have at least one-sixth of a brain and get the damn CD prices as low as makes sense so that people like me would go out and buy the thing instead of wondering if I should wait to see if the price comes down any or if I should just try to find that kid at the FoW showcase and make friends with him to get my copy.

Fountains of Wayne Private Showcase yesterday

The music gods were very good to me yesterday. I got in my car, the clock said 3:16, and I made it to the parking lot of the studio at 4:30, which included a pit-stop and going too far down the street and having to back up and turn around. Traffic was the best I've ever dealt with in the metro-DC area; things were moving at a good pace all around.

There were only about 3 dozen of us for the show--wouldja believe I won [I]twice[/I]--I'd gotten an email that I'd won for my online entry, as well. The music gods knew I was quite determined to go to this show, and reacted accordingly. There were only about 34 names on the winners' list. And some of the winners didn't even show, so that made it that much more intimate for those of us that did.

At 5:00, we were ushered into one of the studios. We had to sit on the floor--I thought we'd be standing, like in a club. It felt a lot like nursery school at the beginning, but shit, it was a small space, I'm short, so it worked out better for me.

One of the guys behind me was singing along to the new album, and I asked him how that was possible, and he mentioned he'd gotten the album from illegally downloading it. I told him I'd be arresting him in the parking lot after the show, but how did he like the new album? He said he loved it. I asked him if he liked it as much as "Welcome Interstate Managers," which was my "be all, end all" for a long time, and he said he actually liked it better.

Alex from WRNR came out, and introduced himself and then the band. Actually, it was only Chris and Adam, the two songwriters. At first, I was kind of disappointed, but as Adam sat down at the piano, I realized this would be a cool way to hear FoW songs done in a way we normally wouldn't.

I was right about that. Adam mentioned that he'd just figured out how to play "Hackensack" on the piano about 10 minutes before, and he did make a couple of booboos while playing, but the song still sounded really good. I'd been singing it all day without even having heard it recently, so it was a real thrill to hear it, and good for Adam to be willing to booboo it up in front of an audience.

They played two new songs besides the new single, one a country-tinged song, which I don't know the name of, and an achingly beautiful "I-95", which really made me remember why these two are currently the best songwriters of the "slice of life" group. They also did "Barbara H" off of the first CD, and talked with Alex in between songs, and that was it.

Very affable, the both of them, and they talked about why it takes them as long as it does to put out a new record. Alex asked them about show dates in our metro area, and they told him that they weren't at liberty to say anything yet, but they hoped to be playing some festivals. Alex told them we'd see them at Virgin Festival in August.

I'm sure they'll play club dates before then. I was just ecstatic to be able to see them in such an intimate atmosphere--I'm not a festival person--I'm there for the music more than the party, so this was more to my liking.

They'll be airing the show "Saturday morning at 9 or 10," according to Alex. They only did a half-hour, which went by all too quickly. I'm only sorry that Alex had to ask as many questions as he did, because the music was that good. A funny answer to one of Alex's questions from Adam: Alex asked them how they write their songs, and Adam said, "We write poetry, and then we send it off to this address in Nashville." Alex caught on right away and said, "Robbie Fulks."

The traffic home was good, too. I left at 5:30, and was in my house by 6:50. No problems at all going home--I've had much worse of a commute on the Baltimore beltway. I was expecting rush hour hell and had only a good experience.

I'm so anticipating April 3rd and the new CD. I'm also looking forward to hearing the full band in a club, hopefully in the next month or so, but it'll never erase the wonderful memory of yesterday's private showcase.

Seeing Fountains of Wayne for free on 3/21/2007

I stayed in on Thursday night, although I'd planned on going out. It was raining out, and getting windy, so I decided I'd just stay in.

I occasionally listen to a radio station that has "private artists' showcases", meaning that the band or artist plays a special show for the station's listeners. You can't buy tickets; you have to win them by being the 10th caller.

I'd heard while station surfing a couple of weeks ago that Fountains of Wayne were going to be the next band featured, and to stay tuned to win tickets.

From then on, I made it my personal mission to win tickets. There was no way I wasn't gonna. Although I really only listen to the radio in my car, I decided--no, decreed--that I was going to win tickets to see this show.

There were a couple of times when I'd dialed in and got the dreaded busy signal. A bit frustrating, but I knew there were several more chances to win, and I also knew I'd be going somehow.

So, on Thursday night, I'd put the radio on when I came in. I was over by the phone--I can't even remember why--when the announcement came over the air to be the 10th caller. I began dialing--busy. I dialed again--busy. I dialed once again--ringing. No answer at first. I took this to be a good sign, as how long does it take to say, "Sorry, you're caller number seven," and move onto the next caller. The entire time I was saying, "I am caller number 10. I am caller number 10," as my mantra.

Finally, the DJ answered the phone. "Am I caller number 10?" "No, you're caller number 11..."
"OHNOOOOOOO!!!!" "...but caller number 10 can't make it." "OHHHYESSSSSSSS!!!!" "The show's in Rockville." "I don't care if it's in fucking Canada, I'm going!" "Oh, I love you!"

The show is actually at a recording studio, not a club, on Wednesday, late afternoon. I'm hoping that means a more intimate atmosphere than a club, where they usually have them. Fountains of Wayne had played a free show in Annapolis a couple of Octobers back, but I was in Atlantic City that weekend and unable to go.

I am so thrilled out of my mind. One of my all-time favorite bands, and I get to hear them play live to a smaller-than-average crowd before their new CD is released.

A wonderful way to start off the real New Year.

Please, Trent, tell me I'll like the album better

It's a good thing I can compose something ahead of time somewhere else and then import it here and publish it when I have a few free minutes. I'm still trying to find the time to throw in some links, but in the meantime, here goes:

My beloved Nine Inch Nails have a new DVD out as of this past Tuesday. I've not had the time to get it, but I'll be picking it up and playing it incessantly as of tomorrow. It's live footage of their tour supporting "With Teeth." I saw them live last June at Nissan Pavilion, and I'm hoping to relive that fabulous night by buying this concert DVD. I've been counting off the weeks until its release.

NIN has a new album, "Year Zero," out on April 17th. There's a new single, "Survivalism," being played on the radio now, and boy, does it suck a hard large one. The first time I heard it, I was trying to convince myself that I would like it better the second time, but the second time made me wince just as much as the first listen. Am I still gonna buy the album? You betcha. Will I see them on tour in support of it? You can bet big bucks and believe the answer is yes. But wow, do I hate that song.

On a brighter note, a band I've loved since the giddy-up, Fountains of Wayne, have a new single out which is on form for them. "Someone to Love" is full of the usual hooks, harmonies, lyrics and situations that make them one of the best bands this country has ever produced. "Traffic and Weather" comes out on April 3rd, so at least if the NIN album sucks as hard as the single, I'll have "Traffic and Weather" to pull me through. A friend of mine has an advance copy of "T and W," and he loves it, so I'm already waiting for the day they start touring. I've got a few friends who'll be making a religious pilgrimage to watch them play at the 9:30 Club in D.C., if they don't wind up playing someplace bigger. Their last album, "Welcome Interstate Managers," is one of my all-time Top Ten favorites. It's been a few years since "WIM" came out, but I'd rather wait a long time between albums and have the wait be worth it than have quantity and no quality. Please, please, please, Chris and Adam, don't let me down. You've got to pick up the slack from Trent.