the My New Band meme on Facebook

burning up FB this week: creating randomly-generated album covers for fictional bands.  the instructions are as follows:

1 - Go to Wikipedia and hit ?random? or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The title of the first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 - Go to "Random quotations" or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3 - Go to flickr and click on ?explore the last seven days? or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 - Use Photoshop or similar imaging software to put it all together.

5 - Post it with this text in the "caption" and TAG the friends you want to join in.

there are now several groups dedicated to this "artform", for example http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8394333246

what's so great about this?  about 75% of these randomly-generated album covers are indistinguishable from the typical NME/pitchfork/BV/etc fodder.  one of my friends called it a "a subtle dig at the recording, design, and marketing industries" whereas i see it as a wholesale indictment.  seriously, tell me these are the latest products from an indie act from montreal:









[right][/right]

I didnt have photoshop, but with paint:

also done with MS Paint:

I was wondering when someone was going to start this one.

These are highly impressive and if real, I would illegally download each and every one of them. Take THAT, Obama's America

edit: nevermind.  stupid firewall.

already working on my side project

In the spirit of my new band, I present my downtempo dub unit…. since it's my side project it's only fair i was a bit pickier with the name, image and quote… Seeing as my father is a Newton scholar it's fitting his quote would show up on the initial random quote search, which is prompted the creation of the side project to go along with it.

kosmo wrote:
In the spirit of my new band, I present my downtempo dub unit…. since it's my side project it's only fair i was a bit pickier with the name, image and quote… Seeing as my father is a Newton scholar it's fitting his quote would show up on the initial random quote search, which is prompted the creation of the side project to go along with it.

You'd better hope the Gallagher brothers don't sue you for stealing their album title.

eros wrote:

kosmo wrote:
In the spirit of my new band, I present my downtempo dub unit…. since it's my side project it's only fair i was a bit pickier with the name, image and quote… Seeing as my father is a Newton scholar it's fitting his quote would show up on the initial random quote search, which is prompted the creation of the side project to go along with it.

You'd better hope the Gallagher brothers don't sue you for stealing their album title.

Seeing as it was taken from a famous quote from Issac Newton, I don't think they could make much of a case

kosmo wrote:
Seeing as it was taken from a famous quote from Issac Newton, I don't think they could make much of a case

i'm relatively confident that in this case oasis could make a strong case against you for copyright infringement, because in the music world the phrase is associated with their album.  you would be safe opening a coffee shop or writing a book entitled "standing on the shoulders of giants", but it's a no-go for an album name. 

hoya?  vansmack?  bueller?

True, but it is from a quote, and not of Noels brain.  I think you would be allright.

well don't think oasis would have much of case… from allmusic.com

1993 - Illustrious Theatre Orchestr Standing on the Shoulder of Giants Trompe L'oreille Classical
2000 Oasis Standing on the Shoulder of Giants Epic Pop/Rock
1999 Bill Lloyd Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Koch International Pop/Rock
2000 Tribe of Gypsies Standing on the Shoulders of Giants JVC/Victor Pop/Rock
2008 Metaform Listen Now! Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Just Electro

I don't think the title of album can be copyrighted, especially when it's based on something taken from the public domain and i'm one could lots of examples wih albums using the same title.

as are song titles….

sweetcell wrote:

kosmo wrote:
Seeing as it was taken from a famous quote from Issac Newton, I don't think they could make much of a case

i'm relatively confident that in this case oasis could make a strong case against you for copyright infringement, because in the music world the phrase is associated with their album.  you would be safe opening a coffee shop or writing a book entitled "standing on the shoulders of giants", but it's a no-go for an album name. 

hoya?  vansmack?  bueller?

Titles cannot be copyrighted, e.g. Let It Be. They can, however, be trademarked for a substantial price, e.g. Star Wars.

Who knew this would make such an interesting discussion?  I was really only kidding…  :o

Besides, when it comes to all things theft in the music industry you'd be hard pressed to beat Noel Gallagher.

Not sure if I'm supposed to be some chill Trans band or yet another Indie Wolf band.




-Edit-
Crap! I need to resize this or find another host site or something. Don't have a Facebook account and not interested at this time in starting one.

Thanks Sweets. Just got back in with the fix. Now you can reuse your post box for your 2nd release.  ;)

jag, here ya go:

sweetcell wrote:

kosmo wrote:
Seeing as it was taken from a famous quote from Issac Newton, I don't think they could make much of a case

i'm relatively confident that in this case oasis could make a strong case against you for copyright infringement, because in the music world the phrase is associated with their album.  you would be safe opening a coffee shop or writing a book entitled "standing on the shoulders of giants", but it's a no-go for an album name. 

hoya?  vansmack?  bueller?

you wrong

sweetcell wrote:
jag, here ya go:

Cassette only? Damn, that's indie!