Eggs and Sausage

Tom Waits and typography, what’s not to love? ‘Eggs and Sausage’ gets a super nice video courtesy of Jackie Lay, who won a Certificate of Typographic Excellence for it from the TDC. (via DesignCrave)

The Vandelles

A new release from Si at Spoilt Victorian Child Records, described as ‘very very loud fuzz-drenched guitars’? Oh, go on then.

The Vandelles

Ringo Deathstarr

Simon, who’s a friend from way back, runs an MP3 blog you may have heard of called Spoilt Victorian Child. He’s also got a little record label, aptly titled SVC Records. Today he released Ringo Deathstarr’s debut EP and it’s bloody brilliant. Here’s a sample track:

Sweet Girl (MP3, 3.3MB)

So it goes

R.I.P. Tony Wilson, founder of Factory Records and the Haçienda nightclub. His effect on British music will live on forever.

Get a Grip

This video for the song “Grip” by the band zZz, produced by Xelor & Goeroe media, was recorded in one take with professional trampoline gymnasts replicating typical video effects. It’s very clever and with any luck might make them famous as OK Go.

Apple and EMI team up to sell DRM-free music

Well it’s about time! [Engadget has coverage of the Apple & EMI joint event, live from London](http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/02/steve-jobs-and-emi-present-an-exciting-new-digital-offering/). In summary, EMI are selling their entire catalogue as a new iTunes Music Store “premium” option: $1.29/â?¬1.29/£0.99 per song gets you a DRM-free, 256kbps AAC track. That’s 30 cents/20 pence extra for no DRM, hence better interoperability, and better audio quality. Apple will still sell “standard” EMI tracks with DRM and 128-bit AAC encoding for $0.99/â?¬0.99/£0.79.

“Premium” albums will cost the *same price* as “standard” albums, which is great news; along with Apple’s new “[Complete My Album](http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/03/29itunes.html)” feature this will hopefully redress the “death of the album” that’s been happening since single-track purchase came into existence.

CR: Record sleeve designs of the week 5

[Record sleeve designs of the week](http://www.e-cr.co.uk/crblog/record-sleeves-of-the-week-5/) from Creative Review.

Mr. SpoiltVictorianChild to be wed!

[Simon SpoiltVictorianChild is in love and getting married!](http://www.spoiltvictorianchild.co.uk/2007/03/blogger-loves-blogger-shock.html) That’s so made my weekend, congratulations to you both! I’m looking forward to the after-party (hopefully it’s on the Island) and reckon a live webcast would be most fitting!

King Tubby’s Bass Speaker

A contender for eBay music item of the year: [King Tubby's bass speaker](http://musicthing.blogspot.com/2007/03/ebay-of-year-king-tubbys-bass-speaker.html) (cabinet).

Interesting article on Apple’s FairPlay DRM

[Interesting article on Apple's FairPlay DRM](http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/RDM.Tech.Q1.07/2A351C60-A4E5-4764-A083-FF8610E66A46.html), including commentary pointing out that Apple benefits less from DRM than most think.