Community spirit

by Alex on January 11, 2010

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I think, as part of the booklet for The World Is Mine, I’m gonna write about unsigned acts I like. Just recommended people to check out. Not that much, maybe my top three with a little YouTube link or something. Cos one of the things I love most with all this is the community spirit. (My original idea of rattling on at length about the ideas and meanings behind the album was deemed, by me, incredibly pretentious and boring. So now I’ll fill it with fun little facts and such.)

Since I make more than enough from DFTBA sales, I figure the least I can do is buy CDs from other artists when they’re released. So I have – nearly – every release (I never got a physical of Expert because Craig gave me the files when I met him last year, but I’ll order it soon). The DFTBA artists have had a couple ideas to work on collaborations together; we discussed a fun one a while back where we all cover each other’s songs.

Anyway, someone who’s not on DFTBA but is very very cool needs my help, and I thought in the spirit of this entry that I’d help her out. I used to play acoustic shows with her, where she would outshine me night after night, cos it was three years ago and I had no stage presence and played cheesy crappy songs like “Smile” (“when I see her smile at me, it gives me strength, my room to breathe” – OH MY GOD). The only song from those days that made it on to Parrot Stories is ‘Sicily’ – think of that, Sicily being the strongest song in a set of songs.

Anyway, Fran’s wonderful, and she’s in the Vodafone Live And Unsigned competition in the UK, for which she tells me she’s through to the regional final :) If you clicky here, you’ll be able to listen to some tracks and help her out in the competition if you like them. It’d surely mean a lot to both of us if you did ^_^

(No, we’re not dating, you crazy gossips.)

Oh, one last thing to run by you – Parrot Stories. Since I’m releasing The World Is Mine in a digipak (on account of digipaks being more durable and lighter to transport), I’m thinking of converting Parrot Stories to a digipak too. So once we sell our first order of a thousand jewel cases, I’ll just order them in digipaks from then on. BUT: as part of this, since I’m improving the product, I thought it’d be nice to revise the booklet, and make it what I now think booklets should be, filled with fun facts instead of just lyrics.

So thought I’d put that out there, that’s a plan for the future. =) (No, I’m NOT asking you to buy it again :p)

x

  • Katherine
    What do I do to help? Do I have to vote?
  • Katherine
    So I'd have to buy Parrot Stories again? Is that what you're trying to do, you sneaky little bobbins. I pre-ordered it, as early as I could, and then you gave everybody a code so they could get a discount, and now I have to buy it again. You are mean to me Alex Day.
  • i concur! (i did the same thing.)
  • Amy_J
    New booklet in Parrot Stories = Do it!!!
    It sounds like fun :D and I shall rebuy them album for it :)
    And by the way, when you start touring, come visit Plymouth! We rock! (Aside the fact that we all sound like we should be chewing grass and trundling along the moor on a tractor) But other than that we're great :)
    x
  • Amy x
    *gasps in disgust at the "crazy gossips" comment* :) I like the idea of converting Parrot Stories to digipak, and I agree when you say that a booklet should be more that just lyrics, so definatley consider revising the booklet it you want too, as long as you still thank Jen on the back of the booklet :) x
  • magicmarkers
    Firstly, call me uncultured but I'm a bit confused as to what a digipack actually is. But I'm sure Parrot Stories in that form will be just as lovely (:

    Also, I'm glad you decided to change the format of the lyrics booklet for The World is Mine. Not because I think it's pretentious, but because I'm the sort of person who likes to try to figure out the meaning of the song, and even sort of project my own meaning on to it. I like songs I can relate to, and even if it's not what the writer intended it's interesting to see what other meanings could apply. So yes; fun facts - yay, long explanations - nay. At least not in the booklet - maybe the wiki page?
  • A digipak is what Taking Leave and This Machine Pwns N00bz are cased in :)
  • '...what I now think booklets should be, filled with fun facts instead of just lyrics.'

    I totally agree with you, Alex. It should contain pictures, stories, a concept plus lyrics. Don't you find annoying when you buy an album and it does not contain the lyrics and it's just got a picture of the band while in the studio or something? I still believe in physical CDs, but, unfortunately, they're about to dissapear.
  • "Don't you find annoying when you buy an album and it does not contain the lyrics and it's just got a picture of the band while in the studio or something?"

    i find i hate this so much that i usually end up never buying anything from the band ever again.
  • Might be nice to have an online version of the booklet available when people purchase the CD? That way, you could include actual links to your rec'd artists... I know I always find it a bit of a hassle when I read of an interesting site somewhere then have to remember to write it down and then type it in! [Though I clearly am just a lazy, lazy person xD]
  • Jo
    Hey Alex!
    In reference to you thinking your old songs were crappy and too lovey dovey, just look at The Beatles! They did the exact same thing, and then grew up a lot and wrote more decent (and deep and meaningful) stuff!!
    So don't worry, you'll be fine :D
  • Teff
    You should come to play at Reading! Pretty please? Reading uni?
    And I think the idea of having interesting things in the booklet is great! could yuo still write the meanings behind the songs there? or maybe post them here? It gives them a greater dpeth - I really liked finding out who you wrote the songs for and stuff when you posted it here =)
  • well, no. but of course you know i'll HAVE to buy it again! hello! you have FAN GIRLS! we're insane and impulsive and MUST have everything you make! plus, most of us are Nerdfighters as well! which means you have to multiply that by 2. or maybe 10. i'm not sure. i'm not a math nerd. but still!
    and "rattling on at length about the ideas and meanings behind the album" is only pretentious if there's no one actually interested in you doing so. i, for one, wouldn't mind that one bit. in fact, it would be awesome if you did and i hope you do.
  • Bri :D
    "(No, we’re not dating, you crazy gossips.)"

    LIES! Alex is a ladies man. He has shagged all of the five awesome girls and half of the female population of london and then some.
  • TheLunarFire
    First of all, what's a "digipak?" Second, awesome! I don't own a physical copy of your CD yet, so getting the new version of the booklet would be great.
  • eddplant
    I liked the idea of production notes and interesting facts about the songs making it into the liner notes - does that need to be completely removed for these "fun facts"? You have a tendency to discard good ideas because you have come across an idea which is equally as good or better, demeriting the validity of the original ideas!

    Similarly, I don't remember much of "Smile" - I'm sure I've heard it before - but that lyric you quoted sounds brilliant in it's simplicity. It's a perfect poppy hook. Good lyrics don't need to be filled with adjectives and metaphors.
  • eddplant
    Oh, also, if you create a new album booklet for the Parrot Stories digipack, you should make it available as a free PDF for those who bought the original ;)
  • Katherine
    Free PDF? Pfffft, I'm buying it again. You can never own to many Alex Day albums.
  • Taylor
    I think that's a good idea :]
  • My first reaction to this post was "No, seriously, what the hell's a digipak?" But then I remembered the neat-o thing known as Wikipedia. I'll check out this artist, and buy a physical copy of your CD [my friend and I have officially made plans to] and hopefully it will show up at Fry's soon. Fry's has a nice sized selection of DFTBA signed artists' albums, but not yours, unfortunately. Nice booklet idea, Alex. Can't wait to see this album or 117%. Much love, Jessie.
  • itiselizabeth
    I like the digipaks, it's less likely to get damaged in transit and there is something just, nice about them!

    If you need any extra art for the new booklet just drop me an email and I'll have a go.

    :D
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