Have you ever visited your trusty music streaming platform of choice and typed in an artist (say, Adele, during much of the meteoric rise of 21) and noticed that their songs weren't available? Horrible feeling, right? Well, I charge that there is an even worse feeling than being let down, and that is one of being duped.
This is what has happened on numerous occasions as I've typed in "Led Zeppelin," been thrilled to find a long list of familiar songs, and then, after 15 seconds, noticed something just sounded off. Upon closer inspection, I realized that the interesting notes, tones, and complete vocal performance I was listening to was not Led Zeppelin, but in fact, "Lez Zeppelin." Or "Led Zepagain." Or (this is just the rudest) "The Sounds of Led Zeppelin." It's like accidentally downloading Kidz Bop for adults. Just devastating for anyone with ears.
Hey, look who's on Spotify. It's one-time anti-MP3 crusaders Metallica! As Billboard reports, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich showed up at a Spotify press conference on Thursday to announce that the band was throwing their entire catalog up on 'ify. And, in the process, he ended up sharing a moment with Spotify investor Sean Parker, his former Napster nemesis.
It’s the Fourth of July! A time when we can all reflect on the glories of our country, free from the rigors of work and the hectoring soliloquies of Aaron Sorkin. Even the snarky steam-fitters of the Hollywood Prospectus blog have a couple days off to catch up on episodes of Pretty Little Liars and update their showrunner slam books (Hate U, Veena!). As for the Hollywood Prospectus podcast, it will return on Friday, feted with fireworks and fatted with assorted grilled meats.
But it just wouldn’t be right to leave you, as the great prophet Timbaland once said, without a dope beat to step to. So, in that spirit, we proudly offer up some Spotify playlists, perfect for outdoor cookery or indoor living. In their own idiosyncratic ways, these more-or-less mixtapes were artfully designed to get you from the first, frozen fumblings of the hot dog wrapper straight through to the ill-advised fifth beer and the inevitable accidental cannonball into the inflatable kiddie pool. (As for the sunburn hangover, you people are on your own.)
