Journal

But I manage to do it regularly.

Last week while running I listened to a lot of Northern Kings, a Finnish so-called "supergroup," consisting of four of the best-known Finnish metal vocalists. (They cover 80s hits, among other things, reinterpreted in a metal style. Freaking cool. And great running music.)

As I was listening to Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) sing, I had a sudden realization that has probably ruined him for me. He sounds just like Peter Lorre would sound singing in an anthemic metal style.

After this realization, I couldn't listen to Kakko without seeing Lorre in his place, complete with long hair and tight leather pants. It was a funny image, and made me laugh, which slowed me down. So I had to listen to some of the other music on my playlists.

Northern Kings is highly recommended, btw. If, you know, you can get past the Lorre thing.

So, I now have the new Iced Earth EP and the new Pyramaze (both featuring Matt Barlow, of course). <flails> <dies of aural bliss> <doesn't even really mind the lack of hair. well, sort of>

This thing works again.

And the news is good. The lovely folk at eMusic.com refunded the credits I lost on the promo versions of the above albums, quickly and with no hassle. And the proper versions of both albums are available for download as of 06/17. If you've no idea what I'm talking about and want to know, you can check my last few journal entries.

eMusic.com rocks rocks rocks.

I love a happy ending. :)

Oh, both the new Hollenthon and the new Tyr are mighty and awesome works of art, so get 'em. Maybe I'll do a little review when I can make myself stop listening to them. :)

I'm very pleased to inform you that both eMusic and iTunes have each pulled both of these albums, and they are no longer available for download. So, no one else will be paying for what were promo releases, with the infuriating voice-over numerous times per song.

I'm sure both sites will have the new, proper releases out soon--they generally are both quite good about getting new music out there quickly.

They will not be getting my money for these two albums as I've already ordered them from another source. Patience is not one of my particular virtues. Snooze/lose.

But my love for both eMusic and iTunes continues unabated. :D They both have an excellent assortment of metal and feed my I-want-it-NOW personality quite nicely.

Now eMusic needs to re-credit me for the credits wasted on the two promo copies, and I'll be completely happy with them again. I'm optimistic that they will--they are an excellent outfit, or I wouldn't have remained a subscriber since Dec. 2002.

I'll do an update when I get my refund, as I am a completist. :)



PS--If you've just "tuned in," have no idea what's up and are curious, all the details are in my last entry.

Re: Last night's comment "DON'T GET THE NEW TYR. FROM EMUSIC..."

DO NOT GET EITHER OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED RELEASES from either eMusic OR iTunes. Both sites have the PROMO versions of both these albums, and both albums have those incredibly infuriating "You are now listening to...." voice-overs at very frequent intervals.

BOTH iTunes and eMusic versions of the latest Hollenthon, "Opus Magnum," and the latest Tyr, "Land," are affected, at both sites. I checked both myself.

When you get a free promo copy of an album, you expect this. No problem. But when you pay for a copy of an album (or use prepaid download credits--same thing)? Nuh-uh. It's majorly fucked up.

Btw, these were not indicated as promos, and were certainly not free, at either site. EMusic labeled both albums as "advance releases," but said nothing about the voice-overs. And I've d/l'ed plenty of "advances" from eMusic in the past w/o this problem.

So, whom to blame? I'm actually going with Napalm Records for sending out promos. Both albums are Napalm releases. Napalm are an excellent label. I've been buying their music since they've been in existence, with never a problem. Their selection is great, prices reasonable, and shipping speed fantastic. I'm sure this was an "oops."

iTunes and eMusic probably can't check every track they make available--look how much music they release. But once the error has been brought to their attention, they should immediately credit the downloader with the appropriate number of tracks and remove the promo copies, or label them as such and make them free.

I'll let you know how that goes, and when/if the proper version of the albums is available at either site.

In the meantime, use great caution downloading anything released by Napalm in the same time frame as these two albums. It's likely those weren't the only two "oopses." (If indeed they did release anything else in that time frame. I haven't checked, and probably won't. If someone wants to check and post the results here, you are welcome to do so.)

Brand new Tyr, "Land," and Hollenthon, "Opus Magnum," advance releases (full albums) available for your legal downloading pleasure right now. If you aren't a subscriber, sign up now and get some free downloads--they usually have some sort of promo going on where you can get at least 25 or so free tracks.

I've been a subscriber since December 2002, and am STILL impressed with their selection of both metal and classical music. I know nothing of other genres, so can't comment on selection and variety and promptness of acquisition of download rights, but they rock at getting out new metal.

I get 90 downloads a month for just under $20.00. I'm locked in to the old pricing structure, which I opted to do years ago when they were getting ready to make some changes. It may be different for new subscribers, but whatever it is, I'm sure it's a worthy deal.

And it's legal.

You download all your music legally, don't you? If you're here at last.fm, I hope so. Being a last.fm'er means music is crucial to your happiness, right? And you want to thank the artists who bring you so much joy by making sure they're properly compensated for all that joy, to which they devote so much hard work and time, yes?

And if you've never thought of it like that before, you will now, won't you?

Thank you. :)

Greets, fellow Nike+ folk! (If there are any here.... :P)

This year's Nike+ Women's Half Marathon (which benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) is Oct. 19th. If you register via the Nike+ site, you are an official participant, and get credit (and the t-shirt!). The actual race takes place in San Francisco. You can run it anywhere, though. I ran it on my treadmill last year, as did many. Well, on their own treadmills, not mine. Heh.

As long as you finish AND UPLOAD YOUR RUN BY THE DEADLINE you are an official finisher.

You do not have to run it all at once. If you want to run 4 miles in the a.m., 3 in the afternoon and 6.2 in the evening, that's fine. Just make sure it's all uploaded in time. I would recommend finishing a little early, so in case you misread your mileage you'll have time to make it up.

Yes, you must be a www.nikeplus.com member (free). Yes, until very recently you needed the Nike+ system and a Nano (but keep reading past the following paragraph for new and wonderful information).

THE ONLY IPOD THAT WORKS WITH THE NIKE+ SYSTEM IS THE NANO. All three generations of the Nano, but only the Nano.

BUT!! Now you don't need a Nano and the old Nike+ system at all! You can buy the brand new Nike+ SportBand for about 80 bucks and it does the exact same thing. It freaking rocks, too, and I have used my original system only twice since I got the SportBand. It rocks, I tell you!

Just make sure you get the new Nike+ SportBand and not that dreadful remote control bracelet they released last year.

Again, if you fork out for the SportBand, that is all you need, except something to stick the shoe pod in, (the shoe pod is included in the box w/the SportBand) if you don't wear Nikes--google those terms I already gave. Let's see, 80 clams for the SportBand, vs several hundred for a Nano (if you lack one)... hmmmm, what to do, what to do.... :D

Registration for the race (mandatory) is like 43 or so bucks.

I registered yesterday and got my training program all set up and am positively chomping at the bit. Chomping, I tell you!

Oh, yes, you can walk instead of run. And, despite the race name, men are very, very welcome to "run like a girl," too. :D Seriously, the more people who run or walk, the more money we raise for a really great cause.
So, Nike+ers, let us hop to it!

I'm now officially tired of writing about it, so I hereby direct you to www.nikeplus.com where they have oodles of info and a lovely FAQ, even.

Go, go, GO! :)