Sound as Language has an interesting 2 part series on the changes afoot at Emusic now that they have added the Sony catalog to their offerings. Worth a read.

Has it really already been 20 years of blur. Absolutely gutted I will miss them this summer. The compilation of moments and comments from the Guardian is a great trip down memory lane for Blurophiles. I remember (like it was yesterday!) buying the CD Single at Tower Records because I heard “There’s No Other Way” on the radio in 1991 (99.1 WHFS). “I’m All Over” became my favorite, far eclipsing “There’s No Other Way.” I bought Leisure a few days later and have been hooked ever since. I also remember absolutely hating Modern Life is Rubbish when it came out, but coming to love it after a few weeks and now it is probably my second favorite blur record.

Flash forward a few years, I was in college and Parklife was out and blur were playing in Atlanta to promote it in the US. I had asked the label to be put on the guest list (naively I believed in guest lists). Got to the gig and discovered I was not on the list. Bought a scalped ticket. Show was absolutely amazing. Later we hit the after-party and blur actually showed up. Damon was rather friendly but shy. I was completely starstruck and blabbering, I’m sure. Graham was slightly more approachable and we ended up discussing guitar parts from Modern Life is Rubbish. It was completely surreal. Even better, when I got back to school I faxed a letter to the label complaining about driving 4 hours to find out I wasn’t on the list and for whatever reason they took pity on me and sent a giant care package of Blur schwag. CDs, Posters, shirt, etc. It was amazing.

A handful of the behind-the-scenes pillars of the Blur legacy reminisce about the band’s origins, coming of age, and imminent future. By comparison, the American perspective on Blur is wildly different from pretty much any other country in the world. Even though we know Blur were the titans of the Britpop movement in England, it doesn’t have much effect because the band is still but a blip on our cultural radar. Most Americans only know the “woo-hoo” song played at sporting events. Even at the height of their powers Blur were still playing clubs in the US, which was great for stateside fans like myself. I saw the band seven times in one year and got to meet them not once but twice. I think they were humbled whenever they toured America. Or perhaps a bit confused. I think the amount of time that has passed since the band last toured the US has only served to feed its legend. If Blur were to play shows over here now, I think the venues would be a bit larger. I guess we’ll see.

Bell and Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch sort of matter of factly belies the notion that being in a pop band is in any way glamorous in his behind the scenes introduction to his current band God Help the Girl for The Guardian. Murdoch doesn’t exactly define what he means by “glamor”, though he does explain what he doesn’t mean: “I’m not talking about snorting coke and laydeez. I’m talking about something else …” Huh. Belle and Sebastian has been successful enough to sustain 13 years worth of touring and recording. Not having to work a proper job sounds pretty glamorous to me, but I imagine anyone could become jaded to the music industry and the requisite promotional machine even indie bands are subjected to these days. Murdoch describes his flurry of activity when Belle and Sebastian first began. The recorded output was overwhelming but the quality remained high. Strangely, when the band slowed down so did my interest. I’ve liked the odd Belle and Sebastian song over the years but none of it touches my love for If You’re Feeling Sinister and those early EP’s.

Dance Anthem of the 80s

Is it me or is she like the female version of Thom Yorke? Thank you TUG!

I know fanatical middle-aged heifers buy plastic keychain tubes with purported pieces of Elvis’ hair in them from shady convenience stores in the Deep South, but they’re only out a couple of bucks at worst. Why on earth would anyone pay$2499 for one of Kurt Cobain’s hospital bills? This I cannot fathom. It’s framed, no less. But still. Is that what you want hanging at your place? What does that say to vistors? It kind of screams that you’re crazy. Well, some enterprising eBayer named bugnut2008 certainly hopes you don’t mind. No bids so far. Good luck. You’ve got two days to decide. [via Spinner]

Steven Patrick Morrissey turns 50 today. Sort of hard to believe. Well, The Guardian has been wondering what to get the old coot. Hearing aids and bicycle puncture repair kits aside, the funniest suggestion is clearly: Johnny Marr’s mobile number. Though, a key to his closet is a close second. Some of the comments are worth a gander. I must say, though, that the man looks pretty damn fit for 50, especially when you consider his peers.