1. Peter Rinker wrote in to tell me that Danger Mouse’s breakthrough project was "The Grey Album", not "The Black Album".  He, of course, is correct.

2. Brian Koppelman wrote in to tell me that the Hold Steady are the best band in America right now.  He told me to listen to "Sweet Part Of The City", that it explodes on the third listen.

I got it on the first listen.

But I also had to say the guy’s vocal worked against the track.  Oh come on, I’m not saying his words are bad, but…I am saying they’re bad.  The final line of this track is ""We were bored so we started a band".  Now if that isn’t far too inside, if that’s not cliched, what is? Then again, it’s the fifth full set, so I guess they can be self-referential, but…WHO HEARD THE PREVIOUS RECORDS?

And the reviews of this album are uniformly…disappointing.  I know, I checked.

"We’d like to play for you, we’d like to play for you…"  Even the Boss doesn’t issue lyrics that hackneyed.  And give the Boss credit, he’s got a sense of humor.  Come on, how many points do you give Bruce for insisting "Don’t Stop Believin’" close Sting’s Rainforest show? Bruce is one of us.  Craig Finn of the Hold Steady is not.

And if you want to hear this same thing done better, check out the Iron City Houserockers’ "Have A Good Time (But Get Out Alive)"  The title track of that album is better than anything on the Hold Steady record, and it wasn’t a hit either.

It’s not that the Hold Steady are bad, they’re not.  I can enjoy them.  Well, not all the tracks, but…  The point is, in a world with so many diversions do I CHOOSE to listen to them?  That’s the challenge bands face.  Can I not wait to hear your music?  Is it driving me to my computer, to my iPod.  If it’s not…it’s just part of the endless morass of ignored music.

"The Sweet Part Of The City"

What’s your take?

3. But the reason I’m writing this is because I got e-mail from Ian Montone:

Hey Bob:

Thanks for the nice words re Broken Bells.  As you refer to "Float", it appears you are listening to the leaked, unfinished and incomplete version of the lp.   Let me send you the proper mixed and mastered album tomorrow.  

Best, Ian

Now that’s funny!  The version on iTunes says "Float", but…I STOLE IT!

Now don’t get your panties in a twist.  I checked the album out on Spotify.  And, in case you didn’t notice, when you listen online you don’t stare at the player.  I heard tracks and liked enough of them to the point where I wanted to play them on my iPod, in the mountains. Which meant…

I’ve got the album on Spotify, Napster and Rhapsody, if you want to give me shit for stealing them I’m gonna tell you to write to Edgar Bronfman, Jr. and have him authorize the American version of Spotify and then you’ll shut the fuck up.  And I used to be able to play my Spotify tracks on my iPod Touch, but since the service isn’t really available in America, that feature comes and goes, so I stole the record.

And it turned out to be the leaked version.

Who knew?

Who cared?

What’s the official version.  In today’s day and age, is it the leaked album or the ultimate collection.  In other words, what’s definitive? Hell, Grateful Dead aficionados will tell you the ultimate version is the live, unreleased take!

Boy has listening changed.  We’ve got files, not physical product.  And who can even read the credits on physical product anymore anyway.  I’m paying Broken Bells with my attention, and that’s very hard to get.

So, either you can try and browbeat people into living into an idealized past, or recognize the future, which is now, and ever-evolving.

"Float" on the final version of the album is "October".

Meanwhile, check out this e-mail:

Bob,

When a track from Chinese Democracy ("Better") leaked in 2006 – the radio stations that were playing it received Cease and Desist orders from Axl’s attorneys.

When Axl tried releasing the same song as a single 2 years later – the radio stations ignored it.

You reap what you sow.

Matt Grillo