Welcome to our tiny corner of the internets! We’re here to bring you the best in tour dates, album reviews, feature bands and any other important information we see fit. Even though our site is primarily focused on music I’m going to use this space to just rant about whatever I think needs to be ranted about. This week? Music!

This week we’re featuring the band Smashing Pumpkins who have been one of the most influential bands in my life and have showed me that riff rock can be pretty, just as much as it can be angry. They’ve come back with a new album and a new EP that bring them back to their former glory and they’re poised to take on the world again. I’ve also reviewed the new Nine Inch Nails album. It’s definitely different from what Trent has put out in the past but it’s a great step forward for the music industry.

Strong and the Loud isn’t just about music; the site’s founders James and Chris have also collaborated on a new comic strip that makes Dilbert look like a deranged hemophiliac in the depth of an ether binge (which might actually be hilarious if you think about it). It follows their in-office shenanigans and might have a music reference or two thrown in there.

So I’ll start my rant where I left off with my review of “Ghosts I-IV”; the fact that the music industry is run by a generation that has no idea what the needs or wants of modern music consumers are. When the iTunes store opened a couple years back we saw a step in the right direction but it took a relative industry outsider (Apple - who actually peddles a device that usually carries illegally obtained music) to start something fresh.

Now artists such as Nine Inch Nails and Radiohead have taken action on their own. Radiohead released their newest album “In Rainbows” online last year to critical acclaim and took a “pay what you can” approach. It worked because they didn’t have a record contract and they’re still one of the biggest bands in the world but the proverbial writing is on the wall; record companies are going to have to start keeping up to ensure that they make a profit (or at least break-even) on new recordings. CD’s are well and good but sales have been down for years and the record companies are to blame. With ready access to music as soon as it’s released (if not before) why would teenagers pay for the privilege of listening to the latest Rihanna track when they can go on to a bit torrent site and download the whole album for free?

At 20 bucks a pop, CDs are overpriced and are actually starting to become bulky. With the advent of iPods, Creative’s Zen and Sony’s new Walkman MP3 players; it’s hard to see a time when we might revert back to the personal CD player. There may be a new technology right around the corner but the music conglomerates have to make the best use of the ones available now.

Another issue I have is music quality. Kids these days don’t appreciate good quality production and it shows. Even though producers have the best technology they’ve ever had access to, pre-teens are shoving earbuds into their head and blaring low quality MP3’s into their brain. As long as they can still discern the vocal hook and a bass drop every now and again they’re happy. Whatever happened to fat guitar tone recorded into an analog board, so thick you could feel it in your bones. I’ll tell you what happened. Every kid with a Honda Civic fired a 27 inch subwoofer into their trunk and their only concern is how loud the beats get. All the production work that was put into the crappy track their listening to get blown out of the water by the ever present, digital bass drum.

I just realized now how much of an old crank I sound like. Ah well. I’m ok with it because I’m right. Kids need to know that there is still good music being made out there that doesn’t talk about cars, rims, Louis Vuitton and Cristal and if I can do my part by bringing you some reviews of those tunes and featuring new and exciting bands then I think I’ve done my part.

Welcome to Strong and the Loud.

Bring the noise!

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