Showing posts with label Rodney Hayden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rodney Hayden. Show all posts

Oct 30, 2020

Graphic Designers Decry Trend of Singers Designing Own Album Covers

by Trailer - Originally posted on Country California, April 01, 2011 

Freddie Robison of Ink Media Designs in Nashville is pissed. "Who do they think they are?!" he rants. "I went to school for this sh*t. And you wonder why every other new cover uses Bleeding Cowboys font…" 


The music industry's downturn in recent years has been a challenge to design firms specializing in art and marketing for the music industry, but the latest wrinkle is proving to be the most disconcerting. 


"I got an email directly from a major country star a couple of weeks ago," explained Robison. "I won't say who, but it rhymes with 'rustin' chore.' Anyway, it said 'This is the artwork for my new album cover, please check to make sure it's ready for printing.'" Robison continued: "There was nothing attached so I replied and let him know. The next email had a .html file attached that wouldn't open in any software I own. I replied again and said that I'd need a high-res tiff or jpeg file. Well, I got a jpeg, but it was 100x100 pixels and 72 dpi. It went on like this for some time before I just redesigned the damn thing myself and didn't charge him." 


Robison went on to say that he wasn't picking on "rustin' chore" in particular, but that this was now the rule, not the exception. More and more – their cash stretched thin from declining album sales – artists have turned to writing their own songs… and now, designing their own album and website art. 


This has resulted in reduced productivity among prepress professionals and graphic artists across the Nashville area. Missing fonts, lack of bleed, RGB color, bad file types, corrupt files, low resolution photographs and other issues have been reported in multitude. 


"Seriously though, how hard can you pinch a dime? My firm gets $85-100 bucks an hour for this… I don't even take home a quarter of that. It's hard to keep gas in a Maybach, I guess," pondered Robison. 

Robison also told us of one flat-chested female singer who'd simply used Photoshop Elements to copy and paste Kim Kardashian's chest over her own for her inner sleeve photo. "And she used Comic Sans for her lyrics… I mean, WTF?" 

Jan 3, 2013

FTM Top 75 Albums of 2012: 21-50

We're getting close now. Almost any of these could have easily made the top 20 in a lesser year. 
Did I miss anything? Well, wait and tell me tomorrow when I reveal FTM's top 20 albums of 2012. 
For now. 21-50:

Full of wit and askew approaches, Corb's Cabin Fever has nearly completed my transformation from respectful admirer to fan to obsessed fan. He's an acquired taste, 
but it's well worth the effort coming around to his unique vibe and sound. 
Standout tracks: Bible on the Dash, One Left in the Chamber, Cows Around


23. The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten


Who'd have ever thought you'd see Kellie on a Farce the Music "best of" list and not just 
in ridiculous memes and jokes about her "blonde-ness" and amplifications to her figure? Well here she is. 
She said she'd put out a classic country album and she followed through. 100 Proof is not just an experiment either - it's full-blown, cry in your beer, lock your cheatin' spouse out, burn down the honky tonk country music. And for her effort? No hits and dropped from her label. Nashville sucks. 
Standout tracks: Long As I Never See You Again, Mother's Day.


A late discovery that probably would have ended up much higher on this list if I'd had more time with it. 
RIYL: Ryan Adams, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark.
Standout tracks: Jericho(!), Forgotten Flowers



30. Soundgarden - King Animal

31. Japandroids - Celebration Rock




Another album that might have climbed higher if I'd heard it earlier. Imagine Fleet Foxes with (100x) 
the vitality and actual hooks. Makes sense because J. Tillman was a member of Fleet Foxes. 
Fear Fun retains a lot of the indie vibe with its off-kilter lyrics but delivers for those of us who prefer a rootsier sound with a true alt-country delivery and even some Gram Parsons-esque desert rock.
Standout tracks: Nancy From Now On, Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings

I can't say enough about this band. If you'd like Lucero by way of The Ramones, this is the album for you.
Passion, sorrow, humor and swagger. It's all here. And just look at that cover.
Standout tracks: White Bluff, Daddy's Breath

37. Rival Sons - Head Down

38. The Dirty Guv'nahs - Somewhere Beneath These Southern Skies


40. Alan Jackson - Thirty Miles West



43. Jack White - Blunderbuss

44. Kathleen Edwards - Voyageur





49. fun. - Some Nights

50. Frank Ocean - channel orange

Oct 19, 2012

YouTube Gems: New Rodney Hayden

From the album of the same title - out next week - here's Rodney Hayden with "Atascosa Sand."

May 8, 2010

YouTube Gems: Rodney Hayden

From his excellent! new album Tavern of Poets, which you can order here, here's Rodney Hayden with "Last Train to Rome."

Feb 26, 2010

YouTube Gems: Rodney Hayden

Seems only appropriate on Rodney and Johnny's birthday (and mine!):

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