THE HARD R: MY ALBUM KICKS YOUR ALBUM’S ASS
When I talked about killing the album, I was making a point about how internet downloading follows certain principles. 1) The principle of classification, 2) the principle of knowledge, and 3) the principle of inevitability. When you are an established band, all of these things are in place for your album to be downloaded off of the internet with little effort or moral obligation to said artist. Said artist’s career has these three principles in place in regards to the fan or consumer buying, downloading or listening to their music. That’s why it’s easier to find their music. If this concept escapes you, no worries. It’s neither here nor there because this blog is more about the new artist and their NEED for the album.
For a new artist who strives to break through or strives for recognition, there is a duty to establish yourself as an entity or “movement.” And the album allows for you to mold this into whatever you want. Your first album, if it’s amazing, establishes you firmly into a marketplace. Your first album, if it’s a transition, gives you the tools to know what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to refine your sound. One example of an establishing album is Machine Head’s Burn My Eyes. One example of a transitional first album is God Forbid’s Reject The Sickness.
Now a lot of you have been making comments about my music career, or what I’ve been doing lately. Some of you may know that I have a project called Genetic. What most of you don’t know is that I have an album I made all by myself with my computer between January 2010 to May 2010. The album is called I Am Genetic. I wrote ten songs in ten weeks. Mostly each song was written on the weekends out of pure “whatever the fuck.” As I wrote each song, I would send them out to my friends, like Eyal or [ex-Darkest Hour guitarist] Kris Norris, and the feedback was pretty out there. What I heard most was, “It’s different…” Kris Norris even plays a solo on the song “None Perfect.”
Other people who aren’t in the music playing/creating business said it was ahead of it’s time. Now I believe that the Genetic album is ahead of it’s time. Call me arrogant or naive, but I like my own music more than most music out there. Maybe my confidence is one reason so many people hate my guts.
That’s beside the point.
I want people to hear this album. But I won’t plaster it all over the Internet because I NEED people to hear it. There’s a big difference. I have the fame and recognition from the metal scene. I’ve made good metal albums. People respect me. And I don’t need anyone to tell me how awesome I am to appreciate what I’ve done musically or what I’m going to do creatively in the future. In order for me to establish Genetic I need to release an album.
All profits for this record go to cancer research. I’m doing this for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, my daughter has leukemia. Second, it didn’t cost anything to make the album. And third, I never make music to make money. I never made money from record sales so why would I be dumb enough to think it would happen now, when the music industry looks like an old lady’s pussy? Old, crusty and dry. Nothing can come out of it.
I honestly don’t want anyone to listen to Genetic who doesn’t feel they have to. If you gravitate towards the music, then by all means, get into it. Ingest it. Buy the record. If it’s not worth your time, please turn the other way and don’t look back. It’s not for you. And I don’t want you to own it or shell out cash to have it.
A free preview of the full album is here, but if you want to give to cancer research, buy it here. It’s the only way to get the money to go to the fund.
After completing the album, I recognized it was raw. I recognized the recording wasn’t all that. But I don’t care. And neither should you. This album is filled to the brim with truth. As I listen to it now, I realize that this is a concept album about my lifestyle when I was in my darkest times. Drugs, insanity, fear, love, etc, etc. If your life is upside down: listen.
I’m streaming the bonus track here at MetalSucks. It’s called “Dead Icon.” It was done after the album’s completion, so it’s different in tone and sound. If you buy a physical copy of I Am Genetic, it’s included.
Album art by Steven Kitchen
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This is my album, and it’s an introduction to what I have to offer in the future. It’s absolutely necessary to understand me and what I do. If you’re a new band and you want to get going in this industry and you don’t care about the money. Release your album ASAP!
-DC
P.S. I hope you can’t stand the record.
