Brent Eyestone (Magic Bullet Records / Forensics / Aughra / Meditative Sect)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2010? (In order 1-5)
- R Kelly "Love Letter"
- Black Mountain "Wilderness Heart"
- Grinderman "2"
- Masshysteri "S/T"
- Jonsí "Go"
What band did you discover in 2010 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I'm not afraid to admit that I was super late to the game on Bon Iver. There's just so much music being released every year now that I miss most things, honestly. But my friend Aaron drew a poster for him that I had framed and hung up in the house, so I figured I better check out the jams as well in case anyone quizzed me on them. I seriously couldn't believe how awesome that stuff is. It's absolutely beautiful music and it just puts me in a very comforting place when I listen to it. It's so simple, but so pure and heartfelt. It's like my friend Beth was saying the other day when we were talking about R. Kelly's new record: "what's wrong with actual showcased vocal talent and a love song about love?" I think that applies to Bon Iver too... dude is coming from a really good place with his music. Well, I say this as he's "collaborating" with Kanye West (i.e. he does the heavy lifting, Kanye gets the credit), but that first LP and follow-up EP are as great as it gets.
How will you remember 2010? (In terms of music)
I'll always remember 2010 as a "holy shit" year on my end. I think it's surpassed 2004 for me in terms of "best year ever." 2010 was essentially a rapidly rolling snowball of excitement and activity and moments of complete disbelief in terms of what was happening. How Charles Manson, the All-American Rejects, Integrity, and Christie Front Drive all ended up working with a little DIY label from Virginia all within the course of a year is still beyond me. I also got to go play my music further away from home than I ever have in 13 years prior... I'd really like to get in the habit of continuously challenging myself ever year to try to go further and go harder than the year before. I couldn't be more positive on music in general right now and I'm so fucking excited to see what is still up ahead on this long-term journey.
With more and more bands switching to digital methods of releasing music and communicating with audiences in 2010, do you think there's still a place for physical CDs and word-of-mouth shows in the future?
Of course there is! As long as you make KILLER sounding/looking CD's and sell them for a fair price, people will continue to buy them. We still have titles that we repress with regularity. The only difference now is that when a release bombs, it bombs HARD. Haha. But you hedge that by starting a pressing with only the bare minimum... you can always repress if it actually takes off. I'm done with people in "the industry" blaming the economy and blaming fans for their profits shrinking. Take some responsibility, jackasses. You lost your audience when you tried to gouge them. We build, grow, and maintain our audience by treating them as we'd like to be treated and giving them reasonable pricing from bands that are actually awesome and not a marketing ploy.
As for "word-of-mouth shows," I assume you're talking about a band being able to catch on via friends telling friends about bands? That will never die... As to the shows angle, you've got to be able to deliver live if your band is going to have a long run. You might be able to have a good year if you're an "internet sensation," but people still want to see bands prove it live 99 out of 100 times.
What can we look forward to from you in 2011?
I wish I knew! Haha. I imagine it will be as insane and surprising to me as it will to everyone else. On the label end, we've got 3 more Charles Manson full lengths to get out, an Integrity release of the new stuff, Jesuit's discography, the rest of the Christie Front Drive discography, SSORC's LP, a new Golden City record, maybe get started on the Engine Kid discography... I forget what else. I'm sure there will be at least 4 or 5 things that come up within the context of the year that will be totally out of left field and so fun to work on that I don't even know about yet. That's always how it goes. No advance planning, really. Just go and do it...
As for my own music, I'm thinking about throwing everything past/current on the backburner or killing off some/all of it so that I can put full, undivided attention into a new project I'm working on with a mix of new and old bandmates. What we're doing so far is something I've always wanted to do with music, but never had the crew on hand to pull off effectively. It's liberating to be in my new situation, so I think I'm going to just draw a nice line in the sand and run with it. We'll see.
What three records are you looking forward to most in 2011?
I'm so out of the loop on current music... Let's see. I know Mogwai has a new one coming out, so that's tops. Cave In and Pygmy Lush just put new full lengths in the can - super excited for those. Old Man Gloom is doing a new record too. I'm either telling the absolute truth or lying through my teeth right now... you decide. I will also be paying close attention to any and every release coming out of the Odd Future camp. I love those crazy ass kids.
