You are currently browsing the monthly archive for December, 2008.
By Noah Barron
Daily Journal Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES – Lawyers for 20th Century Fox said in federal court Monday they plan to move to block the release of the Warner Bros.-produced “Watchmen” movie, set to hit theaters March 6.
The statement comes less than a week after U.S. District Court Judge Gary Allen Feess summarily ruled Fox owns distribution rights to the film.
Fox’s lead attorney in the case, Louis Karasik of Alston + Bird in Los Angeles, recommended the court grant a permanent injunction against the release of the highly anticipated movie, which cost Warner Bros. a reported $120 million to make.
Feess did not say whether he would grant the injunction but he said that unless the parties settle, the trial, set for Jan. 20, will go forward. Read the rest of this entry »
By Noah Barron
Daily Journal Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES – In a surprising about-face, a federal judge has ruled in favor of 20th Century Fox over Warner Bros. in the dispute over ownership of the “Watchmen” film.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Gary Allen Feess comes just a week after he rejected summary judgment motions from both sides and reset the trial start date. Now, it appears there will be no trial at all.
[republished from MishMashMagazine.com]
By Noah Barron – staff writer
My favorite tracks from this year, with a strong leaning towards dance music and danceable music. Note: even though Radiohead is up for a 2009 Grammy for In Rainbows and the radio-single and physical album release is calendar-dated for 2008, I count it as a 2007 album. It’s a good thing too, because not having to give up slots to “Reckoner” and “House of Cards,” (and probably “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” and “Nude”) frees up a lot of real estate. Anyway, here’s my top 20, in the order I thought of them, which is obviously a ranking of some kind.
1. “Lights and Music” — Cut Copy, In Ghost Colours*
I don’t think any song, for better or worse, defined 2008 more than this cut for me. This sophomore record is longing, it’s danceable, it’s made from parts cobbled from New Order, the Rapture, the Cars and a bunch of other shit you love. Aussie Dan Whitman’s hands-in-the-air crescendo chorus is just cheesy enough to be immortal.
2. “Crimewave (Crystal Castles vs. HEALTH)” — Crystal Castles, Crystal Castles*
Despite a year filled with accusations of stolen samples and album art, the CC showed up, ran out of gum, and decided to kick ass instead. Chiptune buccaneer Ethan Kath and hot freak Alice Glass’ sharply weird, The Knife-aping cut could either destroy a party or send it into the stratosphere, depending on how cool your friends are.
3. “Couleurs” — M83, Saturdays=Youth*
You know that track you always imagined, the one that’s the good part of every house cut, strung together perfectly with no sucky? Stop dreaming, Little Nemo. Breakfast Club fetishist Anthony Gonzales has delivered a soaring-yet-intimate dance track that’s as floor appropriate as it is headphone friendly. We can now resume gazing at our shoes as we dance our asses off.
4. “Shuv It (Disco D Blend)” — Santogold and Diplo, Top Ranking
Life is good for Diplo. Another year, another ambiguously-ethnic hottie whose record sounds way better after the Mad Decent/Hollertronix reimagining. Don’t shove your hope where it don’t shine yet, M.I.A., you made my list too. On this cut, though, Diplo masterfully coats the already dirty, though more spelling-capable “Shove It” in another layer of dubby grime. Read the rest of this entry »
VERDICTS • Dec. 26, 2008
Recording Industry Ends Suits Against Music File Sharers
By Noah Barron
Daily Journal Staff Writer
LOS ANGELES – The recording industry announced that after five years and tens of thousands of lawsuits filed in its anti-piracy battle, it will no longer use legal means to combat music sharing.
The shift, announced last week, marks the end of an era of litigiousness for the Recording Industry Association of America, a campaign that drew fire from critics who have called the policies unfair, indiscriminate and ineffective.
Since 2003, the RIAA has filed about 35,000 copyright infringement suits, the vast majority of which settled out of court for between $3,000 and $5,000, lawyers said.
The new policy will seek to penalize users who share music illegally by restricting their Internet access, the RIAA’s vice present of communications, Jonathan Lamy, wrote in an e-mail.
Instead of filing suits, Lamy said, the record business policy makers will partner with Internet service providers to determine which customers are uploading music.
RIAA General Counsel Steven M. Marks said the Internet service providers will engage in “escalating sanctions” against sharers, policies that may include sending warning e-mails and restricting file sharers’ Web speeds or severing connections altogether. Marks said specific policies would be worked out on an individual basis with each service provider. Read the rest of this entry »
Writing about one of my favoritest bands, on one of my favoritest websites. Finally, something went right.
“When I was 17, I was looking to take the name of a galaxy,” Anthony Gonzales told an interviewer earlier this year. “It fits with the first version of the band, when the music was more electronic.” Now, though, with M83’s cofounder Nicolas Fromageau long gone, Gonzales has reinvented the band as, well, a band. Touring in support ofSaturdays=Youth, the lineup is Gonzales on electronics, vocals and guitar, Pierre-Marie Malini on bass, Loic Maurin on drums and the incredibly hardworking Morgan Kibby singing and plinking the keys.
Check out the rest of the review at Resident Advisor.
