Black Sweater, White Cat and BlocSonic presents - netBloc Vol. 7: 10 From 200 plus one

Well it's finally here! I've been trying to get it released for the past two weeks, but complications occurred that made it impossible to do. Regardless, this is a terrific collection none-the-less. It's a bit different in that it's co-presented with Black Sweater, White Cat (BSWC), a terrific blog that posts a net audio gem each day. The two BSWC authors Biotic and Subsystem7 have recently reached the 200 mark. It made perfect sense to look back on those first 200 posts and find 10 gems to feature on a netBloc release.

As always, this compilation is available in three audio formats - lossless FLAC, 320kbs mp3 and 192kbs mp3.

Check it out here!. While you're at it, download the accompanying PDF booklet for an introduction, complete liner notes as well as the original One-A-Day posts that accompanied each track on the BSWC blog.

Check out other terrific netBloc releases here!

Peace
Mike Gregoie
Owner/Creator blocSonic.com

Presenting netBloc Volume 4: Soundtrack for the Coming Revolution

Once again, we've got a terrific collection of 10 tracks culled from the wide world of net audio. In this one we feature one from ccMixter, a couple from Jamendo and others from various netlabels. Hip-Hop, Trip-Hop, Unplugged Electronica, Post-Rock, Indie Rock, Drum & Bass are all represented. So download it, give it a listen, contact us and leave feedback.

Check it out here: [link]

Peace
Mike Gregoire aka mGee
Owner / Creator blocSonic.com

10 more netlabel/net audio gems plus one

As promised, fresh from the development file, I announce netBloc Volume 3: La Plus Belle Guerre. What we're currently witnessing IS the most beautiful war. A war for the ears of music lovers worldwide. A war between the RIAA/Major music industry and it's former and soon-to-be former customers. The revolution has been digitized. Take an active part in the revolution by spreading the word about netlabels and net audio. If you're new to this culture, check out some of the best that it has to offer by checking out our netBloc compilations series. If you're returning specifically for Volume 3, I welcome you back.

Here it is... 10 gems plus one... an exceptional collection of Rock, Pop, Electronica, Trip-Hop, Hip-Hop, Metal and Jazz jams.

Check it out: [link]

Peace
Mike Gregoire

For deviants who are interested and enjoyed the previous release.

netBloc Volume 2: DRM killed the music-product machine

blocSonic is proud to bring you another compilation featuring ten exceptional tracks from the world of netlabel music.

netBloc Volume 2 features rock, calypso, trip-hop, hip-hop, reggae and electronic.

Contained within the PDF booklet, you'll find another essay written by myself. This time about the current state of music industry and music prices. Check Google news, check Digg, check Reddit... everyday is more news about the death of DRM. Somehow I doubt it. The powers that be in the industry want to put a strangle hold on all music-product they sell and will not give that up without a fight. In the meantime, DRM is in fact killing their music-product.

Music listeners' faith in the industry as a whole is decreasing all the time. At the same time, their awareness of netlabels is increasing. With that increased awareness is an opportunity for a new paradigm in music. If you enjoy what's happening with netlabels, then please support the netlabels/artists who you've come to respect and enjoy. That support will help encourage the new netlabel paradigm and chop down the goliath that is the major music industry. We don't need their DRM or their over-priced, compressed/lossy music downloads. Music lovers don't simply want to download music, we want to download reasonably priced music without compression and with complete album art/liner notes.

Thanks again to all who have participated and/or downloaded our releases. Please visit our participants sites.

Check it out here: [link]

Peace
mGee

Being a child of the 70s, I clearly remember a time when music was alive. Radio playlists weren’t limited to 10-12 tracks endlessly played over and over. Yeah kids, there was actually a time when FM radio was relevant. You could easily dial into your favorite station(s) and catch something new and interesting or even old and classic being played.

Before videos, before the independent music industry sprouted, before CDs, MP3s and iPods. Somehow the major music industry, even with it’s monopolistic control, allowed artists to develop and create great music. Then came MTV and CDs.

Initially, MTV introduced a whole crop of new artists to it’s viewers. It was the wild wild west. Independents gained national exposure and helped garner MTV respect and trust among music fans. At least until the majors caught up to this new thing called videos. Suddenly the independents were squeezed out again to make way for videos from the majors. Then came this little thing called rap music. It took a while for MTV to pay attention. Thanks to Yo! MTV Raps, it finally did and independents once again got the spotlight. At least until the majors figured this thing called rap out and realized that they could make loads of skrilla by exploiting it. So they did. Yo! was put off the air and rap was placed into normal rotation. However, videos were slowly being pushed aside to make way for ‘original programming’, even as the popularity of independent spirited “grunge” and alternative was dominating. Slowly MTV devolved into eMpTyV. By the mid-90s... Read more: [link]