Written by: Beck

Her new album is out. It has been since 2003. But you can only get it illegally. It would seem that there are more explanations than I had originally realized for why all new music these days, to use an industry term, "sucks ass." I had just figured it was because I was getting to old or something. That, and I always derived an unhealthy amount of pleasure from saying there hasn't been any good new music since 1994.

Which of course is untrue. Radiohead had a couple good albums during that time.

But any way, Fiona's recording label is Sony. And here's the word from Wired.com:

So far, fan pleas haven't swayed the label, which reportedly shelved the album because there was no obvious hit single. But the Seattle radio play and the songs online have created plenty of buzz.

It's like Indiana Jones after throwing the Nazi off the Hindenberg (work with me), only instead of "No ticket" it's "No single." And I'm sure this has nothing to do with Apple's announcement at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards that the music industry is "bullshit." Dave Kusek has more:

Dave Kusek, a vice president at the Berklee College of Music and author of a new book, The Future of Music, said the situation sheds light on one of the pitfalls of the recording contracts that artists sign.

"You work, you deliver ... and then the company decides not to release it," Kusek said. "This is something that I think needs to change. If the label doesn't want it, the artist should get it back."

Next up, a post wherein I liken reckless fiscal spending--good currency chasing out bad--to boy bands complete destruction of American culture.