March 3, 2006

I Get Confused by All the Claims Made in Commercials

San Francisco’s Negativland are at their best when honing the freeform group radio improv noodling into an organized product, like an album, or like this 7” released around 1997 (in relation to their Dispepsi CD) on the Eerie Materials label of the Evolution Control Committee. Or try any of their studio records. Their kind of goofball audio collage wizardry is just too hard to describe, so forget it. Relax.

I also recommend the excellent and fun Craig Baldwin documentary Sonic Outlaws (which delves into their legal battles with petty crooks SST Records and those talentless media darlings U2, as well as serious related issues of sampling, copyright and fair use).

The Negativland website has the Truth in Advertising single listed as “out of stock.” Go here if you have a problem with impulse buying.

From Truth in Advertising 7”:
Negativland – “Truth in Advertising”
Negativland – “Greatest Taste Around”

From (a bootleg of) the U2 7”:
Negativland – “Special Edit Radio Mix”

Rick at 12:01 am

4 CommentsÈ

This is Bob…
That single was actually culled from longer piece they did as a commission for New American Radio. The original was much longer and was structured like a n Advertising book on tape. It was called Advertising Secrets.
I may polish up my copy of it and post it one day.
Line six, you’re on the air…

Comment by Rich Ñ March 3, 2006 @ 2:27 pm
That U2 track got them in a whole lot of trouble ( great publicity), but it’s always a great listen. My all time favorite is still, “Escape From Noise”....

Comment by bopst Ñ March 4, 2006 @ 8:10 am
“Truth in adverting” is bonkers! Thanks for this.

Comment by MrFab Ñ March 9, 2006 @ 11:10 pm
Negativland FUCKING SUCKS!

Comment by Steve Cattani Ñ March 15, 2006 @ 12:39 pm