Topic: Rack and Ruin Records, Or: Free Music On The Internet (Read 6215 times)

Scandanavian War Machine · « **on:** 30 Nov 2009, 15:19 »

Okay, I'm usually not all about starting new threads because...well...I rarely have anything to say that warrants one. But this does. It totally does. Rack and Ruin is, apparently, a small internet-based record label that lets you download any of their albums right off their website simply by clicking on the album art (no annoying hosting sites). Some of their artists are really quite talented and unique and if only one of you finds something you like, even just a little bit, then this thread will have done it's job.

Little back story:
A while back, I downloaded an album called "As Is The Sun" by a band called Jason The Swamp. I found it randomly on the famed and much revered Sordo and, while unimpressed at first, quickly fell completely in love with it. For a while, I was content.
Then, through Last.fm similar artists radio, I found a couple songs by other artists on the Rack and Ruin label that didn't suck (a couple did). That was neat but I never explored it further. Until today.
Today, on a whim, I went to Rack and Ruin's website and have since discovered a couple other really interesting things. Most importantly (to me) I finally found Jason The Swamp's other records, which I have been dying to hear.

Anyway, back to the present. I just wanted to show you guys the website and tell you to check it out because...well, it's free music, there's no reason not to check it out.

And before people start crying fowl or spam, I just wanna remind you that the website is nothing more than a record label giving away it's music for free. Hell, I don't even think they have ads on the site, so there's really nothing to complain about. As far as my stake in the thing, and my own affiliations, I can assure you I have none. I just recently discovered this label and wanted to share it here, since I've been here a while now and I think alot of you would enjoy a good bit of the tunes.

Rack and Ruin Records

Enjoy!

the_pied_piper · « **Reply #1 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 15:41 »

Excellent, who doesn't love free music?

What sort of genres would you say the bands encompass? Are they all similar or are they a wide spread of undiscovered artists?

pilsner · « **Reply #2 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 15:51 »

Nice! The funny thing is the way I'm programmed is when something is offered for free I don't want it as much as something that is sold for money that I'm downloading for free. Sort of like how the DVDs I want to rent are generally the ones that are out. But I think I can get over that. Thanks for linking.

scarred · « **Reply #3 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 16:02 »

You whore.

(will check this out later)

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #4 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 16:20 »

Honestly, I've only listen to like three or four of the bands on the label but it seems to have a decent amount of variety.

For example, Jason The Swamp is like sweet, acoustic folk with crazy percussion and...uniqueness...i dunno. Conversely, there is ZGRESS which is partially auto-tuned retro funk-pop. Or something. I'm not even sure.

You'll just have to check it out. There are usually little review snippets, along with short descriptions written by the artist, on their respective pages which should help to describe what they are like.

I'd recommend just going to the artists page and checking a couple out at random, and see what you find.

As I've said, I'm pretty enamored with Jason The Swamp so check him out if you like acoustic music, folk, percussion, suprises, and soft vocals. Espescially surprises.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Nov 2009, 16:23 »

several of the review quotes on the Jason The Swamp page liken him to Animal Collective's earlier work.

I've only heard their newer stuff and it's nothing like JTS, so I don't know how accurate a description that really is.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #6 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 00:45 »

How do they sustain themselves? Is music just a hobby and they have another job? Are they losing money in this?

michaelicious · « **Reply #7 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 05:58 »

Is it really losing money if they are spending it on something they love to do?

Also, Campfire Fight is awesome!

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #8 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 06:18 »

They're probably losing less money, since unlike most DIY labels they aren't left with piles of criminally underappreciated records they can't shift.

I highly recommend the Cheeky EP on Quote Unquote Records and the Ultimate Thrush and Plaaydoh releases on Scotland's excellent Winning Sperm Party for more top notch DIY internet release action.

pilsner · « **Reply #9 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 07:18 »

If I had to guess I'd say they're probably taking a small cut of the bands' door when they play gigs, just to pay for the bandwidth. Given how little bands at that level earn at the door, it can't be much.

a pack of wolves · « **Reply #10 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 07:52 »

That's highly unlikely. They most likely pay their hosting from donations and their own pockets, just like they say.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #11 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 13:52 »

Quote from: michaelicious on 01 Dec 2009, 05:58

Is it really losing money if they are spending it on something they love to do?

Also, Campfire Fight is awesome!

Well, yes. They're losing in an excellent way to lose money but it is still a loss.

michaelicious · « **Reply #12 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 13:57 »

I guess if the point of everything you do in life is to make money.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #13 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 14:02 »

I don't care about money.

I do care, however, about stupid things like food. And heat.

jimbunny · « **Reply #14 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 14:28 »

So don't spend any! On anything besides food and heat, that is.

Zingoleb · « **Reply #15 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 14:50 »

You are a silly silly person

Silly

Johnny C · « **Reply #16 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 20:20 »

Quote from: pilsner on 01 Dec 2009, 07:18

If I had to guess I'd say they're probably taking a small cut of the bands' door when they play gigs, just to pay for the bandwidth. Given how little bands at that level earn at the door, it can't be much.

Probably just directly from these online sales, to be honest - the label we're on is doing that same thing.

Ballard · « **Reply #17 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 21:47 »

A buddy of mine (the dude behind Anna Bradley) is on Rack & Ruin. The label is financed completely out of the founder, Dean Birkett's pocket.

I can't imagine it costs a lot to maintain. All the music is offered for free by the artist and some artists sell merch through the label. He's just paying for web hosting.

JD · « **Reply #18 on:** 01 Dec 2009, 21:51 »

Aren't there more sites like these?

ViolentDove · « **Reply #19 on:** 02 Dec 2009, 18:48 »

Yeah there's heaps.

ViolentDove · « **Reply #20 on:** 02 Dec 2009, 18:50 »

Look, here is a site that lists and categorises Netlabels.

JD · « **Reply #21 on:** 02 Dec 2009, 18:53 »

Ah fantastic

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Rack and Ruin Records, Or: Free Music On The Internet (Read 6215 times)

Zingoleb

Zingoleb

Zingoleb

Zingoleb