Liam Stewart - Sixteen Words (2010) (192)

Since first deciding to release original albums here, I intended blocSonic to release an eclectic range of music and with each new original, I think we're reinforcing that intention. Since the beginning I've been amazed at the caliber of artists that have either approached us or agreed to release through us. Liam Stewart is yet another in an amazing roster of artists that are showing listeners that the world of netaudio is not something to ignore. With his incredible "Sixteen Words", you're presented another album that will make some wonder how on Earth is it that it wasn't released by a traditional label. That's the state of the music industry... labels are only releasing "marketable" products that they can shove into a pre-packaged formulaic box. If artists want to create ART and speak THEIR voice, then there's no room for them. So artists are forced (I feel, for the better of music and artistry in general) to forge their own paths. Liam's path has led him to blocSonic and I am grateful for the opportunity.

Liam's sound is one that is pop of a British flavor... you may call it Britpop or leftfield pop or some other quick and neat genre label, but the reality of it is more complex than that. "Sixteen Words" contains many characteristics... pop, rock, electronic & synth-pop. At times it may remind you of Pink Floyd or Roger Waters, Tears For Fears or some current indie-artist that you may dig. Whatever it sounds like to you, what I'm quite sure you'll find is that this is memorable music that's going to stick with you for years to come. It isn't plastic music made for the masses, it's contemplative music crafted for music lovers who crave albums that aren't trying to fit in.

I hope that with the help of this engaging album, you'll regard Liam Stewart as an artist you'll be eager to hear more from.

Thanks for downloading and for listening. Spread the word... share it... blog it... podcast it... oh and if you're in radio... support Creative Commons artistry... broadcast it!

Peace


Mike Gregoire


Founder/Curator blocSonic.com




Want high-resolution album art, liner-notes or lossless FLAC audio? Check out the blocSonic release page!




About blocSonic

For the past decade an alternative culture of music has been sprouting up outside the wastelands of the increasingly formulaic and compartmentalized mainstream music business. This world of "Netaudio" is generally released freely, either independently or through Netlabels. As this culture continues to grow, the amount of available music grows exponentially making it increasingly difficult for folks who are new to the culture to filter the good from the bad. Each of our free releases, in one way or another, are an attempt to shine the spotlight on what we think is the best of what this world has to offer.

Consider blocSonic a filter through which you can discover this vibrant, global culture! Currently there are three ways which we spotlight what the netaudio world has to offer:

Originals

During our travels through the wide-world of netaudio culture, we find artists who stand out and who we feel would be perfect to spotlight independently in original blocSonic album releases. Each Original features:

Available in a choice of three high-quality audio formats -- Lossless FLAC, 320kbs MP3 and 192kbs MP3.


Complete album art is available in three formats -- EPS, PDF and TIF.


40+ page PDF booklet with complete liner-notes, lyrics, photos and album credits.

Xtended Editions

Each of our Xtended Edition (XE) series is essentially a re-release. A re-release of an album that blocSonic found to be an exceptional example of the quality that the netaudio world is capable of producing. These re-releases contain the original album as well as at least a bonus disc worth of material (remixes, demos, outtakes, new material and/or other unreleased material). They also feature fresh album art and as with all our releases an extensive PDF booklet. Each Xtended Edition features:

At least 1 disc worth of bonus material


Available in a choice of three high-quality audio formats -- Lossless FLAC, 320kbs MP3 and 192kbs MP3.


Complete new album art is available in three formats -- EPS, PDF and TIF.


40+ page PDF booklet with complete liner-notes, lyrics, photos and album credits.

netBlocs

Each of these eclectic releases shine a spotlight on ten or so international audio gems culled from the Netaudio culture. Each netBloc features:

Available in a choice of three high-quality audio formats -- Lossless FLAC, 320kbs MP3 and 192kbs MP3.


Complete album art is available in three formats -- EPS, PDF and TIF.


30+ page PDF booklet with complete liner-notes, track credits and artist photos.

Xtras

These special collections feature Creative Commons licensed tracks that for one reason or another blocSonic couldn't acquire official permission to use but find them worthy of extra attention. Since no formal permission has been acquired, links to the original files are provided rather than compiling them into a proper release. However, a cover and a tracklisting is provided in order for you to burn them to disc, if you'd like.

Why do we do what we do? We love music, we love netaudio and have found that the quality and variety of what's coming out of this culture is superior to that of much of what's coming out of the mainstream music industry. We feel more secure donating to netaudio artists/labels then we do purchasing formulaic music-product from the majors. We'd like you to also feel that way toward the netaudio culture. We realize that most people don't have the time and/or patience to filter through it all to find the good stuff, so we invest the time to find the gems in the ruff and deliver them to you in our releases.

In between releases, you can also look forward to blog posts about netaudio news or topics relating to DRM and online music.

So subscribe to our feed and discover great new openly-licensed music every month. Be sure to spread the word!