Starbucks power/Starbucks power/Starbucks power/Over me...

[Tim K in DC]

Wow.

    Subject: Sonic Youth's Hits Are For Squares
    Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 19:30:34 -0700
    From: UMeCommu@umusic.com
    To:

    Sonic Youth’s Hits Are For Squares

    Beck, Dave Eggers, Chloe Sevigny, Eddie Vedder, Gus Van Sant and More Choose Their Favorite Sonic Youth Songs For Starbucks Compilation

    The limited-edition CD will be available exclusively at select Starbucks locations in Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C.

    New York, May 27, 2008 – On June 10, 2008, Universal Special Markets and Starbucks Entertainment will co-release Sonic Youth’s Hits Are For Squares.  The limited-edition CD features Sonic Youth fans from music, film and literature selecting their favorite recordings from the band’s voluminous body of work that dates to 1981. It also includes a new, exclusive track from Sonic Youth, “Slow Revolution” recorded last year with longtime producer John Agnello.

    The album will be available exclusively at select Starbucks locations in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. as well as online at www.starbucksentertainment.com.
 
    Tracklist:

       1. “Bull in the Heather” selected by Catherine Keener
       2. “100%” selected by Mike D
       3. “Sugar Kane” selected by Beck
       4.  “Kool Thing” selected by Radiohead
       5. “Disappearer” selected by Portia De Rossi
       6. “Superstar” selected by Diablo Cody
       7. “Stones” selected by Allison Anders
       8. “Tuff Gnarl” selected by Dave Eggers and Mike Watt
       9. “Teenage Riot” selected by Eddie Vedder
      10. “Shadow of a Doubt” selected by Michelle Williams
      11. “Rain on Tin” selected by Flea
      12. “Tom Violence” selected by Gus Van Zant
      13. “Mary-Christ” selected by David Cross
      14. “World Looks Red” selected by Chloe Sevigny
      15. “Expressway to Yr Skull” selected by Flaming Lips
      16. “Slow Revolution” exclusive new Sonic Youth recording

    # # #

    For more information, contact:

    Dana Erickson
    2:30 Publicity
    718.643.0517
    dana@230publicity.com

     

[Gilly]

Is this for real? I can't believe that half of those artists would agree to that let alone Sonic Youth...

[yesno]

good for them. Starbucks is one of the few places left that can actually sell CDs. "move units" I usually say.

[Forrest]

I thought I read that Starbucks was phasing out its CD sales. Does that ring a bell with anyone?

[yesno]

gilly

If it were 10 years ago I'd be incredulous too. But I can't look cockeyed at musicians being in ads, etc,  anymore. What with the computers.

[Forrest]

gilly

If it were 10 years ago I'd be incredulous too. But I can't look cockeyed at musicians being in ads, etc,  anymore. What with the computers.

I find myself caring less and less as well. There are certain artists whose M.O. goes so far in the face of commercialism, and that would bother me if they were doing Toyota ads, but Sonic Youth never seemed to be a non-profit enterprise. It seems like we're all pimping something, y'know?

[Tim K in DC]

The commercialism (of course bands should get paid, more power to 'em, etc.) doesn't make me scratch my head nearly as much as the marketing approach does. They basically got a bunch of "names" to compile this thing, and the result? A heavily obvious greatest hits comp.

[Gilly]

I don't care at all. But, a lot of those names are not people I would ever expect on a Starbucks CD. Especially David Cross and Radiohead. It just seems like an elaborate joke.

[Forrest]

The commercialism (of course bands should get paid, more power to 'em, etc.) doesn't make me scratch my head nearly as much as the marketing approach does. They basically got a bunch of "names" to compile this thing, and the result? A heavily obvious greatest hits comp.

No argument that this particular package is pure garbage. I bet a bunch of completists are going to get screwed out of $16.99 over this thing.

[yesno]

The commercialism (of course bands should get paid, more power to 'em, etc.) doesn't make me scratch my head nearly as much as the marketing approach does. They basically got a bunch of "names" to compile this thing, and the result? A heavily obvious greatest hits comp.

It probably went like this:

"Hello, subcultural icon?  We'll pay you $3,000 to name your favorite Sonic Youth song."

I agree the marketing and end result are junk, but I think Starbucks can sell anything.  No one loses except the consumer.

[Tim K in DC]

It probably went like this:

"Hello, subcultural icon?  We'll pay you $3,000 to name your favorite Sonic Youth song."

I agree the marketing and end result are junk, but I think Starbucks can sell anything.  No one loses except the consumer and Dave Eggers and Mike Watt, who had to split the $3,000.

Fixed.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Haha Tim K.  But yeah, Forrest, you're right - Starbucks is still selling CDs, but laid some people off from their record division and is generally cutting back - the label basically got too big too fast, lost focus, etc.   If it is a hoax, it's an elaborate one, but I'd check Snopes in a few days.  Shades of Taco TL.

[jed]

Actually they were only offering $2300 so I passed.