Dog Problems Comes To You

[Jason Tate]

In a move that will probably revolutionize the industry - The Format (http://www.absolutepunk.net/theformat) want YOU to help sell their new album. The full press-release is below and check out their myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/theformat) for a full example. Could we see this implimented on AP.net in the near future? You can bet your ass you will.
We're testing something that's never been done before, something that we believe will affect how music reaches fans in the future. The Format will be the first band ever to make use of an innovative new web plug-in called MyStore, which makes their album available for you to sell. Instead of just telling your friends about The Format, you can make their music available (for cheap!) just about any place you have an online profile or website of your own.

Many of you have asked to help the band or have told us that you couldn't find Format music in stores. It doesn't get any easier than MyStore. Follow the simple instructions below and you can insert a Format MyStore into a website. If someone wants to buy tracks from the album, all he/she has to do is select the tracks, buy them using a PayPal account and download directly without ever leaving your site. Suddenly your website is the place where you sell music, based on your tastes and suggestions. You have that power.

MyStore is powered by SNOCAP, a digital entertainment company based in San Francisco, California. We know the SNOCAP folks and trust them. The company was founded by Shawn Fanning, who you may also remember as the creator of Napster. We agree with their mission: helping artists find new ways to reach more fans with their music. We were approached to be the first test and are really excited about it. Without going into too much music industry gook, getting CD's into stores is an expensive and difficult process, especially since Dog Problems is being released on the band's own label. You might not realize it, but labels have to pay a pretty price to have a card in the bin with the band's name on it; let alone what it costs to be on the rack in the front. We thought this was an incredibly cool concept, allowing anyone to sell whatever he/she wanted. You don't need an account to sell, you don't need to host the content and you aren't held financially responsible for anything. You just provide a little bit of space: You can put a MyStore up on your own site, Livejournal, MySpace...just about anywhere. Also, imagine that if you're a kid in your basement with a guitar and recording equipment. You and your friends can sell your music without having to worry about the expense and hassle of putting it in stores. Pretty liberating.

If you want to sell Dog Problems, simply copy and paste the below HTML into any web page that you control. For an example, check out

HTML to paste:

<p>&lt;param name="movie" value="<p>&lt;http://store.snocap.com/a/s/T3-31324-LYTCN323PR-5.swf>http://store.snocap.com/a/s/T3-31324-LYTCN323PR-5.swf" /><p>&lt;embed src="http://store.snocap.com/a/s/T3-31324-LYTCN323PR-5.swf" width="425" height="300" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"/>


One of the things we enjoy (the band too!) is that we can try new things by self-releasing music on The Vanity Label. We thought we would let you in on this technology before it goes "wide". If you're one of those people who want to help spread the word, we thought this might be another cool way to do it.

[averageloser]

Just one of the many reasons I fucking love this band.

[blinkredstar]

This is crazy awesome.

[irthesteve]

very interesting, i'll try this out

[dpmurph]

That is pretty damn sick.

[The Revisionist]

Very interesting, and very cool that they are trying out new ideas such as this.

So about Dog Problems: if I only liked two songs from Interventions and Lullabies ("The First Single" and "Tie The Rope") and thought the rest of the album was too "not upbeat", what am I going to think of this new album?

[spacegirl8]

the format is always two steps ahead of the game.

[TheHeretic]

Oh I couldn't love this band any more.....I immediately put the code on my myspace!

[Cue the Sun]

this band is just amazing.

[PlusDanny]

Implementation Problems.

I planned to actually buy copies for my friends this week, but no stores around me actually have it. Oh well.

[jawkneephighv]

how fucking rad is this? i'm doing it for sure.

[00spool]

Very interesting, and very cool that they are trying out new ideas such as this.

So about Dog Problems: if I only liked two songs from Interventions and Lullabies ("The First Single" and "Tie The Rope") and thought the rest of the album was too "not upbeat", what am I going to think of this new album?

An interesting question. Dog Problems is definitely LESS upbeat than The First Single, but despite that it is still full of energy. It's quirky and unusual. Not as downtrodden as The Snails EP. The vocals are still as distinct as ever and they're supported with a late-Beatles-esque (think Sgt. Peppers or Yellow Submarine) barage of instruments varying from trumpets to tamborines, analog keyboards to flutes, and a lot of other non-conventional rock instruments. The Compromise ( or Pick Me Up) is/are probably the most upbeat (accessible) song on the album but it's a good reflection of the instrumentation.

[Mark Orr]

Very interesting, and very cool that they are trying out new ideas such as this.

So about Dog Problems: if I only liked two songs from Interventions and Lullabies ("The First Single" and "Tie The Rope") and thought the rest of the album was too "not upbeat", what am I going to think of this new album?

I would encourage anyone to give Dog Problems a go - even if you disliked Interventions - it's a complete change of pace from that CD anyway, and it might just become one of your favoruite album's of recent years.

As for this idea - these guys are really ahead of the game. I love the way Nate thinks.

[Nate_RAWKS]

Brilliant!

People should really try and find the actual cd though because the cd art is just so damn cool. But if you can't this is the next best thing.

[Gleebo]

I just about shat myself when I saw Dog Problems featured right smack dab in the front end cap of new releases at Best Buy. I knew that they were supposedly guaranteed to have it at all Best Buys but I was pleasantly surprised that they put it out with the other big new recent releases and not buried in the F's like I expected it to be.

Amazing album. One of the best of '06 no doubt. "Time Bomb" is fucking amazing.

[jawkneephighv]

Brilliant!

People should really try and find the actual cd though because the cd art is just so damn cool. But if you can't this is the next best thing.Will do!

[thescoremag]

it is an absolutely amazing album and i already got 3-4 friends to buy it...and also my mom bought one...

[JEM IV]

Excellent idea, look forward to trying it out - the concept sounds pretty solid. Yeah...pretty much another reason why The Format owns.

[Alba]

The Format = Love

[Snails]

That's absolutely fucking awesome.

[unwritten]

Wow, I love them. This is so awesome. Are you slipping them great ideas Jason? hehe

[leafsacc]

This is an amazing idea. I definetely could see this changing the industry. If you can sell your music without a label so easily, why wouldn't you do it?

[dropkickromance]

aw this band is so cute!

[joz]

this is awesome.

[gravitywinsagn]

great idea guys! all the best...

[derricklc22]

Brilliant!

People should really try and find the actual cd though because the cd art is just so damn cool. But if you can't this is the next best thing.
Best cd art I have ever seen. I hope everyone supports this band somehow, they deserve it, imo

[Ryan Imhof]

That is a very good idea.

[fgevilmonkey]

Yeah I definitely back up what someone else said- if you plan to buy the album, try as hard as you can to find the actual CD because the cover art is fucking unbelievable. It's like a little pop up book...

The Format really put absolutely everything they had into this album and it shows, if you haven't heard this album yet do yourself a favor and listen to the best record put out in the past two or three years. Seriously.

[KB3RG]

Good idea, nice way to promote yourself. Best of luck with the CD its awesome

[mike l]

i loved this cd and didnt buy it because the artwork pissed me off THAT much.

[muzik4lyf5000]

A revolution in the "streat team" concept. I could see bands albums being spammed everywhere.

[*crying stars*]

this is awesome.

[fowruok]

Best album of 2006 so far...

[Rufio21]

I think this has the potential to be huge. I am hoping to someday use this technology, its a great idea.

Northeastern Represent! --shawn, give some money to us you know you have plenty of it and we need more practice spaces. haha

[spotcollins]

I think this officially makes Dog Problems the most important release since digital music became popular

[YourMusicSucks]

Very interesting, and very cool that they are trying out new ideas such as this.

So about Dog Problems: if I only liked two songs from Interventions and Lullabies ("The First Single" and "Tie The Rope") and thought the rest of the album was too "not upbeat", what am I going to think of this new album?
I disliked Interventions and lullabies but I love Dog Problems. As a whole I consider it extremely upbeat, probably the most upbeat CD I listen to. Lyrically, maybe not so upbeat, but the way it all comes together should put anyone in a good mood.

This is a great idea in terms of selling music.

[xPaulWallx]

shawn fanning is once again a genius. i find it weird that everyone is saying its so smart of the format when really all they did was get approached for it and then agree, which was smart on their part, but i mean its shawn fanning's new thing so you know they are going to accept the offer...

[Ruggiero2oo8]

i have to say, thats pretty neat.

[ishotthepilot]

this rocks my world pretty much.
ahahaha poor major labels >_>; it will go even farther down for them from here. get with the program!

Very interesting, and very cool that they are trying out new ideas such as this.

So about Dog Problems: if I only liked two songs from Interventions and Lullabies ("The First Single" and "Tie The Rope") and thought the rest of the album was too "not upbeat", what am I going to think of this new album?

you will be extremely happy with Dog Problems then.

[CWeezer]

that's really cool

[lassise]

how can people have trouble finding it in stores? do they not have a best buy? and they aren't technically the first band ever to have fans selling their cds cuz my band used to do it too. theyre still good n all, but i dont see this as amazing

[EvenBetterYet]

hey jason-

you should make a dog problems icon for news posts instead of the interventions one :)

[Tmovielife16]

this is awesome, i think this will catch on sometime soon, if they know whats good for em

[falloutdrea19]

this is a cool, interesting idea. i <3 the format.

[Tmovielife16]

this is awesome:


http://im.nettwerk.com/nell/dogproblems_icons/myspacebanner.gif

[nivek87]

sweet stuff, just added it to my myspace

[Nate_RAWKS]

It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside seeing all the Format love in here....

Find the cd...and watch out for the dogs....... :O

[wtfemokid]

that's pretty badass. i'll definitely post that code everywhere i can.

[wtfemokid]

rut ro! it's not working on my livejournal. whatever shall i do? can someone tell me why it won't work and/or how to make it work?

[EvenBetterYet]

rut ro! it's not working on my livejournal. whatever shall i do? can someone tell me why it won't work and/or how to make it work?


i don't think it's supposed to work on livejournal...only myspace (i know they wrote that in the email though)

[wtfemokid]

i don't think it's supposed to work on livejournal...only myspace (i know they wrote that in the email though)
well that sucks. thanks for the info though.

[Chris Fallon]

Great idea that I'm surprised hasn't been marketed prior to right now, but I'm glad a great band like The Format is revolutionizing it. It's definitely something that will help the support of indie releases big time.

[TranslateTheNam]

free advertising, not a bad marketing idea........as least throw in some commision for songs sold.

[Gleebo]

I liked the album cover...I just wish you could have the entire cover in a book form to put with the cd in my cd binder.

Overall I think that this is a huge step of growth for the band...but as of right now I don't like it as much as Interventions and Lullabies. I think I was hoping for an entire album full of songs like "Tie The Rope", "The First Single", and "She Doesn't Get it"...but after a few more listens ill probably have it hit me like a kick in the taint.

[zerock]

i like this, pretty cool.