Tune In Saturdays: Bridges & Blinking Lights

Proving once again how magnificently underappreciated the Dallas music scene actually is, here's the latest from Bridges & Blinking Lights, the Texas country-ish, indie rockie four piece. I really wish I knew more about them. I know I fed the drummer lots of drinks back in my bartending days, but haven't heard much until I saw this new record. Think Fugazi meets Centromatic (in one of their better moods).

Yup, it's a short one. There's no reviews for me to use. But it's damn good stuff. You heard it here first.

MySpace (not on itunes yet, use snocap on myspace to buy)

Bridges & Blinking Lights - One of Us (mp3)
Bridges & Blinking Lights - Half Way Home (mp3)

Consumer Generated Reviews and the ROI of Impact.

Original Madison Avenue Journal Article here.

In one sense, a brand means trust, the comfort of knowing that you probably won’t have to buy the same thing twice. Back in the old days (you know, like the 80’s), built up trust was much easier to retain. Bad brand experiences could generally be confined to small groups in small areas if handled correctly.

But in the age of hyper-connectivity, the age of endless, easily-searchable information, these small groups can efficiently find each other and connect.

A new Deloitte study revealed what most of us probably already knew, consumer generated online reviews received insanely high trust scores. 99% of internet users find them either very or somewhat credible. Which begs the question, where the hell do we fit in? Strategy doesn't mean much when the product has a fatal flaw, and no matter how deftly we build up a media buy, it falls flat if the product happens to, let's say, poison children. But it's even scarier in the un-extreme cases where brands mean less because they signify less. Lower priced items still have to beat the quality barrier to have a shot of making it past the reviews, so it starts to become much like the pharmaceutical problem of two identical products with different labels.

So again, where do we fit?

Seems to me we sit now in the middle, somewhere between useful and totally inept in a world that little else matters than the voice of the people. But luckily many of those people are still vain, so brands as badges still holds true, keeping us afloat on the relevancy scale for now.

But it looks as though there will be a split in objectives. Some agencies will satisfy the need for business strategy, a direct response, ROI driven model that is all about immediate needs of the marketplace, while more closely tying together with logistical business demands and CEO vision.

And the other side will focus on the need to capture imagination, to gain attention, to give permission for companies to be talked about. And here, experience will be more important than ever.

The difference in strategy with experience is that we’re not just creating ads for the sake of informing the publics, but we’re leading the loudest 10% into deeper relationships, while giving them permission to discuss these with the other 90%. This is what makes integration so vital. You don’t walk away from awareness and reach for a deep connection with a few, just like you don’t walk away from the few for the many. It’s the advertising equivalent of the balance of faithfulness and promiscuity.

If we look at average number of searches for certain product before and during larger campaigns, you’ll notice that with the added awareness, an obvious thing happens, the search queries for that product increases. You’ve intrigued enough people that at the very least, they’d like to hear more.

At that point, you have to be there waiting for them with the kind of experience that makes sense for that target and that market, and then supply those people with the tools to tell their friends, all those people stuck back in the ‘awareness’ stage.

So, the traditional part is easy. Buy enough media and enough people will hear about you. But, finding the right message that allows people to open up to not only what you have to say, but what their friends say, is more important than ever in an environment in which those conversations carry so much weight.

But, back to my point. We hear a lot about agencies re-integrating, and companies consolidating their marketing dollars with fewer agencies. And while all this is probably for the best as creative and media have already become more deeply connected than ever before, it may not be far enough. The kind of integration we need is the meshing of ROI and Attention models. Both are fantastically important, and neither one will be going away. Unfortunately you’ll find too often that it’s one or the other, not a balance of the two.

While our strategies are becoming more involved, and expanded to include more methods, it’ll be even more important to have steady hands to guide the process, understanding not only what makes people tick, but what makes business tick and finding happy balances that bring both these goals into alignment. That’s the kind of integration we need in order to stay relevant.

So can we really affect what a person writes in a review? Maybe not. But by understanding the delicate balance of business objectives and the new marketing environment, we will be much better positioned to have greater impact on the direction and craft of creating products that succeed in this marketplace. 

Tune In Saturdays: Man Man

On another working weekend, but at least I've got the music of Man Man to keep me company. Their one line description on Wikipedia does about as good of a job describing the wild ass style of music that this band plays as anything else. "Man Man is a playfully exuberant United States Viking-vaudeville punk-wop rock-and-soul collective from Philadelphia."

Viking-vaudeville punk-wop rock-and-soul collective? Sure, why not.

From Dusted Magazine:

"None of this description really does justice to the three-ring cabaret circus clowning that is really at the core of everything Man Man does. Each moment of each song is completely unpredictable, to the point where even after multiple listens some of these transitions still seem to come out of nowhere. To call it art-rock excess, though, is to miss the point. Man Man isn’t merely a concept (unlike, say, Need New Body or other likeminded weirdos), and once one gets past the convolution and surrealism and the occasional sense of whiplash, a strange yet appealing vision of the world emerges: the ultimate playground for the caffeine-laden mind."

Be prepared before you listen. My previous "wild ass" statement was probably more understatement. It might knock you a bit of kilter.

Home.MySpace.

Man Man - I, Manface (mp3)
Man Man - Van Helsing Boombox (mp3)

Man Man - 10 lb. Mustache (video)

Great ad, or greatest ad?

Those bravia ads are cool and all, but I vote for the Sony Betamax. Now that's what I call innovation.

A hat tip to Jessica on this one. She doesn't have a blog for me to link to, so now I send shame in her general direction.

Tune In Saturdays: Tokyo Police Club

I guess I'll follow up my post from yesterday about a Denton show with a post about a band that sounds very Denton. Only they're from Toronto. With all their garage-iness and odd sounds, it's nice subtle reminder of my former home. They've got a new record on the way, and if the first single's any indication, it'll be cool as shit.

From Pitchfork:

"Even tighter are the twitchy micro-Strokes riffs adorning tracks like "Cheer It On" and "Nature of the Experiment". Frontman Dave Monks even apes Casablancas' vox-via-megaphone a bit, though with more nasal, less growl. The Strokes comparisons only hold for so long though as the EP's second half forks off into Pretty Girls/Q and Not U hyper post-punk and straight-laced emo. "Shoulders & Arms" demonstrates the band's ability to pull off the former, a bustling juggernaut of stratospheric guitars and squalling synths. Meanwhile, "Citizens of Tomorrow" headlines the emo-minded selections, swelling to a futuristic climax that's three parts Sunny Day Real Estate, one part Sparta."

Home.MySpace.

Tokyo Police Club - Nature of the Experiment (mp3)
Tokyo Police Club - Your English is Good (video)

The Rock Lottery

One of the coolest show themes I've seen is having a tenth anniversary this weekend in my old stomping grounds of little Denton, Texas. While now Seattle has a version of it's own, this is the true birthplace of the Rock Lottery.

An explanation:

"Twenty-five carefully selected musicians meet at 10:00 A.M. at the evening's performance venue. They are a cross-section of the music community with different social and cultural backgrounds, with divergent levels of musicianship and experience. The musicians are organized into five bands through a lottery-based chance selection. The bands depart to different practice spaces and are given 12 hours to create three to five songs (with a one cover-song limit). Each band is asked to create a unified sound while still maintaining the individual styles of the members. At 10:00 P.M., the bands return to the venue and perform their songs infront of a waiting audience."

So badass. All the musicians are hand picked, so it's always the best of breed in the city. But it's really incredible to see the raw dynamic of a band being formed and named, songs written and then performed, all within the span of a few hours. Sure, there's some rough starts and stops, and sloppy miscues, but that's expected with something so purposely unpolished. But more often than not, you get something more interesting and exhilarating than you could see on any other indie rock weekend.

Programmer Needed

Yeah, I know we're sort of shooting for the moon here, but basically we need somebody that can kick some programming ass. Or, said in another way, we need...

SENIOR WEB DEVELOPER

Levenson Interactive is seeking a Senior Web Developer to bring together technology, content, design, information architecture and applications into a working Web site that is delivered within budget and on schedule.

BASIC FUNCTION

By evaluating requirements of a given project, the Senior Web Developer both produces application code and implements the final design and information architecture with innovative and current technologies. The Senior Web Developer advises the Levenson Interactive team on the creation of a design that is technically feasible and meets the project's needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

 Essential Functions -

1. Creating the site file structure and final website deliverables: integrating design, slicing and optimizing artwork, adding multimedia elements, as well as integrating and formatting all content.

2. Consulting with clients' technology representatives on technical needs and recommending solutions.

3. Creating Web-based applications using appropriate technologies, as well as integrate with third-party applications and Web services.

4. Advising clients on creating, documenting and supporting content management solutions.

5. Creating sites appropriate to strategy and content, maintaining scalability, ease of maintenance and usability.

6. Defining best practices and style guidelines for the site.

7. Serving as the advocate for a quality user experience for all users, including cross-browser, cross-platform, user environment and accessibility validation.

8. Overseeing quality assurance (QA) site testing to ensure a professional deliverable.

9. Providing documentation on maintenance, assisting in defining style documentation; performing client training and education on site deliverables.

10. Creating and executing project work plans, revising as necessary to meet changing needs and requirements.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

The Senior Web Developer has an excellent academic and professional background, possessing strong design and technical sensibilities, facilitating technical solutions to design and strategy challenges. The Senior Web Developer is expert in both client-side and server-side technologies; responsible for researching emerging technologies and trends as solutions, as well as seeking to enhance personal skills through experimentation and professional development.

 The Senior Web Developer possesses the following qualifications:
 

- BA or BS degree, or comparable experience in technical areas

- Minimum three years programming Web sites

- Expert knowledge of HTML 4.01 and XHTML

- Proficiency in CSS and JavaScript programming

- Proficiency in at least two Web programming environments, i.e., ASP, PHP, JSP, ColdFusion

- Proficiency in database design using databases such as MS SQL, Oracle

- Demonstrated proficiency with Macromedia Dreamweaver, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat and FTP applications.

- Demonstrated proficiency in Macromedia Flash and Adobe Illustrator.

- Familarity with podcasting, RSS, blogs, pda applications and other alternative Web sources

- Familiarity with Web content management applications

- Attention to design and technical requirements details

- Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving skills

- Strong written and verbal communication skills

If you know someone like this who is in Dallas, wants to come to Dallas, or at least doesn't mind Dallas, email me at paul.mcenany@gmail.com or call me at 214.893.4622. Do it. Do it.

Radiohead Likes Me

So, I thought I would be the coolest kid on the block (not to be confused with new kid on the block) and actually pay something for the new Radiohead album. Thought is the operative word. I must say that it's cool that they are allowing you to name your price, and even cooler that they actually kept this under wraps until 10 days before the release. That's one way of working with (not suing) the torrent generation.

But, then I got this verification message. Verified by Visa? Is this real? You want my credit card number (again), my name (again), and the last 4 digits of my social, too? Fuck you. You had me until social. Fraudulent or not, I've never seen that shit before. So, I'll take my new album for free, thanks. But good job on everything else. I was only going to pay you 5 bucks, anyway.

Advertising Made Somewhat Interesting

Sometimes you can appreciate a company taking an old style and doing something interesting with it. Generally, I hate television advertising because it's impossible to find much more than 5 commercials a year that amount to more than a boring, pandering piece of shit that does little else than waste time. And the car driving down the winding, desert road is the worst offender. So doing a new take on such an old staple actually made me stop and rewind, and that reaction earns an A+ from me more often than not.

Good work, Jeep.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbDmVa_t4nA]

Tune In Saturdays: The Archivist

The Archivist is good.

You should listen to it a lot.

You can even download the whole EP here, for free. In your face capitalism!

I wish I had more to say here, but unfortunately, I can't seem to find shit for information about this guy. I just heard his fantastic song Jeremiah over at Gorilla vs. Bear, but his website and myspace lack any information past the fact that he makes Milwaukee home. But, free music is free music, and it's even better when it's this good.

Home.MySpace.

The Archivist - Jeremiah (mp3)