about/contact
Digital Audio Insider is David Harrell's blog about the economics of music and other digital content. I write from
the perspective of a musican who has self-released four albums with the indie rock band the Layaways.
My
personal website has links to my LinkedIn and Google+ pages and you can send e-mail to david [at] thelayaways [dot] com.
Support
If you enjoy this site, please consider downloading a Layaways track or album from iTunes,
Amazon MP3, Bandcamp, or eMusic.
CDs are available from CD Baby and Amazon.
Tapping the Police
by David Harrell
More than 20 years ago, "This Is Spinal Tap" so perfectly nailed every rock band cliché that it's pretty much impossible to read ANYTHING about a band and not think "that sounds just like Spinal Tap."
This recent Time Online piece on the re-formed Police, for example, is full of Spinal Tap moments. My favorite is this bit from Sting, where he sounds like he's channeling Nigel Tufnel:
"I'd just done this lute album that was more successful than I could have ever imagined. I could do another but that would be painting myself into a corner."
"The Layaways make fine indie pop. Hushed vocals interweave with understated buzzing guitars. The whole LP is a revelation from the start." -- Lost Music
"Catchy Guided by Voices-like rockers who lay it on sweetly and sincerely, just like Lionel Richie." -- WRUV Radio
"These are songs that you want to take home with you, curl up with, hold them close -- and pray that they are still with you when you wake up." -- The Big Takeover