THE TIMES BEACH RAÎSON-D’-ÊTRE Dear Friend, It is probably safe to assume on our part that since you have clicked your way onto this web page, you are likely as dissatisfied with the current state of the music industry as we are, and are looking, yearning for a real alternative. We sincerely hope to provide you with just such an alternative now and in the future. Popular music today is utterly abysmal/positively sucks. The industry’s ubiquitous mega-companies and their cookie-cutter mentality have all but ruined rock, country, jazz, hip-hop, R&B; you name it. Sure, there are many people out there that make worthwhile music, and a few brave labels that put it out, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find them, as the corporate powers-that-be have managed to co-opt everything that has ever been interesting about alternative music in order to spit it out at us in the most mediocre versions imaginable. When Rage-Against-the-Korn-Biscuit-41 is sold to us as punk rock, you know that the end of the world is near, and when Pink is suddenly marketed to the public as a “rock chick” after millions of Dollars spent in order to establish her as “urban,” it becomes obvious that integrity is not a quality that the industry cares about anymore. Yes, this may always have been the case, sales have never been based solely on talent, but it seems like things are getting worse. Commercial Radio is in no better shape, thanks to Clear Channel, “Nashville®,” the Chum Group, et al actively involved in stamping out all but the smallest bits of ingenuity, imagination, and risk-taking. The same insipid “follow-the-meager” mentality pervades radio as it does the industry as a whole. Imagine the possibilities if these MegaCompanies were to suddenly lose their influence and power. The World of Music would once again open up, and maybe, just maybe, Pop Music in all of its forms might become real and appealing again. This is where Times Beach Records wants to step in and help. Times Beach Records is an independent label created by artists (current and cynical) for artists (current and future), without templates or formulas, yet with a vision: to take songwriters—some of whom sing—and give them the freedom to make and release their music their way. You see, Times Beach believes the word “eclectic” does not necessarily have to translate as “shitty.” We like to cater to art, not accounting. We think Categories are vile, nasty little beasts, though sad necessities in the real world; every self-respecting musician will quietly tell you so. And, as we do not intend to let our optimism get in the way of a healthy sense of cynicism and realism regarding the music industry, for simplicity’s sake we call the music that interests us “Americana.” But, and this is a big BUT, our definition of the term reads more like an amalgamation of all things American Pop: Jazz, Blues, Rock (in all of its shapes and sizes), Country, R&B, Hip-Hop, etc.; they have all helped shape American Music. Yeah, Wilco’s pretty cool, but so is Black Flag, and so are Howlin’ Wolf, the Minutemen, and John Coltrane. The mood in the Times Beach World is one of nourishing anarchism, with no rules, no holds barred except for Lack of Quality. Think of us as “Americana With an Edge,” if you will. Our Artists all manifest this philosophy. Whether it be Ethan Daniel Davidson, a traveling troubadour in the old world sense, but with a deep and modern sense of popular music history (picture a guitar-playing Raimbaut de Vaqueiras—trust us on this one—who learned to play by imitating Joe Strummer), and whose rallying cry is “Support the War on Nashville;” or MAN, a misanthropic, minimalist, punk rock pseudo-performance artist without the pretense, whose call-to-arms is “Fuck Everything;” our artists share at least two qualities: Integrity and Passion for Music, and any future signings will also reflect this world-view. We aim to avoid the industry’s insidious traps by working only with other Independent Labels, Radio, and Distribution companies, as well as with a strong emphasis on specialty shows around the country. We intend to achieve our goal via intensive grass-roots campaigns both on the Street and the Internet, and with advertising and features in publications that people who care about music actually bother to read. As seasoned, veteran musicians, the staff at Times Beach is also in full awareness and accord as to the importance of all aspects of Touring and Tour Support. What this means to you, dear reader, is that our acts will be seen as well as heard. Johnny Rotten once said that in order to affect change, one must attack that which is holding one down (or something to that effect). While the word attack may be a bit stronger than we prefer, we all want Popular Music to have a Soul again, and we at Times Beach will do our damnedest to help bring this about.