Wayyyyy more obvious

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

This is an inopportune day for me to be lumbered with a dial-up connection. I'm almost there though. Have been down/uploadin for over 30 minutes and am at the 5 minute mark.

Ah, I wondered why you'd been absent. You're not gonna like what you hear, I'm afraid.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Finally got there. Good ol' dial-up.



Oh yeah, there isn't even any doubt that is basically the same song with different lyrics.



How did you come across that Adam? I initially presumed you just looked for the video of the new single on YouTube, but your comment 3rd from top of this page suggests you may have been reading a story or something. If so, am I correct to presume that legal proceedings have begun?



Of course, this is all presuming everything is as it seems here. You never know sometimes. The internet is a crazy thing. But if it is and Area 15 are uncredited, then it is almost impossible to condone.



As for album ratings though, I don't think it justifies automatically giving the album a 1. You're opening up a can of worms there (levels of obvious and the like), but to each their own.

Basically, the band - Area 15 - are one which my brother has come into contact with on the local gig scene, they're a reasonably sized local band and were I think signed at some point to a small label but never 'made it,' so to speak. They knew nothing about The Blackout until this was pointed out to them.

For some reason, unknown to me (but I assume it has to do with finances) they haven't started any sort of legal proceedings. I would have. I don't know the band, I'm not biased in any sort of way (most of the bands from the Sheffield area suck, and I'm not even a huge fan of the Area 15 track - Robot, it's called). I'm just someone very into music who thinks if this is all legit then it's one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen/heard.

I'm told there's a Myspace somewhere with Robot on it, and a DVD recording also, and I personally trust the source that told me that. If it's true I'm going to try and publicise it as much as I can, because there is literally no excuse for plagiarising a small-time local band and passing the work off as your own. To then release it as a single would show a ridiculous amount of audacity. They're almost identical songs except the verses, and there is basically no way it's a coincidence when the hook chants, chorus vocals (minus lyrics), and interlude are all pretty much identical.

And re: the album rating, it's a result of those last 3 sentences. It's probably a stupid thing to have done but there is no place in music for the kind of outright theft that those 2 videos imply to me, and I don't personally see how anybody could view it differently. Like I say, for some reason when I found out about this I was extremely angry despite having no connection to anybody involved and actually enjoying this album to some extent. But just as most people aren't currently aware of the similarities between these 2 songs, I wouldn't be aware if there were others I hadn't heard about.

The views expressed in this post are the opinions of the poster and in no way an attempt to accuse or assert any wrongdoing.

(Sorry for the awkward wording at points, just trying to keep my posts the right side of legal, you know.)

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Nah, that wasn't awkward wording at all. Straight to the point mate.



If it is exactly like you state, then "audacity" is an under-statement. I mean, it wouldn't have been difficult to maybe change the underlying musical structure & keep the "woh wohs" or something.



Try not to think less of me for still enjoying the track though.



And keep us updated if anything else comes of this.

Haha, not at all. You even said it yourself - it's an incredible hook and the song's brilliant.

For the record, I'm not stating anything as fact. I have no way of knowing the ins and outs of this situation; I don't know what communication there has been between the artists or whether The Blackout are aware of this (although something in me suspects they are.) This is just me describing the information I've been presented with and expressing what I personally conclude as a result of it.

And I will do - I'm trying to get hold of more information about dates / recordings.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

"it's an incredible hook". Too true. In a way, it really makes me want to check out Area 15 for soming up wth it. So presuming everything is as you have concluded, I really hope they get some promotion out of this.



I agree you are stating an opinion, not facts. No matter how many sources you have and what has been told to you, who knows what is the full truth.



As for dates & recordings, everything points to 'Robot' being before 'Save Our Selves'. If The Blackout had that hook originally & didn't use it on previous album 'We Are The Dynamite', then they are crazy.

Well one good thing's come of this - I now know a lot more about UK slander law, haha.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Haha. I'm certain that will come in handy for you in the future Adam, you outspoken man you! ;-)

The news is that there's no news. Like I say, I don't know the band at all, I'm just trying to get some sort of action going in terms of seeking legal advice. The dates add up in a common sense manner but they need to add up in a legal manner too and that will require recordings and upload dates etc. Also have recommended they get in touch with the local MU.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

"You're welcome" fromtheinside.



"Local MU" Gee, Manchester United have got their grubby hands into everything!

This seems interesting and I might check this out just because the title of the first track is Shutthef*ckuppercut but why did Adam give this a 1 (I can't read that comment since it's 3 AM and my attention span just won't hold.

read the last posts from the previous page, 2 links you should check out

Oh wow...that's umm...similar...

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

That's definitely an understatement.



Adam, what's an MU? (Unless it is actually Manchester United)

Musicians Union

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Well, Chelsea were lucky to get the 3 points & Man City took all of 3 minutes to score, so if anything, the Musicians Union may be looking at their "inferior" (Sir Alec's words, not mine) cross-town rivals as their main dangers this season.

Haha, I'm currently watching the City match and they're hardly value for their lead.

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Yeah, I can se them winning 6-0 one week & then losing to a mediocre team the next. Then again, there is still 15 days of the transfer window left, so maybe they will raid Real Madrid of Ronaldo, Kaka, et al...