You're DEAD WRONG!

Oh those crazy, crazy Brits. When it comes to music they either have their fingers on the pulse or they drown themselves in a sea of hyperboles and unecessary praise and adoration. Don't believe me? Just grab an issue of NME magazine or head over to NME.com. Sometimes they are just spot on, liberal, and forward thinking. As is the case with most acts, Europe was the starting point for Gnarls Barkley, and before we wankers got all crazy about Crazy [sorry, had to do it], the Brits downloaded it like crazy and kept it on the charts for weeks on end, placing a track on the number one position on the national radio charts based largely on downloading. And since they are always down for a little camp and a little fun, Brits love them some Scissor Sisters. The Sisters are huge in those parts, scoring tons of number one singles and chart topping albums. [Meanwhile over here people are freaked out by the group interrupting their episode of Dancing with Stars and Ta-Dah, the Sisters' second album, charts at 19, selling 42,000 copies its first week out.]

But for all it gets right, their is also outrageous awards and accolades bestowed upon bands and songs of the moment. Arctic Monkey's Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am Not, the best debut album to come along in ten years? Hardly. Good yes, but not that good. And I love me some Oasis but ranking many of their songs above classics by Dylan, the Stones, The Beatles, and/or Stevie Wonder? Out of control. Yeah those Brits can't get everything right when it comes to music, but their love and passion for it is admirable, and yet I still take fault with this move by the Official U.K. Charts Co. outlined in today's Los Angeles Times.

You see, Beck's highly listenable and groovetastic new album, The Information has been disqualified from appearing on U.K. sales charts because it "gives and 'unfair advantage' over less elaborate packages." What does that mean? Well as I

mentioned earlier this week

in this blog, Beck's new cd, aside from having some stellar tunes, is also a bucket of fun complete with a blank grid and a package of stickers, leaving you the consumer to craft your own album art. He's even nice enough to include a dvd which contains a video for each song on the album. Just more to love and more incentive to buy. Clever and thoughtful, what more can you ask for? And more importantly what's so wrong with all that love to the fans?

Apparently a lot.

Luckily it's all to the good here in the U.S. "This does not run afoul of any Billboard chart rules and I am surprised it was a problem in the U.K.", says Geoff Mayfield, director of charts for Billboard. Yeah, you and me both. And those in Beck's camp are just as surprised, but it sure don't harm them none. Says a spokesman in his camp, "It's an unconventional package, but it should not penalized for that...Any art on a CD is an incentive to buy and listen. Ultimately, it doesn't matter, the response from the fans has been so strong...and that is the most important thing." That's what I'm talking about. I had been psyched about this album for a few weeks now and it does not dissapoint. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen. It may not be perfect, but it's still a great listen; a little bit of Odelay, some pieces of Guero, and a whole lot of the idiosyncracies that are all Beck's own. [Give Think I'm in love a spin and try not to fall in love with it or put it on repeat.]

All in all, one country overseas keeping you from charting ain't all too bad. I mean you could have

high priced music retailers get their playground children on and ban your album from their stores completely across the nation.

Now that would suck.