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| From | "Michael Bennett" <mrhonorama@hotmail.com> |
| Subject | Re: Borack Thought |
| Date | Fri, 27 Aug 2004 13:46:31 -0500 |
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I've always found the notion that things have to be 'totally original' to be
a silly basis for evaluating the quality of a rock artist, for many of the
reasons Bruce enumerates. Not that original spins are verboten. To the
contrary, that is part of the excitement of rock music, as people
incorporate new sounds, influences and technologies, they can take it to new
places. But the essence of pop music is expression and a familiar genre or
sound is always good vehicle to express ideas and emotions.
When you get to the area of artists who are derivative or just happen to
sound a lot like someone else, there is a certain amount of 'season to
taste'. Stewart Mason has posted numerous times about his disdain for
Myracle Brah -- while I'd agree with him that they are quite derivative, I
find that they often do something more than parrot on their recordings.
For me, with Mr. Edwards, I like what I hear, there's no doubt. What I'm
hearing is a guy in the Elvis Costello/Any Trouble mode who writes songs
similar to those artists. Thumbs up. But there isn't that x factor that
allows me to share the fervor that some have for him. Compare that to a
record I'm nuts about, Futureheads, or, to take a more familiar band, The
Sugarplastic. Both bands have garnered numerous, deserved comparisions to
XTC. Yet, I think each adds something to that which makes it their own.
Obviously, when you talk about retro looking genres like power pop or
garage, you deal with a lot of 'Sounds Like..." And I hear many of those
discs, and in many cases, the 'sounds like' is all the band has. I just
want the records I listen to to have something to say to me, whether it's in
the lyrics, the musical approach, or just the passion and commitment to what
their doing. For example, when I hear a Michael Carpenter love song, he
sounds like he's in love, he sounds joyful and that reaches me regardless of
the influences that may shape the song.
Mike Bennett
Record reviews and more at http://fufkin.com
Find out about Chicago shows:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/chicagopopshowreport/
>From: Not Lame <popmusic@notlame.com>
>Reply-To: audities@smoe.org
>To: <audities@smoe.org>
>Subject: Borack Thought
>Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2004 11:53:56 -0600
>
> >
> > <<I also hear too much direct EC influences in the songs for me to feel
>that
> > this
> > disk is something completely fresh or totally original (or is not
>something I
> > have heard before).>>
> >
> > Of course, if all we were looking for was something completely fresh,
>totally
> > original and something we have not heard before, we probably wouldn't be
>on
> > the Audities list.
> >
> > Just a thought.
>
>
>It's a very GOOD thought, John.
>
>We've talked this before, but it's worth bringing up, I suppose, again.
>
>This applies to all genres, one can argue...but simple rock 'n roll in all
>its forms and sub-genres(power pop included, naturally) had explosive,
>exponential growth in its first 25 years on earth(start 1954 w/ Elvis
>arriving at Sun Studios or Bill Haley).
>
>Think of some particular periods in that time frame with impact on culture,
>at large. From a US perspective: 1956, 1964, 1965-1968 when the music
>changed and moved forward monthly, 1976-1978.
>
>I always am perplexed this sort of (albeit, of the mild sort here)
>criticism.
>
>This IS power pop, ya know? John says is perfectly.
>
>Why not just enjoy a really, really cool CD like this one for what is, let
>it's simple but inspired *and* wholly un-original glow wash over you-put it
>on and smile---for me, Edwards' CD is a great example of what making music
>in this genre 2004 is (partially) all about.
>
>In this sector of the genre, it's fairly classic for my ears. A simple,
>consistent and immediate listening pleasure. I was shocked at how many of
>these songs made it on my Ipod.
>
>As Greg said, your mileage may vary, but if you want potentially original
>in
>rock music right now, then check out the new CD's from The Fiery Furnaces
>or
>The Velvet Teen or Head Automatica. The may not be great releases(well,
>the
>Fiery Furnaces) but there's restless spirit in their grooves points to a
>sign of hope that rock' n roll can move forward a bit.
>
>So.....It's just pop, enjoy it. :-)
>
>But ,arguably....rock 'n roll as an healthy, growing, evolving rock 'n roll
>form *is* in crisis and been in 'stasis', a slowdown phase for over 20
>years.
>
>Discuss.
>
>Peace,
>Bruce
>@ Not Lame
>
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