smoe.org mailing lists
ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Jason Damas" <jason.damas@gmail.com> |
| Subject | Re: FRANZ FERDINAND |
| Date | Fri, 7 Jan 2005 01:04:37 -0500 |
[Part 1 text/plain Windows-1252 (4.2 kilobytes)]
(View Text in a separate window)
<<IMHO....FF is a very mediocre indie pop record that is riding the
successful
wave of post-punk revivalism spawned by other peddler of rehash like the
Strokes, Interpol, etc. Had the album not received half the gushing press
and radio play they got in 2004 no one on this list would give a
rats ass about them.>>
Your comments were so provocative that I decided to go back and relisten to
my FF album, and I found that, in fact, it was a hollow imitation of Gang of
Four and decided to strike it from my top 20 entirely. I feel like such a
fool! I was really a sheep to listen to Spin when they told me to buy this.
Oh, actually, wait. None of that happened.
<<Go crawl back in your hole, you curmudgeon.>>
I can't help but find it odd who is calling who a curmudgeon here?
<<My original post was just to point out the notable style gap between FF
and the rest of the bands in the Top 10 so far>>
Jeff, I think we've CONSISTENTLY seen comments like these from you,
attacking almost every band who's achieved even a modicum of mainstream
success (save Fountains of Wayne). Most of us have been on this list for
years. We're not buying that this time we somehow missed your intent.
I really couldn't care less if you like Franz Ferdinand--that's not the
point. You can hate them all you want, and loudly proclaim that on this
list, if you so choose. Others have without garnering such attention. But
when you start to belittle the tastes of so many others here who
legitimately DO like them, and furthermore claim that *WE*--educated music
consumers all--are somehow sheep who fell for hype, well, then you shouldn't
be surprised that you're getting attacked. Like many people on this list,
I've heard hundreds and hundreds of new records this year, and
bought/acquired close to 150. Of those, Franz Ferdinand landed comfortably
at #6, a position I stand behind. I find it interesting that David Bash and
Bruce Brodeen, who've probably heard more records than anyone else on this
list, don't feel the need to chime in and say that the world's suddenly in
the shitter because "Take Me Out" is all over the radio. They either like it
or they don't, and the rest is beside the point. They'd rather focus on what
they did enjoy.
It seems to me a bit like sour grapes because The Well Wishers (or the
Spinning Jennies before them) aren't doing nearly as well. And I understand
(even if I can't directly relate) how frustrating it must be to lead an
indie band with all the best intentions and find that you aren't as
recognized as a band who were lucky enough to get the kinds of
promotion/attention that you couldn't. I really do mean that... it sucks to
pour your heart into something and get less attention than you feel you
deserve (and I know, because I HAVE had severe disappointments in my own
career in that way). But the reality is that many of us DID hear or read
something that made us want to check out Franz Ferdinand, enough of us DID
then buy the record, and enough of us (here's the kicker) really,
legitimately liked them. This is not a comment on anything other than that
we liked Franz Ferdinand. It doesn't mean "I like Franz Ferdinand... so
Brian Wilson sucks!" Maybe a positive write-up in a shiny rock mag would
convince us to check a record out (though even that is less likely than a
shining recommendation from a fellow list member here), but it is NOT going
to make us place said record in our year-end top 10. That is a position that
is earned.
And for all the bitching how "major labels ignore OUR music!" that all of us
(myself included) participated in from 1998-2002, it seems odd to me that it
only gets louder now that majors ARE actually signing and promoting some of
"our" music again.
I'm not sure why you can't just understand that NOT EVERYONE on this list
shares IDENTICALLY overlapping tastes (audities represents probably one of
the widest pallates I've ever seen amongst a group of like-minded music
fans, and I LIKE it that way). That is why people like Stewart and myself
take umbrage when you go off like this--because we know damn well what we
like, and resent being told that our likes/dislikes are "right" or
"wrong". --Jason
For assistance, please contact
the smoe.org administrators.