Misery Wednesday

[freakytigger.livejournal.com]

A couple of weeks ago we did a thread on what's exciting you about music at the moment.

Here's its inverse: what's annoying you about music at the moment, and why? I'm tempted to ban discussion of Kate Nash upfront - anyway I'm not really after specific acts, more the trends and ideas that make those acts' popularities a bad thing.

And - what do you think could be done about it (if anything)?

(Orgafun update: the missing Pop Open player has been located and a track is hopefully on its way)

Comments

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

lex, i think the stylus comments on the lyrics miss the point. they're MEANT to be unpleasant. the narrator is being a prick. well that's always been my take.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

yeah, i'm not so sure about that alang -- the specials (and two-tone generally) walked a really odd line between parochial coventry council-estate laddishness (oi except militantly multiracial) and "progressive" opinions (cf esp. the special aka, and the third LP); some of the complexity and tension of ditto also evident in "this is england"

also of course terry hall's deadpan (which still always makes me grin) ironises EVERYTHING, in any direction you want -- get-out clause ahoy

it's what made them so exciting and fascinating at the time, but it also pulled them apart fast

[jauntyalan.livejournal.com]

well i agree with that too. it's not clear, but at the same time it IS clear that the narrator is being a shit. i've always read it (beyond what is given) that he's been turned down, and is being deliberately hurtful in reaction to ego bruising.

[dubdobdee.livejournal.com]

one of many super-grebt projects i never completed -- or indeed got beyond the OMG I MUST DO THIS moment -- wz a big essay on politics as it manifests overly (and covertly) in GRACELAND and SPECIAL AKA IN THE STUDIO

maybe i can pitch this to THE WIRE now i am back on board!

sidling up alongside this project is a similar essay-comparison -- proposed on popular and pursued a little bit at home this weekend -- between PiL Paris au Printemps and Slade Alive!

[katstevens.livejournal.com]

(off topic but Alan - I can't read Facebook messages at work! Sorry!)