2005 In Music
Last year, around this time, I was writing extensively about the music of 2004. Although I wrote briefly about how awful the AMAs were this year, and was going to complain about the Billboards, which were even worse, frankly it's not even worth my time. This has been an unbelievably bad year for mainstream music.
After watching the labels finally offering fresh faces and sounds in the four years following the original Napster, this is a real disappointment. The link above is to the Grammy nominees where it looks like we're back in the 90's with 8 nods to Mariah. Other than her and the new black hope, Kanye West, and the vapid John Legend, they don't even have anyone to tout.
Rob Thomas and Eric Clapton came out with some good stuff this year. But really, who gives a flying shit? What have you brought to the party this year? Last year we had Green Day and Maroon Five, Franz Ferdinand & others breaking out with great rock music... much of it with real message and importance. This year, they are actually reaching back and nominating stuff that came out last year... it's ridiculous!
Kanye, Golddigger? Don't you know that sexism is even worse coming from black guys, who are supposed to know better about oppression? Why don't you just call it hodigger? Is no one loving you for yourself, you conceited shmuck? Your spiritual rap was so innovative, who the hell is in your ear now?
Gwen Stefani is on pretty much the same level except she's not putting anyone down, she just doesn't want her fly girls to hollaback to Kanye-like users of the world. As to the resurrection of Mimi, what the fuck did she resurrect? Her DOA career after Tommy Mottolla dropped her like the kiss of death, paying off her contract? Her meaningless amalgam of notes only dogs can hear?
It's all crap. The only bright spots this year were The Killers, Aqualung and maybe Natasha Beddingfield, and some of them didn't even get nominated. Am I mad? Hell yeah, can't you tell? Music was finally turning around. What's happening here? OK, here's what I think is happening. We saw the tail end of good mainstream music as the labels desperately searched for new sounds and well-developed bands ready for exploitation when they realized the landscape had changed and they would have to offer up something good.
That is becoming harder now. What has probably happened over the past four years is that the bands who would normally rise into those spots are probably seeking alternate (internet) distribution, wisely avoiding the labels. There will probably be a few years of adjustment when people find the channels which will lead them to the good stuff. The next Maroon 5 is probably winding its way up MySpace, CD Baby etc. and in the future those entities will have their own awards to point out the best of.
After watching the labels finally offering fresh faces and sounds in the four years following the original Napster, this is a real disappointment. The link above is to the Grammy nominees where it looks like we're back in the 90's with 8 nods to Mariah. Other than her and the new black hope, Kanye West, and the vapid John Legend, they don't even have anyone to tout.
Rob Thomas and Eric Clapton came out with some good stuff this year. But really, who gives a flying shit? What have you brought to the party this year? Last year we had Green Day and Maroon Five, Franz Ferdinand & others breaking out with great rock music... much of it with real message and importance. This year, they are actually reaching back and nominating stuff that came out last year... it's ridiculous!
Kanye, Golddigger? Don't you know that sexism is even worse coming from black guys, who are supposed to know better about oppression? Why don't you just call it hodigger? Is no one loving you for yourself, you conceited shmuck? Your spiritual rap was so innovative, who the hell is in your ear now?
Gwen Stefani is on pretty much the same level except she's not putting anyone down, she just doesn't want her fly girls to hollaback to Kanye-like users of the world. As to the resurrection of Mimi, what the fuck did she resurrect? Her DOA career after Tommy Mottolla dropped her like the kiss of death, paying off her contract? Her meaningless amalgam of notes only dogs can hear?
It's all crap. The only bright spots this year were The Killers, Aqualung and maybe Natasha Beddingfield, and some of them didn't even get nominated. Am I mad? Hell yeah, can't you tell? Music was finally turning around. What's happening here? OK, here's what I think is happening. We saw the tail end of good mainstream music as the labels desperately searched for new sounds and well-developed bands ready for exploitation when they realized the landscape had changed and they would have to offer up something good.
That is becoming harder now. What has probably happened over the past four years is that the bands who would normally rise into those spots are probably seeking alternate (internet) distribution, wisely avoiding the labels. There will probably be a few years of adjustment when people find the channels which will lead them to the good stuff. The next Maroon 5 is probably winding its way up MySpace, CD Baby etc. and in the future those entities will have their own awards to point out the best of.
posted by Intervision at 8:50 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home