It's not new or modern or filled with special effects or anything like that.
Sorry, but this is coming from a girl who's stuck in a decade forever,and this is one of my favourite music videos. I just love it.
Look out for: "Cleaniless is next to Godliness"
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Cult and Mainstream: the fight between the special people..
First off, I'm not sure if "Cultdom" is actually a word. Ah, well then I have just invented it. Deal with it.
Def: Cult ADJ [ADJ n]
Cult is used to desscribe things that are very popular or fashionable among a particular group of people.
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? But really, it isn't. This one little word has spawned decades of misconceptions and misunderstanding.
When something is given a "cult status" it often confuses many. I have just said this, I know. But I want to emphasize it.
It all started for me when I had read that once when the "Twilight" saga started, it had only a cult following. A misconception followed making the connection of cultdom to vampirism. Yes, this is going to sound pretty bonkers, but that's what I thought. I guess that makes ME bonkers. So basically, I thought something that was said to have a cult status was a vicious circle of blood-thirsty humans following this particular "cultdom", all connected with each other. This was a year and half ago. Really, if you think about it, this could be true, with all these cult groups in the world (HA!). This is only with a series of books. The Music Business is perhaps the greatest example to show the border between Cult and Mainstream (And, is there really one?)
NME wrote a list wuite recently that really interested me. It was a list of the 'greatest' cult stars with the title "The World's Greatest Unsung Heroes". It may still be on their website somewhere: http://www.nme.com/home
It was basically a collection of musicians that I hadn't heard of. With the exception of Daniel Johnston. He was described, in so many words, as America's greatest Cult Alternative Indie Star. What does that mean? It means hemight even be worth listening to. If you're into that kind of thing. My main attraction to these double pages was the column on one of the first pages titled: "KURT COBAIN: CULT KILLER". Reading this article in semi-disgust, it was confusing. But I made confusing sense of it all. It told of, how Kurt Cobain unpurposedly lifted artists such as Daniel Johnston and Teenage Fanclub out of their comfortable ground and cult status, into the eyes of a wider audience, and almost destroying their careers as a result. Why am I explaining this? You can read it all on the article yourself, but I guess I'm just trying to make a point.
Now, recently I have been listening to Teenage Fanclub, and are now loving them as much as anything else on my iPod in the mainstream (I admit, I am a bit of a mainstream music girl, apart from the odd occurrence), but I wouldn't have any idea about them if it weren't for him. That just says it all really. Did these artists like their cult following? Or did they want to hit the mainstream? Some people go mad for mainstream, but some just want to get their beloved music listened to by an audience. Any audience, being mainstream or not. Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish Indie still, though, but damage has been done to their full cult status. Their fans are the biggest fans of one Kurt Cobain himself, who was a fan. So, does this mean they're on the cult side, or the mainstream part? It could be the middle. There is usually a middle in these kind of things.
Well, anyway, now I realize the importance, or not, of this "barrier" between cult status and mainstream. Because there is undoubtedly one.
My advice? Don't choose any. Because either could kill you.
Haha. Well, I tried.
P.S
Be daring this week and listen to some um... "iconic" cult. Try Daniel Johnston's Hi, How Are You (1983) or Teenage Fanclub's Songs from Northern Britain (1988).
They're both equally brilliant.
Peace, Love, Empathy x
Def: Cult ADJ [ADJ n]
Cult is used to desscribe things that are very popular or fashionable among a particular group of people.
Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? But really, it isn't. This one little word has spawned decades of misconceptions and misunderstanding.
When something is given a "cult status" it often confuses many. I have just said this, I know. But I want to emphasize it.
It all started for me when I had read that once when the "Twilight" saga started, it had only a cult following. A misconception followed making the connection of cultdom to vampirism. Yes, this is going to sound pretty bonkers, but that's what I thought. I guess that makes ME bonkers. So basically, I thought something that was said to have a cult status was a vicious circle of blood-thirsty humans following this particular "cultdom", all connected with each other. This was a year and half ago. Really, if you think about it, this could be true, with all these cult groups in the world (HA!). This is only with a series of books. The Music Business is perhaps the greatest example to show the border between Cult and Mainstream (And, is there really one?)
NME wrote a list wuite recently that really interested me. It was a list of the 'greatest' cult stars with the title "The World's Greatest Unsung Heroes". It may still be on their website somewhere: http://www.nme.com/home
It was basically a collection of musicians that I hadn't heard of. With the exception of Daniel Johnston. He was described, in so many words, as America's greatest Cult Alternative Indie Star. What does that mean? It means hemight even be worth listening to. If you're into that kind of thing. My main attraction to these double pages was the column on one of the first pages titled: "KURT COBAIN: CULT KILLER". Reading this article in semi-disgust, it was confusing. But I made confusing sense of it all. It told of, how Kurt Cobain unpurposedly lifted artists such as Daniel Johnston and Teenage Fanclub out of their comfortable ground and cult status, into the eyes of a wider audience, and almost destroying their careers as a result. Why am I explaining this? You can read it all on the article yourself, but I guess I'm just trying to make a point.
Now, recently I have been listening to Teenage Fanclub, and are now loving them as much as anything else on my iPod in the mainstream (I admit, I am a bit of a mainstream music girl, apart from the odd occurrence), but I wouldn't have any idea about them if it weren't for him. That just says it all really. Did these artists like their cult following? Or did they want to hit the mainstream? Some people go mad for mainstream, but some just want to get their beloved music listened to by an audience. Any audience, being mainstream or not. Teenage Fanclub are a Scottish Indie still, though, but damage has been done to their full cult status. Their fans are the biggest fans of one Kurt Cobain himself, who was a fan. So, does this mean they're on the cult side, or the mainstream part? It could be the middle. There is usually a middle in these kind of things.
Well, anyway, now I realize the importance, or not, of this "barrier" between cult status and mainstream. Because there is undoubtedly one.
My advice? Don't choose any. Because either could kill you.
Haha. Well, I tried.
P.S
Be daring this week and listen to some um... "iconic" cult. Try Daniel Johnston's Hi, How Are You (1983) or Teenage Fanclub's Songs from Northern Britain (1988).
They're both equally brilliant.
Peace, Love, Empathy x
Monday, 8 March 2010
Out Today: A Classic?
Today, Gorillaz release their third album, titled Plastic Beach.
Now don't get me wrong, I love Damon Albarn and a Poster I recently received with an NME magazine package was some very impressive artwork of the new album and it's really cool, but there is something about this album that strikes me as slightly odd. I was flicking through my new issue of Q magazine, and as it happens, little things catch your eyes. Well, I wouldn' be lying to say yet again, the album artwork in the review of this album is simply fantastic. But.. another thing.. the rating Q had given it. This shocked me.
"5 STARS?" I said to myself. The little 5 stars hightlighted in red stunned me.
Now, it is known that in the history of Q, it is very rare that any album gets 5 stars, even if it is some tremendous remastered compilation of some iconic artist. This is only usually the case with remastered Rolling Stones' albums and other things of that status.
But for a album just released to gain this kind of honour is just remarkable. I can't really say anything yet because I haven't listened to the whole album yet (but what I have heard doesn't seem anything different from their old stuff, or special, but what do I know?), and I haven't read the whole review, so I can't be too judgemental..
Time will tell, I suppose, to whether this is a "Classic. You need it in your collection today." or the "Best Album of the Year" when only three months have passed...
Listen to it today, and see if you think Damon Albarn has hit the spot yet again.
Peace, Love, Empathy.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
My Best Cobain-related purchase
For all those that do not like inspirational figures, saddening but fufilling life stories, drugs, rock and roll, and just plain reality: look away now.
I bought this a couple of days back, and it really is one of the best Non-fiction 'books' I own, and undoubtedly my best Cobain-related purchase (Cause I own a lot of stuff already), and this is the icing on the cake for my collection.
It may not be your type of thing, but if you have a gift of putting scrapbooks together, or just like looking back on times, then this could be for you.
With an incredible interest in Kurt Cobain myself, this is perfect. It includes never-before seen pictures, drawings of childhood, journal entries, documents, other personal items and a ton of memorabilia. Recreations of polaroids and actual lyric pages that were the start to the soundtrack of Nineties America ... all here. There's even an audio CD that includes never-before-released spoken-word material, and it's just like poetry.
With the biography telling every detail alongside (you can get the full biography Heavier Than Heaven by Charles R. Cross also) which really is a pleasure to read, warts and all account of one of the most talented artist of the modern era.
I won't start to preach about the incredible talent, stories of Kurt, I'll just say before you make any judgements upon his life, read this book.
It really is a beauty. And an imperfect one, at that.
Thursday, 18 February 2010
Riot Grrl and warming up the winter months...
Today I am writing in light of a very beautiful purchase.
Beautiful may be the wrong word to use, but we'll see.
12 years on, I still must stress the importance of a particular album that is in my "Top 5" list of albums. It may be a tad influenced and biased by my own opinion, but on that alone, no one should undermine the beauty of this one album I bought earlier in the week. It is severely underrated.
The 3rd album from the Olympia Rock veterans, and the centre of the"Riot Grrl" movement came after a 4 year break .This band does have some serious issues involving line-ups; The members change again and again, maybe due to one particular member who is publicly known to have a string of issues.
But... This album is proof that writing can change considerably into an artist/band's career, and if you take one influence away, the final product can differ slightly four years later. It is a large "up yours" to all the doubters.
Have you guessed yet?
After Hole's 2nd album was rumoured to be filled with much of the writings of Kurt Cobain himself, people doubted that Hole (Courtney Love, mainly) could actually write an album that would sell. Courtney obviously wanted help with the band's 2nd album, because she desperately wanted to compete in the same category as her Husband's reinvention of Rock, and development of Alternative music.
But,in 1998, Hole came along again, and produced Celebrity Skin, obviously without the late Cobain and his rumoured influence.
...And so the story goes. It seems that, actually, Hole can make beautiful music themselves (Eric Erlandson's quite simply genius composing skills, and Courtney love's ability to write thoughtful lyrics herself, without her husband.)
Album's highlights have to be the sentimental qualities and deep lyrics of Malibu, the very sensitive tones (and whopping chord sequences, it must be said) of Dying, and Summery feelings of Boys On The Radio, which just sounds like it is meant for the pop charts.
It's a different Hole, yes. But a deeper, sensitive and actually quite thoughtful Hole, too.
Give it a try. It's made for the summery days that will be here soon. (:
Beautiful may be the wrong word to use, but we'll see.
12 years on, I still must stress the importance of a particular album that is in my "Top 5" list of albums. It may be a tad influenced and biased by my own opinion, but on that alone, no one should undermine the beauty of this one album I bought earlier in the week. It is severely underrated.
The 3rd album from the Olympia Rock veterans, and the centre of the"Riot Grrl" movement came after a 4 year break .This band does have some serious issues involving line-ups; The members change again and again, maybe due to one particular member who is publicly known to have a string of issues.
But... This album is proof that writing can change considerably into an artist/band's career, and if you take one influence away, the final product can differ slightly four years later. It is a large "up yours" to all the doubters.
Have you guessed yet?
After Hole's 2nd album was rumoured to be filled with much of the writings of Kurt Cobain himself, people doubted that Hole (Courtney Love, mainly) could actually write an album that would sell. Courtney obviously wanted help with the band's 2nd album, because she desperately wanted to compete in the same category as her Husband's reinvention of Rock, and development of Alternative music.
But,in 1998, Hole came along again, and produced Celebrity Skin, obviously without the late Cobain and his rumoured influence.
...And so the story goes. It seems that, actually, Hole can make beautiful music themselves (Eric Erlandson's quite simply genius composing skills, and Courtney love's ability to write thoughtful lyrics herself, without her husband.)
Album's highlights have to be the sentimental qualities and deep lyrics of Malibu, the very sensitive tones (and whopping chord sequences, it must be said) of Dying, and Summery feelings of Boys On The Radio, which just sounds like it is meant for the pop charts.
It's a different Hole, yes. But a deeper, sensitive and actually quite thoughtful Hole, too.
Give it a try. It's made for the summery days that will be here soon. (:
Avaliable in all good music stores.
Peace, Love, Empathy (oh, and Grrl) x
Sunday, 14 February 2010
OMG, you look just like Shakira, No No, You're Catherine-Zeta...
Happy February, Everyone!
To Start: Today is just like any other day, and that means I'm not going to wish you all a Happy St.Valentine's Day and start gushing about soppy Take That love ballads.
The only sign of that holiday where I live is the deep pink polish I have on my Toenails, and the chocolate buttercream cupcakes with edible hearts on my dining room table, a present (or a joke) from my lovely mother. (:
But if we were to talk about present-buying for your other half , or just for the single person to treat themselves to a album this holiday (because you never need a reason for buying yourself a new album), your thoughts should go out to the new Florence Welch of the year and brunette beauty Marina Diamandis with her generally misleading plural name Marina & The Diamonds. Of which, the "Diamonds" are her fans, she says encouragingly.
Her album The Family Jewels is out tomorrow, and includes another nail-biting view of the dream of Hollywood in single Hollywood, about an infectious disease that seems to affect some certain, blonde girls, and the "puking american dreams". Her vocals are gorgeous moments of deep melodic tones and a realistic edge that are captured perfectly in this single, also.
One thing we know, is that Marina's debut is 12 songs from a girl who's surely down to earth, and another pop female artist that is definitely not obsessed with "the mess that's America" and filled with a pop-sarcasm that is sure to win us over.
Her sound? You have to listen to it to understand it. It's a contradicting messy mix of genres and clever lyrics. The British music industry will accept this kind of thing, as it has done with many, many others...
And for all those who want a love-sick guitar ballad this Valentines: Paramore's The Only Exception is one of their best songs to date, and a Hayley Williams shows she can do a different side. Warning: It may get you all sentimental.
The Family Jewels by Marina & The Diamonds is out tomorrow on Vinyl/CD/Download on the 15th February.
Peace, Love, Empathy.
To Start: Today is just like any other day, and that means I'm not going to wish you all a Happy St.Valentine's Day and start gushing about soppy Take That love ballads.
The only sign of that holiday where I live is the deep pink polish I have on my Toenails, and the chocolate buttercream cupcakes with edible hearts on my dining room table, a present (or a joke) from my lovely mother. (:
But if we were to talk about present-buying for your other half , or just for the single person to treat themselves to a album this holiday (because you never need a reason for buying yourself a new album), your thoughts should go out to the new Florence Welch of the year and brunette beauty Marina Diamandis with her generally misleading plural name Marina & The Diamonds. Of which, the "Diamonds" are her fans, she says encouragingly.
Her album The Family Jewels is out tomorrow, and includes another nail-biting view of the dream of Hollywood in single Hollywood, about an infectious disease that seems to affect some certain, blonde girls, and the "puking american dreams". Her vocals are gorgeous moments of deep melodic tones and a realistic edge that are captured perfectly in this single, also.
One thing we know, is that Marina's debut is 12 songs from a girl who's surely down to earth, and another pop female artist that is definitely not obsessed with "the mess that's America" and filled with a pop-sarcasm that is sure to win us over.
Her sound? You have to listen to it to understand it. It's a contradicting messy mix of genres and clever lyrics. The British music industry will accept this kind of thing, as it has done with many, many others...
And for all those who want a love-sick guitar ballad this Valentines: Paramore's The Only Exception is one of their best songs to date, and a Hayley Williams shows she can do a different side. Warning: It may get you all sentimental.
The Family Jewels by Marina & The Diamonds is out tomorrow on Vinyl/CD/Download on the 15th February.
Peace, Love, Empathy.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Cliffy Byro.. or... whatever.
Named as the Best British Band of 2009 by many (and who's to argue) was the astonishing Cliffy Byro.. Oh, wait, no sorry, Biffy Clyro. (We can forgive the name for the talent)
Mix the soaring climaxes of Kings Of Leon with the melodic, but yet incredibly gritty rock riffs and choruses of Foo Fighters, and make them Scottish.
Voila.
Simon Neil, Ben Johnston and James Johnston, (Lead, Drums and Bass respectively) were united at the age of 12 by their love of grunge, metal, punk and Pearl Jam's "Black" from the 1991 album Ten (the defining underground record apart from Nirvana's Nevermind) and formed a band as a result. Simple enough.
But, as the best band story often goes, this wasn't an overnight success. They realeased their debut single in 1999. A decade ago.
Despite everything you immediately assume, Biffy Clyro are not some kind of puritan Rock/Metal/Hardcore band.
They embrace the Pop. (You see the resemblance to the Foo's?)
The way they mix the kick-ass riffs with some nice melodies made the long path to the mainstream charts just a little bit shorter.
They kicked out the 8-minute tracks with some shorter, straighter songs complete with some softer songs(Many of Horrors, for instance, simplistic but beautiful) and released the album Only Revolutions. Yes, there are the few people, unsurprisingly that say Biffy have Changed "in a bad way". But, really, if they hadn't changed their sound just a little bit they might not have gained the popularity they now indeed have. Because sometimes change is good, and not everyone wants to listen to 8-minute songs...
Whether its the incredibly sweet, piano power of "Mountains" or the slightly strange "Pause It and Turn It Up" (No, it isn't just you, the song IS 25 minutes long. FACT), There is something there worth listening to, because secretly, everyone likes a good pop melody, whether or not it is diguised by the "Rock Star" cover.
Embrace the pop, people.
Peace, Love, Empathy.
Album Highlights: That Golden Rule, Cloud Of Stink, Many of Horror
Mix the soaring climaxes of Kings Of Leon with the melodic, but yet incredibly gritty rock riffs and choruses of Foo Fighters, and make them Scottish.
Voila.
Simon Neil, Ben Johnston and James Johnston, (Lead, Drums and Bass respectively) were united at the age of 12 by their love of grunge, metal, punk and Pearl Jam's "Black" from the 1991 album Ten (the defining underground record apart from Nirvana's Nevermind) and formed a band as a result. Simple enough.
But, as the best band story often goes, this wasn't an overnight success. They realeased their debut single in 1999. A decade ago.
Despite everything you immediately assume, Biffy Clyro are not some kind of puritan Rock/Metal/Hardcore band.
They embrace the Pop. (You see the resemblance to the Foo's?)
The way they mix the kick-ass riffs with some nice melodies made the long path to the mainstream charts just a little bit shorter.
They kicked out the 8-minute tracks with some shorter, straighter songs complete with some softer songs(Many of Horrors, for instance, simplistic but beautiful) and released the album Only Revolutions. Yes, there are the few people, unsurprisingly that say Biffy have Changed "in a bad way". But, really, if they hadn't changed their sound just a little bit they might not have gained the popularity they now indeed have. Because sometimes change is good, and not everyone wants to listen to 8-minute songs...
Whether its the incredibly sweet, piano power of "Mountains" or the slightly strange "Pause It and Turn It Up" (No, it isn't just you, the song IS 25 minutes long. FACT), There is something there worth listening to, because secretly, everyone likes a good pop melody, whether or not it is diguised by the "Rock Star" cover.
Embrace the pop, people.
Peace, Love, Empathy.
Album Highlights: That Golden Rule, Cloud Of Stink, Many of Horror
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