Filesharing and Indie Music. is it so bad?
In a Galaxy far far away…
There once began a fantastic era of music which was termed as the all encompassing “Indie” music. These were crazy days indeed with daring publications such as Vox, X-Ray, Melody Maker, NME and Sounds to name but a few, which all fitted in, not to mention drove the hopes of many a pre-pubescent boy into the ways of diversity ( the buggers). Back then Indie meant Indie with each publication pitted against the other, trying to dig up the next big thing before the other. All healthy. These were the new 90s late 80s and things were subterranean and exciting. I mean to say, has there been an era since then that has turned out bands such as ‘I Ludicrous’ and ‘Half man Half biscuit?’ its ok ill answer that one myself – I’m guessing - Erm nope.
So what happened to this Indie thing? It could have been this - The big guys saw that there was all this money being made and thought to themselves, I’m all for having a wee slice of that. How dare these cheeky wee monkeys be turning out Indie record labels without confiding in us? Labels such as Bristol’s finest ‘Sarah label’ and ‘Moo records’ of Manchester had that audacity the cheeky wee scamps. But unfortunately money speaks volumes and we found bands such as ‘James’ no longer clapping for one man, the Soup dragons turn pop and the Boo Radleys turn in such drivel as ‘wake up Boo’ when they had turned fine tunes such as Lazarus before hand. It was a sell out destructing all that was supposed to be Indie. But who can blame them; if I was offered a million for a few strums on a guitar I wouldn’t be so proud either. Bugger it id have gone nude for a fiver on a bad night. Hey im not proud.
Student unions almost overnight transposed from Indie backers to the ‘hit man and her’ short dresses and stilettos luvies. Music died. Sounds, Melody maker, Vox and X-ray all folded for the sake of a few bob offered elsewhere. NME took on a prepubescent Editor (god I hate that bloke Conor McNicholas – a name that only a posh twat could get away with without a good gubbing) who sold his soul to the financial devil and here we are. All bollix. Indie is now suddenly copying yesteryears heroes, we are filled with bands that are ok but only cause the media say so. I feel sorry for them as music didn’t do it in its own right. Bands such as Keiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand, who are no more than mediocre, yet worthy of being discovered, are being touted as world savers when they only nestle comfortably in a window called “improvement”. Pity though that we had to wait for the authorisation to accept these bands from sycophantic music papers such as NME. Why didn’t we just discover them by ourselves?
The good news I guess is that the internet has the music moguls shaking in their boots again and we can blame the music kids for ripping off music. We have been here before - It happened when cassettes came into being. Oh yes- back then the wee white knuckled men in ties were saying it was the death of music but wasn’t, and now they blame illegal downloading again. Why can’t the y see it’s their own failure to move with technology and complacency that has left them behind yet again? Of course music buyers will go into Virgin or HMV or Tower for music, of course they will. But last time I was there music has made way for DVD’s and more pounds and it can be hard to impossible to find anything you want. Illegal downloading? Hell yes! It’s all Brilliant – I love paranoia in Business .When CD’s first came out they said the initial costs would fall after they had established this new technology. We knew they were cheaper to produce than a vinyl LP, god they give them away with 30p newspapers now, but did they come down? Not a chance. It didn’t happen so why trust them? Its all money now so why would they. What they meant is we would get used to paying £15-£20 for a Single CD. Know what? We did. Funny that. Wonder why that is?
The strange question that has to be asked is what other industry sues its own customers for sampling then going out and buying? They forget we are still the ones paying their wages and if they fail to offer what we want then more fool them. Why have they never and I mean NEVER embraced is what music fans are really doing? Is big business really slipping that far behind and in an industry that used to be cutting edge? I have to think that this industry is now diluted with unoriginal thinkers and has lost its way in dealing with what set them up in the first place- these kids I mentioned before – bloody kids eh? I worked for an industry for years targeting Gap year students…we were rich but then realised my god we are all in our 30 something’s now! What does a 16 year old look like now? Apparently these people have forgot also and try to dictate instead of accommodate? Just a point. Anyway back to downloading - How can they charge over £1 a song to download? When a typical album has at least 10 songs or more and can be bought for £9 in a real independent retailer such as Avalanche records (http://www.avalancherecords.co.uk). That includes lyrics cover packaging and distribution. Still they try to con us and can’t work out why they are not popular. I guess this is ok and how it works. The more unpopular and bureaucratic and corporate they become the more they are disliked. Sack the marketing departments!!!!!
So what of the future – well this is my reason for this post.
Music has undoubtedly lost out big time - bands that should be massive died off unfairly and bands that knew the right penises to stroke made it big. Genre fashions also typically threw up so called scenes that were not driven by the kids (don’t like that term but Sham 69 said it was ok). And there is the problem. The streets, angry kids, twisted individuals, bored kids, art schools wannabe’s, old rockers, Mums, dads and society should say what music should be fashionable or not – instead we have settled for the prefabricated pop from mind numbing TV Karaoke shows and being told by NME and no other competition that “hey this is Indie” this is what you are going to like… forget up and coming- they don’t sell magazines anymore.
Clap your hands say yeah are a recent success story who by-passed the moguls to do it themselves on-line. And this is the lifeline of all indie now. It can succeed without the major record labels. CYHSY sold over 40,000 CD’s online before being “discovered” and further than that I am now able to download ‘illegally apparently’ long since gone deleted catalogues of bands who no longer exist but should. Indie is back!!! God bless file sharing. Not that I take all my music from here but I can download a few tracks and if I like them I go buy the CD from a small independent or online. I am still paying the wages. Sue me.
This is my homage to the bands that should be massive, some who were not known at all and some who are yet be massive. Not that being massive maketh the band but I think you know what I’m getting at. These are the unlucky under the pound and not commercial enough for the Sell outs at NME. These are only my initial thoughts and only to my taste. These are just bands that in MY opinion should command the world.
I hope you enjoy – download illegally on http://www.slsknet.org/ then buy the Record. Start a scene!! Rise up above the big boys. Many happy downloads!!
Little me
Try and make it happy
England
WWW.littleme.info
Crashland
Modern Animal and We’re on Fire
Wales
No official site but
http://www.sugarshackrecords.co.uk/crashland/the-story.htm
Headland
Lets hear it for god & Shellshock
England
http://www.headlandmusic.org/enter.html
Quasi
The skeleton, the golden egg and the curse of having it all
Oregon
http://music.download.com/quasi/3600-8591_32-100052950.html
Sea Urchins
Please rain fall & pristine Christine and Solace
England
Formed way before the internet – no official site but read more here
http://www.blissaquamarine.net/urchinsdelta1.html
Orchids
Tiny Words and underneath the window underneath the sink
Scotland
As with the sea urchins a great band on indie label Sarah records. Formed and died before the internet but more info here.
Listen here
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Orchids
Brilliant corners
Teenage & Brian Rix
England
Listen here, no official website
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Brilliant+Corners
A House
I am Afraid
Ireland
Listen here http://www.last.fm/music/A-House
Ballboy
I’ve got pictures of you in your underwear & Avante Guard music
Scotland
Official website
www.ballboy.org
Camera Obscura
Keep it Clean & Suspended from class
Scotland
Listen here
http://www.mp3.com/camera-obscura/artists/497489/summary.html
Urusei Yatsura
Hello Tiger & king of Lazy& strategic Hamlet
Scotland
http://www.urusei-yatsura.co.uk/main.htm
Neutral Milk Hotel
In an Aeroplane over the sea & Holland 1945 & song against sex
USA
No official site but listen here
http://www.last.fm/music/Neutral+Milk+Hotel
Dressy Bessy
Hey May & Just once more
USA
Official Website
http://www.dressybessy.com/index.htm
Cinerama
Model Spy & Kerry Kerry
England
Official website
http://www.scopitones.co.uk/
Clinic
Welcome & Distortions
England
http://www.clinicvoot.org/homepage.html
official site
more info here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinic_(band)
Close Lobsters
Lets make some plans
Scotland
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2111/lobsters.html
Dead Milkmen
Punk Rock Girl & Life is Shit
USA
http://www.deadmilkmen.com/
Delgados
Coming in from the cold & pulling the wires from the wall
Scotland
http://www.delgados.co.uk/
Electrelane
Gone under sea & Enter laughing
England
http://www.electrelane.com/site2/home.htm
Evil Superstars
It’s a sad sad planet
Belgium
http://www.mauroworld.com/superstars/index_sup.htm
Galaxie 500
Parking lot and Fourth of July
USA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxie_500
Gerbils
Sunshine soul and Grin
USA
http://www.elephant6.com/bands/gerbils.html
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Honeymoon with you & Stood on Gold
England
http://www.gorkys.com/
Superstar
Every second hurts
Scotland
http://www.last.fm/music/Superstar
Half Man Half Biscuit
24 Garage people & I love you because you look like Jim Reeves
England
http://www.hmhb.co.uk/
King Creosote
Hunger
Scotland
http://www.kingcreosote.com/
Mando Diao
Loads – but stick with – you cant buy my love and Lady & paralysed
Sweden
http://www.mando-diao.com/en/
Spacemen 3
Honey & Revolution
USA
http://www.spacemen3.co.uk/
Phoenix
Honeymoon
France
http://www.wearephoenix.com/
Smoking popes
Pretty Pathetic & need you around
USA
http://www.smokingpopes.net/
Sondre Lerche
Two way monologue & Know you so well
Norway
http://www.sondrelerche.com/
Sultans of Ping
Lets go shopping and I said I am I said & Armitage shanks
Ireland
http://www.sultansofping.com/
This bike Is a pipe bomb
- Depression & the argument
USA
http://www.last.fm/music/This+Bike+Is+A+Pipe+Bomb
Young marble Giants
Final day
Wales
http://www.appelstein.com/ymg/
listen and Enjoy
Od x
There once began a fantastic era of music which was termed as the all encompassing “Indie” music. These were crazy days indeed with daring publications such as Vox, X-Ray, Melody Maker, NME and Sounds to name but a few, which all fitted in, not to mention drove the hopes of many a pre-pubescent boy into the ways of diversity ( the buggers). Back then Indie meant Indie with each publication pitted against the other, trying to dig up the next big thing before the other. All healthy. These were the new 90s late 80s and things were subterranean and exciting. I mean to say, has there been an era since then that has turned out bands such as ‘I Ludicrous’ and ‘Half man Half biscuit?’ its ok ill answer that one myself – I’m guessing - Erm nope.
So what happened to this Indie thing? It could have been this - The big guys saw that there was all this money being made and thought to themselves, I’m all for having a wee slice of that. How dare these cheeky wee monkeys be turning out Indie record labels without confiding in us? Labels such as Bristol’s finest ‘Sarah label’ and ‘Moo records’ of Manchester had that audacity the cheeky wee scamps. But unfortunately money speaks volumes and we found bands such as ‘James’ no longer clapping for one man, the Soup dragons turn pop and the Boo Radleys turn in such drivel as ‘wake up Boo’ when they had turned fine tunes such as Lazarus before hand. It was a sell out destructing all that was supposed to be Indie. But who can blame them; if I was offered a million for a few strums on a guitar I wouldn’t be so proud either. Bugger it id have gone nude for a fiver on a bad night. Hey im not proud.
Student unions almost overnight transposed from Indie backers to the ‘hit man and her’ short dresses and stilettos luvies. Music died. Sounds, Melody maker, Vox and X-ray all folded for the sake of a few bob offered elsewhere. NME took on a prepubescent Editor (god I hate that bloke Conor McNicholas – a name that only a posh twat could get away with without a good gubbing) who sold his soul to the financial devil and here we are. All bollix. Indie is now suddenly copying yesteryears heroes, we are filled with bands that are ok but only cause the media say so. I feel sorry for them as music didn’t do it in its own right. Bands such as Keiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand, who are no more than mediocre, yet worthy of being discovered, are being touted as world savers when they only nestle comfortably in a window called “improvement”. Pity though that we had to wait for the authorisation to accept these bands from sycophantic music papers such as NME. Why didn’t we just discover them by ourselves?
The good news I guess is that the internet has the music moguls shaking in their boots again and we can blame the music kids for ripping off music. We have been here before - It happened when cassettes came into being. Oh yes- back then the wee white knuckled men in ties were saying it was the death of music but wasn’t, and now they blame illegal downloading again. Why can’t the y see it’s their own failure to move with technology and complacency that has left them behind yet again? Of course music buyers will go into Virgin or HMV or Tower for music, of course they will. But last time I was there music has made way for DVD’s and more pounds and it can be hard to impossible to find anything you want. Illegal downloading? Hell yes! It’s all Brilliant – I love paranoia in Business .When CD’s first came out they said the initial costs would fall after they had established this new technology. We knew they were cheaper to produce than a vinyl LP, god they give them away with 30p newspapers now, but did they come down? Not a chance. It didn’t happen so why trust them? Its all money now so why would they. What they meant is we would get used to paying £15-£20 for a Single CD. Know what? We did. Funny that. Wonder why that is?
The strange question that has to be asked is what other industry sues its own customers for sampling then going out and buying? They forget we are still the ones paying their wages and if they fail to offer what we want then more fool them. Why have they never and I mean NEVER embraced is what music fans are really doing? Is big business really slipping that far behind and in an industry that used to be cutting edge? I have to think that this industry is now diluted with unoriginal thinkers and has lost its way in dealing with what set them up in the first place- these kids I mentioned before – bloody kids eh? I worked for an industry for years targeting Gap year students…we were rich but then realised my god we are all in our 30 something’s now! What does a 16 year old look like now? Apparently these people have forgot also and try to dictate instead of accommodate? Just a point. Anyway back to downloading - How can they charge over £1 a song to download? When a typical album has at least 10 songs or more and can be bought for £9 in a real independent retailer such as Avalanche records (http://www.avalancherecords.co.uk). That includes lyrics cover packaging and distribution. Still they try to con us and can’t work out why they are not popular. I guess this is ok and how it works. The more unpopular and bureaucratic and corporate they become the more they are disliked. Sack the marketing departments!!!!!
So what of the future – well this is my reason for this post.
Music has undoubtedly lost out big time - bands that should be massive died off unfairly and bands that knew the right penises to stroke made it big. Genre fashions also typically threw up so called scenes that were not driven by the kids (don’t like that term but Sham 69 said it was ok). And there is the problem. The streets, angry kids, twisted individuals, bored kids, art schools wannabe’s, old rockers, Mums, dads and society should say what music should be fashionable or not – instead we have settled for the prefabricated pop from mind numbing TV Karaoke shows and being told by NME and no other competition that “hey this is Indie” this is what you are going to like… forget up and coming- they don’t sell magazines anymore.
Clap your hands say yeah are a recent success story who by-passed the moguls to do it themselves on-line. And this is the lifeline of all indie now. It can succeed without the major record labels. CYHSY sold over 40,000 CD’s online before being “discovered” and further than that I am now able to download ‘illegally apparently’ long since gone deleted catalogues of bands who no longer exist but should. Indie is back!!! God bless file sharing. Not that I take all my music from here but I can download a few tracks and if I like them I go buy the CD from a small independent or online. I am still paying the wages. Sue me.
This is my homage to the bands that should be massive, some who were not known at all and some who are yet be massive. Not that being massive maketh the band but I think you know what I’m getting at. These are the unlucky under the pound and not commercial enough for the Sell outs at NME. These are only my initial thoughts and only to my taste. These are just bands that in MY opinion should command the world.
I hope you enjoy – download illegally on http://www.slsknet.org/ then buy the Record. Start a scene!! Rise up above the big boys. Many happy downloads!!
Little me
Try and make it happy
England
WWW.littleme.info
Crashland
Modern Animal and We’re on Fire
Wales
No official site but
http://www.sugarshackrecords.co.uk/crashland/the-story.htm
Headland
Lets hear it for god & Shellshock
England
http://www.headlandmusic.org/enter.html
Quasi
The skeleton, the golden egg and the curse of having it all
Oregon
http://music.download.com/quasi/3600-8591_32-100052950.html
Sea Urchins
Please rain fall & pristine Christine and Solace
England
Formed way before the internet – no official site but read more here
http://www.blissaquamarine.net/urchinsdelta1.html
Orchids
Tiny Words and underneath the window underneath the sink
Scotland
As with the sea urchins a great band on indie label Sarah records. Formed and died before the internet but more info here.
Listen here
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Orchids
Brilliant corners
Teenage & Brian Rix
England
Listen here, no official website
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Brilliant+Corners
A House
I am Afraid
Ireland
Listen here http://www.last.fm/music/A-House
Ballboy
I’ve got pictures of you in your underwear & Avante Guard music
Scotland
Official website
www.ballboy.org
Camera Obscura
Keep it Clean & Suspended from class
Scotland
Listen here
http://www.mp3.com/camera-obscura/artists/497489/summary.html
Urusei Yatsura
Hello Tiger & king of Lazy& strategic Hamlet
Scotland
http://www.urusei-yatsura.co.uk/main.htm
Neutral Milk Hotel
In an Aeroplane over the sea & Holland 1945 & song against sex
USA
No official site but listen here
http://www.last.fm/music/Neutral+Milk+Hotel
Dressy Bessy
Hey May & Just once more
USA
Official Website
http://www.dressybessy.com/index.htm
Cinerama
Model Spy & Kerry Kerry
England
Official website
http://www.scopitones.co.uk/
Clinic
Welcome & Distortions
England
http://www.clinicvoot.org/homepage.html
official site
more info here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinic_(band)
Close Lobsters
Lets make some plans
Scotland
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/2111/lobsters.html
Dead Milkmen
Punk Rock Girl & Life is Shit
USA
http://www.deadmilkmen.com/
Delgados
Coming in from the cold & pulling the wires from the wall
Scotland
http://www.delgados.co.uk/
Electrelane
Gone under sea & Enter laughing
England
http://www.electrelane.com/site2/home.htm
Evil Superstars
It’s a sad sad planet
Belgium
http://www.mauroworld.com/superstars/index_sup.htm
Galaxie 500
Parking lot and Fourth of July
USA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxie_500
Gerbils
Sunshine soul and Grin
USA
http://www.elephant6.com/bands/gerbils.html
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci
Honeymoon with you & Stood on Gold
England
http://www.gorkys.com/
Superstar
Every second hurts
Scotland
http://www.last.fm/music/Superstar
Half Man Half Biscuit
24 Garage people & I love you because you look like Jim Reeves
England
http://www.hmhb.co.uk/
King Creosote
Hunger
Scotland
http://www.kingcreosote.com/
Mando Diao
Loads – but stick with – you cant buy my love and Lady & paralysed
Sweden
http://www.mando-diao.com/en/
Spacemen 3
Honey & Revolution
USA
http://www.spacemen3.co.uk/
Phoenix
Honeymoon
France
http://www.wearephoenix.com/
Smoking popes
Pretty Pathetic & need you around
USA
http://www.smokingpopes.net/
Sondre Lerche
Two way monologue & Know you so well
Norway
http://www.sondrelerche.com/
Sultans of Ping
Lets go shopping and I said I am I said & Armitage shanks
Ireland
http://www.sultansofping.com/
This bike Is a pipe bomb
- Depression & the argument
USA
http://www.last.fm/music/This+Bike+Is+A+Pipe+Bomb
Young marble Giants
Final day
Wales
http://www.appelstein.com/ymg/
listen and Enjoy
Od x
posted by Scooter at 4:50 PM
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