Music and Art
So, this reseach paper that I'm writing about why contemporary art is seperate from fine art makes me think about contemporary music. This is also enhanced by the fact that I know that my taste in music is becoming more esoteric (but not necessarily obscure). It feels like there is two types of music: classic stuff (like from 16th century composers to classic rock) and contemporary music (like 90's and post-punk). Some contemporary music is certainly more commerical than other music-- and that's doesn't mean that independent bands are not commerical. I think I'm beginning to become bored with "commerical music" whether it's on an independent label or not. I love the Arctic Monkeys, even before they got all the attention on the Billborad charts. I know "indie" technically only means that the bands aren't protected by the RIAA, but there's the connotation that they are less popular. The idea of an "established indie band" is like an oxymoron, but that's the way to describe bands like Franz Ferdinand, The Shins and Interpol and record labels like Sub Pop and Matador.
I never really paid that much attention to Domino Records until this year with the amazing double debut of Arctic Monkeys and Test Icicles. Domino Records is going to be independent record label of the year. They have to be. It's not that I even care about Billboard charts, but it's hard not to pay attention to the Arctic Monkeys sudden rise to the top. Their debut album went straight to number one on the Billboard indepdent charts without any prior singles released. The fact that they are from the UK adds to the indie appeal, but all this attention takes it away. I'm getting into more stereotypical indie bands-- the one's that one one's ever heard of. I really like new bands because they haven't had a chance to establish themselves. And I like bands that just aren't as popular, even in the indie scene.
I just think that commerical music is boring-- independent labels or not. Bands that everyone has heard of and like remind me of fine art while all the underground indie bands and indie bands that everyone hates remind me of contemporary art-- contemporary art is not established art. It takes time for a new style of art to become established and recognized among critics. Noise punk and dance punk just aren't popular. Apparently, Domino Records didn't want to sign Test Icicles at first because they weren't "commerical enough." They wanted something that sounds like Franz Ferdinand. I'm sure Domino is thinking twice about that.
Even thought Pitchfork only review indepdentent bands, they are still pretty conservative with their reviews. The only band that I know of to get a perfect 10 on a Pitchfork album review is Radiohead. Their album Kid A not only got a perfect score, but got voted number one album of 2000-2004. I don't see what the appeal of Radiohead is because it's so clean. Pitchfork said that two piece Death from above 1979 is lacking (as in they need another instrument like a guitar). The White Stripes is a two piece who is twice is popular, and not one says that they are lacking. I'm borded with the White Stripes because they are so easy to listen to. The White Stripes technically isn't even indie, and they get played on the radio. So what exactly is the different between these two piece bands? The White Stripes have a distinct rhythem in each song and there is no distortion or yelling. All DFA1979 songs deliberately sound like bad MP3 rips. The White Stripes are boring compared to DFA1979 because they are more popular and they are actually suitable for the radio.
I'm beginning to favor bands like The Thermals, The Ponys, Tapes 'n Tapes and Out Hud who aren't new bands, but seem to exist in the shadow of indie rock. And you just don't hear about them-- even in exclusive indie networks like Last.fm where Radiohead and Coldplay are the most popular. (The best part about Last.fm is that all top Billboard pop artists and classic rock bands--except for The Beatles--are not number 1. So indie is the new mainstream.) Radiohead and Coldplay have a sound that's already been invented. Artists like M.I.A. and LCD Soundsystem are pioneers in music because they are creating new sounds. And lots of people don't necessarily like it because it doesn't sound like music that already exists. I don't really know what the goal I'm actually writing towards is and this feels like a lot of incohernt rambling, but I've been thinking about it all week. I mean, even "independent music" which is supposed to not be mainstream has a mainstream part to it. The "indie mainstream" really isn't any better than the major mainstream.
I never really paid that much attention to Domino Records until this year with the amazing double debut of Arctic Monkeys and Test Icicles. Domino Records is going to be independent record label of the year. They have to be. It's not that I even care about Billboard charts, but it's hard not to pay attention to the Arctic Monkeys sudden rise to the top. Their debut album went straight to number one on the Billboard indepdent charts without any prior singles released. The fact that they are from the UK adds to the indie appeal, but all this attention takes it away. I'm getting into more stereotypical indie bands-- the one's that one one's ever heard of. I really like new bands because they haven't had a chance to establish themselves. And I like bands that just aren't as popular, even in the indie scene.
I just think that commerical music is boring-- independent labels or not. Bands that everyone has heard of and like remind me of fine art while all the underground indie bands and indie bands that everyone hates remind me of contemporary art-- contemporary art is not established art. It takes time for a new style of art to become established and recognized among critics. Noise punk and dance punk just aren't popular. Apparently, Domino Records didn't want to sign Test Icicles at first because they weren't "commerical enough." They wanted something that sounds like Franz Ferdinand. I'm sure Domino is thinking twice about that.
Even thought Pitchfork only review indepdentent bands, they are still pretty conservative with their reviews. The only band that I know of to get a perfect 10 on a Pitchfork album review is Radiohead. Their album Kid A not only got a perfect score, but got voted number one album of 2000-2004. I don't see what the appeal of Radiohead is because it's so clean. Pitchfork said that two piece Death from above 1979 is lacking (as in they need another instrument like a guitar). The White Stripes is a two piece who is twice is popular, and not one says that they are lacking. I'm borded with the White Stripes because they are so easy to listen to. The White Stripes technically isn't even indie, and they get played on the radio. So what exactly is the different between these two piece bands? The White Stripes have a distinct rhythem in each song and there is no distortion or yelling. All DFA1979 songs deliberately sound like bad MP3 rips. The White Stripes are boring compared to DFA1979 because they are more popular and they are actually suitable for the radio.
I'm beginning to favor bands like The Thermals, The Ponys, Tapes 'n Tapes and Out Hud who aren't new bands, but seem to exist in the shadow of indie rock. And you just don't hear about them-- even in exclusive indie networks like Last.fm where Radiohead and Coldplay are the most popular. (The best part about Last.fm is that all top Billboard pop artists and classic rock bands--except for The Beatles--are not number 1. So indie is the new mainstream.) Radiohead and Coldplay have a sound that's already been invented. Artists like M.I.A. and LCD Soundsystem are pioneers in music because they are creating new sounds. And lots of people don't necessarily like it because it doesn't sound like music that already exists. I don't really know what the goal I'm actually writing towards is and this feels like a lot of incohernt rambling, but I've been thinking about it all week. I mean, even "independent music" which is supposed to not be mainstream has a mainstream part to it. The "indie mainstream" really isn't any better than the major mainstream.