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| by from Austin | |
Austin writes:
"Of course major record labels look for the next big thing. Do you know how
much money they make from it? Look at blink182 and sum41. Just in the past
year or so they've blown up and now you can't seem to find a girl from the
age of 12-15 that doesn't like them. Now part of this is because they find
someone in the band to be "hot" or "sexy" which is why labels will probably
try and find bands who have a more attractive frontman.
Major labels even
change people's names to make them "cooler" and "hipper". Take Autopilot Off
for example. They have 2 Chris' in the band. Now if you go to their labels
site (they just signed with a major label, can't remember who though) and go
to their subpage, they have changed the singer's name from Chris to Houston.
Why Houston? Don't ask me but I'm sure alot of girls will like it because
it's different.
Thursday is an instance where it isn't girls making the
album sales go up, but probably the guys, who are tired of having this same
old same old rapcore shoved down their throats and forced to wear baggy
pants and their hat backwards to be cool. They find a band that's fresh and
new and say hey,this is different,I think I'll listen to this. Boom, he
tells his friends and soon the whole neighborhood has the CD. I think
everyone is worked up about emo/punk.pop-punk getting big because they've
embraced it for so long that they don't want to see other people loving it
just as much as they do.
It's like buying a new pair of pants that no one
has and that you love and wear everyday. Then a few other people buy the
same pair of pants and you become sad because now everyone is in on it. Do
you still wear the pants? Of course, they're so comfortable and they're
still your favorite. This is like music. We find something we like and we
hold on to it. When they sign to a major we still love them but realize how
much more popular they will get and how much harder it will be to truly love
them bacuase so many other people have more of the shirts or more
merchandise than you do. Then the trend changes and your left still loving
the band, or your pants. To conclude it all, I think death metal is gonna
rule MTV and I'm gonna laugh my ass off."
Editor's reply:
You make some interesting points, Austin, and bring up some of the more pop-based aspects of what's going on with "punk" right now. I am curious, though, why it's harder to love a band when more people have their shirts and CD's? If your mother, brother, or sister became popular - would it be any more difficult to love them?
I think it's important to point out that there are differences here. There are bands that go mainstream because they make great music, and they keep doing so. Then there are bands who get into the mainstream by taking a departure from their music, and remain popular by changing their music to fit that one song or fad that broke them in. Sugar Ray is a great example of this (sorry, Sugar Ray fans) - "Fly" was their one ballady, poppy song on what was basically a hard rock album. Next album? A bunch of "Fly" clone tracks.
Bands like Tool, on the other hand, have infiltrated the mainstream and the airwaves based solely on their talent. Their style is still distinct, they still manage to remain an enigma to their fans even with mass radio play and exposure, and they haven't changed a thing to suit pop culture.
I do agree with you that there's lots of things the majors (and the bands on them) do in the name of capitalism, and it stinks. And I also agree with you that you can't blame them sometimes. Eating most certainly is a good thing, eh?
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| by from rbenson@stu.parkland.cc.il.us | |
rbenson writes:
"I am a hard core Mest fan! I have been ever since I saw them play with
Goldfinger at the house of blues in Chicago. I had never heard of them until
then. It was all most three years ago and I have been a true follower ever
since. It is difficult for me though since no one around here plays them. I
have all their CD's and they remain at the top of my collection along with
other greats like weezer. I think mest is kick ass and have a lot to be
credited for. As a band they have grown tremedously from their last album to
destination unknown. So being credited for not having a good variety and all
the songs being about "losing the girl" I think you don't know what you are
talking about. They keep the whole cd up with good variety and unique style.
They have their fair share of popish punk but even it out well with things a
little different like 'mother's prayer', 'Chelsea', and of course Cadilac.
THis is much more of a variety than sell out's such as Blink would do! Also
have you really payed attention to their voices? Name a band that can blend
better? I think they even top weezer in that department. I think whoever did
thier review needs to listen to it again and mabey open their ears this time.
Or they need to check out a show because they don't dissapoint.
Thanks for listening to my bithcing. I feel much better now. YOu pissed the
hell out of me when I read and I know a lot of people that would agree."
Editor's reply:
Well, Rob, I'm sorry that you were unhappy with our review. However, it's probably best for us to explain right away - opinions of bands are 99% just that - opinions. Our reviewers both gave Mest very positive reviews, with some small amount of criticism. I'm not sure why you'd be angry over either of our reviews, really. One was critical, but still complimentary.
If we're not critical, even of those bands we like - then what's the point of a review? It'd be nothing more than an advertisement, only we wouldn't be getting paid, and frankly we could use the cash!
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