This year seems to have been pretty shit for new music. In fact, it’s becoming difficult to find anything new worthy of a listen, a situation which has become increasingly worse over the years with the demise of bands like Hot Snakes, Fugazi, and so on. A quick trawl through what’s popular on Indietorrents shows the majority of it to be bullshit folk-esque wank. As another example, let’s take a look at what’s on Pitchforkmedia’s “recommended new music” list going back for a few pages:
Daft Punk – Alive 2007
No.
Beirut – The Flying Club Cup
“Zach Condon’s horn and ukelele…”
Horn and ukelele? No ta.
James Blackshaw – The Cloud of Unknowing
“… acoustic guitar music…”
Acoustic guitar music. No.
Bowerbirds – Hymns for a Dark Horse
“… folk …”
Folk. Fuck no.
A Sunny Day in Glasgow – Scribble Mural Comic Journal
“Philadelphia tweegazers keep up ambient-pop’s ethereal flame…”
Tweegazers? C’mon. Fuck that.
And so it continues over tens of pages. Grim. Seriously, what’s happened to all the good stuff that used to come out of DC, Chicago, et al?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you! I just found this blog, and I couldn’t agree more on the Pitchfork commentary. Every time I look at their “Best New Music” I’m left scratching my head. WTF? It’s all folk music and acoustic singer songwriter crap. Or it’s some impossibly difficult to comprehend techno experimental jive. I just don’t get it. Maybe I’m too old to understand, but I just don’t. I’m just patiently waiting for John Reis’ new project. I need some music with some cojones!
check out a band from the UK called CHARLOTTEFIELD. if you’re into DC and chicago stuff you’ll love them. http://www.myspace.com/charlottefield
Check out Make Believe, from Chicago if you’re missing abrasive sounds.
‘Make Believe’ rings a bell…. I’ll check them out. Thanks!
Cloud of Unknowing is awesome, it’s 12-string compositions with really mind bogglingly fast picking, sorta like huge sweeps. The Flying Cup Club is also very good.
Apologies for distortion pedals not being standard issue on all albums!
I forgot to add, Steve Albini produced all of Nina Nastasia’s albums, which are alt-folk (I guess?) and it’s really dark, and they’re awesome too.
Nina Nastasia & Jim White – You Follow Me
I like Nina – saw her live a few years ago with some weird Asian guys. Distortion pedals should be standard issue however, a minimum requirement if you like.