This Is The Last…

Yes there is something wrong with the audience. Did you know that if you score an IQ of 70 you are considered mentally retarded? Let’s compare it to that of the most powerful man in the world whose IQ is 91. Yes, I believe it’s safe to say that there is something definitely wrong with the audience. I’m surprised more people don’t die on an everyday basis from “freak” accidents involving toasters and vacuum cleaners. This kind of cancerous stupidity has affected everything, sadly enough it has extended its reach to music.

I’ve been thinking of writing this post for a while but hadn’t found the right way to go about it. I’m still not sure I have a good grasp on it but one of Quinton’s post lit a fire under me. The idea first came to me when speaking to a very close friend of mine currently in the band Geisha Girls, a local Southern California band. I’ve mentioned him before the notorious Johnny Roller. The core of the conversation was whether or not it was good thing to adopt the sound of your heroes. Being that he feels that his band sounds just like The Gun Club he of course decided it was a good thing. I on the other hand am not so sure. Don’t get me wrong I believe in influences no one is an island blah blah blah. However, you look back at things so that you can learn from their mistakes and avoid them not so that you can replicate them. So in my own subtle way I say, music your current state fills me with bile.

Obviously there are current exceptions but it seems that the riches are reserved for all of the copycats. Take for instance The Libertines, why is everyone in such an uproar about them? They craft well written catchy pop songs built on foundations put there by others, like The Clash for example. Now I’m pretty sure Jesus accopmlished much harder tasks before reaching his well deserved fame, I guess we just dont scrutinize like we use to. Everything short of bitting ones own finger nails seems to be amazing now adays. I’ll admit it’s so awesome when there is a band that you know to be amazing who don’t get credit they deserve and all of the sudden you hear something on the radio that sounds like a comeback single. Once you realize it isn’t the band you though it was the excitement settles away but you feel happy that someone shares your respect and admiration for them. You go out and buy their album and listen to it insensibly for about a week. Then you realize that the reason you like it so much is that it reminds of someone whose album you already own. What happens next? You say thanks for the remainder I’m going to go back and listen to the original.

If you’re reading this and either have a band or are thinking of forming one do not take this offensively. It isn’t an insult it’s more of a plea. It’s great to go in and record something that resembles music you love, if that’s the way it sounds then that’s the way it sounds, but don’t go in with the contrived notion of making it sound like it. For two major reasons; first you won’t be as good and second you’re not even trying. I’ll plea once more keep music vibrant because it’s beginning to feel stagnant, moldy even.

If your reading this and are an avid music lover. Shame on you, shame on us all we’ve all been guilty of it. We fall in love with a band and the sound they’ve created but when they steer away from their signature sound we get upset and boycott. Thus we discourage experimentation and growth. Let’s start flexing our big muscle. In summary don’t buy Libertine albums. HAHAHAHA…just kidding I’m Sure they’re great kids.

-A Boy in Bigger Pants