The new Radiohead album is really good. They're a funny band really. There are thousands of experimental rock and even electronic outfits the world over who never make a dime, and then Radiohead wander along doing exactly the same thing and sell millions. Even in America. Brand recognition, eh? They're sort of a respectable everyband for All That, and to be honest with you, it's hard to say that we really need all those thousands of other bands. Or any bands at all.
In Rainbows is a great album, but what really makes it awesome is the marketing gimmick used to distribute it. It seems to have worked, giving the recording industry an almighty kick in the nads. Because of this, In Rainbows is not merely an accomplished album, it's a sort of cultural event.
If you're wondering how all this squares with me saying, a month ago, that Radiohead were just an 'updated Pink Floyd', well I'm not sure either. But here we are.
To cope with all this dizzying up to the minuteness, I went back in time and checked out lots of Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash. The latter are an exceptional unit, with those impeccable close harmonies. They just don't make songs like that any more. Well, they try to, but it comes out feeling self-conscious and contrived.
In fact, fucking kiwi folk! Pack of smug shits all of them!
Also checked out Little Bushman. Sounds like Trinity Roots with a bit of Funkadelic and prog-jazz thrown in. It sounds really good, but like a lot of the jazz school grad music that comes out of Wellington, I can't quite find myself enjoying it. It's stuff you can say 'mm, yes, marvellous' to, without the viscera ever stirring. Er. It's similar to listening to electroacoustic music or squitty witty glitch music. Or metal.
I should confess that this probably says more about my music taste and what moves me and what doesn't than it does about Little Bushman. I just thought I should let you know.
Also, I keep seeing posters for an 'eco-reggae' festival around town. Sure makes my gorge rise. Doubtless this event will be a beacon for the sort of people who habitually refer to New Zealand as 'Aotearoa' because the word represents to them everything this country should be, and not the evil, repressive Old Zealand of meat pies, ladies a plate, school milk, and Sir Edmund Hillary.
Posted by stuart at January 19, 2008 6:03 PM