Being a music snob and all......

Frys Girl · May 12, 2009, 06:40:45 AM

I hate it when a certain band I love hits it big. This is especially true when it comes to foreign bands who are discovered in America and ruined forever. I think this is true of the following bands:
Black Eyed Peas (I liked them along with Esthero. Good combo. However, BEP turned into the current state of shit you see today. Esthero remains in tact.)

Daft Punk

Paul Oakenfold

U2 (this goes way back)

The Verve (I hate what the rollingstones did to these guys - I like Richard Ashcroft as a solo guy even though he is a big of an asshole. His talent in my eyes permits this)

Last but not least - the Arctic Monkeys. I AM TERRIFIED of what will happen to these guys. They are wicked cool and their sound is something to dream about. Album after album of sweet delicious musical goodness. If I ever see them on TRL or any show like this, I will get sad like a fat kid who can't unlock the fridge. I can't tell you how passionate I am about them. While I want them to succeed, I don't want them to get the American curse. They need to keep their British teen angstiness to prevent the sucking that will ensue.

Money is the root of all evil. I hope these guys will stay put and stay good for years to come. We shall see.

Feel free to contribute other bands.

EvB · May 12, 2009, 11:10:49 AM

Just a quick reminder: MONEY is not the root of all evil, it is: 1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of many evils" (there are various translations - but the meaning is clearly that it is greed - not money itself that is evil) This is one of the many mis-quoted passages that has been used to keep those in power powerful - and those not - not.

Here is a cross-ref from the same book on the same subject:

1 Timothy 6:9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.

But yes - artists are corrupted by greed - much too often.

And yes - I just spiraled off topic - so someone bring us back on!

Pirate King Atomsk · May 12, 2009, 12:41:18 PM

Actually I think that's rather ON TOPIC, Ev. Selling out is selling out, whether it's the bible or true devotion in your work/artistry. Money is great to have and all, but it's destroyed many a good band, indeed.

PhantasticSanShiSan · May 12, 2009, 02:11:33 PM

Mammon.

BTW, Black-Eyed Peas suck balls IMFO. And Paul Oakenfold was never THAT good. I've seen him in Toronto on the cards with DJs that were, and are, better then he ever will be. Totally overrated. But I know what you mean. It happened with Moby (although I never liked his stuff all that much either). I saw him spin at a rave in '92 or '93, and when he became popular, his shit got weak(er).

Daft Punk is awesome.

Frys Girl · May 12, 2009, 04:18:02 PM

Quote from: PhantasticSanShiSan on May 12, 2009, 02:11:33 PM
Mammon.

BTW, Black-Eyed Peas suck balls IMFO. And Paul Oakenfold was never THAT good. I've seen him in Toronto on the cards with DJs that were, and are, better then he ever will be. Totally overrated. But I know what you mean. It happened with Moby (although I never liked his stuff all that much either). I saw him spin at a rave in '92 or '93, and when he became popular, his shit got weak(er).

Daft Punk is awesome.

MOBY! Yes.

EvB - are you kiddin me? You can let money ruin you while still hating it. It's just a fact of life. People might chase it despite their full knowledge that it brings problems. Mo money mo problems are true words.

EvB · May 12, 2009, 05:07:16 PM

QuoteEvB - are you kiddin me? You can let money ruin you while still hating it. It's just a fact of life.

Nope - just correcting a common misquotation.

And - the rest of your question is one of those philosophical debates that could go on forever.

As for me, I like money just fine - it's not a love/hate thing - it's a greed/balance thing. But I've also seen people (and not just uber rich and famous people either) ruin their lives and the lives of those they love becuase the buck comes FIRST. No other considerations need apply.

Think Harry Chapin: Cat's in the Cradle

If your kids are starving, that's one thing. I'd say that's survival instinct and love of the child that drives you. If you have enough, but enough is never enough and therefore other parts of your life go to hell - well - that can range from just kinda sad to downright evil.

Frys Girl · May 13, 2009, 06:10:56 AM

Quote from: EvB on May 12, 2009, 05:07:16 PM
Nope - just correcting a common misquotation.

And - the rest of your question is one of those philosophical debates that could go on forever.

As for me, I like money just fine - it's not a love/hate thing - it's a greed/balance thing. But I've also seen people (and not just uber rich and famous people either) ruin their lives and the lives of those they love becuase the buck comes FIRST. No other considerations need apply.

Think Harry Chapin: Cat's in the Cradle

If your kids are starving, that's one thing. I'd say that's survival instinct and love of the child that drives you. If you have enough, but enough is never enough and therefore other parts of your life go to hell - well - that can range from just kinda sad to downright evil.

Ok this is ridiculous. You are comparing regular working people to successful/famous musicians. It's not like the Arctic Monkeys can come sit in Sony offices and say "You know, we just want 1 million to share - not a million each." That's ridiculous. The money is there no matter what. The lifestyles change and the priority changes.

Coldplay is another example. They suck anyway, but basically, they have let money take over them and it's clear. The same songs over and over - and even copied songs - just to keep up.

I don't consider Chris what's his face as greedy (don't know him personally). However, I think the money is definitely a motivator. He has children whom he'd like to leave savings for, as most parents do. I don't think that's greedy at all. he's just sold out as Phan pointed out. And its reflected in the suckdom of their music.

Nboy · May 23, 2009, 06:17:50 AM

So whats your opinions on radiohead?

slipstream · June 02, 2009, 09:56:08 AM

Quote from: Nboy on May 23, 2009, 06:17:50 AM
So whats your opinions on radiohead?

One of the best bands at the turn of the century.

Frys Girl · June 04, 2009, 05:29:01 AM

Quote from: Nboy on May 23, 2009, 06:17:50 AM
So whats your opinions on radiohead?

Good question! I am going to piss lots of people off by saying this, but I think they got worse with time and fame. Sorry. I respect how they give music away for free, but they can keep it.

Pirate King Atomsk · June 05, 2009, 01:54:18 PM

Quote from: Frys Girl on June 04, 2009, 05:29:01 AM
Good question! I am going to piss lots of people off by saying this, but I think they got worse with time and fame. Sorry. I respect how they give music away for free, but they can keep it.

Last album I got was "Kid A", I think. "OK Computer" will always be my favorite though. Paranoid Android, ahh.

Dixie Butcher · June 06, 2009, 07:26:57 PM

Wow. I want to participate in this so bad - and obviously couldn't stop myself - but I don't even know what to say or how to start. Except it's a topic that me & my friends have batted about since we started listening to music. 35 some years later, only the band names have changed. And it's still troubling.

But why?! I think that's the funniest part, is that us music fans struggle with it. I don't know what quantifies "famous", but I have a few friends I consider "kinda famous". Others would say, "Whaddaya mean not famous? They're HUGE!" and others would say, "Who the fuck are The Fussy Parts?" (made up name...)

One funny thing is, even famous musicians struggle with their favorite artists 'getting big'. I'm not a famous anything, but usually I'm happy as hell to see a really cool, unique, underdog type band, artist, whatever get their due, whether I know them or not. But at the same time there's a little part of me that wants to keep them to myself. I wonder why we want to do that? (I've also watched -with great interest- the audiences of a particular act change as the artist got more famous. - That by itself is pretty wild to see... If you're a dork like me, anyhow..)

Some people do turn into assholes when they get bigger, but, often you'll find that they were assholes before they got famous! I've a couple band scenarios, and then heard the inside dirt on many others ... nobody ever got U2 famous, but .... you know, maybe a little famous. (Our friend Spooner just got into the RnR Hall of Fame!!) People who other people in music recognize, if not the average fan. And they all gossip, you know. It's been real interesting hearing all the stories about various acts and how they've dealt with this that & the other thing.

Just try to remember that it is SO. FUCKING. HARD. to make money in that business. Even the ones you think are "doing well" - probably aren't doing that well.

The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.

... and he wrote that back in "the good old days!!!"