Comments on: trent reznor demands an explanation

By: Dave Allen

Dave Allen — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:21:59 +0000

I think gimmicks don’t work too well these days. As you say Erik, the proof will be in the pudding, how well will this album by the Pumpkins sell anyway. Core base will buy it but beyond that, who knows? We’ll se.

By: erik stanfill

erik stanfill — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:31:31 +0000

as a music consumer myself, it is disappointing to see the corporatization of music (like the smashing pumpkins’ 4-version record reported on pitchfork.) but it is also encouraging to see reznor take a stand â€“ for example…personally abolishing the $-grab joke (that is, the multi-version euro cd single) on future NIN singles. I’m sure there are artists (even some who read this blog) who feel the same way, and I feel it’s up to the artists to seriously consider how their music/art will be (or is) distributed and measure the balance between business, art, and quality. On the flip side, it’s up to the consumer to seriously consider what is worth their time and money. If the pumpkins’ record doesn’t sell well at target, best buy, or wherever the other “alternate versions” are being sold, that would be a pretty good message… but, (sigh), the majors seem to try any gimmick to sell more records.

By: pampelmoose » Blog Archive » smashing pumpkins upset pitchfork..

pampelmoose » Blog Archive » smashing pumpkins upset pitchfork.. — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:51:34 +0000

[...] Related Post: Trent Reznor rails against his record company. [...]

By: royc.

royc. — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:08:37 +0000

They were comparable. Last night’s show had less of an impact on me than the first time, but he (and his band, including Mr. Dibbs on the tables, Kareem on bass, Wilder on keys, and The Mighty Quinn on back-up vocals) is consistent. The set is a lot to take: sounds, lights, blood, fog. It’s intense — especially after lighter-hearted Hip-hop acts Hangar 18, Yak Ballz, and Slow Suicide Stimulus. I could see him being more at home opening for Nine Inch Nails or The Mars Volta, considering the dark vibe and the work he did with those artists on his new record.

By: Dave Allen

Dave Allen — Thu, 17 May 2007 21:09:34 +0000

So how was El-P last night compared to Seattle?

By: royc.

royc. — Thu, 17 May 2007 18:26:13 +0000

Are we picking on Hip-hop because it’s the biggest-selling genre? If so, it makes sense to use it as a barometer of sorts for the rest of the industry, but Hip-hop as a musical form is as vital and creative as it’s ever been — if not more. I came up with BDP, PE, Ice T, NWA, the Native Tongues, et al. too, but for everyone of them back then, there was an MC Hammer, a Young MC, a Tone Loc. The biggest-selling mainstream acts today are light years ahead of the mainstream acts back in the so-called “Golden Era.” Sure, Sean Combs’ indolent and uncreative use of samples dragged the genre down for a few years, but he didn’t do any damage that Hammer hadn’t already done — and he brought us Biggie (which almost makes up for it). Overall, Hip-hop has gotten more interesting, more complex, more diverse, and just plain better.

I think the wounding of its sales base is a symptom of the diseased larger picture.

-royc.

P.S. Props to Trent for speaking out against the real music killers.

By: Dave Allen

Dave Allen — Thu, 17 May 2007 04:43:40 +0000

Lack of new talent and I also think the kids saw through the bling and the product placement as taking away from the original authenticity of the street scene that hip hop sprang up from. Apart from a few players the sales are pretty dismal these days. Even 50 cent has taken to calling them out…

By: jragel

jragel — Wed, 16 May 2007 19:39:51 +0000

oh yea. you’d think there would be more fun material out there. outkast is great. I think there are some awesome mainstream beats being made these days by the roots, timbaland, wyclef, kanye, outkast, quasimodo—just to name a few. outside of those few groups I don’t hear much imaginative songwriting. I think the imagination of songs on the FM dial has deteriorated all across the board though. but do people who get through the day on a steady diet of FM radio and shit tons of obnoxiously loud commercials listen to lyrics? I honestly don’t know…

as one who grew up on public enemy, NWA, run DMC, beastie boys, the fat boys, doug E fresh, and LL cool J I’m pretty disappointed with the direction mainstream hip hop has gone. but I would again submit the idea that the FM dial is lacking in imagination in every genre and that we simply need to ignore it and it’s corporate playlist. I really think there is room for a mid-sized label with a strong business model to get some underground hip hop out there. the barsuk of hip hop. but it seems people have been saying that for years….