Rarely will I step up onto my high horse to write an editorial or words to that effect, but this has stunned me so much over the last few months that it must be written.
In Britain, the New Musical Express, the NME, pretty much has monopolised the ‘indie music’ market, although having flicked through some issues I wonder where it becomes this magical ‘indie bible’ for the masses. Lately, like all other good musical publications should, it has been publishing its “People to Watch…” list for the coming year; an 11 band monster with a mix of bands who, if you’ve actually been listening to music over the last year, you will know along with some who seem to be very new to the British scene at least.
So, having seen MGMT in their list, and having struggled to find a copy of Oracula Spectacular on 7Digital, their directions to the found of all music scammery, Itunes had me there in a flash. I figured, I need to hear this band; I want to know what the fuss is all about. Although, I wonder will they be another Vampire Weekend in my mind. And here is what sparked the editorial:
Itunes has this neat function where you can see what other people have bought, while having also bought your purchase. Amazon does it; most shopping sites do, so you can check out other stuff and have an impulse buy. The list shown by Itunes, however, on the MGMT page was basically the NME’s list for who to watch in 2008:
Foals, Glasvegas, The Wombats, The Whitest Boy Alive…
Need I go on?
I know I’d like the Sonic Bible to reach out to people, and maybe influence them a little in the ways of music I feel needs hearing; music that is ‘decent’, but I think I’d have to do like those mad black-metallers Emperor and quit my post if all of a sudden we hit NME fame; the end of the spectrum where all they say is good and pure and right. Frankly, I’d prefer people to criticise my views, and tell me ”No, Vampire Weekend are amazing for [x] [y] and [z] reasons…” or “No, British Sea Power sound nothing like that…” . Criticism, constructively, is better than all out cultism.
So, I’d just like a show of hands: How many people read the NME? How many people read the NME and think its word is law?
I’ll admit I read a few music publications: Pitchfork being my main drop-off, for the weekly Forkcast; and Stereogum, for its quirkyness. I’m not forming opinions on my own, or finding everything ahead of everyone, but, I’d like to think I’d never step so low as to follow blindly into their suggestions.
In a shorter, bloggier form, here’s what I mean:
Pros
1. The NME is a big, established publication; it must be right.
2. The NME hires journos to go and review. It also listens to the way the people are headed with musical opinion.
Cons
1. The NME is many months behind the average indie kid. Foals have been on people’s lips since April and before, so the only reason they will be “big” in 2008 is because people know them, not because of value.
2. Sheep. People become blind sheep, treating the NME with the same level of zealousness as, well, a religious zealot.
Basically, ‘think for thyself’.
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or post them below, if they are short and sweet.
