Doubtless Boring Thread About Processed "Nostalgia"

Yeah know exactly what you mean. I have dropped a hint in some threads that 'old shit' bores me. But like you I have this problem that one of my favourite records at the moment is Cluster's 'Sowieso'. Ah well. I still would like to see that Reynolds style 5-year ban on re-issues and box-sets. ;) It's very unhealthy somehow.

But 'new shit' = what?? That 'trends' thread I started - 19 answers and half of them saying micro-house or mentioning specific bands (mostly garage bands at that). Whereas what is the most overrated record etc etc gets 3 times as many replies. It's not that nothing's happening but I genuinely think people aren't interested. Or don't want to take a punt on something where the critical dialogue isn't already worked out (nobody will ever say something bad abt The Slits again so bands who sound just like them are on a safe bet).

yes, but will the critical dialogue be re-written at some point? Has this happened yet - I sense that the looming presence of The Beatles over all else during most of the 90's is fading. I suppose if another tranche of Anthology-type out-takes is fed to joe public all the hype will start again, though. As the journo establishment changes (although this is not happening fast enough - hence presence of many 40+ yrs old hacks still active. Mind you they're better than anyone writing for the NME at the moment)surely many of the foundations will crumble.

Also, there's less need to search out the new when there's so much of the old readily available. My list of stuff I MUST have has never been longer. Much of it was recorded in the 60's , 70's and 80's and I haven't heard it yet.

I think the trick, if it's a trick, is to be able to maintain parallel lives of current and retrospective enjoyment. Then it all becomes one fun mash up.

My buying has lately been all back-catalogue & I hardly have any albums released this year (though I stay on top with obsessive radio listening).

But it's not nostalgia -- rather I'm filling in huge gaps in musical knowledge -- 70s & 80s reggae, dancehall, dub -- post smile beach boys -- golden era & pre rap -- &c.

Partly I just don't have the energy to get into any sortof head music, and partly I'm concerned about getting duped by the buzz. Also, I haven't found any particularly good local music stores yet.

The one trend I would point to is that classical orchestra riffs aren't dead in rap/r&b by a long shot, and if anything the samples are getting longer and more complex. Also, I remain convinced that rap is getting v. v. tame indeed, as compared to current R&B.

As listeners and artists, we are hyper-aware of our well-documented pop past and for the past 10 years, people have:

a) searched for the next big thing, dismissing some good ideas as nostalgic and retrogressive simply because they followed in an identifiable tradition or

b) celebrated the perceived naivite & innocence of our past: at one extreme, a smirking semi-parody of pop past; at the other end, an earnest if semi-coherent rejection of the present like that espoused by the likes of Billy Childish (which, to me at least is seductive but ultimately untenable - a fear-based position)

The blind pursuit of the shiny & new and the progressive & experimental is a constant. For the next little while, people may associate risk with danger but ultimately the progressivist model will prevail.

"How about listening to new shit?"

Hahaha....that is very funny. My friend, the minute a recording is mixed, mastered, pressed onto CD, and then bootlegged in MP3 format that recording is old news. Likewise, as culturally-aware people (in fact, as living, breathing entities) musicians simply can't help but be affected in some way, shape, or form by the rich musical history which preceeds them at the time of the recording/composing of a song or piece. It's impossible - in the biblical sense.

It's funny when people complain that there's nothing new and that everything posing as 'new' is simply a retread of things that have come before. Especially when you consider that the things that have come before were based on things that came before _them_, and those were in turn based on things that came before _them_, obviously. Where else do you think musical ideas would come from? The sky?

Dear Adam: para 1: I didn't say that they didn't. Read the thread again, this time properly.

friends unlimited, rave anthems, ladytron =[guilty]>>me walking backwards into the future>>yezterday bought ^dirty mind^[again!!], miss kittin, ^quality street^ and played ^skramble^.

i listen to new stuff when im out out my stately womb

How about listening to new shit?
The problem being that new shit sounds like old shit, only shittier.
Without having listened to them I am sure I will prefer the "Quine Tapes" to The Strokes, am I the only one?

I've lost my Strokes album. I think one of you lot nicked it.

Is DG using it as a beer coaster or frisbee?

Christ DG you've already got one copy - give it back you magpie!