I agree with this thread regarding the speed of music in the US
compared with that in the UK. Though I don't think we need to just
shrug our shoulders and give up on it. We don't need to rely on the
media so much, nor do we have to just swallow the crap that's fed to
us.
I get so frustrated when people I know complain about how lame, or
one-sided, or whatever, publications like Rolling Stone or Spin, etc.
can be. Then I turn around and see a copy of one of the purveyors of
poop on the coffee table.
Speak with your dollars, speak with your mind and write letters to
publications, tell them what you want to see. Dollars speak louder,
though, much louder. Do you think the makers of hyped up crap care
about what critics say? If people are buying the units in droves,
that's what the number crunchers care about, that's what dictates what
will be available to you.
Just stop buying the crap (here, I'm speaking more about magazines and
media rather than records) and support independent efforts. Or better
yet, start your own weekly rag to get the music info out on the
streets. I have seen and experienced what good, dependable
distribution of information can do to bring a scene together. I'm sure
we all have.
Sorry about my ranting; I just get tired of mainstream inertia (to use
someone else's word) making my life and pursuit of happiness
difficult.
Oh, and how about that new Up, Bustle and Out 12"?
-- Gordon