In a perhaps rather feeble attempt to lift the mediocrity of this blog, I'm posting the (rather long) text of a recent letter-to-the-editor (Drum Media) from GrandmasterMellyMel's former partner in strife, Christian "still angry after all these years" McBride.
Myself, I blame Anna Wood.....
Dear Ed,
Whichever way the Aria chart is ‘counted’ and ‘compiled’, it is clear to the suits of the local industry as well as the punters that; as experts (on the payroll of Apple or Telstra etc) have told us for years, downloading is the most important means of transferring music, and the medium of playback, the i-whatever, is the most important thing to happen since Cliff Richard’s roller skates were wired for sound.
I openly admit that I own an ipod and that much of my life is determined by the question; “Is this activity ipod friendly?”. From going to the toilet, to catching the 438 to Leichhardt, one must at all times possible be locked into what is an unfathomable amount of choice and access to information. However, what I am arguing here is that the whole phenomenon is flawed and the process is detrimental to music in itself.
Firstly and quite simply, the sound is crap. It is harsh and rough when you don’t need it to be. Ever since we left vinyl as the method of playback, music has become less pleasant to the ear, less real. Sonically, the analogue signal that is cut to vinyl is a clearer, almost photo representation of the curved sound wave that exists in the real world, the sine wave. The digital signal of Compact Disks and MP3 files can only capture sound waves in square steps up and down the sound wave. In the digital age, the frequency range of music may have vastly increased (eg ‘mega bass’) but we have made great sacrifices in quality of tone. As we head into to cold-hearted future of the digital age, I would argue that we are in grave danger of producing recorded music that is mixed for ‘ring tone’ before it is mixed to be heard when the listener sits in a room, or as one would watch an actual musical performance. This makes me ill.
Beyond many of these MP3 players’ basic shortcomings, I believe there are broader social issues that come from a tiny little hard drive that is geared towards being a cancerous ‘best of’ compilation of music that you may or may not have paid for. Initial indications of the shuffle function suggest a move away from the importance of a full length ‘Album’ of songs. As artists, we run the risk of handing over creative control to marketers and business strategists in the race to sell single song downloads. Sadly, I would argue this is the case for a couple of my favourite bands who have recently released albums that have a couple of singles and just another 35 or so minutes of filler...
In the marketing of the i-lifestyle, there is a strong focus on individual choice that ties in well with fashion and other branding. The major record labels’ attempt to own this cool scene will lead to the further promotion of trendy music with no substance and a very short life span. In the past few years this stuff has been shoved down our throats via summer festivals desperate to sell ‘interesting and innovative’ (haven’t we seen most of this stuff before?) lineups, with corporate sponsorship. Personally, I believe the individualist nature of wearing tiny headphones all day means one is literally shutting oneself off from new music not on the player, or even conversation with others on the street that might inspire original ideas or new music (or this may also be why I am single). Furthermore, I don’t trust commercial radio or the ABC (ratings equals funding) at all to inspire me with new music. Beyond FBI and 2SER, I go to gigs and rely on friends to let me know what’s happening.
Despite my issues with the various banks and record companies of the world, I would agree with them that by far the biggest challenge to music being the centre of the cultural landscape has been the evolution of new media and entertainment. We will never see another Beatles phenomenon because there are too many other competing products like blockbuster movies and games. It’s not the end of the world, I don’t have to be one of hundreds or maybe even thousands of subscribers to Pay TV and I don’t care that Jet are boring and derivative, but famous. My version of history is as follows: I actually blame Kurt Cobain for heroin becoming trendy in Newtown causing every second disaffected white boy to half-learn how to play guitar (badly), and torturing me with shitty, 90s power pop and then big time corporate rock. That’s why live music died; because people couldn’t play their instrument. This remains a problem, but now its post 911 angst where cool ambivalent rockers are considered good if they jump around in tiny suits and trash the stage. Whatever.
Culturally, all these things would probably occur anyway in the cycle of life and music, but what I do regret in the digital age is the break down in quality of content and form, and the mass marketing of bands that peddle generally crap, predictable, and safe music that passes pretty quickly, all because record companies can’t make enough money producing music that takes risks. From the dada inspired Kiosk, to the momentarily genius and always searching ‘What is Music’ people or any Jazzers that can laugh at themselves, there is always someone in ye old Sydney taking a chance, you just have to do a broader internet search in whatever rocks your boat to realise that they probably live next door and are hopefully gigging somewhere soon.
One would hope that the state of the recording industry (or something) might lead to live music growth because people are pushed outside to see anything new. This is another ongoing problem we need to keep foremost in our minds before local residents shut down our favourite gigs for good and when I get banned from most bars in the inner west anyway...
Yours,
Christian McBride.
* * * * *
You can find out more on the Christian McBride show by researching any of the following:
THE GARRY GLITTEROUS GANG BANG GANG @ The Kings Cross Festival Sat 10th December 8.30pm
Featuring Christa Hughes on 70s schlock and ‘The Christian McBride show’ as 2nd drummer and backing vocals. Playing over-the-top-rock from Spinal Tap to T-Rex and of course the lover of kids, Garry Glitter himself. Will be attempting to relive the sound of 2 drummers (including MGF’s Brian Ferry Sexual) vs. the enigmatic Love Shark + even more very special guests...DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW because many of the members probably won’t remember it anyway...
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THE MONSTARS EP, “Retail Therapy” is Number 10 on the Indy Charts!
http://www.themonstars.com
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NICK STEWART (Gtr George) has joined ‘Matthew’. After losing a guitarist to the ‘live in London’ cliché and a Bass Player to Canberra, Matt Ford (AKA Pinky Beecroft) and Christian are now joined by Nick Stewart and Irish import Ken Folan. December will see Matthew recording stuff at Gigpig HQ in Sydney.
Single/Touring Jan-Feb 06. No superlatives required to talk this up.
http://www.matthew.com.au
PS, if you've forgotten who Anna Wood was, or never knew, she was the 15 year old Sydney schoolgirl who died at The Phoenician Club after taking ecstacy and drowning internally after drinking too much water whilst high, which subsequently meant the closure of one of Sydney's best live music venues.
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