- Joined
- Dec 13, 2000
- Messages
- 4,073
These are some thoughts on the most recently posted Articles on "the Underground". (go and read them).
I think Tom has some very good points to make about the previous two articles by Cormy and Anon comparing the current situation to that of circa. 5 years ago. To me there is no comparison and I feel that alot of the current underground scene has alot to owe to the creative Chicago, Canadian and Scottish scenes of the last few years. Personal favourites at the moment being The Redneck Manifesto and Paul O'Reilly who definitely show some influence from bands such as Mogwai, Slint, Tortoise, Papa M/Ariel M, Will Oldham/Palace etc. but most importantly - without sounding derivative. This would be the main criticism I would level at bands from previous years. They tended to sound a bit too much like all the other underground favourites at the time whereas I feel we are now in a position to say that there is a burgeoning "scene" in Dublin which has its own buzz about it. A friend of mine ariving back from London this week was genuinely amazed by the quality of most of the music - the main thing being that it is, dare I say it, musical.
Hell yeah - now we have something to listen to and enjoy rather than the rather average punk/ska/industrial stuff of a few years ago which showed energy but no real talent, creativity or direction. It is becoming more acceptable to actually pick up an acoustic and actually have people shut up and listen. Yes folks - the underground is no longer all about long hair, loud guitars, angry heads and leather jackets (not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that). We are now at a point where websites such as this and shops such as Road act as an information centre for people that are genuinely interested in good new music and not just the old anti-establishment punk-by-numbers. Anon tried to accuse members of this site of being incestuous and buddy-buddy but I certainly don't know anyone else on here (and very often disagree with some thoughts) but am glad to see that there are plenty of people interested and able to discuss music without headbutting each other as in the days of yore (Fibbers anyone?). Yea for it seem the Dublin underground has been wrested from the misshapen fists of the never-made-it neanderthals and thrown to the new blood.
But I think the crux of the matter was touched upon by Tom in his Article. It may unfortunately be only a matter of time before the finest of these bands are snapped up and blown out of proportion spawning copycat bands that will ultimately segregate the current scene.
But for now we should probably be thankful and enjoy the diversity and tolerance and damn fine music being given to us by people such as TRM, Tooth, Paul O'Reilly, Sweep the Leg Johnny etc. etc. and bow to some fine gigs setup by The Kids and The Family - without these sort of people (who thankfully for now seem to be bereft of the usual massive egos associated with the music biz) we probably wouldn't hear half this stuff, so long may it continue.
I think Tom has some very good points to make about the previous two articles by Cormy and Anon comparing the current situation to that of circa. 5 years ago. To me there is no comparison and I feel that alot of the current underground scene has alot to owe to the creative Chicago, Canadian and Scottish scenes of the last few years. Personal favourites at the moment being The Redneck Manifesto and Paul O'Reilly who definitely show some influence from bands such as Mogwai, Slint, Tortoise, Papa M/Ariel M, Will Oldham/Palace etc. but most importantly - without sounding derivative. This would be the main criticism I would level at bands from previous years. They tended to sound a bit too much like all the other underground favourites at the time whereas I feel we are now in a position to say that there is a burgeoning "scene" in Dublin which has its own buzz about it. A friend of mine ariving back from London this week was genuinely amazed by the quality of most of the music - the main thing being that it is, dare I say it, musical.
Hell yeah - now we have something to listen to and enjoy rather than the rather average punk/ska/industrial stuff of a few years ago which showed energy but no real talent, creativity or direction. It is becoming more acceptable to actually pick up an acoustic and actually have people shut up and listen. Yes folks - the underground is no longer all about long hair, loud guitars, angry heads and leather jackets (not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that). We are now at a point where websites such as this and shops such as Road act as an information centre for people that are genuinely interested in good new music and not just the old anti-establishment punk-by-numbers. Anon tried to accuse members of this site of being incestuous and buddy-buddy but I certainly don't know anyone else on here (and very often disagree with some thoughts) but am glad to see that there are plenty of people interested and able to discuss music without headbutting each other as in the days of yore (Fibbers anyone?). Yea for it seem the Dublin underground has been wrested from the misshapen fists of the never-made-it neanderthals and thrown to the new blood.
But I think the crux of the matter was touched upon by Tom in his Article. It may unfortunately be only a matter of time before the finest of these bands are snapped up and blown out of proportion spawning copycat bands that will ultimately segregate the current scene.
But for now we should probably be thankful and enjoy the diversity and tolerance and damn fine music being given to us by people such as TRM, Tooth, Paul O'Reilly, Sweep the Leg Johnny etc. etc. and bow to some fine gigs setup by The Kids and The Family - without these sort of people (who thankfully for now seem to be bereft of the usual massive egos associated with the music biz) we probably wouldn't hear half this stuff, so long may it continue.
