I have in front of me a CD that was jointly produced by ROUGH TRADE records and the SUNDAY TIMES, it is called 'MODERN ICONS' -MODERN SONGS TO REMEMBER. It is supposed to represent the musical future of Britain, all the bands being ones that have made a name for themselves in one way or another recently (some having a longer shelf life than others).
If the CD is supposed to show us a glimpse of what the future holds for us musically then i thank every bloody god ever worshipped for all of the great music that has appeared at various times during the past 90 odd years because the musical past sounds rosier than the future if this is what is on offer to us.
Listening to the CD was like inviting a bad smell into your room, the music just slowly glooped out of the speakers in a weak mush of crap, track after track, i expected there to be at least one or two 'listenable' tracks because of the shit (i now know) that has been written about some of the bands, TOTALSHAMBLES for instance, their song 'ALBION' was drivel despite reading that it is a 'modern anthem', THE STROKES did their usual CBGB'S 1975 noise as bad as it gets and there was also droopy music by SCRITTI POLITTI, BELLE AND SEBASTIAN and SUPER FURRY ANIMALS. There was even the last single by the LIBERTINES with PETE DRUGERTY (cant stand me now), and that was about the best and most lively track on the CD.
The CD is presented as containing the best of the 'INDIE' bunch and yet most certainly does not! And what is this word 'INDIE' supposed to mean now? there are names like WARNER, SONY and EMI all over the back of the cover, how is that 'indie'? and why have ROUGH TRADE got into bed with a publication such as the SUNDAY TIMES to produce a CD of such lame quality, and put their name brazenly on the cover for all to see? Mind you, ROUGH TRADE have embraced new musical styles and have also left punk in the dust so that they can concentrate on selling electronic based music mostly, which is up to them and them alone, even though they could sell many punk records if they wanted to what with punks popularity growing all the time and with new band's and punk labels from all over the UK, Europe and America springing up with regularity again (and they do get asked for copies of new punk releases), and ROUGH TRADE'S connection with punk music had mutual benefits that were enjoyed by all as a result (without punk ROUGH TRADE would not have lasted out the 1970's -fact.), but they don't want to and that is their choice.
Except the CD racks, there is quite a few punk CD'S that vary from CD re releases of old punk LP'S right up to new labels and bands, but the punk singles rack is getting smaller all the time (almost at the speed of sight) and yet you can still find some great singles there.
But 'INDIE ICON'S ? bollocks! most of the bands are about as independent as a cripple on full state benefits (no offence to cripples).
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