polygon@jhu.edu wrote:
I voted for Skam as best label, but Orbital's In Sides as best
album ofthe year?! Orbital?! Argh, I'm trying not to vomit in
disgust. I boughtthe album, listened to it, and passed it off for
what it was: MTV breakthrough/quick-burn fodder which we're all
quickly getting sick of, hopefully. Christ. Yet another example
of the undue and undeserved influence we're letting MTV have on
musical tastes. Show some free will, people, for God's sakes.
Making an effort?!!!
MTV?!
I, and no doubt there are many like me, am regularly in
the stores listening to the new releases, hoping to come
accross some really wild, really good music. I listen to
names both familiar and unfamiliar and the stores where
I shop stock most of the items discussed on this list.
My pursuit of the good groove is an active one. My
selection of Orbital as #1 was not by default and not
the result an apathetic "Oh well, they're the only band
in the poll I've heard of." (Oops, dangling participle.)
I don't get MTV or its Canadian equivalent MuchMusic and
even if I did...well you don't see Alanis Morisette in
my collection and everyone seen one of her damn videos.
(Actually, maybe I like Orbital because I've seen an
Alanis video, they're all part of the same megacorporate
conspiracy, after all.)
It is just a poll and the results will always be
affected by an album's popularity as well as its
quality. In theory, a mediocre album can win if it's the
only album a big enough majority has heard. But in the
case of In Sides, and this is no slight to the other
artists nominated, we have the combination of quantity
AND quality.
all for now,
magic hands