In a message dated 7/26/02 4:45:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time, dan@tint.org
writes:
quoted 3 lines if we all posted only once with long bits> if we all posted only once with long bits
> of copy with our complete thoughts it'd be lame, that's what magazines
> and books and certain online formats are for.
total email length: 8 paragraphs. thats longer than the average college
essay! i think you just proved your own point. (and i will as well, because i
have constructed an equally long email..)
but enough of that, i hate online bickering, its very counter-productive..
and not enough amusement for a boring week. so i'll bicker some more ;)
Please take some deep breaths, and realize that anyone subscribing to the idm
list is not going to be a big proponent of the major label / mainstream radio
system. Therefore, anyone interested in the Radiohead discussion is not going
to be concerned with whether the subject is a blind follower of corporate
propaganda or not. It does take quite a bit of work to seperate yourself with
the mainstream, so people listening to this kind of music have already
affirmed that they do not support it.
Now as far as I know, the Radiohead albums under examination did not recieve
much in the way of airplay. They were certainly no platinum albums. Many,
many Radiohead fans were completely turned off to the newer material, and
will probably never buy another Radiohead album again. I've met some fans who
took personal offense, calling them an insult. By releasing those albums,
they actually drove away a good portion of their market in the US! They
purposely played minimal shows, and attempted to keep as low a profile as
their label would allow. They have shown that they are not in it for the
money, or they would have made a rehash of OK Computer. So essentially, they
attempted to do the best thing they could, which is have fun making some
electronic music. Which is basically all you can do when you are locked into
a contract with Capitol records. (releasing 2 albums at once is a ploy to get
out of a label contract faster)
If I clearly don't support mainstream corporate radio, and Radiohead does not
want to capitalize monetarily on IDMish music, where does the issue stand? On
whether they take credit for abstract electronic music. As far as their
taking credit, I have yet to hear an interview where they said they were the
first to do this. In fact, I do recall them citing their influences. So their
getting credit stands on people who have never heard of IDM and believe it is
Radiohead's invention. These are the same people who believe Elvis invented
rock and roll, and Trent Reznor invented industrial music. These people are
simply not as interested in music as you and I are. If they were, they would
quickly find the truth.
Many people I have known who liked the Radiohead album and where interested
in the music where quick to consult me because of my love of abstract
electronic music. By that logic, eventually those who it means the most to
will find the truth as well. Is it really important to alert Suzie college
girl that the concepts of her downloaded Radiohead album were pioneered by an
obscure(to the mainstream) British label named Warp? Not particularly,
because she doesnt care. She just likes the music, and thats all that matters
really.