IDM Mailing Archive

I will say two things and then change the subject: 1) Just because Mommy likes them doesn't make it a quality album [does this make Hootie and the Blowfish geniuses?]; nor the fact that it has a polished, well-produced sound make it a quality album [does this make Frank Sinatra a genius?]. I have listened to 'In Sides' quite a number of times, probably more than those who voted for it as best album of the year. My conclusion is still the same: it is brain candy, aimed at the 18-25 year-old market. Tasty brain candy, but empty-calorie/commercial material, and certainly not worthy of a 'best of' label for the year, much less the decade. I have the same respect for Orbital's music as I do for Grisham's novels: it's icing on top of an empty cake. Icing is nice, but it doth not a cake maketh. [And if you doubt its commercial aspects, please note the various radio, video, and live promotions Orbital used in the US (let alone in the UK) to move the product. I have never seen this level of advertisment for an electronic album before. <LOL> and <giggle> all you please; draw your own conclusions.] 2) An opinion is an opinion. Thought I made this quite clear, but it seems that folks sometimes need reminding. Facts are facts, however, and that 'In Sides' is different in its commercial aspects should be obvious to anyone paying attention. Again, draw your own conclusions. To start even more shit, and perhaps a more interesting thread: Notice that most of the IDM artists and their fans are white males with a tonne of disposable income? Is this merely coincidence? Should this be more than mere chance, why is this so? Why, in fact, did this list earn the name '*intelligent* dance music,' as opposed to any other name? Does this moniker have a racial basis? Love, Alex On Now: Miles Davis, "Kind of Blue." Alexander ("Alex" will do nicely) Peter Reynolds polygon@jhu.edu http://jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu/~polygon http://www.jhu.edu/~jhufilm - Senior User Consultant Homewood Academic Computing, Johns Hopkins University, Homewood Campus Baltimore, MD USA

I think that what people are saying to you is that they *respect* your opinion, but they beleive it to be wrong. It has also been pointed out that Orbital *do* deserve the awards we bestowed upon them for *the only* reason that needs consideration. Which is that these awards were bestowed upon them by a vote by the list.

quoted 4 lines 2) An opinion is an opinion. Thought I made this quite clear, but it seems

> 2) An opinion is an opinion. Thought I made this quite clear, but it seems > that folks sometimes need reminding. Facts are facts, however, and that > 'In Sides' is different in its commercial aspects should be obvious to > anyone paying attention. Again, draw your own conclusions.

Surely music ( as with all art ) should stand on it's own merits. Why do you need to consider a piece of arts 'commercial aspects' at all? Are you afraid to feel to ordinary by admiring something that is popular? The general public is capable of getting things right from time to time. Take 'Pulp Fiction' as a case in point. I think this is an amazing movie. Far from the best I have seen, and far from the most expressive and philosophically explorive I have seen. I'm sure someone on the 'Intelligent Movie' List has been complaining about how pulp fiction is total drivel. Using arguments like 'look how popular it is, how can it have artistic credibility'. Fuck that shit. I enjoyed the film. And I love 'In Sides'. I would rate Sniv and the Brown album above it, but I still think it is an excellent album, and altough I personally didn't get to vote on the final phase ( being on holidays n stuff ) I probably would have voted for Dead Cities....

quoted 8 lines To start even more shit, and perhaps a more interesting thread:

> > To start even more shit, and perhaps a more interesting thread: > > Notice that most of the IDM artists and their fans are white males with a > tonne of disposable income? Is this merely coincidence? Should this be > more than mere chance, why is this so? Why, in fact, did this list earn > the name '*intelligent* dance music,' as opposed to any other name? Does > this moniker have a racial basis?

I rarely find myself considering such matters. IDM fans like IDM. This already is too much over classification for my liking. I've always hated the label IDM. If you read the faq you'll see why it was chosen, but I am personally for changing the list name to 'Experimental Electronic Music' or 'Autechre are God'.... - Hary J Walsh It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult. -Seneca

quoted 2 lines polished, well-produced sound make it a quality album [does this make

> polished, well-produced sound make it a quality album [does this make > Frank Sinatra a genius?].

Pardon me, but Frank Sinatra -is- a genius. Whether you like what he does or not. At the risk of repeating points which others have already made... P & P Hartnoll have quite a good handle on rhythm and counterpoint. Their sound design isn't particularly distinctive most of the time. I like the 2nd (Brown) album best in this respect, though _Snivilisation_ also offers a more-than-respectable amount of sonic invention. _In Sides_, like their other records, is a work of admirable craft and attention to detail, is warm and engaging (far short of pablum) -- and sounds best if you don't listen too closely. Orbital could find mass success in much the same way (if not to the same level) as U2 or Nine Inch Nails. That is, U2 and NIN pushed at the envelope of pop culture, but not very hard. Nirvana and REM, too. Pop culture moved toward all of them, not the other way around. Speaking of which, I heard the track "Firestarter" by Prodigy on the "Top 5 at 5" on Chicago's Q101 (alternative-rock station). Reminded me of NIN trying to do early Aphex or something. Is this indicative of Prodigy's other material? --Mark

You wrote:

quoted 5 lines Alex Reynolds wrote:

> >Alex Reynolds wrote: >> > >> [And if you doubt its commercial aspects, please note the various

radio,

quoted 1 line video, and live promotions Orbital used in the US (let alone in the

>> video, and live promotions Orbital used in the US (let alone in the

UK) to

quoted 1 line move the product. I have never seen this level of advertisment for

>> move the product. I have never seen this level of advertisment for

an

quoted 1 line electronic album before. <LOL> and <giggle> all you please; draw

>> electronic album before. <LOL> and <giggle> all you please; draw

your own

quoted 4 lines conclusions.]

>> conclusions.] > >i must be living in a cave....i have seen no more advertising for this >album then say...TRICKY..(ah ha, the conspiracy is becoming

clearer!!). I can see absolutely nothing wrong with people promoting a product that they've put out. It actually shows that a record company is serious about making sure that their artists get hears and paid. Its good to see bands like Orbital getting what they deserve for making the wonderful music that they do instead of getting stuck doing some crappy day job in order to do their music .

quoted 1 line (and i sure as hell have never heard orbital on the radio....unless

>(and i sure as hell have never heard orbital on the radio....unless

it's

quoted 1 line some specialty show...)

>some specialty show...)

quoted 1 line This whole line of thought reminds me of when Nirvana hit it big and

>This whole line of thought reminds me of when Nirvana hit it big and

all

quoted 4 lines the "indier-than-thou" kids started whineing about a corporate plan,

>the "indier-than-thou" kids started whineing about a corporate plan, >blah...blah...blah.... > > (um...you probably don't like the chemical brothers,

I couldn't agree more ROB

quoted 3 lines and as a black 27-year-old without a hell of alot of disposable income,

>and as a black 27-year-old without a hell of alot of disposable income, >i see the Bomb Squad as alot more intellegent then Apex-fucking-Twin >(but i like it just the same.....)

the bomb squad are more intelligent, mainly due to the presence of ideas, direction and a plan. nuff said. uh, notice the presence of chuck d on "newsradio" last night (burn nbc burn) on now: neptunian bliss mc2 featuring erra (map) cameron ===================================== cameron bowden cameron@imagina.com blacksmith on the anvil in your ear _____________________________________