quoted 6 lines Cutting out posts that contain these words and nipping these>Cutting out posts that contain these words and nipping these
>ridiculous discussions in the bud would make the list a much nicer place,
>I think. (I also think that posting flamebait news about "mainstream"
>musicians without provocation, which is what started the most recent
>discussion, should be grounds for removal from the list, but that's
>probably too much for most people).
Many seem to have the idea that these protracted discussions about
underground/mainstream/sellouts/Reznor, etc., are some sort of misguided,
shameful activity. Granted, it probably wasn't what Alan had in mind, but
if it's what we're talking about then ... it's damn well what we're talking
about, isn't it?!
Ridiculous? Well, maybe so, but that doesn't mean it's not valuable -- I
think it is. These are things that we, as music lovers, seriously need to
be thinking about. Aesthetic judgments aside, Trent is in a interesting
position, and has enough visibility that we get to use his experience as
our timely education. If I were an IDM artist, I'd be studying Trent's
career like a textbook.
quoted 4 lines now, if reznor has his own>now, if reznor has his own
>mailing list, newsgroup, record label, and seems to be a constant topic
>of discussion in magazines, on the RMI, and now "here," you can't dismiss
>the effect his work has on electronic music.
Bingo. Music period, for that matter. He's raising some serious
questions, not only to us but to himself, and I applaud him for facing
them. Besides, it's not like he lifted himself to this status by his own
bootstraps or something. It takes two to tango, and we as the 'public' are
part of the equation. Nobody's twisting our arms to talk about him.
quoted 4 lines i think people just get>i think people just get
>jealous when they see a group working with musical techniques which are
>considered "underground." and, most importantly, manage to make it work,
>and available to the "mainstream" public.
Of course they do.
quoted 2 lines that's such an arrogant/>that's such an arrogant/
>elitist outlook that would seem to harm the music industry.
How do you figure? Competition, arrogance, and elitism are the industry's
bread & butter.
quoted 8 lines even though>even though
>i didn't particularly care for The Downward Spiral, NIN/Reznor would be
>one of the last people i'd consider talentless. he's just a smart guy,
>who knows what the next "big thing" is going to be, and goes from there.
> but i doubt his next release is gonna be a d&b album. lyric wise, if
>the guy feels like shit 80% of the day, then let him sing about it. i
>think if he was trying to cater to the interests of others in that
>respect, he would've changed his lyrical content a long time ago.
Maybe. Try this on, though:
THEN: Trent was a bratty adolescent who wrote a bunch of angst-ridden
songs, got hooked up with some great producers, and crafted an album that,
for one reason or another, caught the public's attention. The industry
caught the scent and it was all fun and games ...
NOW: Trent is around 30. He is a rock star, a performer. NIN isn't some
frustration vent any more, it's his _job_. He doesn't really have a lot to
scream about any more, unless it's how he sees his own mug every time he
opens a magazine. I don't think he's written any new NIN material in quite
some time.
If I were him I'd be doing some serious head-scratching, feeling a lot like
I'd painted myself into a corner. _Now_ what? Quit? Delve into
self-parody? Do soundtracks?
Start a label?
--Seofon