Going big

This is an interesting meditation on the ideological battle between "mainstream" and "cool" when it comes to music. This sort of thing fascinates me, because those considerations play a role in allocating the limited amount of space we have to review CDs (and, to a lesser degree, concerts).

But I think the argument is more complex.

My problem with something going "mainstream" is the amount of artistic compromise it usually seems to require. This is wildly subjective, of course, but Coldplay's most recent album, "X&Y," is a good example: there were no hard edges or challenging bits, because those things tamp down sales.

There are exceptions, I think -- the Killers and Franz Ferdinand are good examples of bands that did what they wanted and the public caught on. But I usually think music is coolest when it challenges me to think. Because of the artistic compromises that often go in to making music "mainstream" (let's define that as music that's palatable to greatest possible number of people), I find that mainstream music rarely challenges me. Thus, to me, it's not as cool as music that DOES challenge me.

Take Billy Bragg. I hated Billy Bragg in college, but lately I've been listening constantly to the compilation "Must I Paint You a Picture," particularly the song "A New England." The song features Bragg singing the most desolate, heartbreaking lyrics in a thick English accent and accompanying himself, urban-folk-punk-style, on a not-very-pretty sounding electric guitar. There is no chance the song would fit on mainstream commercial radio, but it's raw and it feels authentic and that, to me, is cool.

It might still be elitism, but not for the reasons the blogger presents.

Comments

[Derek Warren]

It's funny you mention the Killers/Franz thing. I just purchased a band called She Wants Revenge, which, amazingly, has Justin Warfield, ex-rapper and Bomb The Bass collaborator. Anyway, the record is major label and soooooo derivative of Interpol and the moody lot. I like it enough, but it seems like Geffen cashing in on the Interpol sound with a "hip" band. Kinda like Island and The Bravery. I mean, their album was decent, some good tracks for sure, but there was some crap in there too. They were the doppelganger of sorts to The Killers. Scary thing is they were on the same label. Someone at Universal was doing some homework.

Oh yeah, Coldplay has run their course. They need to find another sound, and fast. I can't tell the difference between "Yellow", "The Scientist" or "Speed Of Sound" anymore. If only he would just divorce that Gwyneth Ono chick.

One more thing..."Greetings To The New Brunette" by Mr. Bragg is one of the most touching and beautiful songs ever written by a cockney folksinger with absolutely no vocal range.