Is it just me or is the predominance of independent labels in the last few years the worst thing to happen to music in decades? Sure the majors more or less plotted their own downfall but as the people of Iraq have found out sometimes you need a greasy asshole with a moustache and a big yacht to keep order. We now find ourselves hopelessly mired in indie quicksand that will prove impossible to struggle free from.

Basically, technology has enabled more and more 'artists', i.e. people who are essentially talentless clots, to festoon us with their independently released song dregs so that all notions of quality have become completely irrelevant. As long as you CAN do it you SHOULD do it seems to be the credo. When anyone can record and release an album we truly live in a world with no limits - of 'look at me' desperation, that is.

This self important compunction to share their art with the world overrides any idea that something should be worthy of release. A generation of molly-coddled, pleasantly egotistical middle class nincompoops have been brought up to believe they have a gift to share with the world when in fact the rough hand of an abusive father, smack across the forehead, would have been more beneficial, at least the listening public, if not their Can-Do addled minds.

The facts are that for the music fan there is now no escape from these feckless legions of xeroxed buffoons. Every one is at it. "I'm in a band!" has become the universal language of cultural despair. At least when the Artie Fufkin's of the world were proving the law of averages by occasionally signing a good band we had a chance of picking the needle from the haystack. Now we have no chance as we are overwhelmed with a trillion vibrating molecules of mediocrity.

I'm sick of it. I say dice every last one of them with sabres, bonfire their pitiful remains and tip the ashes into the swill troughs of a boar farm.

Death to the Independents!

Well-constructed and manly post that were.

And, no.

the independant labels are the only ones signing canadian bands anymore. theyre single handedly fostering the music scene here, since the majors who previously had a big standing in canada (mostly emi and sony) seem to be totally uninterested in signing anyone.

wow. so well written and there's nothing i'd add except to say i agree.
oh, and you're brilliant.

with people my age it's:

Personally I think it's the greatest thing to ever happen to the music industry. Wake them the fuck up, I hope. Or collapse them. And it's not like I have to listen to the crap artists more than once. Once I don't like them, I can move on pretty quick.

The ability to cut out some of the suits is always a good thing and varies what type of voice reaches the masses. Also means crud gets web-hyped, but that's the revolution, with the good and the junk.

I only agree with that me, half the time too.

So, Darrin, unless this is a Swiftian-type post, who exactly is "forcing" you to listen to independant music? I find your argument emotional resonant but fully fallacious in real world practice.

Much like George W. Bush and that pasta cylinder cooker.

How's that Tacitus going?

I'm going to hand that in instead.

Awesome.

One of the characteristics of Rock and Roll as defined by me is the ability for anyone—anyone—to be able to create it, not just virtuosos or highly trained instrumentalists.

It makes me gag a little trying to imagine a world of Rush, Steely Dan & Dream Theater bands and no Ramones, Neil Young or Replacements.

I think technology makes entry easier, and that naturally leads to more crap. I'm already pretty adept at ignoring crap, so I'm ready for 'em.

I think you're assigning the blame one step further in the chain than you should. It's the technology allowing any of us talentless clots to record that is the source of the problem; the labels are just facilitators.

So you don't want to hear my album then?

You'll notice I've never pushed my own Eno-wannabe tracks on anybody here.

Worth noting perhaps that The Ramones and Neil Young released virtually their entire catalogues on major labels. When the Replacements 'got good' they were quickly snapped up by Sire.

The Velvet Underground's commercial disasterous LP's were all released by a major. Even Gang of Four were signed to EMI.

Today, hipsters cry foul of major labels while aping completely the bands major labels signed and fostered years ago.

That wasn't really the point.

I don't know Darrin. I think you're painting this disillusionment with too broad a brush.


Are there thousands of crappy bands on self-released and independent labels? The answer is undoubtably yes.

Are there multitudes of shitty bands on major labels. God yes, no doubt about it.


Personally, I think there's more variety and creativity in the music world when independent artists are able to flourish and I'm all for that. But finding quality music in general is like pulling needles out of a haystack of worthless straw. Whether that straw is being pushed by major labels or independent labels though doesn't matter, I'll keep digging and find my musical gems either way.

MST3K:

"Joel, press here and here. And hold. Now you have a Windham Hill contract"


Mine's a 62 minute jam based on parts of The Gerbils "Crayon Box" mixed with Phil Ochs "The Highway Man" and spoken word tributes to the Honeycomb Treehouse. It's a bit lo-fi.

Nobody does lengthy posts better than Darrin! Good on ya, mate!!!

And vice versa.