Morgan wrote:
>
>Bill sez:
>
>> And yeah, I know you were teasing, but I wonder sometimes at the
>>overheated British press.
>
>I reply:
>
>They really do seem to have the KNACK (do I dare??? must resist the era of
>skinny ties) for creating some artificially charged situations. I guess
>that goes for anywhere in the world for that matter. However, I've heard
>alot of British artists complain of this problem...
>
>>b.s. who can't believe he's confessing to britpop here...<g>
>
>morgan "don't you feel better though?" <g>
>
The basic problem stems from the punk era. Up until the late 80s at
least UK music reporting was dominated by two weekly papers, Melody
Maker and New Musical Express (the 'inkies' as they're known as
against the 'glossies' or monthly music magazines).
Both they, and the UK music industry as a whole, were late in
catching on to punk and they have vowed never again to be caught
out like that. So their subsequent history has been the endless
frenzied search for The Next Big Thing, which means they're open to
any record company hype. The apotheosis of this (I wish I could say
it was the nadir but there's probably a lot worse to come) was
Britpop. If you thought Oasis were crap (and they do have a couple
of good tunes) you should see some of the other absolute garbage
they've tried to foist on us. They have, however, been found out
and their circulations are plummeting, (while those of the glossies
are rising) which of course only encourages even more desperate
searching for the next 'movement' they can hitch themselves to.
There are many reasons why I thank God (or at least would do so in
more than a metaphorical sense if I believed in Her) I like country
music. Being completely ignored as a result by all the mainstream
media in the UK is one of them. Just think how good country might
be in the US if it wasn't just so damned *popular*.
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Iain Noble
Hound Dog Research, Survey and Social Research Consultancy,
28A Collegiate Crescent Sheffield S10 2BA UK
Phone/fax: (+44) (0)114 267 1394 email:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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