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BoodahSmokah

and you dont believe Korn belongs to that group? ok, I'm past that stage where I used to listen to em all day long, but I still find they make good music and thats why theyve become popular, I cant find any critical change towards mainstream in their sound..

~boodah~

 

Bongzilla

That's weird - you don't like some music because many people happen to It's like that quote I read...

'I have had to go against my beliefs in order to not conform with them' (or something like that)

Just listen to whatever you think is good - if it happens to be mainstream or not, who cares?

But one thing I gotta say that pisses me off a bit is the bands from the 60's. Poor Jimi Hendrix's songs being played on Pontiac commercials, that sond 'Time of the Season' by the Zombies being played on a tampon (?!) commercial, etc..

Most of the time it is the families of the deceased musician (in Hendrix's case) that sell them out. I think it's sad to see bands that were from an era where the music had a message selling their music like that.

bo-battie

no dude, you don't get it. that's not the reason...i guess i should have been more specific. i meant i don't like popular music (meaning the sh*t that's played over and over again on the radio) because most of the time, it's mindless poppy bullsh*t. that's why i don't like it.

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250604
former cannabis analyst

"just because i stand above you doesn't mean you understand me"
--qwel

quarantined

The goal of many bands is to get signed by a major label. They envision tons of money, national tours, major exposure, radio play, and who knows what else. There's nothing wrong with that. People want to be heard, and people want to make money. Fine. I think it is a fine attitude for a band to have.

However, some bands are willing to forfeit some creative control in order to get a major label contract. And as far as I know, that's what most of the labels are after. And that's where "selling out" starts. Bands whose previous albums were self produced to be the way they wanted have to let some corporate "professional" do the production, and often the sound will be totally different. The labels also sometimes tell the bands what songs they should play during their gigs ("stick to the hits, boys") and often choose who they tour with, what songs get to be on the album, etc. And if a band signs a contract for say 3 albums over 3 years, well, after the first one, if it sells, the label's gonna want the same stuff, regardless of what direction the band wants to take.

So I think a lot of bands might kind of get suckered into "selling out" by thinking the major label contract will be better in the long run for the band than being able to maintain creative control.

What poor, misguided souls. There are plenty of very popular bands that would never ever go near a major label. And there are bands on major labels who do get to do things their own way. They just had the balls to make it part of their contract.

And people that don't like bands just because they think they sold out, well, those people are just dummies. Listen to Lagwagon (from the song Know It All):
"the bands are good 'til they make enough cash to eat food and get a pad, then they're sold out and their music is cliché, because talent's exclusive to bands without pay" haha

So um, yeah. Music is good.


q.

schwadood

But If a band has truly sold-out (not just changed their sound) then they cease to become good. They lose the spark, the energy, the life, that makes music a beautiful thing. Call me crazy, but I can hear when a band is being honest to the music and to themselves. Selling out is lying to yourself because playing just to make money will get boring. It will stop being fun. I love it when I see a band and I can tell they're having a blast on stage.

You are dead on about how many bands get suckered into selling out for their label. I like how ekoositik Hookah does it. They make they're own records, book they're own shows, organize their own twice a year festival. They do it all themselves. They're not rich, but i don't think they want to be. I 'm guessing that they just want to keep doing what they do for as long as possible. And what they do is change.

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peace and much love

 

quarantined

Yeah schwadood, that's exactly what I was thinking about too, when the bands aren't playing for the love of playing. That probably isn't helped by multi-record deals, they're stuck coming up with new stuff even if they don't have anything good, maybe that's why there are so many one hit wonders, cause their second album was too rushed and failed. Or something..

About the other stuff you said.. Bands that really don't believe in sucking too much corporate dick can still "make it" though, if they really want to. The whole punk attitude of getting up and doing it yourself and stuff, and for yourself as well, that's good, I think. That's why so many punk and indie bands with phenomenal songs that would blow current radio programming away never end up going major label. It's certainly not because they can't. They're happy with a little fame and even less fortune, but they're doing what they love, it's great. It's definitely what I'd want..

I think I'm just repeating myself, sorry. I just like to write when I'm stoned.

q.

Bongzilla

My friend made me listen to some NOFX (not as bad as I thought!) and I remember one song was something like 'Please Play this Song on the Radio' - I think that song summed up the way 'sold-out' music sounds.

In my opinion, the epitome of music sell-outs is Madonna. She basically recreates and image every few years and buys her music. How she is popular is confusing, how people can call her a role model for women is just mind boggling.

bo-battie

yeah, nofx is dope.

deadhed

"Sell out? Where can I sign?"

-Jerry Garcia

or something like that

Hydrocronics

Metallica's James Hetfield said something once that I believe should be followed by every "true musician" ...
"We write music for ourselves, and no one else."
That's the way it should be. I've been listenening to Metallica for over 10 years, and unlike some, I welcome their new experimental-type records (recording live with San Fransisco Symphony was great.)

Anyhoo, Peace.

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There is a circular room with many door. Minds lie behind them. Many of the doors are closed. When one has the door open, they can clearly see that everyone else' doors around the room are closed. However, the ones with the door closed cannot see whos is open.

"When you smoke herb you see the system in front of you." - Bob Marley

The Mind is Open.