Matthew Sweet rocks.
Thank you.
This is the archived edition of a blog kept from Nov. 24, 2002, to
Feb. 29, 2004, by Clay Wirestone.
The original description: "From the overstuffed mind of writer,
editor, cartoonist and crank Clay McCuistion comes a blog full of
-- well -- stuff. And things."
Sunday, March 9, 2003
Blandness for all
It's not just file-sharing that's killing the music business. Take a look at this New York Times editorial.
The Trouble With Corporate Radio: The Day the Protest Music Died
By BRENT STAPLES
Pop music played a crucial role in the national debate over the Vietnam War. By the late 1960's, radio stations across the country were crackling with blatantly political songs that became mainstream hits. After the National Guard killed four antiwar demonstrators at Kent State University in Ohio in the spring of 1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young recorded a song, simply titled "Ohio," about the horror of the event, criticizing President Richard Nixon by name. The song was rushed onto the air while sentiment was still high, and became both an antiwar anthem and a huge moneymaker.
A comparable song about George W. Bush's rush to war in Iraq would have no chance at all today. There are plenty of angry people, many with prime music-buying demographics. But independent radio stations that once would have played edgy, political music have been gobbled up by corporations that control hundreds of stations and have no wish to rock the boat.
...
Which brings us back to the hypothetical pop song attacking George Bush. The odds against such a song reaching the air are steep from the outset, given a conservative corporate structure that controls thousands of stations. Record executives who know the lay of land take the path of least resistance when deciding where to spend their promotional money. This flight to sameness and superficiality is narrowing the range of what Americans hear on the radio — and killing popular music.
The Trouble With Corporate Radio: The Day the Protest Music Died
By BRENT STAPLES
Pop music played a crucial role in the national debate over the Vietnam War. By the late 1960's, radio stations across the country were crackling with blatantly political songs that became mainstream hits. After the National Guard killed four antiwar demonstrators at Kent State University in Ohio in the spring of 1970, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young recorded a song, simply titled "Ohio," about the horror of the event, criticizing President Richard Nixon by name. The song was rushed onto the air while sentiment was still high, and became both an antiwar anthem and a huge moneymaker.
A comparable song about George W. Bush's rush to war in Iraq would have no chance at all today. There are plenty of angry people, many with prime music-buying demographics. But independent radio stations that once would have played edgy, political music have been gobbled up by corporations that control hundreds of stations and have no wish to rock the boat.
...
Which brings us back to the hypothetical pop song attacking George Bush. The odds against such a song reaching the air are steep from the outset, given a conservative corporate structure that controls thousands of stations. Record executives who know the lay of land take the path of least resistance when deciding where to spend their promotional money. This flight to sameness and superficiality is narrowing the range of what Americans hear on the radio — and killing popular music.
Tuesday, March 4, 2003
On the speakers
What are you listening to, Clay?
Why, thanks for asking.
1.) A downloaded copy of Johnny Cash's latest album, American IV: The Man Comes Around. It's an eclectic mix of originals, covers and old cowboy songs.
The video for his version of Trent Reznor's "Hurt" is getting major press. Take a look. It's devastating. And Shakespearean. And damn cool.
2.) Energized by Mr. Cash's current work, I decided to sample some of his older material. Thus I purchased his 3-CD boxed set, "Love, God, Murder." Each disk is themed -- a fascinating concept for a non-chronological career retrospective.
3.) The Beach Boys finally approved release of a 23-year-old concert: "Good Timin: Live At Knebworth England 1980." It was the last time all six members of the group appeared on an English stage. Interesting, if slick. Founding creative force Brian Wilson is mostly relegated to the sidelines.
Monday, March 3, 2003
Celebrate good times, come on
Gazing at my planner for the month of April, I'm struck by the sequence of holidays.
Passover ends on the 17th. The 18th is Good Friday. Easter follows on the 20th.
Then, on the 23rd, the holiday everyone was truly waiting for: "Administrative Professionals Day."
On purpose, see?
I know the previous post wasn't particularly clever.
Well, maybe I wasn't going for that. Perhaps I just wanted to be quaintly ruminative.
Assumptions make, well you know
Mr. McClosky claims his sister will miss him when he's dead.
This assumes his sister will outlive him.
It seems a leap.
Saturday, March 1, 2003
Happy happy happy
A new month dawns. And it's my sister's birthday ... kind of.
She was born on February 29th, so her true birthday comes every four years. She's four and three-quarters this year, or 19. I ordered her a marvelous present, which she should receive in the next week.
I'll talk about it then.
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