Where is the innovative new music? So much of it sounds like a constant re-tread even when new bands or artists come on. Where is the "wow" factor?
You're looking for the Holy Grail there, Rich. Everything in music has been derivative of what has gone on before. It's not for nothing that David Quantick once wrote 'Pop will eat itself' (I think, quoting Jim Bob from Carter The Unstoppable Machine, and also giving film score writer Clint Mansell the name of his band).
We have 60 years of pop music to look back on. How many innovative artists (by which I mean original, or doing new things with old forms) have we heard in proportion to the amount of acts just retreading?
Don't worry, they'll come, it'll just take us 10 years to recognise their genius. I look forward to future Q writers and the like to point out to us who we ignored.
To be honest these new world bands that Jools has on Later are one of the few acts that are really worth listening to. I haven't been disappointed by them yet. Surprisingly I also thought Coldplay were quite good and I'm not a fan. As for the rest...meh!
I've noticed that established acts always seem to bring their A-game to any Jools show (though when it's not been live they can of course do an improved repeat performance and edit the other one out)
Damon Albarn - well, it was interesting at least and he certainly seemed to be enjoying himself. Would like to hear more to see what other songs sound like.
He seems to be the new Paul Simon in his love/quest for World Music.
I've seen you express the same opinion before (not necessarily on this thread). Not that it bothers me particularly, as your opinion of anything does not upset me, I just thought you might like to know you've said it before.
tl;dr "Nurse! He's up again!"
Thank you for your input.
But I'm pretty sure that not everyone, reads every post of mine, on every thread.
Perhaps you do?
Should I feel flattered, or just express sympathy?
In the context of the discussions, I thought the point I was making was worth repeating.
For the record, I commit very little of what anyone says to memory. I don't often even look at who said what.
I know one or two, bookmark every discussion to which they have contributed.
"Too much to do, so little time."
Please don't take offence, as I'm trying to reply in the same spirit intended.
(I can't stand smilies).
Coldplay, The Black Keys and Damon Albarn were all on top form and i liked all of their stuff. Damon Albarn's music was quite eclectic and think his solo album could be quite interesting.
The 2nd song by Coldplay, 1st song by Black Keys and last song by Damon Albarn were all personal favourites, i thought they were excellent.
I can understand why people might criticise, but where else on mainstream tv do you get to see live music of (relatively) diverse styles, where the musicians seem to have mutual respect despite those differences of style?
To be fair you'd come across as a bit of a dick if when Jools asked "Who have you enjoyed in the room tonight?" and you answered "none of them, they're all shit!"
Coldplay, The Black Keys and Damon Albarn were all on top form and i liked all of their stuff. Damon Albarn's music was quite eclectic and think his solo album could be quite interesting.
The 2nd song by Coldplay, 1st song by Black Keys and last song by Damon Albarn were all personal favourites, i thought they were excellent.
Just finished watching it on iPlayer and really enjoyed it.
A mixed bag on Jools this week. I was never a Blur fan so it came as no great surprise that Damon Albarn left me cold. I do like Coldplay and was curious to see if they have evolved with "Ghost Stories" , although strangely of the three songs featured the one that I preferered was the most "Coldplayesque", the Avicii collaboration "A sky full of stars", I'll even forgive Chris Martin his "elderly relative at a wedding" dancing - as aleady noted I can well imagine this in a stadium setting.
The biggest find of the night though was London singer/songwriter Tom Hickox. His performance of "The Lisbon Maru" sent me straight off to iTunes to check out the stunning debut album "War Peace and Diplomacy".
Most weeks it's as if the line-up must have been chosen by Bob Harris's granddad. I can think of just one or two stand-out performances over the years, such as early appearances by Radiohead and Portishead, but there's such a lot of turgid old dad-rock and token, dull "world music" that waiting for the very occasional highlight is like wilfully submitting to torture.
Most weeks it's as if the line-up must have been chosen by Bob Harris's granddad. I can think of just one or two stand-out performances over the years, such as early appearances by Radiohead and Portishead, but there's such a lot of turgid old dad-rock and token, dull "world music" that waiting for the very occasional highlight is like wilfully submitting to torture.
Bizarre post of the day.
Perhaps you're the "token" TotP person watching rather than an open-minded music fan.
Jools Holland being criticised for choosing music and artistes based on his own eclectic and wide-ranging musical preference shocker!
TBH some of the younger two and half (struggling to reach that difficult third) chord thrash bands that *are* on would find the bar emptying down at the local pub.
Crikey, I haven't heard of any of them. I'm so old!
Hopefully I'll enjoy what I might hear.
Off the top of my own head Aloe Blacc is a US soul singer who had a recent UK no. 1 only a few weeks ago. The Horrors are a UK indie band, Little Dragon are a Swedish electronic band and the rest no idea.
Next week Aloe Blacc, Little Dragon, The Horrors, Afghan Whigs and Sturgill Simpson.
It seems the show is struggling to get hold of some names to actually draw the viewer in to watch. I know nothing about any of these. They might be great, but we surely need at least a couple of bigger named acts appearing. This series has seemed poor in comparison to previous ones to me.
Comments
You're looking for the Holy Grail there, Rich. Everything in music has been derivative of what has gone on before. It's not for nothing that David Quantick once wrote 'Pop will eat itself' (I think, quoting Jim Bob from Carter The Unstoppable Machine, and also giving film score writer Clint Mansell the name of his band).
We have 60 years of pop music to look back on. How many innovative artists (by which I mean original, or doing new things with old forms) have we heard in proportion to the amount of acts just retreading?
Don't worry, they'll come, it'll just take us 10 years to recognise their genius. I look forward to future Q writers and the like to point out to us who we ignored.
Portishead - https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jools+holland+portishead
Björk - Bachelorette - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_RSlsnbCEM
Radiohead - There There - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYlR7ycoodc
Radiohead - Weird Fishes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57q2uFaMjNs
Thom Yorke - The Clock - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzjtyoYSs98
Paolo Nutini - Candy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mg25464J-Ao
Paolo Nutini - 10/10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4gwOYwfcz4
Thank you for your input.
But I'm pretty sure that not everyone, reads every post of mine, on every thread.
Perhaps you do?
Should I feel flattered, or just express sympathy?
In the context of the discussions, I thought the point I was making was worth repeating.
For the record, I commit very little of what anyone says to memory. I don't often even look at who said what.
I know one or two, bookmark every discussion to which they have contributed.
"Too much to do, so little time."
Please don't take offence, as I'm trying to reply in the same spirit intended.
(I can't stand smilies).
I definetely agree with you there. He's worked a lot with foreign artists who no one's ever heard of until they came into contact with Damon.
I'll be watching the Friday night show to see what else he's got up his sleeve!
Coldplay, The Black Keys and Damon Albarn were all on top form and i liked all of their stuff. Damon Albarn's music was quite eclectic and think his solo album could be quite interesting.
The 2nd song by Coldplay, 1st song by Black Keys and last song by Damon Albarn were all personal favourites, i thought they were excellent.
I can understand why people might criticise, but where else on mainstream tv do you get to see live music of (relatively) diverse styles, where the musicians seem to have mutual respect despite those differences of style?
Just finished watching it on iPlayer and really enjoyed it.
I loved the last song Damon Albarn did.
I have an Afghan Whigs album, Black Love. Haven't a clue who the others are.
The biggest find of the night though was London singer/songwriter Tom Hickox. His performance of "The Lisbon Maru" sent me straight off to iTunes to check out the stunning debut album "War Peace and Diplomacy".
Crikey, I haven't heard of any of them. I'm so old!
Hopefully I'll enjoy what I might hear.
Bizarre post of the day.
Perhaps you're the "token" TotP person watching rather than an open-minded music fan.
TBH some of the younger two and half (struggling to reach that difficult third) chord thrash bands that *are* on would find the bar emptying down at the local pub.
Off the top of my own head Aloe Blacc is a US soul singer who had a recent UK no. 1 only a few weeks ago. The Horrors are a UK indie band, Little Dragon are a Swedish electronic band and the rest no idea.
I'm old, the Afghan Whigs have been going since 1986. Although they split for a while.
The rest this week have been around for 10 minutes.
Sometimes it's good to find new stuff though
Never heard of them myself though.
It's the first time i've seen them as in previous weeks i've turned over a couple of minutes in.
It seems the show is struggling to get hold of some names to actually draw the viewer in to watch. I know nothing about any of these. They might be great, but we surely need at least a couple of bigger named acts appearing. This series has seemed poor in comparison to previous ones to me.