Oh, stop stealing the show. Why is you 00's are revered so? Is there no credence in being odd? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Six Hundred' on Thu Aug 30 07:04:29 BST 2001:

Of course there isn't. You're insignificant in the overall scheme of things. I mean, it's far more likely I'll come up in conversation, in a ledger, or on a calculator than it is you or any of your grizzly little cohorts will! Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Six Hundred and One' on Thu Aug 30 07:06:03 BST 2001:

You're a fucking fascist! Denouncing my ilk simply because we happen to be odd. We are unique! Yes, unique! Just like you, I hasten to add. Does that frighten you. That I and my 599 strong horde are equal to you? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Infinite' on Thu Aug 30 07:06:30 BST 2001:

Shut the fuck up, the pair of you. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Stuart O' on Thu Aug 30 09:29:37 BST 2001:

Are you a tobacconist? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Anonymous' on Thu Aug 30 11:10:42 BST 2001:

>(But God that 'more dreams in heaven and earth' bit did make me laugh and I plan to relish it for quite a while. Was it from 'Titanic' or is it some ludicrous 'Cher' lyric?

Someone probably ought to point out (for anyone who doesn't know) that it's from Hamlet. The "Alas, Poor Yorick" speech, isn't it?

I like the GB site, too, by the way. Found it after reading this thread. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Jon on Thu Aug 30 13:29:04 BST 2001:

Words NME should stop using:

"By Steven Wells". Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bongofury' on Thu Aug 30 17:38:53 BST 2001:

>Words NME should stop using:
>
>"By Steven Wells".

What! and lose the sweariest singles reviewer NME's ever had?

Swells is one of the few hacks left on NME who doesn't blindly quote press releases or gush about something just because every other fucker is.

He may talk bollox sometimes, but at least he's prepared to form his own opinion.

His deconstruction job on Sonic Youth a couple of years back was ace (crux of argument "Yr last few LP's sound like yr either on autopilot or disappearing up yr own arses, you used to be essential, defend yrselves".)

Most of the current NME crop would have fawned over them ("Legendary" status etc), ignoring the fact they ain't made a wholly decent LP since "Dirty".
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By '100%' on Thu Aug 30 18:01:54 BST 2001:

>
>Most of the current NME crop would have fawned over them ("Legendary" status etc), ignoring the fact they ain't made a wholly decent LP since "Dirty".
>
Um except 1000 Leaves, and washing machine wasn't too bad.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bongofury' on Thu Aug 30 18:21:28 BST 2001:

>>
>Um except 1000 Leaves, and washing machine wasn't too bad.
>
>

HMMM, I'll give u that,(1000 leaves *was* recorded just after all their gear got nicked, fairly catastrophic if yr SY) but there's nothing on 'em thats as memorable as Expressway to yr Skull or Death Valley '69. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'bennyprofane' on Thu Aug 30 19:27:35 BST 2001:

yeah, they haven't been 100% shit since dirty but the point is that swells had the guts to take them on because they failed to match it. Surely that's the crux of decent journalism.
SY are my favourite band, alongside cat power ( anyone see her at reading? quite depressing) but that doesn't mean they deserve a bubble. Writing wish fulfillment is not an excuse to give up and be lame for 10 years. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bongofury' on Thu Aug 30 23:05:47 BST 2001:

>yeah, they haven't been 100% shit since dirty but the point is that swells had the guts to take them on because they failed to match it. Surely that's the crux of decent journalism.
>SY are my favourite band, alongside cat power ( anyone see her at reading? quite depressing) but that doesn't mean they deserve a bubble. Writing wish fulfillment is not an excuse to give up and be lame for 10 years.

Couldn't have put it better myself (SY are pretty much untouchable from DV '69 to 100%, patchy from there on in. Swells did what he does best, exploding someones bubble & making u smile at the same time.

I fear we'll lose him when the full force of the AOL takeover kicks in.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Jon on Fri Aug 31 09:00:16 BST 2001:

Why, are AOL executives big fans of the last few SY albums? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bongofury' on Fri Aug 31 09:17:09 BST 2001:

>Why, are AOL executives big fans of the last few SY albums?

Probably not, don't think they'd be too keen on gobby bald Yorkshiremen though.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By '100%' on Fri Aug 31 17:39:14 BST 2001:

>yeah, they haven't been 100% shit since dirty but the point is that swells had the guts to take them on because they failed to match it. Surely that's the crux of decent journalism.
>SY are my favourite band, alongside cat power ( anyone see her at reading? quite depressing) but that doesn't mean they deserve a bubble. Writing wish fulfillment is not an excuse to give up and be lame for 10 years.

You could look at it this way, SY are so beyond our pop driven ears (Dirty is the self confessed pop album) that we don't get it.

My mate bought one of those Goodbye 20th C albums and he only recognised a couple of names like S Reich.

Then again I saw one of those many many many records they do (ep type jobbie) and one of the artists they worked with was Coco Gordon Moore their daughter (Kim and Thurstons that is), I mean how old is she? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'bennyprofane' on Fri Aug 31 20:47:42 BST 2001:

I remember reading somewhere that she was 5 when they did that song. It' s got her voice, it's not like she played the lee ranaldo parts.
Yeah, if you look at the title of this topic, that is exactly why swells may no be around for long. They're trying to flex their tastemaker muscles with all this strokes wank ( more people watched frank black at reading, and fucking right too) but basically they have no competition now, which means that market share wise they actually have to convert nonindie teens, which means sucking corporate cock and rewriting press releases as interviews.
Shame. Basically they won't have to keep old sacred cows any more, it'll be coldplay, travis and the 'phonics who are untouchable. It's evil. At least SY and other perenials earned their respect by being fucking wicked for a decade. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Poopa' on Fri Aug 31 21:53:20 BST 2001:

>Someone probably ought to point out (for anyone who doesn't know) that it's from Hamlet. The "Alas, Poor Yorick" speech, isn't it?

Who gives a toss? It's not something to wave around like you think it's great. Unless you're a stude or a member of the Kenneth Branagh fan club, I guess. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Antelope Deference' on Sat Sep 1 14:25:41 BST 2001:

On the subject of The Strokes....is it just me, or does "someday" (I think thats wot its called ) sound like something from the c86 era? It sounds like something that Edwyn Collins would have done about 15 years ago, for hevvings sake.
(The White Stripes are pretty good, mind you. Sounds like how Royal"Drugs Are Ace" Trux should have sounded.)
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Lumpy Gravy' on Mon Sep 3 23:35:13 BST 2001:

>On the subject of The Strokes....is it just me, or does "someday" (I think thats wot its called ) sound like something from the c86 era? It sounds like something that Edwyn Collins would have done about 15 years ago, for hevvings sake.
>(The White Stripes are pretty good, mind you. Sounds like how Royal"Drugs Are Ace" Trux should have sounded.)
>

I think NME is a pile of toss. Everything is a pile of toss. There is no publication in the world that doesn't take advertising from the very companies who are selling them the toss in the first place. Any one that has worked in publishing will tell you.. I am sure this is not relevant too whether the stripes are good or not, what i want to see is, is more Porno for Pyros... Although there is a band called audioporn that is being touted about a bit at the minute who are really quite good (www.audioporn.com)... The NME, i once did an interview with the band Tiger... That was hilarious, I was far to drunk to be of any use as an interviewer... Does anyone remember the magazine Raise? this i would like to find out more about. Who did it and all of those things,

peace to you freaky brothers...

one final thought...

Did anyone see the cleaverest Ape - or the ultimate guide to elephants..?

WE ARE NOT ALONE>>>
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Poopa' on Tue Sep 4 17:30:01 BST 2001:

>>The NME, i once did an interview with the band Tiger... That was hilarious, I was far to drunk to be of any use as an interviewer...

Are you The Legend / ET / J. Thackeray?
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'monkey boy' on Wed Sep 5 01:10:56 BST 2001:

'Is This It' by The Strokes is an anagram of 'It is shit'. And it IS shit. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Stuart O' on Wed Sep 5 09:49:56 BST 2001:

I'm warming to the Strokes album. It's definitely the hype that killed it. I think if there had been no hype at all I would have liked it sooner. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Unruly Butler on Wed Sep 5 10:35:36 BST 2001:

>...more things in heaven and earth (etc)

>> Chip on the shoulder wittering from Poopa

Mmmm. So knowing one of the most famous lines ever written in English is sad and useless...

Funny. I'd imagine being aware of great pieces of writing from the past might be an advantage, if, like GB, you want to be a writer.

Oh, I forgot. You already are. And that gives you the right to be chippy and aggressive to anyone who might want to do the same.

Sometimes this forum attracts wankers like flies round shit. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By TJ on Wed Sep 5 13:16:56 BST 2001:

>I'm warming to the Strokes album. It's definitely the hype that killed it. I think if there had been no hype at all I would have liked it sooner.

Try and ignore the hype and make your own minds up. That sort of hype *can* be offputting, admittedly, but at the same time if you allow yourself to be prejudiced against something because of hype, then your reaction isn't too dissimilar to people who like something just because of the hype.
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By TJ on Wed Sep 5 13:18:14 BST 2001:

>'Is This It' by The Strokes is an anagram of 'It is shit'. And it IS shit.

Care to elaborate with reasons?

Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic. I'm genuinely interested.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Stuart O' on Wed Sep 5 13:30:56 BST 2001:

In this week's issue: "Courtney Love speaks exclusively to NME.....the full interview will be included in our next issue."

Also, some guy called Stephen XZ or something "has been tipped by the NME as the hottest big thing in 2002." As the KLF might have said: 2002? What the fuck is going on? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Jack Welsby' on Wed Sep 5 14:06:42 BST 2001:

>In this week's issue: "Courtney Love speaks exclusively to NME.....the full interview will be included in our next issue."

The interview fell through in the first instance. Evidently it's now taken place but not in time for this issue, where it was originally planned to appear.

>Also, some guy called Stephen XZ or something "has been tipped by the NME as the hottest big thing in 2002." As the KLF might have said: 2002? What the fuck is going on?

Andrew WK is apparently set to tour the UK in late 2001/early 2002, when he will "blow us all away". You know, like The Strokes do now.
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'tim_e' on Wed Sep 5 14:42:53 BST 2001:

>Also, some guy called Stephen XZ or something "has been tipped by the NME as the hottest big thing in 2002." As the KLF might have said: 2002? What the fuck is going on?

One of my friends is in a band that was tipped to be big in either 1999 or 2000, I can't rememeber which by the NME. They weren't. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Unruly Butler on Wed Sep 5 16:35:59 BST 2001:

Central problem with the NME's commitment to "new bands".

After years of tipping unsung, unknown, tiny, cult bands, and that being a mark of their cool tatste, they suddenly stumble upon Blur, Pulp, Suede, Oasis, Radiohead et al and find they're making taste for the nation. Whatever they like in 1992, turns out to be the biggest thing in Britain by mid 1993. Cool! That beats trying to sell Wedding Present albums to students!

Then, post Oasis, the bubble bursts, but a precedent's been set. Anything they tip from now on simply has to go ballistic and sell millions, or:

a) they look foolish "You tipped Terris! It didn't happen! Losers!"

b) bands they've built up a relationship with turn out to be useless. There's no point championing Arse Magnet, if Arse Magnet are only going to sell 20,000 copies of their debut album, and therefore only 1000 extra copies of your magazine.

So, NME (and the others) get in with the big boys and promote them, while fighting shy of actually getting behind smaller acts in case they "fail" (for which read "sell a perfectly adequate number of records by the standards of any previous musical era") and make the NME look like obscure tossers who always make friends with the unpopular kids in the class.

The public are at fault too. Every year, the press choose their tips for the top in 200x. Then, when they don't make it big, the public hoot derisively at the journos who got it wrong. We expect miracles, but all we're reading is hype and prediction. Expect no more.

But the least they could do is stay faithful to their chosen favourites for a bit longer than five minutes... Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'monkey boy' on Wed Sep 5 17:29:43 BST 2001:

>>'Is This It' by The Strokes is an anagram of 'It is shit'. And it IS shit.
>
>Care to elaborate with reasons?
>
>Seriously, I'm not being sarcastic. I'm genuinely interested.
>

I don't actually think it's shit, Mr Worthington. It's excellent, in fact, but no-way near as good as you might expect from all that hype. THe only album of modern times that deserves that much hype is probably OK COmputer, or maybe Xtrmntr. The Strokes aren't bringing anything new to music, the journalists are saying they mix their influences to make something new but that's like saying if someone selotapes a sausage to a fridge he's suddenly the amazing inventor of the Sausage-o-Fridge™. The album is decent but not a classic. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Rob Jones' on Wed Sep 5 18:39:13 BST 2001:

I'd say the Strokes' album is worthy of an 8 or 9 out of 10. The reason NME loves them is that they offer the full package -'style', 'attitude', and uncomplicated, catchy tunes.

I was a bit worried that the NME's hype would kill them off due to the inevitable automatic backlash against them, but I think they're going to come through that - I doubt they'd have got to number 2 (insert joke here) in the album chart without people genuinely liking them. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Jack Welsby' on Wed Sep 5 18:54:16 BST 2001:

>I'd say the Strokes' album is worthy of an 8 or 9 out of 10.

John Robinson originally gave them a 9. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Peter on Wed Sep 5 20:00:48 BST 2001:

There's a letter this week saying that the author was glad that the NME had the balls to give 'is this it' 10, as opposed to chickening out and giving it 8 or 9. Hmmm.

I bought the Strokes album expecting it to be a bit rubbish after all the NME hype, and so was pleasently surprised to find it was a good, if not very original, album. But 'the best album from a guitar band in the last 20 years?' I don't think so NME.

Actually, i thought the NME review was some elaborate joke. A review of an album that doesn't mention any of the songs? And the part where it says something similar to 'so half the songs have already been on singles'? I bet any other band doing that would've been crucified.

Except, possibly, The White Stripes. But that's another story... Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Poopa' on Wed Sep 5 20:28:23 BST 2001:

>Mmmm. So knowing one of the most famous lines ever written in English is sad and useless...

No. But quoting it like it's relevant, interesting, amusing or even appropriate when it isn't - is. Why so hung up on old Branagh-spear anyway? Are you a stude? If so, give up. Nobody wants you. There are no jobs left. All the grown ups have got them . . . (Is that 'chip on shoulder' - ish enough for you?) And why are you going, 'Mmmm' like that. Playing with yourself again, are you?

>Funny. I'd imagine being aware of great pieces of writing from the past might be an advantage, if, like GB, you want to be a writer.

Yeah, it might. But so might becoming a paraplegic or a leper. In fact, GB ought to consider it. 'Writers from the past', ooh, that's best said in a plummy Ponsonby voice, isn't it? Maybe with a lisp on the 'pafffftht'. How sanctimonious and prescriptive of you, really. An original voice is an original voice and doesn't need any Shaekespear to help it. Knowing almost no Shaekspeare, or indeed how to spell it, despite being dragged out to see loads of the buggeringly dull shite through most of my teenage years hasn't hindered me in becoming a writer at all.

>Oh, I forgot. You already are.

God! You are SO jealous it's funny! If YOU want to write, then do it. Or did I annoy you by saying I get paid for writing AND, even better, it isn't journalism? I could be writing fucking takeaway curry menus and window cleaning leaflets, for all you know, so lighten up. You so want to be a (paid) writer, don't you? Why else would you be implying that me saying I'm a writer is in some way showing off? Baffling. Writing is no more a show-offy profession than cleaning or bank managing. In fact, the latter might be more impressive to a lot of people.

>And that gives you the right to be chippy and aggressive to anyone who might want to do the same.

HELLO? I think you'll find someone else cooked up the full trad GB chips and aggro. But now YOU'RE chipping in with your opinions, too. Well ta very much. Are you pissed or something? Cos you've missed an important moment back there where GB got a little ahead of herself (and her abilities).

>Sometimes this forum attracts wankers like flies round shit.

Ooh! I can just see you throwing yourself down on your rat-nibbled garret bed, fully clothed, clutching a Special Brew and railing at me, wishing I'd die. And then getting up a bit later and treating yourself to a tin of tomato-y pilchards. Mmmm, as you might say, mmmmmmm . . .

Oh, well. Love you, too. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Anonymous' on Wed Sep 5 21:18:21 BST 2001:

This thread is, rather appropriately, turning into "Angst". Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'GB' on Wed Sep 5 21:30:37 BST 2001:

I still don't understand why you want to attack me, Poopa.

You've never read any of my "creative" writing, in fact you don't know me from Adam (and other cliches). When I quoted Shakespeare, I was being flippant. I wasn't trying to be clever. Maybe you should take your cynicism somewhere else. I'm not naive, but telling me I should give up now just makes you sound arrogant and bitter. And people like that are what the world's full of, not people like me. Why do you think I stopped wanting to be a hack? Because they're all such bastard cynics (or most of them). I'm a writer, I just haven't been published yet. So what.

I'm listening to the Ben&Jason album. It's truly lovely. Now go away and make a voodoo doll of me or something. Just don't waste this forum with pointless flames. If you're a writer, you must have writer's block a lot to be so bored as to bother insulting me. Surely I'm below your contempt? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Lizard Scum' on Wed Sep 5 21:39:42 BST 2001:

>
>I bought the Strokes album expecting it to be a bit rubbish after all the NME hype>

Why buy something expecting it to be "a bit rubbishy", I mean it's £15 of you're money

>Except, possibly, The White Stripes. But that's another story...

The story being that they are a cool little garage band, and if they become big they will die. Part of the appeal is the lo-fi-ness, something a Geffen style budget can't give you.

Anyway just go out and buy Lou Reed stuff, or hunt down VU bootleg stuff, or J Richman, or any of the other bands who are just as good, but don't cost £15 to buy. Why don't R1 play a few of the album track so people can decide, then again when was the last time I listened to Lurpack (Peel hasn't played them as far as I know)

I thought it was sweet they seemed apologetic at Reading, like they are aware of the hype.

I'm indifferent to The Strokes, power to them if they can make a living. It seems a bit of a shame that people seem to blame the band for not living up to the hype.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Peter on Thu Sep 6 00:49:09 BST 2001:

£15? that's nothing when the government gives me money for being a student. Even if i do have to pay it all back in the end.

Actually the main reason i bought it was bacause i heard a song on Mark and Lard that i thought was really good. And then when i heard that it was by The Strokes after the song had been played, it made me interested enough to buy the album.

Anyway it wasn't fifteen pounds. it was 12. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Bent Halo on Thu Sep 6 10:33:30 BST 2001:

Re:Courtney Love this week.

I understand the circumstances in this instance, Jack, but the paper relies heavily on the “read more in our interview next week” news features. Nothing unusual about that in newspapers but in the sole surviving music weekly it betrays a worrying lack of content. I think that was more the point of its original mention on this thread.

Mail me, Jack. I’d love to hear from you. vinegarsea@netscapeonline.co.uk
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Unruly Butler on Thu Sep 6 11:09:49 BST 2001:

Poopa, I am a writer. I do get paid for it.

Claiming that people are "jealous" or "bitter" to try and negate what they're saying is about as cheap as calling people "middle class" as an excuse for not listening to them.

GB's defending herself perfectly well, so I don't know why I've bothered popping my head up. It's just that watching you attempt to sully someone's dreams and insult the hard work they've done by shouting louder and louder made me want to kill you.

When I thought you had some point to make, it seemed worth making a fuss about. But I'm over it now. You're clearly just another internet wanker, made bold by the distance between you and your prey. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Bent Halo on Thu Sep 6 11:36:18 BST 2001:

Quite. What initially started out as a reasonable if slightly antagonistic argument about journalism has turned into pure vitriol which should be given its own thread and left there to die. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bobby' on Thu Sep 6 17:21:50 BST 2001:

Does anyone else find the monthly 'Uncut' magazine even more depressing though, with the absurd deification of any 80's or early 90's artists, their past or present acts, and the complete dismissal of any current acts apart from Radiohead.

A perfect example being David Stubbs miserable review of the Strokes LP which he says is as good as the current scene gets and then awards 2.5 'stars' out of 5. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Jon on Thu Sep 6 23:27:46 BST 2001:

Golly is a wonderful woman who I love. I will not argue with this chap, who is plainly irrelevant.

Anyway,

I quite like some Strokes tracks, I just don't think they deserve the level of acclaim they are getting.

I completely agree with the posting a while back that pointed out that the Oasis boom ruined NME. The trouble is, it created a whole new market for mags like Uncut that cover the area of "alternative music" as well as films, etc. so that when the bubble burst, readers stayed with them rather than the (indie-fixated) Select or NME. So NME was left high and dry, wondering what to evolve into. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By mrdiscopop on Fri Sep 7 09:12:30 BST 2001:

Slightly off topic, but can someone remind me who the new editor of Q is. (sorry for ending the sentence with a proposition, grammar fans).

And, seeing as how we're lambasting the NME, can anyone think of a modern day equivalent to Lester Bangs? I don't see much useful rock journalism out there at the minute. Sylvia Patterson has done a few good articles for the Face (Eminem and Madonna, in particular) and I usually find David Quantick's album reviews the highlight of Q magazine.

Part of the problem seems to be that nobody in the music industry has anything to say any more. No wonder the press falls over itself to speak to Bono, Michael Stipe and Damon Allbran. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'nick' on Fri Sep 7 11:03:05 BST 2001:

the new editor of Q is the very lovely Danny Ecclestone, ex-manager of good-rockin' funtime boys Poundcake and champion disco dancer Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'GB' on Fri Sep 7 11:16:53 BST 2001:

>And, seeing as how we're lambasting the NME, can anyone think of a modern day equivalent to Lester Bangs? I don't see much useful rock journalism out there at the minute. Sylvia Patterson has done a few good articles for the Face (Eminem and Madonna, in particular) and I usually find David Quantick's album reviews the highlight of Q magazine.

Thought it was Miranda "extremely short but very fashionable fringe" Sawyer who wrote the Madonna thing for the Face. It was the only thing by her I've ever liked. She generally annoys me; my irritation peaking when she appeared on that Music of the Millennium programme and talked bollocks. There are few enough women in music journalism as it is, without them flicking their hair and talking rubbish. And they all have to be good-looking to get anywhere, which sucks frankly. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By chris hc on Fri Sep 7 11:28:15 BST 2001:

i don't get the strokes - i like that skanky sound though. The crazy NME articles I've read and the stupider stuff inthe tabloids is just laughable. The tabloids pick it up because some fucking models were at the show, and then NME having already done the same run with the idea that 'everyone's talking about them'. No one is fucking talking about them, except perhaps to say that everyone is talking about them.
Try and find something from the US music press about the strokes - go on. Rolling Stone has about 1 derogatory comment i think - something like "don't start a band if you've been a model previously" etc etc
Ditto for the White Stripes.
As for MM and NME, they were shit in the 80's too. I don't think I ever found out anything about a single band, or was exposed to a new band by any piece of music journalism ever.
actually, I take that back, there was a healthy fanzine culture in the 80's/early 90's - Smashed Hits, SM5D, Go Die - which probably turned me onto some good bands. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bobby' on Fri Sep 7 13:42:59 BST 2001:

who could possibly care what Rolling Stone think though? Or even how much attention a band gets in the U.S. This is not generally a mark of quality.
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By chris hc on Fri Sep 7 13:52:02 BST 2001:

yeah, fuck rolling stone to hell, and NME too. It's not supposed to illustrate that the strokes are rubbish, (i like 'em pretty good) but it shows how not everyone is talking about them, and that it's just an invention of the cool as shit muso journalists and that chump from the sun. Plus their whole image, and the fact that some PR schmuck made it so that kate moss et al would be at their sold out show reeks of contrivance. never mind about the elite connection.
It's just extremely shit to read an article in the NME which is already discussing the band in an after the fact type way, acting as though the strokes could have been the best thing since (fuck knows) if they hadn't blown up in their own faces : always ending reviews with idiotic phrases like that. Catch them while you can before they get blown away on their own fairy rock whirlwind of hype etc etc.
It just pisses me off is all, how can you possibly catch some support band by accident who blow you away, without knowing the ins and outs of their cats arse. poot! Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'kip saunders' on Fri Sep 7 14:05:28 BST 2001:

, SM5D,

Grrr! It's Those Bloody Kids!
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Anonymous' on Fri Sep 7 17:21:48 BST 2001:

ropb seg in gay wank horror... Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Jack Welsby' on Fri Sep 7 18:32:02 BST 2001:

Quieter now... you never know...
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'PJW' on Fri Sep 7 23:14:11 BST 2001:

>Thought it was Miranda "extremely short but very fashionable fringe" Sawyer who wrote the Madonna thing for the Face. It was the only thing by her I've ever liked. She generally annoys me; my irritation peaking when she appeared on that Music of the Millennium programme and talked bollocks. There are few enough women in music journalism as it is, without them flicking their hair and talking rubbish. And they all have to be good-looking to get anywhere, which sucks frankly.

It's an odd thing to defend someone by insulting them, but is Miranda Sawyer good-looking? I can see why you might use that (shabby) argument with Barbara Ellen, but Sawyer looks neither better or worse than most of my female friends, i.e. she is average looking. I'm sure she would argue that she has made it *despite* looking like she does. Just because she's blonde doesn't make her a supermodel.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Antelope Duvitski' on Mon Sep 10 11:30:45 BST 2001:

Miranda Sawyer has succeeded in her career in journalism, because she's a blummin' good journalist (she wrote some excellent stuff for "Select" magazine), and she does well in her critical work on television because she comes across as perceptive and intelligent without resorting to sneering a la Tony Parsons, or condecension and elitism a la Tom Paulin. Having said that, I'd still give her one.
Oh, yeah, and she pulls these really cute "Oooh, he's off again" faces, whenever Tom Paulin gets agitated on Newsnight Review. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bent Halo' on Wed Sep 12 18:03:42 BST 2001:

She pulled those faces with Tom Baker on 'The Oldie'.

'Park and Ride' was rotten though.

The last good Smash Hits writer? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Jon on Wed Sep 12 18:24:09 BST 2001:

I don't fancy the NME today. Courtney Love droning about herself is tedious enough at the best of times, right now I have no need for her whatsoever. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Rob Jones' on Wed Sep 12 19:31:54 BST 2001:

NME's rubbish - literally nothing of interest this week. Courtney Love spouts the usual boring nonsense about Kurt Cobain etc and I don't even remember the rest of it.

Apart from the Spiritualized album review, which was sycophantic nonsense. Full marks for the much more honest one in Uncut. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Brie' on Wed Sep 12 19:37:26 BST 2001:

today's NME is asking us (US!) for help. And I quote:
"Feel like you know what the future direction of the NME should be? We want to hear your views and opinions. If you're up for taking part in some research, then send us your name and daytime telephone number and we'll call you back."

e-mail: sophie_towers@ipcmedia.com
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bent Halo' on Wed Sep 12 20:18:40 BST 2001:

I was in the office when they played the new Spiritualized album, which I think I mentioned ages ago. Utter disinterest from the staff as far as I could tell, singing bored "I'm on drugs" over the top of it. Positive review because of the interview? Hmmm. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Rob jones' on Wed Sep 12 21:12:36 BST 2001:

Is it me or do they seem more keen to give the once-rare 9/10 and once-nonexistent 10/10 marks to albums? There's practically one '9' per week these days, whereas it was once reserved for the really great stuff, and the 10s signified nothing less than a modern masterpiece. Which the Strokes album, for all its attributes, isn't. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Gedge' on Wed Sep 12 22:10:59 BST 2001:

I read NME from about 95-98, and I only remember OK Computer getting 10/10, apart from some reissues. Possibly Maxinquaye did - if it did, that would have been deserved - but I don't remember any others. I would guess that they averaged a 9/10 every other week or so over that period.

>Is it me or do they seem more keen to give the once-rare 9/10 and once-nonexistent 10/10 marks to albums? There's practically one '9' per week these days, whereas it was once reserved for the really great stuff, and the 10s signified nothing less than a modern masterpiece. Which the Strokes album, for all its attributes, isn't.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'kip saunders' on Thu Sep 13 11:00:39 BST 2001:

>Is it me or do they seem more keen to give the once-rare 9/10 and once-nonexistent 10/10 marks to albums? There's practically one '9' per week these days, whereas it was once reserved for the really great stuff, and the 10s signified nothing less than a modern masterpiece. Which the Strokes album, for all its attributes, isn't.

They gave The Hybirds 10/10 about three years ago. Anyone care to explain THAT one?

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'hemidemisemiderm' on Thu Sep 13 22:09:48 BST 2001:

the stone roses - the stone roses didn't get a 10, if i remember correctly. go figure. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'ollie' on Thu Sep 13 22:13:11 BST 2001:

>Does anyone else find the monthly 'Uncut' magazine even more depressing though, with the absurd deification of any 80's or early 90's artists, their past or present acts, and the complete dismissal of any current acts apart from Radiohead.
>
>A perfect example being David Stubbs miserable review of the Strokes LP which he says is as good as the current scene gets and then awards 2.5 'stars' out of 5.

this is true tho'. there hasn't been much good music around for the past 2 years and the strokes album is dull as shit. travis=shit coldplay=shit starsailor=total shit. almost all the good music of recent times is dance orientated, apart from the new ben folds album which is magnificent. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By mrdiscopop on Fri Sep 14 10:35:19 BST 2001:

I too nominate the new Ben Folds (and the new Tori Amos) as actually quite good, and not at all hyped.

Thank God for the talented pianists with artistic vision of this planet. (Even though Amos's album is cover versions it's startlingly personal - her version of Eminem's 97 Bonnie and Clyde is, if anything, more chilling than the original).
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Martin on Fri Sep 14 12:21:10 BST 2001:

Just read about the new Russian edition of NME. I wish I could come up with an amusing response to this but my brain's gone blank. What's Russian for "The NME can reveal..."? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Micky on Fri Sep 14 18:02:38 BST 2001:

I wonder if we can pin-point the exact date when NME became shit...no it escapes me.

I think with the decreasing popularity of the magazine, they have been forced to almost create their own Hear'say for success. Giving anal birth to bands noone has ever heard of before, and endlessly building them up before that inevitable 10/10 debut album. This is not to say that The Strokes, for example, are a bad band, they are quite good and their album is average (if not a bit samey), but to bum them up this much? A 10/10 album?

From what I can remember, after OK Computer, only a few have had that 10/10 status, the second Asian Dub Foundation album, the fucking Eve album, The Strokes, and almost inevitably in the coming months, the Starsailor album and The White Stripes (their other bouncing baby...home grown ofcause).
It seems the 'we got in on the ground floor', this is NEW MUSIC for you - see aren't we cool? - ideal has, I feel, overrun their thinking...well ofcause it's bloody new music on the edge of fame, because you've bloody brought them in from the cold and given them their own step ladder to fame.

It just gets me so mad. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Rob jones' on Fri Sep 14 18:20:12 BST 2001:

The White Stripes album came out just before the hype and scored an 8 in the NME. They seemed slightly taken aback by the reaction of the national newspapers - all of whom did an article on them BEFORE the NME cover - and then gloated the following week, claiming that their coverage had kickstarted everything else. It hadn't: John Peel was playing them well before, and it was largely word-of-mouth inspired. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Micky on Sat Sep 15 00:59:45 BST 2001:

Wrong...as charged. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Paul Kelly' on Sat Sep 15 16:41:01 BST 2001:

>They gave The Hybirds 10/10 about three years ago. Anyone care to explain THAT one?

I'm certain it was 9.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Gee on Sun Sep 16 14:24:02 BST 2001:

Sorry this just a test post. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'James M' on Sun Sep 16 17:34:17 BST 2001:

>The White Stripes album came out just before the hype and scored an 8 in the NME.

They're also already on their third album.
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Micky on Sun Sep 16 19:20:48 BST 2001:

Ok, so maybe I was wrong about them, but you have to admit, NME does bum them up a bit too much. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Paul Kelly' on Sun Sep 16 23:06:13 BST 2001:

So what White Stripes songs should I download to knock my sock off then? Trusting they're so wonderful I've given up impuse/NME-endoresed purchases of bands I've never heard. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Barney Sloane on Tue Sep 18 10:46:21 BST 2001:

>So what White Stripes songs should I download to knock my sock off then? Trusting they're so wonderful I've given up impuse/NME-endoresed purchases of bands I've never heard.

"Fell in Love With a Girl", "I Can't Wait" and "Barely Legal" aren't bad starting points, although they all have that definite "haven't I heard this before somewhere" quality to them.

Off-topic Paul, did you do my Hegley / various CD yet?
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By TJ on Tue Sep 18 14:41:46 BST 2001:

>They gave The Hybirds 10/10 about three years ago. Anyone care to explain THAT one?

Would this be the same Hybirds that I once deluged with shouts of "you're not interesting" from the side of the stage?
Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'kip saunders' on Tue Sep 18 16:52:52 BST 2001:

>>They gave The Hybirds 10/10 about three years ago. Anyone care to explain THAT one?
>
>Would this be the same Hybirds that I once deluged with shouts of "you're not interesting" from the side of the stage?
>
And who's main bloke is now in some very hip, 'On Band'- esque solo project with a name like Piano Magic or The Wisdom of Harry, but neither of those.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bobby' on Tue Sep 18 17:58:18 BST 2001:

It's Echoboy - not very wacky at all really. And they're very good too - Kit and Holly single was excellent. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Jon on Wed Sep 19 09:17:12 BST 2001:

I agree. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Bongofury' on Wed Sep 19 17:00:57 BST 2001:

>>So what White Stripes songs should I download to knock my sock off then? Trusting they're so wonderful I've given up impuse/NME-endoresed purchases of bands I've never heard.
>
>"Fell in Love With a Girl", "I Can't Wait" and "Barely Legal" aren't bad starting points, although they all have that definite "haven't I heard this before somewhere" quality to them.
>
>Off-topic Paul, did you do my Hegley / various CD yet?
>
Aren't u confusing Stripes with Strokes there Barney?

Paul, get yrself "Sympathetic sounds of Detroit". Couple of tracks each from Soledad Brothers, Bantam Rooster etc, plus White Stripes "Red death at 6:14" (sounds like early JSBX with a tune).

BTW, anyone got the Stripes live Peel session in MP3? (not up on the R1 Peel site, shame on them....)

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Barney Sloane on Thu Sep 20 11:55:46 BST 2001:

>Aren't u confusing Stripes with Strokes there Barney?
>
Er, no! Fell in Love ... and I Can't Wait are off "White Blood Cells" and "Barely Legal" is off an earlier EP, I think. Ashamed as I am to admit it, I've never heard owt by the Strokes.

And NME is going up to £1.50 as of next week. They're beginning to take the piss.

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Bent Halo on Thu Sep 20 14:03:46 BST 2001:

I once booked the Hybirds for a gig in Darlington, circa 1997. Terribly dull people. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'bobby' on Thu Sep 20 18:45:21 BST 2001:

well i know we could do this every week but... this weeks nme is just a vacum. The terrorism coverage is offensively banal - even the people in new york - april long says talking about music at a time like this is irelevant and then does so for 4 paragraphs. I love oasis but the liam quote has the emotional range of a selfish 13 year old - i ain't never going on a plane again - but that's not even his fault it's theirs for thinking this is 'vow' he's made and of any relevance.

The singles reviews are awful- whoever paul mcnamee is, he thinks the P Diddy single is the best this week... and the Starsailor interview is almost incomprehensibly boring. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Paul Kelly on Thu Sep 20 23:23:12 BST 2001:

And 5 out of 10 for Hefner. Typical cunts. Subject: And another thing....
Posted By Paul Kelly on Thu Sep 20 23:47:44 BST 2001:

What is it with the NME having a teenage crush on bands with black leather jackets & afros? Think about it, the NME have been falling over themselves to pee their little pants over the Strokes, At The Drive-In, ...Trail Of Dead and now those new tossers in this week's 'On' section, or whatever it's called these days. Even articles on Gorillaz, for fucks sake, give extra attenion to the 'cool' member Murdoc, who must delight his fictional little self in looking like a member of any of these bands. Nice one NME, you tossers.

Perhaps it's a bit of an improvement on the NME reflecting the UK's obsession with nothing with any substance or personality - i.e. Flat Eric (a puppet that does fuck all), cunts who say 'Wasssup!' of 'Booyakahsha!' etc (cunts) or indeed mobile phone 'dialect', which barely exists (still, it's united the working class, (c) Steve 'Kneel On My Groin And Scream Up My Arse' Sutherland, cuntland). Oh shit, they still love the mobile phone stuff. Bugger.

I think it's also great that the NME usually dedicates it's cover stories to giant photospreads with a few sentances chucked at the bottom. I'd hate to think of them going to any more effort for people's money.

Remember the 'Great Music Journalists' issue, and how every letter sent in to subsequent issues praised it? Well they were really written by lying cunts from the NME. I'm sure this is news to very few.

Which poses a new question: is this any better or worse that chief Melody Maker shithead Daniel Booth, who regularly recieved letters from his 14 year-old admirers, considering the lying paedo wrote all the lettters himself, for his own jizz-stained ends? The answer is: STARSAILOR ARE THE BEST NEW BAND IN BRITAIN. Yeah, and David Gray's the new pope.

Also, Elbow are shit, as are any crap windy-voiced semi-acoustic nonsense new band - see Doves for an even blander example of this new breed of highly praised greyness.

Furthermore, back to my orginal point, whatever that was (oh yeah, the 'Strokes gang' idiot worship). It was only a matter of time, so I predicted, before the NME cooed over The Hives. The Hives, for anyone who wished I wasn't about to tell them, are an unspeakably poor piss-take of JSBX with added Zane Lowe (revered MTV UK cunt) respect. They are noticeable by their shit, trend-dependant music, and an image the NME would marry if it was allowed. Particularly their haircuts, mind, the NME LOOOVE those Strokes-y hair cuts.

NME singles this week - The Hives: Great Haircuts!

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Posted By 'JM' on Fri Sep 21 00:04:19 BST 2001:

I don't get the obsession with Murdoc.

Surely Noodle, 2d and even Russel are cooler? I especially thought Noodle would be popular amonst media Nathan Barley-types, being a 10-year-old Japanese girl who wears funky clothes. I saw Damon Albarn on MTV2 talking about Gorillaz, and he was wearing a custom black leather jacket and had his head shaved like some character from a Guy Ritchie film.

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Posted By 'JM' on Fri Sep 21 00:08:37 BST 2001:

Don't get me wrong, I like his music and he seems ok in interviews.

But another thing, in the photo on the inside of Blur's 'Blur' album, Damon is wearing his sunglasses indoors, in the studio.











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UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNT! Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'kip saunders' on Fri Sep 21 09:06:19 BST 2001:

I've said this before and i shall say it again: tiresome though the whole Gorillaz project is, by far the most offensive aspect is That Noodles One. I'm drawing particularly from an 'interview' in Making music magazine of a few months ago in which we learn that Gorillaz guitarist, as a Japanese person is: very small ('She mailed herself to England cos she's, like...so small!), obsessed with Tamagotchi and all technology and of course, almost silent (all she says is 'Noodles'. Why didn't they make it 'Ha So' and have done with it?).

Apparently the artists are re - doing all the videos so they can but a comedy bone through the black drummer's nose as well. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'bobby' on Fri Sep 21 13:24:39 BST 2001:

personally i think haircuts are a perfect way to judge a band. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Paul Kelly on Fri Sep 21 14:43:10 BST 2001:

>personally i think haircuts are a perfect way to judge a band.

Well, then Bobby, The Hives: good or shit on a stick?

Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Lesbians From Russia' on Fri Sep 21 15:32:56 BST 2001:

Glancing through this week's NME (well, what is one supposed to do-spend time reading it properly?), I notice that Primal Scream did intend to release a single called "Bomb The Pentagon".
It'll be a while before they release that one, I reckon. During the meanwhilst, how about a specially re-recorded version of "Tears In Our Swastika Eyes"?


The Hives are quite good. The video for "Die Alright"is an absolute hoot. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'hemidemisemiderm' on Fri Sep 21 15:36:42 BST 2001:

fuck the gorillaz. fuck 'em. go get deltron 3030, go get the last del album, go get some automator. just don't feed that mockney gobshite's ego any more. please. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'bobby' on Fri Sep 21 17:20:02 BST 2001:

Well I haven't heard the Hives, but from the haircuts i'd say they were certainly 'heading' in the right direction.

Damon certainly has become fairly odious with the Gorrilaz success hasn't he. I heard them do a 'session' on Jo Whiley on radio1 daytime, and it was horrific. Not just musically but the cartoons being interviewed. Jamie Hewlett is fairly evidently an utter git, of keith allen proportions. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'Stuart O' on Fri Sep 21 17:34:44 BST 2001:

In the latest Face, Alex James is quoted as saying, "When Damon's finished with the Banana Splits, we'll do another Blur record". Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'bobby' on Fri Sep 21 17:47:41 BST 2001:

yeah it's old quote.

they obviously only still do blur for the money. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'hemidemisemiderm' on Fri Sep 21 18:50:26 BST 2001:

as my last post shows, i get really upset about the gorillaz. dan the automator and del the funky homosapien are two of my favourite musicy people on this earth, and the fact that the public won't buy their records unless that twunt's mumbling over the top fills me with rage. what's worse, albarn and hewlett's "concept" means the talent don't get any credit, and that makes me want to invade A+H's nostrils with knitting needles.

grrrrr, etc. please, please, PLEASE go and buy the deltron 3030 album - it's so superior to the gorillaz it hurts. sorry, hurtz. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Paul Kelly on Fri Sep 21 18:50:55 BST 2001:

If there's any justice in this world, The Hives will go in the same direction as The Driven, Puressence, Terris, Tik & Tok, Pusherman, Northern Uproar, Emporer Julian, Powder and The Cunts.

And hopefully someone will kick of Zane Lowe's jaw on live TV. My money's Mark Gardener or Oor Wullie. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'bobby' on Fri Sep 21 19:02:58 BST 2001:

did you see the Brand New/Zane Lowe piss take on the last series of Adam and Joe - very good too.

i've bought the deltron 3030 thing too and very good it is... even the damon track, although the intro by damon is gash.. 'in the YEEEER 3030'

and northern uproar were ace. Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By Peter on Fri Sep 21 19:24:23 BST 2001:

"and northern uproar were ace."

Are you James Dean Bradfield? Subject: Re: NME disappearing up its own PR
Posted By 'JM' on Fri Sep 21 22:59:32 BST 2001:

>Jamie Hewlett is fairly evidently an utter git, of keith allen proportions.

Maybe that's what sharing a flat with Damon does to you. He's an incredible cartoonist though.

Deltron 3030- is that the rapper from the Gorillaz? If not, who is it?