Week Commencing: 7/6/04
By: Toby L
A-hoy hoy,
Ouch. And I mean ouch.
Sometimes we push ourselves to ever-crushing highs/lows, readers. The rockfeedback team is so intent on experiencing this rock 'n' roll lark - hopefully, in a bid to make our coverage that much more genuine/impassioned - that we went at it, appropriately, hammer and tongs last night at the 'Metal Hammer' Golden Gods awards-ceremony, and brought both alcoholism and unbridled, ironic devil-horns hand-gestures to soaring new peaks.
The perks: Akercocke scaring the living schnitzel out of the attendees with their pummel-drummin' morbid metal; a contingent of Slayer collecting their gong with the drunken ecstasy that suggested too much complimentary Jagermeister; and the fact there was a 20-minute computer-game match held on the stage featuring an audience-member and that yelping, wiry-haired fellow of Young Heart Attack. It doesn't get any geekier than that, we can assure you.
The full list of winners: Best Underground Act: In Flames / Best Video: The Darkness - 'Love Is Only A Feeling' / Breakthrough Band: FFAF / Best International Act: Metallica / Best Live Act: Slayer / Best British band: Iron Maiden / Best Guitarist: Dimebag Darrell / Best Album: Killswitch Engage 'The End Of Heartache' / Golden God For Best Rock Star: Ville Valo (HIM) / The Spirit Of Hammer Award: Nicky Sixx. Thanks to all at the 'Hammer' for the supreme night and letting a rival online-publication onto the premises without us having to sneak in the back for the privilege.
Now, all the regulars...
The Issue: Last time, we asked if downloading really was the future. You all said 'yes'. Naturally.
'I'm tired of anyone trying to dismiss downloading or argue that the quality is not substantial enough to really savour music - the reality is that as broadband becomes even more ridiculously used the world over, and technologies on the net improve as rapidly as they are now, ripping a CD of material will be the exact equivalent, if it isn't already, of purchasing something in the shops. Regarding artwork, many 'official' downloads now offer accompanying artwork you can print out - sure, the quality at first won't rival what you'd get in a store, but it'll suffice, and - hey - the whole process even creates a more proactive interaction between the consumer and the musical product that's being purchased. RIP Warehouse-sized, Over-priced Record-Stores.' Winston Parker, Ohio
'Nice one' indeed, Winston - well-reasoned, and taking into account the tangibility that downloading is now promising more-so than ever; it's not like it's just a sound-file anymore; bands are starting to offer unique accompanying sleeves to their rackets.
'I f**king love downloading. Everything I've discovered even via this site, new band-wise, I have gone to Kazaa to try and source out some of the material... I seldom buy records after downloading what I want, but I do start checking out the live-shows and recommending friends to listen to them - bands like Kasabian, Bloc Party and The Killers... All the new fans generated from it can't be that much of a hindrance to the artist, surely?' Claire James, Glasgow, UK
Firstly, thanks for trusting us on the groups you've gone on to download (we hope you ignored our original, favourable-ish review of the Dum Dums a couple of years back... we all make mistakes). I have real trouble taking your last point, though - although the bands may get increased audiences from this cyber-form of viral-marketing, they will miss out on funds that they've rightly earned as creators of the musique... And, relevantly, our next chap here supports the new 'pay'-form of a familiar company.
'I used Napster in the old days and almost cried when the forces that be shut the f**ker down. But now it's back, and I actually find it quicker and more efficient than before (and I'm a cynical bastard). The library of songs is really comprehensive too... Come the evolution of this, and even more back-catalogues added to it, and the potential is endless - I really think CDs are yesterday's format.' Will O' Brien, Belfast, Ireland
Cheers as ever for all your viewpoints, guys... Next week - we'll be publishing your thoughts on London bands: is there really a zeitgeist at present, via The Libertines, The Others, The Rakes, Bloc Party, The Cribs, et al... or is this something that's been bubbling up naturally over the years? Or is it a temporary spell, soon to subside into obscurity (we hope not)? Email us at the usual - theissue@rockfeedback.com - in order to 'spill'.
Alt UK Chart-action: Keane have gone back to number-one in the albums-charts, the greedy feckers. They've sold over 300,000 of their debut-LP 'Hopes & Fears' in the UK alone. Love them, loathe them, it's some well-earned feat. PJ Harvey is the other notable, going in at 12 with 'Uh Huh Her' (ignore the pooey reviews; it's a corker). Singles: Beastie Boys are back with 'Ch-Ch-Check It Out' at #8 (not a bad comeback, though it's more of the same); Thirteen Senses are 39 with their second single, 'Do No Wrong'; The Datsuns' return, 'Blacken My Thumb', is a tragically limp entry at 48; and The Duke Spirit, May's Basement Clubbers, go in at 55 with their debut-45 proper, 'Dark Is Light Enough'.
Current rockfeedback playlist: The Killers' ecstatic 'Hot Fuss' (we also caught them in Oxford as part of their present tour on Sunday; they were scintillating - the multifaceted pop act of your dreams, in equal parts brooding, melodic, epic and restlessly passionate... while somehow showy - must be their Las Vegas roots); The Departure, Parlophone's latest esteemed signings; the rose-tinted new LP from Badly Drawn Boy; some new Morrissey b-sides; and the scintillating, latest EP from The Radio Dept.
Gigs This Week, London: Graham Coxon and The Futureheads are in Camden's Electric Ballroom (Tuesday 8th June - sold out); The Dillinger Escape Plan are no doubt set to trash the Highbury Garage on Thursday (10th; £12:00); Ikara Colt, Kill Kenada and Yourcodenameis:milo hit the same venue the following night (11th; 8 quid); Razorlight play a sell-out gig at the ULU on Thurs (10th); and recent Band of the Week TV On The Radio are at the plush Bush Hall on Weds (£7:50; 9th).
Out Now / Go Buy: the aforementioned LP 'Hot Fuss' from The Killers. It's essential. That'll do. Look out for our exclusive interview-feature with the top-ten band soon on the site.
That is all. Thanks for reading, and see you next week, munchkins.