| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| misleadtheworld |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 03:19:28
http://www.nme.com/news/pixies/21164
----------------------------------------------------------
English bands have attitude, says Frank Black
Pixies man can always spot a UK musician.
Pixies singer Frank Black claims English musicians are easy to spot because they have more of rock star attitude than then American bands.
Discussing the difference between bands from the two countries, the star suggested British acts try harder to be cool.
"You can always tell which bands in the lobby of the hotel are English bands because they still have their outfits on," he told Spin. "Or they still have their persona and their sunglasses and they're like, 'I'm in a baaaaaand and we're like thiiiis,' whereas American bands are a more nerdy - they're like, 'Where's the breakfast buffet?'
Black added: "English bands are lying on the couch hungover, like they're in the middle of a photoshoot."
Despite the attitude, Black still claims that many of his favourite bands are English and that he has framed photos of The Kinks on his office wall at home.
 |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Hatchetman |
Posted - 11/06/2005 : 03:49:45
At least he didn't mention the Scots, Welsh and Irish...
Ade
As the air conditioner hummed.... |
| VoVat |
Posted - 10/12/2005 : 07:54:35
What's the difference between pretending to be a rock star and actually being a rock star?
I was all out of luck, like a duck that died. I was all out of juice, like a moose denied. |
| two reelers |
Posted - 10/12/2005 : 02:27:45
..while we are drowning here in our constant dripping chatter....
I joined the cult of Souled American / 'cause they are a damn' fine band |
| bflat |
Posted - 10/11/2005 : 23:06:44
The trouble is now you've got all these bands that are nothing but glorified tribute acts. The reason they do the rock star thing is because that's what they do they pretend to be rock stars. |
| Carl |
Posted - 10/09/2005 : 18:24:32
That Frank has some attitute, has'nt he?! ;) |
| VoVat |
Posted - 10/09/2005 : 10:48:52
quote:
I think its true of some of the latest wave in North American music, e.g. Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, the Dears, Interpol, Decemberists...all debatibly good, but take themselves entirely too seriously and Image plays an far too important role.
I just saw the Decemberists a few days ago, and I didn't get the impression that they took themselves too seriously. They definitely put a lot of emphasis on image, but they seem to have a sense of humor about the whole thing. Having a sense of humor doesn't necessarily mean you don't take yourself seriously or have an attitude, but it definitely lowers the Annoying Factor by a significant amount.
I think there's a difference between merely having an image and having a calculated image. My favorite band is They Might Be Giants, and I get the impression they're not at all concerned with image. A lot of people will play up the "geek/nerd rock" factor, but I think that, while that's definitely there, it's not anything intentional. They're just two guys making music, and they happen to be kind of nerdy, so that comes out in their songs. Really, you could say much the same about Frank. I don't think he writes songs about selkies, aliens, and Lemurians because he thinks they'll appeal to mythology and UFO geeks, but just because those are things that interest him.
The link between music and attitude bugs me. As Stevio says, people tend to associate rock and roll with sex and drugs. Yet clean-living people can still play good rock music, right? You don't have to be a punk to play punk rock, a hick to play country music, or a sailor to sing sea chanteys. If you put on a bit of the attitude, it can help to make your music more convincing, but I hardly think it's an integral part of the package. Good music speaks for itself, regardless of the artist's background or fashion sense.
What bugs me more than an actual band putting on a certain attitude is when fans think they have to copy that attitude. You know, like the annoying kids who insist they're punk, emo, indie, or whatever. Trying to define your entire personality based on the kind of music you listen to is just about the height of dorkiness.
quote:
However, is there really any sort of movement now? Not with self indulgent bands.
Maybe self-indulgence has become its own movement?
I was all out of luck, like a duck that died. I was all out of juice, like a moose denied. |
| Stevio10 |
Posted - 10/09/2005 : 09:49:42
Hasn't image/attitude always been very apparent in music anywhere though?
Elvis? Beatles? Rolling Stones? Rod Stewart? Sex Pistols? Clash? Ramones? Kiss? Motley Crue? Guns n Roses? Nirvana? Pete Doherty? (Examples, not all are my taste in music!)
I think the 'attitude' that FB talks about is the whole Rock 'n' Roll lifestyle. In the UK, as someone who is 'British' (Im Scottish), if you ask someone what rock and roll is, it's a whole lot of things mixed together. I don't think the music is as important anymore in the eyes of joe public amd media. Instead "we're" supposed to be more interested in their lifestyle, image, fashion, partners, drugs of choice. These days I hear people saying "Yeah, that's so rock 'n' roll" What happened to the sex and drugs? Did they submerge with rock n roll? Maybe it's always been this way, I don't know.
It always seemed to me music represented life and movements at the time in Britain. eg punk in the 70's etc. However, is there really any sort of movement now? Not with self indulgent bands. Are all bands self indulgent? Do we need bands to be self indulgent and have 'attitude'?
|
| frank_black_francis |
Posted - 10/09/2005 : 08:25:53
I think its true of some of the latest wave in North American music, e.g. Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, the Dears, Interpol, Decemberists...all debatibly good, but take themselves entirely too seriously and Image plays an far too important role.
Of course Pixies were in a wave of bands that were kinda anti-cool...and yet the irony is, that this very 'anti-cool' aspect has been appropriated by some modern bands and has become the new cool.
For example, in Britain, the whole 'I dont care' atitude has been touted by such bands as Oasis and Radiohead.
For the modern north american bands, there is a mix of Geek (yet good-looking) cool and a kinda weird focus on hairstyling.
It can get really creepy no matter what side of the ocean. |
| gary13th |
Posted - 10/09/2005 : 03:33:23
and Moustache twirling bad guys
----------
I joined the Cult of the Catholics, Oh when will they return ? |
| darwin |
Posted - 10/07/2005 : 14:25:13
The movies I have also taught us that you want to be female soccer players and male strippers. |
| CheekyDan |
Posted - 10/07/2005 : 11:14:25
Not just bands Daisy, some of us want to be ballet dancers. Did you not see 'Billy Elliot'?
And now Im gonna sing the Perry Mason theme.... |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 10/07/2005 : 07:26:44
nicely done, carl
---------------------------
God save the Noisies |
| Carl |
Posted - 10/07/2005 : 01:34:12
 |
| Scarla O |
Posted - 10/07/2005 : 01:34:11
quote:
Originally posted by dayanara
quote:
Originally posted by Daisy Girl
I think in England kids grow up wanting to be in a band b/c it's one of the few ways uk'ers can go from rags to riches...I think that some of the up an coming british bands i can't get into today becuase since they have been working and trying so hard to be where they're at...
daisy, seriously - what the fuck?
that's very funny.
---------------------------------------
the tips turn down oh my vicious thumbs... |
| billgoodman |
Posted - 10/07/2005 : 01:16:48
I'm gonna frame some kinks photo's now!
---------------------------
God save the Noisies |
| HeywoodJablome |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 20:11:08
"We've got armadillos in our trousers". |
| dayanara |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 19:56:45
quote:
Originally posted by Daisy Girl
I think in England kids grow up wanting to be in a band b/c it's one of the few ways uk'ers can go from rags to riches...I think that some of the up an coming british bands i can't get into today becuase since they have been working and trying so hard to be where they're at...
daisy, seriously - what the fuck?
i am sitting here observing my emotional discomfort. |
| Carl |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 19:38:50
That's an interesting point, Daisy Girl. |
| Daisy Girl |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 19:21:09
you know... i think fb might be onto soething. ok this is a huge generalization, but I think in England kids grow up wanting to be in a band b/c it's one of the few ways uk'ers can go from rags to riches.
I think that some of the up an coming british bands i can't get into today becuase since they have been working and trying so hard to be where they're at they are too pollished. they are too good. there have been two bands I have seen in the last year that technically they were brillaint and the songs were good but I couldn't get into em cuz they lacked the rough edges of good ole american rock.
back in the day british musicians had a healthy appriciation for blues and roots music... maybe they don't have that now and it shows??
"I ain't goin to be what I ain't" |
| jtanner |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 15:37:42
Spinal Tap: Shark Sandwich |
| Carl |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 13:28:13
Hehe, thanks Mislead! |
| CheekyDan |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 09:39:35
I think thats hilarious. Certainly not offensive speaking as a Brit.
Ive found very little to like about British rock music in the past ten years, everything seems to have been retro for the sake of being retro.
I think thats what Ive always liked about Frank, he's always been too talented to hide behind pretentious posturing. To misquote Frank Zappa, cool is the last refuge of the talentless.
And now Im gonna sing the Perry Mason theme.... |
| Broken Face |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 06:02:28
WORD
-Brian
|
| kathryn |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 03:45:42
quote:
Originally posted by misleadtheworld
he has framed photos of The Kinks on his office wall at home.
I just want to point this out for certain forum members.
Sometimes, no matter how shitty things get, you have to just do a little dance. - Frank
|
| vilainde |
Posted - 10/06/2005 : 03:26:34
Frank giving advice on band look in the NME... That's a fucking nightmare.
Denis
"We brush our teeth with tequila." - Guitar Wolf |
