I am so, so impressed by White Lies' latest album, can't fucking believe they clash with MCR at Reading.
So, I live my life by lists. I suppose it's compensation for the lack of order in my surroundings - clutter follows me wherever I go, and I wouldn't have it any other way. As such, I've always kept close track of those few pre-eminent lists which define most educated people - favourite songs, favourite albums. Many all time classics or childhood favourites get lost in the mists of time and you spend months or years not listening to them because you forget all about them. This is something which I, however, refuse to stand for. As such, I have top songs and top albums playlists. I started updating my top songs playlist yesterday, it's interesting to see how it's changed...I also created my 'Reading '11' playlist, i.e. essential listening in the next few months.
I think this was basically an excuse to bitch about the impossibility of choosing a favourite A.F.I. song, which I have debated with others before. The smallest list I can narrow it down to is about 20 songs long. Forcing myself to settle for one, it had to be classic A.F.I. over their new material...
I was thinking, how interesting would it be if it was compulsory for everyone to have a 'Top Songs' playlist throughout their lives. It would be like the personality passport, a true statement of identity...Although of course it only really applies to those passionate about music. Before we go on, 'Top 25 Most Played' playlists are very different. Catchy songs are not necessarily liked songs, and more often than not kind of disliked. And it is funny to see that list of my favourite songs and realize that friends who I click with best would have a very similar list, and that friends who would be surprised or miffed by it are those who perhaps don't know me very well.
If music is such a large part of our identity, I reckon it's important to know the state of music in your social climate. I was born in the 90s but I grew up in the 00s. Which begs the rather depressing question, what has the Noughties brought us? Mostly a shitload of revivals. Barely anything particularly new. Out of those genres which could be described as 'Noughties genres' - Grime barely affected me. I love Dubstep, I'll never forget the experience of seeing Caspa and Rusko live - perhaps the word 'mahoosive' would suffice. Emo affected me profoundly, so at least I can hold on to that. Even despite the rate at which it's dismissed these days. Which is probably fair, a large percentage of Emo's detractors consist of 'Emo bands' themselves.
Obviously R&B and Hip-Hop dominated the decade, with more European dance music creeping in towards the end, thankfully. Never been my scene but there was the odd standout act - Outkast, Beyonce, Rihanna. In terms of Rock, which is my scene, America, again, had the most to say. I guess the most prominent rock music of the Noughties was Alt and Indie - Garage and New Wave revival. The Killers, Kings of Leon, and of course The Strokes, who are probably the most important bands of the Noughties. A new wave of pop-punk bands. Mind you, heavy metal got so, so much bigger. Various breeds of metalcore rose to the surface of the public consciousness. For that, I am truly grateful to the decade of my youth. Poor Asia though, it's a real shame about J-Pop.
I listen to Punk, Metal and Indie. The music of the Noughties was so pervaded by R&B and the shit from reality talent shows I always felt like an outcast from that sector of our culture. Even much of the rock that made it to the mainstream in the 00s was too pedestrian for me. I also feel it was a lot harder than in the past to attach yourself to a music scene. Am I wrong there? Is something getting lost...? Or is this a case of 'grass is always greener 20 years in the past'? The UK's contribution to Noughties indie and metal is very fair. It's not the 70s but with bands like My Chemical Romance and The Arcade Fire, I think we're alright. I notice how dubious I sound, but in all honesty, I'm fucking amazed by the new music emerging these days. Don't know where it'll lead, but there is a lot of potential kicking around right now...
Love Magritte ^