heather asked: "Also, are the Cardigans worth listening to? Or is this just a bunch of recording label hype?" well, i saw this question and thought that this was the perfect example of a band that got swept away by a large label and have been repackaged for mass consumption...with mixed results for both the fan and the band. well, to answer your question, yes, the cardigans are definitely worth a listen...their first two albums are superb...i don't think anyone on this list would throw "emmerdale" on a burning pyre in disgust...i was quite a fanatic a few years ago when the band was relatively unknown, making sweet 60s music that appealed to the lounge culture...but after signing to a big label for their third album and creating a huge hit "lovefool"--which has been played ad nauseum--the band has definitely lost some of their charm...i give them credit for trying to reinvent themselves, or more accurately for presenting themselves as jaded and worn after monstrous touring and PR...nina even admits in interviews that if she has to sing "lovefool" one more time...! i still have a special place in my heart for the cardigans, but part of their specialness is lost forever...i hope this never happens to belle & sebastian. i'd rather they break up before they hate performing their songs live because they are sick of them; before their albums are repackaged and resold and start coming out in japan/u.s./europe/etc. with extra bonus tracks; before fans follow them and buy all of their singles only to be duped when they are released on a future cd with one new song; before going to see them live becomes a push-and-shove event; before the band aches to be left alone to live a private life apart from interviews and touring. there's a price for everything. i'd rather have to wait a bit longer/pay a bit more and not have everything turn into a franchise. not to say that people won't try to take advantage of consumerism...there's a "live" cd on ebay for belle & sebastian going for 55 bucks which supposedly has the bbc sessions on it...they're calling it "i'd rather be watching football"...i know it's a crock and i hope jeepster/bbc goes after the bastard...yeah, it's harder to get a few songs, but having a list like this allows for people to trade music...hell, i just sent a tape off (containing the radio sessions going for 55 bucks and more!) to sweden for someone that i'll probably never meet and i did it because someone was kind enough to do the same for me... so i guess my point is that labels like people aren't inherently good or evil...whether you want to make money, distribute good music or just get your hands on some new songs, it's the method you go about it that makes all the difference. whoa, i'm getting too syrupy around christmas...let me put my cynical sheen back on... everything is eventually ruined...it'll end in tears...yesterday i heard a danceclub remix of "here's where the story ends" and almost cried. have a nice holiday everyone and if you can't give the gift of love, you better get shopping! cheers.jim. +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list please mail "sinister@majordomo.net". To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to "majordomo@majordomo.net". For list archives and searching, list rules, FAQ, poor jokes etc, see http://www.majordomo.net/sinister +---+ "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" +---+ +-+ "the cardie wearing biscuit nibbling belle & sebastian list" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+