Sinister: I was looking at the black and white world
No Belle and Sebastian content here. Just some comments on the, ahem, issues of the day.
Anyone who hasn't heard the Femmes eponymous first album should definitely do so. Very acoustic, but with a great raw edge.
I was pretty shocked to read this, but then I noticed the "uk" in the email address and suddenly it all made sense. Apparently, this album is not so well known outside of the US. You'd have a tough time finding a white American between the ages of 18 and 30 who doesn't know the mid section of "Kiss Off" by heart.
i personally find it offensive when all black music of whatever genre is labelled r&b or (much worse) "urban".
I have NEVER heard anyone categorize "all black music of whatever genre" as R&B. The label of "R&B" was applied to be more inclusive of a particular kind of music. In Billboard, there used to be "Black" charts, which they wisely changed to R&B when they noticed George Michael (he's white, you know) at the top of the Black Album chart. The term "black music" is innacurate...music should always be defined by its sound, not by who is making it. What is Jamiroquai? Or Living Colour? Or Chocalate Genius? Or Tracy Chapman? Are the Beastie Boys hip-hop and the Wu-Tang Clan black music? It doesn't make any sense. I guess we should start putting Neal McCoy, Nat King Cole, Ghostface Killah and TLC in the same section of the record store. And you'd never find a store that would put those all in the R&B section. As far as the term "urban" goes, that's just a demographic. And it's pretty much impossible to argue with. The markets for R&B and hip-hop are overwhelmingly in urban areas. That's all it is. The facts, ma'am. But what do I know? I just shop in the "White Music" section of the record store where Belle & Sebastian are cozied up with Metallica and Shania Twain. Snow white, Reid Oh, and I'd just like to nominate Richard Colburn as King of the Snare Fill. Sure, he relies on brushes a little too much, but damn if he can't crank the snare when needs a good cranking. -- "I dreamt I had to go to Mars. I'm always getting on about going to Mars through the day, but faced with the reality of it, in a dream, I was terrified." -Stuart David
...it seemed so exciting.
It doesn't make any sense. I guess we should start putting Neal McCoy, Nat King Cole, Ghostface Killah and TLC in the same section of the record store. And you'd never find a store that would put those all in the R&B section.<
As far as the term "urban" goes, that's just a demographic. And it's
this is exactly what i was arguing against. as i said, i used the term black music as shorthand for music by black artists since, after all, that's what the original (seemingly so innocuous) comment was about - the lack of black artists on the lists here. your experience is obviously not universal in not seeing the term r&b applied to all black (american) music - i have, or i wouldn't have said it. and you are also wrong about a music store not placing the artists this way. i've seen a variety of black artists like those - prince, public enemy, jimi hendrix - all in the same section of an - ahem - urban los angeles tower records, about ten years ago. so, living color? black music. beastie boys? white music. for the original intent, that is, of talking about the lack of black artists, on these lists here. and so forth. pretty much impossible to argue with. The markets for R&B and hip-hop are overwhelmingly in urban areas. That's all it is. The facts, ma'am.< gee, i hate to be repetitive, but i didn't say the term didn't exist or was baseless, i said i found it offensive. i don't find anything "impossible to argue with." the term "urban" implies, to me, "poor" and a host of other social classifications which don't belong (for me) in marketing music. but that's just me, that's just the way i interpret it. maybe belle and sebastian should be called "college dorm," and michael bolton "suburban duplex." not a bad idea. N __ "Go! you may call it madness, folly You shall not chase my gloom away! There's such a charm in melancholy I would not if I could be gay." +----------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ 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" +-+ +----------------------------------------------------------------------+
participants (2)
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N Leggatt -
Reid Dossinger