Sinister: record labels & the cardigans

[Jim Schmidt]

     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.

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