dear god - help me.

Indeed, there's a huge problem with a lot of so-called 'Alternative' music today in the sense that there's a lot of bands coming out (Indeed, so many "The" bands are a good example) that are nothing more than pop dressed up with guitars to appeal to a different market than the likes of Britney and Christina would, hailed by the likes of NME and other such rags as the next big thing, the saviours of rock (honestly, how many times have we heard that before, and when have any of them ever actually saved it?) and then swiftly forgotten the second their single drops out of the chart.

Not suprising that anyone could get fed up of that kind of pap. So, here's what to do! Get away from 'Alternative' music entirely, and listen to something that's genuinely alternative, not just pop under a different label. If you're listening to songs that all follow the same pop song structure that would generally go start/verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/verse/chorus/end, you are practically listening to the exact same songs over and over again, even though the band might change, it's all practically identical. Simple structured pop designed for mass consumption that you get bored of easily so you have to move onto the next thing.

Try and listen to some Jazz. The use of interesting composition, unique scrutures, timings and originality should be a breath of fresh air. I cannot recommend The Mahavishnu Orchestra enough, especially the album "The Inner Mounting Flame", an absolute masterpeice of Jazz Fusion! I also recommend Pat Metheny, who is an absolutely fantastic artist altogether. Try for some recommendations on the Jazz board.

Listen to some Classical music aswell, aswell as some Film Scores, as it's all classical composition, it doesn't confine itself to the tedious pop song structure. Listen to Mozart, Bach, Greig, or Phillip Glass, James Horner, Basil Poledouris, or whatever classical/modern composer might take your fancy. Got a favourite film? Go listen to the score, get the soundtrack.

Hope that helps.

Ah, but have you actually heard The Mahavishnu Orchestra? If not, get yourself a copy of The Inner Mounting Flame right now.

RE*AC*TOR

Try these bands
Gang of Four
Post-Punk/Art rock band from the late 70's early 80s
REM used to suport them back when they were wee ones
Think funky basslines with chainsaw guitars and dark political vocals
get the albums Entertainment! or Solid Gold

The Chameleons
Atmospheric pop band from the early 80's some cracking tunes
their debut "script of the bridge" is my favorite

Fatima Mansions
one of the best and weirdest bands this country has produced scott walker mixed with heasvy industrial music you never know what to ecpect with the next track fantastic lyrics as well
get Viva Dead Ponies


Gil Scott Herron
The "relolution will not be telivised" guy as I concidered him until recently but everything ive heard so far of his jazzy r&b is great
get peices of a man


Killing Joke
known by many only as the band nirvana stole the riff for come as you are from. Their first 2 albums were astonising the next few were pretty good as well. Try thier self titled dubut(altough note their recent comback album is also self titled the old one is in white) or their second album whats this for?

Martin Grech
The best by far or the current singer songwriter crop has been compared to radiohead but he isnt just a copycat. New album unholy is great

McLusky
Recently split band that sound like the pixies would if they were a punk band from wales. Get McLusky do Dallas

Teenage Fanclub
The finest power pop band ever. Perfect melodys and harmonys get Songs from northern britain

That Petrol Emotion
The O'neill brothers other band far superior musicly,lyricly and vocaly than the undertones. Get Babble

65 Days of Static
Post Rock band but not as pertentious as this great genre can cometimes be.
get The Fall of Math

Sounds like you may need to wind down a bit. Maybe some alt. country would do the trick. Try Mazzie Star's So Tonight That I Might See. A sort of wierd cross between the Velvet Underground, The Jesus and Mary Chain and Emy Lou Harris. If it's a short sunny break you need, try Rodrigo y Gabriella's Live in Manchester. Super charged Spanish guitar, it'll soon recharge your batteries. On my CD player at the moment though is The Lemon Head's debut album The Lemon Heads and The Wannadies album Bagsy Me.

Well said Karl.

RE*AC*TOR
Yeh, fair point. I usually use it as a bridge to other stuff. Have you tried Brendan Benson's Lapalco?

you should listen to pete murray's album feeler, he's got some great songs, upbeat and easy going. he's a small australien artist

John2 wrote:

Actually Re*Ac*Tor, get the book "Rip it up and Start Again" by Simon Reynolds . It's a history of Post Punk music, not just the weird bands but basically anything that took up from where punk died. Covers everything from obscure arty bands like Wire (who are excellent) to trashy electropop like the Human League. A very enjoyable book. It should reignite some interest in the bands you know and give you a rake of suggestions for your "To buy" list.

Great Book
Im reading it at the moment

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

1. Mahavishnu Orchestra - The Inner Mounting Flame.

At times brilliant - at times not so brilliant. Esp. liked violin/fiddle part in track 2 (Dawn) and track 6 (Dance Of Maya) which very much reminded me of a live Neil Young jam. Anyway I'm not completely sold - at time it was a bit prog-rocky for me. I will give it another turn round the mp3 player though...

Ah man, you have to love the prog vibe!
Glad you enjoyed some of it at least.

Now, although you seem to be not into the whole prog thing, I'm going to go and recommend you listen to Arcturus anyway. They're more progressive than most progressive bands would ever even dare to imagine. I think everyone should have a copy of La Masqeruade Infernale, simply because it's one of the most downright challenging, original, starkly beautiful in it's lunacy, and just so far removed from everything else that's going on in music today.

You should definetly give a listen to the song "The Chaos Path" at the very least, but be prepared, it utterly trounces any and all musical boundaries. The vocals alone have to be heard to be believed, half-way between some of the most staggeringly talented Operatic vocals and the fevered rants, wails and cries of a madman. Utterly unbelievable stuff.

RE*AC*TOR wrote:

if anyone's interested the contents of my mp3 player...

Not a bad collection I would but up mine but I dont know how/couldnt be arsed

if your looking for a lively nonr it band try turn...good craic and never an it band... the're too pale...