Irish music

There was a time way way back a band would be signed and allowed learn on the job, from a creative perspective this afforded them and their producers the opportunity to finesse and discover. Bands tended to be signed based on their talent as opposed to their marketability. Music and the world itself was and is a better place for that.

Today you get one shot, if that, and boom out the gap if it doesn’t happen, Galway hurling shtyle. You have the same lads complaining about new bands that you have espousing the likes of the Eagles and Bruce Spriengfield. Thats why most music tends to be shit nowadays but that’s capitalism for you

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They’re a bit too polished if that’s their first tune but not bad. Very English sounding - they would have been NME’s wet dream.

A and R men RIP

Do you think so? Would circumstances have kept down sinead, thin lizzy, u2, van Morrison, the undertones, the cranberries, the waterboys etc? Even the second tier bands of the 80s and 90s look epic now…even ash look like led zeppelin when you compare them to what’s going on now-
there’s a rake of young lads singing through their nose about how hurt they are. Sam Smith would be embarrassed for them
It’s not just here. Can you imagine someone like the sex pistols or Iggy pop arriving on the scene now? Meehole and leo would urge caution and that would be them finished. Could you see a situation arising again where musical genres where almost akin to political movements
I should add that I’m a bit out of touch with what’s going on at the cutting edge…but I do watch the late late from time to time

It’s not your average man driving the standard of music… The moguls of pop demand instant success . They want pure voices and a certain look… everything is manufactured now and it’s all about the brand. They’re all singing about fuck all also. Bob Dylan would be laughed at if he was coming up now.

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Authenticity… They don’t have it and labels don’t want it. They just want a no.1 hit or you’re gone.

The talent is still there, it’s a natural phenomenon…but the character is lacking. And maybe all the good tunes are taken regardless

On the other hand it’s never been easier to make and record music - you don’t need a record deal and you can get your music out to the masses

Hard for bands to get that critical mass or hype that bands got when music press and John Peel type radio existed.

Bands like Suede and Arctic Monkeys were famous before they released a song

There is also the fact that bands don’t make much money now from recording.

Fontaines DC are as good a band as ever came out of Ireland so there’s hope yet

Hard for anything to follow that tbf

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My Bloody Valentine were my comedy band. Ride were different - they were a rock band, really, a fantastic rock band - but My Bloody Valentine were a joke, my way of seeing how far I could push hype."

Alan McGee

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Look at the state of radio… The tans still have an outlet for up and coming and alternative music. Irish radio is a fucking joke.

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Nobody listens to it anymore apart from the odd news show.

Radio doesn’t really drive music the way it once did.

It’s all algorithms on Spotify now

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That’s a bit harsh. Daytime mainstream radio is a write-off but there are still plenty of djs who want to play new music. Paul McLoone. I’d say there’s more variety on Irish radio than Brirish.

Ride were great too. But MBV were another level.

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John Kelly still pushing good new music.

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Going Blank Again is a great album

I might go down a shoe gazing hole for the afternoon

Most people don’t want to listen to it (unless there’s big hype).

People are too busy suffering from anxiety to have anything to sing about. The country is full of trad music though, youngsters are flat to the mat at the jiglets and the reelpipes. I was talking to a lad the other day who said the going price for a decent set of pipes was 15k, and youd be waiting a couple of years …for his wee brat who wont be remotely interested next week

John is daycent.

I’d have it the other way around, Ride were far superior for my ears, going blank again and Nowhere are both above loveless in my ranking, I recognise that it’s an unpopular view,

I also liked the carnival of light album which everybody else, including the band, hated.