Comments on: The Trouble With Pop http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/12/the-trouble-with-pop/ Lollards in the high church of low culture Sat, 10 Jan 2009 02:00:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Marcello Carlin http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/12/the-trouble-with-pop/#comment-353492 Marcello Carlin Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:19:29 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/12/the-trouble-with-pop/#comment-353492 Starting off with the "Swedish Lily Allen": the record also made me think of Bjork, but a 1968 Bjork brought under the wing of Tony Macaulay to try to make her accessible to Pop Kids (bit of "Something Here In My Heart"'s canter about the tune). I agree that the singer was trying a bit too hard to be shambolic, as though method acting. The Avril record is another example of one of those records I hear and like enormously until the DJ/someone else tells me who it is and then it flops right down I can tell you. And the video is ghastly, even on an ironic level. Is "Mickey" the most influential pop record of the last 25 years? Don't quite think Larkin's Law excuses her, I'm afraid, but then I have the same relationship with M.I.A. as Tim has with Toby K, i.e. I don't agree with her (and am not sure that she does either) but the music somehow transcends all of that. The "Push It" debate was entertaining but since that record in turn borrowed/pilfered heavily from both "Whip It" and "You Really Got Me" I don't think it can complain. Great record, though. Vocally, I think Timbaland should act as both Phil Spector and Ike Turner RIP and lock himself out of the studio whenever he feels like doing his next "baby doll" instalment. Shame we don't have split stereo productions any more so you could stick his gurglings on one channel and turn it down/off when he comes on. Fascinating perspective on "Umbrella" from Mark; agree with a lot of what he says (in good ways), disagree that there isn't a resolution but I'll wait until he comes on here to discuss further. Finally, Kogan sez young girls are the future, earth revolves around sun, &c. ;-) Starting off with the “Swedish Lily Allen”: the record also made me think of Bjork, but a 1968 Bjork brought under the wing of Tony Macaulay to try to make her accessible to Pop Kids (bit of “Something Here In My Heart”’s canter about the tune). I agree that the singer was trying a bit too hard to be shambolic, as though method acting.

The Avril record is another example of one of those records I hear and like enormously until the DJ/someone else tells me who it is and then it flops right down I can tell you. And the video is ghastly, even on an ironic level. Is “Mickey” the most influential pop record of the last 25 years? Don’t quite think Larkin’s Law excuses her, I’m afraid, but then I have the same relationship with M.I.A. as Tim has with Toby K, i.e. I don’t agree with her (and am not sure that she does either) but the music somehow transcends all of that.

The “Push It” debate was entertaining but since that record in turn borrowed/pilfered heavily from both “Whip It” and “You Really Got Me” I don’t think it can complain. Great record, though. Vocally, I think Timbaland should act as both Phil Spector and Ike Turner RIP and lock himself out of the studio whenever he feels like doing his next “baby doll” instalment. Shame we don’t have split stereo productions any more so you could stick his gurglings on one channel and turn it down/off when he comes on.

Fascinating perspective on “Umbrella” from Mark; agree with a lot of what he says (in good ways), disagree that there isn’t a resolution but I’ll wait until he comes on here to discuss further.

Finally, Kogan sez young girls are the future, earth revolves around sun, &c. ;-)

]]> By: Tom http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/12/the-trouble-with-pop/#comment-353259 Tom Wed, 19 Dec 2007 15:25:53 +0000 http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2007/12/the-trouble-with-pop/#comment-353259 Incidentally, preparing for this show, plus fulfilling assorted end-of-year commissions and polls, plus sorting out a house move, plus finishing off my real actual work, is why I haven't written a Popular entry in a while. Rest assured that the next two at least will be up before Jebus has his birthday, and then probably a break for another few weeks while the actual house move happens! Incidentally, preparing for this show, plus fulfilling assorted end-of-year commissions and polls, plus sorting out a house move, plus finishing off my real actual work, is why I haven’t written a Popular entry in a while. Rest assured that the next two at least will be up before Jebus has his birthday, and then probably a break for another few weeks while the actual house move happens!

]]>