Fair play to the NME, their piece about people getting attacked as a result of their musical preferences is a decent read and long overdue. That said, once the Daily Mail had said that 'emo' music was dangerous, you'd like to think that most sane people realised it was quite the opposite. Their coverage was centred around the recent rulings on the murder of Sophie Lancaster, a 20 year old Goth who was attacked last August as a result of her and her boyfriend's appearance. They quoted a truly brilliant post from one of the Goth message boards, "no group of Goths ever beat up a chav." The idea that musical tastes will lead the nation's youth astray is hardly a new one, although you can't blame publications like the Mail, as all of the evidence would suggest that in previous cases this assertion has been proved to be complete and utter bollocks. Which is how they like their 'news'. Do I need an allegedly here? Allegedly.
Something else that came out of reading the article was a sense of disbelief at the name 'Faris Rotter'. Apparently that's the name of the lead singer of The Horrors. I guess he deserves a smidge of respect for supporting the message of the article before I wade in with a torrent of abuse. There it was. Right then, 'Rotter'? 'Rotter'? What, as in Rotten? Well, good idea, not like that's been used before. The ever reliable Wikipedia reveals that his name is actually Faris Badwan. Obviously he couldn't use that as it'd make him sound too much like some simpering twat who'd stick out his little finger whilst supping a mochachino in the back of a limo on the way to being fired by Sir Alan. Yeah, sticking up for the real people there! Being true to yourself, etc. Such begging for credibility has not been witnessed since Sporty Spice unleashed her cover of 'Anarchy In The UK' on the unsuspecting crowds at V99. The piss couldn't be flung quick enough.
Anyway, having allowed by ire to subside - all this based on a name, I know - I was then confronted by a member of My Chemical Romance. They're just shit, really, aren't they? I've no qualms about defending people's right to listen to them, dress like them and all that, but their very existence in the first place is what bugs me. In my dim and distant past as an occasionally published, and even less frequently read, music reviewer I gave Green Day's 'American Idiot' an almighty shoeing but this lot almost arouse pangs of sympathy for that bunch of middle-aged wankers in their three-quarter-length trousers. It strikes me that if you're going to have to battle against narrow-minded, knuckle-dragging fuckwits in order to submerge yourself in a particular musical culture, shouldn't the music be good enough to warrant the fight?
As readers of this blog will be aware, every so often I go through a period of acknowledging that the NME isn't actually that bad only to become completely disillusioned a couple of weeks thereafter. Once again, reading the new issue today I found it quite a pleasant experience and was delighted to reach the back end of it and find an interview with Roger Daltrey. Top man.
The NME review of The Long Blondes' '"Couples"' was reasonably close to the mark, although it represented my view of the album after a couple of listens. After a few more listens, the seemingly cold and insular sound opens up just enough to let you in. It's still pretty claustrophobic, and not what I'd expected, but it's a lot better than I first thought it was. 'Century' has really grown on me, despite initially hating it, while next single, 'Guilt', is already on the VJ muxtape.
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