- by Tristan O\'Hana
- Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Have you ever heard a song, loved it and bought the album? Of course you have. Have you then told a fellow discerning music lover about this exciting, new found interest, only to be slammed by the fact you’ve only just heard of them, and that the album you bought is 'in fact' complete and utter shite compared to their earlier work? Many have, and I tell you, it’s just not right.
Your personal experience might differ from this example - hell, you might have such an extensive music knowledge, owning almost every alternative album ever commited to plastic, that you’ve never had this happen at all. In which case, you’re probably the one dishing out the critiques. These are the people who, I reckon, should shut it.
Music is there to be enjoyed. Who cares if you were the first person to like Radiohead when they performed in dingy Oxford dives as On A Friday in 1991? I sure as hell don't. Or maybe you immersed yourself in rare 1976 Fall out-takes the moment you emerged from the womb? The list of examples is infinite. The fact you were into bands before they had barely formed might be impressive (to you at least), but this doesn’t give you the authority to preach at me for getting into them later on.
In a way, this judging on what you know compared to your friends' lack of back catalogue, is snobbery. You’re being a snob to your own friends. The time has come to stop this garbage and stick to the ‘if it feels good, do it’ way of life. Or rather, ‘if it sounds good, listen to it’.
It's said that knowledge is power and for me, power suggests authority. Well in this sense, bollocks to that. If you are privileged enough to have seen or heard of an artist way before anyone else, use this expertise for the good of music appreciation and share your knowledge. You are no better than them, nor do you appreciate the tunes more. Use your ‘power’ in a kind, nurturing way. After all, music essentially repeats itself anyway, so why not all appreciate together?
Regardless of what we know about who did what and when, the point is, you like it and I like it. End of.
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New Music Tuesday - May 05, 2009... Next 
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- "The fact you were into bands before they had barely formed is impressive"
Why?
In an era where bands are ten a penny, a lot of them very good, short-lived and either poorly or unnecessarily publicised, foreknowledge is redundant and yet we still pursue it. Prestige for successful hunters - derision for johnny-come-lately's. As an affirmation of sound-savvy status, nothing could be more arbitrary.
So really, as an open question - why?
- I had this opinion ages ago.
- Big fan of this, good bands should not be coveted like a possession, if there good then more people should be told about them and their music celebrated, not used for "my dick is bigger than yours" competitions.
- Sheen, I tried to reply directly, but it seems it is unreadable. It read something like:
The original line was "The fact you were probably 5 and watching these bands is quite impressive". I hope the bee has been removed.
- Amazing blog post, keep up the good work.
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