This is a good topic.

Well, the main difference I've noticed is not so much in who is on a label or who isn't, but what the artist is about. I've noticed that I like a lot of very random and eclectic music, many of which is barely related. I.E. Smashing Pumpkins, Hamza El Din, L'orchidee D'hawaii, etc.

One thing I find common amongst the artists though, is that there is a love for music, and not just for the "image." Now, I'm not saying that the Pumpkins haven't tried to look a certain way, but I think the difference is that it was enveloped within the artistic statement itself.

New music to me just seems to follow the same trend, and consequently have the same sound. It's like everyone conforming to nonconformity - they end up the same in the end.

The only real musical truth in my eyes is just that, MUSIC. That's where it begins, and that's where it ends. If it's all about the music, it's likely to be good in it's own right.



Well, one thing I love about local artists is that you can talk to them, hang out with them, and if you love their music, it's a real treat! A week ago I was in the living room of one of my favorite artists, chatting, and hanging out!

There's an artist from my city, Olympia, called Ben Kamen, and I love his music as much as the Smashing Pumpkins. Now, anyone who knows me would see that as a real amazement, since I'm the biggest PumpkinHead I know (and so are you, likely!)
Anyway...


Check these out, and ENJOY!

Ben Kamen (Olympia local artist)
http://www.myspace.com/anonymousmonk
http://www.benkamen.com

Freddy Parish (Olympia local artist)
http://www.myspace.com/freddyparish

Happy End (1970's Japanese band)
http://www.myspace.com/asphaltpapaya

Low
http://www.myspace.com/low
http://www.chairkickers.com

Sam Scarpelli (Me!)
http://myspace.com/auditoryarson

a lot of whats out there now is the same and I have to say I have been listening to a lot of older stuff lately. I still listen to some newer bands though, but mostly British stuff.

I believe you misunderstood our fine writer friend, gnr. Listening to old music is cool, but summarily discounting new music when there's a lot of really great stuff out there from smaller bands is just a stupid and rather ignorant thing to do. I totally agree that if there's any one thing that would help Billy become relevant again, it would be to understand that people (especially his fans) are becoming less and less interested in the mainstream, which is exactly what Zeitgeist was.

I listen to some fairly obscure things, but I don't really go out hunting for bands with notoriety. With that said, I can name at least two that I know of that aren't signed: Oddibe, an acoustic pop band from Dallas, and Oliver Future, a psych rock band from here in Austin...I think.

I didn't know that listening to music of the past was lame. You wouldn't be on this website if people like Billy and Jimmy didn't gain any influence from the music they listened to. Music is timeless.

If i am going to play music all I play is Smashing Pumpkins...I may get into a flashback mood and put on some stuff i used to listen to. I do not like new music either...I can listen to some bands if they are on the radio, like maybe the Killers, but none of the bands do it for me...I do not buy new music, oh wait yes i do, i will buy music that is considered avant-garde, new age, folk, or world...I like the Native American music, I think it sounds cool with the flutes and stuff! But the bands out there today, i just don't like...

As far as Billy goes, I had the opposite reaction to the documentary...I thought Billy was interesting...I am glad he did not have a flashy sort of personality, he seemed laid back and real...and i too thought when they came back around, they would be playing for huge crowds...

hehee and as far as Billy and Jimmy only listening to Scorpions...I thought that was cool, cause the Scorpions used to be on of my favorite bands...they have good taste!

but it goes in phases.
Sometimes I get bombarded with and overwhelmed by a lot of small and/or unsigned bands, because there is an awful lot of it that does sound the same or otherwise doesn't grab my attention. But every now and again one new (to my ears) band does sort of stand out, and then I get excited about new upcoming bands again and actively look for more stuff to discover.
And there are a bunch of bands that are always my favorites, that I come back to over and over again, even when I've been listening to them since I was little. I say this as someone who is pushing 40 and grew up with parents who were big music fans. So I don't think how long one has been listening to music is necessarily a factor in how open you are to new music. Some people just get stuck I guess.

Maybe this last part wasn't so much the point of the post, but I did want to respond to it. I love Billy to pieces but I do agree that sometimes it really does seem like he's very much in his own little world and a little out of touch and at times unappreciative of how many people are listening to his music or how many records they sell.
I wish the focus was instead on how deeply the music is loved and appreciated, because even if the numbers have dwindled, the passion among a very large core group of fans has not. Not to mention people who are new to the Pumpkins and very excited about what they hear.
And when he makes comments like that, it gives the impression that the devotion of those fans is not good enough because it's not everyone in the whole world.

They're from Brooklyn but don't sound a thing like all that $h*t coming out of Brooklyn. They're BEYOND unsigned. But kinda remind me of Billy's 89 demos or something.

http://www.myspace.com/ablacktieaffair

but i myself, being 20yo, find that i listen to older music more than i listen to new one, for the silly reason that most of the music these days is so ..very much the same. they all strive to be original... and end up being a mess of boring originality.

i also bet that i would get the same feeling, had i listened to music 20 years ago. but then again, it's a simple reason to wait and see what's left of all the mass that's going on.

a lot of people search for music on places like myspace anymore. You can find a ton of unsigned bands there. Most of what I listen to is at least on a small indie label though. I guess money + some kind of industry backing = listeners. Bands just get more exposure once signed and their stuff is easier to get a hold of.

Best album you've never heard:

http://www.amazon.com/Bite-Your-Tongue-Sex-Slaves/dp/B0009NSD34/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1210749159&sr=1-1