The News Review:
- Andrew Bennett
- Music for the masses
- 2007 MTV Video Music Awards
- … Twista Iron and Wine Keyshia Cole Weakerthans – Music -…
Andrew Bennett
abc.net.au – Sep 24, 2007
As Chris’s observation implies the impact of music on the lives of ageing fans goes far deeper than simply listening to or enjoying music. Over the years music has become a significant steer for many individuals in their daily lives informing directly or indirectly a whole range of things – personal image choice of career peer and sibling relationships and political orientation. Interviews with ageing punks have revealed how they have shaped credible DIY lifestyles working for charity and with the homeless hosting punk-style chat shows on community radio and striving to preserve small local punk scenes by organising shoe-string tours for contemporary punk artists. Similarly my research has turned up cases of old hippies turned activist writers or community artists working with young people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Are these individuals simply living in the past and choosing to grow old disgracefully? Not according to them. In interviews ageing fans have stressed that although their identities as hippies rockers punks and so on may have initially taken form in their youth these identities have continued to develop over the years. Indeed many ageing fans feel that growing older has had very positive advantages forcing them to re-evaluate their original youth cultural identities.
Music for the masses
Malaysia Star – Sep 24, 2007
RAMA LOHAN As far as budget catalogue campaigns go the Essential series is well worth investigating. If the original campaign launched just a few years ago failed to tempt buyers with its full price tag for a double CD the Malaysian-pressed versions at RM29. 90 a pop should spell better news. With 42 Essential titles ranging a variety of genres to pick from and given the comprehensive track list each one of them has on offer there’s much to rejoice. The Bangles The Bangles could have easily been written off as a foursome with spunk but little substance by the male-dominated rock community but when the band’s surface was scratched the nucleus of the band comprising Susana Hoffs and sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson revealed that it were a genuine musical act with its own merits… This compilation does a magnificent job in capturing the highlights of the band’s 1970s output with the best of the 1980s hits and the choice album cuts provide listeners with a glimpse to the length and breadth of EWF’s soul jazz pop rock ‘n’ roll and disco tendencies. While a single CD could do it for the casual listener those wanting to delve deeper can’t go wrong with this double-disc delight. The Clash Punk was appreciated for either its snarling-and-spitting angst or its musically diverse intellect. While the Sex Pistols may have epitomised the former school of thought The Clash were definitely the purveyors of the latter. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones inspired a legion of hardcore fans with their leftist mindset and socio-political lyrics. Through a short-lived eight years The Clash proved itself a veritable inclusion in the pantheon of punk and it’s eponymous debut and the classic London Calling are shining moments in the band’s career. Unsurprisingly this whopping 41-song two-disc collection offers numerous songs from those albums along with other nuggets like Rock The Casbah and the obligatory Should I Stay or Should I Go.
2007 MTV Video Music Awards
Rolling Stone – Sep 24, 2007
” Both said plenty about how strained odd and useless the VMAs have become: The attacks now come from within. Was it a good idea to stage the show in a Vegas hotel and run the red carpet through the casino a place Lord knows how many MTV viewers (to say nothing of underage performers like… But it?s just never the same without Britney is it? She needs them; they need her. So who?s nominated for awards this year? Well I hate to get all ?who cares? on you but you know who cares? Me neither. You don?t care who?s nominated.
… Twista Iron and Wine Keyshia Cole Weakerthans – Music -…
New York Times – Sep 24, 2007
” What no maple syrup?But then Mr. Samson has made a career out of tempting fate. His trajectory may not inspire confidence punk bassist (he used to play with Propagandhi) turned sensitive literary-minded indie-rock frontman but his precise melancholy lyrics certainly do. Most bands should probably avoid sonnets; the last Weakerthans album had three all lovely and subtle (though one seemed to be missing a couplet). And while most singers would be wise to avoid delivering lyrics in the persona of an observant and rather exacting house cat Mr. Samson beat the odds with “Plea From a Cat Named Virtute. “The new Weakerthans album is “Reunion Tour” and one of those 11 songs is “Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure” an affecting sequel in which the cat runs away wanders the streets forgets her name.