You Know You're Getting On A Bit When...
Don't panic, this isn't going to be some smug stand-up comedian routine about how all modern music just sounds rubbish compared to the classic bands of *insert year when stand-up comedian was a teenager / when stand-up comedian assumes his audience was a teenager*. And I'm definitely not going to add any weight to the lie that you lose interest in finding new music to like as you get past the age of 21, because it's just a load of old cack.
BUT I do have a problem, and it's one of those problems which definitely marks me out as a bit of an old gipper. Naturally I am sure the ChartBlog massive will be very forgiving and kind, and not run around shouting cruel taunts. That's clearly a very juvenile thing to do, and we're all adults, right? No?
Oh dear...
OK, here's the thing. I'm quite fond of the music of the Hoosiers. They do those lovely perky ELO-type songs about Ray, Mr A (and very probably Peter Kay, Aunt May and Jay Kay out of Jamiroquai). Here's one of them...
I am also quite partial to the Wombats and their rowdy songs about celebrating irony and stuff. Like this one...
Now, I know that sonically these two bands have very little in common, I also know they don't really look all that similar (although Irwin Hoosier and Murph Wombats could be cousins...ish...if you squint). But here's where the big problem lies, I am CONSTANTLY getting the two bands confused. Like I'll hear the new Hoosiers song on the radio, and someone will ask if I've heard the new Wombats song and I'll say yes. And I'll be sure I'm right too. I'll see the Wombats on TV and think "ah, yes, that's the band with all the comic-book references", when they're NOT.
And it doesn't help that they keep releasing singles within close proximity of each other. Both bands have new songs out imminently, and while they don't sound the same, I've had to check and double-check my reviews list FIVETY-TWELVE TIMES to make sure I haven't accidentally asked two ChartBlog writers to cover the same song...even after the reviews are in!
So, the only assumption I can make is that somehow my mental faculties are declining, and that the first thing that goes is the ability to differentiate new sparky indie trios with curly-haired lead-singers from one another. That's the thin end of the wedge. Before you know it I'll be confusing Jay-Z with Jah Rule, Rihanna with Ciara, and ringing Gerard Way for an interview and calling him Billie-Joe...or Patrick...or - when things really start to fall apart - Leona.
All in all, not the brilliantly optimistic start to 2008 I had been hoping for.
*sigh*
Comments
I like your point about people comparing new music to the stuff that was out when they were young. I'm a huge pop nerd and rarely listen to anything pre-1995. I hate it when people argue that Bob Dylan is better than Kt Tunstall because "he's classic" or something. Being old does not make you better! Grr.
[Indeed it does not. Mind you, nor does being young. Being good does! - Fraser]
Hang on, how can someone call themselves a pop-nerd and NOT listen to anything to anything pre-1995? Does Abba's or the BeeGee's efforts mean nothing? Now it's my turn to say grrr!
However, I wouldnt personally argue that Bob Dylan is better than KT 'cos he's 'classic'! I would argue that it's because HE IS BETTER than KT!