So the landlord-tenant fight regarding CBGB is really starting to unnerve me. I am all about preserving historical landmarks and certainly this is one that has elevated the punk/rock and roll genre, especially to New Yorkers, but I can't help but wonder what type of management is going on over at that club. The landlord seems to have problems notifying his tenants of their rent (see the $100,000 in back pay that a Judge ruled CBGB didn't have to pay due to poor...notification? Job skills as landlord? Who knows), but on the other hand, how can a tenant not realize that they need to speak about renewing their lease in a more timely manner and also realize that no matter what, if a landlord doesn't want to renew, no amount of Gavin Rossdale induced fury can prompt him to change his mind. Its sad that the venue has to close but then again, seeing as the rest of the building is a shelter for the homeless, and rumors have it that they would turn the venue into a halfway house type of facility, I can't say I am too sad.
I don't know. I don't know where my lust or love of music has gone. IF this would have happened 3 years ago when I was at the height of my rock-show adoration, I am sure i'd react differently. I think its just that i am tired of the entire popular music scene-and by popular I mean elitest "we know underground and really 'good' music" types (see Pitchfork). Every time I read a review just lusting after the hip hop and rap artists of today, I just see it as hog wash. Just be/c its hip hop or just be/c its rap doesn't under any circumstances make it good. I am so sick of the "i'm white and suburban but TOTALLY into rap be/c that makes me an understandable and insightful music listener" shtick.
That aside, there are a few people whose views I think actually do reflect knowledge and taste and less about being trendy and in touch with a community that, lets face it, you don't know anything about but you're just one of the countless heads that is making this hip hop/rap phenomenon rage forward...see the MTV video awards. It was basically a huge congregation of the hip hop/rap community, but the viewers choice awards went to - by in large - poppy non-rap/hip hop sounding music. So this tells me one thing a) the musical elite have taken their completely biased stance towards rap/hip hop over board and misrepresented the population at large or b) when choosing rap/hip hop over,say, fall out boy or Kelly Clarkson, the general population will go for the latter.
(and I do understand those awards were for the "video" but the videos, as boring and predictable as they were *see general video girls gyrating, guys bouncing up and down, and lame cameo appearances a la Tommy Lee* left the music to speak louder than the visuals.)
I don't know. I don't know where my lust or love of music has gone. IF this would have happened 3 years ago when I was at the height of my rock-show adoration, I am sure i'd react differently. I think its just that i am tired of the entire popular music scene-and by popular I mean elitest "we know underground and really 'good' music" types (see Pitchfork). Every time I read a review just lusting after the hip hop and rap artists of today, I just see it as hog wash. Just be/c its hip hop or just be/c its rap doesn't under any circumstances make it good. I am so sick of the "i'm white and suburban but TOTALLY into rap be/c that makes me an understandable and insightful music listener" shtick.
That aside, there are a few people whose views I think actually do reflect knowledge and taste and less about being trendy and in touch with a community that, lets face it, you don't know anything about but you're just one of the countless heads that is making this hip hop/rap phenomenon rage forward...see the MTV video awards. It was basically a huge congregation of the hip hop/rap community, but the viewers choice awards went to - by in large - poppy non-rap/hip hop sounding music. So this tells me one thing a) the musical elite have taken their completely biased stance towards rap/hip hop over board and misrepresented the population at large or b) when choosing rap/hip hop over,say, fall out boy or Kelly Clarkson, the general population will go for the latter.
(and I do understand those awards were for the "video" but the videos, as boring and predictable as they were *see general video girls gyrating, guys bouncing up and down, and lame cameo appearances a la Tommy Lee* left the music to speak louder than the visuals.)