MANAGING EDITOR'S NOTES
- Bob Gajarsky
"What's in your disc player?" is something that I often get asked. It's a reflection of what intrigues me at the moment, though that changes as often as a new band arrives here in Hoboken. So, here's a brief look at what's going on in the Gajarsky disc player recently:
Oasis - Definitely Maybe, Echobelly - Everyone's Got One. More on these in the year end summary issue, but they're just so addictive for me. I want more.
The Wonder Stuff. See what Martin has to say about them in our leadoff article. It says something about a band when their five year old music still sounds incredibly fresh and cutting edge today.
The Stolen Moments: Red Hot & Cool cd is also a mainstay. Scott Williams reviewed it in the 11/23 issue; a brilliant complementary course of hip hop, rap and jazz combine for a delicious musical meal.
Big Audio's "Looking For A Song". A rip-off of the Carpenters "Sing" as only Mick can do it, is terribly cheezy, but is just repetitive enough that it could make top 40. I happen to like it.
Another song that people could kill me for is Bon Jovi's "Prayer 94". I'm not a fan of slow songs, as a rule, but they pull this one off in style. As a side note, the single, "Always" does absolutely nothing for me.
And, before you knock Bon Jovi, think of how people would knock *you* at some point for listening to whatever (unpopular) band you listen to, for not going with the flow. If you don't like them, fine - but don't ignore them simply *because* they are popular and use a straight ahead rock and roll format.
That brings up the next point - what *is* alternative? It's a never-answerable question, because one can look at Tony Bennett and Johnny Cash (who are now considered chic and, yes, "alternative") and realize that they don't quite fit the image of alternative. Is it not selling billions and billions of records? There are tons of bands out there that haven't sold more than a couple thousand records, but you'd never consider them alternative. Why should collegiate disc jockeys stop spinning R.E.M. simply because mainstream America has caught up to what we knew all along - that these four guys from Athens had the special magic about them, to infect an audience with their songs?
It happens at every level, whether people admit it or not. Whenever a band garners any breaks or success, there are fans who are quick to label them "sellouts" - even if the band hasn't changed its musical style one iota! If they switch instruments and flop, people label them "experimental" - but if the same band switch instruments and gain succes, they are automatically labelled as a sellout. And that's just wrong.
To take things one step further: Bananarama are thought of as pop cheeseballs in England. But in the States, where their success was limited to a couple Top 40 hits, they are *still* played on the Modern Rock stations (the recent performance with Shakespeare's Sister notwithstanding). Is it the country? Is it the number of records sold? Are we "alternative", because, unlike other "alternative" 'zines, we'll talk about Bon Jovi or the Chipmunks? What exactly is alternative?
The answer: "alternative" is whatever you want to make it. We'll keep pushing Consumable along, with a touch towards the side of "modern rock", or any label you want to apply to us. But don't be surprised if you hear us give our commentary on something that isn't quite alternative - we'll give it the same chance to catch our ears, and report to you what it sounds like - giving *you* the opportunity to decide if it's up your alley. We don't pretend to be your thought process - merely your reporters.
