Since about '88 or so I've got NO music recommendations from main stream
radio ... and since I've moved to Dayton I haven't had many cues from
the public stations. Most of my music choices are made based on
compilations I buy second hand. With 'zine reviews coming in second,
and recommendations via Email coming a distant third.
On several Punk of the 70s compilations I own there's what must have
been a seminal song called "Oh Bondage Up Yours" by the band X-Ray Spex
and fronted by Poly-Styrene. Today I found a re-release of X-Ray Spex
music called "Germfree Adolescents" that has been knocking my socks off
all afternoon.
I'm curious has anyone else on the list heard X-Ray Spex? What do you
think limited the spread of the band? Can you extrapolate that to other
forms of art ? Videos <films>, paintings, design that is SO GOOD its
self-limiting? Would anyone care to compare and contrast music with
paintings or design since it seems more self-limiting then other art
forms. It seems to me most music is appreciated at the time it is
composed ... and although there are certainly trends in composition
tastes in music seem more specific to particular schools <light opera vs
opera vs classical vs rock vs jazz vs folk vs urban blues vs country &
western......>. I know that for paintings its possible to have a
favorite period, but to still have a refined appreciation of other
periods. With music most people have a favorite brand that they listen
to almost exclusively. For instance you can go to a medium sized
furniture store and find furniture spanning design for the past 2000
years. How many bands are there like The Squirrel Nut Zippers who
duplicate historical sounds ... not just cover old tunes?