I find myself in the rather unfamiliar position at present where personal circumstances, and financial constraints, have conspired to deprive me of regular internet access. It is a strange feeling in this day and age, although it is a reminder that one should not take too much for granted perhaps. It is the end of year, in any event, and many of us are simply going through the motions to find our way to Christmas fare.
Someone asked my significant other recently what they should get me for Christmas, and the reply came in the form of, "he listens to music no-one has ever heard of, so don't even think of getting him a CD". I, naturally, bristled at the response, but I am up for the challenge, and I shall have to embark upon an education program (to my one reader, you know precisely what this means- and yes, the mix-tapes have already been produced...) I do have to constantly remind myself, though, that indie music remains very much a niche market, and I remain very much in the minority in my listening tastes. And, I cannot disagree with Will Stratton's disapproval of the current mania for finding new music at the expense of proper appreciation. It is a well-worn sentiment on this blog, and cannot say that I have the energy, or audacity to indulge your patience, to repeat it again.
For all of the perceived prominence that "indie" has on the net, and the repeated use of songs in popular television programs, it is possibly worth reminding each other that for all the talk, and "scholarly" reviews, if we don't buy the music, or support the artists, we are doing little to promote anything at all. It was a stark reminder when I received one of those occasional, haphazard, e-mails from the Wrens recently, reminding everyone that they do still exist, they are still recording - or thinking about releasing another album - and asking people to buy a t-shirt to help fund the new record...
And on top of all this, it seems that there is an unusual furor in the world of late - if one takes a snapshot of today alone - HMV looking as if it is about to fold, riots in London as students protest student tuition fees (although there is a rather amusing description of Prince Charles smiling and waving as protesters trash his car...in fairness, I suppose, what else can you do?) and the ongoing uproar that has been prompted by the WikiLeaks announcements.
Even the report on the unscrupulous attorney, whilst raising my ire, is little more than a hiccup on the landscape of the real world. Technically, many of us understand that as the law sits, piracy and copyright infringement is a huge problem. Artists are concerned for good reason, as should we be as fans. Can we honestly expect artists to make music with little expectation of remuneration? If we are content to idolize people in their garage, we have to accept that their output is going to be limited, and their opportunity to acquire a greater audience is dramatically reduced. I, for one, am immensely sad that I will not likely have the opportunity to see the many artists I admire. It is absolutely essential that artists tour, as it creates the opportunity for them to perfect their craft, and allow them to grow and follow their dreams. If a band is able to forgo their day job to pursue music full time, I think, as a fan, we should only be supportive of their success.
However, where the problem lies is in trying to negotiate the current view that many listeners have that they are entitled to music as of right, and juxtaposing this to the financial realities of trying to make money. I think it is mostly a given that, as a general rule, we need to understand that the notion of the 70's and 80's music gods - where fame brings immense fortune to fund the dream life - is largely gone. Of course, it still exists amongst the multi-platinum selling rappers and occasional country or pop star, but for the most part, these are the exception, rather than the rule. We, as listeners, need to understand that many artists are already cognisant to this potential reality, but are still taking their chance. The music industry is a graveyard of attempts, and we are left, generally, remembering only the few that made it.
This is not to say that I am advocating that people should no longer access music via the net. To the contrary, every since the idea of a "music industry" was born, people have been exchanging and giving away music. Dissemination is key to being heard. There are realities to distribution- financial constraints on record labels, and artists- to get their music out where it can be bought. Many are forced to turn to alternative means to get access to music they love. It is a reality, and especially when financial constraints restrict even getting the few albums that are available.
I, for one, cannot comprehend how it can ever be justified charging (effectively) $35 for an imported CD in this country. This is especially when there are many who know full well that that that same CD can be purchased online for a fraction of that. The problem, however, is that to indulge our needs in such spendthrift ways, and assuage righteous anger, we learn the art of patience whilst we pray that the postal service delivers our precious (and often valuable) cargo to us. Personally, I believe that this is the root of the problem, as corporations have made fortunes over the years by manipulating access and distribution. Now that an alternative has been found, it is the fans and the artists that are suffering as corporations scramble to secure their finances within the old regime. This is simplistic, I know, but the world has shifted, and for all of us in the music world, it is a matter of just having to wait and see where the middle ground is found.
But enough of this talk, as many will know, this is a pet subject of mine, and one which I find myself repeating far too often. To close, I suppose I would be remiss if I did not add my 10 cents, as it seems we are all compelled to in this game, and list my favourite releases of the year. I find it to be a thankless task, so perhaps don't take these as a recommendation, but rather my simply recording those albums of 2010 that were firm residents in my CD player.
2010
1. The Walkmen - Lisbon
2. Horse Feathers - Thistled Spring
3. The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang
4. The Black Keys - Brothers
5. The National - High Violet
6. Volcano Choir - Unmap
7. Free Energy - Stuck On Nothing
8. Fang Island - s/t
9. Tokyo Police Club - Champ
10. Andrew Cedermark - Moon Deluxe
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