Creation Records founder/Guardian music scribe Alan McGee thinks that Bon Jovi should be among New Jersey’s musical/cultural ambassadors to the world. Well, Bon Jovi is better than The Sopranos, by which I mean Bon Jovi has given us more emotional/historical signposts to cling to than Tony et al. But Bon Jovi is hardly the emblematic New Jersey band of the ’80s, let alone the one that should continue to represent the state into the new millennium. Because the greatest New Jersey bands of the last few decades have worked in an idiom laid down by the quartet that made art from the Garden State’s late 20th-century ability to turn anything into junk food: the Misfits. More »
Apparently, the news that George Michael was a pop genius is so big, The Guardian‘s music blog had to let Alan McGee take time out from his usual My Bloody Valentine bashing to pen a 650-ish paean to his brilliance: “Faith (the album) was classic pop. It found Michael moving into Brian Wilson Pet Sounds territory. Seriously–Michael co-produced, wrote all the songs, played most of the instruments and sang backing vocals and harmonies.” So basically McGee is trying to placate the Guardian audience by appealing to their rockist tendencies, and getting into the semi-dicey “authenticity” argument (the piece ends with him nattering on about “manufactured pop” and Neil Young). I always feel weird about throwing down that particular line of justification with any album where I didn’t sit in on every tussle-filled corporate meeting, but hey, at least I have an excuse to share my four favorite songs from the album in one fell swoop. Videos after the jump! More »
In today’s headline wrapup: DMX isn’t in Celebrity Rehab (yet), Alan McGee is still pissy about ever even liking My Bloody Valentine, Aerosmith play for free in Hawaii, and we are all lazy because of the Internet. More »
Former Creation Records boss Alan McGee’s blog the Guardian isn’t what I would describe as a must read, between recent posts calling for a Cult revival and taking time out for an extended appreciation of the Waterboys. But the man did sign Oasis, as he would be happy to remind you–so perhaps he merits a little slack. Especially on days when he wants to champion the Chills.
Former Creation Records honcho Alan McGee–the man behind such missives as “Music Magazines: Sorta Sucky” and “The Jesus & Mary Chain: Biggest Band Of All Time”–is back with a new rant on his Guardian blog, this time about the end of record stores:
When was the last time you went into a record shop? It was about a month ago in Tokyo for me. It was a boutique type of establishment, a bit like Rough Trade – it had vinyl and all the hip releases. Yet it still felt like a museum. All the music I want I can get off Amazon or go on MySpace to hear. There’s no real need for record shops any more.
In a recent Guardian music blog post, former Creation Records head Alan McGee–the man who foisted Oasis, Teenage Fanclub, and, ahem, Hurrican #1 upon the world–laments the demise of Arthur, and the state of rock writing in general:
[In the U.K.], there seems to be little or no ground between tabloid-style attention to chart acts and the more middle-aged, conservation work of tirelessly compiling lists and meditating on past glories. It’s a shame, because I believe that in drawing attention to what is being produced under the radar and discussing its merits, magazines like Arthur have a nurturing effect on great music and art. They connect artists with audiences and provide an outlet for intelligent discussion and detailed criticism. While the internet can be used to a similar purpose (salon.com being a good example), printed publications generally afford a greater consistency of quality and as far as I am concerned still command greater attention on the part of the reader…
