Opinion: No Pop - Kicking Against The Pricks

For the seasoned music lover, of whatever style and genre, there are always aspects of the business or the scene etc that causes concern or anger - me included. For that reason I am starting a new 'Opinion' section of the blog. This is open to all - if there is a subject that raises ire and you would like an opportunity to get your opinion 'out there', please feel free to contact me. Obviously nothing offensive (e.g. racist, homophobic etc) but be as strident as you like.

I recently came across a manifesto "Declaration Of A New Alternative" and the concept of No Pop by a music journalist who goes by the somewhat enigmatic moniker The Lonely Vagabond. In a nutshell it was a call to arms for music lovers to abandon the 'products' churned out on the corporate music conveyor belts and to return to what is essentially the very raison d'etre of music - namely something that moves you on a personal level, something that you can connect with as an individual. In his words No Pop is “No Pop – short for Not Popular. Meaning anti-commercial, non-chart-friendly, also inferring there is no expiration date on music nor is it limited by geographic or regional boundaries.” I suppose, in a nutshell, it's about rejecting the drivel foisted upon us by the corporate hegemony and finding our own musical path.

On one of the Fakebook groups that I haunt (which is made up of fans, bloggers, artists and label owners), there is one subject that will inevitably be raised pretty much on a weekly basis - the music industry sucks! Ignoring the blindingly obvious oxymoron in the term 'Music Industry', the common conception of 'the biz' is corporate fat cats who care not a jot for the music and who view artists as a wellspring of filthy lucre. Having once worked, many years ago, for one of the fattest of the fat cats, I can categorically state that this is the case....music, indeed any artistic venture, is viewed in terms of 'units' and 'revenue'.

If you are reading this blog than I assume that you like music, specifically the music that I drone on and on about. If this is the case than you are obviously a person of taste and distinction and, more importantly, someone who is able to look beyond the itunes chart to find music that moves you, someone who appreciates the creativity that drives your favoured artistes. It is this creativity that, I think, is driving the No Pop crusade. Put simply - art over money.

Take a major artist's 'Best of..' comp....are they the 'best' or just the biggest money spinners. The late, great David Bowie for example....his 'Best Of..' contained tracks like 'Modern Love', 'Blue Jean' and 'Let's Dance' - good tracks and huge money makers but best of? Where is the 'Velvet Goldmine', 'Holy Holy', 'Panic In Detroit' or 'Look Back In Anger'....subjective I know, but you take my point - the industry is about shifting units and not celebrating the vision of talented musicians. One of the things I take great pride in re: the blog is that I will review anything I like, this is not dependent on advertising budgets or slick PR teams, so I guess I've always been on board with the whole No Pop thang.

Much of the music that I truly love is released via one-man-band labels. Cardinal Fuzz, Drone Rock Records, Evil Hoodoo etc put out some awesome records, records that they believe in, that they love themselves. The monetary aspect is important of course, everybody needs to eat, but 'shifting units' is not the prime reason, rather to share their enthusiasm for bands that have sweated blood to produce a record of outstanding quality. And these bands produce those albums knowing that it may not bother the chart dudes or have them playing the O2 arena next week, but there will be some people who really dig it and hopefully spread the good word. It is this music that we (and that's a global 'we') should be seeking out.

That 'seeking out' process, that sonic adventure uncovering gems and finding new favourites....that's the satisfying and rewarding aspect. The following of leads, the taking of punts and scouring of the internet. For example....I first heard The Cult Of Dom Keller while at a mates and he played a track or two, I went away and bought their first album and then heard they were releasing a second via a label called Cardinal Fuzz. I investigated and, via Cardinal Fuzz, found the Dead Sea Apes who are now one of my faves...and since has lead to many other faves. This process isn't quick but it's fun. It is a joy that is lost on the people who just accept the bland, corporate fodder.

So this is a clarion call to everybody.....find the music that moves you, that inspires you or just makes you feel good. It doesn't matter whether this is an obscure Vietnamese psych combo or a grubby metal band playing to 5 people and a dog down the local....if it moves you, celebrate it and support the artist....buy that T-shirt or CDr on the merch stand and click like on Fakebook (or your social media of choice)...it's not going to make them millionaires but it might just help them make another album or play your local again.