Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: I'd just like to thank ...

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  • George Darroch,

    Doh! I managed to jumble a few things there, Time on Earth was released two years ago.

    These problems eventuate when you're overseas and not paying much attention...

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • ScottY,

    The mosh pit was half full

    Half? Try maybe quarter. And they just stood there. I felt like yelling "move dammit! Move!"

    I only caught a bit of the show, but when the lifetime award was being given, it was very noticeable through the TV that a decent portion of the audience were chatting away and not paying any attention to the stage.

    It was very noticable from where I was too. Kind of inevitable with that many tables encouraging people to talk to each other.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report Reply

  • Kracklite,

    This I agree with. Dyslexia as it happens, can actuate enthusiastic pros writing.

    We get a lot of dyslexic people in the design fields, I find... which they can find a real problem when they discover that certain core papers require essays.

    It does seem to correlate with good verbal, social and visual/spatial composition skills, I've found.

    I remember hearing Kim Hill or Katherine Ryan interviewing Jackie Stewart, who is dyslexic, and he said that he thought of non-dyslexic people as "clever", versus himself whom he thought to be relatively unintelligent. I found that rather sad as surely you can't succeed as he has done without having other - and excellent -perceptual and cognitive skills.

    It's cases like that which have given impetus to the paradigm of multiple intelligences - the view that thinking is a collection of skills, not just a raw, monolithic mass of generalised brainpower.

    Getting a bit OT here, I suppose. Maybe I could go on about my musical tastes... minimalism, anyone? The more reptitive the better.

    (Re the student needed - OK)

    The Library of Babel • Since Nov 2007 • 982 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I only caught a bit of the show, but when the lifetime award was being given, it was very noticeable through the TV that a decent portion of the audience were chatting away and not paying any attention to the stage.

    Yeah, poor old Dinah Lee. But she was hard to hear, and she didn't speak very well, and for a bit too long. And there had been two hours of drinking by that point ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    The album is mostly electronic pop, the band is rock.

    yes but it very much is not electronic in the spirit of the award, whereas the other two were. Hints of the year that Jethro Tull won Best Hard Rock/ Metal Album at The Grammys, when they were up against Metallica.

    I don't have a problem with Paul's post, it kinda had to be said, but the awards have alway teetered towards the middle and I scratch my head at a compilation album being awarded biggest selling disc, as the norm is that these things ain't eligible.

    Brooke Fraser international achievement? I'm wondering if management connections at the very highest level of RIANZ count for more than anyone actually having the vaguest notion who you are beyond a few youth church groups around the world? Bizarre. But the Tuis often are.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Brooke Fraser international achievement? I'm wondering if management connections at the very highest level of RIANZ count for more than anyone actually having the vaguest notion who you are beyond a few youth church groups around the world? Bizarre. But the Tuis often are.

    That's a wee bit harsh, Simon. Fraser's Albertine album did reach the US iTunes Top 5 during the eligibility period, and #9 in the US Independent charts, and #3 in the Christian charts (but spent just one week, at #90 in the Billboard 200). That was enough for her debut to be re-relaesed there. So it's not like she's been a total nobody.

    OTOH, Ladyhawke's success is at another level -- her album peaked at #16 in the UK chart, and she sold more than 100,000 copies there alone.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I don't have a problem with Paul's post, it kinda had to be said, but the awards have alway teetered towards the middle

    Since two years ago, you mean? Well, not that far, when The Feelers get biggest-selling album and nothing else ;-)

    I think we tend to forget how dire these awards used to be ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Eh, if we must have '80s revivalism, Ladyhawke is actually good '80s revivalism.

    Sure, but haven't we been in a permanent state of '80s revival since about 1996? Surely 13 years, plus the original 10, are more than enough?

    And there actually are 1980s albums that never get old.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    So it's not like she's been a total nobody.

    The sales were minimal though..it was a one week Christian buy and then, bam, gone. Which kinda makes my point.

    Since two years ago, you mean?

    No I mean forever, with the odd happy exception. Let's not forget the almost complete avoidance of almost anything Flying Nun in it's first decade. I think The Chills got a bump after Heavenly Pop Song. And the 1990s were little better.

    But I understand that (not the Flying Nun bit or the direness of the old awards as you point out, but the targeting), as the awards, like NZ on Air, are meant to sell the thing that is NZ music to middle NZ..that's their role and they do it increasingly well, thanks largely to the vision of Mark Ashbridge and Adam Holt a few years back, and the momentum since.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Jackie Clark,

    Well, I have to say I recorded the Music Awards and fast forwarded through most of them. I love Anika Moa - and I thought she was very funny. And why did no-one mention Andrew Spraggon and the funky fineness that is Sola Rosa? I thought that Iva Lamkum was divine, singing Turn Around. I don't know. Tickets to these things are wasted on you lot.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And why did no-one mention Andrew Spraggon and the funky fineness that is Sola Rosa? I thought that Iva Lamkum was divine, singing Turn Around.

    That came across better on TV than live, I thought. But I've just been at the vege shop, and it was great to hear that song ringing out instead of whatever slop is usually on the radio.

    Tickets to these things are wasted on you lot.

    Awww, miss! We get to hang out and get drunk with our friends! Isn't that what it's all about?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    I think we tend to forget how dire these awards used to be ...

    and how interesting and listenable parts of the middle have become in recent years

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    No I mean forever, with the odd happy exception.

    Ah. Sorry, I missed the "always" in your post.

    I think we'd agree that the awards have been much better in recent years, thanks to Adam, Ash, etc.

    They used to have all the glamour and excitement of a retailers' convention (which they virtually were, come to think of it).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • James Butler,

    and how interesting and listenable parts of the middle have become in recent years

    Nope, that's called "getting old".

    Auckland • Since Jan 2009 • 856 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    Nope, that's called "getting old".

    maybe, but I'd argue that the likes of P-Money and Scribe, which sell very much to middle NZ, as well as the edges, are far more interesting than the first 5 awards in this lot from 20 years back. And stations like Mai / Flava and the alternative indie / dance stations have pushed a lot of things into the mainstream that otherwise would have been ignored.

    Mostly, give or take, and there is still a lot of shit, but NZ pop music, as perceived by much of the nation, has become a more fascinating and listenable place in the past decade or so. You only need to look at the two mega number ones this decade, Scribe & Smashproof.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Simon Grigg,

    They used to have all the glamour and excitement of a retailers' convention (which they virtually were, come to think of it).

    I think we may have been at the same table (Rose, Shepherd, Hood, Sampson etc) at the Powerstation circa '91, when no food was served for two hours and Greg Johnson had to physically helped to the podium for his Best Single award (and bought the house down with his short speech).

    It may have been chaos but it was a hell of a party and I think most retailers from down country left in some disbelief at the behaviour of the 'industry'. It was always a risk asking them to come to those things.

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Yes! I remember that one! Although later than '91, I think.

    Notable for the shift to an actual rock 'n' roll venue, rather than a hotel ballroom. And as you say, probably traumatising for some of those who came.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Greg Johnson had to physically helped to the podium for his Best Single award (and bought the house down with his short speech).

    Interesting to note that a few of the Stuff comenters were complaining about people apparently being a bit drunk on stage. They have no idea ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Oh, and this letter has turned up at the bFM link today:

    Sarin,

    I am Daniel Bolton's (Darcy Clay's) dad.

    Tim Moon has kindly forwarded your press release about the success of 'Jesus I Was Evil' with your listeners.

    I knew the song was popular and successful but I had no idea that its success and popularity was still so strong after more than ten years.

    It was bFM that gave Darcy Clay the break he needed and deserved and for that he was always exceedlingly grateful and loyal.

    He is no longer with us but I can assure you, your station and above all your listeners that it is incredibly heartwarming to me and my family to know that Darcy Clay and his music is still remembered so fondly by so many people.

    Thank you, all, sincerely.

    Bob Bolton.

    Fuckin' A.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    Warmly remembered indeed. Just take a look at this swagger.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Nope, that's called "getting old"

    rofflenui

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    You will notice that the auto-embedding YouTube clips in the forums here (just post in the naked URL of the clip, folks) now (ie: in the last hour or so) enjoy a full-screen button.

    All part of of an ongoing programme of improvement to meet the needs of our customer base.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Preview of clips would be good too - just the static image if that's fetchable.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Littlewood,

    I'd rather Bacherlorette got the success Ladyhawke's now getting, but I can kinda see why she's not. As formally perfect as Bacherlorette's debut EP and LP were, it was an altogether more insidious, even introverted proposition. I guess it doesn't help that her second album suffered the typical sophomore jitters either- it's fidgety where Isolation Loops was relaxed, stuffy where the original was expansive.

    Still, I wish Ladyhawke aka Pip Brown all the very best (her singles are good revisionist fun), even if I wonder whether, rightly or wrongly, her international career may go the same way as the Datsuns- i.e. a brief, bright spark only to come crashing down when the press moves onto the next fad. She came accross as a top sort at the awards, though. Good for her.

    Anika Moa is always entertaining at these things. I'm not the biggest fan of her work, but she's put on a great show every time I've seen her and her stint as a backing singer for Dimmer in 2004 was superb- Carter and Moa really bounced off oneanother.

    And can I just say that I'm pysched to be seeing the Dead C and Dimmer on the same bill this weekend? Seriously, does it get any better?

    Great clip of Darcy Clay, RB, I guess I'm off the (horribly young) age where that was the first NZ alternative classic that hit me at the time of its release, rather than coming to it several years after the fact, as I was forced to do with much of prime Flying Nun. What happened to him was just awful.

    No matter, he left his mark...he used to do lots of things.

    Today, Tomorrow, Timaru • Since Jan 2007 • 449 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    He used to crash parties and Maseratis.

    (It occurs to me that Darcy Clay was probably the first of the 'rediscovering "Jolene"' people, wasn't he? So there, Jack White!)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

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