The Red and Black

Originally posted by

H.

Actually, I agree with Chuck. There are some pretty crappy bands playing around town and I'm glad he had the balls to say it.

Originally posted by

Nicki

1. Sloan, I pimped your blog in my post on this column on my blog. Man, that was wordy.

2. Pretty much what Chris and remembertheflatduojets? said (and yes, I do remember. I was really disappointed in Dexter's "couldn't get anybody to join me" Athfest appearance).

3. But...I don't Athens has a high water mark. In fact, I have issues with anyone who wants to pretend it did, and that was the REM era. The fact of the matter is that Athens is a creative town, it encourages art of all forms, and we continually see the success of that, both in terms of bands attaining various levels of success (whatever that is) and in individuals becoming musically literate and enjoying themselves. We're lucky to have it.

Originally posted by

Charles

hey chucky chuck.... your kind of a fucking idiot.

Originally posted by

Chwerp

I think everyone has acted like jerks enough to this guy now. Right?

So he doesn't like Athens music. He thinks it's overrated. It's his opinion. You can't tell him he's wrong, and he can't tell you you're wrong, because we're talking about MUSIC here. I think you could simply say, "Well I like the music, and I think it's good." But to call him an idiot or a bad writer? Let's be civil.

Originally posted by

Marianne

I'm with Chuck on this one. Perhaps Athens music sounds good because everyone is intoxicated? I can't put my finger on it, but something is off. Either the lyrics are meaningful and the music is horrid, or the music is mediocre while the audience cannot comprehend the lyrics beyond the grunts and, how shall I say it, "out of breath" musician. It's a part of a larger trend, a new independent wave that cannot be labeled bad simply because it's "original." Isn't all music original anyway? I hate to say it, but someone has to create every sound and lyric we hear. I listen to "smaller, independent" bands as well, yet disagree with everyone's passive position. Ironically, we are taught to be a skeptic about virtually everything, why not "non-conformist" music?

Originally posted by

Marianne

I'm with Chuck on this one. Perhaps Athens music sounds good because everyone is intoxicated? I can't put my finger on it, but something is off. Either the lyrics are meaningful and the music is horrid, or the music is mediocre while the audience cannot comprehend the lyrics beyond the grunts and, how shall I say it, "out of breath" musician. It's a part of a larger trend, a new independent wave that cannot be labeled bad simply because it's "original." Isn't all music original anyway? I hate to say it, but someone has to create every sound and lyric we hear. I listen to "smaller, independent" bands as well, yet disagree with everyone's passive position. Ironically, we are taught to be a skeptic about virtually everything, why not "non-conformist" music?

Originally posted by

Dan

I like that the majority of these comments are either bashing the author for not having lived in Athens long enough or for not having seen enough music when Chuck was born in Athens.

Just about everyone that has posted could probably never be convinced their local music isn't "deep" or something. Like Brad's post, "Go listen to these bands, and if you don't like them, I pity you." Awesome. And Muddy Waters died before he was born? What?

Enjoy your piss poor music only praised because it's local.

Originally posted by

Nic

I totally agree with this article! I spent 7 years in Athens. Good bands were the exception and not the rule. That isn't surprising, though. This is how things are everywhere. Just look at American Idol and how many bad singers try out. There have been great acts come through Athens, however. Jennifer Nettles played in Athens frequently before hitting it big with Sugarland. But Nettles is an amazing talent--one in a million.