David Gray

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Quote:

Do you think that Springsteen sat down and said "Enough of this rock stuff, I'm going to write some 'mainstream' To hell with the grass roots and the existing fanbase. It's mainstream from now on."

I don't know whether Springsteen thought that or not, but it certainly goes on in the music industry.

That wasn't really my argument anyway. GHA was trying to tell me that Springsteen wasn't popular until 1985 when he became 'mainstream' (his words, not mine), and I pointed out that Springsteen was very popular in the '70s too.

Similarly, Michael Jackson was very popular in the '70s, and could also be described as 'mainstream', but it wasn't until 1983's "Thriller" that he become the biggest recording artist in the world.

I'm bored.

[AFF]

Thanks for that CZ. Patrick could have told me that.

 

Is it 'indie/rock'? Or 'indie rock'? Or what?

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Again, I'm not too keen on the whole pigeonholing thing AFF, but I guess yes, I guess you'd describe them as Indie-Rock.

 

 

[AFF]

Thanks for that, Zealster.

 

Same genre as Ocean Colour Scene then.

 

You couldn't be really really helpful and name several, say 6 more, from that particular err... err... thing, could you?

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Yeah, same genre as OCS, but at the same time, they're worlds apart musically. It's so difficult to tie these bands down nowadays!!

 

But Indie-Rock? Probably Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Radiohead, Bluetones, The Verve, The Coral, off the top of my head.

 

It's too broad a genre, really.

 

 

[AFF]

Saw The Coral on Woss on Saturday night. They need a new singer if they are going anywhere.

[Colin Zeal EFM]

I'm a big fan of The Coral. Great live band. Saw them last year at Finsbury Park and bought their album on the back of that.

 

What didn't you like about their singer??

 

 

[AFF]

Immature. Thin and reedy. No depth. That's just the voice, you understand.

 

Probably quite a nice chap, though.

 

Same with Ash. Good band but the singer can't [sing].

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Hmmm. Well, they're no Sinatra's obviously, but I don't think they'd claim to be. I like the sound of the singer in The Coral's voice. Suits the songs.

 

And Tim Wheeler (Ash) is pretty much the same. "Girl From Mars" just wouldn't be the classic it is without his shy, nervous vocals on it!

 

Anyway... it's about the songs, maaaan!!

 

 

[Chubbhead EFM]

Aand also, Tim Wheeler is a luuurrvvee God!

[GHA EFM]

Bloody women!!! You try and have a sensible conversation, and the best they can come up with is 'Bruce Springsteen's crap' and 'Tim Wheeler is a luuurrvvee God!' Thanks for that then.

 

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Oi Zeal.

 

Quote:

GHA was trying to tell me that Springsteen wasn't popular until 1985 when he became 'mainstream' (his words, not mine)

 

That's not strictly true now is it? I said that the Boss became mainstream in 1985. I never said anything about him not being popular until then.

[EFM Trev]

Apart from production values, I wouldn't have thought that you'd hear much difference between, say, "Greetings From Astbury Park" and "born In The USA".

 

He became part of the mainstream, largely because Americans like going "Whooooooooo!" a lot, and "Born In The USA" gave them the opporunity to do that, even though it's an anti-Vietnam song blahdy blahdy blah....

[GHA EFM]

So Trev, you agree with me that he became mainstream when Born In The USA came out?

[YELLOW]

Going back to the title of the thread, David Gray is hugely overrated and extremely bland.

 

As for Coldplay, fair enough they write decent songs but nearly all of them are the same. All their songs are depressing ballady [****!!****] about some gawky bird Chris Martin wants to get off with. Let's face it, they're not a rock band! They're middle of the road and women who usually like dancy chart music like them because they don't go in for ear splitting guitar solos or raucous vocals/sound.

They sing about love and stuff like that not rock n roll or cigarettes and alcohol or going out and living it large.

 

Rock bands are the likes of Led Zep, U2, Oasis, The Stones. Coldplay are not a rock band! If anybody says Coldplay rocked then they need their ears tested!!

 

Coldplay are decent enough but too one dimensional. People may say Oasis are one dimensional but at least they can do different types of songs

For example:

 

Raucous rock: Cigarettes and Alcohol

love songs: Wonderwall

reflective ballads: Live Forever

rock/pop: Go Let it Out, Hindu Times

Epic anthems: Champagne Supernova

 

I haven't listened to any of Coldplay's albums but I reckon most of their songs fit into the love song/refective ballads section. Until they do a really rocking rock/pop song or even a great rock epic I will continue to doubt their ability.