Low-hanging fruit for you, but the writing has aged much better than the music has. These artists drove me into my hiatus from music writing in the mid-1990s. “Intolerable/irresistible”? Greil, you were too kind by half.
I've got no great love for either of these bands, but it seems there was a mismatch between what was expected and what they were for: both represented the Big Business putting its massive thumb on the scales of the then-thriving "alternative industry" (which was made necessary by the Nostalgia Industrial Complex' aggressive takeover of the Big Business circa 1988-1990), by shopping these simulacra around hard to net the "casual audience" for new music, those who see it as little more than wallpaper. They did their job; they made a couple major labels millions, and occupied enough space to be considered as equals to the great "underground bands" of the day in the glow of 30 years' hindsight. No one cares now whether STP was a manufactured clone of real "grunge bands" or not; same with SD and great regional hippy-bands like Royal Crescent Mob and Rusted Root. Questions about their "sincerity" never come up anymore. I'd speculate upon what the lesson of that is, but it's too early for moroseness and blues-drinking.
They in many cases don't know, yes; but its highly unlikely, at this many decades' remove, that they would care even if they did know. The diligent efforts of the Nostalgia Industrial Complex to wedge STP into the pantheon of that era (as one of their owned properties now) ensured that.
It is such a pleasure to read this again. I read it every couple of years because it so delights me. The take-downs here are brilliant, on target, and, deeply entertaining.
One thing I miss about the "narrowcasting" radio format perfected by the odious Lee Abrams is the decreasing likelihood of being gobsmacked by a piece of crap so bad you know it'll linger in your memories, a fly in the ointment of nostalgia.
Low-hanging fruit for you, but the writing has aged much better than the music has. These artists drove me into my hiatus from music writing in the mid-1990s. “Intolerable/irresistible”? Greil, you were too kind by half.
I've got no great love for either of these bands, but it seems there was a mismatch between what was expected and what they were for: both represented the Big Business putting its massive thumb on the scales of the then-thriving "alternative industry" (which was made necessary by the Nostalgia Industrial Complex' aggressive takeover of the Big Business circa 1988-1990), by shopping these simulacra around hard to net the "casual audience" for new music, those who see it as little more than wallpaper. They did their job; they made a couple major labels millions, and occupied enough space to be considered as equals to the great "underground bands" of the day in the glow of 30 years' hindsight. No one cares now whether STP was a manufactured clone of real "grunge bands" or not; same with SD and great regional hippy-bands like Royal Crescent Mob and Rusted Root. Questions about their "sincerity" never come up anymore. I'd speculate upon what the lesson of that is, but it's too early for moroseness and blues-drinking.
Well put but I disagree. It’s not that people don’t care it’s that they don’t know.
They in many cases don't know, yes; but its highly unlikely, at this many decades' remove, that they would care even if they did know. The diligent efforts of the Nostalgia Industrial Complex to wedge STP into the pantheon of that era (as one of their owned properties now) ensured that.
It is such a pleasure to read this again. I read it every couple of years because it so delights me. The take-downs here are brilliant, on target, and, deeply entertaining.
Well, you didn’t forget STP, but still a sick burn 🔥
One thing I miss about the "narrowcasting" radio format perfected by the odious Lee Abrams is the decreasing likelihood of being gobsmacked by a piece of crap so bad you know it'll linger in your memories, a fly in the ointment of nostalgia.
At first I was passed you didn't review the free book I sent you, but now I am relieved.