Yeah so is Beth Orton+ The Flaming Lips

Or New Order.

I wouldn't say Beth Orton and Flaming Lips are mainstream - not like how Linkin Park is. At least not here in the States although the Flaming Lips have a pretty devoted and strong fan base - almost a cult following if you will, it's not like they are all over the radio and MTV.



Now New Order. Can't say they are mainstream either but the same can be said about their fanbase - strong, devoted, etc. They were what was considered "Alternative" back when alternative music meant something other than what today's clear channel told you was alternative. They were big, yes and they had hits that were played on the radio. They might have been tagged with a mainstream label among the synth-op alterna crowd but they weren't mainstream like say, Madonna or Duran Duran was.



Then again, I'm speaking from a U.S. perspective.

They are from an UK/europe perspective. ;-)



The question is where you draw the line between alternative for example and mainstream. Is mainstream defined by radio air play ? By TOTP appearances maybe ? Or something completely different ?

The way I've always looked at mainstream music is that it has a sort of universal appeal (personal opinions aside - there's plenty of mainstream music that we might think is crap or mediocre or whatever) I think radio does play a big part in breaking an artist into the mainstream. There's no certain type of music that defines mainstream anymore since for the most part people have the option of being exposed to so many different kinds of music. A lot of people consider mainstream music to be vanilla, watered down, whatever - it often is for the most part, trendy, but I don't think an artist who breaks into the mainstream is always a bad thing. It means that more people have the chance of being exposed to that particular artist.



Alternative music, even though a lot of it can slip into the mainstream if it offers enough elements that are universally appealing - is exactly what it is. An alternative. College radio is a big player in the alternative fields. Alternative, like mainstream can apply to many different kinds of music but it's exposure tends to be limited. It also doesn't fit into one specific genre but tends to mix genres and different music styles. Where I live, there was a great alternative station that played an array of alternative music before it became syndacated and run by clear channel. To me, the radio station was an alternative to popular rock, hard rock, classic rock and popular dance stations at the time. A break from the mainstream. It was that radio station that introduced me to a ton of artists I still enjoy today - some of those artists have been mentioned here.



Damn, so hard to explain without hearing examples!

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Aw come on! You really don't want me to bore you with my 80's examples! ;)



I'm not sure what I consider 'alternative music' anymore and I sure don't tune into the radio for guidance. Most stuff I've heard in recent years has been recommended by friends, or I just accidentally stumbled on it (kind of like how I did with the Chems, among others)



To me, electronic music - back then as well as now, has always been the alternative to what is considered mainstream. I think for the longest time especially in the US, people weren't quite ready for it until later. Even though a lot of electronic artists have broken into the mainstream and have influenced many artists people consider mainstream (Madonna, U2 for example) I think alternative music has always been the kind of music that pushes the envelope and stretches the boundaries, something that a lot of mainstream music doesn't do, and something that some artists are afraid of. You know how there are some bands whose music sounds all the same, every record sounds just like the last, it's the same 3 chords and heartbreak songs hashed over and over again. It's like, come on, don't you have anything else you want to say musically, are you really that afraid to embrace something new?



And I just realized something. I don't think I mentioned here before that I'd love to hear a collaboration between the Chems and Brian Eno too. Also I think Andy Weatherall is a great producer and important musical figurehead. I think a Chem/Weatherall collab would be interesting and fantastic. I know he signed the Chemicals to Junior Boy's Own but anyone know right off hand if they've actually collaborated on a track?

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You know how there are some bands whose music sounds all the same, every record sounds just like the last, it's the same 3 chords and heartbreak songs hashed over and over again. It's like, come on, don't you have anything else you want to say musically, are you really that afraid to embrace something new?

Yeah, there's way too much of that here in the UK :-| .

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I would like to see The Brothers collaborate with me!



My other propositions would be myself and I X-D



It would be fun that they collaborate with people that don't make music at all, for exemple scientists, politicians, engineerers, doctors etc...



for exemple I sampled the machines in a neo natology service ( incubators!), it sounds cool!

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No I am not! X-D

anType Escribi�:

whirlygirl Escribi�:

I think a Chem/Weatherall collab would be interesting and fantastic. I know he signed the Chemicals to Junior Boy's Own but anyone know right off hand if they've actually collaborated on a track?

Sabres Of Paradise made 3 remixes for Chems: 2 remixes of "Song To The Siren" and 1 remix of "Leave Home". It's not really a collaboration, but something that Andrew did with or even for Chems.

Thanks again for your information. You really should consider changing your screenie to "WalkingChemicalEncyclopedia"



:D

lol.



Have you finished that discog site yet antype?

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Weren't you and someone else here going to do your own discog sites and see which one was best?

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Yeah, that's why I gave up and contribute only... ;-)

I was gonna too but then who can compete antype