Letter and response from Muzik mag

[rentboy]

Ok, i sent Muzik mag an e-mail regarding the notable absences of any drum 'n bass albums in their top 50...here's what i said, and the response i received from their Deputy Editor.

It just doesn't cut it.




> Sent: Monday, March 25, 2002 10:38 pm
> To: thomas_green@ipcmedia.com
> Subject: state of drum'n bass
>
> > Dear Muzik.
> >
> > I have collected your mag since 1995 and have been a
> > loyal reader. But, your chart irked me for the
> > simple
> > reason that there were zero drum 'n bass
> > entries...why?
> > Why wasn't Timeless or New Forms listed?
> >
> > You said that they haven't stood the test of time.
> > How
> > can you say that when the new Roots Manuva and Felix
> > Da Housecat albums are there?
> > How the hell did Madonna get in there too? How is
> > her
> > album more influential than the aforementioned drum
> > 'n bass albums.
> >
> > Why did you bring up UKG?? It's still in the process
> > of developing a following and hasn't had any notable
> > inspirational album releases. Drum 'n bass has been
> > around for 10 years, so it deserves respect.
> >
> > Timeless and New Forms are both hugely influential
> > to
> > many drum 'n bass artists and followers...
> >
> > Overall, i'm puzzled how Muzik continues to ignore
> > drum 'n bass...admit it, Kosheen only got featured
> > cuz
> > so many prog artists are remixing them to fame.
> > You guys ignore so much...
> >
> > All you do is big up Bad Company, and talk about how
> > the scene is all darkcore...if you'd open your eyes
> > and see that it's probably the most multi-faceted
> > genre...
> >
> > you have the funky Hospital sound, J Majik and Sonic
> > and Silver have released Disco flavours, there's the
> > Brazil sound, etc, etc...
> >
> > Is this because you don't have any other drum 'n
> > bass enthusiasts on board except for reviewer Ned Denny?
> >
> > I think it's time to cover the WHOLE scene and not
> > spend most of your paper covering prog/house/trance
> > and breakbeat...
> >
> > even techno gets ignored...
> >
> > thanks for reading....respect for covering many up and
> > coming artists and educating many readers.
> >
> > yours sincerely
> >
> > Chris C.
> >

THE RESPONSE

You ain't wrong, dude, my favourite British label is Renegade Hardware,
and
if you're a more soulful type Defunked do it to yer ears (see my review
forthcoming in May issue). Personally I don't think most drum & bass
hasn
stood up to the album format but for singles and a good old rave-up
it's the
dog's.

Chin chin!

Thomas H



"A good old rave up"...is that all it's good for???

 

[feisty boy]

a good ol' rave up??
wow.
i got into d&b because imo it's the most intelligent and diverse 'dance' music. period.
ah well.

 

[air-bag]

I dont see a response to your question.....

 

[rentboy]

Originally posted by rentboy

THE RESPONSE

You ain't wrong, dude, my favourite British label is Renegade Hardware,
and
if you're a more soulful type Defunked do it to yer ears (see my review
forthcoming in May issue). Personally I don't think most drum & bass
hasn
stood up to the album format but for singles and a good old rave-up
it's the
dog's.

Chin chin!

Thomas H

The RESPONSE was under what i said....the deputy editor is Thomas H Green

 

[air-bag]

I meant that he did not answer your question.

 

[terrawrist III]

you really figure an album that won the mercury prize for excellence in music would make it on a list that originated in the same place as the prize!!!

whatever

 

[Stormshadow]

Too bad you didn't mention the Mercury Prize Chris, you would have had him there.
Has any other electronic album even won it other than New Forms?

 

[rentboy]

Originally posted by Stormshadow
Too bad you didn't mention the Mercury Prize Chris, you would have had him there.
Has any other electronic album even won it other than New Forms?

Portishead won it b4.

I just e-mailed him back about New Forms winning the MMP...hopefully he will get back to me.

Funny thing is many bands refuse to acknowledge the MMP...they see it as detrimental to their follow up albums...it hangs a dark cloud of pressure to live up to the standards of the winning album...Badly Drawn Boy ripped up his cheque and turned down the award a year or ago.

 

[AVE]

bah

that was a good letter you wrote him, covering all bases and telling him you're annoyed without slaggin him off.

And he gives you "i don't think drum & bass stands up in the album format"

HA!!

the Roots Manuva album is there, the new one?? That just fucking came out, how can that stand the test of time when it just came out?

weird

 

[jungleboy]

...if I may...


.....New Forms might have won the Mecury prize but hey, when was the last time you listened to it????....it's rather weak....


...the last Reprezent lp???.....ouch........


.....Saturn Returns.....ouch......


.....Krust....ouch.....


and on....


Timeless aside.......which should have been on the list......there is not much to speak of.....

 

[Hal-9000]

You guys are forgetting probably THE best full length LP: Omni Trio's "The Deepest Cut". The fact that that album was ommited is inexcusable in my opinion. The British Music press was falling all over itself when that was released...how soon they forget.

 

[SE7EN]

yes. deepest cut. bow down......

-7-

 

[rentboy]

Originally posted by jungleboy
...if I may...


.....New Forms might have won the Mecury prize but hey, when was the last time you listened to it????....it's rather weak....


...the last Reprezent lp???.....ouch........


.....Saturn Returns.....ouch......


.....Krust....ouch.....


and on....


Timeless aside.......which should have been on the list......there is not much to speak of.....

I agree, drum 'n bass hasn't had many successful full album releases...but New Forms is so strong...every album has their weak points...personally i think Leftfield's 'Leftism' shoulda been in the top 3...it's so diverse, and was once voted by DJs as their most influential piece...Muzik gave it #21....BULLSHIT.

As i was saying, New Forms has a great dirty, urban decay sound to it...i also have it on vinyl and there are so many choice cuts to choose from.

Ryan: good choice on the Omni Trio album...i forgot about the impact he has had.

Anthony: yeah, the NEW Roots Manuva album is there....i guess the UK are anxious to unearth a big hip hop talent...although, i do like Roots Manuva.

Seriously. Wtf is Madonna's ay of LIght listed? that's ridiculous...they're only sucking William Orbit's knob.

To be continued

 

[AVE]

yeah, Saturns Return was very bad......but the follow-up 'Ring of Saturn' was not bad IMO, although i don't think it was considered a full-length LP

 

[evil homer]

The new Roots Manuva LP blows. I've listened to it dozens of times in the hope that maybe I was missing something. I've heard it sober, stoned, on headphones, on big speakers etc etc It sucks.

His first LP "First Born Second Hand" Is top ten material and Is undoubtedly my favourite hip hop LP ever.

 

[jungleboy]

.....well all of Omni Trio's albums are great but they had little impact in the "big picture"...



...I think Ray of Light opened a lot of mainstream people's eyes to trancey stuff......

 

[rentboy]

Originally posted by jungleboy
[B

...I think Ray of Light opened a lot of mainstream people's eyes to trancey stuff...... [/B]

hehe, i remember flicking over to Oprah by mistake one day and Madonna was giving a live performance of Ray of Light...the whole crowd was going off....shocking stuff i tells ya.

 

[djcheezwhiz]

reading through this thread, i agree totally with the opinions stating it was wrong to not include any d&b ... i find it funny they actually include recent releases to sort of shout out "hey we're still pretty hip"...

omni trio probably put out one of the best d&b albums ever in haunted science (i know deepest cut is mentioned but this to me is their best work) ... bands like air, massive attack can make it on, but this one album still makes regular trips into my cd rotation...& although not entirely d&b, 4 hero's 2 pages album is another beautiful work which has also stood the test of time (this seems to be the litmus test)...

individually both groups influenced the scene through tracks like renegade snares (omni trio) & universal love/follow your heart/mr kirks nightmare (4 hero)...incorporating jazz, breaks, & beautiful vocals, i believe omni trio & 4 hero should be on the list...

jc

(btw timeless is a classic, & i tend to agree with the comments made about new forms...good, but not great)...how about the hype surrounding alex reece when pulp fiction/friction came out...there is another wicked disc (so far) ... )