What Music Culture?: Are Peace Sell Outs or Earning an Honest Buck?

"Mum, want to put it on E4, Made In Chelsea is on."

I never thought these words would ever come out of my mouth, but they did on the 19th of May 2014. A date for the history books.

Some reading this might wonder why a left wing, "Reality TV" hater would say such words, but it's because of one word.

Peace.

For those unfamiliar with this band, they rose to critical acclaim at the start of 2012 and were relatively well-known by the summer of 2013 after the release of their debut album In Love. They have arguably become one of the most exciting new bands in the UK, leading the up-and-coming music scene from Birmingham. 

However, yesterday I was skimming through my endless Twitter timeline and I came across the band's Twitter page, telling their thousands of their indie darlings that they were playing a few songs - including their new single Money - on the popular posh programme. You only had to go on NME's Facebook page to see the mixed reactions:

"Gash sell out shit"

"I don't care if The Beatles are playing, nothing will ever make me watch that shite!"

"It seems odd and maybe as if they are selling out. But actually good for them! We have no top of the pops anymore, bands have got to break into the mainstream somehow"

"Fuck off Selena Jackson" (Ok, that one was in reply to a spammer).

So I decided to watch it anyway. They show started with them playing Lovesick and then Wraith, but mainly in the background whilst the MIC cast argued about who nicked the last caviare ready meal. Then they played Money, a little ironic playing a song about not needing it in front of millionaires, but getting to the point: are they or are they not sell outs?

Of course they aren't. 

Sure, they might feel like they sold their soul to the devil, but put yourself in the situation of these four young lads.

You are in a band with your mates and you are making the music because you love the music. Ok, girls and money is a bonus, but you genuinely love making music. Then, one day you get noticed, you get a record deal, you release an album, you have a huge (on the new band scale) fan base and your songs are used on things from Match of the Day to adverts. However, you only have that group of fans who know who you are and like most bands, you wouldn't mind being more famous. Then you get some TV coverage to promote your new single and you get paid handsomely. Where did they sell out?

Peace simply gained some TV time and got paid. At no point did they change their music to suit the weak-minded (you know, that lot that think Mumford and Sons are the 21st century answer to Bob Dylan), but simply earned some money to do what they love doing and mingling with a couple of celebrities. Plus, not all of MIC is bad, I've heard that Proudlock guy is a laugh.

Those who call them sell outs are forgetting that bands hardly make money off CDs these days and playing live is where they make their money. A huge number of people watch Made In Chelsea as well, why not let them hear you if they haven't already? You may gain a few fans and you may make them want to search for other bands. That's a win-win-win. 

And to finish, sell outs don't play three free (that's hard to say) shows for their fans. They have a great personality towards music and they don't compromise to appeal to the boring rock fans. Hell, I'd do it to get some money and let everyone know about my band.

So to Harry Koisser and co, Peace x

What Music Culture?: Are the Newgen a good gen?

"Remember when rock was popular and actually good?"
"Who do we have nowadays that are anything near as good as The Rolling Stones and The Beatles?"
"Music is dead."

All three of these statements have their faults: they are the words of the ignorant. The kind of people that wish that they grew up in 1960s.

Except there are no iPods, the internet is the webbing in swimming shorts and you wouldn't be able to read this blog - you lucky bastards. Adding to that is the lack of civil rights back then. Oh, so you are gay and you want to live in the 60s just to grow up listening to the Stones? You are an ethnic minority likely to grow up in a world of hate and segregation, but you want to be part of Beatlemania?

Grow up guys. The 21st century isn't all bad.

So getting back to my main point, the opening statements are complete bull and I'll tell you why.

Tackling the first sentence, yes rock music was popular and was incredible back in the day, however, why is this statement wrong? It may not be a popular genre - in terms of charts - however, the quality has not dropped.

You still have so many artists who are fantastic, yet they are ignored by many; thrown onto the scrapheap because they simply can't make a living. Take London band Tribes who recently split. Fair enough, their second album was disappointing, but their debut was a great listen, yet, only two people I know, know of the band. First lesson is to give all sorts of music a chance before labelling it "crap". Arguably, the best music you hear these days involves a little searching.

The second sentence, how can we compare The Rolling Stones and The Beatles to say, Arctic Monkeys or Muse? It's ridiculous.

The Rolling Stones and The Beatles were pioneers. They were the first to do something very obvious and since the 2000s I can only think of one genre of music that has emerged as new and that is dubstep. Everyone always thinks first is best, but sometimes the progress of music is better. I honestly think that The Clash were a million times better than The Sex Pistols, yet the Pistols were the first to really popularise punk music. Arctic Monkeys and Muse have both pushed the barriers moving into hip-hop and dubstep-influenced rock.

In saying that, Kanye West has the potential (if not already is) the greatest hip-hop artist of all time. Before I get smacked in the face with Biggie Smalls' lyrics or threatened with a Tupac chorus, think about it. Did Biggie or Tupac completely change hip-hop multiple times the way Yeezy is today?

Of course not.

Artists such as Frank Ocean, Drake, Chance the Rapper and The Weeknd all owe so much to Kanye due to his change in hip-hop in his album "808's and Heartbreaks". This popularised slow hip-hop and has only grown since Ocean's debut "channel ORANGE". Recently West has also been the first to mix heavy electro beats and tribal music into his album "Yeezus" which is a confusing album, yet it's a work of art.

So again, don't think that everything is rubbish just because it is modern. Music is ever-growing and we have to give everyone a chance.

And finally "Music Is Dead". No it is not.

People became very familiar with this phrase from the day that crap music dominated the charts (see 80s onwards). However, is it really?

You would have to be an idiot to say yes.

Although, the critically acclaimed are usually kept underground and anonymous to most, doesn't mean that you can't still see them live; buy their albums; or sing their songs. Only when these artists no longer exist, will there be an argument that music is dead. The newgen are hugely exciting.

In the past few years we have had many bands and artists breaking through: Miles Kane, Haim, Peace, Palma Violets, Django Django, The Vaccines, Two Door Cinema Club, Merchandise, Earl Sweatshirt, Parquet Courts, Swim Deep, Chvrches, Iceage, Disclosure, Jagwar Ma, Drenge, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, ASAP Rocky, Radkey, Baby Strange, The Orwells, King Krule, Lorde, Jake Bugg, Spector...to name a few.

He have already seen the likes of Haim, Lorde and The Vaccines becoming big on the radio and around the UK and the other bands mentioned have great potential. I would say that music is, if anything, stronger these days because you can find it anywhere and you can become noticed easy. So, yes I would say that the newgen are indeed, a good gen. There's nothing better than finding as many influences in music as you can, and these new kids can use that to their advantage.

Have I missed any new bands/artists that you feel have done well in the last few years? Do you agree with me on the three statements? Leave a comment and tell me your thoughts.