I love grime. Just thought I'd get that out of the way.
But really, why should it get the "future-oriented sound" free pass? Because it's got electronic noises on it? That's 100 years old, the art of noise and all that. I mean, we've gotten past the year 2000 now, we can stop going all googly-eyed at anyone who slaps some weird noises on a track (and I love weird noises; just thought I'd get that out of the way). It's just not all that "innovative" (and this is not a criticism; just thought...) Yes, there's a coherent sound at work that allows you to identify it as a new genre, but we're hardly talking Les Damoiselles D'Avignon here.
And isn't it obvious why grime hasn't succeeded? It doesn't make singles! Hip-hop didn't really cross over till producers figured out that if they put a big, catchy chorus on top, they could keep doing their innovative beat futurism underneath it. I know Roll Deep tried to do a crossover album (and didn't do it very well, unfortunately), you've had your More Fire Crews here and there, but mostly, grime isn't reaching out to people who aren't already immersed in it. Say what you like about Arctic Monkeys (I happen to like them, which surprises me because I would normally despise this sort of thing), they make really catchy songs that stick in your head. That's what you pretty much have to give people if you want to sell a lot of records; music is a peripheral thing in their lives, not a vehicle for social revolution.
But really, why should it get the "future-oriented sound" free pass? Because it's got electronic noises on it? That's 100 years old, the art of noise and all that. I mean, we've gotten past the year 2000 now, we can stop going all googly-eyed at anyone who slaps some weird noises on a track (and I love weird noises; just thought I'd get that out of the way). It's just not all that "innovative" (and this is not a criticism; just thought...) Yes, there's a coherent sound at work that allows you to identify it as a new genre, but we're hardly talking Les Damoiselles D'Avignon here.
And isn't it obvious why grime hasn't succeeded? It doesn't make singles! Hip-hop didn't really cross over till producers figured out that if they put a big, catchy chorus on top, they could keep doing their innovative beat futurism underneath it. I know Roll Deep tried to do a crossover album (and didn't do it very well, unfortunately), you've had your More Fire Crews here and there, but mostly, grime isn't reaching out to people who aren't already immersed in it. Say what you like about Arctic Monkeys (I happen to like them, which surprises me because I would normally despise this sort of thing), they make really catchy songs that stick in your head. That's what you pretty much have to give people if you want to sell a lot of records; music is a peripheral thing in their lives, not a vehicle for social revolution.
Last edited: