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BY JAMIE WILLIAMS
ASSISTANT DIVERSIONS EDITOR
It wasn't until December of 1987, when R.E.M. appeared on
the cover of Rolling Stone, that the band truly began its meteoric
rise to superstardom.
Twenty years ago. that was the pinnacle, the top of the
music world.
But times have changed.
The Internet is the new home of music criticism, providing
anyone with an open forum for his or her ideas.
The blogosphere makes music and opinion readily available
to interested readers and seekers long before major publications
catchup.
And everyone is adjusting the fans, the writers, even the
bands.
R.E.M.S newest record. Accelerate, which hits shelves Tuesday,
began streaming this week on Facebook's iLike application,
weeks after songs and a video appeared on various Internet
music blogs.
So, in effect, everything one would need to know about
the record was available about a month before the official
release date and three weeks before any magazines would
run a review.
Heather Browne, who operates Fuelfriends.blogspot.com,
said that while the world as we have known it is certainly chang
ing, the state of criticism is just fine.
“I think the blogs certainly represent a democratization
of the music press, because anyone can start one, and the
Internet really gives everyone an equal opportunity for suc
cess," Browne said.
It is that reality that represents the current climate of music
publication the rapid rise in popularity and scope of the
music blog, paired with the decline in readership and relevance
of traditional print magazines.
to music blogs
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CANDYLAND Violet Vector & the Lovely Love
lies txing syrupy '6os pop on their debut EP.
CONCERT PHOTOS Vicarious experiences
of last week's shows with reviews, too.
DIVEBLOG Stay tuned to the blog for
super-radical updates fairly frequently.
diversions
This already has produced casualties. Magazines Harp and
No Depression both folded in the past month.
The (Raleigh) News & Observer music critic David Menconi
had a byline in all but one issue of No Depression, starting with
a profile of the iconic Raleigh alt-country band Whiskeytown
in the first issue.
“I work in one failing industry covering another," Menconi
said.
With the Internet prosiding anyone the opportunity to pub
lish opinions, he said the traditional role of the professional
critic is shifting, not disappearing.
“Our role is certainly changing. Our gatekeeper function is
as important as ever.
"Chances are, a band coming up is going to catch the eye
of a blogger long before it makes it into a magazine or daily
newspaper."
For Justin Gage, who started Aquariumdrunkard.com three
years ago to keep friends updated on what he was listening to,
finding new music is one of the best parts of his job.
“I typically write about stuff I find that excites me, stuff that
I like."
Gage said the more personal feel of blogs gives them an
advantage over the rotating bylines of magazines.
“It’s the type of thing where after you read a particular
blog for a while, you start to mirror its tastes and it sort of
becomes, like, the cool older brother who used to recommend
tunes."
Many point to the hosting of free MP3 files as an important
aspect of the popularity of blogs. While it is common practice
for blogs to post a song or two from a particular band. Browne
said she would never post illegally-leaked songs and tends to
post live or out of print material.
“I think it really increases interest in the music, and I don’t
think its a negative at all.
concerts
ON FIRE
A photo of New Jersey chan
teuse (and former N.C. resident)
Nicole Atkins from a Saturday
night show at Local 506.
PAGE 8
dive.dailytarheel.com
music
SIMPLE CHARM
Former Moldy Peach Adam
Green releases an LP heavy on
charm and quirky songwriting
personality.
PAGE 8
“If you post a few songs and talk very highly of them, I think
it only increases the likelihood that someone will buy the full
album or go see a band live."
And while some local bands have seen their songs posted to
prominent blogs, Menconi said the very nature of blogs makes
that exposure more of a “flash in the pan" than placement in
print.
“The blogosphere is all about turnover. It is structured so that
something can really explode overnight but in a lot of cases, will
be forgotten about the next day.
"I like it, but I’m a little hesitant about where it is taking us.
But it’s pretty hard to say that without sounding like an old
man."
He pointed to Chapel Hill's Violet Vector and the Lovely-
Lovelies. whose song “Can You Dig It?" was named top song of
2007 by Idolator.com, as an example.
"I don’t really know how big of a boost it was for them. It’s
exciting, but they haven't parlayed it into radio play or a big
record deal or anything."
Browne said she is excited about what she perceives as a level
ing of the playing field between the two media.
“There is an awesome trend of print media looking at blogs
as their peers and linking to them on their own sites.”
Menconi, though, points to a generational divide in how read
ers want their music news presented, one that parallels the way
they w ant to listen.
“It really is a generational thing. People of a certain age just
have an attachment to the physical product, like a magazine
or a CD.
“To my 12 year-old, a CD is just something you rip onto the
iPod and put on the shelf forever."
Contact the Diversions Editor
at dive@unc.edu.
movies
HORRORS HIT HOME
The gripping emotion of "Stop
Loss” stresses the realities of
young soldiers returning home
from war.
PAGE 9
thursday, march 27,2008
Q&A
SURE AS NIGHT IS DARK
Chapel Hill's heaviest duo, The
Curtains of Night, chats with Dive
about the joys of high volume
rock, nighttime and this town.
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