And then it just becomes an industry of... cool.

I was doing my normal surfing the web stuff checking out new bands and seeing if anything would blow my mind.  I have been lead down the bad path my entire career.  People that know me, know that there are buzz words that get me excited.  When I read reviews, and I see some of those words, I'm quick to jump and give it a shot.

Back, pre MP3's or even as that whole world was just starting up, a lot of indie bands and unknowns were not easy to find, so that's when I would go to the local record store and find it or even ask them to order it for me.  I can't tell you how many times I threw Cd's out my window so bummed that I got sold a bill of bullshit.  There are some writers that I actually like.  Cameron Crowe, Robert Christgau, Jon Parales, Toure...I was too young to have been around for Lester Bangs, but I'm sure I would have loved him.  I'm also sure he would have annoyed me too.  But writers like these examples always write (or wrote) from a standpoint of merit, not what's cool.  I don't want to listen to music because you are supposed to, I want to listen because it matters and is good.

The one that stands out to me this day (and I still think are bullshit) was The Gossip.  I read some review in maximum rock and roll or some magazine like that, that said they were a modern take on the garage band of whatever.  I wish I remembered who wrote that review, so I could kick him in the ass.  Years later, I would see NME and Perez Hilton, praising Beth Ditto as some rock goddess... I stared to question NME from that day on... Perez Hilton, well, he's the last person I'm going to follow when it comes to music recommendations.

The London Souls

Anyway... I was looking and came across a band from NY, I had never heard of called The London Souls.  The place I got the tip from didn't compare them, but mentioned bands like Cream, Led Zeppelin as similar artists.  This was exciting.  With the wonders of the Internet, I was able to find their album on Spotify. 

It was easy and didn't cost me a dime, but I must say, It took away a lot of the discovery process I used to love. 

Back to the band.  I listened with such high hopes and was once again disappointed.  I didn't dislike it, I think I was just hoping for so much more.  The vibes were all there, I liked where they were going, but it always comes down to the song.  They unfortunately had none. I was actually hoping this post would be a praise of the band, but it became more of a thought about how no matter what the medium (press or blogs), I have to learn once and for all, not to listen to reviews. 

I'm sure a lot of people hate my opinions and recommendations, so perhaps someone has the same rant based on something I suggested. 

Fast forward to the following day.  Again, I have never heard of The London Souls in my life.  All of the sudden, I'm reading another post somewhere and there is a post about the band.  Unfortunately, It wasn't about new songs or a tour, but the singer Tash Neal was in intensive care after a hit and run incident in NYC. 

I have a lot of hopes for the band, I just don't think they are there yet.

I hope everything turns out OK for Tash and he has a speedy recovery to get back to it!  I'm pulling for you my man.