To illustrate what Kutiman means with No Groove Where I Come From, check out this MySpace profile. These ladies have talent. They sing a good harmony, and they are purdy much the only ones in Israel that seem to have heard of an actual harmony. Listen to the track "So Far", which I think is brilliant. Then think about this for a second: The whole album's most upbeat track *is* so Far. Some don't even have a semblance of a rhythm section and they just meander around without a goal or the slightest bit of balls. And this, I fear, is typical for the Israeli music scene.
The owner of the record shop I mentioned told me he works in Radio sometimes too. And for memorial days, they change the programming to be exclusively ballads and sad songs. He said that after days like that, they receive thousands of e-mails on "how excellent" the programming was. This overall attitude really depresses me. Like I said, HaBanot Nechama have talent. And I'm not looking for a pop product. But lay off the fucking meandering ballads and the eternal melancholy already! To allow these girls to make something that isn't as melancholy-prone. Jesus H fucking Christ. The Israeli population should get a collective fucking clue about music.
Specially if you keep in mind that the rave-scene is lively here. So apparently, between tasteless Hebrew versions of Italo-Pop, thumping Rave of yesteryear and these bloody fucking Ballads, you've captured the Israeli scene. I'm going to quit ranting and raving now. But it's worrisome that a country has a music scene decidedly *less* interesting than the Dutch. I never thought it possible, you see.
PS: When I say Sad Songs and Ballads, I don't mean they have the taste or grace to put on a Willie Nelson tune or an Otis Redding song, OK? Just to be clear on this.
Posted by Chris at November 11, 2007 10:50 AM