Mchee's Poptones Label -- C/D?

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I've noticed some rather, erm, harsh assessments of this label. Why exactly? I see some pretty great reissues of classic stuff. And fabbo artwork to boot...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 03:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and some half-decent new bands, too. Cosmic Rough Riders, in particular seem not half bad...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 03:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and it's late: that's "McGee" -- fanny, be tender w/ my love...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 03:56 (twenty-two years ago)

christ - I think the first ilm thread I remember reading was a poptones thread

― nnnh oh oh nnnh nnnh oh (James Blount), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 04:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, but I never quite figured out what the hell everyone's problem was...

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

doomie

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

it's easy to hate on something when you doubly hate on it's defenders

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 04:22 (twenty-two years ago)

well cheers.

Poptones is/was one of the best labels around til it went bust. i'm pleased to say i own all of it (excepting El Vez which i refuse to have in the house). i don't know if i'd defend it quite as strongly nowadays but i still like most of its current roster.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 04:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Killcity's recent EP was very enjoyable. haven't heard Boxer Rebellion yet but they sound interesting. Captain Soul and Thomson have some great songs but are admittedly nothing very special.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 04:52 (twenty-two years ago)

SING-SING

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:32 (twenty-two years ago)

which is to say, Sing-Sing are really ace and A Very Good Thing about it.

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:33 (twenty-two years ago)

No, the hating on Poptones was what summoned Doom-e to the board in the first place. Unfortunately that thread got deleted - does anyone still have it? It would probably look remarkably tame 2 years on.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:40 (twenty-two years ago)

it's right here:

Poptones Goes Bust: Your Views Please - Here's My Considered Analysis

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:45 (twenty-two years ago)

it was that thread that summoned me as well

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:46 (twenty-two years ago)

hahahaha!!fules!!

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:46 (twenty-two years ago)

No esoj there was an earlier one - a straight Poptones C/D thread which Doom-e first turned up on.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Sing-sing's album is excellent. the real hidden gem of the catalogue is the Denise James album, which is just absolutely wonderful, even better than the excellent Slumberparty one.

A lot of the best bands culled from the roster went on to the Rainbow Quartz label.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:48 (twenty-two years ago)

i can't find that one - don't know that i even saw it!

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Was that the one where Doomie threatened to sue Mark S(!) and get Robin sacked from his job(!!)?

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:52 (twenty-two years ago)

It was deleted after about 100 posts because Mark S said something about Alan McGhee that Doom-E claimed was libellous. I know a lot of people saved it at the time though because it was one of the first big flamewars the board ever had - there's no way it would be deleted these days I guess.

I'd forgotten the Robin thing - yeah thats the one Andrew!

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:52 (twenty-two years ago)

The just don't make 'em like that anymore

― Andrew L (Andrew L), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 07:55 (twenty-two years ago)

How sunk is Poptones now? am never sure. Any problems they may have had can be directly attributed to insistence on releasing everything in digipack form, everyone knows that DIGIPACKS ARE HELLSPIT.

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 09:17 (twenty-two years ago)

apparently they're doing heaps better since the cost-cutting. they've added a couple of bands to the roster recently which is a good sign.

the success of the Hives album has probably helped a fair bit too.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 09:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Is the new Hives going to be on Poptones and did they unwrangle themselves from whatever label wobbles they were embroiled in?

― Alex in Rotherham (Alex in Doncaster), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 09:39 (twenty-two years ago)

they're now on a major worldwide as far as i know

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 09:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Wait -- how can a message board post be "libellous"? And really: would McGee actually sue someone over it?

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 13:34 (twenty-two years ago)

And let me add, as something of a postscript to that "historic" ILM thread noted above that called McGee out on being "fiscally irresponsible" and unfocused, that he seems totally ruled by his obsessions. Which I love.

In fact, there was a line recently in one of his Poptones diary entries in which he admitted that he keeps releasing the same song over and over again and that he'll keep doing it as long as he lives. I love it!

― Naive Teen Idol (Naive Teen Idol), Wednesday, 13 August 2003 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

OK, being totally serious, and not trying to wind anyone up... (heh heh) it's strange. All the female artists on Poptones (Sing Sing, Slumber Party) - I really really love. But the male artists usually bore me with their endless retrofetishism. Why is that? Can someone give me a reason that is not my inherant sexism?

― kate at suzy's house (suzy), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:09 (twenty-two years ago)

honestly? because i think Joe has better taste than Alan. also, i can count on one hand the number of female-fronted Creation artists that weren't married to Alan or a member of one of his bands.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

(married to a member...)

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:11 (twenty-two years ago)

alan signed the bleedin' bellrays!

― st cool kid of death, Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:12 (twenty-two years ago)

i was substantially generalising, i do admit

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:13 (twenty-two years ago)

but one has to admit a dearth of female-fronted Creation acts.

baby amphetamine
revolving paint dream
silverfish
st etienne

er... help me out here..

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:14 (twenty-two years ago)

and the 'tones is now left with only two: Bellrays and Killcity..

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

it's a crying shame they had to part with the Matthew Smith-connected acts....

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

honestly, when it comes to female girly pop - joe *can* get it right. when it comes to male-dominated bands joe gets it wrong!! - the new, airport, etc. ruby, the bellrays, denise james, slumber party, heidi berry, idha, ping pong bitches, courtney ... oops....

― st cool kid of death, Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:16 (twenty-two years ago)

this is why the alan/joe poptones was so great!! it's sad it had to end :(

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Hooray! An answer that confirms that 1) I am not sexist and 2) Joe = roXor! Cool. Ta.

― kate at suzy's house (suzy), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:19 (twenty-two years ago)

Instead of one record company you've now got two! Revola and Poptones. Pretty cool - considered that Poptones is becoming a proper label now ... with some honestly cool shit coming up .... and Joe doing some very cool things ... you get more more more!!!

Joe does rock the ladies. But male-dominated bands - he is lost!!!

― st cool kids of death, Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:21 (twenty-two years ago)

he gets it right sometimes tho' - Outrageous Cherry f'rinstance, who i adore..

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 14 August 2003 11:27 (twenty-two years ago)

eight years pass...

perhaps this is a good place to ask whatever happened to Denise James.
am just now listening to It's Not Enough To Love (she did three records as far as I know, this is one that wasn't on Poptones). such a great album. I love that Nancy-Sinatra-goes-Velvet-Underground sound. Slumber Party is indeed a good reference point but James' songs are way better.
sincerely hope that she's still out there somewhere making music. but all I can find is a Myspace-page that hasn't been updated since 2007 or so.
anyone?

― Joris Stereo, Thursday, 29 March 2012 11:27 (thirteen years ago)

I have no idea what happened, but 3 tracks in 'It's Not Enough To Love' is really lovely. Thanks!! Songwriting skillz remind me a bit of Margo Guryan.

― pagan diskow (Crackle Box), Thursday, 29 March 2012 11:58 (thirteen years ago)

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