what's most annoying about freaky trigger?

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No offence meant: Chickfactor asked the same question about itself and came up with some interesting responses.. well?

― David, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

From my personal p.o.v., the fact that my poor coding/databasing/etc. skills have led to a site sprawled over two domains with an absurd variety of mostly-unreadable layouts and I can't see a way of easily rectifying this.

We're (i.e. "I'm") also atrocious at answering e-mail.

Good question!

― Tom, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

the ratio of indiekid baiting vs. drooling indie coverage (cf. magnetic fields worship). also, the pop coverage seems too, well, british sometimes, with a decided slant on pseudo-spice girl crooning and weird techno artists i've never heard of. and i realise that i really can't complain, with ft being based in britain and all, but it still annoys me. the american charts seem a lot more vibrant. no offense.

things i love about ft: the constant indiekid baiting, the patched-together team effort, the quaint british charm, the obsession with pubs/beer/alcoholism, tanya, tom's readiness at which he will admit that he's unfamiliar with a 'cool' bands ouevre, the horrible-great graphics, and the overall vibe of pop evocativeness that just DRIPS from practically everything i read on it. kudos, freaky trigger folk. you make good things.

― ethan padgett, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ah, the most cursed phrase of all. "Quaint British charm" is the *last* thing FT communicates. A reaction against it is, implicitly, the reason why the site exists, or so it would seem.

― Robin Carmody, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

When it comes to the bait/drool conundrum, it really all depends on who's writing and what kind of a mood they're in. ;-) Tom, bless him, can view stereotypical indie types with appropriate (as required) disdain while still liking things utterly of the milieu. Me, on the other hand, I'll just beat the types about the head with rocks and say they've never liked anything with drum machines in it until either Grand Royal or Stephin Merritt said it's okay. I still like things from the field as well, natch, I'm just all the more bitter about it. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

perhaps 'quaint british charm' was the wrong phrasing for what i was referring to, but any site which repeatedly has used the phrase 'of course, that song is pants' is certainly very british and very charming, if not particularly quaint.

― ethan padgett, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Theres nothing about Ft that annoys me ...I dont really scrutinise music in terms some people do around here...I dont come to music with a sharp critcal viewpoint..I'm really glad its here..because even if is sometimes too-clever by half sometimes, I'm really glad its that way...Its justa bit of FUN

― Michael Bourke, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

trying to find articles and features after the rearranging of the main page, although this is probably just me. a few things completely disappeared, and it took me ages to work out where the link to nylpm had gone.

― jess owens, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't write enough.

― Greg, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

that greg scarth writes too much.

um, that tom writes far too little and drinks far too much and that nylpm is once again turning into a link machine...oh, for the days of the singles bar.

but, really, for coverage of most of, if not all of, the bases, ft is very hard to beat. cheers to tom's vision and perseverance.

― fred solinger, Monday, 19 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The annoying thing is wandering by every morning, rubbing my hands with GLEE, and then finding EITHER no new Thousand, or that Loafer's discourse has disappeared... those are the bits i LIKE. Oh yes, and it _is_ a bit difficult to notice when new articles have turned up... er... i mean, GRR! It's really ANNOYING!

― MJ Hibbett, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Loafer's Discourse and related even more secretive blogthings are still going (as infrequently as ever) but they're not linked from FT cause they're not part of it. http://www.netcomuk.co.uk/~tewing/loafer/

The only other thing that's vanished is the letters page. We'll be running letters in NYLPM I suppose.

I will put the updated date thing back though.

― Tom, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The most annoying thing is that I have never got round to writing any of the articles I have constantly promised Tom (the latest one to slide is my in depth comparison of Almost Famous and Coyote Ugly). Also that I write during slow periods at work since I spend even more time in the pub than Tom.

― Pete Baran, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

My only complaint is that there's just not enough ALLY! I should be the fuckin' mascot, man.

Oh, and what the hell is with that top 100 list? First of all, on that "next 50", you've been promising for like two years to write thoughts on those songs - some of them are songs I really WANT to hear your thoughts on, more than your thoughts one, say, Fluffy Little Clouds (no offense), and quite frankly, I'm about ready to write them for you. And if Solinger isn't going to bother FINISHING his list - I mean, really, you have the time now - then you should just bloody delete it cos that one's been festering for ages too.

And you need more ALLY.

― Ally, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Never mind Ally, Freaky Trigger has forgot about Dre.

Tom should feel ashamed of himself for that.

― Nicole, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

if only a group of dre and his friends could somehow inform tom that he has forgotten about him. perhaps in the form of a song. he probably should also explain to him that he is indeed still d.r.e.

― ethan padgett, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

That is an excellent, excellent point, Ally. Every time I bugged Fred about that list in the past, he said, well, I am a working man now, etc. etc., no time for frivolities like review writing. Given his current situation I expect nonstop reviews. Step to it, Fred!

― Josh, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Many of the articles are so bloated and self-obsessed (with way too many parenthetical statements (and way too many metaphors, say what you mean, don't beat around the bush) for my liking) that they are difficult to read. I like a lot of the points that are made, but the writing style on a lot of the articles is pretty self-indulgent.

― Jack Redelfs, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think that Fred just has a committment issue - see: his top ten singles of the year list on his blog, which stopped at like #6.

― Ally, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm annoyed that there's not more bloat, self-obsession, and self- indulgence. I hear Richard Meltzer talks about nothing but himself these days, maybe FT should get him to write some stuff (I hear his pen produces cock-fiction like you wouldn't believe!). Also, most of the pieces aren't implicit enough. Occasionally I foil the subterfuge enough to realize the opinions spouted are pants. I've got a flashlight whose beam has a three mile radius - it's the property of FT if everyone will promise never to go within shining distance of the bush with it.

― Otis Wheeler, Tuesday, 20 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

(Thanks Otis, here's that fiver...)

― Jack Redelfs, Wednesday, 21 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

People dragging up old, dead, threads.

― Sterling Clover, Wednesday, 21 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Tell you what Ally, name a couple of the songs on that list and I'll do them on NYLPM.

Sterling: that's what I love about the forum! Suddenly a completely dead thread might flicker to life - ILM is like some perilous volcanic range in that respect.

(Self-indulgent and parenthetical? Guilty guilty guilty.)

― Tom, Wednesday, 21 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I find "I Hate Music" a bit dull. I like the idea of Tanya Headon, but reading that Bob Dylan is rubbish because he has a whiney voice or My Bloody Valentine are shite because you can't make out the lyrics is a bit tiresome.

― Pihkalboy, Wednesday, 21 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh dear, Tom, only a couple??? How about ten? I'll stop with ten.

"Little Baby Nothing", Manic Street Preachers "Waterfalls", TLC (which I always thought was overrated, incidentally, so I'm curious to read your thoughts and reply to them) "Bitter Sweet Symphony", The Verve "Malibu", Hole (??? I mean, honestly) "Revol / PCP", Manics "Say You'll Be There", Spice Girls "Sorted for E's & Wizz", Pulp "Protection", Massive Attack "C'mon and Ride It (The Train)", Quad City DJs "For Tomorrow", Blur

Those are the ones I'd be most curious to hear about, and perhaps have a reply to.

― Ally, Wednesday, 21 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, that's crap, it didn't put the hard returns after each song. Bah.

― Ally, Wednesday, 21 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Tanya was marvellous to start with. It's only recently that she's become a Lazy Comedy Slag.

― The Collective Freemasons of Fotheringhay, Wednesday, 21 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I am also highly disappointed that there are no pictures of Tom dressed up as Peter Pan. Damnit, Tom. You disappoint us all.

Nicole did you see that site? I don't have the link handy...Was I the only one who thought RON TRAINO FINALLY UPDATED HIS WEBSITE!

― Ally, Thursday, 22 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Most annoying thing about ILM is the tendency to tedious in-jokery by former contibutors to Alt-Music-Alternative, not satisfied that they've already got a private mailing list to discuss their shared past.

Oh, and all this darned rock music.

― Tim, Thursday, 22 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

it's over!!

― the pinefox, Thursday, 22 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ron Traino has so little do do with alt.music.alternative that it isn't even funny. Except it is, actually, in a demented way, thinking of how horrified he'd be by the music recommended round those usenet parts. That'd be brilliant.

― Ally, Thursday, 22 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

For clarity's sake, I have no idea who 'Ron Traino' is, and my reference to AMA wasn't directed at your posting, Ally.

― Tim, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

FWIW, neither am I (well, I may have posted to a.m.a. about 8 times last year, but no more than that). The injokes within my pseudonyms are entirely personal, in most cases.

― The Collective Freemasons of Fotheringhay, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ally, I did see Ron's page!

It is very sadly entertaining, or is that entertainingly sad? Whatever.

To keep this slightly on topic, the pop league page could do with some updating...

― Nicole, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

It was updated today! I'm really behind on the features - Tanya's sent me her stuff but I need to format it and Duel needs doing too. Also the manager's league hasn't been updated. Sorry.

― Tom, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't find it annoying at all, its funny and has some of the nicest people you could want to meet in a web community. Its the sort of web place I feel I could get out my pipe at, and settle down for a nice chinwag with some like-minded people, whilst puffing blue smoke everywhere.

― Will Casper, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

that i send things in that end up never getting published, for whatever reason -- that napster thing, which is now hideously out of date and, though, i may not carry tanya's *clout,* i also sent in something new, a new set of soul decade reviews, another thing that's hideously out of date. ;) oh, and that my articles tend to disappear.

― fred solinger, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't know most of the site very well; I only mostly look at this bit. I think that, at least by the standards of most of the other rubbish out there, it's phenomenally good. It's astounding how eloquent, thoughtful and knowledgeable the contributors can be, compared to certain other electronic collectives.

If I had to find something that annoyed - perhaps it would be that the whole thing is so *up to date*, and I am always out of date. FT tends to have a lot of discussion of

a) contemporary chart things like Britney Spears, et al et al, whom I don't know at all;

b) the internet, which I don't know much about - it takes me absolutely ages just scrolling up and down the FT I Love Music page itself. I particularly don't like all the mysterious references to 'downloading music' (!) and that kind of thing;

c) American things like 'emo' and 'hardcore' and 'nu metal' and whatever - stuff that we in Britain just don't hear, so I find their prevalence kind of baffling. But then I, in Britain or anywhere, don't hear much anyway. I daresay that many of the rest of you are well up on this stuff.

There are still few other places that I know where you can go and talk about the Sundays, Simon Reynolds and Rod Stewart and not be ostracized.

Apart from Edna Welthorpe's salon, of course.

― the pinefox, Wednesday, 28 February 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

four years pass...

aha.

― bump, Wednesday, 12 October 2005 18:33 (nineteen years ago)

The thing that annoys me the most is that I've not written for it for a while.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 18:37 (nineteen years ago)

The most annoying thing about Freaky Trigger is that I have to resort to the Internet Archive Wayback Machine to find all the great Freaky Trigger articles of yore (e.g. Tom Ewing's Download This! Singles List of 2002, all the Focus Group stuff, etc.).

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 19:02 (nineteen years ago)

This is an amusing thread.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 19:29 (nineteen years ago)

And probably as good an example of "old ILM" than anything else: a thread where everyone participating knows what Freaky Trigger is and reads it regularly, and where the only problem with ILM is that Ned and Dan can be kind of cliquey sometimes.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 19:31 (nineteen years ago)

How dare you, sir -- "always cliquey," you mean.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 19:32 (nineteen years ago)

if only a group of dre and his friends could somehow inform tom that he has forgotten about him. perhaps in the form of a song. he probably should also explain to him that he is indeed still d.r.e.

-- ethan padgett (epadget...), February 19th, 2001 8:00 PM.

― glasgow coma score (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 21:22 (nineteen years ago)

The thing that annoys me is that there should be a DIY/Arts/Crafts section of FT and Tom won't answer my email saying if I can write for Do U See? or not.

Hee.

Haw.

;)

― Roxymuzak, Mrs. Carbohydrate (roxymuzak), Wednesday, 12 October 2005 21:37 (nineteen years ago)

ethan seems to have made a few 'old jess posts' himself

― ronny longjohns (ronny longjohns), Thursday, 13 October 2005 14:38 (nineteen years ago)

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