Demos

tried to set up local label opposing the tide ov hobbit rock in deeepest northumbria in tha 80s - received stuff by pub singaz, covr bandss an' akoustik saddoe posse.

expect glitXoR/lo-fi, trax rather than shongz + a lorra laffz

I'd send my cover-version of an Anime theme.

Expect people who record with only one mic. Expect people who are working through grunge. Yes, it's 2002. Expect the singer/bassist/drummers gurlfriend to make a guest appearance on vocals. Jump out of window in horror. Wince in disgust as you can HEAR the acne oozing out of another homemade d'n'b/speed garage track. I HAVE LOST MY FAITH IN HUMANITY then again ha ha I work in the civil service so it woz pretty low anyway. And it's raining. And here's a cup of tea.

I always meant to send MM a demo with one song called "Holly Hernandez's Clevage Photo Hell" - but never got around to it.

I once handed a demo to Andy Partridge of XTC. I hope he never listened to it.

I just dug out my old lyric's book...which I wrote when I was 16...I'm gonna record some of them!

I once handed a demo to Andy Partridge of XTC. I hope he never listened to it.

I'm pretty sure he didn't. I have an interview with him where he completely shits on all budding musicians. "I know there's going to be a crowd of young musicians in the parking lot after this interview with demo tapes. ..'I listen to your music, Andy - you should listen to miiiinnne!' " So I would guess he threw it out as soon as you walked away.

http://www.demorama.com .

This column has been in existence in various Twin Cities-area zines (Cake and its successor Toast) for around ten years, and online for around three or so. I've been writing for 'tm for a while, and I think it's safe to say that:

a) There's a lot of bands, at least in the United States, that seem to go for the "imitate Sunny Day Real Estate" approach. b) There are also a lot of atrocious metal bands out there. A lot. c) Occasionally you will find something REALLY good, and once in a blue moon you'll get something by a band that will wind up becoming famous (we got a demo from the band Cake before they got signed). d) Lots of bands will decline to send actual CDs or tapes, instead opting to point you to their mp3.com website. These bands are rarely interesting.

Well I've never heard Sunny Day Real Estate so that will all be fresh to me. Not that I'll be reviewing them but my flatmate will so no doubt I'll hear them anyway.

It was after I worked for a Viacom subsidiary where I was besieged with indie demos that I began to fully yearn for major-label fare. There's something about poorly recorded demos that simultaneously offends and depresses you--offensive from the perspective of the audacity of the submittee, and depressing because you wonder how talent scouts ever found the few good bands from all this dreck. Then there's the whole contradiction of the "fuck-you/please-sign-me" attitude that makes you just want to slap them silly. Horror stories abound, but the only thing that is truly disgusting is when they put candy or some sort of food in the packaging, which always turns into mush by the time you receive it.

I've been getting demos in the mail semi-regularly basically ever since I started my label ten years ago. Of the ones that weren't by people I had ever met or talked to, one was GREAT (Mr. Quark), and I ended up putting out their first record. Notably, it had a handmade package and enclosed a note that indicated that they had some idea what the label was and weren't just spamming it out to everybody in a label directory. A couple more were not-great-yet but really promising, and I stayed in touch with them and eventually ended up doing stuff with them, too. Most of the rest are just horrid.

Best demo tape title ever: Princess Superstar's "Mitch Better Have My Bunny!"

Are mp3 demos crass? Will Freaky Trigger accept them?

Most of the demos that get sent here just get raided for the CD cases, but I try to listen to a few... and they're usually really bad. We also get calls from irate Brazilian hardcore kids..."Did you get the demo? Did you listen to it?" "I'm sorry, but our policy is not to accept unsolicited demos, it clearly says on the website..." "What?! Well, are you going to send it back?!!" etc, etc.

Poor bastards. They only want to rock, you know.