NME vs Melody Maker

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What did you think was best when you were actually buying music mags?

(i'm sure there's other polls where there was a "I prefer Select" option.)

Poll Results

OptionVotes
Melody Maker 39
New Musical Express21


Herman G. Neuname, Friday, 23 May 2008 14:25 (seventeen years ago)

i couldn't really...tell between them?

Frogman Henry, Friday, 23 May 2008 14:26 (seventeen years ago)

SOUNDS

onimo, Friday, 23 May 2008 14:27 (seventeen years ago)

I could. Melody Maker for me all the way.
Both got shit towards the end of 90s though.

Herman G. Neuname, Friday, 23 May 2008 14:28 (seventeen years ago)

NME.
I lived through the hip hop wars and loved it.
That and the fact that ON-U worshipper Dele Fadele was always in there.

mark e, Friday, 23 May 2008 14:47 (seventeen years ago)

Unfortunately, so were Close Lobsters and the Motorcycle Boy.

Dingbod Kesterson, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:00 (seventeen years ago)

Dele Fadele, who slagged off Loveless for irrelevance to struggle in South Africa 18 months after Mandela's release.

Dingbod Kesterson, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:01 (seventeen years ago)

Motorcycle boy weren't around long enough for any kind of 'always'...

Mark G, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:02 (seventeen years ago)

Is there where the Manics got their "Slowdive are worse than Hitler" schtik from? xpost

Colonel Poo, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:02 (seventeen years ago)

http://www.mybloodyvalentine.net/press/nme-9nov91-2.html

Well, apart from that (xpost to DBod)

Mark G, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:03 (seventeen years ago)

Oh yeah, black on black struggles, that was a good excuse to sneak it in.

Dingbod Kesterson, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:05 (seventeen years ago)

That whole "The Scene That Celebrates Itself" always seemed a really bizarre criticism to me, I mean, what "scene" didn't feature bands going to each others' gigs, it's kind of not a scene otherwise?

Colonel Poo, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:05 (seventeen years ago)

Still, Reynolds in MM also slagged off Loveless for not all being like track 3.

Music critics really were crap back then, weren't they?

Dingbod Kesterson, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:06 (seventeen years ago)

Well, they wouldn't do that now, anyroad.

Mark G, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:08 (seventeen years ago)

That whole "The Scene That Celebrates Itself" always seemed a really bizarre criticism to me, I mean, what "scene" didn't feature bands going to each others' gigs, it's kind of not a scene otherwise?

Didn't think it was a criticism so much as mildly (self)-deprecating?

DJ Mencap, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:13 (seventeen years ago)

But in times when children of conscientious objectors are forced to wear burning rubber tyres in black-on-black struggles in South Africa, when unionisation - which was hard-sweated and fought for - is being outlawed in humane Britain, My Bloody Valentine are vaguely saying f---all and encouraging others to follow suit. They maybe supreme poets of sound, the most inspired venturers beyond the precipice since Sonic Youth, but they still make you feel the same apprehension most people feel when their plane takes off, the same emptiness.

Not saying this is a useful line of argument he's putting forward there, but writers have these crises of morality in print all the time do they not? Maybe not so much these days

DJ Mencap, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:18 (seventeen years ago)

imagine a 'politically conscious' version of Loveless

braveclub, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:21 (seventeen years ago)

That'll be the last Roots album, then.

Dingbod Kesterson, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:22 (seventeen years ago)

Didn't think it was a criticism so much as mildly (self)-deprecating?
Didn't know it was used self-deprecatingly, I only read the phrase in music papers, so assumed it was created by critics to disparage shoegazers.

Colonel Poo, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:27 (seventeen years ago)

Any 'scene' worth it's salt starts up without a handy decription to group themselves together...

Punk, New Romantics, Shoegaze, all started as [bl ank] kids before a handy epithet was applied.

Whereas "Acid Jazz" was coined, and the groups signed up or created themselves to fit.

Mark G, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:31 (seventeen years ago)

what about New Wave Of New Wave and Shroomadelica?

Herman G. Neuname, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:34 (seventeen years ago)

damn marcello - you sure do recall the important stuff and shame those of us who missed out.
i probably never read that review to be honest, in my youthful ignorance i would have scanned it and moved on.
shameful i know, but hey.

mark e, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:37 (seventeen years ago)

NWONW was barely a label.

The NME created Shroomadelica and no-one stood up and said 'yeah that's what we are'.

Mark G, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:37 (seventeen years ago)

Nu-Rave?

Herman G. Neuname, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:39 (seventeen years ago)

Romo?

Herman G. Neuname, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:39 (seventeen years ago)

Melody Makers "Yob Rock" cover with 60ft Dolls

Herman G. Neuname, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:39 (seventeen years ago)

I think the idea that they're always deadly stony-faced serious when they come up with these names is a bit wrongheaded or naive

DJ Mencap, Friday, 23 May 2008 15:40 (seventeen years ago)

Well the way I remember it is...at least in the 90's MM would take more of a risk with what they would put on their cover. They made no attempt to be the crowd pleaser the way NME were, they were just a bunch of (admittedly cocksure) journalists determined to seek out bands you hadn't heard before and make them household names. Which was alright at the time, I mean...I really didn't prefer one magazine over the other at all, I felt I needed both. And I subscribed to both, which cost me about 200 US dollars - a lot of money but to me, worth it. I fucking miss those days I really do.

But yeah...NWONW...that was the beginning of the end when they started going down that road. Does anyone remember a band called Nancy Boy? Nah, I didn't think so. I also vaguely remember "shroomadelica" but I can't be sure.

Bimble, Friday, 23 May 2008 18:00 (seventeen years ago)

I suppose MM lost a credibility with their readers with the whole Romo thing. Many say that was the beginning of the end.

Herman G. Neuname, Friday, 23 May 2008 18:51 (seventeen years ago)

I also vaguely remember "shroomadelica" but I can't be sure.

It was only a few years ago but I cant even remember any of the bands that got lumped in with it.

Herman G. Neuname, Saturday, 24 May 2008 00:05 (seventeen years ago)

Bimble NWONW was definitely an NME thing.

I think Romo was two people's idea of a joke that got slightly out of hand.

braveclub, Saturday, 24 May 2008 06:07 (seventeen years ago)

NME although MM were great for the last few years.

Geir Hongro, Saturday, 24 May 2008 10:45 (seventeen years ago)

Geir Hongro, big fan of Kittie and The Dum Dums.

Dom Passantino, Saturday, 24 May 2008 10:53 (seventeen years ago)

No, but Embrace were at least considerably better than most of the stuff that dominated the late 90s hitlists.

Geir Hongro, Saturday, 24 May 2008 11:00 (seventeen years ago)

My God, are we going to see Geir and Nick agree on something here?

Rob M v2, Saturday, 24 May 2008 11:21 (seventeen years ago)

It cant happen!

Herman G. Neuname, Saturday, 24 May 2008 12:28 (seventeen years ago)

Yeah, their opinions are so far apart normally.

Noodle Vague, Saturday, 24 May 2008 12:30 (seventeen years ago)

My head will explode Jim if you ever agree with Geir.

Herman G. Neuname, Saturday, 24 May 2008 12:32 (seventeen years ago)

Getting Hongroed (agreeing with Geir) does happen. It's embarrassing, like accidentally shitting yourself in public.

leavethecapital, Saturday, 24 May 2008 13:50 (seventeen years ago)

I think NV would prefer that option.

Herman G. Neuname, Sunday, 25 May 2008 00:11 (seventeen years ago)

revive 4 nick..

Mark G, Sunday, 25 May 2008 10:32 (seventeen years ago)

He's in denial

Herman G. Neuname, Sunday, 25 May 2008 13:27 (seventeen years ago)

Me and Geir agree on lots of stuff! When he's talking about stuff he likes he's generally cock on.

Noodle Vague, Sunday, 25 May 2008 13:28 (seventeen years ago)

Does that happen often?

Herman G. Neuname, Monday, 26 May 2008 01:24 (seventeen years ago)

NME gave us the Strokes' Is This It, one of my all-time favorite rock records, so I gotta vote for that. I really wish they'd get up off their arses and hype something so I could have some new music to listen to. I haven't seen an "Oh no!! The NME are at it again!!" ILX thread since the Libertines' second album, and that was four years ago. Was the NME into Lily Allen? M.I.A.?

Mr. Snrub, Monday, 26 May 2008 01:44 (seventeen years ago)

Another reason to vote NME: Their website, www.nme.com, which was fucking AWESOME!! They had just tons and tons of old reviews that I would spend hours reading. Melody Maker had no website, for some inexplicable reason.

Mr. Snrub, Monday, 26 May 2008 01:53 (seventeen years ago)

Both had chatrooms. NME site was awesome then went utter shit. Why? It was a brilliant site. Arseholes.

Herman G. Neuname, Monday, 26 May 2008 02:02 (seventeen years ago)

Hmm...yeah now that it's been mentioned, I do seem to recall them having cool website that they changed for the worse.

Bimble, Monday, 26 May 2008 02:23 (seventeen years ago)

To save money IIRC.

Herman G. Neuname, Monday, 26 May 2008 13:38 (seventeen years ago)

Both had chatrooms. NME site was awesome then went utter shit. Why? It was a brilliant site. Arseholes.

-- Herman G. Neuname, Monday, May 26, 2008

i remember reading the nme forums yeeeears ago (like, 99/2000?)
no registered user names, so a lot of it was people ripping on each other for hours, posting as other posters saying things like "I AM GAY I LISTEN TO O-GAY-SIS" x 10000000

don't remember any actual music discussion

jeremy waters, Monday, 26 May 2008 13:49 (seventeen years ago)

i can't wait until ilm devolves into that

dell, Monday, 26 May 2008 13:52 (seventeen years ago)

but yeah, the archived reviews section was great.

jeremy waters, Monday, 26 May 2008 13:53 (seventeen years ago)

I never read the forums actually as it was full of tossers. NMECHAT was great night time in 2000 though as it had loads of people into different music. (daytime was of course kids into whatever NME covered) but I remember lots of great chat about pfunk,krautrock,jazz,dance music,hip hop,metal - pretty much anything.

Funnily enough they closed the chat down when everyone was bitching about how shite NME was and how bad the bands they covered were.

Herman G. Neuname, Monday, 26 May 2008 14:15 (seventeen years ago)

Which it was.

Herman G. Neuname, Monday, 26 May 2008 18:24 (seventeen years ago)

weren't feeling terris, then?

jeremy waters, Monday, 26 May 2008 19:03 (seventeen years ago)

No

Herman G. Neuname, Monday, 26 May 2008 19:13 (seventeen years ago)

NME suck hardcore. I'm really offended by their (now) unashamed descent into a salacious, sleazy lurid tabloid style hype humping waste of music journalism space. I'm so tired of it but then Melody Maker is unbelivably dull. If I could I'd vote no on both of them. Plus NME writers are adjective whoring hacks.

VeronaInTheClub, Monday, 26 May 2008 19:18 (seventeen years ago)

"salacious, sleazy lurid tabloid style hype"

there's been an element of that for years, tbh.

jeremy waters, Monday, 26 May 2008 19:20 (seventeen years ago)

Since britpop anyway i'd bet

Herman G. Neuname, Monday, 26 May 2008 23:28 (seventeen years ago)

i'll revive it for nick this time..

Herman G. Neuname, Tuesday, 27 May 2008 10:54 (seventeen years ago)

No, but Embrace were at least considerably better than most of the stuff that dominated the late 90s hitlists.

-- Geir Hongro, Saturday, 24 May 2008 11:00 (3 days ago) Bookmark Link

Mark G, Tuesday, 27 May 2008 11:03 (seventeen years ago)

This could be the start of a beautiful friendship

Tom D., Tuesday, 27 May 2008 11:24 (seventeen years ago)

I'm sure in the past that Geir's said Embrace aren't as good as Stereophonics because they're "not melodic enough" or some such bollocks.

Scik Mouthy, Tuesday, 27 May 2008 11:31 (seventeen years ago)

Me and Geir agree on lots of stuff! When he's talking about stuff he likes he's generally cock on.

-- Noodle Vague, Sunday, May 25, 2008 2:28 PM (2 days ago) Bookmark Link

But yeah, this.

Scik Mouthy, Tuesday, 27 May 2008 11:34 (seventeen years ago)

In fact, Stereophonics are the ones who, well, I am sure they are trying to write good melodies, but they never succeeded much. And I also strongly dislike the way their singer sounds.

Geir Hongro, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 08:38 (seventeen years ago)

Well I'm definitely in agreement with Geir on that one!

Dingbod Kesterson, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 11:23 (seventeen years ago)

me too!!

Herman G. Neuname, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 11:29 (seventeen years ago)

ILM comes to agreement. STEREOPHONICS ARE SHITE!

Herman G. Neuname, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 14:22 (seventeen years ago)

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/tr/three_people_smiling.jpg

Mark G, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 14:29 (seventeen years ago)

"It is an historic moment."

http://www.nancarrow-webdesk.com/warehouse/storage2/2008-w18/img.213382_t.jpg

Dingbod Kesterson, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 14:34 (seventeen years ago)

That looks like Jim Royle.

Herman G. Neuname, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 16:11 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

ILX System, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 23:01 (seventeen years ago)

Bump!

Herman G. Neuname, Thursday, 29 May 2008 08:56 (seventeen years ago)

YEAH WE KNOW THIS IS SOME BULLSHIT TITTWIS BORING ACADEMICS FULL OF WHINEY PUSSIES RANT REMOVED

chaki, Thursday, 29 May 2008 09:41 (seventeen years ago)

o ahi

Dom Passantino, Thursday, 29 May 2008 09:43 (seventeen years ago)

so... is that a vote for nme or melody maker?

braveclub, Thursday, 29 May 2008 10:04 (seventeen years ago)

melody maker clearly

Herman G. Neuname, Thursday, 29 May 2008 10:16 (seventeen years ago)

It might have been the stray Sounds demographic.

Dingbod Kesterson, Thursday, 29 May 2008 10:34 (seventeen years ago)

Awesome metal show - surely Kerrang.

Billy Dods, Thursday, 29 May 2008 10:54 (seventeen years ago)

pffft dont be silly,Kerrang doesn't cover metal anymore;)

Herman G. Neuname, Thursday, 29 May 2008 10:58 (seventeen years ago)

get your votes in, not long left.

Herman G. Neuname, Thursday, 29 May 2008 21:35 (seventeen years ago)

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

ILX System, Thursday, 29 May 2008 23:01 (seventeen years ago)

I have never read a single issue of Melody Maker.

Mr. Snrub, Friday, 30 May 2008 02:41 (seventeen years ago)

It was great at one time.

Herman G. Neuname, Friday, 30 May 2008 10:18 (seventeen years ago)

it was great from about 1986 to 1992.

Grandpont Genie, Friday, 30 May 2008 10:25 (seventeen years ago)

Proustian rush ahoy:

http://archivedmusicpress.wordpress.com/

Stevie T, Friday, 30 May 2008 11:05 (seventeen years ago)

Maconie on the La's, 2008:
"The La's, eh? Eh? What was that all about? Five years to make an album? And what's he done since then, that Lee Majors? Eh? Eh? Has he perchance been hiding in the gents in the Bury branch of Morrison's, sneaking out at the dead of the night to sup on stray KP peanuts and spilt grains of Kenco Colombian, these last 18 years? Not exactly the key to an active social life, is it? I mean, does he perchance go up to a winsome dashing lady at a dinner party and tell her he's been living in the attic since 1990, rewriting his debut album two hundred times a week? It's not exactly Raef out of the Apprentice, is it? If only he'd tried a Cheeky Ovaltine with added Bailey's, eh? Eh?"

Dingbod Kesterson, Friday, 30 May 2008 11:25 (seventeen years ago)

ten months pass...

http://archivedmusicpress.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/wonderstuff-cover-5th-may-1990.jpg?w=410&h=582

pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Sunday, 19 April 2009 14:35 (sixteen years ago)

Scans from NME and Melody Maker
http://archivedmusicpress.wordpress.com/category/nme
http://archivedmusicpress.wordpress.com/category/melody-maker/

pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Sunday, 19 April 2009 14:39 (sixteen years ago)

Stuffies on the cover? That might actually be the moment NME jumped the shark for me, after sticking with it through all sorts of nonsense through the 80's. Grebo was certainly the last straw.

Soukesian, Sunday, 19 April 2009 14:41 (sixteen years ago)

I didn't read it back then. I didnt start reading it til 91/92. I preferred Melody Maker though.

pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Sunday, 19 April 2009 14:43 (sixteen years ago)

http://archivedmusicpress.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/loop-on-the-cover-of-melody-maker-12th-november-1988.jpg?w=418&h=563

It's not just scans from front covers though, there's actual articles scanned too.

pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Sunday, 19 April 2009 14:45 (sixteen years ago)

Oh my fucking god, I love that cover, man. I honestly don't understand how that one slipped me by all these years. Never thought of that dude as sexy, but yowza. Gotta love the Fall & World Domination Enterprises in the corner as well. Really don't understand how I missed this one, but then I guess being in the US, we couldn't catch every single damn one of those things.

Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Sunday, 19 April 2009 15:20 (sixteen years ago)

damn things

Bostin' Legal (sic), Monday, 20 April 2009 03:06 (sixteen years ago)

That is some Mike Score levels of perversion.

Nicodle Otago (Nicole), Monday, 20 April 2009 03:15 (sixteen years ago)

i always really hated that style of melody maker cover.

pale spector (electricsound), Monday, 20 April 2009 03:27 (sixteen years ago)

i think that style could be known as katebait

pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Monday, 20 April 2009 11:12 (sixteen years ago)


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