Classic or dud: "New York London Paris Munich" and "Freaky Trigger"

"freaky trigger" by win, no? ricky t told me about it one time, but i forget what he said about it. anyway, if it's good enough to name yr website after i suppose i bears listening.

"pop muzik" a classsic, of course.

Is this where we give 'em the "T-DIP"?

I have not listened to Freaky Trigger since I named my website after it. I listened to "Pop Muzik" yesterday.

Freaky Trigger is a classic example of a bunch of indie kids trying too hard to make an out and out mainstream pop album. Most of it's OK, if a little strained, but some of it makes for really squirmy listening. Pop Music OTOH is a total classic.

'Pop Muzik' (sp?) by M = Total Classic.

when I was really small it was my favourite song in the world. at that stage, the idea that I could buy records of my own or tape them off the radio hadn't occured to me, so I was very sad when it dropped down the charts, which meant it would never be played again on TOTP, which meant I would never hear it again.

The Robbie "Shit" Williams song which rips off 'Pop Muzik' SuXoR.

Freaky Trigger by Win = Total Classic, and the best thing Davey Henderson has been involved in, controversy kids. (ie beats Fire Engines and Nectarine No. 9 so let the post-punk hordes fall on me!)

Being better than Nectarine No 9 is hardly difficult. Very dull indie rock band indeed. I haven't heard much Fire Engines, but what I have I liked a lot.

I've just remembered why I brought up Freaky Trigger when I was talking to Jess. We were talking about DI and in particular that Ian Crause single and in trying to explain what was wrong with it I used FT as an example of that strained feeling that indie trying too hard to be chart pop has. ISTR you loving that Crause track as well, so maybe I'm just too sensitive to this sort of thing.

"Freaky Trigger is a classic example of a bunch of indie kids trying too hard to make an out and out mainstream pop album"

I disagree with four seperate things in this statement, five if you count 'indie kid' twice. Is this a record?

Seriously, it does strike me that the dismissive terms used suggest that 'pop entryism' is no longer possible. A shame, as (some of) the very best pop music (like Freaky Trigger) comes from the rigours of exposure to the market.

but on own terms, or attempting to ape something unsuccessfully? (although this of course can bring different qualities out)

I disagree. The fact that I find Freaky Trigger a okayish but uncomfortable sounding album doesn't necessarily mean that pop- entryism is dead. Just that I think FT fails in its ambition to be a fantastic pop record. And yeah, I know failure can produce equally interesting results but this record isn't one of them.

I think the critical words in my (admittedly somewhat dismissive) post were 'trying too hard'. Win still sound like an indie band on FT and the adoption of (what I thought were) slightly OTT chart pop arrangements that sit uncomfortably on top of the songs doesn't really hide this. I think it is possible to do this sort of thing well (cf AR Kane's transition from 69 to 'i') but it needs to sound a little more natural.

Gareth, hmm... Thats a tough question..

Perhaps entryism can never be on 'your own terms' even successful examples (ABC, Associates, New Order, etc) had to make compromises.

That usually sounds like it is a bad thing, the 'compromise' being a pejorative word, but I don't think that is what pop entryism is about. Polishing a diamond doesn't 'compromise' the rough diamonds artistic integrity, it just makes it shine.

And thats what I think Win did, not attempting to ape something else unsuccessfully (ape what? Other entryists perhaps, but again, its sounds like a 'bad thing' but it shouldn't be).

Thats why pop entryism isn't a bad thing I think. Applying some polish and accessabilty is better than wilful shambling.

I think you just defined what Orange Juice were trying to do there.

Being better than Nectarine No 9 is hardly difficult.

I dunno, I was listening to the Niagara Falls compilation and found it rather enjoyable.