extra notes, "Alarmed" commentary
posted 17 March 04









(1) Peters appears bemused that the deception lasted as long as it did. The Alarm's web site had informed fans about the single from the start; the band had even put its logo on an ad for "45 RPM" that it placed in the British music magazine NME.(Click to return to "Alarmed" commentary.)
















(2) And another slice-of-rock-history format is birthing as we speak--the "classic alternative" or "alternative gold" format, which essentially plays aging Gen Xers the '90s music of their (not so long ago!) youth. In some cases--such as the Los Angeles station "Indie 103"--efforts are being made to tie the alternative of yesteryear to the alternative of today (they're really not so different, actually), and this might fly for a while. But I'm pretty sure that once the magic 15-year mark is passed, "classic alternative" will be forced by the pressure of years to focus on either the old or the new and be done with it. (Click to return to "Alarmed" commentary.)
















(3) The only existing radio format that seems at least somewhat interested in mixing old and new music together is the so-called "Adult Alternative" format. But Adult Alternative stations tend to be focused often on a more acoustic, singer/songwriter-based sound rather than a rock band sound. You'll hear old Joni Mitchell mixed with new John Mayer; some of them will venture to mix old Steely Dan with new Wilco. But these are few and far between. (Click to return to "Alarmed" commentary.)















(4) A notable exception to the rule that says that bands that have been around for 25 years can't get radio play for their new music is of course U2. U2 started playing together in 1976; the band's first album was released in the U.S. in 1980. We all know that they received a lot of attention for their 2000 CD, All That You Can't Leave Behind. So, yes, of course there are exceptions, but by and large these will only occur when a band is already at the "cultural icon" level of existence. The release of a new U2 record is going to be noticed by the media, no matter what; I mean, Bono makes news just being Bono. The Alarm never achieved that level of popular success; in their case, being a 25-year-old band with a new song really does create a problem for radio, regardless of whether the song is good or not. (Click to return to "Alarmed" commentary.)