There is a fundamental problem with this record and with this band. Ultimately, what they're doing is neither very creative nor groundbreaking, and the British music press (fuckheads) have once again prematurely crowned the asses of some kids before they've even really done anything.
It's not bad music by any means. If I heard this record with no context whatsoever, I'd think it was decent and probably never listen again. If you told me that these are 20 year olds, I'd be excited and eager to see how they develop in the future. However based on what I've seen, I don't predict a good future for this band.
The British press has a limited understanding of where this band is coming from and who their influencers really are. I've seen reviews of this album talking about Can, "Radiohead rearranged", Parquet Courts, etc. These writers have never listened to this bands biggest influencers, which include Slint, Ought, and maudlin of the Well with noise rock thrown in. Black midi ultimately doesn't stray very far from these bands.
The band themselves are utterly dishonest about where their sound comes from, listing out influencers that make no fucking sense (Danny Brown, Death Grips). They know exactly what they're doing, and their lack of deep creativity to this point has yet gone unnoticed. In order to create an album that's truly great, they'll need to totally reinvent themselves at some point. I'm wondering if that's possible when they have to struggle very little to receive recognition for their work.
The album's fine. Not original by any means but they're playing the kind of postpunk revival shit that is rare and people are hungry for. This year's king krule.
William Watson
Honestly, I can see them running into 6g3 same problem that I think Greta Van Fleet has, which is too much praide too early on. I'm happy for any young band that can manage to make it big, but I just hope both Black Midi and Greta don't become disillusioned by all the praise and continue on their influence on sleeve wearing ways. At least Greta is being called out for sounding a little too much like Zepplin, Black Midi could just coast on being noisy Slint for a while because people like that.
Gabriel Russell
I hadn't made that connection, but it's perfect. They're like a version of Greta Van Fleet where you're the only one who realizes they sound like Zeppelin. It's maddening.
Jack Walker
>this bands biggest influencers, which include Slint, Ought, and maudlin of the Well what makes you so sure that your half-brained assembly of bands is better than their half-baked assembly of references? What you're doing is no different to the critics, only with more niche appeal.
Andrew Moore
Beyond any reflection, they have achieved a great album, which is not easy at all. It would be necessary to see what you and your band would do.
Thomas Brown
Black Midi are like Can if Can was bad and had too many emo influences. Funny thing is that Black Midi played live with Damo Suzuki once and all the material they played there was better than anything on this record.
Lincoln Cooper
greep sings in a weird voice that's not too far off danny brown's voice dumbass
Brody Anderson
ok professor
Jaxon Wood
I don't know why people like bmbmbm so much. Good album tho, 7/10
William Lewis
she moves with a purpose
Carter Rivera
what a magnificent
Ryder Brown
Laid on too thick
Xavier Jenkins
>If you told me that these are 20 year olds, I'd be excited and eager to see how they develop in the future. lmfao who the fuck says that 99% of rock musicians get worse with age not better
Owen Morales
in the near future they may very well though
Lincoln Taylor
They usually improve throughout their 20s and then fall off a cliff once they hit 30.
Hunter Sanchez
good post, I really agree with you about the influencers they've stated. Making 'messed up' music is not really a substansial enough vision going forward. If they make another good album it's either really similar to schlagenheim or they have some vision they wouldn't say.
Robert Parker
I do get dg vibes from their music videos so maybe they could be referring to aesthetics simply. but musically def not
Gabriel Ramirez
>the British music press (fuckheads) have once again prematurely crowned the asses of some kids before they've even really done anything Why do they do this every time a new flavour of the month comes along? It's so embarrassing when the hype trail derails itself within six months. Why do people still take rags like NME seriously when they overhype everything and very few of their "omg best new band" picks actually last?
Gabriel Davis
Because they have a group of British consumers who are too self-aware and want to be SEEN liking these new bands above all else.
Lincoln Scott
>emo influences
Huh
Daniel Lopez
yeah, the thing is that "math rock" is becoming moree popular kind of and theyre just riding the wave. eventually people will realize theyre very basic for what they are
Logan Murphy
they're just some kids that made a decent record, you're getting too obsessed with them, just get over it.
Lucas Ortiz
>listing out influencers that make no fucking sense (Danny Brown, Death Grips) Do you really think musicians only listen to the same genre as the shit they make? come on
