To the editors:
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The “pop” album is a product ready-made for consumption. No member of the industry is going to market something new or challenging if s/he knows there is no money to be made. Unfortunately, it’s simple economics that keep talented bands relegated to independent labels and Wednesday night shows. I don’t receive free records every day and I am not put on the guest list of every show in town, yet I have made the effort to find music that is interesting and challenging (not surprisingly, it also would be considered “underground”). First of all, Mr. Kim, you are searching all the wrong places.
The whole problem with “skimming mainstream magazines” is that they are written especially for the mainstream. Never mind the hype, Rolling Stone is a bad magazine. Musician is even worse and Spin is just horrid. The mainstream doesn’t want to hear about new music–they want what they are comfortable with. Mr. Kim, I feel you are truly reaching out for something exciting in music. Two magazines I can recommend off the top of my head would be Ear and Option.
Elmwood Park
