J'accuse: The Cluas Top 50 Irish Albums
Jun
13
Written by:
6/13/2009
God bless the Chief’s patience. First he gives me every opportunity to contribute to the Cluas top 50 Irish albums and then, when I don’t, he still allows me to post my blog. The truth is, despite the fancy French title, this is not an entry criticising what is a fascinating and revealing snapshot of the last ten years in Irish music but it does highlight what I would think are some shortcomings of a scene which has, to be fair, brought Oscar glory to Glen Hansard.
The most significant aspect of the list as far as Sound Waves is concerned is how little hip hop appears to have influenced the Irish music scene compared to other European countries such as England and France and that is strange when you consider how influential punk was on previous generations of Irish bands such as the embryonic U2 who have cited a concert by the Clash in Belfast as a formative influence. It is not as if Irish musicians have been starved of opportunities for hearing the music, given the predominance of it on television and radio and the opportunities to see leading practitioners such as Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and Eminem play live dates in Ireland.
Instead, the dominant direction of Irish music during a period of unprecedented affluence in Ireland's history has been the kind of soft rock, singer/songwriter fare that previously emanated from 'Post Golden' California in the 1970s. It might be stretching things to say this but Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan and Glen Hansard may just be the Jackson Browne, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell of Celtic Tiger Ireland; the Laurel Canyon sound replaced by the Killiney Bay wail, The Troubadour at Santa Monica Boulevard replaced by Whelans on Wexford Street.
Stay stoked
The Reverend Jules Earl Jackson
4 comment(s) so far...
Re: J'accuse: The Cluas Top 50 Irish Albums
Where have you gone, Rev Jules? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
By aidan on
6/14/2009
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Re: J'accuse: The Cluas Top 50 Irish Albums
Jules, I'm feeling groovy today so I'll skip straight over the incongruity of your criticism of the poll results despite neglecting to exercise your right to vote, and hence your opportunity to influence them. Instead allow me to extend to you - yet again! - the invitation to submit your top Irish 10 albums of the last 10 years. I'll then plug them into the top 50 and publish on my blog the revised top 50 list incorporating your votes (I won't however go changing the top 50 as it currently stands, that will remain the definitive one). Are you on?
By eoghan on
6/15/2009
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Re: J'accuse: The Cluas Top 50 Irish Albums
First off, I am not criticizing the poll, far from it, I think it gives a fantastic glimpse into the Irish music scene of the past decade, one should distinguish the messenger from the message. Secondly, it was not neglect but a real struggle to consider whether there were 10 albums I could seriously propose for the list. Thirdly, I am going to post on this blog the ten albums I feel not were the objective top ten of the past decade but the ten Irish albums I subjectively consider are noteworthy
www.cluas.com/indie-music/Blogs/Sound_Waves/tabid/78/EntryId/1059/The-SOUND-WAVES-Top-10-Irish-Albums-1999-2009.aspx
By Rev Jules on
6/15/2009
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Re: J'accuse: The Cluas Top 50 Irish Albums
You blog is eye-catching. I get pleasure from it. Thanks for sharing this beautiful piece of writing with me.
By coole spiele on
2/20/2010
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