MUSIC

While compiling our ‘best-of-year’ album selection I visited Metacritic.com, a website that summarises a large number of reviews and ‘best-of-year’ lists. My original reason for visiting the site was to establish which acclaimed albums we had failed to receive (and review) in 2006. The site has its own top 30 list compiled from its garnering of the best-reviewed UK and USA albums of the year, and made interesting reading. Top of the list was Ali Farka Toure followed by (in order) Tom Waits, Clipse, Bob Dylan, Joanna Newsom, TV On The Radio, Ghostface Killah, Destroyer, Los Lobos, Subtle, Tom Ze, Howe Gelb, The Hold Steady, OOIOO, Scott Walker, The Decemberists, Yo La Tengo, Serena-Maneesh, J Dilla aka Jay Dee, Rosanne Cash, Neko Case, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Arctic Monkeys, The Roots, Beatles, Alan Jackson, Nellie McKay, Solomon Burke, Nas, and The Thermals. While the list included many that we had not received and had excluded all the albums which found their way into our list, the most glaring observation was that only two had found their way onto UK airwaves. Incidentally, the most interesting individual lists emanated from fellow independent web sites based on both sides of the pond. So what’s my point? There are several: The UK music-loving population at large remains blissfully unaware of most of the incredible diversity and quality of music available to them, because of the mediocre mainstream tastes of TV and radio stations. The desperately restrictive UK radio broadcast licence laws (which apply both to terrestrial and Internet broadcasting) and increasing dominance of the state funded BBC (TV, radio and Internet) have effectively combined to dumb down taste and output. The Internet is becoming the only channel (with a few exceptions) through which serious music lovers can access information, and where artists can generate public awareness.

The short to medium-term future could be bright, but it won’t be. Corporate UK, TV, Radio, Print and some Internet sites will continue to chase the money available from the corporate big spenders, and as a result will churn out more of the same. As they say, ‘shit floats.’ Independent web sites will struggle to survive without economic and legal access to broadcasting services and income. And the UK government will continue to restrict legal access to adventurous and innovative broadcasters, while protecting the monopolistic and expanding BBC. However, what if web sites received access fees from the public? This represents a small step forward and one we may embark on during the coming months. The most substantial benefit of voluntary public funding is that pioneering sites can remain independent of ‘big business’ and provide visitors with sustained access to the very best music. Fancy a change?

ECONOMY

The UK currently exists in an economic ‘dream world.’ Underneath its superficial economic success is a thick, dangerous sub-strata that includes: The most indebted population in the world (ranking alongside and now overtaking the USA in personal debt), dramatically declining manufacturing base, record and unsustainable balance of payments deficit, unrelenting rise in house prices, substantially over-valued stock market, massive government long-term subsidies involved in PFI (Public Finance Initiative - that also takes away any incentive for companies to self-develop and innovate), rising crime and the inability to house the dramatically increasing prison population, massive multi-billion commitment to the Trident weapons system (that will never be used), the commitment to Iraq and Afghanistan, and the rising imbalance between rich and poor (made worse by unjust national and local tax systems). I could also add NHS under-funding; crumbling, expensive public transport infrastructure (at a time when road traffic must decrease); and the prospect of a new Prime Minister who was the main architect of the country’s poor, hidden economic condition. Until the UK has a truly democratic, proportional voting system that negates the possibility of future ‘governing for votes’, nothing will change.

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WAR

President Bush described Saddam’s hanging as a ‘step forward, a turning point for Iraq’s democracy.’ Most sensible, thoughtful commentators would interpret the very public hanging as another step towards darkness and disaster. It now remains for the architects of an illegal war that has caused unprecedented levels of death, misery, destruction and poverty to be brought to justice. These leaders still rule, largely unaffected by their lies, incompetence and corruption. Iraq is now a 24/7 killing field; a focus of the hate against the West and between various cultural/religious groups; an outcome predicted by many and ignored by the few. And if that was not enough then the bombardment of Lebanon and the lack of censure from the UK and USA anchored the nails firmly in the hearts of these two desperately bad leaders. Nothing will change.

CLIMATE

I know a man who has lived in abject poverty for several years. He is 61 years of age and has found impossible to find work. His income is £56 per week and he is the most eco-friendly person I know. He bathes just once a fortnight and keeps waste water to flush his toilet and water plants, only turns on the central heating when absolutely necessary (he wears more for indoors than for outdoors); never turns on his lights unless cooking/washing/reading (his flat is usually in darkness at night); walks everywhere (he possesses an old car and plans his journeys to take in several visits on a single trip), he re-uses packaging, and even puts out uneaten cat/dog food for the foxes, birds etc.. He doesn’t possess a credit card and pays cash for everything including his shopping at the cheapest food and non-food outlets (Lidl, Aldi, Poundland… ‘every little helps…’). If he needs money for bills he sells personal possessions on Ebay. He doesn’t possess a mobile phone and uses a low-licence fee, portable black/white TV (when digital becomes the norm he will stop watching TV). I asked him how his life would change if he won the lottery (he occasionally buys a single lucky dip ticket). He stated categorically that he would maintain his new lifestyle but would stop selling his possessions to pay bills and may have a bath once a week. It struck me that the poor are the most eco-friendly people but are penalised in so many financial ways. It also occurred to me that as individuals we can all contribute to a sustainable climate, but haven’t. Governments are (wrongly) restricted by their own political ambitions in fighting climate change, and so it’s up to all of us to grasp the situation and act. Unless we do, nothing will change.

CELEBRITY

Created by the media for the financial benefit of the media, “Money doesn’t talk, it swears.” And just like brands, we follow like the most stupid sheep, and keep buying. Nothing changes…