Sadly i've heard a few negative stories, and can understand your frustration....

I wouldn't try to stop anyone plugging bands/suggesting bands etc on here though.  It's pretty much separate nowadays.  I and many others that i know who either post on here or just read here, don't bother with the EY website anymore.

The truth will always out......

As I know nothing about the various issues, I better not comment, however, going from a fan page to a business page, sort of involves money, so it's hardly unexpected, is it?

That said, it's no longer a League fanpage (apart from the URL, strangely enough), and the association with this board, was dealt with when Panzer's site got up in the menu, and also clearly a point THL Management considered, when using Panzer's site as reference, instead of league-online - again, hardly an issue, as it's purely League related.

Reading Rob's site, is a totally different issue, and up to own judgement. Personally I think it's a bit sad Rob distanced himself from this board, as the League fan he was/is.

Oh well, much bigger problems in the world - I'm forced to get the christmas crap on the attic, this weekend, to just name one....

I still read EY on a weekly basis: there's no other blog as dedicated to synthpop, and no other website that has introduced me to more great synth music over the years than Rob's. His passion for the music (OK, and for the girls too) is obvious and that's part of its charm - I like that someone is slagging off guitar music for a change and brazenly demanding Messrs. Oakey, Ware etc. receive knighthoods. Rob writes with conviction about the music he loves and he clearly feels strongly about how the electro scene (such as it is) is portrayed and promoted.

But promotion is where things get complicated and where the frustration and bad blood seems to come from. Before, when EY was just a personal fansite Rob could write whatever he wanted. Bring on the titty girls, the Soft Cell sleaze, the frequent Marsheauxgasms, whatever: It was one man's blog written for fun and he wasn't obliged to feature any artist he didn't personally like (or indeed any who were too, er, cocky).

But it seems to me that the situation is a little different now that EY is experimenting with running the site for profit. If Rob takes money from a band then there are obligations that must be met and services to be rendered. Technicals and communication problems might get in the way but there's an obligation now to sort them out promptly and cordially. In the EY Ltd. age personal feelings suddenly become irrelevant and I feel this is perhaps where Rob is still trying to get the balance right. Rob brought in Chi recently to help on EY and I think this sort of collaboration can only be a good thing as EY gets updated more often, more bands get featured, business obligations can be shared, and Rob's occasional querulous quips might be tempered

As for the Human League (you know, that great bunch of guys with that album-of-the-decade called Secrets), well the "League Online" aspect in the URL is EY's vestigial appendix that's for sure, but note you don't need to go too far back to find a Human League story (they get 3 mentions on the current rolling homepage for example). Heaven 17 are also well represented.

Well in essence, I've had dealings with the guy in question and i'm sorry but i just cant get away with him. He makes me cringe..

Perhaps it may sound petty but yeah i'm gettin tired with the whole 'phwoar a chick with a keyboard' crap. I mean the guy's what? 45?

When we originally had a mention on his site it was nice i agree. He offered us the opening slot at his EY3 gig.. Great! He then went on about selling our album through EY... I'm sorry but when it comes to money and dealing with someone you dont even know, i always have to be cautious as hell... So any way we played his gig... But once we played, he pretty much had to strain himself to acknowledge us..  Then there was not even a whiff of a review on the site after we'd played... It was 'MIT opened the night but then Parralox blah blah blah for about 80 paragraphs then followed by a further half page of RBW's set...
So yeh, petty as i probably sound, i was kinda p***ed off. Sorry..

I do agree that Rob should just keep his site as a personal review site and if he see's any new bands, fine mention them. But for the love of God, not to get involved with them...
Robs not a good promoter.. Like i say, if your an up and coming electro act, its best to do things yourself. As rude as it sounds, EY has no real impact in the music scene as a whole. I do apologise if it seems like i've come on for a whinge..
But sometimes, just sometimes things need to be said... Not necessarily to damage but to improve.

Kev

I'm honoured they kept my comment about titty fronted electro

Rob did have the heart in the right place when he began, but it sounds like the business venture part has made things go a bit pearshaped. But isn't that the way it goes? Some artists will always feel overlooked compared to others at a label? Just look at our beloved human Leagues sad ending with Virgin.

Last edited by Panzermensch (11-12-09 04:43:48)

From EY:

EY would like to dedicate 'One Life Stand' to all those unfortunate souls (and top Northern comedy band Motorbikes In Taiwan) who have been frothing at the mouth this year whenever Little Boots, La Roux or Lady Gaga have been mentioned.

Dear me Orac but is that really necessary? So you've gone from bigging them up to calling them a comedy band? That's pretty crap.

I have to say that is rather petty. And if you're pretending to run a label, quite unprofessional!

Last edited by Panzermensch (12-12-09 16:39:04)

I can't say much about the websites, though I thought league online was a great fan resource about 6 years ago.

However I want to say is that I feel Electropop is no longer a serious proper genre, since the vast majority of pop music uses synths or electronic equipment. La Roux, Little Boots and GaGa are all just modern pop (which also happens to be electronic) Only thing about GaGa is that in the eyes of many she is making hard edged, racy pop music. It is a guilty pleasure for a lot of people but she seems to have lots of credibility.

One thing I can't stand now is everything being an 80s revival. La Roux being the next Eurthymics, Hurt sounding like Tears For Fears. Something sounding 25 years old should not be taken as a compliment. If I want to listen to 80s music then I will listen to 80s music, not current bands trying to sound 80s. We cannot recreate the past and trying to do so just makes it a parody. Anyone remember the youngeryounger 20s? ugh....

The future of music lies in something more original. Something that sounds like it could only have been made in 2009 gets my vote. However Ryuichi Sakamoto recently said he feels all melodies have already been written. Maybe pop music has peaked and now everything is being recycled. In 20 years time I would put a bet on that says 99% of songs will be cover versions.

Last edited by humanracer (12-12-09 17:42:19)

*Disclaimer* - this is not aimed at anyone in particular !

I love a lot of new bands purely because the sounds very *80s*.  Music is all about personal taste.  People slating each other because of what they like, is a complete waste of time really.  Would YOU change your tastes/opinions because someone told you that you were wrong ??  I really would hope not......

That's one of the reasons i didn't care much for EY - i can't stand when people talk as if everything that they say is a FACT, rather than an OPINION.  They're not the only guilty ones !

There is no comparison. EY is a fantastic website and this forum is a cliquey joke that even the Human League don’t bother with anymore.

Keep up the good work Orac!

Ahab wrote:

a cliquey joke

Pot...kettle.....black

Ahab wrote:

There is no comparison. EY is a fantastic website and this forum is a cliquey joke that even the Human League don’t bother with anymore.

Then why sign up here (again)?