this very second?

but most "popular" music is pretty shite

It's just everybody's so clever nowadays, the guitar mainstream is all style over substance. But dig a little deeper and there are some awesomely talented people out there. They're just not in the NME.

you're totally right lets all go home.

maybe take up some other activity to fill you're time...like model railways...or happy slapping

everything is shit if you want it to be.

I used to think that too.

Then I realised no one likes people who whinge.

Especially not girls.

So I stopped.

Theres always good music as there is bad. The media creates and portrays scenes and movements to makes things easier to describle and spout about. Meanwhile, good and bad music continues to be made. Its just whether you want to go find it.

yadda yadda

One - Two
Two - Five
Five - One
Communist + WiFi
German + Paper/Plastic
Video - Vichy Government
Telephonic - Kinetic
LED + ?
Probleem + Resultaat
Flavour + Maps

I think the trouble nowadays is similar to what followed after punk exploded. Lots of imitators of scene-starters...

Ever since the Strokes broke thru, people have been wanting to ape them / their success. We've got a lot of watered down versions of that New wavey sound - too many bands are trying to sound anglar and punky.

Plus, there's the way NME market the image of cool. Everybody wants a slice, so we have an oversaturration.

Of course there are exceptions. I'm just talking about the prominent acts - your Kaiser Chiefs and Franzes.

I've found the best way to dig out the quality is to ignore hype and just turn up at random little gigs with bands you've never heard of. The quality can be astounding. The Luminaire in Kilburn (if you live in London) is a truly ace venue for this.

I have to say, for 'budding' guitarists like yourself, it probably is terrible. I know loads of people who play guitar and they love all that overblown solo-filled cock rock, whilst despising 'pussy' indie.

I can't really stand music focused around the guitar itself. Songs built around thumb splintering solos irritate me. Indie music is almost 'minimalist' compared to stuff like Led Zep and Guns n Roses to be honest. That's the way I like it.

Music today: absolutely brilliant.