With apologies for the late announcement, The Specialist Forum (aka The Culture Box) and Music Events forums have been removed and the threads merged into the appropriate forums.

 

Both these areas were not working as standalone forums and both attracted alot of spam. Music Events can be discussed in the Lounge as necessary (ie Brit Awards) or in The Eurovsion Forum (previously a sub forum).

 

Specialist music can be discussed in Rock or Pop and if you are in doubt start your topic in Rock (Indie/Alternative) or make a judgement call as to which forum is appropriate!

 

 

Thank you and Happy New Year.

Specialist music can be discussed in Rock or Pop and if you are in doubt start your topic in Rock (Indie/Alternative) or make a judgement call as to which forum is appropriate!

Thank you and Happy New Year.

 

So, er, where exactly would someone put a thread on Jamie Cullum, Katie Melua, Amanda Palmer, Sarah Brightman, Courtney Pine, Emilie Autumn, Diamanda Galas, Michael Gira, Karl Bartos, Sven Vath, Luke Vibert, Client, etc then....? Because NONE of these acts are an exact fit into any of the existing genre forums now... Which is kinda WHY "Specialist" was created in the first sodding place.....

None of those artists were even discussed in the first place. =/

 

Client would easily go in pop. Amanda Palmer/The Dresden Dolls would fit just fine in Indie / Alternative.

Except Katie Melua on occasions none of those arists have ever had a thread for them as far as i can tell

Except Katie Melua on occasions none of those arists have ever had a thread for them as far as i can tell

 

That's irrelevant mate and you know it... I was giving those as examples of artists who aren't a fit into any particular genre forum that has been set up..... The facts are that the majority of "singer/songwriter" types simply dont fall into any of these particular genre descriptions... Too 'indie' to be 'pop', too 'pop' to be 'indie'... The Specialist forum was there for all the kind of 'awkward', 'unorthodox' stuff which wasn't an easy fit....

 

Okay, what about "Goldfrapp" then....? The main discussions we've had this year on Goldfrapp's releases have tended to be on the "Specialist" Forum, because let's face it "Seventh Tree" sure as hell wasn't an orthodox Pop album, nor could it really be categorised as "indie" or "dance".... And what about Depeche Mode when they release their album next year, I can pretty much guarantee a discussion on that one.... I suppose DM are to be considered an "indie" act now, even though they aint exactly that and they aint exactly pop either......

 

And, if you get rid of the likes of the Bon Jovi forum, where the hell are folks supposed to post threads on those..? I can tell you right now that neither Chapstick nor Chris will accept Bon Jovi threads in the Punk/Metal forum....

 

Sorry guys, in getting rid of the "Specialist" forum, BJ has messed up, BIG TIME.....

None of those artists were even discussed in the first place. =/

 

Client would easily go in pop.

 

Er, there actually WAS at least one Client thread in "Specialist" mate... Russ started it..... :rolleyes:

 

And I believe Katherine started up a thread on Sarah Brightman as well....

 

And, yeah, let's put a Client thread into Pop, and then watch it sink without trace as soon as threads on generic boy/girl bands or X-Factor contestants start up....

Please bring the Specialist Forum back! :wub:

 

I know i post there only once in a while, but only because a lot of the acts where unknown to me. But i read and learn a lot and the acts there where on my liking more as the pop or indie. I agree there are a lot of acts which are not pop or indie, starting with Depeche Mode (why they don't have a forum of their own is beyond of my understanding).

 

I would like that here in Buzzjack more about other kind of music will be discussed, starting with classic, traditional music or be it film / musical music. I must be one of last dinosauria who really likes these kinds of music... <_<

That's irrelevant mate and you know it... I was giving those as examples of artists who aren't a fit into any particular genre forum that has been set up..... The facts are that the majority of "singer/songwriter" types simply dont fall into any of these particular genre descriptions... Too 'indie' to be 'pop', too 'pop' to be 'indie'... The Specialist forum was there for all the kind of 'awkward', 'unorthodox' stuff which wasn't an easy fit....

 

Okay, what about "Goldfrapp" then....? The main discussions we've had this year on Goldfrapp's releases have tended to be on the "Specialist" Forum, because let's face it "Seventh Tree" sure as hell wasn't an orthodox Pop album, nor could it really be categorised as "indie" or "dance".... And what about Depeche Mode when they release their album next year, I can pretty much guarantee a discussion on that one.... I suppose DM are to be considered an "indie" act now, even though they aint exactly that and they aint exactly pop either......

 

And, if you get rid of the likes of the Bon Jovi forum, where the hell are folks supposed to post threads on those..? I can tell you right now that neither Chapstick nor Chris will accept Bon Jovi threads in the Punk/Metal forum....

 

Sorry guys, in getting rid of the "Specialist" forum, BJ has messed up, BIG TIME.....

I believe that these acts are intended to be included under the Alt umbrella of Indie/Alt...and on your point about the Clinet thread sinking without a trace - it would if you all posted in it, and you managed to do a good enough job of keeping The Saturdays' thread alive! :P

 

I also think that they're planning to separate Rock from the Indie forum, to form a large Rock forum which can contain from your U2s (who do already have a forum I realise, but I'm just using them as an example) to your Bon Jovis to your Punk/Metals etc; with Indie/Alt expanded to become a more diverse form of the Specialist forum, but able to include more, which will hopefully lead to more activity...

I believe that these acts are intended to be included under the Alt umbrella of Indie/Alt...and on your point about the Clinet thread sinking without a trace - it would if you all posted in it, and you managed to do a good enough job of keeping The Saturdays' thread alive! :P

 

You use the phrase "Alternative" though Lex, but, and this is no disrespect to you mate, do any of you actually understand it...? "Alternative" was a phrase used to desribe the US underground movement, the likes of stuff on labels like Sub-Pop, 4AD, Caroline Records, Discord, Epitaph, Roadrunner, and acts such as Smashing Pumpkins, Fugazi, Mudhoney, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr, At The Drive In, Sonic Youth, etc..... The phrase "alternative" to be used to describe bands such as Depeche Mode or Goldfrapp, and esp stuff like Coldplay, is a bit of a contradiction in terms.... You cant really be "alternative" if your band is selling 4 or 5 million albums sales, that pretty much puts you in the major leagues, the mainstream..... It aint me being snobbish or talking down to anyone, just someone who actually grew up in the times when these terms were being used, so I know what they mean....

Buzzjack cannot cater to every effing subgenre that exists. That's now how forums work, deal with it. When you start creating more forums the activity begins to wane in all forums, and that's how forums die out. Specialists was NOT working as a forum. It'd be great if it was active, but hardly anyone was posting it. Jake has mentioned this before, but I don't see why you're so upset when you rarely ever posted in it. Hopefully by merging Specialists and Indie/Alternative, it'll create more of a community feeling for the Buzzjack members who aren't huge pop fans.

 

Of course, if all of you just sit here and complain and whine, that probably won't happen. =)

 

I'm honestly done arguing after this because I don't have the time to sit here and arguing over something as silly as genres. I mean sheesh; it's all so arbitrary anyway. It's only as big of a deal as you want to make it.

You use the phrase "Alternative" though Lex, but, and this is no disrespect to you mate, do any of you actually understand it...? "Alternative" was a phrase used to desribe the US underground movement, the likes of stuff on labels like Sub-Pop, 4AD, Caroline Records, Discord, Epitaph, Roadrunner, and acts such as Smashing Pumpkins, Fugazi, Mudhoney, Pixies, Dinosaur Jr, At The Drive In, Sonic Youth, etc..... The phrase "alternative" to be used to describe bands such as Depeche Mode or Goldfrapp, and esp stuff like Coldplay, is a bit of a contradiction in terms.... You cant really be "alternative" if your band is selling 4 or 5 million albums sales, that pretty much puts you in the major leagues, the mainstream..... It aint me being snobbish or talking down to anyone, just someone who actually grew up in the times when these terms were being used, so I know what they mean....

I do realise that alternative has come to mean something that it generally isn't (after all, it seems that anything that isn't out and out mainstream pop these days is treated as meaning 'alternative' :lol:), but in terms of a genre it's really come to be about as vague as 'Specialist' and even 'Indie', wouldn't you think? :P Ultimately I think it's something only a couple of posters would find great issue with, whereas by and large the majority of users and guests on this forum would recognise an Indie/Alt forum for its intentions I think...

I'm honestly done arguing after this because I don't have the time to sit here and arguing over something as silly as genres. I mean sheesh; it's all so arbitrary anyway. It's only as big of a deal as you want to make it.

 

And I suppose that sticking things that dont really go together into some amorphous "alternative" forum isn't arbitrary in any way at all....? You know, I can at least respect Trashlexis because he's being a bit more constructive with his posts, I may not agree with all that he's saying, but he's not talking to me or Alex like we're pricks that dont know what we're talking about.... I've been a serious music fan for over 20 years of my life, dont you think that I MIGHT actually know one or two things that you and Jake DONT....? Sorry, er, that's me being an "elitist" again, obviously..... :rolleyes:

 

And, I contributed quite a few posts to Specialist... SOOOOOOOOO sorry for having a life and a job and not having about 5 hours to spare on BJ every day...... I've simply not had as much spare time this year as I have in the past, and I have to consider the Forums that I DO Co-Mod first before others.....

I do realise that alternative has come to mean something that it generally isn't (after all, it seems that anything that isn't out and out mainstream pop these days is treated as meaning 'alternative' :lol

 

Therein lies the problem mate.... The likes of Depeche Mode over their career have sold about 80 or 90-odd million albums, I dont really consider that exactly "alternative".... :lol: That pretty much puts them in the big leagues surely along with the Bon Jovis, Coldplays or the U2s.... And every time they tour, it aint little toilet venues, they've sold out the 02 Arena for the London leg of their European tour, which is all totally sold out, all massive arena or stadium shows..... Did The Saturdays sell out the 02....? Er, nope, so going purely on the sales and the size of the tours, The Sats are prob more "alt" than DM..... :lol: :lol: So, I really cant see how by any stretch of the imagination, DM can be considered an "alternative" act.....

 

Backward step IMHO

 

This place is becoming more and more of a pop/r+b/manufactured/plastic pop bint forum by the day and in order to help preserve proper music on here forums like Culture Box are badly needed even if they are not as succesful as some of the AF's

 

Some forums should not be about posts but about what they bring to BJ

And, I contributed quite a few posts to Specialist... SOOOOOOOOO sorry for having a life and a job and not having about 5 hours to spare on BJ every day...... I've simply not had as much spare time this year as I have in the past, and I have to consider the Forums that I DO Co-Mod first before others.....

 

Maybe if you quit with your obsession of slagging off The Saturdays and posted in the forum that has now been deleted instead maybe it would have survived :P

Backward step IMHO

 

This place is becoming more and more of a pop/r+b/manufactured/plastic pop bint forum by the day and in order to help preserve proper music on here forums like Culture Box are badly needed even if they are not as succesful as some of the AF's

 

Some forums should not be about posts but about what they bring to BJ

The point is that it still does exist, just now under the Indie/Alt umbrella ;) This way discussion is expanded, reinforced and more likely to take off than if it's just in a barely visited forum...

Maybe if you quit with your obsession of slagging off The Saturdays and posted in the forum that has now been deleted instead maybe it would have survived :P

 

Touche.... :rolleyes:

 

Well, sorry mate, I do take great delight in slagging off The Saturdays, I admit, but you can blame Russ and Rob for that, they kind dragged them into my cross-hairs.... :lol: They really are, for my mind, the most p!ss-poor excuse for a Pop act since the days of SAW or Scooch in my view, sorry mate...... I'd sooner listen to Girls Aloud or Sugababes.... They've actually done stuff that I kinda liked..... Hell, I'd sooner listen to LEONA LEWIS...... :lol: :lol:

 

The reason I object to them so much - the ludicrous hype which they have utterly failed to live up to, and the fact that they managed to blag a Forum on BJ.....

Some forums should not be about posts but about what they bring to BJ

 

I agree.... It's all about having a certain quality.. actually KNOWING that there's someplace where you could go if you wanted to get away from all the Plastics, or indeed the flash-in-the-pan "indie" acts.... Specialist did actually bring something to the table - it was called "credibility".....

 

Backward step IMHO

 

This place is becoming more and more of a pop/r+b/manufactured/plastic pop bint forum by the day and in order to help preserve proper music on here forums like Culture Box are badly needed even if they are not as succesful as some of the AF's

 

Some forums should not be about posts but about what they bring to BJ

 

 

I agree.... It's all about having a certain quality.. actually KNOWING that there's someplace where you could go if you wanted to get away from all the Plastics, or indeed the flash-in-the-pan "indie" acts.... Specialist did actually bring something to the table - it was called "credibility".....

 

fully agree with both these posts, im all for quality over quantity...

You know I really do wish we had a Specilaist forum even if it wasn't heavily used. But it was getting to the point where it was getting no posts for 4-5 days at a time. In December something like three threads were used which is to the point of total emptiness. :(