EDM or Brostep, or Stadium Step, or whatever has gone mega[1] in the USA this year. But is there any kind of critical analysis either of what it all means or of what's good? And if so where would you find it or look for it?
A question asked by Simon Reynolds here. He points out that people like ResidentAdvisor or Fact Magazine carefully avoid talking about this corner of dance/bass music. http://energyflashbysimonreynolds.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/its-been-intriguing-year-for-fans-of.html
[1] Check out the Grammy Nominations and look at the music industry looking at itself.9. Best Dance Recording and 10. Best Dance/Electronica Album http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=49 Looks like one or more of Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia, DeadMau5, Steve Aoki are going to get a Grammy this year. WTF?!?
+DJ Mag?
+Mixmag?
I have a bit of a thing about Genre names, especially very generic ones. So the thing I find particularly weird about the Grammys is some of the category names. Here's a few that mean almost nothing to me. Although that may be at least partly an issue of geography since they're perhaps only used as music tags in the USA.
Urban Contemporary, Alternative Music, Electronica, Remixed Recording (Non-Classical), Pop, Pop Duo, New Age, Contemporary Christian, Latin Pop, Regional Mexican Music, Regional Roots.
http://energyflashbysimonreynolds.blogspot.com/2012/12/fame-is-finally-only-sum-total-of-all.html
points me at this.
http://www.villainian.com/2012/09/spcl-electronic-dance-music-needs-to-die.html