Uplifting Chart Commentary From James Masterson

[tuff enuff]

They're one of the finest pop groups in history; he's a t*** with a laptop. Can't you Erasure fans read? He even calls it Depeche Mode syndrome - because you're not having number one singles, just jack it in.

The only comment from him I find rude is about that they still bother. Besides that he only called a spade a spade regarding the chart terms and I did not take it as anything else than an observation of a trend. It's unfair but we don't have to fool ourselves that it's not truth. Oh and to answer your question: No.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

One way to counter a quick descent from the charts is the quick release of a 2nd and 3rd single... rather than hanging back until the album has left the charts. Ideally, All Around The World should be released within a fortnight.

Retro.

[Patrick Bateman]

The only comment from him I find rude is about that they still bother. Besides that he only called a spade a spade regarding the chart terms and I did not take it as anything else than an observation of a trend. It's unfair but we don't have to fool ourselves that it's not truth. Oh and to answer your question: No.

Yes, but it takes stating the obvious to a new level of banality. Fiftysomething synth-pop duo don't sell as many records as they used to do. HOLD THE FRONT PAGE!!!!!

[dVTB]

Greetings,

One way to counter a quick descent from the charts is the quick release of a 2nd and 3rd single... rather than hanging back until the album has left the charts. Ideally, All Around The World should be released within a fortnight.

This is an excellent point. And actually: I was about to say it, or even devote a seperate topic to it. Many bands use this strategy nowadays. Keane did it with Spiralling, quickly followed with Lovers Are Losing. Pet Shop Boys label mates Coldplay did it with Violet Hill, rapidly followed with Viva La Vida and the new U2 single "Magnificent" is also coming quickly after Get On Your Boots.

In the current digital age, PSB should *quickly* come up with the second single. I will pray on my knees that it won't be "More than a dream", anything else is fine (although I would certainly pick either All over the world or Beautiful people).

So, I agree fully: release a second single VERY SOON, at least before the end of april.

[tuff enuff]

Tuff Enuff, you don't even want to imagine what he'd make of an Erasure record. But, fair enough, if you want to subscribe to this depressingly empty and vacuous notion that pop, and, in particular, vintage pop, has no worth if it fails to capture the zeitgeist and enrapture the idiotic masses, then be my guest.

Where and when did I say what you just tried to put in my mouth? What I said was that he rightly points out the trend PSB or DM suffers from. I never said that good pop music that unfortunately doesn't sell big or chart high has no worth. Oh and Erasure's situation regarding this trend is even clearer and since I'm perfectly aware of this, I don't need him or anyone else to tell me about it.

[Deschanel]

"What I said was that he rightly points out the trend PSB or DM suffers from. "

Do you honestly think PSB, or DM, are "suffering" in any way, shape or form? No, they're spectacularly rich, hugely admired, recognized for their contributions, - do you think they care about charts all that much?
They're set for ten lifetimes, live great lives, it's all a lark for them. Funnily, and charmingly, it always has been, it seems. All this fretting about charts - it's not life or death for them. And they know this. I think they'd rather have the right people like what they do , rather than the most people.

Like being beautiful, it'd be nice. But not crucial.

[markus]

I don't think it's the same fanbase year after year. I believe old ones quit and new ones come in all the time. That's why they are constantly selling records, unlike many of the other bands who have faded into obscurity, even though some might claim they're still making good music. With "Fundamental" they were suddenly selling more than before (taking into account the overall decline in record sales), and I don't think it was just a bunch of 50+ fans from the past that had resurrected.

[ArseSpanker]

I can't belive we're talking about Grandaddy!

I Love Grandaddy!!

[dVTB]

A friend of mine, who lives in the UK and has great knowledge about music and charts, just pointed out that the latest U2 single only made #12 in the UK charts, despite being widely available. From that perspective, PSB reaching #14, combined with limited availability isn't that bad...

[tuff enuff]

"What I said was that he rightly points out the trend PSB or DM suffers from. "

Do you honestly think PSB, or DM, are "suffering" in any way, shape or form? No, they're spectacularly rich, hugely admired, recognized for their contributions, - do you think they care about charts all that much?
They're set for ten lifetimes, live great lives, it's all a lark for them. Funnily, and charmingly, it always has been, it seems. All this fretting about charts - it's not life or death for them. And they know this. I think they'd rather have the right people like what they do , rather than the most people.

Like being beautiful, it'd be nice. But not crucial.

You really need to split hairs here, do you? . Saying they "suffer" was rather meant as: they don't get the recognition they deserve. An argument about whether charts actually mirror the success and whether are crucial for a group to get the feel of a recognition is a totally different disscussion.

[Frequency]

I can't belive we're talking about Grandaddy!

I Love Grandaddy!!

I could bore people to tears rattling on about Grandaddy, they really were amazing, as Patrick's rather fine youtube post is a testament to.

And I'm sorry tuff enuff, I obviously misread your defense of Materson as your advocation of his misguided musings.

[Rusty]

Masterson is a tool

He certainly is, and a big one at that!! I think it's his line "you have to wonder why they continue to bother" that is so completely misguided and out of order. They continue to bother because they continue to sell records! OK, the latest releases may not be selling millions, but they have an entire back catalog that continues to sell all over the world, no doubt making them a nice little money spinner for EMI. And they continue to bother because they love what they do, and they do it bloody well.

[patrick]

One way to counter a quick descent from the charts is the quick release of a 2nd and 3rd single... rather than hanging back until the album has left the charts. Ideally, All Around The World should be released within a fortnight.

The problem is they're very contemporary in some ways but archaic in others - and release strategy is one of those. The album should have been out earlier. Love Etc should have been out during the Brits. A second single should have been out last week. And then of course we'll get another three years between albums, because that's what always happens, even though it kills any momentum they might have stone dead. None of this is going to change.

[patrick]

I don't think it's the same fanbase year after year. I believe old ones quit and new ones come in all the time. That's why they are constantly selling records, unlike many of the other bands who have faded into obscurity, even though some might claim they're still making good music.

Absolutely.

A friend of mine, who lives in the UK and has great knowledge about music and charts, just pointed out that the latest U2 single only made #12 in the UK charts, despite being widely available. From that perspective, PSB reaching #14, combined with limited availability isn't that bad...

Two places down from a lead U2 single is rather incredible a quarter century later.

[Devices]

The last line about wondering why they bother is way out of line. He's made small mention in the past of their commercial struggles and how they seem to always fall just one ingredient short of a mainstream hit, which I could never really argue with, but overall he was always more flattering than desparaging as I recall. But this was a real low blow, for shame.