The Strypes: An Alternative For A Better Future?

In an interview with the NME, the Strypes have expressed that they like to think of themselves as an alternative to the glorified karaoke music around today. In the interview, which you can watch by clicking here, they discuss how on Elton John's label, the artist is promoted. Unlike the music coming from shows such as The X Factor, theirs is of a more natural, traditional breed.

Snapshot is the debut album, released this week. It is basically a reflection of what they've been doing live over the past three years and inspiration does not come from the modern day likes of Gaga, Thicke or Cyrus, but from the distant past (pop-wise). Reminiscent of the early '60's rock n' roll bands, this is an album that defies expectations from the present day listener. It is the sound of four young guys rejecting what has become of music in favour of a more meaningful and less-commercial oriented flavour. Forget the fact that they are Irish (which so many annoying interviewers including Ryan Tubridy never shut up about) this is a young band that we can be proud of on a universal scale. If only the rest of the youth were following...

Earlier this week, music plummeted to another low with Miley Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball" video. An extension of her raunchy performance at the VMAs, it was also a symbol of how low the public's taste has gone. Where as acts like Blondie and the Jam reached the top of the charts in the late '70s and early '80s, today we are left with an amalgemation of acts that just plain and simple, have no regard for the music. Robin Thicke's videos this year have centered around the seductively dressed women and Katy Perry seems to be spending her life savings on the "Roar" video, all for the simple fact, that they know their songs aren't that good. Yes, "Blurred Lines" has a nice hook but that follow-up ("Give It 2 U"- and why can't they spell?) is terrible and everyone knows it is. Even "Blurred Lines" wouldn't have been the hit it has become without the video. Random rant aside, the fact of the matter is that the Strypes have come (unprophetically) to present us with an alternative future. We can continue to traverse the line of features-a-rapper-and-vocally-enhanced-but-with-a-wacky-video music that dominates the charts today or we can get back to a time when people played instruments. The choice is yours.