not trying to bust your chops. but a mantra for myself and my friends is: support local, independent labels. sub pop doesn’t make the cut. the world needs to head in a non-corporate direction, now more than ever.

the point is this: rather than making sub pop/ hardly art out to be a fly by night, basement operation, (as local press here seems quite happy to do) you might mention something about the corporate umbrella they are working comfortably under. they have significant room for trial and error with that much money behind them. it kind of wrecks the soap box derby notion/spirit when you find one of the kids has a titanium frame and hydraulic shocks under his orange crates.

you can’t be independent and corporate at the same time. that is as much an oxymoron as an ‘organic salad’ made of 49% genetically modified lettuce.

some of the bands on the label are indeed good. what is unfortunate is that the local community (consumers, fans, journalists, papers, blogs) does not understand what entities are behind the corporate arm of ‘the quant independent label’. most people do not know that the label is 49% warner, and sub pop wouldn’t want them to, it tarnishes their false independent branding they work so hard to foster. people should educate themselves about all they consume, in this case that happens to be what exactly hardly art/sub pop/warner music are, and who the people are behind them. then, make a choice if they want to buy the record, burn it from a friend, or pirate it and instead paypal the money directly to the band on their website.

the clash was on sony, yes, and they hated it. they didn’t make a dime off their own records till london calling. they didn’t sign with sony, their dumb manager bernie used power of attorney to sign them to a contract that never worked for them. they were never happy on sony. corporate label, same as warner.

the thermals left sub pop due to contract issues. they felt more comfortable on an a label that was actually independent and had room to provide for their needs in ways sub pop could not.

the irony is that now sub pop has an upstart label named after a band that chose to sever ties with them.

an idea: how about a profile of northwest labels that are certifiably independent? have a beer or coffee and go hang out with the guys and gals that run these out of their basements and put their hearts and great sacrifices for their love of community and music?

i’d venture to say many readers would find that a compelling story.

as far has ideals go, if enough people have them and act upon them, they can bring about some awesome things.