The Music Scene

As much as I wanted to go to a different city every week, I just didn't have the cash. I was to stay there for three and a half months, and I only had about a month's notice before I left, so there was no time to save up! (Right now I'm just waiting to get out of school so I can make some money and pay off the damn credit cards).

School was keeping me busy. We were going out pretty regularly, but there were still those times were I was bored and there was nothing to do. So I started reading Tom Clancy books (I'm addicted now - the man is basically God) and renting CD's. This gave me the idea to send a message to my friends so they'd know what people were listening to in Germany at the time.

If you want to skip the email, you can go straight to the Tips section.

What my Friends Heard

Approximate message date: June 11, 1994

hey, you wild crowd!!

This message is just a basic overview to let you guys know what's new and hot music-wise here in Europe.

As you all know, techno is big here... commercial techno even more.. MTV europe and VIVA (the German music channel - xerox of MTV, but no habla ingles) play the stuff so much I'm getting sick of it .. trendy groups include 2 unlimited, magic affair, reel 2 reel (I like to move it, move it! - Marc digs that song!), dr. alban.. and more of that type of junk..

Underground stuff is mostly found in the club scene just like back home.. as a matter of fact, we've had a hard time choosing where to go sometimes because Andi loves techno, I like trance, and Marc lives for breakbeat.. and usually they don't play them all in one night...

So, anyways.. on the alternative side, Cracker just made it here (finally!!), Beck has been played for a little while.. the Breeders are pretty popular, as well as silkskin (I think that's what they are called - their single 'inside' is on the levi's commercial.. but I'm sure that's old news), Philip Boa and the Voodoo club, m.walking on water, Smashing Pumpkins, Babes in Toyland, and many others are also getting plenty of MTV 120 minutes and alternative nation play...

NIN's last album hasn't hit too much even with the tour coming up next month.. Machines of Loving Grace is nonexistent pretty much.. basically, most non-mainstream alternative bands from the US are not that popular here..

MTV europe also has MTV's most wanted, but it's hilarious here.. their VJ is this guy called Ray Cokes and he's funny as balls... The show is nothing like the US show.. come to think of it, MTV US sucks nowadays, so this has been a pleasant change.. They do show B&B, which Marc watches religiously every night @10:30, and I have been able to keep up with TRW-california even tho it's old hat in the US.. I never caught all the episodes back home, so I'm doing so now that I have the time..

As far as album reviews, I've rented a few cd's

DM, Songs of Faith and Devotion Remixed album (pay attention: DO NOT BUY THIS!!! this cd SUCKS with mighty fury!!! it sounds like they just sampled the songs in 8-BIT MONO and just played them back with a techno beat in the background.. nice high quality.. NOT!!!)
Trip to Mars - a trance compilation: this was pretty cool.. included Atlantic Ocean's waterfall and many other songs that I heard quite a bit in Orlando before I came here.. highly recommended.. (2 CD's = expensive, very!)
Underworld's dubnobasswithmyheadman is just awesome..
the Prodigy is releasing Music for the Jilted Generation, and no good: start the dance is a kicking tune..
Also: Philip Boa & tVC, pretty good.. they've been around for a while with about 5 albums total..

I finally got around to hearing the entire Siamese Twin .. yeah, I know.. but I never got around to buying it... one word describes it:

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

got to get it when I get back home..

Front 242's 05.22.09.12 OFF is an awesome album.. they released 2 last year (06.21.03.11 EVIL came out first - I bought this one).. I was surprised because EVIL is not that good.. it is a different 242 style.. more aggressive.. but this one I likee very much.. back to the heavy synth stuff..

anyways.. I think that's the extent of my broadcast... I will get back to you guys on Friday, June 10, again between 1-6 CET...

you guys have a blast... looking forward to seeing everyone soon...

Tips

CD's are VERY expensive in Europe. That is the one item you might not want to start collecting unless you are looking for European releases. Most albums run for ~30DM which was about $20 at the time - sheez!
Most music stores will let you listen to the CD before you buy - the big department stores will let you pile a 10-CD changer and listen away. you likee?