It's been 10 years to the month since I first created this blog, so allow me a quick fling with some self-reflection (and self-indulgence).
A lot has changed since I started. Streaming services (like
Spotify) have made this blog almost pointless. Why bother going through
the extra step of downloading when streaming a playlist is so easy and
immediate? Of course, the fact a lot of what you'll find on UHM isn't
available on sites like Spotify is a mitigating factor - but there's no
doubt that our constantly evolving technology will eventually terminate
this blog. That's okay - and no big loss, I'm sure - but I do wonder and worry about the future of the underdog music that I love. I'm not convinced the ease of the streaming sites will be a positive development in the financial viability of any band, let alone ones that get championed here.
And look, I know that the very concept of a shared mix involves a level of piracy. You may remember, back in the cassette days, there used to be a music industry campaign based around the claim that "Home Taping Is Killing Music." But I've never bought into that. In fact, in my own experience the very notion had been proven as bullshit. I've witnessed at least a couple of occasions when I made a mix for someone and they subsequently went out and
bought an album by
every band on the mix. Usually the end result isn't quite so sweeping - but at least a few bands on every mix will find a new member in their fan club. And that's my argument for what I do here - and, as evidenced by the corrupted spellings of the tracklists, also an acknowledgement that what I do is not condoned by the labels (even if it's mostly condoned by the bands themselves).
So that's where it all is. And for now I'll continue my sporadic uploads. And I'll probably never stop making mixes, even if they're only for me,
because I'll forever hold the belief that people would love all these songs
if only they could hear them. I believe UHM should exist like the old corner record store - no advertising and precious little traffic, but I have faith that all the people out there who
need to find it
will find it.
And I thank each and every one of you who have already found it. Let's all keep fighting the good fight.
The Ballad of UnHerd Music
1.
Michae1 Monroe Ballad of the Lower East Side
2.
Arke11s Ballad of Hugo Chavez
3.
The Phant0ms Ballad of Overend Watts
4.
Dada Ballad of Earl Grey and Chamomile
5.
XTC Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
6.
The Tomorrows Ballad of a Lesser Man
7.
Luke D0ucet Ballad of Ian Curtis
8.
The New P0rnographers Ballad of a Comeback Kid
9.
Nikki Sudden Ballad of Johnny and Mariane
10.
Ted Le0 + the Pharmacists Ballad of the Sin Eater
11.
Cheap Tr1ck Ballad of TV Violence
12.
Ike Rei11y Ballad of Jack and Haley
13.
Pernice Br0s. Ballad of Bjorn Borg
14.
A1oud Ballad of Emily Jane
15.
The S0 So Glos Ballad of a So So Glo (King's County II)
16.
Mu11 Historica1 Society Ballad of Ivor Punch
17.
Evan Dand0 Ballad of El Goodo
(Big Star cover)
18.
S1im Dun1ap Ballad of the Opening Band
19.
E11iot Smith Ballad of Big Nothing
20.
Jerry Jerry & the Sons of Rhythm 0rchestra Ballad of John Card & the Booze Rookie
21.
The Loud Fami1y Ballad of How You Can All Shut The Hell Up
