Garage is dead; long live garage

May 2, 2001 12:34 PM

Garage is dead; long live garage
Before garage/two-step even has a chance to make it in the U.S. and infiltrate commercials everywhere, NSYNC are basing a new song on the style. I haven't even found a non-import compilation to sample the stuff yet and this boy band might kill my desire.
posted by shackbar (17 comments total)

2 step sucks anyway, you'll live.
i hope they grow to like it so much that's all they do. because 2 step sucks.
posted by elle at 12:40 PM on May 2, 2001

garage actually was already in the US, having been developed as a style at the Paradise Garage club in NY in the mid 80s. whether or not it would have made it onto commercials, i don't know--house, to which garage is similar, is somewhat more popular. but both have been around for a long time.

i'm glad garage is getting more exposure, if NSYNC is in fact going to mention the name of garage as a point of influence. as to it becoming overplayed or anything, i'm not really worried--electronic music has a tendancy to evolve once it's played too much. these things tend to work themselves out in the end.

i'm not sure if i can suggest any stores offhand where you could find garage stuff. i can recommend a magazine that might have some pointers (xlr8r), but basically if you do want to get into some garage, you might want to find a record store in your area. they may have some CD compilations that are more rare (and interesting) than what you may find in tower or whatever, too.
posted by moz at 1:57 PM on May 2, 2001

2 step does NOT suck. And NSYNC rules!
And mainstream acceptance of dance music is bad anyway.
posted by black8 at 1:59 PM on May 2, 2001

Great! N'Sync doing garage should do a lot to help the cause of Drum'n'Bass, which is where it's at!
posted by Twang at 2:09 PM on May 2, 2001

Garage, house, n'Sync....it's all crap modern junk to me anyway.

I'm all for putting down n'Sync though so throw my comment into that hat. :)
posted by Spirit_VW at 2:23 PM on May 2, 2001

Yes, that seems like a valid reason to stop liking a certain type of music.

Oh. Oh, wait! No it doesn't at all!

Who cares what band imitates a style you like? Does that make it any less valid or interesting?
posted by toddshot at 2:48 PM on May 2, 2001

I saw the Craig David video on MTV the other day from that album of his I've been listening to for six friggin' months. 'Bout damn time.

I've always thought Garage/2-step had a much better chance of avoiding a commercials-only fate than d'n'b or big beat ever did.
posted by techgnollogic at 3:13 PM on May 2, 2001

Although I am not a fan of NSync or most "mainstream" music, I really don't see what's wrong with genre-imitations. Everyone does this to a certain degree, whether they're popular or not. I highly doubt that the legions of boyband fans are going to start referring to this new NSync song as "their experimental foray into Garage." (and if they did, so what?) It's just going to be another song by NSync...what's the big deal?
posted by kphaley454 at 3:22 PM on May 2, 2001

It would be nice if new musical genres would pick original names. When I hear the term "garage" I think of garage bands (proto-punk, punk, and post-punk) from the Sonics through the Standells, to the Cramps, the Mono Men and beyond. And while I haven't heard the form of "garage" you're talking about here, I rather doubt NSync is doing a cover of "Psychotic Reaction."

For that matter, "two-step" is a form of country music dancing, isn't it?

I mean, really.
posted by litlnemo at 3:52 PM on May 2, 2001

Don't complain because a boy band got to a genre before you listened to it. That's your fault. Garage has been around for years. At least, I remember hearing it four years ago.

I was living in England this summer, and the recent popularity of two-step is because it's pop. Hits by Craig David, Artful Dodger, and the bunch are pop songs. Sure it existed before then. Sure it was growing in popularity. But it wasn't until these pop songs that people in the US even started paying attention (it seems you included).

In conclusion. Boy bands are hipper than you. This isn't intended as a troll, but come on. Don't insult boybands for potentially wrecking a genre you've never even listened to (including their garage influenced song).
posted by kcalder at 3:57 PM on May 2, 2001

There IS a great Two Step compilation CD set. It's a UK import from top UK Garage promoters, "Twice as Nice" resident at The End - one of the best clubs in London. Available on Amazon, V2 Summer of Love is best of their three compilations.
posted by Zombie at 4:02 PM on May 2, 2001

If you're looking for good two-step, try some Artful Dodger. "Think About Me" is damn infective, although I don't think many people would call it dance music.

Peace
Kevs
posted by Kevs at 4:40 PM on May 2, 2001

Well, I have to admit I'm unhip enough to have never even heard of Garage before. I took zombie's suggestion and fired up Napster, and downloaded some of that comp.
Sounds to me like NYSNC style singing, with a dancish kinda beat. In fact, if someone told me track 17 WAS Nsync, I would probably believe them.
posted by Doug at 4:46 PM on May 2, 2001

Hey, metal survived Pat Boone. Or maybe not.
posted by dhartung at 4:57 PM on May 2, 2001

Just because I'm totally clueless - does this "two-step" music have anything to do with the two-step ballroom dance style?
posted by Mars Saxman at 7:17 PM on May 2, 2001

Thanks for the suggestion, Zombie. I hope the Nsync song is true to the style and I hope it's sucessful (which it probably will be). I don't have any problem with mainstream artists incorporation underground styles. Madonna's last two albums do a fine job with electronic dance sounds. I'm worried that too much repetition of the style will bore me.
posted by shackbar at 7:23 PM on May 2, 2001

Omigid this sux.

Ok N'Sync ughhhh! Yuk yuk.

Yes chart UK Garage/2-Step is pop. But not stupid crap white-bread/white-boy pop. Think of an amalgam of R'n'B wit' a street/futurist slant.

Also the article because it says it was produced by BT, who makes Trance which is the exact opposite of UK Garage/2-Step. (Euro-synth influenced suburban dance sounds Vs urban bassy U.S & Reggae influenced dance sounds).

The chart stuff is cool. But its underground/pirate shit at the raves that are the best. Proper mad beats, huge bass, melodies, and mental MCs. However it is a very BRITISH URBAN sound i.e at the UK Garage/2-Step raves here in London, the crowd is ALWAYS 90% Black & Asian/Indian.
The crowds at the raves are always cheery and up for it. But I have seen fights between different crews after the things, (saw the MaccyD's in Leicester Square get torn apart the other week by that sorta shit!). But its a big city stuff like that is always gonna happen.

That being said middle America lapped up gangsta rap and harcore hip-hop. Good music always has to have that danger/rebellious element to it.
posted by Rips at 8:05 AM on May 3, 2001