Off the record: David Smyth

By David Smyth, Evening Standard 16.03.07

 Add your view

David Smyth ponders over Starbucks' move into the music business, the coffee company's imminent signing of Paul McCartney, and Steven Seagal's upcoming Shepherds Bush Empire gig.

Macca's not everyone's cup of coffee

Just as I wouldn't trust the chairman of EMI to make me a decent cappuccino, I'm not sure I want Starbucks to dictate my musical tastes either. The Seattle coffee company has just launched its own record label, Hear Music, with the intention of signing up artists and distributing their music both in traditional record stores and their own cafés.

What can we expect from a company for whom music is a secondary source of revenue alongside mugs and frappuccino ice lollies? After extensive research (enough time at the Oxford Circus branch for two teas and a slice of blueberry cheesecake) I conclude that Starbucks sounds are the ultimate background mush, easily ignorable at whatever volume they are played.

Hear Music already sells CDs licensed from other labels in Starbucks. A 2004 Ray Charles duets album amassed a third of its total sales in the coffee shop and went platinum, and the branch I visited had attractive compilations by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald stacked by the till. On the stereo they were playing Timeless, a recent album by the Brazilian bossa nova veteran Sergio Mendes, on which he gets a mild modern makeover thanks to US stars such as John Legend and the Black Eyed Peas.

All classy stuff, and undeniably pleasant, but as safe as a skinny latte. The fact that young artists being plugged at Starbucks include James Morrison and Joss Stone, and that the first signing to Hear Music is expected to be Paul McCartney, all indicates that this label will be as unadventurous as possible.

Listening to Hear Music's satellite radio station at home (channel 75 at www.xmradio.com) gives a better sense of the feel they're going for - lots of acoustic guitars, some tasteful soul, David Gray, Donavon Frankenreiter, Shuggie Otis, Tracy Chapman. It's not chart-topping stuff, like the disposable pap they play in McDonald's, but is clearly meant for creating ambience rather than for people to actually listen to it.

In any case, is it really possible to identify with a brand so much that you want your home to sound like it? I found fellow temple of blandness Gap similarly playing songs that are easily associated with its all-American clothes - quirky, hummable indie pop. The retailer has also given away CDs in stores as well as using musicians such as Ryan Adams to model its clothes. A trip to Topshop offered sounds by bands so edgy and new they're probably out of fashion again by the time you read this - have you even heard of Tokyo Police Club or the Sunshine Underground?

All of them want the music they play to reflect the supposed personality of the store, and by extension, your own personality as a valued customer. Are we really that easily pigeonholed? If so, Starbucks customers should perhaps be feeling a bit slighted. The espresso may be full strength, but the songs ain't.

Be afraid ... hitman Seagal's got the blues

Who could pass up the opportunity for a glimpse of Steven Seagal's Thunderbox on Sunday night? Almost all of you, apparently, judging by meagre ticket sales for the action hero and his band's gig at Shepherds Bush Empire. Yes, the hulking star of Under Siege and Half Past Dead plays the blues, and no, he doesn't care if you think he's just one more Hollywood star using their status to plough their way undeservedly into the music industry.

"My band is so good, and I play well enough, that nobody can say anything negative about us," says the 54-year-old, who owns "a few hundred" guitars. "The music speaks for itself. I don't have to say nothing, I just get up there and play."

At least Seagal's latest album, Mojo Priest, sticks to a pretty rigid bar-room blues template on tracks such as Love Doctor, Talk to My Ass, and indeed Alligator Ass. His last effort, 2004's Songs from the Crystal Cave, featured soft rock and Jamaican dancehall, no less.

"When I was very young, probably six years old, I was listening to the old black delta folks playing bottleneck on the porch, drinking whisky and playing the blues," he explains. "It got into my blood, I guess." He's well connected, too - Bo Diddley is on the new album and Chicago blues pensioner Magic Slim will be wheeled in for this weekend's show.

Those who prefer Seagal's movies to his music will be thrilled to hear that after the gig he is off to make another one, Prince of Pistols. Those who think both are pretty second rate should be reminded that he is a seventh degree Aikido black belt.

NEW ON THE NET

After two of its members failed to bring the world to a standstill with solo albums, the Manic Street Preachers now seem to be more comfortable looking backwards. A punky new song, Underdogs, "could have been on [their first album] Generation Terrorists", according to bassist Nicky Wire. It's available as a free download from www.manics.co.uk on Monday.

The online version of revered indie record store Rough Trade has been up and running for a while now, and though it is hardly challenging iTunes, it does have a few tempting offerings that are unavailable elsewhere. Bloggers' favourites Beirut released an exclusive EP at www.roughtradedigital.com this week, while I Was a Daughter, the lovely new single from Canadian newcomer Basia Bulat, is also only currently on sale there.

Finally, to YouTube, home of endless pop oddities, where Oregon producer Yacht has composed an extremely funky dance track comprised entirely of snippets of Nirvana songs. It can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im3RMBlNiHk.

 

What's on today   What's on tomorrow

Receive our newsletter