Good point there Prozaco, but I don't think that kiwi music on the whole deserves exposure.

A lot of our bands are local versions of bands every country has, but yeah there are some original bands here doing their own thing who could have a shot outside of these shores.

Theres too much of an expectation for a successful local act to make it big overseas... but the thing we keep forgetting is that America has its own version of Zed (Semisonic, the Goo Goo Dolls et al), other countries have their own version of Stellar and Tadpole (Superjesus, Garbage etc) and yes, to be brutally honest, these bands probably are of the same or better standard.

Thats not to say bands such as The D4 and The Datsuns, and probably Pluto, Goodshirt and a few others couldn't cut the mustard overseas, but the majority of NZ acts on NZ commercial radio aren't really a stretch on what people are already doing overseas without have millions invested into these bands sound and publicity.

Something I pointed out to Aka in chat the other day was...

I may like say U2 but it doesn't mean I like all Irish bands.

Think about this... the success of a band from one country doesn't mean a whole spate of bands from that particular place are going to have windows opened for them.

In the late 70's following Abba's success, how many other Swedish bands topped the charts?

I may be cynical, but I think its realistic to say that just because Shihad may get big in America, doesn't mean Tadpole/Blindspott/Anika Moa/Stellar/The Feelers are going to as well.

Oh yeah fully Prozaco.

I agree with what you just said there. Still, theres a difference between being excited about Shihad's US prospects and them actually making it. I think people just need to sit back and see what happens, while fully supporting them, if the music is good, of course.

dust... explain how you may be perceiving me to be hypocritical and I will say whether I am being hypocritical or not.

Point taken.

Maybe it is a tad hypcritical, but yeah this topic was created from frustration and more like people should just chill out about the expectation and see what happens.

If thats hypocritical so be it. I don't think it is, though.

//why not, they fucking rule

Doesn't mean they should be as lauded as they are.

blink is far closer to the reality than you martha. his opinion is shared by most of the people i talk to. yours is similar to a handful of people i've met, and let's just say, I find it difficult to get a definitive answer to the question of what is actually good in their opinion from them. a whole lot of destructive negativity and little understanding of art and passion and people trying to create something meaningful. the bitter audience that has the high standards of someone that hasn't actually tried themselves.

And why raise this right now? If all you are basing this on is Comfort Me (one single vs all of Shihad's output) then this seems stupid.

Not at all is this based on Comfort Me.

I've thought this about Shihad for several months now and I only heard Comfort me a couple of weeks ago.

This isn't even about whether or not Shihad are good or not. Its about unfair expectation heaped on them... and the hype.

some other thoughts.
People are always going to have high expectations of their favourite bands of which Shihad/Pacifier are for most people here.
I think the best way to deal with it is to think of them as Pacifier, a new band, not Shihad.

Thank you Aka.

You have said basically what I've been trying to say all along in a few easy sentences.

// Surely a true fan would wish the best for them in every way

Even non fans should.... not to would be just shitty

all i see is a band doing their thing. sure, they are successful here and aus, but they are simply a band doing their thing which is making songs they want to make.

"Point is, theres a lot of pressure on them cos of their new album, new city, new producer, new label, new management company."
that's bullshit guessing. how do you know?

you wanted "flack" then lets go...

I don't look for slagging, dust. Go pick a fight with someone else if you want one. A healthy debate on the general NZ music public's expectation of Shihad is a different story.

I think you're blind or deaf or been in some strange kind of closet if you haven't noticed people hyping about Shihad. Just listen to the radio, watch Squeeze, talk to random people who like music. Ask them about Shihad and what they think Shihad is going to achieve this year.

I'm sure you'll find the general consensus is that "Shihad will be the next big thing".

How is my opinion that Shihad are Overrated close to defamation?

Check the Shihad/Pacifier forum. See what people have been saying.

//grow up

Oh aren't we the man? Yes, my comments are rather immature. Hmmm... excuse me while I slip back to primary school and learn that just cos I'm from New Zealand I gotta think that Shihad walk on water.

This topic was created merely to see if I was the only one who thought this.

If you don't think like this dust, then why are you even bothering to post?

i thought this was the bar and anything goes, but dust, are you one of those bouncers we should be watching out for? ;)

i dont think this topic is silly and destructive. it might be negative, but so is the channel 3 news!

OK. Point 1. If you respect them, then hype could be considered justified?

Theres a difference between respecting and liking a band

and

basically expecting too much from them.

Big ups to them if they follow through and become one of those big bands and sell millions. But it doesn't mean they are any better than they were if they had staying in Wellington or Melbourne and kept doing what they've always done.

I'm not saying their success is unjustified, I'm just saying people need to relax about it more. And think that yes, while they MAY be a fucking awesome band, they don't need NZ expecting too much from them.

What happens everytime the All Blacks lose? The whole nation goes into some kind of turmoil cos of it.

What will happen if Shihad only sell 50,000 copies of their new album and take away 0 Grammys and date 0 starlets?

What are NZ Shihad fans going to say to that?

maybe I've been living under a rock or just not listening to the radio that much because I haven't heard much hype yet.

Prozaco.. you are gonna have to define that hype you see so I can respond. (in a New Comment i suspect!)

Stefan, again, I agree.

okay, i'm joining this a little late but you say 'shihad deserve all the props they get' and yet you start your topic with 'shihad are massively overrated'. So which is it?

is your problem with the band itself or with the media's delivery of their story? Seems to me anytime the media make a positive report on a band it's immediately labelled HYPE BAD OVERRATED ! And then we bitch and moan about how american's pump millions into their musicians and how are poor little bitter kiwis to compete with that?

The sooner we all grow up as a nation and learn to truly and comfortably celebrate our talent the better off we'll be. Instead our music scene is rotted from within by a lack of self confidence that turns us all into ranting cynics, squeemish at the thought of ever expressing an positive opinion that others may disagree with. Being a cynic is easy and boring.

I get what you're getting at, but I fundamentally disagree. Don't you see that positivity and excitement and hype about a band will help it acheive that final breakthrough. This idea is still germinating in my head at the moment so it probably won't be very eloquent... It's like we would kill our mothers to get into a shihad gig at the valve, we'll take it personally when they produce a song we don't like, we'll follow their career with baited breath and twisted stomachs and because of this we'll call ourselves fans and yet we feel no obligation to return the favour aside from via a eftpos transaction.

A band changes your worldview in a single live show, an album can define a year in your life, we take and take. The products we pay for but the experience and gifts (for want of a better word) we do not feel an obligation to repay with our support. Don't you think that if NZ was crazy buzzing about pacifier that that would help them break the US? Even just a little? I can't help but feel a litle selfish when a band I love is really going for something and I just shut my mouth, sit back and watch them.

o boy.

I'm RESPONDING to your topic. It happens to be disagreeing wholeheartedly with your directioon that's all. It's nothing personal, maybe you innocently represent a cynical few that irk me. Anyway, it's my valid opinion as much as yours.

I bother to contribute here because sadly only the negative mind state seems to appear here...

sorry, to clarify , i wanna know the bit thats making you sick, and what it really is.