Special report from managing editor Keavin Wiggins

Now that the cheesy headline has gotten your attention, we can proceed. You may wonder who Goudie is? The simple answer: They are the second band to be released by The Music Company, a new label launched by Lars Ulrich of Metallica. 

The fact that Lars Ulrich, the drummer and most outspoken member of the worlds most popular metal band would sign a band that is their polar opposite in sound and style has many speculating what attracted Lars to this band and decide to make them one of the first releases for his new label. Perhaps Lars saw that in an age where the mainstream is dominated by the insipid collections of puppy love songs churned out in an assembly line fashion by boy bands and the bluster of Rapcore, Goudie is an equable breath of fresh air. Their eclectic mix of modern rock and heavy pop has already created a buzz, months before their July 11th album release.

First they caught the attention of industry insiders and rock journalist with an impressive show at this years' SxSW convention in Texas.  Then last week, The Music Company and Elektra hosted an industry showcase for the band at West Hollywood's Viper Room. After the band played, one could almost feel the buzz surrounding this band go up a notch.  Their performance included songs from their forthcoming debut album "Peep Show". Among those tracks were "Julia", "Sugar Daddy" and the song that may just redefine the words Double Platinum -"Baby Hello". 

It was their iconoclastic attitudes toward the mainstream of the current music scene that endeared them to the staff of antiMUSIC and Rocknworld. Sure it’s about the music in the end, but who doesn’t love a band that will publicly go after the current chart topping pop bands even before their album is released and actually have people listen to what they have to say. Between the Boy Bands, Teen Diva’s and what Goudie refers to as the “Jock Rock” of Limp Bizkit, they have made their distaste for these artists known.  Goudie is on a mission to help save music from mediocrity. What self-respecting serious rock fan wouldn’t love that? 

It is months before the release of the debut and already two of the most outspoken personalities in the music biz have publicly taken notice of the band. Courtney Love obtained an advance copy of “Peep Show” and has been singing its praises ever since. And Goudie has even managed to put Fred Durst, the Interscope Records Exec and frontman of Limp Bizkit on the defensive. It’s obvious after listening to Goudie that they are coming from a totally different place artistically than Limp Bizkit. So it is not surprising that Goudie might not appreciate the music of Limp Bizkit and their explosive success. When Johnny Goudie wore a t-shirt proclaiming “Fuck You Fred Durst” at their recent showcase at the Viper Room, word got back to Fred and within 24 hours the Limp Bizkit frontman was on record with a British music publication slamming the new band. It’s nice to know that Fred seems to think that Goudie has enough potential that he felt compelled to publicly comment on the Johnny Goudie T-shirt. 

Trend Bashing and personalities aside at the core of Goudie is the music. At times they sound similar to the Marvelous 3, which is most apparent with the crowd pleasing “Baby Hello”. With tracks like the mid-tempo ballad “Julia” the vocals and music move into the territory formerly dominated by Prince.  This band has a lot of potential and their music is unique enough to take on the current music trends and possibly start a new one.  It is that fact that has a few people in the music industry shaking in their boots. And that my friend is a good thing. 

Goudie’s “Peep Show” is set for release on July 11th. Log on in July to Rocknworld for an exclusive interview with the band and then cruise over to antiMUSIC for a review and profile of Goudie. One of the coolest things about this job is the ability to expose new music to our visitors. Goudie has created a lot of excitement behind the scenes here. We hope those feelings will be contagious and the fans will agree that this band is indeed something special. 

Keavin is the managing editor of antiMUSIC and Rocknworld.com

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