It is interesting to note with a group such as the Friggs that their sound is evocative of the rough almost grainy quality of early punk bands such as the Sex Pistols. However, modern punk groups like many other marginal subgroups and subservient culture have often become transformed into a commodity in our present day. The evidence or rather the mark of the commodification of their music is the conflicted sound that is present in their songs. The conflict is a struggle between the smooth easy to swallow sound of the lead singer's voice and the rough unrefined sound of their instruments. The music of the sex pistols was not pleasant to listen to or rather difficult to swallow. The sex pistol's music is comparable to drinking steaming hot coffee--an unpleasant but addictive jolt to the body. Their music like all other forms of new media had the potential to challenge our society. Punk music, like other forms of music such as the cinema and photography have not fulfilled their potential to challenge the current form of power. Instead, they have been appropriated and used to re-enforce our current social structure. The danger lies in mistakenly believing that we have developed the potential to challenge the current power-structure dynamics. The illusion makes groups such as the Friggs appear to continue to stand in contrast to the current power structure. In reality, the music produced by groups such as the Friggs only serve the re-enforce the current situation. Of course the ultimate question becomes how does one cultivate the potential that lies within all forms of media and in particular the marginal subgroups that are increasingly commodified by society (e.g. stores such as Hot Topic or Urban Outfitters). At this point, one must ask: does it matter whether or not such a potential is fulfilled? What are the costs and benefits of our current situation in comparison to the unfilled and undeveloped potential?
Side note on the Sohodolls (which was what this post was originally going to discuss): Although the Sohodolls is a well established electro group their song "My Vampire" has an uncanny similarity to many songs on the record Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by the Smashing Pumpkins, which was an alternative rock band. To be even more specific, the song is can best be described as an electronica version of "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" and "Zero" but with a burlesque-like quality.
