Savages critique Viv Albertine for being 'naive and dismissive'

Savages' Jehnny Beth has written a lengthy blog post critcising Viv Albertine for saying that music is not revolutionary anymore, an opinion Beth believes to be "naive and dismissive."

Albertine, best known as the guitarist for English punk band The Slits, appeared on Channel 4 News to promote her new book, Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys.

During the interview, she was asked whether she believed revolutionary music was still being made today. She answered: "It’s not the medium I would choose now. Like I said, I always put myself in the place that I think is the most exciting. Now I’d probably be studying for a science degree and be some sort of human rights lawyer. I think music has actually become a bit bread-and-circus entertainment now."

In a new post on her Tumblr page, Savages' Jehnny Beth addressed Albertine's comments, saying: "I think Viv Albertine is mistaken in her judgement when she speaks about music today. Thank God she is! How depressing our lives would be if she was right. When I hear that generation talk this way, it feels like listening to an old parent dragging every member of their family into depression. I hear fear and confusion. Someone who’d rather say the world is ending than facing his own end. "

She continued: "The truth is, I don’t think Viv Albertine can say what she would do if she was 20 years old again today - because she isn’t. To suggest she would become a ‘human rights lawyer’ instead of picking up a guitar sounds like a sad negation of a great part of her life, and more importantly, it quickly dismisses the great deal of joy and rebellion a young woman could find today in picking up a guitar herself.

"Revolution doesn’t know gender, it doesn’t know age either. What about an older generation inspiring the young to create? I know it exists, I have plenty of examples in mind."

Read Jehnny Beth's full blog post below (and see the original here).