Don't Look Back

When singing the praises for All Tomorrow's Parties yesterday, I mentioned the Don't Look Back series which has bands performing one of their classic albums live and in their entirety. Personally, I think it's an awesome idea and fan-friendly. However, today I came across an alternate take on this Guardian post by Ben Wardle in which he argues that Don't Look Back points to a larger (and negative) trend within the industry. Here's an excerpt:

The real proof that many acts have effectively become mere tributes to themselves is the growing list of otherwise credible artists who are joining the Don't Look Back stable. DLB is a promotions company which organises shows by bands where they promise to play their most popular record, be it Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (May 23) or Sebadoh's Bubble and Scrape (No? Me neither - well, it's on May 7). Later this year Echo and the Bunnymen will perform Ocean Rain "in its entirety" in Liverpool, and for 21 nights in London from the middle of May you can see top 70s brothers Sparks play every album they've ever made in order of release."