Tuesday August 10, 2010 at 11:42

Yes, Pitchfork Reviews Reviews, I do know:

it took me like years of reading obsessively about music to get over being embarassed about asking questions or not knowing about a band — i feel like the worst effect of Pitchfork’s hegemony (and i don’t mean to say this is pitchfork’s fault, but i think it contributes) is that in publishing so many hyperreferential reviews for which you need to understand six other bands to understand the judgment in the review, it fosters a situation where any self-respecting listener is expected to school themselves thoroughly in the history of popular and independent music because that’s the intellectual price of entry, which wouldn’t be bad except then there arises this atmosphere of competition and one-upsmanship and intellectual undercutting, and the discussions around a lot of new bands are so bitter and full of snark and snipery that sometimes it feels like we’re all so united against each other in a quest for authenticity and knowing what thing is the right thing to like that hip culture just feels like this really nasty dystopian subculture whirlpool that’s just unpleasant to be a part of but impossible to unjoin, you know?

Definitely been feeling this a lot lately, and it can get kinda intimidating, but at the same time I’ve learned so much more about the history of music via references in Pitchfork reviews than I would’ve otherwise. While I think hyper-referential reviews can be harder to penetrate, it’s always good being exposed to and learning more about the musical landscape. On the other hand, sometimes I feel like all those references add up to a shortcut towards reviewing an album without really saying anything.

Yes, Pitchfork Reviews Reviews, I do know:

it took me like years of reading obsessively about music to get over being embarassed about asking questions or not knowing about a band — i feel like the worst effect of Pitchfork’s hegemony (and i don’t mean to say this is pitchfork’s fault, but i think it contributes) is that in publishing so many hyperreferential reviews for which you need to understand six other bands to understand the judgment in the review, it fosters a situation where any self-respecting listener is expected to school themselves thoroughly in the history of popular and independent music because that’s the intellectual price of entry, which wouldn’t be bad except then there arises this atmosphere of competition and one-upsmanship and intellectual undercutting, and the discussions around a lot of new bands are so bitter and full of snark and snipery that sometimes it feels like we’re all so united against each other in a quest for authenticity and knowing what thing is the right thing to like that hip culture just feels like this really nasty dystopian subculture whirlpool that’s just unpleasant to be a part of but impossible to unjoin, you know?

Definitely been feeling this a lot lately, and it can get kinda intimidating, but at the same time I’ve learned so much more about the history of music via references in Pitchfork reviews than I would’ve otherwise. While I think hyper-referential reviews can be harder to penetrate, it’s always good being exposed to and learning more about the musical landscape. On the other hand, sometimes I feel like all those references add up to a shortcut towards reviewing an album without really saying anything.

Tuesday August 10, 2010 at 11:02

douglasmartini asked: If you could strike one band from the history of existence, what band would that be? Keep in mind that the band you eliminate will impact bands influenced by them.

The Beatles. Initially I thought the condition made them invincible (because who isn’t influenced by The Beatles), but I think it’d be really interesting to hear what all those bands would sound like without that influence. Also it’d erase The Vines, which is a huge blessing.

Tuesday August 10, 2010 at 3:01

New track from Weezer, “Memories”, on StereogumFirst impression: It’s no “El Scorcho” or “Hash Pipe”, but at this point I think it’s useless to compare modern Weezer with Weezer Classic (if you like) because the two eras - the current one beginning with Make Believe but defined by The Red Album - have different aims. That said, this is so much better than anything on Raditude. This may seem premature, but if “Memories” is any indication of the tone of Hurley then I hope it’s their last record, because where The Blue Album was all about being a kid, starting to sort out your life - or starting your life, really - and what you want, and just enjoying the calm before the storm, this track is about how complicated life seems now that they’ve grown up. I kinda want to argue that it’s a comment on the romanticization of the past, but I think that’s looking further into it than Rivers wants us to. It just sounds like a good conclusion to the saga. On that note, I can’t decide whether this would be a really good opener or closer (though the instruments tuning up at the start make me think it’s intended to be the former). Either way it gives me a little faith that Hurley won’t completely fucking suck.

New track from Weezer, “Memories”, on Stereogum

First impression: It’s no “El Scorcho” or “Hash Pipe”, but at this point I think it’s useless to compare modern Weezer with Weezer Classic (if you like) because the two eras - the current one beginning with Make Believe but defined by The Red Album - have different aims. That said, this is so much better than anything on Raditude. This may seem premature, but if “Memories” is any indication of the tone of Hurley then I hope it’s their last record, because where The Blue Album was all about being a kid, starting to sort out your life - or starting your life, really - and what you want, and just enjoying the calm before the storm, this track is about how complicated life seems now that they’ve grown up. I kinda want to argue that it’s a comment on the romanticization of the past, but I think that’s looking further into it than Rivers wants us to. It just sounds like a good conclusion to the saga. On that note, I can’t decide whether this would be a really good opener or closer (though the instruments tuning up at the start make me think it’s intended to be the former). Either way it gives me a little faith that Hurley won’t completely fucking suck.

Tuesday August 10, 2010 at 1:52

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Millencolin - Dinner Dog

Somebody told me I should get a normal job / If I don’t quit that band I have I’d end up as a slob / But I’m not listening to no-one / Especially not to people who are unhappy with their lives

Tuesday August 10, 2010 at 1:11

Haven’t washed my hair in a week. Feels gross, bro. So here’s a photo of me looking punk rock in a carpark in summer after a truck smashed into our car. We decided it was as good a time as any to buy boxes of wine and crack another beer.

Haven’t washed my hair in a week. Feels gross, bro. So here’s a photo of me looking punk rock in a carpark in summer after a truck smashed into our car. We decided it was as good a time as any to buy boxes of wine and crack another beer.

Tuesday August 10, 2010 at 0:25

douglasmartini:

5 O’Clock Shadowboxers featuring Has-Lo, Elucid, and Nico the Beast- “No Resolution 2”

Not to suck MD’s dick any more than I already do, but this is incredirad. I’m a sucker for monologue intros and Velvet Underground.

This post was reblogged from Budget Fashionistas.

Monday August 09, 2010 at 23:02

Are you KIDDING me, writer of the latest episode Raelle Tucker? The dialogue in this episode is extra-strength ridiculous.

Are you KIDDING me, writer of the latest episode Raelle Tucker? The dialogue in this episode is extra-strength ridiculous.

Monday August 09, 2010 at 22:44

The only reason I still watch this stupid as hell show anymore is so I’ll know what’s up in Gabe’s recaps.

The only reason I still watch this stupid as hell show anymore is so I’ll know what’s up in Gabe’s recaps.

Monday August 09, 2010 at 22:39

Kevin Bishop

livinthing:

jakec replied to your video: Karen Gillan as Alex Drake Although I know deep…

The Kevin Bishop Show had some really great skits (Dangerously High School Musical!) but it’s Kevin Bishop at his worst. You should check out FM or his Star Stories episodes (the Robbie Williams one is pretty good)

juniorgazette replied to your video: Karen Gillan as Alex Drake Although I know deep…

I’m sorry, but as much as I love Karen Gillan, that’s just awful. But I do agree with Jake about Star Stories - I love the Simon Cowell one.

I got pretty excited when I saw the title of this clip, with Gillan and Drake combining, but yeah, it is a pretty low point for Kevin Bishop, even with the ‘Red Button Porn’ context.

Speaking of Ashes to Ashes parodies though, the skits on The Impressions Show (like Ashes to Austen) are actually alright.

The problem is with expectations. Ball park estimate, I’d say about 90% of The Kevin Bishop Show sketches involve dick jokes. Some of them are funny! A lot of them are stupid and crass. The Gashes To Gashes sketch is the rule, not the exception to. Unfortunately, it’s no Peter Serafinowicz Show.

This post was reblogged from Watch the world spinning gently out of time.

Monday August 09, 2010 at 19:35

“Have you seen any Pokemon around here called SHROOMISH? I really love that Pokemon”

I see where you’re going with this, forest-dwelling NPC, and unless you hand over the pokedollars and prove you’re not a cop, I’m not going to show you a goddamn thing.

Monday August 09, 2010 at 18:58

Reaction Face Michael Cera Edition.

Reaction Face Michael Cera Edition.

Monday August 09, 2010 at 16:17

AN INCOMPLETE LIST OF DEBILITATING ADDICTIONS:

  • Alcohol
  • Drugs
  • Sex
  • TV Tropes

Monday August 09, 2010 at 15:08

(via russh)

LCD Soundsystem/DFA Retrospective. Very cool.

This post was reblogged from .

Sunday August 08, 2010 at 16:37

It’s true:

so go get the wavves record and maybe the beulah record if you wanna investigate further, and maybe email me some flip videos of you driving 75 mph down the pacific coast highway with the sun beaming down on your face and the wind blowing through your hair and you’re singing along to the wavves record, and your fourteen-year-old brother is in the car and he’s singing along too and sometimes he glances over at you for reassurance and then he sings louder. i think that’s how you could really comprehend this record, like better than anyone writing about it you know? jk bloggers and pitchfork reviewers know everything

It’s true:

so go get the wavves record and maybe the beulah record if you wanna investigate further, and maybe email me some flip videos of you driving 75 mph down the pacific coast highway with the sun beaming down on your face and the wind blowing through your hair and you’re singing along to the wavves record, and your fourteen-year-old brother is in the car and he’s singing along too and sometimes he glances over at you for reassurance and then he sings louder. i think that’s how you could really comprehend this record, like better than anyone writing about it you know? jk bloggers and pitchfork reviewers know everything

Sunday August 08, 2010 at 14:03

“Can I speak to Angelina please?”“No, she died.”

“Can I speak to Angelina please?”
“No, she died.”

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