Comments on: Links, Lists, Liars, Laziness

By: ed biblioklept

ed biblioklept — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:00:26 +0000

Mr.B:
1. I get to say whatever I want because it’s my blog and I’m a total prick.
2. Boring = causing boredom. Boredom = lack of interest (e.g.– “This Decemberist’s CD is boring, can’t we please listen to something else?”)
3. Talentless = lacking talent; devoid of creative spirit or ingenuity (e.g.– “Those talentless hacks sure are making Baby Jesus cry”)
4. Your last sentence is a little confusing (“they are [?]“, “they aren’t [?]), but I think you’re making the (completely valid) argument that I’ve dismissed the opinions of fans of The Decemberists and The Hold Steady in perhaps an unfair way. I actually don’t care at all if people like these bands; my real gripe is being repeatedly told in the so-called blogosphere that I “don’t get” them, like somehow if I were just a little bit smarter or hip or something it would all fall into place. I don’t begrudge any music fan any joy, to be honest. My real beef is over the Furnaces not getting their due, and is summed up best in micbk’s comment: “[...]to say they’ve fallen off their game is just spoon fed indie media hogwash.” I think that many indie hipster dorks jump on and off of bandwagons and worry about what is “cool” way too much, and true art suffers. Simply put, I think that bands like The Decemberists and The Hold Steady are posers (or poseurs, if you prefer). That said there are hundreds of bands out there that I don’t think are anything special: I don’t attack them because there’s no reason to. Why attack Spoon? People like them, people hear something in them that moves them, okay, sure. So why attack The Decemberists? Well,
1. Mostly to get a reaction, I suppose but also
2. It goes back to that “don’t get” thing — I really don’t see Colin Meloy doing anything new or innovative, or even melodic or moving. I chose to discuss Liars in the context of this post because they are a band that I “don’t get”–that is, I believe that there is something there to get, that they are doing something that may be new and innovative and challenging, but I haven’t gotten my ears around it yet.
Again, Mr. B, I see your point: my argument is weak in the sense that I have (seemingly) arbitrarily devised criteria for what is “gettable” and “not gettable” and expected others to fall in line; but isn’t that what all of the bloggers have done for so many bands (think Tapes n’ Tapes, Clap Yr Hands, etc.)?

By: Adam B

Adam B — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 20:52:14 +0000

i don’t get why you get to say that bands like the decemberists are “boring” and lacking in originality or talent, yet say that others are just dismissing your opinion. what exactly is boring, or talentless? if people who like the band can’t get away with just saying that they are, you shouldn’t try to get away with just saying they aren’t.

By: longlunch

longlunch — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:27:07 +0000

while i dig the Liars album, it’s not much more than a “neat” listen. i think too much was made of the fact that they apparently moved to and recorded the album in Berlin.

most “art rock” fans know the legend of Bowie’s stay in Berlin and can easily see how that shift in place coincided with a tremendous (albeit temporary) shift in his approach to music. in this case, though, i think that critics were far too eager to draw the same parallel between this young, new band and the venerable, established artist. the difference is that Liars were already kind of “edgy” (though that’s an easily debatable adjective) and this album, more than anything else, tones down their sound. tracks like “the other side of mt. heart attack” strive for beauty but fail to get there.

in short, it’s worth a listen – for perspective’s sake – but you’re not missing anything.

By: micbk

micbk — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:18:11 +0000

great post…agree wholeheartedly about pitchfork. despite utter disdain, i still check it pretty close to daily, shamefully. as far as liars’ album goes, i’ll say before this album i was only a halfass, “eh, they’re ok” kind of fan, but this album was different. start with “the other side of mt. heart attack”, which is linked on my list and work your way into it from that, as it’s easily the best and most accessible track on the album. doesn’t mean you’ll like it or grow to, but i dug it and sounds like we have similar tastes. and as far as the furnaces, p’fork has sort of lead the charge of hating on their former darlings ever since they started. i understand it’s not for everybody, but to say they’ve fallen off their game is just spoon fed indie media hogwash. bollocks, i say. anyway, thanks for the link and cheers.