Sometimes, you can just feel it. Usually it starts with a record that’s pretty good but not quite as great as the ones before it. Because you love the band, you talk yourself into it, but deep down you know it’s not as good. But you trick yourself, and then when the next, even worse album comes out, you know for sure. But by then, you’re fucked. So, here we go:
Spoon: Just released their best album with the best song (The Underdog) in their catalog. Then, a mediocre EP about a month ago. I get the feeling that the next album is going to be a step back, and then it’s all fucked. And I LOVE this band, but I get the feeling it’s time. I’m rooting against it though.
Radiohead: Not fully because they’ve already kind of broken up, but it might have been nice if they had called it quits after either Amnesiac or Hail to the Thief. The pricing scheme on In Rainbows made everyone overlook the fact that they were paying tuppence for a b-sides collection. They’ve announced they’re not really looking to do full-length albums anymore because of their personal lives. This is ok. They gave us the seminal indie rock records of the late 90s and early aughts, and that’s plenty.
The New Pornographers: The band I was thinking of when I wrote the intro to this section. Mass Romantic and The Electric Version are must-haves. Twin Cinema is very good, but drops a level from the first two. When I go back and listen to them, I never go to Twin Cinema first, the album is about half-duds. Challengers is worse, maybe 2 or 3 good tracks. Couple this with A.C. Newman’s disappointing second solo effort, and the evidence points to this band being done.
The Flaming Lips: Saw them live a couple of weeks ago, show was great, but they played maybe one new song. They have a new album coming out this year and I’m interested to hear it, but after the fall off between Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and At War with the Mystics, it’s a little hard to see a huge comeback. They’ve been around for a long time, especially for indie-rock standards, and while it would be a shame to see them go, it may be time.
Modest Mouse: I was more sure on this one before I heard the EP they released recently, No One’s First and You’re Last. This was a supposed collection of B-Sides, but was as good as anything they’ve done since The Moon and Antarctica. Now I’m not sure—We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank wasn’t that great and looked like they were on the downturn—but this EP makes me think I was calling this one early.
The White Stripes: This one hurts. The last record was pretty good, and I rooted for it and defended it but now I just cannot anymore. Icky Thump is just not as exciting as Get Behind Me Satan was, and not as consistent as any of the previous records. There are some serious missteps there (Prickly Thorn but Sweetly Worn and
So there it is. I love these bands and wish that it was still the same, but it ain’t. Coming Sunday or Monday, Part 3—bands that should have broken up already.
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5 comments:
A little harsh on the NPers I think. Mass Romantic is definitely their best. Electric Version has some great songs, but doesn't hold up in the long run--it's too much of the same. Twin Cinema feels like a big budget remake of Mass Romantic; it's still a good album but it lacks some of the freshness of the original. The first four songs are classics though and the Bleeding Heart Show kills me every time.
I find Challengers to be a rewarding listen, mostly because the band started taking chances again. I love the Neko tracks and Myriad Harbor. All the Old Showstoppers, Failsafe, and My Rights Versus Yours are familiar power pop, but well done.
I imagine we see a few more NP albums. The band seems to be built for the long run; each member has plenty of space and freedom to do solo work. They probably won't match Mass Romantic, but I'll take 5 or 6 great songs from them any time.
The Lips are also probably with us for the long run. A lot of people thought The Soft Bulletin would be the end of them (interestingly, many also thought this album was a masterpiece), but then they came back with Yoshimi. Who really knows what they'll come up with next? I wouldn't bet against them having at least one more great album.
Is it possible for solo artists to break up? 'Cause I feel like it's long past time for Ryan Adams to go...
My, my. Little hipster kids love to be ironic, and snotty.
Maybe I will write a blog post about 'wanna-be music journalists who should quit writing their silly, vitriolic rants that they think are funny.' But I don't have the time.
I mean... TPack. Really?!!! Gee... doesn't sound at all like TUPAC or anything. How many conversations in smoky college-town bars have I heard that are like these musings of TPack? Fights over silly music-related shit. Loving good music is one thing. Being a snarky arse is another. Once I stood in line waiting to get a sandwich at a deli in Carrboro, NC and finally the girl came over and says "hey, like... SORRY and all, but we were having this, like, really intense game of Name that Band.
Wow. Uh... okay. And the kids at OCSC wonder why they are all angry, and alcoholics!
Now, I give TPack props for his comments on S-K's The Woods. And mentions of The National, the Avetts... and Heartbreaker WAS damn good. But this kid, who is probably some MBA student or lawyer moonlighting as a blogger, needs to come off his high horse. But at least he likes Daughter.
I mean, whats up with the Kanye piece? I'll tell you. Little hipster punks just love to use their intelligence (yes, they are usually bright kids) to create inane riffs that are chock-full of verbal gymnastics (TPack is witty, and a decent writer) to defend fools. 'Cause it is punk rock, I guess. But c'mon. Even Obama said Kanye was a jackass. And we ALL KNOW Tupa - oops, uh.. TPACK, voted for that moron Obama.
Full disclosure here: I'm from Hendersonville, TN. Same as Taylor Swift. Same high school and all. So maybe I'm just defending one of my tribe. But the argument lacks any intellectual vigor. "Kanye has passion." That is deep. And unprovable BS like "i bet Kanye knew more than anyone in that room". And by the way, Swift writes her own songs, idiot. And guess what? Glenn Beck has lots of passion. Maybe TPack should write about how awesome stormin' Mormon Glenn Beck is. The Passion of Glenn Beck.
Why are these hipster kids so grumpy, and depressed? Because they always ARE! And they think of themselves as original. But they all look the same! And listen to the same shit. Maybe TPack was drunken under the table by some cute girls and slept through the classic ManU vs Man City derby.
Now THAT is reason for a bad mood.
- Lionel Pique
Kev--
Ironic and snotty? I disagree. This, as I stated, is a labor of love--even if I think the bands should break up, I think this because I love their music and want to preserve it as is. It hurts me just as much as it hurts them. There's no irony there, and it would only be snotty if I actually expected these bands to give a shit about what I think.
And just because your half-cherokee self somehow loves Taylor Swift more than Kanye doesn't make your Glenn Beck analogy any better. Glenn Beck is passionate about...hating people in a very serious way. Kanye was promoting another artist's music/video. I think it's a little bit different.
Don't be mad because you miss OSCS so much. You'll be able to go back someday.
kfed -
if you had ever met the author of this blog you would know he's not a little hipster kid. in fact, he's a 6'3", 300 lb hipster. calling him little totally discredits any points you were trying to make.
Yo-yo Jim Beamman,
I feel your jealousy that I wore Brit's redneck Looz-ana ass out for years. I don't blame you. She may be dumb, but she is hot. Well, 'was'...
Tpack clearly shows, with his Glenn Beck comment, that he hates my Mormon peeps.
TPack/Travdawg's physical stature has really changed since I last saw his this summer! Clocking in at 6'3" 300 now, is he? Trav, get down to RFK and try out for the Redskins.
Speaking of redskins: how in the hell did you know I was half cherokee??!!! You are freaking me out, kid. Must be my cheekbones. Or maybe the face that I'm from Tennessee. Where even my albino neighbor claims to be part cherokee!
Viva Kanye, pimp!
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