NY Post goes to Chuck Klosterman’s Astor Place B&N reading and reports on the author’s fanbase.
These are the Klostermaniacs, the ever-growing Cult of Chuck that includes bookworms, bloggers and even uber-goober Seth Cohen on “The O.C.,” who hailed Chuck’s geek wisdom on an episode last season.…
“It is sometimes surprising how intense some of the people are about these books,” said Klosterman, sitting down to sign copies and field a few questions from readers.
“Do you think Fleetwood Mac is ‘thirtysomething’?” asks one fan, confusing even Klosterman until he pieces together the obscure reference to his book, Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs.
I recently bought Killing Yourself To Live and I’m digging it so far…
Spin magazine is on the third floor of an office building on Lexington Avenue, a street often referred to as “Lex” by cast members of Law & Order. It always the spring of 1996 in the offices of Spin; it will be the spring of 1996 forever. Just about everybody who works there looks like either (a) a member of the band Pavement, or (b) a girl who once dated a member of the band Pavement. The first time I walked into the office, three guys were talking about J Mascis for no apparent reason, and one of them was describing his guitar noodling as “trenchant.”
Anyway, back to “Do you think Fleetwood Mac is ‘thirtysomething’?” … this is a reference to an ingeniously dorky rock game Chuck described in his last book:
Ten minutes later, I found it necessary to mention that Journey was rock’s version of the TV show Dynasty. This prompted a spirited debate we dubbed “Monkees = Monkees.” The goal is to figure out which television show is the closest philosophical analogy to a specific rock ‘n’ roll band, and the critiera is mind-blowingly complex: It’s a combination of longevity, era, critical acclaim, commercial success, and — most important — the aesthetic soul of each artistic entry. For example, the Rolling Stones are Gunsmoke. The Strokes are Keifer Sutherland’s 24. Jimi Hendrix was The Twilight Zone. Devo was Fernwood 2-Night. Lynyrd Skynyrd was The Beverly Hillbillies, which makes Molly Hatchet Petticoat Junction. The Black Crowes are That ’70s Show. Hall & Oates were Bosom Buddies. U2 is M*A*S*H (both got preachy at the end). Dokken was Jason Bateman’s short-lived sitcom It’s Your Move. Eurythmics were Mork & Mindy…
You get the idea. Fun game, but only if you have pop culture savants to play with. That’s where you Stereogum readers come in. I’ll go first.
Your turn. Spare us the Bobby Brown = Being Bobby Brown.
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Rob Thomas = “Joey” is clearly the most accurate. They Might Be Giants = “The Simpsons,” I’d say.
The Smiths = Coronation Street
The Streets = Eastenders
Suede = Are you being Served
Le Tigre = Cagney and Lacey
Bright Eyes = My so called life
Would Arrested Development = Ben Folds? Some serious things are touched on but in a cheeky way?
Or does the show deserve a better analogy since the show is brilliant and Ben Folds is just…well, you know?
No, The New Pornographers = Arrested Development.
the pixies = family guy
Scrubs = Ween
L.Lo = Dr. 90210
oh.
the beatles = seinfeld
in terms of greatness both acheived. and everyone always had their favorite of the 4.
Who’s the Boss = The Beatles
I think more attention needs to be paid to the time frame these are in. Most of Klosterman’s examples involve bands and shows that were occuring around the same time in history.
I second the Arrested Development (the show) = New Pornographers. Additionally, I’d say that They Might Be Giants = Mystery Science Theater 3000.
Pulp = SNL
The Postal Service = The O.C.
System of a Down = The Awful Truth
Madonna = Friends
The Eurythmics = Laverne and Shirley
limp bizkit = the o.c.
sex, drugs, addictions, embarrassing sex tapes, revolving cast, lots of plot lines. originally revered, but as time wore on the concept grew tired and strained. the third season will make or break the show.
can = the office
most of america doesn’t get it. cult following. engaging, ahead of its time. takes a limited, bare bones basis and creates a work of art out of it. will stand the test of time.
other quick idea:
van halen = the simpsons
L. Lo = Brat Camp, or more specifically, I believe Jada is a L. Lo incarnate
House = Tom Waits
Scrubs = New Pornographers
I don’t watch enough TV to do any more.
Franz Ferdinand = thirtysomething
Talking Heads = Reading Rainbow
Dolly Parton = Alice
Electric 6 = Space Ghost
Cathy Dennis = Puttin on the Hits
Will and Grace = Scissor Sisters
Both have a following, but mostly just for the fact that they have the market nearly cornered as far as gay representation in pop culture. Gets less clever each time you hear/see it and you’re plagued by a constant feeling that you’ve already heard this one before.
The Decemberists = Masterpiece Theatre
How about
New Pornos = Kids in the Hall
White Stripes = Mork and Mindy
The Rentals = Futurama
Haunted by comparisons to the creators’ previous work despite being occasionally more brilliant.
sting and the police/sting = cheers/frasier
time frame’s about right, both the earlier had a sinister desperation about the focus on relationships and mundanity (come on, tell me norm isnt sending an SOS to the world) while the latter started of on a high but quickly became the kind of thing only discussed at a high brow middle aged dinner party.
They Might Be Giants = The Muppet Show
sleater-kinney=buffy the vampire slayer
The Cosby Show = Diggable Planets
Both are black, upwardly mobile, and have strong jazz influences.
Cornershop= Oh Goodness Gracious Me
[weird little British sitcom that wore its Indian influences on its sleeve, just like the band!]
Animal Collective = Rocco’s Modern Life
The Smiths = Coronation Street
One for your English readers there
Jessica Simpson = Jessica Simpson
Dave Matthews = American Idol
Ridiculously popular despite minimal talent on display. Can also be enjoyed for the “train wreck”/irony factor if you can withstand the accusations of being a sell out.
Rapeman = Curry and Chips
[Both were so offensive that they did themselves in after relatively short periods of time. Curry and Chips was the story of Spike Milligan as a half Irish/half Pakistani employee who "goaded by collegues" as one website put it.]
who fucking cares= Those English degrees didn’t pay off, did they?
The Fiery Furnaces = Buffy the Vampire Slayer
(Both have women protagonists, goofy male sidekicks, and a healthy dose of irreverence)
Beck = The Simpsons (Po-mo pastiche, hilarity, Scientology)
Can I just mention that I was working a Chuck Klosterman reading oh, six years ago, and there were exactly three people there, one of whom was a woman who went to his high school, with whom he subsequently went on a date? It was heartbreaking, as he was so incredibly nice and “Fargo, Rock City” so funny, so I couldn’t be happier that things have turned out so well for him.
Make that five years, and why’d I gotta post after comic book guy, who’s comment was entirely accurate?
Six Pence None The Richer= 7th Heaven.
Christian with cross over appeal
The Clash = The Prisoner
Both are the absolute best of their respective genre’s (first wave british punk and british science fiction on tv) and both of them looked like they were going to end…and then came back after a long recess with a final episode/album that made no fucking sense whatsoever.
would it be too obvious to say pink floyd = the wizard of oz?
The Bright Eyes = My So Called Live comment is gold!
The Tom Green Show = Wesley Willis.
Reno 911 = The Darkness.
death cab = all in the family
postal service = maude (spin offs, people!)
sufjan stevens = buffy
gwen stefani = any show with the “special guest” as Heather Locklear
jeff buckey = family ties
my morning jacket = law and order svu
Family Ties = Carly Simon
I haven’t gotten a hold of Killing Yourself to Live yet, because the crappy bookstore here in Alexandria, VA didn’t stock it, but I did pick up a copy of Cormac McCarthy’s new No Country For Old Men, if that matters at all.
As for these comparisons… uhm, yeah, I can’t think of any right now. I’ll try and fire up the ole brain and see what I can come up with.
Animal Collective – Mr. Show
Superwolf – Perfect Strangers
MF Doom – The Family Guy
Madlib – The Office
Fountains of Wayne – Will and Grace
Ally McBeal = Garth Brooks.
Ally = Chris Gaines.
Ally Mcbeal and Garth were both incredibly popular for a short while in the 90s with a very specific audience, but lost relevance oh-so-quickly. Chris and “Ally” were the samn goddamn thing except that no one cared.
Ok, that one doesn’t necessarily hold up, I just think it’s funny.
The Wiggles = R. Kelly
Wang Chung = My Two Dads
sheryl crow = felicity
at first it was all about the hair. the hair changed. things never the same.
puggy is so right…
Ok i think we get the point now
* Billy Corgan = Anything with David Caruso (and no, that’s not necessarily a compliment)
* …ergo, Smashing Pumpkins = NYPD Blue (would have been better if it was Chicago instead of NY but close enough)
* Captain and Tenille = The Love Boat (okay, that’s a bit obvious)
* Madonna = The Real World (contrived reality and self-importance; struggling to maintain relevance)
* The Beatles = Monty Python
… therefore The Beach Boys = American Counterpart to Monty Python… can anyone help here????? Is there such a troupe?
Patrick! You’re so right about Goodness Gracious Me. Although I think Cornershop is much more well known, at least Stateside.
God, I do love that show, though. Kiss my chuddies!
the donnas=the facts of life
Hives = Hogan’s Heroes
Frank Black = Mr. Belvedere
mr bungle = cliffhangers
sex pistols = young ones
pharcyde = who’s line is it anyway
Spiritualized = Touched by an angel
The Clash = Daily Show
dave matthews band=the bachelor
the cure=the addams family
Tenacious D = Battlebots
if
the cure = the addams family
then
bauhaus = the munsters
whatchathink?
madonna = extreme makeover
neil young = rockford files
sinead o’conner = sister kate
Jackyl = Dog, The Bounty Hunter
The Eagles = Antiques Roadshow
butthole surfers = king of the hill
joe c. = the littlest bachelor
ian dury = house
please help me stop…
Ashlee Simpson = Whose Line Is It Anyway?
billy squier = manimal
flaming lips = wiggles
Friends = Bon Jovi
Same lineup, rarely innovative, several unexplainable resurgencies in popularity, questionable hairstyles, etc.
I don’t think I quite see the strokes = 24 connection listed in the original post.
Someone fill in the blanks, or something.
Rooney = The OC (yes, The Postal Service too, but I think Rooney has more songs on the OC soundtracks than any other *pop* band, but, I’m prolly wrong).
Devo = Beauty and the Geek
this is fun!
Klosterman = Chicago (Specifically ‘Look Away’)
I started reading the book this morning and I can’t believe what a pathetic boy he is when it comes to women. Ive read his other books, and enjoyed “fargo rock city”- but this is just sad. does he really expect anyone to care? Self-emasculation is so 90′s. Grow up, Chuck.
We get it, you are all intellectual and appreciate the paralleled irony in music and TV, and can poignantly illustrate the subtle nuances between the Go Team and Remington Steele but seriously, stop, no one cares. 99.9% of the world doesn’t give two shits about what Chuck Klosterman thinks about Fleetwood Mac, or how desperatly the big headed former college radio DJs that run Spin want to blow Pavement in a bathroom stall this month.
If you don’t like the topic, then stop reading it. We’re just having fun.
Besides, Go! Team=Electric Company, not Remington Steele.
Dismemberment Plan = Mr. Show
Soul Coughing = My So-Called Life
The Fucking Champs = Beavis & Butthead
Weezer = The Simpsons
Train = Clarissa Explains It All
this post = so lame
family matters = the jackson five
jake & the fatman = har mar superstar
blossom = cyndi lauper
full house = crowded house
fresh prince of bel air = slick rick
step by step = vanilla ice
seinfeld = morrissey
the a team = the libertines
i watch(ed) too many ’80 soaps
saved by the bell = new kids on the block
power rangers = kraftwerk
joy division = MASH
rilo kiley = two of kind
the bravery = summerland {just not the real thing}
Bushwick Bill = Webster
Pearl Jam = Survivor
Loved them when they first came out, but surprised they’re still on.
The best so far are
Bright Eyes = My So Called Life
Beck = The Simpsons
Arcade Fire = Six Feet Under
Tenacious D = Battlebots
/actually still a Survivor fan
one thing that a lot of people aren’t really getting is that there is an era issue involved with the bands/tv shows link – that’s why something like hives = hogan’s heroes doesn’t work.
says who?
I think “the aesthetic soul of each artistic entry” is the key phrase. Era seems pretty immaterial to me.
Especially because this is, like, you know … for fun.
I mean, if we where competing for something rather than anonymously posting on a web site I might understand the nit-pickery.
The Killers = Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
eyeliner.
The Hold Steady = Hardball with Chris Matthews
likable loud guy shouts a lot
Belle and Sebastian = Brideshead Revisited
timing is off but it works i think
Pavement = Twin Peaks
“quirky,” cult following, timeless, amazing
ween = strangers w/ candy
air = nova
kool keith = herman’s head
smoosh = home movies
stephen malkmus = parker lewis can’t lose
gorillaz = the young ones
of montreal = anything by sid and marty croft
animal collective = lexx
barenaked ladies = wonderfalls
brian jonestown massacre = aqua teen hunger force
neil hamburger = alf
steve albini = quantum leap
i said it once, and i’ll say it again:
har mar superstar = jake & the fatman
(i admit i haven’t put much thought into this, but they have the heavy bones, no?)
(i admit i don’t know any har mar superstar songs, i just saw his pictures)
(i deny everything)
smog = dawson’s creek
don’t ask me why though
Flaming Lips = Fraggle Rock
both have a furry fetish undertone.
the velvet underground = sex & the city
le tigre = sex & the city
ol’ dirty bastard = COPS
NOVA = The Beastie Boys
sounds of science yall
the critiera is mind-blowingly complex: It’s a combination of longevity, era, critical acclaim, commercial success, and — most important — the aesthetic soul of each artistic entry.
!!!
ah semantics
who cares!
can you honestly say you don’t think of kraftwerk when you see this:
or at least daft punk, yeah!
daft punk = power rangers
!
New Edition = Cosby Show
Bell Biv Devoe = A Different World
I can’t handle the fact that somebody put Full House with Crowded House. But..I guess their outfits kind of looked the same.
And I’m really trying to think of a band for Fawlty Towers..but the band could only have one album, a (too) short, desperately, insanely good album, (as good as the show was funny or something), and has a cult following and re-issues and stuff. Anyone?
My God, the Brian Jonestown Massacre IS Aqua Teen Hunger Force!
Thank you.
Suddenly, I understand why I like neither of those things.
Kid Rock-Dog the Bounty Hunter
Sadly, I am addicted to that damn show. Gladly, I am NOT addicted in any way shape or form to Kid Rock.
Shawn Desman-The big comfy couch. Lead ‘characters’ are both clowns.
fawlty towers = nick drake
(they had two series, and it’s all about basil, and manuel, damn i love that show i need to rewatch it)
don’t mention the war…
or maybe…
fawlty towers = the stone roses
Freaks and Geeks IS Neutral Milk Hotel. Both so poignant and perfect, and too short-lived.
Northern Exposure = Soundgarden
Bosom Buddies = Culture Club