Memphis garage punker and Beck fan Jay Reatard stopped by the AOL studios to record some live clips and promote his Matador 7″ singles series. Like many previously non-AOL-ready artists before him, he approaches it with a bit of ambivalence. The performances are pure Jay Reatard (minus the audience), but he caps off a great rendition of “Let It All Go” by giving the camera a fuck-you finger and grabbing his beer. Much like when Win Butler smashed his guitar on SNL, it seems like a tired pantomime (and even a bit pathetic), especially when in order to watch these videos, you have to sit through a brief commercial. The obvious parallel to Kurt Cobain’s discomfort with Nirvana’s growing success is there, too. In fact, in the Spinner interview, Jay notes: “When I was talking to a few major labels, they said they were going to market me as the next Kurt Cobain. I was supposed to be the guy that’s going to kill emo. I’m not inspired to do that.”
“My Shadow”
“See/Saw”
“Let It All Go”
Additionally, you can watch some interview footage with Jay at Spinner.
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i hate this guy
fuxxing idiot. prefab drama. wish I had more hands..
you probly shouldn’t reference (link) to videos that are no longer available…..
to which are you referring? the “interview” is still there – esp. the parts where he states he could care less about the upcoming election because “he is in other countries six months out of the year” + “Obama your momma”.
pudgy, plus-one chromosome deadweight.
He probably gave the finger to let us know what he’d be sticking up his ass after the show.
your moms funny but you should really try coming up with your own stuff
Why do people give a shit about this guy again?
i have no idea
Fuck that, Jay Reatard is awesome.
His music is amazing but him selling out isn’t.
Is it possible you’re reading too much into this? Maybe just a little?
they really put the garage in garage band.
as in “who are those fucking kids making all that crappy noise in their garage down the street”
people PAY money to see this crap?
i have seen better at high school talent shows.
Props to Mr. Reatard. You can’t kill emo, though, because it’s already dead.
Real emos dont kill themselves, if they did they couldnt keep whining about wanting to die. Only two things will survive the nuclear holocaust: roaches and emo.
punk rock attitudes died when the Oblivians broke up. Jay’s vocal style is ripped from the Oblivians gamebook. giving the finger? wow – then why did u agree to play the sesh bro? soulless hacks with ironic 80′s metal looks…your ship has sailed kids
Don’t be put off by his performances as if he’s some mindless degenerate punk.
Listen to the singles compilation. Its got some real solid tunes
he’s got some good songs, blood visions was a pretty good album, but the guys personality just totally ruins it for me.
Living in Memphis, I hear a lot about Jay Reatard. Personally, I really like his music, but the dude is a bit of a diva, especially around here. Check out his drummer’s other band, The Barbaras.
a finger’s just a finger, guys.
did you guys miss the part that came before it? that noise he made with the microphone feedback was badass!
jay reatard is bad ass.don’t fuck w/ us.
It sounds like he’s saying “my shit is.”
“The next Kurt Cobain” he is not. Wow. I had heard so much about Jay Reatard, but these videos are very underwhelming. Cobain carried more weight in one verse than this guy does in an entire set.
I can’t see your face either, Jay. Is the It from Addams Family hairstyle supposed to be a joke? I think it’s funny anyway. Before you play the second video it looks like a wallpaper of permed tribbles.
I’ve seen this guy on a big stage and in videos, but I imagine he works a small, interactive crowd way better. For now, I prefer the way his songs and especially his voice sound on record. Blood Visions is a pretty good album. It’s a solid four out of five.
Also, is it me, or has Stereogum gotten way more italicized lately?
and as sad as it seems, this site is turning blue, in this post.
talentless piece of shit who shouldn’t be given the attention he’s given as of late
is it just me or were those performances pretty f-ing amazing? his band is comprised of two of the ugliest human beings i’ve ever seen, by the way. . .the drummer looks like a cross between a pubescent Dave Mustaine and Mikey from American Chopper.
jesus, i can almost smell the inside of their van just looking at ‘em…
ha ha! my name is jay fucktard! i’m so awesome i chose to have my name 1 letter away from retard and my so-called punk attitude is 100% marketable!
I almost don’t want to criticize him because it seems he actually is mentally retarded.
Poor kid.