Yeaa wait a second, Lana was in Williamsberg taking notes on how to exploit hipster culture when Lady Gaga was booed, BUTT everybody was there when she was a disaster at 30 rockefeller center that night....
Maybe song samples should be like patents, each artist gets like a 7 year window where they have the rights to that intellectual property. After those 7 years other artists can strip elements of it and use it for their own work, assuming it justifies its own existence, and is not a complete copycat.
Its interesting to note that music is really the only art medium where people really get their jimmies rustled over these things.
As a film writer or director: stories, shots, character types are recycled all the time from other movies.
How can you fight for intellectual property over anything in the visual arts? If an artist paints a landscape, Am I not allowed to paint that same landscape anymore?
More importantly, members of society that know better - know music in this case - know where the original sample was from and know how to appreciate originality. That doesn't mean we can't appreciate it being used a different way. Although I still haven't gotten over the travesty of Jason Derulo's "Whatcha Say" and how much rage is instilled in me everytime I hear that song.
With that being said "Hide & Seek" is by no means ruined. And anyone who thinks The Weeknd is similiar to Jason Derulo is a moron.
I don't see what listening to Abel's sample cheapens the song for you. Did he cheapen all the other songs he sampled on the mixtapes?
Barrow has the right to sue or whatever he wants to do, but I don't think this makes Abel Tesfaye a big douche, I think hes one of the most talented and well rounded artists to show up in the past few years. He said he was a big Portishead fan, and hes not just rehashing the same shit.
Ya'll n-words actin like he's getting wrongly sampled by Miley Cyrus or some shit.
I completely agree, not to mention the same fucking sample was used last month on Kanye's Yeezus.
Barrow was fine with it there, its not like the Weeknd is Justin Bieber or something, clearly its going to be used in the interest of creating something with some artistic value.
I support Abel's openness to what he was about and what hes trying to do, and I understand how he might find this annoying. Each of his three mixtapes samples liberally from a variety of artists, but each time the song he created from these samples completely justified its own existence, and was more of a fun head-nod to the source than a rip-off or exploitation of an already created sound.
We need to save the fight against copyright infringement and sample stealing for more commercialized problems (a.k.a. shitty pseudo-indie bands explointing an already developed sound and advertisements where clearly somebody was paid to mimic a popular song.)
I agree, there's more marketing for this than any album I've seen in recent memory (probably going back to Green Day's American Idiot) all just to for a fucking "traditional rap album."
WTF JAY-Z, even numb/encore was somewhat progressive. This better be good because if we get another Kingdom Come after this bullshit I'm throwing a bitch fit.
This list I'm okay with, their movie list however is frustratingly stupid. Between their top 10 all time, top 20 all time, and top 100, they all contradict themselves. The dumbest part is that very few, if any movies make the list that have come out since 1975. Not to take anything away from Gone With the Wind et cetera but it really grinds my gears when list makers are reluctant to acknowledge anything that hasn't been nostalgia cock-sucked for decades. I don't know if its appeasement for the baby-boomer generations or just fear of making bold statements, regardless I deem their lists completely negligible and a waste of space both in the realm of the internet and in between magazine margins.
For the record I know, blah blah go to Videogum, I was too lazy to surf on over there and I already was halfway through typing this.
Regarding the lyric gripes:
Has anyone considered the possibility that the style over substance movement (which Kanye started more or less segued into rap with watch the Throne) has trickled into this album? I agree the lyrics range from anthemicly triumphant to silly reachy-ness. But how important are lyrics supposed to be?
I'd like to make the point that particularly in genre's outside of rap, many artist's approach to lyric writing is primarily from a phonoaesthetic perspective, hell plenty of beloved bands are writing music in languages that aren't even in English. When we critique these songs, do we criticize the meaning of the lyrics? More importantly: Is lyrical prowess essential for a song to create a powerful bond between musician and listener? Dare I say that perhaps some reviewers are too preoccupied with what music is "supposed" to be?
Returning to the album in question, in particular one song: I would just like to say that on "Blood on the Leaves," - which has received criticism from not only here but significantly more scrutiny in the New York Times review - here we clearly have reduction of a song about race inspired lynching, to a disposable mo' money mo' problems situation. The reactions have ranged from outrage to annoyance. Let's take a step back for a moment... This is Kanye West after all, not some shmo, he's certainly aware of the political and moral implications of "Strange Fruit," PERHAPSSS the idea of taking something so racially sacred and using it in the manner in which he did is an execution of the art-form of deconstructionism.
Much like paying out the behind to get a sample of Otis Redding's "Try a Little Tenderness" (a song with very graceful vocals) and reducing it to grunt noises and using it as a template to rap about how hard you ball, deconstructionism is a statement in and of itself. Remember that people? Remember how fun and refreshing that was? But now we sit here and criticize the same technique, because despite how stellar"Blood on the Leaves" song sounds, we have to dismiss it because the lyrics are superficial? Consider the possibility that the purpose and meaning of the song lies in the decision of how it is executed, not the lyrics themselves.
For the record I'm aware of how silly some of these lyrics are and how difficult it is for some of us to get passed them. But I'm also very aware of the always refreshing, consistent intelligent decisions made by Kanye West. The most interesting thing about this man is the dichotomous impressions that this man has made on the public: his behavior and attitude (particularly in the past 5 years) have suggested hes a complete moron who doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut, however his body of work artistically has been consistently stellar from his work as a producer all the way up to pop superstar; the man has not made a bad tune little alone executed a note poorly in a decade. For really the first time in his career, this dichotomy is upfront and overt on a solo album, but was this a mistake? Laziness? Are these lyrics any reflection of something less than some level of intentional brilliance? With any other artist I would be inclined to say so, but not this man, and especially not on this album.
tl;dr Stop bitching about the lyrics and loosen up a bit.
For the record: I'm not down-voting simply because I disagree with you, I'm down-voting you because I think you're a complete idiot and have clearly wasted a significant amount of time compiling and typing a list of poorly construed arguments in anticipation of at the very least some level of constructive feedback.
But no, you get nothing.
Why you no post link?
Also I'd like to remind you Tom that individuals with Parkinson's Disease don't "jump," in fact many of them experience posture instability which may lead to poor balance. A more fitting expression would be: 'Lets get this bitch tremoring as well as experiencing mild to moderate neuropsychiatric disturbances.' FYI
i'm starting a campaign where every time Morrissey throws one of these bitch fits, we all go out and purposely eat a cheeseburger we normally would not have.
Your move Moz.
His answer shows hes clearly threatened by Bieb and was acting passive aggressive towards him. What is he, 5? The appropriate answer should have been "I don't give a shit."
First Nickleback, then Justin Bieber. Wow, the black keys are so bold.
Why do they constantly feel threatened by pop bands with completely different demographics. Even if I think they're right, this is a fucking pathetic waste of time and energy. Who cares about Bieber, if you want make edgy statements do it do your musical peers. Picking on trailer park bands or 14 year old loved pop stars is the equivalent of Christopher Nolan criticizing the writers of The Wiggles for not having enough plot development; it just makes him look like an idiot.
Patrick Carney, i'm not even completely sold on you as being more than mediocre stadium rock. And when you do shit like this, it just makes you look like a cocky retard.
Alright, what the fuck is up with this writeup. I can't tell if Tom is trolling or if this is actually how he feels. If its the latter then seriously ughhh man, come on.
Homophobia? Its fucking satire, you do realize the most accomplished and respected ofwgkta member is openly gay. Not to mention your opinion that their show is terrible is way to subjective. I love the show, i can cite plenty of critics who love the show, and it epitomizes much of odd futures humor. If you don't like it then fine, but don't pretend like you thought their earlier stuff was cool but now this whack; its not a major digression.
This is a more polished Tyler, especially the second song in the video which you never even mentioned (probably because you didn't watch it long enough as you seemed way to caught up in your whack ass wrestling issues.)
tl;dr Fuck your write up Tom; this video is hilarious/awesome.
Its not about popularity, I rage because Mumford acheieves this popularity through ripping off other bands that have been around the block for a while, but just making shittier versions of the same music. Beyonce sits in the throne of pop godess not by ripping off other female indie pop artists, but via the good old fashioned pop route of riding the fast lane to the top. I don't listen to Beyonce, but at least she doesn't make me rage.
Mumford & Sons have made their career off being a cancer to bands like the the decemberists or bon iver, bands who've worked hard to make find and create a unique sound. To take bands like that, simplify it for the masses, and receive the praise and attention they've gotten just makes me sick to my stomach. This shit doesn't fly in any other artform and it shouldn't here.
>"I think it’s incredibly rude of you to think you know what my opinions on music are and that they are crappy and indefensible."
Ohh boo hoo, welcome to stereogums comment section, this isn't a place were people come to be like "yea, you go for putting you opinion out there, everyone is right!" this is where people go to debate opinions on music. Michaels right, not everyone's opinion is equal, plenty of opinions are stupid. The strength of your opinion relies on you the strength of your argument.
p.s. you mad
Uhmm, this is completely different. If you think Mumford & Sons were ever cool at any point then you'll never understand. Plenty of awesome bands have done exclusive work for Twilight or other shitty show soundtracks and that's fine, in fact its been the norm for bands poppy enough and with the capabilities to receive those fat paychecks.
What were talking about is a band that's done nothing but attempt to suck the life out of outdated indie folk and whom thyselves suck the hardest sucketh of all. I've never given 2 shits about the grammy's but last night I raged harder than I've raged in a fortnight due to this bullshit.
This is a dark time for all of us, a storm is approaching on the horizon, a storm of more shitty ripoff folk music. At times like these I pray that Nickleback and Creed can rise to their once former shitty glory and eclipse bands like Mumford & Sons from existence. I'll take the lesser of two evils any day.
Hey guy. So I've noticed all your comments on here are rants about the "sheep" who read these blogs. At first I thought you were trolling, but now i just think you're just a sad loser. Go home, we don't want you here.
I mean, it's not exactly like converse is likely to sponsor them ever again after this... It doubt this was their plan all along, It's more like coming to their senses and going out in style.
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