Disappointing video. It's an interesting idea (and yeah, we get it, your band's name is Cults -- a flimsy premise for a video concept), and well-executed...but this is the wrong song for it. We have known this song for over a year now, and we've had times to internalize the meaning of the song. It's a straight-forward story about an unsatisfying relationship. Great -- love it.
But if you're going to do a video with the Jonestown tragedy as the backdrop, your song had damn well be about misplaced faith, or gullibility, or false hope, or death, or religion. Jonestown is simply too dark and horrific to be used like Weezer used Arnold's Drive-Thru for "Buddy Holly." DO NOT WANT the Hoosiers' video for "Made to Measure" to be set in Buchenwald, y'knowwhuddimean?
This doesn't make me feel old. I already knew I was old.
What I don't think people remember is how utterly unique REM were from the MTV soft-rock and late New Wave of the time, and how they came from out of nowhere. And what the hell is that singer saying? Then, 5 years later, you couldn't count the number of jangly (a word used in every REM review for the first 7 years, I think) new-South, 12-string-Rickenbacker bands there were.
I don't recall if I thanked you for 2010's summer mix -- the first half of that one was my 7-yr-old daughter's favorite playlist ever, and made Cloud Nothing's "DIdn't You" my favorite song of 2010. Can't wait for this one.
Oh, and Lonely Island (in it's own category, of course).
And a couple months ago, people thought Anna Calvi was the Best Thing Ever. Now, nothing for her on 2 lists of 32 records... and only one mention in the comments. Fickle world, this business of music...
Bell X1 released again? Holy cow, they toured on the back of "Flock" for like 4 years. I saw them on Conan playing "Rocky Took A Lover" when it had been out for over 3 years. Now two more records in 2 years? Thanks for the tip.
Since I had "Go Outside" as one of my summer songs last year, it's DQ'ed for this year -- so I'll have to go with either "If You Wanna" by the Vaccines or Lonely Island's "Jack Sparrow" .
I think Art Brut are hilarious, and everyone I know hates them. Good to know I'll have another new record to annoy them all with -- I really thought AB vs. Satan was the swan song...
Well Phoenix had better decide what they want to do next quickly, because Shout Out Louds need to know what they'll have to copy for THEIR next record.
I kid SOLs because I love. And apparently, I am the only one.
Two Door Cinema Club blew the roof off Fallon the night before, and they don't even get a post on 'Gum, but this freakshow gets a post every time he breathes.
Los Campesinos! and Shout Out Louds got put on the Pay No Mind list for some reason this year. Two of my faves of the year, but released/leaked so early that everyone forgot...
I've seen The Radio Dept on a couple lists, not sure it made any of Gum's...
Great song, like most of LC! It's a wonder they weren't on any Best of 2010 lists -- y'know, mainly because they released one of the best handful of records of the year and all... I guess that's not enough, though.
I think Johnny Marr should concern himself less with whining about who is authorized to like the Smiths and more with quitting the Cribs so their next record isn't as disappointing as Ignore the Ignorant.
British celebs have seemingly been unanimous in their hatred for Thatcher, Major, Blair, Brown, and now Cam&Clegg. Has there ever been a pol they liked?
Time to roll out my Top Album List Formula:
#1 Shocking selection of a weird record that will get people to comment on my site
#2 More mainstream indie record that was a bit better than #1 if I'm honest
#3 Big-name Indie veterans who released their best record three years ago
#4 New band that was hyped during the spring/summer
#5 Top-selling Hip-hop record to show my inclusiveness
#6 Record from a girl singer to show my inclusiveness
#7 Best record of the year, but it came out in April, so it's not hot anymore
#8 Second-best record of the year, but it came out in January and leaked in November of last year
#9 Comeback album from a band you thought broke up six years ago
#10 Kanye West
Even if we accept your very-convenient premise that any praise of Bush must necessarily be a lie, Sir Bob Geldof has no political dog in that fight. So why would he "lie" and say that Bush has the best record on Africa of any President? Why are women in Darfur naming their babies "George Bush?" Why did he have 80% approval rates in Africa, even in countries with large Muslim populations?
Sorry, your theory does not hold up to factual scrutiny.
"but there is no fucking way you can give credit to the way Bush handled Katrina."
And I didn't, other than pointing out the ridiculous standard the poster holds Bush to (but apparently not Obama or any other President in history, nor the mayor of NO, nor the Gov of LA). You DO admit he was being ridiculous, right?
"Also, how the fuck can you say BUSH DID MORE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS THAN ANY OTHER PRESIDENT IN HISTORY? I’m not even going to argue with that statement..."
Because you CAN'T argue with what I said, which was Bush did more for AFRICA than any other President. Because it's a fact, and because you apparently don't know how to Google. Look, I didn't say it, African Presidents from Tanzania to Uganda to Benin said it.
Sir Bob Geldof, no fan of Bush, said it, too. ("Mr. Bush has done more than any other president so far. This is the triumph of American policy really. It was probably unexpected of the man. It is expected of the nation, but not of the man, but both rose to the occasion...Geldof said that the president has failed "to articulate this to Americans" but said he is also "pissed off" at the press for their failure to report on this good news story. "You guys didn't pay attention," Geldof said to a group of reporters from all the major newspapers.)
Leaders of Project 21 said it, too. ("From funding for AIDS prevention and treatment to conflict resolution, the Bush Administration's approach towards Africa has been a refreshing difference from his predecessors," said Project 21 member Kevin Martin.)
Democrats like Andrew Young said it, too. (“They have been encouraging democracy and development, trade and still not neglecting the needs of AIDS and malaria and education on the African continent...")
But I suppose you know more then they do. Because you're, uhhhhh, what now?
"WTF is wrong with you!!? You were supposed to be the first person down there the day after the disaster! Handing out plates of food and hugging the people who lost their loved ones."
Come on, now you guys are just getting silly.
So every president in history hates black people. 'Cuz ain't none of them ever satisfied your bizarre job description, where the President has to be a cross between a FEMA aid worker, a cop, a priest and a soup kitchen worker. So why do Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco hate black people? Has Obama EVER been to the killer flood sites in Missouri, Tennessee, or Rhode Island? Nope. But he gets a pass, right?
"Bush was completely apathetic towards poor black people. Which, by the way, appears to be a completely accurate representation of Bush’s political record."
Of course, that's a demonstrably stupid statement. African leaders say that Bush did more for Africa than any president in history -- and even Democrats admit that. If Kanye and the other race-baiters had six brain cells to rub together, they'd know that.
NO WAY! A freaky, paranoid drug addict? Now I've seen it all...
Seriously, remember how cute we all thought it was that Dando was such a sweet, lovable stoner in the Lemonheads days? Not so cute now...
Even by Stupid List Standards, this list is stupid. And if I were Elvis Costello, I'd probably be pissed off ("Twenty critically acclaimed records, avatar of New Wave, genre-busting writer/performer... and I'm behind Sade, Coldplay, ABBA, Steely Dan, five heavy-metal bands, 10 R&B singers who didn't write their own songs...and Fucking Cheap Trick? Fuck VH1 sideways with a Farfisa...").
You know, EC did his most important writing during the bad, bad times leading into the Winter of Discontent (1978). His songs were angry, restless, discontented -- but not literal, as regards the UK's debilitating strikes and wage controls. Outright protest songs would've sounded dated and hacky by now. So I've got some hope for this batch of songs, unless they are too literal. He could use a good record, lest he lose the long-timers.
I love this band long time. For people just getting into Superchunk, The Creators Of Indie (praise be unto them), get "Here's Where the Strings Come In" from 1995. At the time, it got lost amongst the grunge, but I think it's the most underrated indie/alt/collegerock record ever. Together with the aforementioned "Come Pick Me Up," you get both sides to Superchunk -- the loud-fast-guitars of early 'chunk and the more expansive post-pop of the later stuff.
Nice job updating one of the top 3 Squeeze songs. I'm glad they kept the Difford/Tilbrook-patented two-octaved chorus, and surprised they kept the Anglicism "sunlight on the lino" in there while changing others (I guess when a lyric is perfect, it's perfect). This one's going on my rotation.
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