with this, todd terje's output, at Red Bull's Diggin' in the Carts documentary series, Stereogum really should've had a thinkpiece called "Is 2015 The Year of the Viyda?"
For starters, he was a baby when the photo was taken, and babies haven't been exactly known to consciously make decisions for themselves, so he really didn't "do" anything. Meanwhile, James Rettig has actually managed to get paid to blog about indie music and lifestyle, which is an astounding feat since it's literally the least important thing ever.
Tom's picks have been getting so ridiculous to the point that this rule should be lifted, I believe. Especially with next week. I'm waiting to see what album gets picked over No Cities To Love. I'd be okay with Viet Cong.
I often have strong opinions about acts like that — I will heartily defend Radiohead to the point of caricature, and I’ll just as passionately take a dump on Death Grips / Ultraviolence was easily one of the best albums of 2014...
http://i.imgur.com/Oknr5aE.gif
I mean, as a professional music critic and journalist, the fact that we built this impenetrable shield for Beyoncé that protects her from any and all criticism should really irk you. My love, your love, or anyone's love for her music notwithstanding, no one is above scrutiny because they're an exceptional anything.
Do you know how much money I would produce from every orifice on the body to see haute couture models strut down a runway to this music? Approximately $∞.
Yeah, you're right. I was watching The Twilight Zone as I was typing it, so I will admit that my attention was in that fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man.
Ha, I recently caught on to True Detective, way after everyone stopped talking about it. It was amazing. There's a sort of peace to diving into something after everyone already has. You get to enjoy it at your own pace, you know? No super-annoying hype machine shoving it down your throat.
I think people's reasoning behind abandoning an artist when they've reached a wider audience is the idea that newer fans can't appreciate the art as well, or not as it's supposed to be, or something. And honestly, I'm guilty of it.
Case-in-point: Run The Jewels. Now, I'm not saying at all that I'm "abandoning" Mike and El, because I've been a fan of these guys for years, but I will say that going to their most recent shows and seeing the front rows taken over by white kids with no rhythm, wearing gold chains, and who came just to stomp around sort of kills it for me. Now, it's hard for me to listen to the album without picturing a 17-year-old white male suburbanite going around talking about "fuck da police" with absolutely no awareness of how deeply that sentiment rings with the ones who coined it. RTJ2 makes me really, really want R.A.P. Music 2.
I really do miss Videogum. I don't think I was ever a part of the commentariat, but I checked it out as much as its sister.
My album of the year was a tough pick, as RTJ2 is a much more powerful and relevant album, but I can't say that I enjoyed it as much as You're Dead! Song, though? Seasons all the way. Til I die.
I think they should take it back, you know? If you were someone who didn't get (or care about) the delicate , volatile language of the internet and heard someone described as a "social justice warrior", you'd probably think about a pretty noble person. Someone who fights for your rights? Always great!
I know it's shallow, but that outlandish bum-chic thing that they've got going on is what turns me off the most. You couple that with the unremarkable sleepy-time tunes and suddenly you have an unintentionally hilarious caricature of a "Brooklyn indie rock band" and everyone just kind of fell for it.
Everyone has this image of a basement-dwelling, fedora-wearing, foul-smelling, hateful bastard when they picture your typical 4chan user. The terrifying thing is that 4chan users are dudes who lead completely normal lives. As we've just seen, sometimes the ones spewing the garbage are sometimes critical darlings and you'd never know. I mean, it's already known that a ton of bands and artists post or have posted on /mu/. Hell, I think FlyLo's "You're Dead!" was actually leaked on /mu/ by FlyLo himself.
Anonymity is like Panda Express, polyamory, and communism: great in theory, terrible in practice.
(The funniest aspect of this whole thing is that DIIV is actually the only "indie blogger's choice" band worse than Perfect Pussy.)
You're Dead! was my AOTY, actually. I know that the album would never top any lists this year critically, but as someone who is more enamored with production than songwriting, Flying Lotus is a messiah. The whole time listening, you have this slack-jawed, wide-eyed stare into space like "how the fuck is he doing this?" Like the greatest music writer ever once decreed -- respect motherfucking craft.
my top ten:
10. Nikki Nack
9: my friend Maddie's new album
8: that shit I was working on and never finished
7: Shriek
6: It's Album Time
5: Singles
4: Ricky Sandwich's quiet release
3: You're Dead!
2: You're Dead! again
1: RTJ2 (obviously)
(but for real, minus the glaring omission that is Nikki Nack and You're Dead! sitting a little too low for my tastes, solid list yous guys)
Comments