Hi Oyvind. I admit that I have to agree with you. I have been a music snob in the harshest of ways and I honestly have begun to re-develop that so that I keep more of an open mind. I'll check out Beyonce's work and am trying harder to not blindly dismiss somebody because of opinion predisposition.
Thanks for including the vids Scott. I don't know if Phil is/was considered hip in a lot of indie rock circles, but he was an enormous influence on Paul Simon and John Lennon among many others. Incredible songwriter, otherworldly angelic voice and harmonies. I argue that Phil was just as vital to the development of early Rock and Roll as Elvis. R.I.P.
''Now, I’m not saying she ain’t commercialized as fuck. But I could give less of a shit as long as the music is fun and engaging.''
She is. I listened to the track XO and while I didn't consider it fun and/or engaging, it was well done regardless. There. I admitted it :p
''And some of the biggest songwriting talent out there right now working with her''-
Eh, it really depends on if you consider pop songwriting talented. It's taste and perspective. I find her flashy, gaudy and not to many shades removed from Lady Gaga to be honest. The idea that she's doing something deep or emotionally revaltory? REALLY? Have you heard Savages new record? Even Lorde or heck, even Sky. Hey no insult to Beyonce. She's got a great voice, but I just smell fishy top 10 Billboard at wholesale prices. I can't art among the hosts of collaborators, high profile producers, and top shelf corporate strategy. Maybe I'm wrong though. The girl can sing and dance though. But me personally, I don't find her ''artistic musings'' to be on the level of PJ Harvey, ect. But good for her if she wants to write from her heart. I'm not inclined to give blanket pet worship to her because the hipsters love her. Not a sheep. But certainly can respect that the girl can sing great and good for her for choosing to circumvent her writing into something more emotive and personable. Good for you if you enjoy her music too. I appreciate your post because here on the 'gum I think its important for me to listen to other perspectives and who knows, I might give her music more of a chance. Peace.
I remember Secret Machines on MTV (!) being interviewed and naming The Velvet Underground as one of their big influences. I was looking at the dumb TRL crowd mindlessly wooting and realizing that Secret Machines are just over these kids heads.
Sorry to jump in on this, but the whole hipster fascination with Beyonce is passe. She's a pop star. Listen to some real prop girl power stuff thats edgy, impassioned and not corporate like Savages, PJ Harvey or heck, even Lorde. I mean, for reals.
Excitedly clicked on the link hoping to also read news that there was a new surprise SP album dropping this year...but, no :( Waaay too soon for a greatest hits LP. Really nice track though. Neck of the Woods was strong, but they should go in Cannibal's direction and shorten the tracks and keep them intense.
Politely have to disagree jennyiintrouble. The National write genuine, emotive songs from the heart. Beyonce is sexy affectation to the core and it is in fact trite pop. I don't see how any reasonable person could compare the two. Tim, you are quite correct. When collaborators, outside producers and writers comprise nearly 95% of your record, that doesn't exactly reinforce the idea that you have a singular artistic vision. Trent Reznor is gifted enough to nearly do all the creative leg work himself, as is Prince. Very few people are gifted in that capacity, and there aren't many singular artists gifted enough to be doing that today.
In regards to the sample, in Beyonce's defense it may be in poor taste but it doesn't seem to be calculated and callous. On the subject of Beyonce, If I want to hear smart woman fronted pop, I'll listen to Santigold thank you very much.
Hi Michael. If there is anybody on the 'gum who posts regularly that has the right to gauge insight into Chris's piece about mortaliy it's you I think. You certainly are extremely transparent and honest. I appreciate that. I don't know what to say to you other then many of us, at times have thought of wanting to be dead. Some people seem to be blessed (or cursed) with a tighter grasp of ignorance where they don't feel as much, but I think your fears, hopes, frustrations are very very universal. This isn't to belittle your pain, but your'e not the misfit you might feel you are. Jesus Christ was/is salvation for me. Personal relationship with God. I'm Jewish too, but it works out well. I also got clean years ago (which helped get my bearings back) and turned my pain into song (which also worked out well). For what its worth, even this anonymous internet fellow gum stranger reads your comments, sees your pain and cares enough to say that 2014 isn't fatalism for you. You're not destined for perpetual torment. You have a great gift in writing and you're a hard worker. Don't cave in no matter how dark the moment gets. I wish Stereogum would start like a message board for the regulars on the 'gum to connect. Anyway, just wanted to say that. Best to you Michael.
Hmm. It really seems highly unnecessary and a tad overproduced. The original was so stark and that's what made it especially poignant. Doing Beatles covers/Lennon covers in my book is taboo. But thankfully Beck didn't destroy one of John's best solo songs.Looking forward to your new record too Beck!
Anyway, my apologies. I initially posted without actually researching this. After looking into it, I understand a bit better why they did what they did. Obviously they deserve inherent human rights. So I applaud their release on those grounds.
No, of course not. I've researched the matter. I can respect some of their motives, but not all. I hesitate to think though that scared grounds like a church is the place to bring politics in. That's my conviction.
I agree Michael_. He was dealing with hardcore straight up racism and while his words weren't pretty, anybody could understand his ire. I think that was a beef here on the gum years ago, Trent vs. Twitter, or at least it should have been.
''Nine Inch Nails leader Trent Reznor has some VERY things to say about David Bowie''-
Tom, very GOOD things you mean :) I also think the beef was really a pseudo beef. Trent used a cryptic campaign for Year Zero that worked for the record. Arcade Fire's campaign worked too. I think the Hollywood Reporter sensationalized this. Or maybe its just that I don't want to see two of my favorite artists involved in a spat before Christmas.
I hear where you're coming from, I might check out Danger Days. I haven't heard it. I did appreciate MCR for what they were and to say they were the best power-pop band since Cheap Trick isn't too far removed. Maybe they'll come back one day. Fall out Boy came back this year but they can stay hidden.
The Black Parade was a pretty great album in my book. It's too bad they didn't push their career in that direction. It was a pretty creative album with a few beautiful songs on it. Friends of mine who were into 'that' scene completely hated the black parade's turnabout face, but I loved it. They had truly some things about them I really liked. They could have graciously walked away from the scene kid hot topic crowd and matured their voice and could still be going strong. Anyway, my two pence.
Well to be truthful, it's incredibly sad for the poor guys in the band who weren't convicted deviants. It's not so much a band break-up on usual break up terms, but something much worse and my feeling is that those poor guys deserve some sort of medal for how they were strung along with lies and deception by that deviant.
Scott and Stereogum, that video was actually really cute. Well done :) I think The Mars Volta was one of the greatest losses. Great band that started to go off the rails with long-winded prog-latin-rock, but there first 2 albums were just perfect.
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