Band Judging, why?

[KickTheBobo]

Can't stand the hype machine. Poor IMA Robot, are they back working at the car wash or what?

I've never heard Neon Indian, but I am quite sure they(?) are stupid.

this post forced me to investigate what Toro y Moi sounds like. Seems like the dude is just a pair of dumb glasses and reverb. Not my thing.

I knew right off the bat what Warpaint (yet another Native American band name) would be like: pretty chicks with reverb. I investigated and delivered.

You know who is GREAT though?! Glasgow band Moon Unit - who WFMU introduced me to and will be playing on Brain Turner's show in April. This is why I pledge.

[dave from knoxville]

I thought I liked Neon Indian, but I can take it back if I have to.

[Paul DeLouisiana]

Right I haven't heard Neon Indian, Ariel Pink, Sleigh Bells, CSS or any of those Wavves/ mispelled-name bands.

[DJ Clem]

If I'm missing something here...well, I guess I'll just miss it.

[Denim Gremlin]

Right I haven't heard Neon Indian, Ariel Pink, Sleigh Bells, CSS or any of those Wavves/ mispelled-name bands.

are you proud of yourself?

I think you're missing out but maybe you're just one of those cynical assholes that can't fathom liking anything

[KickTheBobo]

Right I haven't heard Neon Indian, Ariel Pink, Sleigh Bells, CSS or any of those Wavves/ mispelled-name bands.

are you proud of yourself?

I think you're missing out but maybe you're just one of those cynical assholes that can't fathom liking anything

Well, I am most definitely a cynical asshole but I am more than willing to give each of these bands 30 seconds of my time.

Here's a review:

Neon Indian: "Deadbeat Summer" - Sounds like Hot Child In the City with bleeps and bloops. Lame.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round - bad disco with reverby vocals. Lame

Sleigh Bells - Infinity Guitars - Cheerleader music recorded in a shoebox. They even mention Indians! Lame.

CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above - mediocre fake disco then some dumb vocals. I'll pass.

Wavves - "Post Acid"  - Pop Punk. I'd rather be listening to The Thermals. pass.

[Denim Gremlin]

Right I haven't heard Neon Indian, Ariel Pink, Sleigh Bells, CSS or any of those Wavves/ mispelled-name bands.

are you proud of yourself?

I think you're missing out but maybe you're just one of those cynical assholes that can't fathom liking anything

Well, I am most definitely a cynical asshole but I am more than willing to give each of these bands 30 seconds of my time.

Here's a review:

Neon Indian: "Deadbeat Summer" - Sounds like Hot Child In the City with bleeps and bloops. Lame.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round - bad disco with reverby vocals. Lame

Sleigh Bells - Infinity Guitars - Cheerleader music recorded in a shoebox. They even mention Indians! Lame.

CSS - Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above - mediocre fake disco then some dumb vocals. I'll pass.

Wavves - "Post Acid"  - Pop Punk. I'd rather be listening to The Thermals. pass.

man, you're so outta touch with the kids!


seriously though, fair enough. I appreciate people making at least semi informed opinions.

I like a lot of that stuff, wavves and sleigh bells especially. (i also used to work at urban outfitters though so i'm not willing to rule out some kind of musical stockholm syndrome.)

it's hardly the only music I listen to but I like keeping an open mind about what's going on in the current scene. I personally think we're in the best time for modern pop music in decades.

[Matt]

If I'm missing something here...well, I guess I'll just miss it.

To be fair, this pic is a little outdated. Now he's an asshole sunglasses model who rubs his glamorous lifestyle in everyone's faces. Still eminently missable, though!

Devendra Banhart at the Rainbow House - Director's Cut

[mike_b]

I thought that Sleigh Bells album was fun.  It's total fluff, but you can dance to it.  I like the dichotomy of poppy dance stuff and ridiculous distortion.

Neon Indian was ok live, but I can't see sitting down and listening to them.

[Paul DeLouisiana]

Right I haven't heard Neon Indian, Ariel Pink, Sleigh Bells, CSS or any of those Wavves/ mispelled-name bands.

are you proud of yourself?

I think you're missing out but maybe you're just one of those cynical assholes that can't fathom liking anything

Well no that's not the case, and I was worried someone would say that. I, like most people here, listen to tons of music. I like new bands as much as the next guy, it's just that all these bands overwhelm me. Def not bragging or anything. I am also not saying that I am better than having to listen to these bands. There as just so many of them and I haven't had that impulse to check them out yet.

[Pidgeon]

It doesn't matter what I'm looking for on Amazon, those Ariel Pink and Wavves albums are ALWAYS in the recommendations.

I think I was on the page for a Turkish teapot the other day and saw them.

[Paul DeLouisiana]

But I will say that I'd rather explore the In the Red catalogue or Goner or like Stax or something. What with the youth's fixation on new new new?

[wood and iron]

I subscribe to Stereogum via RSS and tend to download all the free mp3s they offer. I find myself having a ton of this new dance indie pop stuff that while isn't exactly my cup of tea, isn't bad enough to make me want to get rid of them off of my computer.

But sometimes it feels like I've lost any ability to judge these songs anymore. They're just so light and fluffy that they don't withstand any sort of judgement and are just there.

Does any of that make sense?

[Pidgeon]

I subscribe to Stereogum via RSS and tend to download all the free mp3s they offer. I find myself having a ton of this new dance indie pop stuff that while isn't exactly my cup of tea, isn't bad enough to make me want to get rid of them off of my computer.

But sometimes it feels like I've lost any ability to judge these songs anymore. They're just so light and fluffy that they don't withstand any sort of judgement and are just there.

Does any of that make sense?

Exactly, yeah. Best Coast is the worst of that bunch, I think. Some of the laziest music I've ever heard in my life.

[Denim Gremlin]

But I will say that I'd rather explore the In the Red catalogue or Goner or like Stax or something. What with the youth's fixation on new new new?

what's coming out on in the red and goner is new.

what makes modern garage rock more relevant than anything else?

this whole thread is starting to drive me nuts