Young Chris suggested. TNC approved. This joint is pretty sick. I bet it's getting run at parties everywhere. Wish I was there. As it is, I'm trapped in the bat-cave, working on the latest concoction.
Overly ornate, amped up, fake eighties-ish banality. This sort of stuff has been all over like a bad rash in the last few years. Hey, but what do I know, I've been told I'm a hater. To each their own I suppose.
Actually, I wish Passion pit and their ilk would try harder but I realize that I expect too much from music, always have. Biting a style is biting a style no matter what the era, now it's just out of fashion to say so.
Everybody is biting styles and most bands are pretty comfortable discussing their major influences.
I do think you are right and that this music is totally
eighties-ish... but I'll happily take the return of 80's music rather than the return of grunge or nu-metal. And a lot of 80's music wasn't terrible... its just really rare that bands/songs survive their era.
I agree...hoping nu-metal never comes back, or at least it waits until I'm too old and senile to care.
The older I get the more I realize some of that 80's pop ages really well. The quality level of many of the '1 hit wonders' was surprisingly decent, higher than the current level of panflashes at least IMHO.
No, it just seems ridiculous to me to call any pop music with a synthesized beat "fake eighties-ish banality." Do you put MGMT in that group? Hot Chip?
I agree... its a bit much... however if there was one song I would consider "fake eighties-ish banality" it would be this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5PNLbiIAIc
My Coco - by Stellastarr*
Yes, your description seems far-fetched, and more importantly, just flat out lazy. Every band that uses a synthesizer isn't a shitty 80's rip-off. That's ridiculous.
Nope. My description was the opposite of lazy. I gave the reasons why I thought they were no good and you simply disagreed or didn't like my point but whatever, we can just agree to disagree. I like fun music as much as the next guy, I'm just tired of this stylized brand of re-inventing the wheel. It's not just the use of eighties setting on syths, its the mood, style arrangements and the overall package. It's all just too tasteful, all the T's dotted, I's dotted. But hey maybe I am completely off base as you have implied. I will concede that what I say is out step and if so but I'll be that.
While I don't agree with you, Karl, I will admit to being a bit fascinated by your reasons. Is there an example of a 'fun' band you are currently listening to that doesn't abide by all these things you hate? I will instantly go to ITunes and buy whatever you recommend...
Just because a song is heavily influenced by a early period doesn't mean it sucks. The Reeling makes me want to throw my hands in the air and wave 'em like I just don't care. If it doesn't do it for you, it's just not your taste (doesn't mean you're a hater).
I also love the song because it features the PS22 chorus (fifth graders from NYC). Check out their blog. The kids are so cute and wonderful singers. I highly recommend their rendition of Eye of the Tiger.
i think this was posted on sullivan by his caretakers. i wasn't feeling it the 1st time. listened again when i saw it here - I turned it up, and dug it more. still not all that into it but i do like it, and the video was fun. reminded me of parties i've been to.
i think coates' expanding interest in music outside of hip hop is just beginning. you are in a nascent stage grasshopper. early signs are encouraging, however.
Here's a piece no one cared about. Meh, whatever, probably the most enjoyable article I did during my stint at TIME. Premiered a month before I got laid-off. The nail in the coffin? Ya think?
Here's me going after Al. I didn't so much have a problem with him, as I had a problem with media acting like this dude was the go-to guy for everything black.
This was my first real story at time. I was writing for the Business section, a real change of direction for me. At any rate, it's about Wal-Mart's attempts to colonize the inner-city. As much as I enjoyed this piece, I mostly enjoyed going out to Chicago, which is a beautiful, beautiful city.
This a piece I did about the cops just outside our nation capitol, in Prince George's County, a few years back. I wanted to offer a counter to the dumb, conventional wisdom that if you paint your police force black, you could eradicate police brutality. In fact, Prince George's--one of the richest, blackest counties in the country--also had one of the most brutal police force's in the country.
The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood 
That video reminds me of D.A.N.C.E.
Justice was seriously one of the best shows I've ever been to.
But yeah, there's a lot of similarities between the styles of those two videos.
Ahhh TNC Michael Angelakos was in my class at Emerson. I can't believe these guys are blowing up.
Those cucumber sandwiches must be tasting mighty good right now.
Overly ornate, amped up, fake eighties-ish banality. This sort of stuff has been all over like a bad rash in the last few years. Hey, but what do I know, I've been told I'm a hater. To each their own I suppose.
"Overly ornate, amped up, fake eighties-ish banality"
Eighties-ish would have sufficed.
Just for the record, TNC, I believe I suggested this band in your music thread just the other day.
for reals
Beyond the fact that this kind of music is great for dancing, I love how ernest they are.
everytime i hear this cut, it makes me want to c-walk.
hahahahahaha
Oh, Karl. Like the Kobe fans say, you are a hater. Please be nice.
Try harder, Karl. Try harder.
Actually, I wish Passion pit and their ilk would try harder but I realize that I expect too much from music, always have. Biting a style is biting a style no matter what the era, now it's just out of fashion to say so.
Everybody is biting styles and most bands are pretty comfortable discussing their major influences.
I do think you are right and that this music is totally
eighties-ish... but I'll happily take the return of 80's music rather than the return of grunge or nu-metal. And a lot of 80's music wasn't terrible... its just really rare that bands/songs survive their era.
What should we be listening to instead?
I agree...hoping nu-metal never comes back, or at least it waits until I'm too old and senile to care.
The older I get the more I realize some of that 80's pop ages really well. The quality level of many of the '1 hit wonders' was surprisingly decent, higher than the current level of panflashes at least IMHO.
No, it just seems ridiculous to me to call any pop music with a synthesized beat "fake eighties-ish banality." Do you put MGMT in that group? Hot Chip?
I agree... its a bit much... however if there was one song I would consider "fake eighties-ish banality" it would be this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5PNLbiIAIc
My Coco - by Stellastarr*
And I like it just fine.
Why is it ridiculous? Does my description really seem so far fetched? And yes MGMT, Hot Chip, et al.
Yes, your description seems far-fetched, and more importantly, just flat out lazy. Every band that uses a synthesizer isn't a shitty 80's rip-off. That's ridiculous.
Nope. My description was the opposite of lazy. I gave the reasons why I thought they were no good and you simply disagreed or didn't like my point but whatever, we can just agree to disagree. I like fun music as much as the next guy, I'm just tired of this stylized brand of re-inventing the wheel. It's not just the use of eighties setting on syths, its the mood, style arrangements and the overall package. It's all just too tasteful, all the T's dotted, I's dotted. But hey maybe I am completely off base as you have implied. I will concede that what I say is out step and if so but I'll be that.
While I don't agree with you, Karl, I will admit to being a bit fascinated by your reasons. Is there an example of a 'fun' band you are currently listening to that doesn't abide by all these things you hate? I will instantly go to ITunes and buy whatever you recommend...
(offscreen)
Dring! Dring!
"Yeah . . yeah . . . okay, I'll tell them"
(to camera)
"Passion Pit, that was the 80s and early 90s calling, it seems they want their music back, you'd better call 'em yourself . . . "
On karmic grounds, the mid-90's would like that "it's ___ calling" bit back.
Touché.
Just because a song is heavily influenced by a early period doesn't mean it sucks. The Reeling makes me want to throw my hands in the air and wave 'em like I just don't care. If it doesn't do it for you, it's just not your taste (doesn't mean you're a hater).
I also love the song because it features the PS22 chorus (fifth graders from NYC). Check out their blog. The kids are so cute and wonderful singers. I highly recommend their rendition of Eye of the Tiger.
http://ps22chorus.blogspot.com/2009/05/singing-with-passionpit.html
http://ps22chorus.blogspot.com/2009/04/eye-of-tiger.html
I nearly dropped my cucumber sandwich dancing to this
i think this was posted on sullivan by his caretakers. i wasn't feeling it the 1st time. listened again when i saw it here - I turned it up, and dug it more. still not all that into it but i do like it, and the video was fun. reminded me of parties i've been to.
i think coates' expanding interest in music outside of hip hop is just beginning. you are in a nascent stage grasshopper. early signs are encouraging, however.