what are you listening to?

[murlough23]

IDK, but it is the kind of comment that takes a swipe at the band and its fans at the same time.

We wouldn't want to imply that problems with the music are the listener's fault, after all.

[bloop]

We wouldn't want to imply that problems with the music are the listener's fault, after all.

I'm not sure I'm following the connection, and I'm not sure I care to, either. I will say that sometimes, when the music doesn't connect, it's not exactly the listener's fault, but there's the distinct possibility that it's not really anything the band is doing wrong, either.

I don't know anything about this band, btw, so I have no horse in this one.

[bloop]

Listened to the new Of Montreal album today. Dude clearly has issues, but he's often compelling.

[murlough23]

I'm not sure I'm following the connection, and I'm not sure I care to, either. I will say that sometimes, when the music doesn't connect, it's not exactly the listener's fault, but there's the distinct possibility that it's not really anything the band is doing wrong, either.

I can think of times when you've been uncharitable specifically toward a band's fanbase. That's all I'm saying. In those cases it's usually more of a known entity, like a favorite "bro rock" punching bag (and often I agree with you that the music being made tends to attract a lot of the dullest knives in the drawer). I'm just surprised to see you come out on the other side of this one, though I guess it's fair to give the benefit of the doubt when you don't know squat about the band in question. (And neither do I.)

Anyway, I took "boring moody college kid band" to be a reference to the people in the band, not the people listening to it. As in, these are boring people making moody music that sounds like the kind of thing college kids would make.

[bloop]

I can think of times when you've been uncharitable specifically toward a band's fanbase. That's all I'm saying. In those cases it's usually more of a known entity, like a favorite "bro rock" punching bag (and often I agree with you that the music being made tends to attract a lot of the dullest knives in the drawer).

I think a lot of those bands just attract a largely young and impressionable fanbase that doesn't know better.

High school kids dictate what's popular, but hand it to college kids, who seem to have a better grasp of what's good.

Anyway, I took "boring moody college kid band" to be a reference to the people in the band, not the people listening to it. As in, these are boring people making moody music that sounds like the kind of thing college kids would make.

This is possibly what he meant, but it's not what I took it to mean.

[murlough23]

I think a lot of those bands just attract a largely young and impressionable fanbase that doesn't know better.

High school kids dictate what's popular, but hand it to college kids, who seem to have a better grasp of what's good.

College students are largely still quite young and impressionable, at least by my estimation. They're likely to explore more and care less about what's "cool", but man, I sure knew a lot of people in college whose tastes were rather lemming-like. I liked some stupid mopey college kid stuff back then. (And some stupid overly chirpy youth groupy CCM stuff.) I'll cop to it.

Anyway, there are plenty of adults well into middle age and beyond who have a lot more disposable income and who fall for whatever low-hanging fruit they stumble across due to a lack of awareness or interest in searching out what's actually good. Personally I don't think any one age group merits the blanket defense. If you ask me, most people of any age have rather superficial tastes in music. About the only blameless group I can think of is little kids, simply because they don't have the buying power, the cultural influence, or really any expectation on them to think deeper about it.

I know at times I've been uncharitable towards an artist's perceived target audience. I think that's a natural inclination within a lot of us when we don't like music, to wonder "Who likes this stuff?" and try to figure out why that does something for them that it isn't doing for us. I'm trying to be better about not doing that, especially in the indie realm where a lot of artists may not in fact give a crap about any "target audience". There are times when I will chalk my not getting it up to a cultural difference, but not mean that disparagingly toward the people who do "get it".

This is possibly what he meant, but it's not what I took it to mean.

I'll give the benefit of the doubt unless he states otherwise.

[Aaron]

You guys should check it out. Mike McCarthy, who produced several sthingy albums, produced the White Rabbit album. It's not great but it is good.  It's definitely not boring. I reserve boring for the Lana Del Rey album..unfortunately

[Ian]

The White Rabbits album is good enough, but it's still intended for moody college kids and I personally find it boring.

You know what?  I'm actually thinking of Frightened Rabbits.  My bad!  

Listening to the Lana album right now, 4 songs in and it's 4 for 4.  

[bloop]

Rabbits do propagate fast.

[Ian]

First 5 songs from Lana were great, it's in a slight medsection slump now  

Radio a nice rebound though

[murlough23]

M83's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. I'd place their sound somewhere in between Empire of the Sun and Animal Collective. This isn't a bad thing. With 22 tracks between the 2 discs, I don't mind that many are just instrumental experimentation and/or a brief repeated mantra or spoken word piece in place of what I'd consider a "song". There's more than enough to get lost in here and that's the sort of experience I expect from this genre.

[ewok20t3]

M83's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming.

I love that album.



I'm listening to Great Lake Swimmers. I can't get enough Ongiara since picking it up this weekend. I find it reminiscent of Sufjan's more stripped down folk tunes.

[Vlad!]

Getting into Dirt Poor Robins. Their Cage album is amazing.

[Ian]

M83's Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. I'd place their sound somewhere in between Empire of the Sun and Animal Collective. This isn't a bad thing. With 22 tracks between the 2 discs, I don't mind that many are just instrumental experimentation and/or a brief repeated mantra or spoken word piece in place of what I'd consider a "song". There's more than enough to get lost in here and that's the sort of experience I expect from this genre.

Love this band but the Panda vocals were almost to much too take.

[murlough23]

Love this band but the Panda vocals were almost to much too take.

They've definitely got that 80s affectation. Remember, I listen to Empire of the Sun, so this is a trade-up.

[Aaron]

The Dears - Gang of Losers

[Ian]

to much too take.

Did I really type this? 

[murlough23]

Did I really type this? 

Did I really miss that? 

[Aaron]

First Aid Kit - "The Lion's Roar"

[Aaron]

Sharon Van Etten - "A Crime"

[Ian]

First Aid Kit - "The Lion's Roar"

This album sounds pretty nice

[Aaron]

This album sounds pretty nice

two sisters from Sweden making music? Yes please. 

It's lovely. I was very surprised after hearing the album. 

[murlough23]

Wild Flag - s/t

Wanted to hear Carrie Brownstein in action after seeing her on Portlandia. This isn't really my style, but "Romance" is tons o' fun.

[bloop]

Sleater-Kinney is really good.

[murlough23]

Sleater-Kinney is really good.

Might check them out someday. Again, since this ain't really my style, I'll have to go in figuring I can't do much to critique the stuff that doesn't work for me, but if I like any of it, then hey, bonus.