There is a pretty interesting interview in today's Chicago Tribune with rock-god (?) Bono. In a story that is almost too slick to be true, Bono called up Trib music critic Greg Kot after Kot gave the latest U2 CD and concert less than stellar reviews. Kot was (understandably) floored, but agreed to an interview. It's a pretty entertaining read, but the best party is when Bono slams Kot for being a music elitist, and generally craps on prog rock/indie rock for being obnoxious. Bono defends being popular, under the mantle of communication, and just good old hip-shaking rock and roll. I'm not the biggest U2 fan in the world, but this was *super-sweet.*
I have to be honest, there is very little that annoys me more than music snobs. I don't have a problem with people who like very obscure bands inherently, and prefer that to mainstream pop. More power to you. Rather, it is the *music snob persona* - a holier than thou attitude that takes 3 minute, trite pop songs too seriously. [And yes, they ARE trite. Sorry, Alkaline Trio has *not* uncovered some deep truth about the world.]
Hilariously, I was just talking about this with my wife this morning vis-a-vis TV. I dislike people who prattle on about how bad/derivative television is. As though all the moving pictures have to be of high quality to be entertaining. Low brow and derivative rocks. [It seems worth remembering that Shakespeare's history plays are just, ostensibly, the made-for-TV versions of Plutarch's Lives and Chaucher thought jokes about genitalia were killer. Sure, the *skill* behind these piece is enormous - Two and a Half Men doesn't quite reach that stature. However, it is still worth reflecting on how "lowest common denominator" these works might have been in ther time.] Anyway, my theory is: the harder you try to impress with me with how cultured you are, the more certian I am that you are not.
Bringing it back to music, there are a whole slew of bands that I will just admit that I do not get:
1. Coldplay - I don't get it. It's too mellow. Why is that guy always stretching or jumping or whatever?
2. Radiohead - I do get THIS: you're alienated. That said, I might care more if you didn't put me to sleep. I feel that any album that is described as "difficult" or requires "many repeat listenings to understand" is *inherently* not worth my time. [I'll read Adorno and Horkheimer over again because they have something to say. I don't buy that Thom Yorke has revealed a more punishing critiques of modern life than they have, such that it requires me listening to hours of electronic fuzz and wailing vocals.]
3. NIN - There is more to human experience than anguish. Really. Trent Reznor is another someone that people seem to think has stumbled upon some fatal truth about human life. Go read Nietzche. Then read Plato. Read something.
4. The Pixies - Why do they sound so bored on their albums? If they don't care, why should I? Has anyone heard the Bowie cover of "Cactus"? He rocks the socks off it; hell, I don't know what the fuck he's talking about (why is he on a cement floor?) but even *I* want to sleep with him when I hear him sing that tune.
Now, I don't want to say these bands are bad, or that if you like them you are "lame" - far from it, that's the pretension that annoys me. This is
just my *take,* and that is: I just don't *get* it. I like my music short, sweet and fun. I'll gladly admit to liking Louis XIV, Cake, and The Killers far and above any of the "important" bands listed above.
I also like a little variety from my recording artists: is it any coincidence that the biggest - both critically and commercially - bands (Bowie, Beatles, Zeppelin, Dylan, U2, R.E.M., Cash, and so on) cross a number of styles and brook a range of subject matter? It all comes down to this: music that poses as deep annoys me. I'd rather have it be fun. Often, the most seemingly vapid pieces have more interesting things going on - it's called subtext. Also, hipsters bore me. I know I sound like such a Philistine now.. but alas, this is my truth.
Now I have to apologize to all the people who I'm sure think I'm a total tool....
The weekend was good to me ... we checked out an apartment in the South Loop area. The building was crummy, and the neighborhood left a *lot* to be desired. It wasn't bad, just a bit of a wasteland. Hyde Park is a real neighborhood - I can walk six blocks and eat ribs, chicken, Italian, gyros, hamburgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, Thai, Indian, Mexican, Southern, Caribbean, Cajun, and Chinese. In the same six blocks, I could also buy fresh produce, groceries, CDs, DVDs, books, a cup of coffee, and a T-shirt. That's just pretty hard to compete with, I'm forced to admit. I think we'll be here next year, and re-examing this issue next year. We'll have more time, start earlier, and have a better sense of where we're going (like: are we staying in Chicago or not).
I also saw Layer Cake - FINALLY! I have to give it the highest possible recommendation. A fun flick, with great themes about professionalism and the persistence of history. Also: Daniel Craig and Sienna Miller are both dead (*dead*) sexy. It is very much an *adult* gangster film - about 3D characters interacting and well-laid plans, compared to the Guy Ritchie English gangster movie, which hingers on caricature and obnoxious camera work.
See you in the week.
I have to be honest, there is very little that annoys me more than music snobs. I don't have a problem with people who like very obscure bands inherently, and prefer that to mainstream pop. More power to you. Rather, it is the *music snob persona* - a holier than thou attitude that takes 3 minute, trite pop songs too seriously. [And yes, they ARE trite. Sorry, Alkaline Trio has *not* uncovered some deep truth about the world.]
Hilariously, I was just talking about this with my wife this morning vis-a-vis TV. I dislike people who prattle on about how bad/derivative television is. As though all the moving pictures have to be of high quality to be entertaining. Low brow and derivative rocks. [It seems worth remembering that Shakespeare's history plays are just, ostensibly, the made-for-TV versions of Plutarch's Lives and Chaucher thought jokes about genitalia were killer. Sure, the *skill* behind these piece is enormous - Two and a Half Men doesn't quite reach that stature. However, it is still worth reflecting on how "lowest common denominator" these works might have been in ther time.] Anyway, my theory is: the harder you try to impress with me with how cultured you are, the more certian I am that you are not.
Bringing it back to music, there are a whole slew of bands that I will just admit that I do not get:
1. Coldplay - I don't get it. It's too mellow. Why is that guy always stretching or jumping or whatever?
2. Radiohead - I do get THIS: you're alienated. That said, I might care more if you didn't put me to sleep. I feel that any album that is described as "difficult" or requires "many repeat listenings to understand" is *inherently* not worth my time. [I'll read Adorno and Horkheimer over again because they have something to say. I don't buy that Thom Yorke has revealed a more punishing critiques of modern life than they have, such that it requires me listening to hours of electronic fuzz and wailing vocals.]
3. NIN - There is more to human experience than anguish. Really. Trent Reznor is another someone that people seem to think has stumbled upon some fatal truth about human life. Go read Nietzche. Then read Plato. Read something.
4. The Pixies - Why do they sound so bored on their albums? If they don't care, why should I? Has anyone heard the Bowie cover of "Cactus"? He rocks the socks off it; hell, I don't know what the fuck he's talking about (why is he on a cement floor?) but even *I* want to sleep with him when I hear him sing that tune.
Now, I don't want to say these bands are bad, or that if you like them you are "lame" - far from it, that's the pretension that annoys me. This is
just my *take,* and that is: I just don't *get* it. I like my music short, sweet and fun. I'll gladly admit to liking Louis XIV, Cake, and The Killers far and above any of the "important" bands listed above.
I also like a little variety from my recording artists: is it any coincidence that the biggest - both critically and commercially - bands (Bowie, Beatles, Zeppelin, Dylan, U2, R.E.M., Cash, and so on) cross a number of styles and brook a range of subject matter? It all comes down to this: music that poses as deep annoys me. I'd rather have it be fun. Often, the most seemingly vapid pieces have more interesting things going on - it's called subtext. Also, hipsters bore me. I know I sound like such a Philistine now.. but alas, this is my truth.
Now I have to apologize to all the people who I'm sure think I'm a total tool....
The weekend was good to me ... we checked out an apartment in the South Loop area. The building was crummy, and the neighborhood left a *lot* to be desired. It wasn't bad, just a bit of a wasteland. Hyde Park is a real neighborhood - I can walk six blocks and eat ribs, chicken, Italian, gyros, hamburgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, Thai, Indian, Mexican, Southern, Caribbean, Cajun, and Chinese. In the same six blocks, I could also buy fresh produce, groceries, CDs, DVDs, books, a cup of coffee, and a T-shirt. That's just pretty hard to compete with, I'm forced to admit. I think we'll be here next year, and re-examing this issue next year. We'll have more time, start earlier, and have a better sense of where we're going (like: are we staying in Chicago or not).
I also saw Layer Cake - FINALLY! I have to give it the highest possible recommendation. A fun flick, with great themes about professionalism and the persistence of history. Also: Daniel Craig and Sienna Miller are both dead (*dead*) sexy. It is very much an *adult* gangster film - about 3D characters interacting and well-laid plans, compared to the Guy Ritchie English gangster movie, which hingers on caricature and obnoxious camera work.
See you in the week.
i had a response ready for the "is electoral politics war?" thread...but it got killed by the outage and i havent been able to get the same magic back.
I didn't follow your elitism-bashing at first, but I understood a little ways in that you were talking about snobbery. That's fine; I agree. But I definitely prefer that which is original, thoughtful, and well done. Don't get me wrong, we all need junk food every now and again, but overall I despise mediocrity.
I also have to defend Radiohead--at least OK Computer. When that came out it was a complete breath of fresh air. A landmark album that spawned much imitation. Your quibble with the repeat listens seems to be about the music's message. But what about the repeat listens to uncover that which is instrumentally layered? These are my favorite albums: those which give the listener something new to discover in each go around.
If you're looking for some fascinating music, maybe give Godspeed You! Black Emperor a chance. I guarantee you've never heard anything like it.