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[jeph]

Just got this email from Marc Tobin of 50 Records:

Hey Jeph,

My name is Marc, and I work for the Minneapolis based label 50 records.  Our
current release is “Atomism”, which will be released nationally August 21.

With awesome feedback and support from local and regional press, White Light
Riot has made its impact on the Midwest music scene and increased their fan
base throughout the region.  Their laidback demeanor and energetic,
sometimes spontaneous show presence should help carry this momentum into the
national market.

White Light Riot consists of Minneapolis natives, brothers Mike and Mark
Schwandt, Joe Christenson and Dan Larsen.  These incredibly talented
musicians craft catchy songs that appeal to fans of both indie rock and
Britpop.  Though often compared to The Killers, The Strokes or Franz
Ferdinand, White Light Riot blend originality with influences of the past.
Every where you turn your likely to see, hear, and read positive feedback
from White Light Riot’s locally released album “Atomism”.

“Local music: Best local CDs of the year ... so far” Star Tribune

“If you don’t know who White Light Riot is, you’ve fallen behind in your
musical education and you need to brush up.  I generally find myself unable
to look away for too long for fear of missing even a single moment.” More
Cow Bell

“Local Brit-inspired rockers White Light Riot stand alongside the Alarmists
as the Cities' best bets for breakthrough success this year…” Pioneer Press

Attached is their electronic press kit to this email, just a little
something for your viewing pleasure.

http://www.50records.com/atomism.html

http://www.50records.com/digitalpress/digitalpress_LP.html


 Embedded is a digital copy of the album from.   Both sites contain their
full-length album.

With such a large audience we believe you guys would be the perfect outlet
to expand White Light Riot’s recognition.  If you like what you hear I can
send a physical copy of the album at your request.  We also have additional
video media: interviews, video blogs, and shows that we give blog/review
sites exclusive access to.  Is this something you would be interested in as
well?  I believe teaming with you would help us continue riding the wave of
success into new dimensions that you and your company have developed.
  Thanks for you taking your time to listen; I hope you enjoy it as much as
we do.

Marc Tobin
50 Records
50 Entertainment

Pretty much any time I hear a band compared to "the Killers, the Strokes, or Franz Ferdinand" I assume that they are crap. But I could be wrong! In any case, I don't have time to check out the music today, so I am inviting you guys to do it in my stead. Tell me what YOU think, QC Music Board.

You can listen to the full-length here.

[backstagebetty]

The good news is, I don't think they sound like The Killers. The bad news is, the only thing more boring than reading that droning email was listening to the first three tracks of the album.

So... bored.

That's about as far as I'm going to get. Hopefully this album can get a proper review from someone who can bear to listen to the whole thing, but it's not gonna be me.

[Kai]

This is pretty awful

I give it a 2.4 out of a total possible Jets To Brazil

[Caiphana]

*wrinkles nose*

Yeah, pretty damn bad. The lyrics are boring ("Reasons, reasons, reasons come apart. Reasons like...."), god, just shoot me. As for the music itself.... it sounds like.... like something a bored emo kid would write in his room in an hour.

And this is bad coming from me. I like most music. It couldn't end fast enough for me. I would rather listen to the white noise of the fan than this.

[kablaaamo]

It is not as good as that new Weakerthans, and I am nowhere near interested enough in it to give it further objectivity.

[SeanBateman]

I will listen.

PS music blog.

[Kai]

Woah, seriously you guys actually listened to it?

Man I was just assuming they were a Quiet Riot and Whitesnake cover band.

[SeanBateman]

I assume people are just shitting on this because they want Jeph to think they are cool, right?

This band is not terrible by any means. I don't think I'd buy the record, but it's really inoffensive. I doubt I'd change the station if they came on the radio. It's just really simple guitar rock. No twist, no flair, just some guys with guitars and drums singing songs. The lyrics on some of the songs are really abysmal, but as a whole, it's just a rock record. I'm only on track 6, Midway Souvenirs, and it's definitely the worst song so far, but I think that's just because they are trying to do something slow and ballady. When they stick to upbeat guitar pop, these guys aren't nearly bad enough for this hate.

[Caiphana]

It's just... bland. Like oatmeal. Oatmeal is delicious, but it's no good plain. Throw some cinnamon or brown sugar on that.

edit: er, I used the wrong word. Fixed.

[backstagebetty]

Yes, it is inoffensive, simply because it is too boring to be offensive. The only reason I wouldn't change the station if they came on the radio would be that they immediately bored me into a coma that I wouldn't snap out of until the song was over.

[Liz]

I, uh... I kinda like it.

[Cernunnos]

yeah, I said that too, as the first track started. Then it just kinda slid down into meh.

[backstagebetty]

I think it's cool if ya like it. You gotta figure some people are going to like it and some aren't.

If I was in a shop and this music started playing, I would definitely leave the shop.

Those are strong words.

[Caiphana]

I admit, I thought it was halfway decent when I first started listening. After, what, forty-five minutes, it was still on. I hadn't even really noticed it. Interesting. My goodness, how did that happen? Wait, is this the same song?

[camelpimp]

I refuse to listen to it, because I refuse to do Jeph's job for him. The hack.

[SeanBateman]

It's just... bland. Like oatmeal. Oatmeal is delicious, but it's no good plain. Through some cinnamon or brown sugar on that.

through?

[Houdinimachine]

It sounds like the members of Switchfoot and Rooney got into a knife fight and the winners made up a new band and lost religion.

In other words, it's decent, but doesn't really try anything groundbreaking. I'd say they're better than the Arctic Monkeys at least.

[Gridgm]

it's interesting i turned off faker to listen to this and they seem to have a similar sound they just didn't quite nail it

speaking of which faker has a new album out don't they *heads off to hunt it down*

[Caspian]

Listening to a few tracks, it doesn't sound terrible. I normally hate this sort of music, but this band doesn't seem that bad. The vocalist is really freaking annoying, though. HIs voice is thin and weak. It's quite inoffensive and I think live these guys would actually be quite alright.

Still would I ever listen to this? No. I'd give it 4/10. Inoffensive background music, except for the vocals.

[jeph]

Thanks for your opinions dudes and ladies!

I am listening to it now. Here are my blow by blow impressions:

Okay, these guys kind of sound like a less talented version of, well, pretty much any indie-pop band I can think of. This stuff is way too "songwriter-y" for my taste. Like they're more interested in the craft of writing a good pop song than in actually writing a good pop song. Also the guitars are REALLY BORING. I agree with Kieffer in that this is perfectly inoffensive, competent guitar rock. The singer can actually sing on-key and knows his range, which is a nice change of pace as far as recent indie-rock goes. However I also agree with Tommy in that the production makes an already-dull sound even more boring.

I think the phrase I am groping for to describe the overall sound is "utterly unremarkable."

[jeph]

I should also add that lines like

"I believe teaming with you would help us continue riding the wave of
success into new dimensions that you and your company have developed."

make me never want to say anything nice about them ever again. Thanks, but my readership is a little more important to me than "dimensions that I and my company have developed." As if QC is some massive exercise in indie-marketing (everybody knows that's why I brought back IndieTits).

[rhinohelicopter]

I can see the references to the Strokes.  Everybody's right.  What I listened to was pretty boring, but also inoffensive.  I'm not instantly sent into convulsions to I don't hate them, but I wouldn't praise them.  They'll probably do pretty well because most people have shitty taste and listen to shlock.

[jeph]

I really like the idea of this thread. Maybe I should start actively soliciting music to "review" and throw to the sharks (you guys).

[Cernunnos]

brought back IndieTits.

oh damn is this true

[greenMonkey]

I think I agree with what quite a lot of people have said so far; they're not terrible, but just kind of bland.  However, I find that email to be completely ridiculous, and actually kind of rude.  I have to say, this band has been horrendously over-hyped.  The entertainment section of the Star Tribune (Minneapolis' big newspaper) absolutely loves them, and they've received a ton of press recently.  This is the first time I've actually listened to them, and I'm not that impressed.

[backstagebetty]

Thanks, but my readership is a little more important to me than "dimensions that I and my company have developed."

Aw, shucks.

[Inlander]

Maybe I should start actively soliciting music to "review" and throw to the sharks (you guys).

Damn, I thought we were the Jets.  Shit.

[pilsner]

Hold on, what I really want to know is: is it better than "Chocolate Rain"?

[Johnny C]

I can't believe they chose that to open their album.

It's not so much an opening salvo as it is an attempt at a throw by a man with no bones in his arm.

[starkruzr]

I assume people are just shitting on this because they want Jeph to think they are cool, right?

This band is not terrible by any means. I don't think I'd buy the record, but it's really inoffensive. I doubt I'd change the station if they came on the radio. It's just really simple guitar rock. No twist, no flair, just some guys with guitars and drums singing songs. The lyrics on some of the songs are really abysmal, but as a whole, it's just a rock record. I'm only on track 6, Midway Souvenirs, and it's definitely the worst song so far, but I think that's just because they are trying to do something slow and ballady. When they stick to upbeat guitar pop, these guys aren't nearly bad enough for this hate.

I think this is really just a manifestation of the "listening to a lot of music makes you feel that 'average' is 'bad'" factor.

[MusicScribbles]

I just came here to read the email.
Laughs all over.

[Liz]

Misconception you should elaborate on why you liked it so this thread isn't just people saying it sucks.

Well, I said I kinda like it. I'm not in love with it or anything, but there's no way I would call it bad. It's pretty catchy and fun to listen to, which is enough for me to say I like it well enough.

[Lines]

It's utterly okay. I don't hate it, but I don't think I necessarily like it either. It's tolerable. If it was in the background it wouldn't annoy me, but I wouldn't be interested in buying an album. With work, they'd be better. It's not produced well and I really think the instruments sound boring because of it. It's just very very mediocre.

[TheBoredOne]

If you guys need more adjectives to describe it, may I suggest the Why Super? thread?

[Stefan Autsa]

Questionable Content is one of my favourite companies.  I come here for the success.

[RefD]

Clear Channel will have them in heavy rotation by next month.

and by that i mean i nearly vomited.

*chugs bismuth and drinks water*