Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[sean]

Dude I already said Vampire Weekend in this thread.

YOU FAIL.

AAHHH GODDAMNIT!

I apologize. I fail at this thread. Fuck fuck fuck. Sorry guys.

Edit: Tune in next week as Sean posts in the zombie thread why sub-machine guns are an excellent idea against undead foes! Hilarity ensues!

[Wasteroo]

What's the deal with Bright Eyes?

I know plenty of people despise him, but I've met just enough people who actually like him to make me wonder why.

[Ballard]

Conor Oberst is actually a pretty cool dude. I know him through a coworker.

I don't blow my load over him, but he makes some good shit. Easily accessible, often eclectic, tastefully done pop. Which is more than I can say for most music in the same vein.

[Wasteroo]

I must say, even though I am not a fan of his music (I only own Cassadaga, and I rarely if ever listen to it), but I Must Belong Somewhere is an intensely good song. It's just folksy enough to be a great track.

I used to like Four Winds, but then I got tired of his transparent political agenda proselytizing.

[PECOAE]

Yeah, what Eugene said.

Also, he's got that passionate, romantic intensity about him in his acoustic stuff - half arcade fire, half elliott smith.

[Ballard]

His voice bums me the fuck out at times. I think it's gotten more nasally over time.

Some songs it really compliments, but mostly it's just annoying.

[Ben yayayayayayayay]

HeEeEeeEyyeyYy gGguyysYyuuYuys ThhIIhis Iiiis HhHoOw Ii TtAllLk AllLl thHe TiIimMe Ii'M SssSsooO BbBroKenN

[Wasteroo]

HeEeEeeEyyeyYy gGguyysYyuuYuys ThhIIhis Iiiis HhHoOw Ii TtAllLk AllLl thHe TiIimMe Ii'M SssSsooO BbBroKenN

At first I was like "What the hell is this?"
And then I got it.

And then I realized it was pretty apt.

[screamingfool]

how about the band "X"

i like some punk from their era, and can appreciate the context of the times. But how the hell are they legendary?

my girlfriend has recently taken to brighteyes ans sufjan stevens and while a song or two of theirs have caught my interest momentarily if find the majority of it to be white guy wankery, am i missing something?

[Johnny C]

Hey! I wondered if that joke was made in another thread! You stole my joke about an obvious joke and used it to make an obvious joke!

Part of me is angry, but the other part is flattered.

Also eat a turd, Tommy, Sufjan weaves brilliant poetic narratives framed around the history of a state or his own personal mythology (for the latter, see Seven Swans) against the backdrop of sublimely orchestrated folk, and Oberst has a grasp of language and melody that has matured over time. If you don't get that there's nothing wrong with that, but both artists have made some utterly fantastic music. They ain't no Lincoln Park or Limp Biscuit.

I'm on board with you as far as X goes, though. Good band.

[Scarychips]

And Grizzly Bear?¹ And, honestly, Daft Punk?²

¹They make goods songs and the voices are good too.
²The awesomeness, seriously, the fucking awesomeness

[Jackie Blue]

Don't be a dick tommy.  Those artists are not even working in the same ballpark as Bright Eyes.

Fuck a bunch of Bright Eyes hate.  Sufjan Stevens is atrocious but the first three Bright Eyes albums are shockingly good and most people who don't think so are just made uncomfortable by his confessional nature.  Will Oldham never cried during one of his songs.  He keeps a studied alloofness that allows him plausible deniability that he is singing about anything in his life at all.  Conor Oberst is an egomaniacal, flawed, self-loathing, over-analytical wreck of a drug addict and he knows it and is not afraid to be honest.  Listen to the "fake interview" in "An Attempt to Tip the Scales" and then get back to me.  Until then, eat it.

As for X, they are legendary because, like the Buzzcocks, they were that rare beast - a punk band that could actually write catchy songs.

[Carlyism]

Sonic Youth; what's the deal? 



^ definitely a joke.

On a serious note; what's the deal with Led Zeppelin? I just don't get it.

[Jackie Blue]

Seriously, tommy, listen to "An Attempt to Tip the Scales" and then we can continue this discussion if you like.  Or I could just post a transcript of it:

Radio dude - R
Conor Oberst - C

R: Hi, we're back, this is radio K[beep]x and we're here with Conor Oberst of the band Bright Eyes.
How are you doing Conor?
C: Fine, thanks, just a little wet...
R: Oh it’s still coming down out there?
C: yeah, I sort of had to run from the car...
R: well, we are glad you made it! Now, your new album, “Fevers and Mirrors”.. tell us a little about the title,
I know there's a good deal of repeated imagery in the lyrics; fevers, mirrors, scales, clocks...
Could you discuss some of this?
C: Sure. Let's see, the fever's...
R: First, First let me say that, this is a brilliant record man, we're all really into it here at the station,
we get lots of calls, its really good stuff.
C: Thanks... Thanks a lot...
R: So talk about some of the symbolisms...
C: the fever?
R: sure!
C: well, the fever is basically, what ever ails you, or presses you... It could be anything, in my case it’s my neurosis
my... depression...but I don’t want it to be limited to that... it's certainly different for different people...
so, what ever keeps you up at night...
R: I see...
C: and the, and the mirror's like, as you might have guessed, self-examination, or reflection, or whatever form...
this could be vanity, or self loathing... I, I know I’m, I’m guilty of both...
R: That’s interesting... How about the scales?
C: The scales are essentially our attempt to solve our problems quantitatively, through logic or rationalization...
In my opinion it’s often fruitless, but... always, no, not always...
And the clocks and calenders is uh... is just... time... our little measurements, its like, its always chasing after us.
R: It is... It is...
Uh, How about this Arienette, how does she fit into all this?
C: Umm, I’d prefer not to talk about it... in case she's listening...
R: Oh, I’m sorry; I didn't realize she was a real person.
C: She's not. I made her up...
R: Oh, So she's not real?
C: Just as real as you or I...
R: I don’t think I understand...
C: Neither do I, but after I grow up, I will. I mean a lot... A lot of things…are really unclear for me right now...
R: That’s interesting. Ah, now you mentioned your depression...
C: ...No I didn’t...
R: You're from Nebraska right?
C: Yeah... so?
R: Now, let me now if I’m getting to personal, but there seem to be a pretty dark past back there somewhere...
what was it like for you growing up?
C: Dark? Not really... uh... actually I had a great childhood, my parents were wonderful, I went to a catholic school.
They have... they had money so... it... It was all... easy... basically I had everything I wanted... handed to me...
R: Really? So some of the references like babies in bathtubs, are not biographical?
C: Well I do have a brother who died in a bathtub, drowned... actually I had five brothers who died that way...
R: Hah!
C: No, I’m serious... My mother drowned one every year for... five consecutive years...
they were all named “Padriac”, so, that’s…they all got one song...
R: Hmm...
C: It’s kinda like... Walking out the door, to discover it’s a window...
R: But your music is certainly very personal.
C: of course, I put a lot of myself into what I do. But It’s like, being an author you have to,
free yourself to use symbolism and allegory to reach your goal...
and... And a part of that is, compassion, empathy for other people and, and their situations.
Some of what I sing comes from other people’s experiences as well as my own...
It…It shouldn't matter; the message is intended to be universal.
R: I see what you mean...
C: Can you make that sound stop please?
R: Yes! And your goal?
C: I don’t know... uh, create feelings, I guess... a song... it never ends up the way you planned it though...
R: That’s funny that you say that, do you think that...
C: Do you ever hear things, not really there?
R: I’m sorry, what?
C: ...never mind... how long have you worked at this station?
R: Oh, Just a few minutes...uh, now you mentioned your empathy for others,
would you say that, that is what motivates you to make the music that you make?
C: No not really, its more, a need for sympathy, I want people to feel sorry for me.
I like the feel of... the burn of the audience's eyes on me when I’m whispering *all my darkest secrets* into the microphone.
When I was a kid, I used to carry this safety pin around with me, everywhere I went in my pocket.
And when people weren't paying enough attention, I’d dig it into my arm until I started crying...
Everyone stopped what they were doing, and asked me what was the matter, I guess, I guess I kinda...
R: Really? You’re telling me you're doing all this for attention?
C: No, I hate it when people look at me, I get nauseous. In fact, I could care less what people think, about me.
Do you feel that?... wanna dance?
R: No... I'm feeling sick...
C: I really just wanna be warm yellow light that pours all over everyone I love...
R: So... uh, you’re gonna play something for us now, is this a new song?
C: Yeah, but I haven't written it yet... it’s one I’ve been meaning to write... uh...called... “A Song To Pass The Time”...
R: oh, that’s a nice title...
C: ...no it isn't...
You should write your own... scripts...
R: yeah, I know!

[Ishotdanieljohnston]

Carlyism, the deal with Sonic Youth- they use epic distorted guitars and noise with complete control to convey something chaotic and angsty. They are orignal, fun, aggresive, clever, and charismatic. A true testament to their ability is that whether you like them or not, there music is always memorable, but not because it is catchy and mindless. Their songs are dense and complex and reveal more and more on repeated listens. Some of their stuff is quite hard to listen to though and I recconmend you start with Daydream nation.

As too led Zep, i don't get them either.

[sean]

Led Zeppelin is one of this worlds great mysterious failures. I sure as hell don't know why they happened either.

I doubt even Scooby-Doo and the Gang could figure out what the fuck is with Led Zeppelin.

[Jackie Blue]

Led Zeppelin are a very good rock band for people whose tastes don't run too far in the experimental direction.

[Carlyism]

Carlyism, the deal with Sonic Youth- they use epic distorted guitars and noise with complete control to convey something chaotic and angsty. They are orignal, fun, aggresive, clever, and charismatic. A true testament to their ability is that whether you like them or not, there music is always memorable, but not because it is catchy and mindless. Their songs are dense and complex and reveal more and more on repeated listens. Some of their stuff is quite hard to listen to though and I recconmend you start with Daydream nation.

As too led Zep, i don't get them either.

I was kidding! Sonic Youth is my favorite band. I should have made it a bit more obvious... 

I have a friend who is deeply in love with Zeppelin. He lent me every CD and I still couldn't figure out why they're so great. Jimmy Page isn't even that great of a guitarist.

[Ishotdanieljohnston]

Carlyism, the deal with Sonic Youth- they use epic distorted guitars and noise with complete control to convey something chaotic and angsty. They are orignal, fun, aggresive, clever, and charismatic. A true testament to their ability is that whether you like them or not, there music is always memorable, but not because it is catchy and mindless. Their songs are dense and complex and reveal more and more on repeated listens. Some of their stuff is quite hard to listen to though and I recconmend you start with Daydream nation.

As too led Zep, i don't get them either.

I was kidding! Sonic Youth is my favorite band. I should have made it a bit more obvious... 



I have a friend who is deeply in love with Zeppelin. He lent me every CD and I still couldn't figure out why they're so great. Jimmy Page isn't even that great of a guitarist.

haha shit sorry! Does need to be a little more obvious though, like maybe by using this little fella 

[Jackie Blue]

tommy, you spent a lot of time hating on Oberst's personality, so I was trying to mediate that.

Musically, he is not doing the same thing as Will Oldham, Jandek, et al whatsoever.  Bright Eyes songs, especially beginning with the third album, are far more elaborately arranged and complex.  He is not a folk artist, except for that one album.

Also, you seem to be laboring under the entirely false impression that he sings about taking drugs a lot.  I can think of maybe 3 or 4 songs that reference drugs.

Basically, I like Bright Eyes for the same reason I like The Catcher in the Rye.  Your expression of distaste that somehow growing up privileged means you cannot be emotionally tormented or in pain is laughable on the surface and ridiculous throughout.  Material things do not bring happiness.  Ian Curtis did not grow up in abject poverty; he went to a nice English school just like many others in his generation.

[Valrus]

"First Day of My Life" is a freaking adorable song with a freaking adorable video. Maybe Oberst should just write happy music?

[McTaggart]

It shows, Mr. Oberst. I can see this in everything you do. You had no great struggle in your life and your entire existence is a search for vicitimisation.

I think you've just hit on what the deal with Bright Eyes is yourself. When I was really into his music I was having the most teenage years you could imagine. Victimisation is exactly what I was looking for and an artist who was doing the same thing struck a chord with me. Now I listen to albums that I used to love and they don't do much for me at all. I can still see what I saw in it, but it's not what I'm after anymore.

[edit]Yeah, First Day Of My Life is still pretty and probably now my favourite of his songs.

[a pack of wolves]

On a serious note; what's the deal with Led Zeppelin? I just don't get it.

The thing with Led Zeppelin is the riffs. Well, the drumming is great too but let's talk about the riffs. They're catchy as well as being pretty heavy in the same way modern bands are. You can see this if you listen to Coalesce's mini-album 'There Is Nothing New Under The Sun' which consists of Led Zeppelin covers. The music sticks in the head but it's still pretty crushing. Take any band that play what's often called post-metal (Pelican, Isis, any band on Hydrahead ever) and they owe a huge debt to Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath laid a lot of the ground for metal, stoner rock and a lot of hardcore. Not bad for a bunch of guys who spent most of their time pilfering old blues riffs. I can see why people don't like them and I don't listen to their records much myself, but I can hear the influence of their work in a vast amount of things I do play regularly, which I suppose explains why so many people still regard them so highly.

[Ballard]

Basically, I like Bright Eyes for the same reason I like The Catcher in the Rye.

Reading this argument from the sidelines, I tend to agree with you. However, recognize that there are two types of people in the world. People who associated with Holden Caulfield and those who thought he was a spoiled, immature, whiny douche bag.

Also recognize that it is impossible to prove to one kind that the other is right. I've tried many times.

Pretty much the same deal here. There are certain arguments that cannot be won for the simple reason that we don't all have the same perception of the world.

[Jackie Blue]

I know.

My main objection to tommy's arguments against Bright Eyes are that they seem to come from an ignorance of what his material actually sounds like.

[Shadows Collide]

Basically, I like Bright Eyes for the same reason I like The Catcher in the Rye.

Reading this argument from the sidelines, I tend to agree with you. However, recognize that there are two types of people in the world. People who associated with Holden Caulfield and those who thought he was a spoiled, immature, whiny douche bag.

Also recognize that it is impossible to prove to one kind that the other is right. I've tried many times.

Pretty much the same deal here. There are certain arguments that cannot be won for the simple reason that we don't all have the same perception of the world.

I think you're wrong comparing them in any way. Holden is a young kid who has a profound, deeply personal objection with the inauthentic folk of the world, one that darkens his view of society. Conor Oberst fakes political and social concern in order to sell records and be lauded a "troubled troubadour". And his music sucks.

[E. Spaceman]

You are wrong, Conor Oberst Holden Caufield  was a spoiled, immature, whiny douche bag

[Jackie Blue]

Conor Oberst fakes political and social concern in order to sell records

How many Crass patches do you have on your jacket?

[a pack of wolves]

You say that like there's something wrong with Crass patches on a jacket.

[Jackie Blue]

One time I told a room full of teenage punks that the Dead Kennedys were a better punk band than Crass and they thought I was joking.

[Liz]

I swear every thread on this forum turns into a Hate On Conor Oberst Thread. I like him, you may not. I accept that fact that I cannot change your mind, and I do not want to. So can we just drop it now? I'm kind of sick of it.

[a pack of wolves]

A strange position to be surprised at the idea of the Dead Kennedys being better than Crass. Almost no punk bands could be sensibly argued to be better than the Dead Kennedys. Still, The Feeding Of The 5000 and Christ - The Album are great records. Well, they're great records if you like people with Southern accents ranting about anarchy over primitive music, but happily I do. A lot.

[Jackie Blue]

Seriously, hating on Bright Eyes is so '04.

Hating any band in fact is a massive waste of time.  Henry Rollins says "Hating someone is giving them to much of yourself.  Instead of hating them, just ignore them.  It's like if someone tries to hand you a pile of horse shit.  You don't have to take it!"

[Alex C]

Sadly, I'm pretty sure there's people out there for whom hate's the only thing getting them up in the morning. 

[a pack of wolves]

Hi there!

Well, not really. I did once write a short piece for a zine in defence of hate though. I do think it has a number of positive characteristics. I don't hate Bright Eyes though. I find it shallow and uninteresting for largely the same reasons Tommy gave above but it doesn't intrude on my life at all, so hate would be a bit of an extreme reaction.

[Jackie Blue]

I did once write a short piece for a zine in defence of hate

How many Crass patches do you have on your jacket?

[Spluff]

"Hating someone is giving them to much of yourself.  Instead of hating them, just ignore them.  It's like if someone tries to hand you a pile of horse shit.  You don't have to take it!"

As usual, Henry Rollins has shown us the way. There's nothing like an angry hardcore vocalist to get you through life.

[a pack of wolves]

You rarely go wrong with that. I once got hammered on white russians while listening to Damaged and decided that spray painting my walls was indeed a good idea. And it was.

I have no Crass patches on my jacket, sadly. I think I might have an old bag with a Crass badge on it though, and I do have a friend who has the logo tattooed on her ankle.

[Johnny C]

Man Conor Oberst has been supremely misrepresented in this thread.

I also don't understand the grudge people hold against Sufjan Stevens. Perhaps it is his success.

[Jackie Blue]

Conor Oberst is far more successful than Sufjan Stevens and I like him.

I just do not like Sufjan's music.  It is very dull to me.

[Johnny C]

I guess it's easy to confuse "dull" with "sublime."

[Carlyism]

The thing with Led Zeppelin is the riffs. Well, the drumming is great too but let's talk about the riffs. They're catchy as well as being pretty heavy in the same way modern bands are. You can see this if you listen to Coalesce's mini-album 'There Is Nothing New Under The Sun' which consists of Led Zeppelin covers. The music sticks in the head but it's still pretty crushing. Take any band that play what's often called post-metal (Pelican, Isis, any band on Hydrahead ever) and they owe a huge debt to Led Zeppelin. Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath laid a lot of the ground for metal, stoner rock and a lot of hardcore. Not bad for a bunch of guys who spent most of their time pilfering old blues riffs. I can see why people don't like them and I don't listen to their records much myself, but I can hear the influence of their work in a vast amount of things I do play regularly, which I suppose explains why so many people still regard them so highly.

I totally understand that they're important (they did, after all put hard rock on the scene), but I just don't really understand why people put them on such a high pedestal. Jimmy Page is NOT an amazing guitarist (his playing is pretty sloppy) and Robert Plant's voice is pretty obnoxious. But eh. People love different things, lol.

Off topic a bit; if I were to get a Sufjan Stevens album, which one would you guys recommend?

[Johnny C]

Surely Illinois, though Seven Swans is great.

[gardenhead_]

What is the deal with Interpol? Almost everyone I know likes them and I just don't see it.

But yeah, what's the deal with Interpol?

[Jackie Blue]

Interpol is a decent band if you enjoy stark imagery and instrumentation.  Their first album is good if you grew up listening to The Church, Lush, Slowdive, et al.

[Jackie Blue]

Uh, if you don't give a shit about lyrics then why are you dogging on Bright Eyes' lyrical content instead of discussing his musicality?

Pick an argument and stick with it, man.

[Johnny C]

What is the deal with Interpol? Almost everyone I know likes them and I just don't see it.

But yeah, what's the deal with Interpol?

Interpol's first album was a dark, cohesive work that took its influences and blended it into something new and fantastic. It's probably one of my favourite albums to this day. Likewise, the second album took those influences, made them listen to the Afghan Whigs, turned down the reverb and wound up being not bad at all.

Their new one is really, really dire though. There are some highs but largely lows, and what lows they are.

[Jackie Blue]

I'm just quite confused as to how you think Bright Eyes is really working in the same musical arena as Will Oldham or Jandek.  Unless you're talking about the songs he recorded when he was 13-17.

[imagist42]

Boris.

What is the deal with Boris.

[bbqrocks]

The deal with boris? Well, they combine some awesome drone music with some awesome psychedelic rock, and a smidgeon of hardcore. they are called Boris. the song 'naki kyoku' is a masterpiece IMO.