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[ampersandwitch]

Ah.  I cannot believe how precocious this website is, and I bet this is just me being hella crotchety, but, Jesus, kids these days!
The radio interview is mostly the most inflammatory.  If you want to rip your hair out for approximately half an hour, I believe it is, it's pretty much the worst.
http://www.blackoutband.com/
Good god.  I cannot believe that whoever wrote that fucking website even dared to call them "progressive."  The fuck?
Please tell me I'm not alone on this one.  Give the song a listen, and vent.

[Ernest]

It's easy to get pissed off at stuff like this.  As much as I hate kids, I hate the people who exploit them at that impressionable young age much, much more.  But Jesus, I could sing better than that when I was eleven.  The thing is, those kids are gonna be really good musicians when they get older, which really pisses me off, because they'll end up being some virtuoso Fallout Boy band. 

[Kai]

I was reading the lyrics to their song, Video game:

Ohhhhhhhhhhh.......
I don't wanna go to school
Just wanna be a fool
Just wanna play video games
Everything else is really lame

Just wanna play video games
Just wanna play video games
Just wanna play video games
All the time and every day

Parents say it's frying my brain
Just because I can't remember my name
Just wanna play video games
All the time and every day

Just wanna play video games
Just wanna play video games
Just wanna play video games
All the time, every day

when I realized something

it was basically the new age version of The Replacements I Hate Music:

I hate music
Sometimes I don't
I hate music
It's got too many notes

I hate my high school
Sometimes I went
I hate music, man
Never heaven sent

Tommy says so
Tommy says so
Tommy says so
Tommy says so so so so what

point is, distort their guitars and I am pretty set

[imapiratearg]

that made me want to die.  i know that they're kids and all, and i was kind of impressed by that little riff that one kid played, i probably couldn't play it.  but honestly, i would take Patrick Stump's vocals over that kid's. :\

[Lines]

MAKE IT STOP.

[Beautiful Maladies]

those guys are only a better drummer, so-so base lines, and angsty lyrics away from being Nirvana.

[ALoveSupreme]

I'm not going to click the link to save myself, but if it is what I think it is, Slytherin (a band from the Chicago-land area) did the whole "we're kids and we can rock as hard as anyone" thing.  They sucked.  I accidentally saw them live once (I was supporting a friend who was in a bad numetal band and apperantly they were playing with Slytherin).  Their dad or something did the mic check for the singer, and the kid (literally, he looked about 12) came out "triumphantly" when the band struck the first chord of the set.  I thought it was a joke.  I was proven wrong by 30 minutes of hell.

[Caspian]

that made me want to kill myself, and I must've only watched the first minute. 

[Patrick]

I played the song in the video on the page and I've decided that I would rather spend the rest of my life as a trans-sexual scat porn star than ever listen to this band for any extended period of time.

The ending to the main riff was pretty righteous, though. Then again, it's a bad omen when the only thing you have to look forward to in somebody's work is the end.

[Gridgm]

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

in other news it's funny because the guitar is bigger than he is

[The Kangmiester]

i hate shit bands with rich parents.

[Mnementh]

You know, I haven't listened to it, and I probably won't, but let them have their fun.  They're going to grow up some day and hopefully realize they looked pretty dumb, but hey, they'll probably be pretty good musicians by then, and I'm glad someone is encouraging them to play now and write about what they know.

As for self importance, I challenge each and everyone of you to prove to me that you weren't a self-important pretentious little fucker as a tweener and teenager, and if you think you aren't, you most likely are and will realize it once you get older.  I find it hilarious that a seventeen year old started this thread (if the information in your profile is correct) when at that age your brain hasn't developed to the point where you can realize that you're being a self-important fucker yourself.

Think, then post.

[Ernest]

Daniel, the problem with the band isn't the kids, it's the people who decided it would be a great idea to market them at this point.  They're a kid band.  Let them have fun, but don't force them to do anything.  They shouldn't be publicized at that young age, at least not by their parents or gym coach.  If they are really serious about the band, they should continue to play until they know how to market themselves. 

The thing is, those parents are forcing an image on their kids.  Those kids may live another five to seven years and realize that they hate corporate America and really want to have an experimental band on Touch and Go, not some gimmicky rock band on a major label making music videos all the time.  Of course, in all likelihood they'll just grow accustomed to their lives as soulless teenage-anthem makers.  It's really sad, but these kids are victims of circumstance.

[Mnementh]

Because parents don't ever do anything to mold their children ever?  I mean other than child-rearing.  If these kids are victims then I would think that makes all children are victims.  That you can pretend to know their wishes is astonishing and presumptuous, and implying age has something to do with marketing skills is laughable at best.

Personally, if I had a child who said "Hey, we've got a band and some songs, would you mind helping us get some exposure" and I had the means, I'd be more than happy to help.  Their image has little to do with what their parents are doing or the marketing, but rather the material their writing, and judging by the content and simplicity, they're writing it on their own.  Simply because what they know now isn't what they'll know in five years does not make them illegitimate.  Especially because, in five to seven years they may have that experimental band, five years after that, when they're in their in their mid-to-early twenties they'll realize how damn pretentious that was, and maybe start something new.

Or maybe they'll start selling teenagers their own rebellion back to them.

[Ernest]

That you can pretend to know their wishes is astonishing and presumptuous, and implying age has something to do with marketing skills is laughable at best.

I did not pretend to know their wishes.  I speculated.  Kids tend to live with what they're given, even if they bitch about it to their parents.  So if they have the opportunity to become rich MTV poster boys they're probably going to do that. 

As to your point about rearing children, yes I am aware parents mold their children.  I usually disagree with how they do it, but there is a sensible way to go about child-rearing. 

"All children are victims."  To an extent, yes.  Children are products of their parents, and when their parents want to force their children to do something they didn't do is when it gets really sad.  Just to clarify, I'm not trying to be presumtuous.  That may not be the case with these kids and their parents.  Their intentions could be entirely noble.  However, unless their parents just have money to throw away on lavish music videos, all evidence suggests otherwise. 

". . .they may start something new."  Of course.  But when they have lots of money coming in, the personal rewards for being your own person may be horribly distorted.  You're not likely to change when you're financially comfortable. 

I know this happens all the time.  It doesn't mean I have to like it or accept it, though. 

[Mnementh]

Most people tend to change what they're doing if they're unhappy in their present circumstances, money notwithstanding, unless they have responsibilities that don't allow for it, like having children of their own.  In which case it's called being responsible.

[Ernest]

money notwithstanding

We're probably just not going to see eye to eye here.

[Will]

I watched the video on mute, and was filled with an underwhelming sense of "meh."  These kids are no different than any of the glut of "Disney TV Pop Princesses" that seem to be springing up by the hundreds. It's extra-thick sugar water packaged in an "edgy rock and roll shell" that can make tweens feel like they're rebelling against something, and not upset the parents too badly.  So what.  If nothing else, they'll make great material for me to do another hilarious remix, right?

[Mnementh]

We're probably just not going to see eye to eye here.

I think you have a very simplistic and childish understanding of humanity, adulthood, and financial responsibility.  You strike me as a kid being all angry at the system and rebellious, but you lack the experience or education to understand the nuances of the system your angry at.

Further, being a rich MTV poster boy and being unhappy don't go hand in hand, nor does the ability to change styles or career paths with lack financial well being.  In fact I'd go so far as to say that often the networking one does in the unhappy situation makes it much easier to jump ship when you're ready to strike it out in your own direction.

If you want a decent mainstream music example, simply look at P!nk.  She was very much unhappy with the results of Can't Take Me Home because she had relinquished creative control of the album and her image.  However, that album had built her the network that allowed her to take control of the creative process and go a completely new direction with M!ssundaztood.

People do this all the time, in the music industry as well as just about everywhere else.

[KharBevNor]

I wish I'd been in a band when I was 11.

Prepubescent groupies!

[Lines]

you know, if i was like 12 and angsty towards the world, i might think they were cool. but i'm not 12 and the only thing that i found wrong with it was the horrible singing, which really is going to come out of any kid, except a prodigy. it's meant for kids, which most of us aren't. and will's got a point, i could see this being on the Disney Channel and people would watch it. at least it's not children being overtly racist or something along those lines like those two girls who sing about white power.

[Ernest]

You know, it usually doesn't help to get someone to agree with you if you call their views childish and simplistic.  Talk about being presumtuous.  Seriously man, rebelling against the system for no reason is for age 14.

Really Daniel, I was willing to set the topic to rest.  What's more childish than being all "No!  You have to agree with me"? 

Also, I think I know enough about human nature to speculate.  Several of my friends are in their twenties, definitely adults.  Although I'm only 17, I definitely get some adult perspectives when I talk to them (not to mention my parents).  I'm not naive. 

I suppose though, at the end of the day, I can't really argue with your extra seven years of life experience.  Whatever man, you win, if that means anything.

[Mnementh]

I'm not saying you have to agree with me, but I'm not letting you off the hook without you providing a decent argument as to why you're views could be right.  Saying "I don't like it" or "the system sucks" like you are is indeed childish and simplistic.

And any decent educational psychologist will tell you that those seven years are a huge difference in terms of brain development and how one relates to the world around them, but I digress.

[AlexAttack]

i read their bio. i didn't know that 12 year olds were allowed to play paint ball. you have to be 18 in australia. they would have some wicked bruises......

[Lines]

they probably bought their own guns (or their parents did) and play in some field. that's what some kids i know from school do.

[Ernest]

I'm not saying you have to agree with me, but I'm not letting you off the hook without you providing a decent argument as to why you're views could be right.  Saying "I don't like it" or "the system sucks" like you are is indeed childish and simplistic.

And any decent educational psychologist will tell you that those seven years are a huge difference in terms of brain development and how one relates to the world around them, but I digress.

Decent argument, eh?  I'd say I already have, but you disagree.  By the way, I wasn't being sarcastic when I mentioned our age differences earlier.  I mean, I know I can argue, and I think I'm right, but you're older.

[Valrus]

Everyone seems to be missing the real point here, which is: Ampersandwich, did you in fact shit yourself?

Remember, pics or it didn't... no, scratch that. We'll take your word for it.

[ampersandwitch]

First things first - No, I didn't shit myself in anger.  The urge subsided when I saw a puppy/ got over it.

Second. . .

I find it hilarious that a seventeen year old started this thread (if the information in your profile is correct) when at that age your brain hasn't developed to the point where you can realize that you're being a self-important fucker yourself.

Think, then post.

Unmitigated perhaps?

I've seen far more caustic comments being posted.

I've also seen younger boarders.

Am I suddenly not able to have an opinion because I'll undoubtedly be a "self-important fucker" whenever I type anything?  Or am I  just not allowed to voice said opinion in this forum?  If so, PM me, and I'll go back to the kiddie table.

[Ernest]

My advice: don't play the free speech card.  It doesn't pan out well. 

[Mnementh]

If that's the card you want to play I could just ban you outright, but I'm not a fan of abuse of power.  I was dismissing your ideas because I find them idiotic and baseless, not because I'm an admin and can just do so.

Flaming Ostrich, Get over yourself.

[Tyler]

That had comic value!

I do not see why this would lead to people being either upset or angry whatsoever.

Cheer up, emo forums. Cheer up.

[ekmesnz]

those guys are only a better drummer, so-so base lines, and angsty lyrics away from being Nirvana.

Ahahaha... "base lines." Are these really mean-spirited, primitive lines? Are they any lines in a headquarters? No one knows! You decide.

[calenlass]

Well, it is possible to have talent when you are 11. For example, Charlotte Church's first two albums were produced before she was 12, and while people may not like her music or her sound or whatever, from a technical standpoint her voice is pretty much classically perfect.

(Or it was then, anyway.)

[Johnny C]

Boy I sure wish someone would verbally shit all over the music I made when I was fourteen. You guys are making me jealous.

[ImRonBurgundy?]

When my friend was fourteen, he wrote a song about masturbation.

It was called "The One-Handed Surfer".

[rdalke]

As much as I hate your friend right now for that song. I wanna hear the song. And I might start using "one handed surfer" in everyday life.

As for the Video Game song, I wanna cry. The lyrics, singing, and musicianship were so terrible that I actually listened to one of the songs that I wrote. Boy am I glad I wasn't touted around the internet for my music talents.

While I realize that they are just kids, no self respecting adult should allow children to listen to such...what's the word? Noise Pollution. They should change their name to that, Noise Pollution, because that's what it is.

</rant>

[Patrick]

Personally, if I had a child who said "Hey, we've got a band and some songs, would you mind helping us get some exposure" and I had the means, I'd be more than happy to help.  Their image has little to do with what their parents are doing or the marketing, but rather the material their writing, and judging by the content and simplicity, they're writing it on their own.  Simply because what they know now isn't what they'll know in five years does not make them illegitimate.  Especially because, in five to seven years they may have that experimental band, five years after that, when they're in their in their mid-to-early twenties they'll realize how damn pretentious that was, and maybe start something new.

Dude, as much as I'd love to agree with you here in full, just look at LeeAnn Rimes. First she started doing what she loved, and at age 14 she started singing stuff that was written for Patsy Cline just before her untimely demise. It was good shit, catchy enough for the younger audiences but lyrically more identifiable with the older generations (and certainly a blast from the past, delighting any country fans from the late '40s to early '50s). But then something got in the way, be it money or record company bitchery. Three years down the road, she's singing the same packaged bullshit that every other country artist of the period was singing (with very few artists being exceptions), and even goes so far as to butcher a classic Righteous Brothers tune just because the original was so popular that the cover couldn't POSSIBLY not sell. Another three years down the road she's sold herself out to film producers and jumps in as a last-minute appearance in "Coyote Ugly" for a quick buck.

That's just an example, but I agree with most of what you're saying. 5 years down the road they've still got the same exact people as their audience, and all of them will have matured in their musical tastes, and all of them will have gained more experience in life, and the band's songwriting will still be identifiable with their peers, and all the while their musicianship will improve (and hopefully that kid will have grown out of that GODAWFUL voice).

Basically my main point is that you can only go so far in your career writing pop-influenced crap about wanting to play video games all day.

[Ernest]

They should change their name to that, Noise Pollution, because that's what it is.

No!  Because then people will buy it!

[rdalke]

Oh noes!

Nobody should EVER have to pay for that. EVER.

[Jrob88]

Those kids may live another five to seven years.

That worries me.

[ampersandwitch]

Get over yourself.

I wasn't being petulant because you're an admin, but rather, called me seventeen, and therefore, somehow inferior to the other boarders here. I would take offense to anybody who did that, not just a mod. I guess I'm kind of beating a dead horse here, especially because I've been busy and not able to respond to what you've said, but being accused additionally of being one of the "MODS R FSHISTS LUKLZ!" somehow made me very indignant.

[Patrick]

Dude, you're doing it wrong. CAST MAGIC MISSILE. DUH.

[McTaggart]

That worries me.

Did anyone see the avatar and think this was princy? (don't take this as 'change your avatar pls' btw jrob, I'll figure it out).

[Tyler]

Dan, she has a point about the 17 thing. You know fairly well that a lot of the most well thought posters are around that age (ruyi and clara for example).

[magnanimusman]

Don't You see?  These children are the devils hench...boys!  They spread their attrocious music as a means of destroying our beloved forums with arguments between whether they will change or settle into MTV corporate whoredom!  No Brothers and Sisters!  I will not stand Idly by as they split our giant family asunder!  To arms!  Let us go purge the world of these vile spreaders of chaos and hate! 

[IronOxide]

I realize that this is not great stuff. Hell, it's not even good stuff, but I have absolutely no problem with what these kids are doing. They wanted to have some fun, and wrote a terrible little song. I think these kids are just having fun and their parents are helping them have fun.

Nobody expects them to go anywhere, I wouldn't think even the kids themselves expect anything. Just let them have their fun.

[MadassAlex]

I could sing better than that.

And that is fucking saying something.

Yeah, pretty goddamn terrible. But some posters are right, they'll grow up into good musicians one day.

[Holm]

why are you guys getting so angry about this

[MadassAlex]

Because we're jealous.

[Mnementh]

The age thing kind of irks me also. I can think of several people on this forum who are many years younger than I but I would be far more inclined to trust their opinion on most matters. It doesn't make one person's opinion consistently more or less valid than anothers.

I think ampersandwitch's initial post was over-dramatic and certainly over-abusive but there's no real reason to be caustic about it.

Dan, she has a point about the 17 thing. You know fairly well that a lot of the most well thought posters are around that age (ruyi and clara for example).

You two should know better because I pretty much explained this all in gabbly, I'm disappointed in you guys.  Read on.

Get over yourself.

I wasn't being petulant because you're an admin, but rather, called me seventeen, and therefore, somehow inferior to the other boarders here. I would take offense to anybody who did that, not just a mod. I guess I'm kind of beating a dead horse here, especially because I've been busy and not able to respond to what you've said, but being accused additionally of being one of the "MODS R FSHISTS LUKLZ!" somehow made me very indignant.

That "get over yourself" was aimed at Flaming Ostrich, that was pretty clear because the rest of my post was in response to him, and he was the one who was attacking me because I dared take an opposing viewpoint and my continued attacks on his argument were obviously some sort of oppression.  They had nothing to do with each other and that he managed to equate them is either extremely self-centered, or insulting, because he is implying that I would only attack his argument from a position of power and that they therefor couldn't stand on their own.  Anyone should see through that ploy.

I dislike having to parse this out, but I was warned I'd have to explain this, so I'm not surprised.  I mentioned your age in that first post because in terms of brain development, human beings are not wired to think of the world beyond them until their early twenties.  Until then, people are extremely self-centered beings, who care to only do what benefits them in some way, since they're the center of the universe in their mind.  You may think you don't act or this way, but I guarantee you do.

What this means is not that I was calling you inferior, but that I was calling you a hypocrite, and I stand by that.

Now, Flaming Ostrich's ideas are incredibly naive, simplistic, and childish.  I mentioned his age because I was giving him the benefit of the doubt.  If someone over the age of say 22 had an understanding of world on the level that he does, then that person would be more or less considered stupid, or be seen as living in a fantasy world of some sort.  That he is seventeen and has that worldview is understandable, but it also means that his ideas are incredibly naive, simplistic, and childish.