Thursday, February 25, 2010

HIPSTER RUNOFF

HIPSTER RUNOFF

Does it make more sense to start a shitty band that goes viral, as opposed 2 wanting 2 change the world with ‘good music’?

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:27 AM PST


I recently saw this video by the Christian Rock band .  At first, the internet music fan is ’sucked in’ because it sounds like Pavement/the Dirty Projectors, but then it degenerates into post-Modest Mouse post-Lifehouse Nickelback hopefulwave Christian High School rock.   It seems to have ‘gone viral’ because it is ’so terrible’ and ‘totally rips off the modern crappy rock band aesthetic.’  Since they are a Christian Rock band, there is also an added element of ‘EPIC FAIL’ according to mainstream internet users who process memes as either ‘WIN’ or ‘FAIL.’  While this meme does a good job of tapping into elements of high-level unintentional comedy, it seems like the meme might have larger ramifications for the indie music sphere.

We find new music on the internet from a series of trusted websites, since we know that these sites will curate a content stream of mp3s that ‘appeal 2 us.’  In recent years, this process has become exhausting, and the pressure to find a lifechanging mp3/band is higher than ever. This music video meme is an indie music game changer. Consuming this ’shitty band’s’ song + video will probably be imprinted in my head as one of the most memorable products of 2k10.   Maybe we need to ’shift’ our expectations 4 new music, and accept low quality products that are failed imitations of previous products, as opposed to ’searching for something new and exciting.’ Maybe the acceptance of chill wave into the indiesphere was the beginning of this process, except it was ‘packaged’ as a new+exciting wave of music/collective of artists.

It seems like this new band has totally ‘transcended’ the internet, creating a new model by which bands can reach a mass market of listeners. Maybe the goal needs 2 change from ‘trying to make good music’, but instead, making a laughable meme that appeals to millions of internet users.

Wonder if post-Lifehouse North Face bro Christian rock is ‘the future’ of relevant music.  It seems more realistic to consume 20-30 new shitty meme bands per year, as opposed to thinking you will find 20-30 new albums/bands that make u feel more fulfilled than ‘having a good lil laugh.’ It is also a convenient model, because you can also ‘forget about the band’ and not feel bad about it, as opposed to thinking u have to keep giving them another chance to ‘recapture the magic.’ It is a great consumer-to-band relationship, since we don’t have to commit to a long term relationship with them just based on 1 good product, sorta like Interpol.

It seems like the pure spirit/core goals of a band are to:

  • create a project that u think is ‘cool’ with a universally identifiable message
  • ‘copy’ bands that u r ‘inspired by’, but then differentiate a little bit
  • reach millions of people, even if they don’t pay for ur product, cuz u ‘love the music, man’
  • spread the word of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ, the only Son of God

The band has succeeded on all of these fronts, but possibly should have had some ‘merch’ ready to sell to die hard fans of the meme. Who would have thought that 4 teens from Midland TX could have ‘captured the hearts of the internet.’

Sorta wish I could go back in time 2 high school, and watch shitty bands practice/perform/simulate ‘being rock stars’ based on the bands that they cite as direct influences.

Miss the days when bands just had to chill in abandoned warehouses until record labels found them and gave them a deal.

Miss the era of ‘So Cold in the D’, back when making fun of failed musical endeavors was more abt the racial divide of internet users vs. ‘dumb black ppl.’

Wonder if whites are backlashing against the poor whites who ‘believe in God’ and give educated whites a bad name.

Just want a remixable meme.

Just want 2 be in a band that is heard by 1-5 million ppl.
Just want 2 find music that I can discuss with my friends that makes it clear that I ‘get’ ‘it.’
Just want to share memes with the world.

Is North Face the most functional winter outerwear available in the current fleece marketplace, or was the brand just bolstered by the formative bro bag market?
Is Patagonia the alt North Face?

Do yall prefer ‘good’ relevant music or ’shitty’ relevant music?
Which type of music is more fulfilling?
Do u feel deceived by mp3s, bands, and albums that are ‘packaged’ as being a ‘good product’, but are actually a shitty product?
Is ’s “Shine” the most important song of the 2k10 decade?

Good Music == Shitty Music ?
Hella confused.