Tuesday, March 30, 2010

HIPSTER RUNOFF

HIPSTER RUNOFF

Neon Indian Bro tweets about the new Ariel Pink album, drives up demand for the leak by 500%

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 07:11 PM PDT

Link: http://twitter.com/NeonIndian


Ariel Pink’s new album is one of the most anticipated albums of 2k10. After what has been a weak year in authentic internet indie music, many authentic music fans are looking for something more comparable to Animal Collective in an abstract way. Something they can ‘rally around’ in a way that isn’t trying to ‘crossover.’ Something that only 5% of indie music fans could even ‘get.’

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti’s new album is untitled, and there is no release date, but this album is clearly in ‘high demand’ now. Some industry experts are calling it ‘the most anticipated leak’ of 2k10.

Neon Indian once was tweeted about/endorsed by Edward Droste of the popular band Grizzly Bear. It seems like the ‘Circle of Buzz’ is similar to the ‘Circle of Life.’ Every thing happens for a reason.

Buzz on to others as u would have them buzz on 2 u.

Is the Ariel Pink leak in higher demand than the LCD Soundsystem leak?
Will the new Ariel Pink album change 2k10?
What will it take to ’save’ 2k10?
Will 2k10 be remembered as ‘the year when flopped’?

I send my child to a school for the Performing Arts which specializes in creating kid memes that ‘go viral.’

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 04:05 PM PDT


I want the best for my son. I want him to be happy. I want him to go to a school where they teach him about important stuff in today’s world. Last year, I enrolled him at the Meme Institute for Gifted Children. I don’t care about math, science, and dated skills of the common man, driven to get you a desk job for the rest of your life. I want my son to be an artist, an internet entrepreneur. I want him to be part of a meme that ‘changes the way’ grownups think about how kids can go viral on the internet.

I will be most proud of my son when he creates a viral meme that gets over 1million hits and/or youtube views. I know he will never be a professional athlete, or a billionaire, but maybe he can find the sense of worth that I never found if he is part of a viral sensation that gives him a period of microfame for 1-2 weeks.

Want my son to reenact Scarface, using a pile of popcorn that represents a ’shitload of blow.’

My son needs to be smart, and understand what people want to see. What makes people laugh. How he can make mainstreamers all across the world say ‘aww…that’s so hilarious. LOL!’ (then be inspired to share the link with others.

Enrolling my son in this gifted and talented program at the Meme Institute for Gifted Children has been the best thing that ever happened to him. He learns about marketing, business, the internet, computer programming, and participates in social media discussions. Many of the top advertising and branding firms in the world recruit directly out of the school. Even if he doesn’t create something great on his own, I know he will get a job doing what he does best: getting attention on the internet + going viral.

Feel proud of my son for participating in this Scarface play. Most parents wouldn’t ‘get’ why this performance was necessary, and even though it is cute, they would probably be calling for the Theatre Teacher to be immediately fired. At the Meme Institute, parents know that kids have to go above and beyond performing Shakespeare. If we really want our kids to go viral, they have to do something special / universally appealing.

Just want to go back in time to my youth, back when I watched Rushmore for the first time, then projected myself into Max Fischer’s shoes, pretending I am some sort of jack-of-all trades quirky character at my high school.

Wonder if plays will replace bands/concerts as the authentic alternative live experience for the 2k10s.

Is Scarface overrated? Is Scarface a shitty movie that mainstream bros glorify because of the drugs and violence?

Should I buy a Scarface poster for my dorm room to put right next to my Bob Marley 4-20 poster? Is Scarface the ‘Dave Matthews Band’ of movies?

Is Al Pacino an overrated dramatic actor?

Should I just ‘drug up’ my kid and keep him in an altered state until he does something ‘funny’ that goes viral?

Really want this for him. More than I even wanted anything for myself.

When u have kids, will u be disappointed in them if they don’t ‘go viral’?
Do u want ur kids to be part of something special on the internet?
Should this production of Kids Scarface have used real cocaine instead of popcorn?
Was this viral marketing for a video game or something?
Should Obama pass a law protecting the rights of kids who ‘go viral’?
Will u encourage ur child to try to be internet famous?

Chili’s to spend $100 million to upgrade their kitchen technology

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 02:14 PM PDT

Link: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-brinker_27bus.ART.State.Edition1.3db0c2c.html


Chili’s is going to spend $100 million upgrading their kitchens across the USA. It seems like they want to ‘take their chain restaurant’ to the next level.

. will spend $100 million to improve the kitchen technology at its Chili’s Grill & Bar chain, one of several “transformational changes we are going to make to our business,” chief executive Doug Brooks said Friday.

Wonder if they are going to give their waiters bluetooth iPhones to make the ordering system faster / more ‘tech savvy.’

Did u know that Chili’s owns Maggiano Italian Restaurant and On The Border Mexican Restaurant? I thought those were little local mom & pop restaurants. Feel sad.

Do u think the new technology will help Chili’s taste better?

Basically, they need to make sure their customers are served faster in order to compete with other burrito and sandwich chains.

The $100 million kitchen fix, spread out over at least three years, is designed to shorten the time it takes to serve hungry diners. The investment includes high-speed cooking equipment that can shave five minutes off the time between when an order is received and when it’s served – a key advantage as the casual dining industry tries to compete with faster upstarts such as Panera Bread and Chipotle.

Wonder if Panera Bread is the new Chili’s. Seems like they probably get ‘high margins’ on sweet breads, pastries, and bagels.

Will Chili’s make more money?
Can chili’s stay alive?
Is Chili’s bad for America?
Is Chili’s where people go to die?
Will the Chili’s brand be ‘revitalized’ or will it just continue to serve shitty high sodium + fat foods?
What’s ur fave food at Chili’s?

Does the mediocre LCD Soundsystem album art mean that the album will be mediocre?

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 12:07 PM PDT


LCD Soundsystem released their ‘album art’ and ‘album title.’ This has become a natural part of the ‘internet album release’ process.

The album name is This Is Happening.

It seems to probably be a metaphor abt life, how it is happening, and how ur sort of in ‘disbelief’ abt it.

Sort of feel ‘baffled’ by the album art. Seems underwhelming. Maybe I just don’t ‘get’ it. Maybe it is supposed to look ‘dated’, like some bro from the 80s. Not sure if the cover is ‘trying to be cool’ or ‘trying to be ironic.’ Wish some1 would tell me so I’d know how 2 approach it.

Makes me yearn for the days of Animal Collective’s hit album art meme for Merriweather Post Pavillion.

Is LCD Soundsystem’s album art a better meme than MGMT’s album art?

When is over, what will be #1 album art of the year?
Is the quality of album art directly related to the quality of the music on the album?
Is LCD Soundsystem letting u down?
R u talking urself into becoming an ‘ironic MGMT fan’?
Is more genius than the MGMT guy?

Is American Apparel ‘in the shitter’ financially?

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 11:45 AM PDT

Link 1: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/dov_bare_market_QR6poNhQ57TSd5vsk4068K


Recently, there has been a ‘new wave’ of articles after American Apparel released their quarterly financial earnings about how the company is in ’serious trouble.’ Not sure if I am supposed to believe this. Still see people + tweens all over the place wearing Am Appy, so I find it kinda hard 2 believe. It seems difficult to imagine that any business would ever die, but maybe it would be kinda cool if Am Appy died, then I would have a bunch of ‘rare’/'vintage’ clothes.

It certainly didn’t help Charney’s mood when, on Friday, the racy retail chain’s shares plunged 17 percent after the New York-based concern reported its fourth-quarter profits had dropped a jaw-dropping 23 percent. While soaring costs and anemic sales sapped profits, investors were likewise rattled as the company delayed giving an outlook for 2010, citing restrictions imposed on its operations by lenders.

Wish I understood ‘business’ so I knew how to make a bunch of money in the stock market investing in my fave companies. Apple, Am Appy, Urban Outfitters, IKEA, McDonalds, Chili’s, snuggies…all my fave brands.

Seems like they are trying to say that the company was productive since it had some sweet Mexis working ‘on the cheap’:

“The reduction in manufacturing efficiency was principally a result of the forced termination of over 1,500 experienced manufacturing employees in the third and fourth quarters of 2009 following the completion of the previously-disclosed I-9 inspection by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” Charney’s battered company said in a statement last week.

It’s a bitter irony for Charney, who has long portrayed himself as a champion of foreign workers’ rights.

Is American Apparel ‘in the shitter’?
Are all companies ‘going thru a tuff time right now’ [via the recession]?
Is it ‘alt’ to write Am Appy articles just to mention ’sexual harassment’?
Do u have any business ideas to save Am Appy?
Will u be sad if Am Appy dies?
Does n e 1 know how ‘the stock market’ works?

Some bro does a chillwave cover in his underwear

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 06:31 AM PDT


Recently, a popular internet bro did a cover of Toro Y Moi’s hit song “Blessa” in his underwear. He opted to adapt the lyrics in order to be ‘more representative’ of the chillwave era.

Is this cover ‘authentic’?

Does this bro have a hot bulge?

Do u miss his previous chillwave vlogs /artistic interpretations?

are chillwave vloggers the future of chillwave?

Did this meme turn u on?

New MGMT video leaves fans more confused than ever.

Posted: 30 Mar 2010 05:58 AM PDT


MGMT’s new video for the new mp3 “Flash Delirium” has left indie music listeners more confused than ever. MGMT’s new album Congratulations was one of the most anticipated mindie (mainstream indie) albums of the year, but has ‘flopped’ critically ever since it was leaked. Tons of music critics are either ‘panning’ MGMT, or sort of ‘leaving the door open’ to rate it at a later date.

It seems like this video/song is supposed to be ‘commentary’ on some sort of phenomenon that I can’t even really put my finger on. Like ‘coming back’ home after becoming a relevant buzzband. Sort of feel like I want to ‘get’ the song now, but also feel like ‘fuck this song.’ I think maybe MGMT exists on a different plane than every other human, and they are just ‘effing with the system’ now that they have the financial backing of a major label. Wonder if they are ‘afraid’ of failing, so they just ended up being all campy.

Seems like they are trying hard 2 brand the song into something marketable. Honestly think I ‘kept watching’ the video, and possibly talked myself into the song ’sounding better’, but then got angry at myself for ‘watching the entire video.’

I feel like the overall goal of this video is just to be ‘abstract’ and keep people from listening to the song, and sort of just trying to create a weird, hazy experience. Wonder if MGMT will become the new Animal Collective for tweens, inspiring a new era of music criticism in which MGMT is used as the golden standard of albums/bands/musical brands.

How do u feel about MGMT?
Is the song ‘growing on u’ or do u feel like u should stay commited to the album ’sucking’?
Is this being marketed as an ‘alt video’ that will be in heavy rotation on MTV2 and MTVU?
Will MGMT top Vampire Weekend when it comes to record sales?
Does the MGMT album still ’suck’?

H&M Hires tweens to participate in a Flash Mob 2 promote their Kids Line

Posted: 29 Mar 2010 07:29 PM PDT


H&M is a popular retailer with a moderately alternative reach. Many people describe it as American Apparel meets the Gap meets Forever 21 meets ___________. It seems like they are trying to re-brand to be ‘cool with the kids + tweens’, as opposed to being a place where you go to get cheap shit that looks okay/neutral.

It seems like they got a bunch of tweens to do some sort of flash mob in order to promote their brand. I wonder if it cost a lot of money to hire these tweens, or if it was a bunch of those types of tweens who think their kids should be models / actors / singers / dancers / etc. Always seems like a good idea to hire some teens/tweens who are down to work ‘on the cheap’ in hopes of creating a better life.

Seems ‘weak’

55 stylish kids surprise the public at Union Square in San Francisco with a hip hop dance battle that showcases the latest H&M Kids fashion.

Alt tweens doing grown up things. Riding public transportation, wearing scarves

Every1 is free to live life

Altbaguettes keep getting younger and younger.

Are flash mobs still a legitimate way to create ‘viral buzz’ for your brand, or should the creative executives who orchestrated this campaign be ‘fired’ for using a buzzworthy idea from 2-4 years ago?
Will u take ur tween son or daughter to shop at H&M, or will they prefer to shop at WalMart since Miley Cyrus’ fashion line is carried there?
Do flash mobs really ‘count’ when it is just a group of parents huddled around, watching their kids perform?
Do u shop at H&M?
What is your perception of the H&M brand?
Is H&M alt and/or authentic?