Thursday, October 7, 2010

HIPSTER RUNOFF

HIPSTER RUNOFF

Some altbro filmmaker makes meaningful documentary that finally answers ‘WTF IS A HIPSTER YALL?’

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 05:46 PM PDT


Just watched this ‘preview/teaser’ for a documentary about HIPSTERS. It seems like some altbro bought an HD camera, travelled to relevant cities across the United States, and interviewed people who ‘looked alt’, then went home, got on his iMac, edited this movie together, and said ‘Hey yall made a documentary’, uploaded it to vimeo, then no1 is gonna see it.

Not sure if I would ‘watch’ this documentary, unless maybe I was between 12-19 years old and I wanted to know more about my alternative social identity. Really tired of ppl trying to ask ‘WTF is an effing hipster? H8 them so much’ and trying to sell it as some sort of original cultural insight.

(Note: when Spider Man says “I don’t fucking know!” did yall notice the documentary bro mouthing the words at the exact same time [via paying him 2 say that]?)

DOCUMENTARIE INFO

In 2009, lithe, lanky, mustachioed, pony-tailed filmmaker Luke Peterson began work on "Hipsters," a full-length documentary that explores hipster culture and attempts to nail down an answer to that elusive question: "What is a hipster?" (readjack.com)

A traveling documentary that visits Chicago, New York, Maryland, Los Angeles & a few locations we’ll surprise you with.

Songs: Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
Genesis by Justice

Really h8 this modern era of self-important [via the post-Michael Moore / Morgan Spurlock era]. Just like ‘gonna make a movie where I turn myself into a character that proves a point and call it a ‘documentary’ even though I just look like a bro with a stick up my butt the whole movie. Do u think some people should just ‘strip naked’ and look at themselves in the mirror forever instead of using a video camera to capture ‘the essence of their lives’?

Just watched some other ‘teaser’ / ‘trailer’ that used Animal Collective.

Is this going to win Sundance?
Does this bro seem chill, or like an entry level bro?
Do u think he ‘gets’ buzzbands, or just listens to them and says “Gonna use this in my movie yall”?
What the eff is an effing hipster yall?
Am I a hipstar?

NYTimes writes article saying brands are the new record labels [via Converse, Mtn Dew, Taco Bell]

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 04:45 PM PDT

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/arts/music/10brand.html


From what I understand the traditional record industry is ‘going down the shitter’ because people don’t buy records any more. Instead, they use the internet to steal albums, mp3s, and youtubes viddies. Some New York Times article just ‘profiled’ the state of the modern , and how so many lifestylebrands are trying to appeal to young adults by ‘curating mp3s’ / funding buzzbands / helping artists 2 ‘create art.’ Really tried to make it seem like they are ‘saving the ’, and helping artists to ‘do what they love–create mp3s.’

Do u buy into brands as the new record labels? I thought blogs were the new record labels [via the opinion of a pseudo-progressive journalist in 2k7]. Might have to start a brand to re-establish my position as a ‘tastemaker’/'sharer’ of music.

Here is the ‘opening’ hook, where they tell u that Converse is buying a studio space, and they are going to let bands record in there 2 seem ‘kewl’ with consumers.

RIGHT now it is just a shell, the peeling remnant of an old dry cleaner on a graffiti-covered block in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. But soon the 5,200-square-foot space will be transformed into a sleek new recording studio in the heart of the underground-rock capital. And in the latest twist in pop's relationship with Madison Avenue, the struggling bands making music there will already be encountering corporate America: the studio is being built by Converse, which will let them record free.

A shoe company giving away studio time might seem peculiar. But with its new project, Converse — whose sneakers have been worn by generations of bands, from the Ramones to the Strokes — wants to become a patron of the rock arts. The company is not alone: lifestyle brands are becoming the new record labels.

Good think I am in a chillwave, lofi, bedroom-recordings based artist, and Converse can’t really help my band.

Wonder if it is ‘worth it’ to record at Converse studios. Wonder if a ‘recording studio’ is a good investment by Converse, or if they should just ‘open up a new sweatshop’ in the same space in Brooklyn.


Seems like brands are just starting to buy the rights to albums instead of wasting money on tv/internet ads. Every time a relevant MP3 is released, a blog is forced to mention the name of the brand. Seems like they are ‘winning’ even if no1 really cares, the brand doesn’t resonate with consumers, and every1 is just picking up some free MP3s.

Looking to infiltrate the lives of their customers on an ever deeper cultural level, they are starting imprints, scouting for talent and writing checks for nearly every line item on a band's budget. And as the traditional record industry crumbles, plenty of musicians are welcoming these new rock 'n' roll Medici.

Apparently, real record labels suck/take all of a band’s money anyways, so buzzbands would rather just do a ‘one and done’ deal with a brand that has more money to pay them, and does’t view them as some sort of ‘golden calf’ that they have to keep milking for 5-10 years, stealing money from it on the reg.

Artists and talent managers say that the music deals offered by brands can be fairer and more favorable than traditional label contracts. These days major labels want bands to sign so-called 360 or extended-rights agreements, which give the label a piece of nearly every dollar a band makes, from concerts to merchandise. On the other hand, most brands offer short-term deals with few strings.


Here is Best Coast being all defensive, and saying she hasn’t sold out/isn’t stupid 4 taking huge dollars from brands.

Ms. Cosentino's band has existed for barely a year, but she is already a branding vet. Well before she signed a proper record deal, with the small label Mexican Summer, she released a single through a boutique headphone company. And when Converse asked her to collaborate with the rapper Kid Cudi and Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend on a song that would be given away on its Web site, she didn't hesitate. "It was an amazing opportunity," she said by phone recently from a gig in Iowa. "If I said no it would have been stupid."

Makes sense that she took a $500 gift card from [link].
Do bands just not make that much money so it is impossible to ‘say no’ when some1 just wants to give them money without claiming too much ownership over them? Are companies just ‘cooking the books’, investing in abstract goods + services to offer buzzbands, and not really doing much to help their brand?

Here is some ‘expert’ dude saying why brands are doing this record label bullshit.

"Indie-inflected music serves as a kind of Trojan horse," Mr. Rabinowitz said. "Consumers feel they are discovering something that they believe to be cool and gaining admittance to a more refined social clique."


Here’s something I didn’t know, Motel 6 offers free rooms to buzzbands:

Motel 6's Rock Yourself to Sleep program, for example, gives free rooms to touring groups.

Might ‘go on tour’ and just show up at random Motel 6 locations, and say to the dude at the front desk, “Hi, I’d like the buzzband room. It is the 1 with the jacuzzi/whirlpool tub.”

Seems like life as a buzzband is rlly lucrative.

They interviewed the CEO / CFO / CTO of Pitchfork, and he was all like, “Consumers need to effing question these brands instead of just taking their mp3s for free. So many companies doing shady ass shit, eff em all. U can’t blind us with free MP3s.”

Chris Kaskie, the president of the music Web site Pitchfork, noted a lack of debate about the implications of bands' working with brands. When Nike makes a cool mix-tape, he said, there is little comment in the indie-rock world about the company's labor practices, which have drawn criticism in the past.

"Young bands are growing up in a culture where there's less off that discussion happening, less of those underlying issues being addressed," Mr. Kaskie said. "But the experiment that these bands are doing is important to see where it goes."

From what I understand, , Converse, Nike, and are all created in sweatshops and hire 3rd world labor to create their products.

Are lifestyle brands saving the ?
Do consumers really ‘respond’ to this type of marketing?
Have u bought Converse / / since they teamed up with ur favourite buzzbands?
Is this the type of thing that just ‘gets the name of ur product written on a blog’ and makes brands feel ‘young’ even though they are sorta just running in place?
Are buzzbands ‘abusing’ brands that have large budgets?
Is ‘music’ even supposed 2 make money?
Are brands ‘saving’ the , or is this just some marketing fad that they will realize has lost them too much money/didn’t return any finite results?
Should all these brands just buy a commercial during the Super Bowl instead of this buzzband bloggy crap?
Do yall h8 the blogosphere?
Should all blogs boycott mp3s that are commissioned by brands?
What brand will be the next to launch a ‘record label’ 2 appeal 2 alts?
Should hire a buzzband to write an mp3 just to get ‘mad coverage’ from other blogs?
Should BP release the next Vampire Weekend/AnCo album to ‘get on the good side’ of the blogosphere and re-brand after the oil spill?
Should I buy a Scion, wear my Converse, and wash down my with some 2 prove I <3 buzzbands?

Alice Glass drinks more Jack Daniels on stage. Alice, r u okay?

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 12:32 PM PDT


Alice
Noticed u like Whiskey
Is there some sort of record label sponsored by that I should know abt?
Or do u just <3 'hitting the bottle?'

Kinda worried, babe
Just let me know
Is this an on-stage character that u have created
Kinda like how Karen O 'goes crazy' on stage
or is this rlly u?
Is this a window in2 ur mind/soul/brain/childhood?

Alice.
I’m worried.
I care abt u.
Whiskey is a gateway drug

Just want u to be authentically inspired by the bleepy bloops
U don’t need to get effed up every night
Enjoy the moment
Savor it

Sure it is chill to have a drink every now and then
but drink responsibly
Don’t drink and drive
Don’t buzzband and drive.

“I am not a role model.”

Is ‘goin krazie’?
R u legit worried abt Alice?
Do yall ever drink bottles of Jack?
Is the sexiest ‘indie songstress frontwoman’ in indie music?

Passion Pit ‘disses’ HIPSTER RUNOFF, claims the writing has ‘gone down the shitter’

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 10:24 AM PDT

Link: http://www.theusdvista.com/arts-culture/conversing-with-nate-donmoyer-1.1655232


Passion Pit is a popular indie buzzband who has broken into many mainstream markets, inspiring tons of ‘critical backlash’ from the blogosphere because the blogosphere just wants buzzbands 2 be authentic 4evr. Some say that Passion Pit is brilliant pop music, while others claim that they represent the mainstreamification of indie music.

It seems like the popular weblog has put the popular buzzband Passion Pit on their ‘shit list’, continually referring to them as “The Pashy Pits” and branding them as “entry level bleepy bloopy indie rock.” Recently, some bro in Passion Pit named Nate Donmoyer did an interview with a college newspaper, and the college paper asked for his analysis on the popular weblog .

What then transpired was a huge ‘rant’, where Passion Pit basically shits on Carles, the brand, and the ALT REPORT brand:

V: So do you read Hipsterrunoff at all?
ND:: Yes, totally! Carles.

V: It’s been just calling Passion Pit out the last four or five months it seems, ripping your 'buzzband’ to pieces with a lot of satire.
ND: I’ve been a huge fan of his blog for a while now, and to ever be mentioned on it is an honor whether it’s positive or negative. The problem is I’m like 99.9 percent sure that it’s not just him anymore.

V: Yeah, the writing has really gone downhill.
ND: Yeah, especially, what is it, The Alt Report? I’m 100 percent sure he doesn’t write any of those. It’s an honor to be slammed in that. It’s totally fine with me. We totally take it to heart.

Has the ALT REPORT diluted the brand?
Does Carles write the Alt Report posts?
R u ‘pissed’ that this college journalist bro was ‘critical’ of the brilliant content/voice/tone on ?
Is it an ‘honor’ to be ‘slammed’ on ?
Is it an honor for Carles to be ‘slammed’ by [miscellaneous college newspaper]?
Is Nate Donmoyer a ‘chill bro’?

Do all buzzbands read , hoping for a ‘glowing review’ by Carles?
Do yall like Passion Pit more now that they have confirmed they are all huge ‘HRO fans’, or does that make u want to stop reading ?

It seems like there is some sort of ‘huge storm’ brewing between Carles, and many of the 2k9-2k14 buzzbands. There is a complex ‘love-hate relationship’, where you seek the attention of , but at the same time, fear the impact on ur brand if Carles <3/h8s u too much.

Is this 'bigger news' than the time Best Coast told Carles to 'eat a dick'? [link]
Should Carles be a chiller bro with Pashy Pits?
Is “Pashy Pit” a derogatory nickname, or an ‘affectionate pet name’?
Are yall on #Team_Carles or #TeamPash?
Is Passion Pit ‘right’? Has gone down the shitter?
Is the ALT REPORT written by ‘Jeff’, an intern from the University of Buzzbands?
Which brand has more lamestreamers 4 fans: or Passion Pit?

Avey Tare’s hires his sister 2 direct his artsy fartsy music video

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 09:01 AM PDT


Avey Tare is releasing a new album in order to prove to Panda Bear that he doesn’t have shit on him as an artist, musician, and human being. Just to prove that he has his shit together, Avey made a new music video. Even though it is kinda boring (via involving no sex or violence or shooting red headed tweens), this is more of a statement directly to Panda Bear, like “Listen brah–my album’s coming out. I got mp3s ready, I got videos ready, I got the vinyl pressing order ready to go. Be afraid. Be intimidated. Ur my bitch, Panda.”

Can u believe Avey is being ‘such a dick’ 2 Panda? Should he have waited til Panda at least had a few more MP3s out? Does this video for “Lucky 1″ do anything 4 u? Sorta makes me dislike the song because I am s000 bored by it, but then I just remember that the video is more of a psychological message to Panda, letting him know he is a ‘failure.’

Anyways, Avey Tare hired his sister who seems to have the human name “Abby Portner” to doodle out this vid/direct it. Just found a picture of her on the internet. Ya, she looks kinda like Avey.

Really nothing else to ‘blurb’/add analysis abt.

Boring-ish artsy fartsy vid that I am ‘way too busy’ to soak in [via full screen on my laptop]. Avey h8s Panda and wants to crush his spirit. His sister drew the video.

Is Abby Portner a gifted artist?
What’s the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?
Is Avey Tare’s stock rising or falling?
Is Avey a ‘huge dick’ 2 Panda Bear for going thru with this album?
R u still disappointed in Panda Bear?
Is Avey Tare a buzzband bully?

Best Coast and WAVVES signed to Taco Bell’s Record Label

Posted: 07 Oct 2010 08:42 AM PDT

Link: http://feedthebeat.com/program-news/2010-feed-the-beat-lineup/


From what I understand, every retail/food brand no longer finds traditional marketing to be effective, and instead they have to pay ‘super users’ on the internet/in culture to convince people that their product is authentic/worth stuffing ur face with. seems to have launched a record label to sell to people who like both mp3s and tacos. From what I understand, is sorta like ‘slop food’, except u put it inside of a tortilla, on a crunchy shell. Then u put ‘hot sauce’ on it, and it taste ‘good.’

Anyways, ‘announced’ an ‘innovative new project’ where they are giving touring bands money to eat at . I don’t really understand how/why this is worth it for a band, or maybe it just shows how bleak life on the road is, and you will take any free handouts possible.

Over the past month, we've been listening to all of the submissions to select our one hundred artists and we couldn't be more happy with the quality of musicians that love . Every touring band can relate to eating on the road and has become essential to keep artists rocking while on tour. 's late-night menu offers a variety of items to conquer any band member's appetite. Recognizing this, began Feed the Beat to fuel bands with $500 in Bucks per band so they can focus on their true passion: music.

$500? For real? Know that is like $3000 in currency, but still. Not sure if this is really worth it. Feel like a buzzband member should make at least $10k for lending their name to a brand. Wonder if there are any ‘strings attached’, like u have to tweet 10 links, twitpic taco pix every week, and play a live set inside of a somewhere in the Midwest.

Here is a list of the bands that ‘sold out’ just to eat tacos. I think basically all of them blow hard, so it is just funny that they all decided a $500 gift certificate was ‘worth it’:

2AM Club
A Rocket To The Moon
Adam Haworth Stephens
After The Burial
Allstar Weekend
American Bang
American Fangs
Anamanaguchi
Anarbor
Andrew W.K.
Artist Vs Poet
Atom Smash
Atreyu
Bad City
Bad Rabbits
Best Coast
blessthefall
Boys Like Girls
Breathe Carolina
Cady Groves
Chiddy Bang
Chiodos
Christian TV
Chuck Ragan
Circa Survive
Cobra Starship
Colour Revolt
Cults
Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr
Dead Confederate
Dr. Dog
Emmure
Everest
Every Avenue
Every Time I Die
Fake Problems
Four Year Strong
He Is We
Hellyeah
Hey Monday
Hot Chelle Rae
In This Moment
Iron Thrones
It Boys!
Jukebox the Ghost
Knights of The Abyss
Les Savy Fav
Let Me Run
Let's Get It
Look Mexico
Maps & Atlases
Mariachi El Bronx
Math the Band
Mayday Parade
Memphis High
Miniature Tigers
Neon Trees
Never Shout Never
New Found Glory
New Politics
Passion Pit
Phosphorescent
Pigeon John
Plug in Stereo
PMtoday
Polaris at Noon
Portugal. The Man
Revocation
Runner Runner
Shinobi Ninja
Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers
Stick To Your Guns
Suckers
T. Mills
Tennis System
Tera Melos
Terrible Things
The Acacia Strain
The Almost
The Black Angels
The Cab
The Chariot
The Downtown Fiction
The Gay Blades
The Girlfriend Season
The Hood Internet
The Ready Set
The Summer Set
The Swellers
The Sword
The Wonder Years
This Will Destroy You
Tokyo Police Club
Travie McCoy
Unearth
Underoath
VersaEmerge
War of Ages
Wavves
We The Kings

Gonna go see a few of these bands and just throw $500 worth of at them, screaming “WAS IT WORTH IT? WAS IT REALLY WORTH IT YALL? TACO TACO YO QUIERO TACO SUNDAYS .69 .79 .99!”

I wonder if they are going to make all of these bands tweet tons of pix of them eating on the road. Wonder if there is any sort of real ‘service’ that is offering them besides giving them an amount of food that is actually valued at like $20. Feeling sad about this ‘record label.’ Makes me wonder if paid their ppl in soda pop.

Do u think these bands will have to do embarrassing advertising / advertorials? Maybe they will make them do commercials/viral video shorts where they talk with a Mexican accent.

Yo Quiero Buzzbands, yall

R u gonna start shopping at ?
Is this progressive marketing that will get u buzzing abt their brand?
Was a $500 gift certificate rlly worth it?
Is ‘slop food’ 4 poor ppl?
Will Best Coast + WAVVES just ‘get danked’ and spend their combined $1000 in less than 3 days?
Did revolutionize the Mexican food industry?
Does taste ‘just like’ real Mexican food?
Is ‘California style’ or ‘Tex Mex’ Mexi food?
What is ’s most innovative / alt product?

Should I just eat a bunch of double decker tacos while I listen 2 buzzbands?

Should McDonalds launch a ‘rival’ record label, giving buzzbands free McDonalds for a month, and we can monitor their health every day and film a documentary called ‘SUPER BUZZ ME’?

Lamestreamers on Facebook say AnCo and Phoenix are the most revolutionary bands of our generation

Posted: 06 Oct 2010 07:07 PM PDT


Facebook is a place where u talk with ppl abt life, and sometimes during life, u listen to buzzbands. U can use facebook 2 share buzzbands, memories, tag photos, and even get into a real relationships with real ppl.

Anyways, sometimes bros on facebook ‘brag’ abt kewl bands that they’ve heard. Not just sometimes, but every day. When u go 2 sleep, ppl talk abt buzzbands.

Just saw some bros talk abt Phoenix + AnCo, compare them 2 Nirvana and shit.

Some bro first brags about how he ‘loves’ the buzzband Phoenix, and claims they are a ‘French version of the Shins.’

then some other bro is like “Oh ya, u gotta check out Animal Collective.  Just heard of the Shins, but

Then a bro is like “I listen 2 that shit when I drive around suburbia.’

Then a bro is all like “SHARE MORE BUZZBANDS WITH ME YALL”

Then an irrelevant bro recommends a shitty band. Boooring

The ultimate bro closes out the meaningful part of the convo by saying “Yes, Phoenix is pure pop brilliance… Alas… However, Animal Collective have become the greatest band of our generation.  They are kinda like our generation’s Nirvana.  Panda Bear is Kurt Cobain, Avey Tare is Pat Smear, Dave Grohl is Geologist, and Deakin is the other bro.  I love indie music, and I am an authentic fan.’

*****
Really wish I had more facebook friends who were down 2 share cutting edge ideas on indie music on the Facebooks.

Who is the indie version of Nirvana?
Is Phoenix a French version of the Shins?
Do u talk about buzzbands on facebook?
Are Lamestreamers taking over ur facebook minifeed wall?