“And so the Lana Del Rey-bashing economy moves faster than the actual Lana Del Rey economy, a reminder of how free people feel to clobber someone, especially a young woman, for the crime of art. Not always artful art, but that matters less than the elevation of the mundane into something worth exploding. Ms. Del Rey generates so much anger precisely because she does so little. People don’t know what to do with this unformed thing they’ve been told they need to care about; crushing it is easy, almost humane.”
Jon Caramanica’s take on Lana Del Rey is among the best pieces of pop criticism you’ll ever read in a newspaper.
When it comes to folk-artist impressionists covering pop stars, Faux Foxes are amazing — but also, so last week. The new, hot thing is Bon Iver sound-alikes singing Bon Jovi. It is called Bon Joviver and it is the best!
(via Peter)
Via Twitter:
@robynkonichiwa Robyn! Even though FF Sings was fake we WILL cover something! I’m obsessed with you and think you’re the greatest!
— Robin Pecknold (@rpecknold) January 17, 2012
Update: Pecknold now says he plans to cover “Call Your Girlfriend.” A fake Foxes cover of Robyn spurring actual Foxes to do a Robyn cover. The future!
So some anonymous bros are recording covers of pop songs in imitation of Fleet Foxes? Why? I have no idea, but I love it. Like, whoever had this idea and executed it would probably really fun to hang out with at a party, is what I’m saying. Three beers in and they’re like, “let’s get our falsettos on and sing Rihanna in the style of Robin Pecknold.” They even managed to fool Robyn with what is actually a pretty great cover of “Dancing on My Own.”
Anyway, the future is weird and we live in it.
The Shins: “Simple Song”
Our first taste of Port of Morrow, James Mercer’s first record as the Shins since 2007’s Wincing the Night Away, is here in the form of “Simple Song.” Hear Mercer lead his brand new lineup through the catchy cut above.
Oh, you guys. I am really liking this. Too reminiscent of “Phantom Limb,” perhaps, but James Mercer’s vocal is outstanding.
- Via
- twentyfourbit
Bloc Party took another step toward becoming a non-entity today when its secret weapon from birth — terrifyingly precise drummer Matt Tong — announced he was leaving the band. (This was the secondary item in a batch of news that also included an announcement of the band’s next album.) Tong’s impassioned, economical drumming gave Silent Alarm much of its drive, which is what made it so sad last year when delusional front man Kele Okereke said Tong’s drumming had ruined the album. Here’s hoping the guy finds a better showcase for his talents soon; above, you can watch and listen as he builds “This Modern Love” from a whisper into a roar.
Update: The writer of the post I linked to now says it was a joke, and that Tong remains in the band. Blargh! Sorry for not confirming that one first.
Scissor Sisters feat. Azealia Banks - Shady Love
OH OKAY.
Two days into 2012 and we already have (1) a new Scissor Sisters song that (2) features Azealia Banks and (3) whose video is set in an elementary school talent competition and (4) contains so many dirty lines that (5) they have to keep bleeping them lest the kids appear to lip-synch something totally inappropriate. The chorus is weak but the beat is bouncy enough, and watching it I’m thrilled: Four albums into their career this band is still following its strangest impulses wherever they lead.
Mandatory Walkmen / “In the New Year” reblog. Also, this video = cray.
Happy 2012 everybody. It’s gonna be be a GOOOOOD year!
(via gazillionaire)
- Via
- gazillionaire
Gorgeous.
(Source: hypem)
Any time someone goes off on year-end lists — see Emily Nussbaum at the New Yorker, for a representative screed — I think of all the songs I love that I never would have heard without them. Today I listened to a playlist from Joe Long, whose best-of-‘11 list had been highlighted on the Rdio blog. It’s a great list, and not just because it overlaps somewhat with mine. After listening for a couple hours — it’s a long playlist! — the most gorgeous Byrdsian jangle-pop emerged from my headphones. As it turned out it was “Wonder Why,” by the great Bay Area folkies Vetiver, who released this song six months ago and apparently had no idea how to market it. Seriously, how did they not get one blog read by a normal person to post this song? (OK, Pitchfork mentioned it three-quarters of the way through a middling album review.)
But whatever. Are you listening to this song already? On repeat? Do you want to sit around the campfire with Andy Cabic for a few hours and have him sing this to you over and over again while you print out all those columns about how year-end lists suck and throw them into the fire? You might as well! What have you got to lose?
