The Beach House Theory of 2k10.

By Carles | November 20, 2009

[MP3]
Beach House Norway

Analysis of the Cultural and Critical Impact of this Song:
This mp3 is the ‘beginning/launching point/kickoff’ of the 2k10 music season. The first step on an annual cycle to attempt to understand ‘who is the best/most culturally relevant/buzzworthy/meme-able’ band of the year. It is this cycle which gives the blogosphere purpose, giving us a reason to live/evaluate/judge even though ‘time’ is irrelevant on the internet.

Beach House’s PR/marketing team should be commended for setting the tone for 2k10. In the post-chillwave era, we will be looking for meaningful music that has substance–lyrically, emotionally, musically. No more ‘going to the beach and chilling’ music by bands who we will never hear from again. 2k10 will be all about people ‘overcompensating’ and ‘wanting a full album experience’ after spending the last 2-4 years scavenging for mp3s in the hypemachine world. Wonder if the XX will be cited as the end of chillwave since their album was so meaningful/vulns.

2k10 will feature releases by the established tier 1 bands such as Arcade Fire, Panda Bear, MGMT, Of Montreal, and Vampire Weekend. It seems like Beach House is on tier 2 of the indie band power chart, with a ‘beloved’ 1st and second album. I think the Beach House Theory of 2k10 would predict that Beach House is ‘the front runner’ for 2k10’s album of the year because of the criticism-sphere’s desire to ‘anoint’ a band that they ‘created.’ It seems ‘too predictable/boring’ for most web outlets to continue to gush over the same bands over and over, unless they are AnCo/PandyBear. We love to ‘watch a band grow’ into ‘artists who can put together a complete album.’ We will reward them for their efforts, and their willingness to share with us. If they are good to us during their buzzband phase and don’t do anything too inauthentic/gimmicky, then ‘deliver’ on a second album that demonstrates progress, we will ensure that by their third album, we will grant them Alternative Tenure–our gift to them which includes ‘guaranteed coverage’ of releases/tour dates/miscellaneous tidbits, minimal negative/attacking coverage of your brand, and the promise to band that our website will link to the website that is selling their album for years to come.

Wondering if a major label/marketing team will see the appeal of Beach House, and attempt to turn her/them into Feist 2.0 + bro who plays guitar and has an interesting drum machine in a suitcase. Wonder if this post-TingTings era will ‘embrace’ them. Seems like they wouldn’t have a poppy/ghey girly song on this album, so their chances of ‘crossoverability’ are diminished. Dark tones/vulnerability will keep their appeal strong within the indiebrocriticismsphere during 2k10.

If u had 2 bet ur entire bank account, who would yall ‘bet on’ as album of the year creator in 2k10? Do u buy the theory that critics need 2 ‘pick something new 2 seem fresh’, or will they just have predictable favourites that demonstrate their unwillingness to move forward into our modern era. Is Ratatat the ‘wild card’ in the 2k10 album of the year race?


/////////

missing u.

Srsly tho… do yall feel like Ed Droste’s twitter suicide is the indie equivalent of Heath Ledger’s murder/suicide, Michael Jackson’s death, or Miley Cyrus’ internet suicide?

Posted in Important Opinions on Alternative Music, MP3 post | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

Are authentic alternative celebrities scaling back their internet presences?

By Carles | November 19, 2009
Photo via stereogum


In this picture, u see Edward Droste (lead singer of the band Grizzly Bear), along with a series of bros on a screen. Even though this chill session was happening in real life, Ed Droste also facilitated this same relationship on the internet with thousands of followers on the popular social networking site ‘twitter.com.’ Over the past year, @EdwardDroste became one of the most beloved alternative celebrities on twitter.

It made me sad to learn that Edward Droste committed suicide. Not in real life, but on the internet, by deactivating his twitter account. Even though he had thousands of followers ready 2 listen to his every word, he decided that being an alternative celebrity schmoozing with ‘the common man’ was not worth it.

I wonder what ‘put him over the top.’ Wonder if too many fans tweeted vicious things @ him. Or if too many music bloggers and music criticism bros gushed @ him. Wonder if he got @ed too many ‘put me on the guest lists.’ Wonder if he got tired of the popular music blog pitchfork ‘exploiting’ his tweets for meme-able content.

It’s kinda weird reading that now… It makes me wonder what went wrong in his metaphorical digipet/gigapet.

I’ll never forget the time @EdwardDroste twitpic-ed a sweet picture with Feist on a meaningful rollercoaster, then ‘tons of music blogs meme-d that shit.’

Wondering if the people that he was supposed to be connecting with/sharing life with were ultimately the same ppl who forced him to metaphorically ‘off himself.’

Worried that if Edward Droste isn’t there to ‘officially endorse’ buzzbands, many of the world’s top music bloggers won’t know what they are supposed 2 like. Have heard that Neon Indian only got ‘mainstream indie’ acceptance’ after Ed Droste endorsed the buzzband on his twitter.

Sometimes I wonder what I’d be like if I could be a twitter celeb. I feel like I would mainly tweet about ‘cool shit I was doing’ (including cool places/buying cool shit) but also make sure to have a lot of conversations with other famous/interesting people.

I remember 1 time I made a post saying that Miley Cyrus and tweens are ‘too immature’ for the internet+social media+ twitter, since they aren’t socially developed/ready 2 handle real life… Sorta wondering if high level alternative celebs are ‘too mature’ for twitter.

Is it better for indie/alt celebs to have excessive internet presences, or should they just have an ‘epic album’ every year that ’speaks 4 itself’? Wondering if indie fans are ‘more annoying’ than mainstream tween fans. Wondering if the mp3blogosphere is ‘too intense’ for a relevant indie artist to live in for more than 2 months.


Edward Droste (1982-2009)
a Eulogy
Edward Droste, creator and CEO of the popular indie band Grizzly Bear, committed suicide in November of 2009. He is survived by Victoria Legrand, lead singer of the band Beach House. She has vowed to avenge his death by claiming Pitchfork’s album of the year in 2010. Ed has three surviving bandmates, Daniel Rossen, Chris Bear, and Chris Taylor. They have decided to dissolve Grizzly Bear, and continue performing as ‘The Department of Eagles.’ In 10-20 years, they will consider using a CGI replacement EDro to make ‘mad bank’ on the reunion circuit. Edward was always known to throw down a solid meme, and was one of the initial supporters of the chillwave movement. In 2 short months, Edward would have found out that Grizzly Bear’s 2009 album Veckatimest was controversially voted the #1 album of the year after a voter fraud scandal in the Pitchfork offices.

What alt celeb internet-user would yall be most sad abt committing eSuicide?
Which alt celeb should get on the twitter 2 share his/her memes?

Posted in Alternative Celebrity News | Tagged , , , , , | 52 Comments

Sorta wish I worked 4 Twitter, Inc.

By Carles | November 18, 2009


If I could work for any cutting edge Web 3.0 company, I would probably work for twitter. I use google to find stuff, facebook to look at pix of hot girls, and miscellaneous blogging applications…but I feel like twitter would be a place to call home. Could imagine walking into Twitter every day, being inspired by people who I also inspire, just by existing, being full of life, and wanting to make the world a better place [via social technology]. Seems like a company that wouldn’t even require company email… wonder if they only communicate [via tweets]. 140 chrctrs or less.

I want to work at a place that has a ‘chill zone’/'recreational room.’ Seems like I cold really @relax in this @break_space. Maybe I could read a magazine there, or perhaps sit on my laptop and read tech blogs.

Would also do a lot of ’serious work’, like uploading tweets, twitpics, and even creating hyperlinks. Might ‘get serious’ in a conference call at a long table.

Even though I would be ‘assigned to a cubicle’, it wouldn’t feel as demeaning as a cubicle in a worthless, generic company. Would connect with my coworkers, and wouldn’t feel bad about my progressive web browsing/timewasting. I feel like my boss would understand that ‘general web browsing’ creates a happy, productive employee.

I have heard that Twitter has ‘mad funding.’ Hope this means that there is a breakroom loaded with miscellaneous pastries + CLIF bars + etc.

Defs gonna take advantage of the ‘fully loaded’ refrigerator. Gonna drink Cokes until my teeth ‘fucking rot.’ Hope I don’t get reprimanded for ‘draining’ the food budget…

Might make some meaningful arts and crafts inspired by my employer.

Definitely going to push to get a DJ station installed in the recreation center.

Going to try to take my DJ career to the next level by utilizing ‘trending topics’/

Gonna try to ‘get flirty’ with my female boss, teaching her how to ‘crossfade’ some songs together, and ‘beat match.’ Going to stand behind her, and put my hands on her waist, encouraging her to bounce to the beat of the music.

Just want 2 innovate the world…
Just want 2 innovate ‘communication’…
Just want 2 be ‘myself’ and get paid 4 it….
Want 2 be ‘more than just a resource’…

Just need a workplace 2 call home…

What is ur dream job?
What web 2.0/web 1.0/web 3.0 company would u want 2 work 4?
Does the twitter HQ effectively use space to inspire their employees?
Should all employers be required to provide free food + drink?
WTF is a ‘401K’?
Should I move to ‘Silicon Valley’ and start a microblogging community/real-time search pyramid scheme?
Is it better to be employed or unemployed?
Do u think they are allowed 2 snort blow/addy at work at Twitter, LLC?
Should twitter install ‘parental controls’ for tween twitter users?


Previous ‘memorable’ post about ur perfect career
http://www.hipsterrunoff.com/2009/05/my-jobcareer-does-not-align-with-my-true-personal-brand.html

Posted in Technology & Society | Tagged , , | 55 Comments

Is Avey Tare’s wife ‘trying 2 hard’ 2 be conceptual/meme-worthy?

By Carles | November 17, 2009


Yall might know Kria Brekkan as the wife of popular 2k9 buzzband ‘the Animal Collective’, more specifically, the band member Avey ‘David Portner’ Tare. She has apparently already created tons of music on her own, as well as with the popular Icelandic runoff band “múm.” [via the post-Bjork+SigurRos era]. (not sure if Iceland still has a thriving creative economy now that their ‘financial/real’ economy is ‘in the shitter’)

I recently saw Kria Tare-Brekkan’s new LP cover, and wondered what it was all about. Appears to be a concept album based on the popular female topic of fluid in the uterus.

Felt confused, since I am a bro, and from what I understand, I don’t even have a uterus. It seems like it might be an indie album directed towards ‘the female demographic’, perhaps ages 25-45. Sorta like the popular television series ‘Sex and the City.’ For those of yall who didn’t take sex-ed [via conservative private education/middle-american public school], here is where the uterus is located.

Went ahead and did some research to attempt to find out ‘why a woman would have water in her uterus.’

Feel worried. Thought uterus water might mean that ‘life’ was being cultivated, but it seems like it might be a legitimate health concern. Maybe this is going to be a ‘dark’ female album, as opposed to the light-hearted conceptual fluff that tons of female indie artists ‘put out.’ Seems like we are growing up, and the music ‘we’ listen to has tons of ‘adult themes’? Maybe life isn’t about ‘partying’/'being free’ in 2k10… Just want to be involved in a conceptual union with a human who I love.

Do u think people will take me seriously as an AnCo fan if I ‘overcompensate’ with interest in an AnCo auxilary band/wife?

Is Uterus Water the new ‘Horchata‘?

///what fluid will be ‘big in 2k10′?

Posted in Alternative Celebrity News | Tagged , , , | 67 Comments