NPR (National Public Radio) is in the middle of overhauling their brand since smart people don't listen to the radio any more. They basically have to focus on podcasting/trying to be a music referral service for uncultured suburbanites who haven't found their fave music blog yet.
It seems like they had a poll on their website, asking listeners 'what is yalls fave albums of 2k10 so far". Feel like their results yielded an in-depth look into the state of cool dad indie rock. Feel like if you are in this list, either you 'sell a shit load of albums 2 mainstreamers', or ur brand has a tone that is approachable 4 older people:
1. Gorillaz: Plastic Beach
2. The National: High Violet
3. The Black Keys: Brothers
4. Broken Bells: Broken Bells
5. LCD Soundsystem: This Is Happening
6. Vampire Weekend: Contra
7. Beach House: Teen Dream
8. Mumford and Sons: Sigh No More
9. Spoon: Transference
10. Sleigh Bells: Treats
11. Local Natives: Gorilla Manor
12. Yeasayer: Odd Blood
13. The New Pornographers: Together
14. Flying Lotus: Cosmogramma
15. She & Him: Volume Two
16. Band of Horses: Infinite Arms
17. Jonsi: Go
18. The Knife: Tomorrow, In A Year
19. Broken Social Scene: Forgiveness Rock Record
20. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings: I Learned The Hard Way
21. MGMT: Congratulations
22. Joanna Newsom: Have One On Me
23. Josh Ritter: So Runs The World Away
24. Janelle Monae: The ArchAndroid
25. Frightened Rabbit: The Winter Of Mixed Drinks
26. Surfer Blood: Astro Coast
27. Dr. Dog: Shame, Shame
28. Caribou: Swim
29. Dead Weather: Sea Of Cowards
30. Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles (II)
31. Gaslight Anthem: American Slang
32. Hold Steady: Heaven Is Whenever
33. Massive Attack: Heligoland
34. Freelance Whales: Weathervanes
35. Charlotte Gainsbourg: IRM
36. Jakob Dylan: Women And Country
37. Laura Veirs: July Flame
38. Four Tet: There Is Love In You
39. Blitzen Trapper: Destroyer Of The Void
40. The Flaming Lips: Dark Side Of The Moon
41. Ratatat: LP4
42. Erykah Badu: New Amerykah Pt. 2, Return Of The Ankh
43. Owen Pallett: Heartland
44. Quasi: American Gong
45. Kings Go Forth: Outsiders Are Back
46. Corinne Bailey Rae: The Sea
47. Sade: Soldier Of Love
48. Laura Marling: I Speak Because I Can
49. Bettye LaVette: Interpretations: The British Songbook
50. David Byrne: Here Lies Love
Feel like the 'boringness' of that list made this post super boring. Really possibly 'regret' this post and how it isn't really a 'buzzy' enough list of artists 4 my progressive tastes, but at the same time, just wanted yall to know what older indie fans are listening to, and what 2 try 2 avoid when u make ur 'Best Albums of the Year' lists. Sorta like a 'public service' warning for ur personal brand/iPod
Who are yall surprised to see on this list?
Are these bands all 'for cool dads'?
Is Vampire Weekend the perfect band because they appeal 2 cool dads AND wannabe alt tweens?
Who will be the #1 album/band of 2k10?
Will NPR listeners just 'shit their pants' when the new Arcade Fire is released?
Is Gorillaz/LCD Soundsystem for cool dads?
Will NPR listeners 'get' the new Panda Bear?
Should NPR dads ride chillwaves?
Will NPR listeners 'start to read HRO' after it was named 'Time Magazine's #1 blog of 2k10'?
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NPR is some dying radio station that is trying to brand itself as an 'indie tastemaker' because of their cool dad audience.
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Comments
F1RST!
@SteaL, Dammit! I thought I had it this time. If your name was ironically steal I'd be mad at your for stealing my first, but since it's Steal, congrats bro.
@Broseph Stalin, =D
@Broseph Stalin, lol'd at your use of the word ironic when you meant coincident.
@George Robert Twelves Brewes, @SteaL,Thanks Bros for your support. I coincidently used Ironic when I ironically should have used coincident. Damn. Totally far from first in this one now, not even in NPR's top 50 now.
@Broseph Stalin,
nearly stole it like you stole my name bro
@Brospeh Stalin, How long have you had this name?
@Brospeh Stalin, for so long
wtf old people like crystal castles?
i feel like ethan and alice will commit ritual suicide together when they find out about this shit.
@AstroCandy, Dogs go apeshit when you play CC to them.
@AstroCandy, yeah bro, i inadvertently got my mum into CC. now i feel a lil uncomfortable everytime i listen/talk about them.
fritz
i actually appreciate NPR's taste in music
@steve gheyoki, yeah, some pretty solid picks on there.
@AstroCandy, not only 'old peeps' listen 2 npr, bro.
Fuck this site. This ironic bullshit is getting old.
@Bob, yeah i defn think carles is making the hipster deal a lot more boring to make fun of. sorry carles.
@majorcreepa,
agreed
miss u carles@pre-chillwave
@the frogmaster, agreed x10
"ALTREPORTROBOT", in response to your question,
"Will NPR listeners ’start to read HRO’ after it was named ‘Time Magazine’s #1 blog of 2k10′?"
Yes, this is correct. HRO's brand is ruined. I guess it was nice while it lasted. Goodbye, everybody.
"I'm addicted to indie rock." - Mr. Cool Dad
1. Portugal. The Man, American Ghetto
2. Harlem, Hippies
3. Wilderness Survival, On Belay Belay On
4. Wye Oak, My Neighbor/My Creator EP
5. Laura Marling, I Speak Because I Can
6. Morning Benders, Big Echo
7. Phantogram, Eyelid movies
@jurassicpark makeout, As an old Portugal. The Man fan, I have to say that American Ghetto is by far their worse release and that it does not deserve that #1 spot
@matt, thanks matt. Well then fuck it, take it off, harlem moves to number 1, wilderness survival's number 2.
All I get is the Jazz music on NPR, y'all. Late at night the jazz is 'tastier' though and not 'Kenny G fucking bullshit'.
where's the pink areolas and sir lucious left feet
First time I heard Panda Bear was on NPR, hell they broke Interpol in 01 [via KCRW.com]
Beach House is album of the year so far. glad to see it up so high on a mainstream list.
i always considered She & Him to be the faces of NPRcore music. Gorillaz? when are HotTopiccore and NPRcore going to fuse?
How does Hold Steady always get the pitty vote?
HAHAHAHAHA, congratulations is even on the list.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, massive attack is even on the list.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, Heligoland is even on the list.
hAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, talentlessshitestbandever isn't on the list.
Mmmmmmmmm. A great mix of good and meh. The masses are crapping because not everyone freaking thinks alike.
2ndhand embarrassment
@wes branderson,
42. Erykah Badu: New Amerykah Pt. 2, Return Of The Ankh
1. Gorillaz: Plastic Beach
14. Flying Lotus: Cosmogramma
33. Massive Attack: Heligoland
=GANGSTA
@Silkk Da Shocker, feel like drake is just jewish enough to make it on the NPRz countdown.
@wes branderson, haha. nice.
crls (<3), feel like u don't need to feel apprehensive about posting this boring shitty. u r right on the $ w/this 1. some of us are getting older [via living+time] and need to work a bit harder to stay relevant, and a list like this is sorta a high megapixel jpg of what not to do/be.
if a lesson can be drawn from this, it's that indie rock=classic rock ie vis a vis eg suxxors ball bags constantly
@bbrobouillabaisse, damn
They forgot Superstar and Star who are the prolific king and queen of Omaha, NE proto-chillsnake.
agree that this schtick is old, carles.
lotsa these songs are solid albums.
1st heard wild nothing on NPR, and prolly some other buzzbands too.
course, lotsa this is lame but everyone's top 10 (-50) list has to have some lame shit.
WHOOPS ppl have different tastes, y'all
@elliott, you're a guy who listens to npr
of course you think they're solid albums
@tommy, the "pretending one doesn't listen to NPR" and/or "actually not listening to NPR because it isn't cool enough" and/or "broadcasting the fact that one doesn't listen to NPR in order to seem more alt" schtick is pretty old too.
ps) i have never listened to a "music program" on NPR - maybe my local station doesn't have em. i listen for the news. sometimes i hear this type of music between shows or whatever though? neway if they have music programs and they play this kind of music, though, i'd be all for it.
just realized i wrote "lotsa these songs are solid albums," though, that's pretty lame.
had a thought though - i haven't heard most of these albums; how do i know they aren't good? wonder if ne1 else 'shitting' on this list has actually listened 2 half the 'shit' to determine that it's actually 'shit.' or did it just not get p4k best new music status
@elliott, :) bro
@elliott, & @tommy (oh shit I did this twice I'm retarded don't look at the bottom of the threadz) Elliot has a some sane/smart points via your calling out baby alts on their hating all things with a life span of more than a month. I guarantee you that THAT bro is just bitter because his political science teacher made him listen to NPR for HW last semester. My question for tommy is why are you still on HRO/alreport blogging when it’s span is 1>? You SHOULD be out creating more alt stuff instead of hating on an institution like NPR which should be revered for its provision of unbiased, quality news and programs (albeit made for old cronies at times but these are the ones that throw down $ and support)….? Good news is a dying institution, the 4th branch of our government the media is becoming more controlled, and dominated by commercial interests via advertisers dropping millions of dollars and no one buying newspapers anymore. NPR is one of the few good guys left so SHUT UP bro and go donate or something. Do you even watch the news? I mean, I don’t really because I’m lazy but GAWD it’s nice to know it’s there. I don’t want to live in a 1984 world i was just born that year. :)
Another point…I feel like HRO should start modeling themselves after PBS/NPR and create an alt public broadcast bringing alt-ness to the masses therefor making the world a MUCH better place. If we truly believe we live the best lifestyle why not infect everyone with the same belief via programs they can’t possibly keep up with or mimic because we’re too speedy (via adderol cuz most of us have ADD) for them anyway. The idea that an alt lifestyle would become mainstream if it went public is bunk. For example, PBS is the least mainstream of media because it appeals to an elite group of people, and I don’t mean elite in terms of $$ I mean elite in terms of education, background, lifestyle etc. So it would be with HROPBS. or i dunno HPBS… that’s cool cuz it kinda spells hipster with a B :p ……. <:S? HOLY COW I think that idea is f'ing genius!!! *Pats self on back since no one else will.*
@tommy, haven't ever heard Wild Nothing on NPR. I'm in the same boat with folks that only get jazz and country. Still, just discovered the whole Captured Tracks label last night and they've got some very special albums. Anyway, glad to see the Wild's getting some attention!
@Jml3225, NPR wouldn't have known about them without it coming through the p4k line. P4k is mostly adult contemporary.
They gave Indian Jewelry, Psychic Ills, and all APHG albums b4 B42D shit #'s. I don't recognize them as scientific. They have been irrelevant since '04 in terms of the great stuff they have trashed and the bullshit they have perpetuated.
I can't take this list seriously when I've actually heard of all the bands. Everyone knows that 'best album' lists have to be populated by bands nobody listens to in order to be cool.
"I'm Robot, I try 2 make tomtom feel old 4 listening 2 the national and loving it"
not gonna work a$$whole
@tomtom, this feeling of discomfort you have is called cognitive dissonance
@tomtom, this feeling of discomfort you have is called being a pussy
3 4 10 26 28 30 35 41, although this list does seem a bit stale..
@AstroCandy,
crystal castles,four tet,caribou,beach house and flying lotus only things i like on this list.
not sayin its a bad one tho
tldr
entry level alt list, decent and ok
Massive Attack is awesome...but I'm old, and not a vampire.
Where the contemporary classical at, bros?
No 'Tomboy'?! Are NPR 'serious'?!
And how about all the chill wave artists who had cool albums, like Toro y Moi & ________?!?!
Ageing Hipsters and Cool Dads have 's__t taste in music'
Robyn not being in the top FIFTY means this list is bullshit.
@Bob Boilen's microphone, oh good choice. her new album is def in my top 5. guess cool dads can't relate to Fembots.
this list blows. it's ALL DAD ROCK. we werewolf teens (all of us bitchin about the list) need some trendy, new, unheard of music.
this list is fucking disgusting.
FUCKING SLEIGH BELLS!?!?
in the top 10?!?!
are you kidding me?
@weedcoast, I wonder what your boyfriend thinks about your braces
@Miike Bro, What about them? I'm all about them.
So glad when I saw Sleigh Bells on the list.
@weedcoast, Sleigh Bells rip, GTFO if you don't like them.
@Brooey Deschanel, LOOOOOOOVE SLEIGH BELLS. I am in no way relevant, but this band totally kills me every time I play them on the old timey CD player. I shared them with a friend and now he thinks he's cool, but he's not.
@G10, i did the same thing, feel like Sleigh Bells are a 'crossover' band for friends that you want listening to indie music but would rather listen to Lil Wayne instead
"Will NPR listeners just 'shit their pants' when the new Arcade Fire is released?' Hahaha...that is exactly what every reviewer who takes themselves too seriously will do. Except for those blogger who want to 'get more hits' because they say that is a mediocre album. The prophet Carles speaks again.
"This is Garth Trinidad, your host and selector bringing you through until the midnight hour. That of course was Flying Lotus, off their new CD..."
Voice = creamy smooth, but I swear that shit is the same every night.
NPR knocks, ya'll
Band of Horses and MGMT? Oh God, I almost pissed myself laughing so hard.
@bbrobouillabaisse,
u mad bro?
Ah Carles. Luv U. I really had no idea what an NPR was until I read your blog. Friend spoke of it, but she's a republican and i don't listen to her very much. I don't profess to be relevant at all. I do love the Hipster Runoffs though. I listen to a lot of Sirius XMU, and your blog radio show is what gets me thru blue Monday.
all sheet
no luv for burrprint 2? no luv for drake? mad fucked up
I hate all of Ya'll(used unironically, I'm from Texas)! This Blog is no longer relevant and has not been for some time now.
I DIDNT KNOW 50 ALBUMS HAD COME OUT THIS YEAR
NPR?
To me it's a bunch of junk
seems kinda wierd how david bynre of 'cool dad' credability (via vinyl remnants of the talking head) charts at only 50 on this chart-graphic. forget what this says about npr taste, their demographic is caught up in arrested development in search for the 'new' 'younger/hip' band or either outgrown the cool-dad tag.
wheres AnCo on this list ya'll???
@tweaked, you gotta get your dates right bro
@brogan, the onmipotence of the AnCo brand requires neither date nor referent in the Carle-dome. it is instead an floating signifier of altness or 'tude that needs neither date/time relevance and therefore apparently transcends the alt-posuering of the older NPRgrafic yet remains a consistant obsession for the blogsphere. missed the point bro.
PS my alt dad digs the new ariel lennox rosenberg (via fathers day gft) cuz it sounds like everthing in the vinyl remnants of his pre-althood. any coincidence between AP's release date and fathers day for 'before today'?
I've heard the shitty music you play on your radio station, Carles. You should be ashamed.
Cool Dads dont like Ariel Pink?
Cool dad in not too cool!
Whrs Animal Collective
NPR is the only good thing on non-satellite radio [via playing good music and reporting on 'relevant' news stories] cool dads still pay your rent. WF-right off, CMMNTRS. Maybe 'TIME' will have a best 50 chillwave albums of the year list y'all can get behind [via Carles]
that list is way tight--with only a handful of exceptions. blitzen trapper and dr. dog don't get enough love, imo.
rull eff'd up. obvi put together by dad npr employees. (via the national)
There was zero Chillwave....not chill NPR.....
@Elliot & @tommy (a little late oopzie) Elliot has a some sane/smart points via your calling out baby alts on their hating all things with a life span of more than a month. I guarantee you that THAT bro is just bitter because his political science teacher made him listen to NPR for HW last semester. My question for tommy is why are you still on HRO/alreport blogging when it's span is 1>? You SHOULD be out creating more alt stuff instead of hating on an institution like NPR which should be revered for its provision of unbiased, quality news and programs (albeit made for old cronies at times but these are the ones that throw down $ and support)....? Good news is a dying institution, the 4th branch of our government the media is becoming more controlled, and dominated by commercial interests via advertisers dropping millions of dollars and no one buying newspapers anymore. NPR is one of the few good guys left so SHUT UP bro and go donate or something. Do you even watch the news? I mean, I don't really because I'm lazy but GAWD it's nice to know it's there. I don't want to live in a 1984 world i was just born that year. :)
Another point...I feel like HRO should start modeling themselves after PBS/NPR and create an alt public broadcast bringing alt-ness to the masses therefor making the world a MUCH better place. If we truly believe we live the best lifestyle why not infect everyone with the same belief via programs they can't possibly keep up with or mimic because we're too speedy (via adderol cuz most of us have ADD) for them anyway. The idea that an alt lifestyle would become mainstream if it went public is bunk. For example, PBS is the least mainstream of media because it appeals to an elite group of people, and I don't mean elite in terms of $$ I mean elite in terms of education, background, lifestyle etc. So it would be with HROPBS. or i dunno HPBS... that's cool cuz it kinda spells hipster with a B :p ....... <:S? HOLY COW I think that idea is f'ing genius!!! *Pats self on back since no one else will.*
@elle for PrEz, not sure i know "what the fuck" you're talking about, bro, thanks for the kind words tho?
@elliott, ? ? Not sure most people know "what the fuck" I'm talking about most of the time. However, I feel like it's good just to get it out, regardless whether or not it "makes sense," "is proof of a scattered mind" and "makes people leave the room awkwardly." :/
@elliott, but I have to say I had solid points there, and you're welcome
I'm old. I have a 13 year old son.
Here's my last.fm: http://www.last.fm/user/devn3t
And yes, I listen to Crystal Castles. I've also seen The National live a few years ago when they were opening for Arcade Fire in DC. My favorite thing to do is chill at my old house and play video games with my kid.
I'm stuck in the middle class though as I don't invent things nor have enough cash left over after putting food on the table to invest... but I'm cool with it.
So ya, old people like music that doesn't play on the radio...but sometimes plays on NPR.
they only threw flying lotus (via talented j. dilla-esque blipster) & crystal castles in there to be relevant. not saying i'm surprised at the rest though.
This is completely stupid.
This is completely stupid. I'm 22 and listen to npr all the time, they're not always an 'old folks' station. And besides think about it, wouldn't it be a good thing if older folks could find common ground with the younger crowd on music...wouldn't it be a great way to converse with new people? And to 'avoid' an album because it's on this list tells me you are hipster trash who can't think for himself and are soooo 'progressive' that I'm sure you only listen to things people haven't heard of. I hate you.
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