Toro Y Moi gets higher score than Radiohead, Pitchfork craftily avoids using word 'chillwave' in review


Yesterday, Pitchfork Media, a popular indie reviews site 'panned the fuck' out of the latest Radiohead album [link], giving it a lackluster 7.9, which is basically like a 5.0 (adjusted for buzz inflation). It seems like they have returned to 'giving out 8.4s' to overperforming albums by artists that might be prolific (Toro Y Moi) but on the other end, might just be buzz flameouts (Best Coast, WAVVES).

Many experts projected this album to get between a 7.9 to an 8.7. Do yall <3 this album, or do u miss the vintage Chaz pure chillwaves of 'Causers of This'?

Anyways, for some reason the reviewer 'refused 2 use the word chillwave.' Maybe they are just in denial abt the prevailing story lines of the Neon Indian, Washed Out, and Toro Y Moi albums being 'Is this chillwave or not?' Or maybe just sad that 'glo-fi' didn't catch on.

Here is a paragraph where they talk abt the chillwave lifestyle without saying chillwave.

When Chaz Bundick sang, "I found a job I do it fine/ Not what I want but still I try," on "Blessa", it became Causers of This' most-quoted lyric for obvious reasons. Not only can all of us relate to that sentiment at some point in our lives, but it also drew a direct line between the escapism of home-made electro-pop and the lives of most of the people creating it. Talk about Hipstamatic prints, Ariel Pink, and surfing all you want, but y'know, it's also the economy, stupid. Now, I've never shared a cubicle with Bundick, but that kind of resignation is completely at odds with his work ethic as Toro Y Moi, given the steady stream of remixes and side projects he's released in the time since. Just over a year later, he's already the first of the A-listers from this scene to release a follow-up. But if he was feeling any pressure to validate himself and his peers, Underneath the Pine doesn't show it. The album may be too lyrically opaque to have a line as bloggable as "Blessa"'s, but it's a far richer and more accomplished whole, and it makes a strong case for Bundick as an artist with scope, ambition, and a firm grasp of how to balance the two.

'escapism of home-made electro pop'
'Hipstamatic prints, Ariel Pink, and surfing'
'first on the list of A-listers from this scene'

Cmon bro... Just say 'chillwave lifestyle', broski. Really let down the criticism community by not directly confronting the main chillwave issue.

Here is another part where they list every chillwave buzzband, admit that they are grouped together in a genre, but still don't drop the term 'chillwave.'

Because Toro Y Moi is so closely linked with the likes of Neon Indian, Washed Out, and Memory Tapes, it's tempting to read into the success of Underneath the Pine as some predictor of those bands' collective staying power, or a direction others might take. But Bundick seems to be following nothing but his own internal compass.

Feel like the author of this review should have followed his own internal compass right to the chillest chillwaves, riding chillwaves and not being afraid of the chill water and waves crashing in2 his face.

Will Pitchfork avoid using the word 'chillwave' in the Neon Indian and Washed Out album reviews?
Is there a 'movement' by the blogluminati 2 kill chillwave?
Is chillwave dying?
Is it fair to these artists 2 ask 'are they still chillwave?' or does it take away from the discussion abt the quality of their albums?
What are some creative ways to say 'chillwave' without actually saying it?
-lofi bedroom pop
-spaced out bliss electro
-diy home recorded fuzz core
-South Carolinian-inspired post-pop
-wavewavewavewavewhoa
-floating in vibes
-post-Ariel Pink pop
-Music 4 alt 20somethings

///PART OF THE CHILLWAVE NEVER DIES/////

Did Toro Y Moi deserve an 8.4? Is he on his way to an 'above 9.0 career' or has he reached his ceiling?

Toro Y Moi

Buzzband

Toro Y Moi is a chillwave bro who hit the 2k10 album "Causers of This."

Read more>>>>

Pitchfork Media

Company, Blog

Pitchfork is a popular indie blogzine that does reviews and gets mad hits.

Read more>>>>