HIPSTER RUNOFF

Yall. I feel like I'm getting older--not like actually falling behind on trends. But more of like 'confused and lost.' I think it's cuz I can't tell the difference between OPTICAL ILLUSION MEMES and Animal Collective Album Art. Kinda frustrating. Wish AnCo would put their name on their albums so that I wouldn't be so confused.

Merriweather Post Pavillion Meme

Untitled EP ?

The Zany Spinning Lady EP?

Krazie Roulette Wheel EP?

Searching for Grey Dots between the lines EP?

The Circle of Life EP?

Can some1 please tell me which of these are album art, and which of these are just memes?
WTF is the difference between design, art, and memes?
What is the best album art of all time?

Is it Santana's SUPERNATURAL [ft Michelle Branch and Rob Thomas]?

Is it Matchbox 20?

Is it Deep Blue Something?

Is it SantosGold?

Or is it the GooGoo Dolls?

Do yall think artists who still sell CDs with packaging are ruining our environment?
What should I do with all of the jewel cases from my youth?
Should I buy a CD binder and have it stolen from my car [via 2001]?
Should I get an iPod with a lot of space and brag about how many songs I have on it?
Should I boycott artists who do non-digital releases?
Do yall think it is funnie when a local band thinks they have 'made it' when their music is on sale at iTunes?
Feed / The /Animals / Yall

Animal Collective

Buzzband

Animal Collective is the definitive band of the Era of Internet Indie Music Discovery.

Lists: received above a 9 from Pitchfork, Members of Animal Collective, critical darlings, cool dads, alternative tenure

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Can we officially name this Blipster "The Blippest Blipster Alive"? I know he may not be the traditional blipster who can only express himself with a tall tee (+ large print text) and some 'fly kicks', but I feel like if Blipsterdom had an 'essence', this bagbro would probably transcend it.

[Photo by EZ Fashion]

Or do u think we need to consider some other BlackAlt, like the TVoTR guy?

Or is it Santogold?

Or after recent events, can OJ Simpson finally prove that he is 'the altest man' within a mainstream society that can't handle his personal brand?

When some1's personal brand is so strong, can mainstream society contain them? If your personal brand is so strong, do the laws which govern most people no longer apply to u?

Remember when HERTZ rent-a-car decided to merge their brand with OJ Simpson's personal brand?

So who is the alt-est Blip in the world, and what sort of criteri(on collection) would u use 2 judge him/her?

[Photo by Max Tollyworthy]
I remember at Lollapaltlooza, when Uffie came on stage dressed like a drugged up grandmother, the world was in trouble--a new zany trend would emerge. While many alts attempt to be forever young, some are starting to dress like old people. Santogold (A.K.A. "the African American M.I.A.) is wearing this house dress that old white women use when they disinfect their entire house with Lysol and watch soap operas. However, this old lady dress has a little bit of an electro aesthetic 2 it in order 2 'appeal to the entry level alts who think they understand quirky fashion.'

[Photo by Holly Erskine]
xx BONUS SANTOGOLD NIPPING OUT PIC XX
<3 N1PP1NG 0UT <3
but seriously yall... beware of Santogolds electro-bodyguards. They are more ruthless than the Chinese government. :-(

I am trying to understand my identity as a member of an 'alternative market', and trying to figure out how & why marketers target me to sell their bloggable/unbloggable products to. In a world where everything is trying to 'go viral', it's hard to know what's authentic and what makes you seem like less of a 'real person.'

I think it's fair to say that NIKE will always be the best 'lifestyle brand' for both mainstreamers and alts. They have a dual identity. While the probably have well-developed research facilities to develop cutting edge products for the top athletes & the best 'kids who play a sport and have parents who love them too much', most of the alternative branding is done with 'old products that aren't incredibly comfortable, but people enjoy how they are perceived by others when they wear the product.' AKA 'The Convese All Star Theory'.

Sneakers/shoes/footwear are a HUGE representation of 'who u r', so I figured I should breakdown what popular shoes mean about U.

Good examples are:

The Samba - I wonder what would happen if people who owned Sambas were required to register for an indoor soccer league. Overall, a 'humble yet alt' look that I would compare to a modern take on the Converse All Stars.

Nike Air Force 1s - They are for both black and white people. For people who have advanced beyond having a desire for owning the shoes that belong to a popular athlete.

Generally, Air Force 1s are colourful, and these colors can be used by generic altbros to differentiate from 'the pack.' People think they are supposed to be interested in interesting colors on shoes.

Nike Dunks - Are these the same as AirForce1s? I can't rlly tell.

New Balance 991s - A shoe made for mainstreamers/frat bros/girls who wear athletic shorts+a university t-shirt. These shoes are built for comfort. I wonder if they selected a comfy shoe on purpose, or if it was an arbitrary decision.

Reebok PUMPS - Worn by some one who is probably a VERY dedicated alt or a self-proclaimed 'sneaker freak' who wants to stand out more than Nikes would allow him to. When it comes to 'form', I don't see why any one would prefer a Reebok design over a Nike design. However, the guy who 'is wearing pumps' really wants your attention.

Vans - You might be an entry level 'scenester' if you wear Vans.

Checkered Vans - You might be a future FGGT/GHEY/future-failed-alt who gets too involved with marijuana and being quirky


The awkward Nike shoe that looks like an indoor soccer shoe/Van - what kind of ass hole would wear this? Probably a failed cool dad.


Adidas Gazelles - If you want an Adidas indoor soccer shoe, you should buy a Samba. Gazelles are kind of like alt-Vans (that's a bad thing).

Steve Madden Men's Shoes - It's probably 'business casual day' if u r wearing these shoes.

Keds - You are REALLY being an ass hole if you wear KEDS. You are probably a 'kid who thinks he/she is smart even though you go to community college and only wear Earth tones/pastels and actually still have Wes Anderson posters up in your room.'


Doc Marten Sandals - Ur probably taking a bath in Abercrombie cologne and shaving your 14 year old pubes in preparation for your 'first sexual experience' if you wear these.

Asics - these are for people who are still trying to find themselves/are trying too hard to differentiate.

LA Lights - The type of person who wears these would also like to have a conversation about shows that were on Nickelodeon when you were a kid. 'Remember Pete&Pete?'


Regular Converse -a classic look that often justifies itself/leaves much to be desired at the same time. It sort of says 'I am a humble person' but still lets people know that you are either 10-25% alt or 100% post-alt.

Quirky coloured converse - You were probably in a ska band in high school and are attached to your image as 'the smart kid who was also artistic and also had a quirky side that his teachers absolutely loved!'

Interesting print Converse - The weekend shoes of mainstreamers.


Converse All Star Xtra High - If u wear these, u do not contribute anything positive to society. Your legs should be removed from the knees-down, and your legs should be used to keep kids in Africa warm.

Awkard Puma soccer/turf shoe - You should have bought some Sambas instead of being a weirdo.


Womens Reebok Freetyle Hi - I have yet to meet a girl who would actually wear this.

Why is Reebok trying to trick French people who like tecktonic into thinking their shoes make them dance better?

Yelle is more important to Reebok than Michael Jordan is to Nike.

Have u seen this Funny YELLE product placement commercial for Reebok?

On the subject of alt-celebrities promoting shoes...
I still can't believe Converse hired the guy from the Strokes, the black guy from The Pharrell, and Santogold to write a song to promote Converse. This quirky video that forced music blogs to sound excited about an MP3 from multiple artists from different target audiences was one of the biggest hoaxes of the modern bloghouseosphere era.

The song is pretty funny. I feel like sneaker companies forget t
hat 'normal people' wear shoes. It's not just people who 'think their shoes make them look cool.' This song is the type of song that 'people who think that listening to certain new/buzzworthy artists makes them cool' would listen to on their way to the mall.

I feel like music blogs have a bad reputation because up to this point because of this type of content. A lot of 'd-bags who think the are supposed to find a collaboration like this interesting' are the main proponents of mp3 blogs as a news/culture source. So while bloggers feel pressured to 'blog about this new [HIGHLY BLOGGABLE] content', the marketers/companies gain promotion but subtract from the authenticity of their message & the authenticity of the targeted blog as a tastemaking source. Advertising to 'alts who are too cool for anything, but still kind of impressionable' is difficult, and companies must hire better marketing teams in order to reach the new ALT MARKET, as opposed to advertising to the circa 2002 HIPSTER MARKET.

BUT SRSLY...
IS IT REALLY NECESSARY TO PROMOTE THE CONVERSE ALL STAR? If I were the CEO of Converse, I would stop making every non-AllStar shoe and cancel their initiatives with high-profile athletes like Dwayne Wade.

Converse should just start distributing through thrift stores and be happy with 'letting people pay what they want' for their shoes. It worked for Radiohead's "In Rainbows" and I think this product is similar.

Overall, I think Nike is the powerhouse with all of the history to make the best marketing campaigns. They realize that alts buy their products, but they don't dedicate that much direct marketing towards them. They let 'sneaker designing boutiques' and popular athletic figures who every1 liked as a kid to keep the brand's presence strong with the alts.

This commercial appeals to both mainstreamers and alts with powerful imagery/iconography that we can all associate with. In addition, it utilizes that anthem by the Killers about having soul but not being a soldier (this song theoretically appeals to every1/sounds like the kind of song that mainstreamers-who-are-unaware-of-new-bands will go out and buy, then have conversations about 'hearing this awesome song in a Nike commecial and the CD is actually really amazing.')

[HIGHLY RECCD ENDING WITH A SPRINTER WITH NO LEGS]

I don't think Nike's alternative advertising is very heavy-handed. They keep their mainstream markets as a top priority as opposed to trying to 'take over the alts.' For example, this Nike Soccer commercial was directed by Guy Richie, who is theoretically an indie director (who banged Madonna), so every one can feel comfortable liking it.

N e ways...What kind of shoes do you wear?
Which lifestyle brand do u trust?
Which business is the best?
What shoes will be big in 2k9?
Do u feel like u r way 2 valued as a 'hipster' consumer by d-bags who have brainstorming sessions where they try to identify 'what makes a hipster'?
What is a 'hipster'?
What is an 'alt'?
What is a 'scenester'?
Should I buy shoes only based on comfort?
Should I buy shoes that are made by lil AZN kids/women who are being underpaid?
Does being a 'responsible consumer' make the world a better place?
Remember hippie kids who 'didn't wear shoes'?

Do you like massacres of colors? Video highlights include:

• A woman's brains squirting out of her head
• Santogold's backup dancers doing their best to earn their (minimum wage) paycheck
• a girl pretending to vomit out green liquid utilizing the vomit-tube technology that Will Ferrell mastered in his early SNL days
• see a man gutted (but it makes u kind of sad when sand falls out of his belly, and not his real insides)
• watch a man eat jello out of a cadaver
• Miscellaneous alternative people getting fake-injured or killed, and having colorful wounds

Santogold's body language kind of comes across like the type of musician who 'enjoys making music and performing it live, but feels uncomfortable with the whole part about having to sell yourself as a product.'

Maybe I will actively start liking Santogold way more than people pretend to like M.I.A., since Santogold's personal brand seems pretty humble and reasonable. It will prove that I understand that even though Santogold was crossbranded and blurbed about in conjunction with M.I.A., it doesn't mean I should believe that she is an American M.I.A. Maybe I am entering an era where I talk myself into appreciating American artists and collectives because I want the USA to emerge as a darkhorse in the electro/alt music war.

I think this song is kind of growing on me like most Tegan and Sara songs.
View the final video here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9JI0GXkARQ

Is it Santogold?

[Photo by cbrsnk]

Is it M.I.A.?

Is it a member of the chart topping band DANITY KANE?

Is it Grammy award winner Toni Braxton?

Is it the singer of the hit single, "Not Going To Write You A Love Song," Sara Bareilles?

Or is it still Natalie Imbruglia?

Is Natalie Imbruglia the #1 artist of all time from Australia? Is she responsible for the Australian electro-Renaissance?

What's the deal with SANTOGOLD? She confuses me. I've seen her around blogville for a while, and started to finally listen to her music.

There's Santogold with M.I.A. Maybe my problem is that I didn't find M.I.A. incredibly approachable/listen-to-able in regular contexts, so now it's tough for me to get into this product that I perceive is intended for the ears of people 'who like stuff that reminds them of M.I.A."

According wikipedia, SANTOGOLD "went to college at Wesleyan University where she studied Caribbean and West African drumming." Am I a bad person if I don't appreciate tribal beats that aren't in 4/4?

I was watching some videos of SANTOGOLD performing live, and her sidekick MC sort of confused me. She looks kind of like 'the crazy white girl from Oklahoma who for some reason decided to study Caribbean and West African drumming at college' and met Santogold.

A lot of stuff on Santogold's myspace sounds different than this song that they made a video for.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9JI0GXkARQ&hl=en]
If I heard this song while dining at Chili's, I would guess that it was TEGAN AND SARA.

Here are some other resume highlights:
-She opened for Bjork
-She has worked with Lily Allen, Mark Ronson and Ashlee Simpson

According to her resume, she's probably a musical genius, and people who know a lot about music appreciate her. Am I a bad person for not getting into it? I know it's probably more relevant and complex than traditional hip hop, which makes it bloggable, but maybe I should have taken a 'music appreciation' course.

I know what a lot of commenters are going to say: "You don't like her just cuz she's black." That's not the case. I love black people in alternative music, and all minorities. Remember my post on MLK Day about minorities?

What do U know about Santogold?
Why should people give her a chance?
Do u like this emerging/replicated genre of music?
Should we stop supporting products from Philadelphia?
Why do you think HRO has such a problem wrapping his head around 'alternative' rap?

Santogold's Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/santogold