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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
 Posted - 05/09/2004 : 14:03:14
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quote:
Originally posted by Jefrey
Hell, I find PixFork hilarious, especially the overly condescending, snobby reviews.
Don't get me wrong Brian, I was just trying to be funny. Sadly, my attempts at humor are usually miserable failures. As are my attempts as snobbery. However, I may be on the fast track to condescension. There's hope for my Pitchfork masthead appearance yet!
PS - nobody believes that you spent this much time responding to posts because you were bored and happend to be skimming them. Haha! Take that.
Most things I do are to fend off boredom, don't see why this should be any different. I was just being cute too. No harm done on either end. At least I didn't threaten to burn you alive for being funny. |
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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 14:08:01
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quote:
Originally posted by SpudBoy
Christ, if it wasn't for the inherent haughtiness engendered by the implied abstraction the internet provides we might not have the exploding population of Überweenies that stalk the aisles of Hot Topic and wear their ringers to Wal-Mart. Then where would we be? Who would generate the requisite Slack the rest of us need to consume in order to survive? It has to come from somewhere...
Also, to say Indie Rock as a cultural phenomenon does not contain an intense ratio of snobs to just fucking straight up people is ludicrous. Sure the music is out there, but actually go into a record store without the uniform and see how they treat you. Much like Atheism, the supposedly iconoclasic practicioners of this Cult of Indie consistently prove themselves to be the far superior fascists. Therefore, I think urinating in the Used bin is an appropriate signal of one's displeasure. I like to dress up in a cossack outfit with a little green bow thumbtacked to my forehead and go provide my own review when the clerks get snippy.
So some people are snobs, and . . .? (The ellipses are where the point should be.) Buy the "uniform" if it upsets you, or stop shopping at that snobby store. The haughty indie clerk does suck, but I don't think is as common as you imply. In fact, I think many indie record store clerks are so aware of that stereotype that they'll go out of their way to be extra nice to people who seem out of place. Not out of some great store of altruism, but from the fear of being a cliche, the most damning sin of our era. There are assholes everywhere, in every paradigm, and by expecting people to be assholes we create a self-fulfilling prophecy. |
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 15:40:03
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I'm a regular pitchfork visitor, again as an FB.net longtime member, some of my occasional illwill to it is because of the unencouraging reviews of FB's solo work, it's already underrated enough and most of it is great, fanboyness aside.
But--I will say, the main reason I visit pitchfork is for the news, which is usually funny and informative. I like when the news gets snobby sometimes, no problems there.
Hey when are you guys going to review the four new Fall reissues! You did Echo and the Bunnymen's first 4 for chrissakes (no qualms there either). |
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AshfordTucker
- FB Fan -
4 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 16:10:26
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quote:
I like to dress up in a cossack outfit with a little green bow thumbtacked to my forehead and go provide my own review when the clerks get snippy.
Record store clerks are the coolest.
You're like, "Who did that?" And they're all, "Sonic Youth, duuuh."
I played an instore last night with 77 Scarves. We each wear 77 scarves. Except the drummer. He's the sweatband mummy.
He ties my cat to his kit and hits it with a stick. It's all, "Badumpump Meeereerow!"
Indiecats are the new cowbells. Good is officially the new good. |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 17:47:52
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quote:
Originally posted by AshfordTucker
He ties my cat to his kit and hits it with a stick. It's all, "Badumpump Meeereerow!"
Indiecats are the new cowbells. Good is officially the new good.
you are officially a nimrod. |
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apl4eris
~ Abstract Brain ~
USA
4800 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 20:27:31
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Me-ow!
I like people who glue macaroni on to a piece of cardboard and paint it gold. That's what I aspire to basically. - Tom Waits |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 21:18:33
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Saucer milk, table 2.
 "Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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SpudBoy
= Cult of Ray =
Equatorial Guinea
649 Posts |
Posted - 05/09/2004 : 21:55:32
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quote:
So some people are snobs, and . . .? (The ellipses are where the point should be.) Buy the "uniform" if it upsets you, or stop shopping at that snobby store. The haughty indie clerk does suck, but I don't think is as common as you imply. In fact, I think many indie record store clerks are so aware of that stereotype that they'll go out of their way to be extra nice to people who seem out of place. Not out of some great store of altruism, but from the fear of being a cliche, the most damning sin of our era. There are assholes everywhere, in every paradigm, and by expecting people to be assholes we create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I was kidding (see, I don't really use a thumbtack, I staple the bow to my head), but I like your use of recursion in the first sentence. Additionally, I think we can agree that assholes are indeed everywhere. Are you a CIA operative?
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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 11:40:33
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quote:
Originally posted by Itchload
I'm a regular pitchfork visitor, again as an FB.net longtime member, some of my occasional illwill to it is because of the unencouraging reviews of FB's solo work, it's already underrated enough and most of it is great, fanboyness aside.
But--I will say, the main reason I visit pitchfork is for the news, which is usually funny and informative. I like when the news gets snobby sometimes, no problems there.
Hey when are you guys going to review the four new Fall reissues! You did Echo and the Bunnymen's first 4 for chrissakes (no qualms there either).
Well I write the news, so yay! Thanks for having a sense of humor. We've been reviewing the shit out of some reissues, so I wouldn't be surprised if we cover those Fall records. I saw them play a couple week ago and was surprised that they were actually still pretty good, even though Mark E. Smith had to sit the whole time due to broken leg and is starting to look like Garrison Keilor. |
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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 11:48:42
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quote:
Originally posted by SpudBoy
quote:
So some people are snobs, and . . .? (The ellipses are where the point should be.) Buy the "uniform" if it upsets you, or stop shopping at that snobby store. The haughty indie clerk does suck, but I don't think is as common as you imply. In fact, I think many indie record store clerks are so aware of that stereotype that they'll go out of their way to be extra nice to people who seem out of place. Not out of some great store of altruism, but from the fear of being a cliche, the most damning sin of our era. There are assholes everywhere, in every paradigm, and by expecting people to be assholes we create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
I was kidding (see, I don't really use a thumbtack, I staple the bow to my head), but I like your use of recursion in the first sentence. Additionally, I think we can agree that assholes are indeed everywhere. Are you a CIA operative?
Aw, I was just being contrarian. I actually just wrote an article lambasting the snooty record store clerk. But one generalization is as true as any other. That's the fun thing about a message board, I guess - you can't really have cogent conversation with people you don't know, so you just pick one subjective and extreme viewpoint, then fire at the people who've staked out the other end all Hatfields and McCoys style.
Speaking of insane hillbillies, I think I recall Floop calling Ashford a nimrod. Floop, if a shaggy haired young man shows up at your door, drinking battery acid from a crystal decanter and brandishing a shotgun full of rock salt, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU LET HIM IN, even if he says you've won some sort of prize. |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 11:58:29
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I thought I'd pipe in midway down page 2, when all the dust had settled, and say that I'm a huge Pitchfork fan. Firstly, it is consistently updated, which is a huge plus to any website. Secondly, it is informative, and the news section is, as stated above, funny as well. Thirdly, the perceived snobbiness, musical elitism, etc, etc, is part of the appeal. And five new reveiws everyday? I got now problem with that. Sure, sometimes I disagree strongly with the reviews. Matt LeMay sure can be a dink about the Fading Captain series, and Frank gets no love, they seem to adore the new noise/experiment rock (Lightening Bolt, Blood Brothers), which I'm not so keen on. I found the reveiw of the latest Magnetic Fields record (which I haven't heard) to be interesting, because it basically says "leave the guy alone and let him do what he wants". Here's a qoute:
It seems like people either assume too much from SM or-- as many of the press seem to be-- are stung by his switch from low-rent disco to lush production. I guess they think they know what's best for him more than he does.
That seems to go against the general Pitchfork thing of, "we do know what's best for every artist". I realize this is just one reviewer (of many on the site), but I thought that was an interesting comment. I also realize this was a classic Pitchfork "story" review, including a fake blog and fake qoutes, but I digress.
Anyway, long story short, welcome aboard Brian, I'm a fan, and I'm glad to have you posting here. And please feel free to download the Tribute albums and give us a quintessentially nasty Pitchfork review. Cheers! |
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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 12:30:27
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Thanks speedy m. Now here is a person who knows how to take something for what it is, and understands that anything a writer says is that writer's opinion, which seems obvious. But many still assume we have some Pfork godhead that generates site opinion, when in fact it is a chorus of (often contradictory) opinions and voices.
Speedy, congrats on your rare ability to disagree with something without saying it "sucks," which is meaningless without qualification. Now what is this Tribute everyone keeps talking about? |
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Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 12:46:09
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| The Tribute album is a collection of electronica-based Pixies covers. Remember that Lilys album of elevator music a while back? Kinda like that. Rock bands that don't sound like rock bands. |
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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 12:51:55
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quote:
Originally posted by Jefrey
Rock bands that don't sound like rock bands.
Like The Doves? Dong! |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
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Dave Noisy
Minister of Chaos
Canada
4496 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 14:03:27
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I got a little excited today when i read on PFork that NIN's new album would be monophonic.
I'm thinking 'wow, an album that isn't in stereo..what the hell is he gonna do with it..??'
But then it stated 'no chords'. Weird. I think i'd rather go for the non-stereo..heh..
 Join the Cult of the Flying Pigxies - I'm A Believer! |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 14:13:13
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No chords? Wouldn't that be monotonic? Which, really, wouldn't be that much of a change for NIN, which is generally monotonous at the best of times.
Recording in mono isn't really all that interesting either. I'd sooner move to 4-channel than 1. You can't really do anything interesting in mono.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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porkbone1
= Cult of Ray =
USA
390 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 18:49:20
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In this case monophonic would be the opposite of polyphonic (from polyphony, the measure of an instrument to play more than one note at a time). Remember those old Casio keyboards that would only play one note at a time? You know, you'd try to play a chord and it would just play whatever note you struck first? Yeah, like that.
I think monophonic would also apply to a recording process too, since records were once known as "stereophonic" -- but who knows?
_______________________
The joke has come upon me |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 05/11/2004 : 23:27:41
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I was just making a lame joke and failing even at that. :)
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 01:05:26
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quote:
Originally posted by brianhowe
Thanks speedy m. Now here is a person who knows how to take something for what it is, and understands that anything a writer says is that writer's opinion, which seems obvious. But many still assume we have some Pfork godhead that generates site opinion, when in fact it is a chorus of (often contradictory) opinions and voices.
Speedy, congrats on your rare ability to disagree with something without saying it "sucks," which is meaningless without qualification. Now what is this Tribute everyone keeps talking about?
Cheese and crackers Brian, you are an elitist prick. Presuming to tell me that I have rare abilities or that I understand anything. I'll tell you what "sucks": YOU. And to call yourself the godhead of anything, let along "Pfork", now that's just blasphemy. You make me SICK.
But seriously, "Les" Brian Howe? What's up with that? And also seriously, I want a real, honest to goddness, Pforkified opinion on those tribute albums, stat!
Oh, and PS, Ryan Schreiber gave Kid Marine a 5.3! So you can tell him that I'll meet him in the school yard for a good old fashioned monkey knife fight. No apes or chimps, just a real honest-to-goodness capuchin with a bad attitude and blade no longer than 4 inches. Little Pepe will slice and dice whatever primate Schreiber can throw at 'im. |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 07:28:12
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So you did quite a bit more drinking after I left, Mike? :)
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 09:48:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
No chords? Wouldn't that be monotonic? Which, really, wouldn't be that much of a change for NIN, which is generally monotonous at the best of times.
Recording in mono isn't really all that interesting either. I'd sooner move to 4-channel than 1. You can't really do anything interesting in mono.
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened"
If you ask me, the whole thing sounds pretty "moronophonic." |
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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 09:51:12
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quote:
Originally posted by speedy_m
quote:
Originally posted by brianhowe
Thanks speedy m. Now here is a person who knows how to take something for what it is, and understands that anything a writer says is that writer's opinion, which seems obvious. But many still assume we have some Pfork godhead that generates site opinion, when in fact it is a chorus of (often contradictory) opinions and voices.
Speedy, congrats on your rare ability to disagree with something without saying it "sucks," which is meaningless without qualification. Now what is this Tribute everyone keeps talking about?
Cheese and crackers Brian, you are an elitist prick. Presuming to tell me that I have rare abilities or that I understand anything. I'll tell you what "sucks": YOU. And to call yourself the godhead of anything, let along "Pfork", now that's just blasphemy. You make me SICK.
But seriously, "Les" Brian Howe? What's up with that? And also seriously, I want a real, honest to goddness, Pforkified opinion on those tribute albums, stat!
Oh, and PS, Ryan Schreiber gave Kid Marine a 5.3! So you can tell him that I'll meet him in the school yard for a good old fashioned monkey knife fight. No apes or chimps, just a real honest-to-goodness capuchin with a bad attitude and blade no longer than 4 inches. Little Pepe will slice and dice whatever primate Schreiber can throw at 'im.
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 09:54:40
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Oh, sure, my innocent joke gets a cut, while Mike's cut gets an innocent question mark (or 9).
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 10:08:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
Oh, sure, my innocent joke gets a cut, while Mike's cut gets an innocent question mark (or 9).
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened"
Oh Cult of Frank, I meant that Reznor's project sounds moronophonic, not your joke. |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 10:21:13
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Ahh... silly me.
Well, I guess Mike drank too much and I didn't sleep enough then. :)
"Join the Cult of Frank / And you'll be enlightened" |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 10:59:21
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quote:
Originally posted by brianhowe
Cheese and crackers Brian, you are an elitist prick. Presuming to tell me that I have rare abilities or that I understand anything. I'll tell you what "sucks": YOU. And to call yourself the godhead of anything, let along "Pfork", now that's just blasphemy. You make me SICK.
But seriously, "Les" Brian Howe? What's up with that? And also seriously, I want a real, honest to goddness, Pforkified opinion on those tribute albums, stat!
Oh, and PS, Ryan Schreiber gave Kid Marine a 5.3! So you can tell him that I'll meet him in the school yard for a good old fashioned monkey knife fight. No apes or chimps, just a real honest-to-goodness capuchin with a bad attitude and blade no longer than 4 inches. Little Pepe will slice and dice whatever primate Schreiber can throw at 'im.
[/quote]
Dean, how dare you! I wasn't drunk. I was just being folksy! I'm just joshin' ya Brian. Perhaps I should have littered my post with smiley's. Anyway, all of the above was just a joke. I was saying you're such a prick, blah blah blah, becuase of Pitchfork, when in fact you were being really nice to me, irony, etc. And I didn't like Mr. Schreiber's review of Robert Pollard's Kid Marine. So I thought maybe my monkey could cut his monkey up a little. Is that so crazy? |
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brianhowe
- FB Fan -
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 11:07:15
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quote:
Is that so crazy?
yes. no man has ever cut Schreiber's monkey and lived to tell the tale. *drunky m pulls off helmet, long hair billows out dramatically* "But I, sir, am no man!" The sound of a thousand nerds high fiving at once, "Best . . . plot twist . . . EVER!" |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 11:10:32
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| Oh man, if you start Lord of the Rings bashing, this could get ugly. I mean, becuase all the nerds will come out to defend it, and they are just plain unatractive. |
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Jefrey
= Cult of Ray =
USA
918 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 11:38:04
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| "moronophonic" would make a great album name. Or band name. This gives me ideas. The band would be expected to be terrible and the music would still sell like William Hung doing Rush covers. |
Edited by - Jefrey on 05/12/2004 11:40:40 |
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 12:17:19
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Yeah that's funny Speedy M. I always felt a little wounded when P-fork hamped on Bob's solo stuff. It was strange though because generally his Fading Captain albums get good reviews (at least 2 out of every 3), but whenever a new GBV album comes out, the review headline reads something like "GBV miraculously put out a good album!"
It might be a little similiar to FB though, very prolific, elderly indie rock guys who don't really sound much like indie rock at all anymore only gettin' respect from their respective cult circles.
On a different note, one time for about a week I attempted to visit that pitchfork message board, or the unofficial one or whatever. Despite his usually good reviews, Chris Ott either needs to be loved or needs to be violently slapped, wow what an insecure guy, haha. Don't even think about trying to disagree with him. The board was way too fast paced for me too.
quote:
I saw them play a couple week ago and was surprised that they were actually still pretty good, even though Mark E. Smith had to sit the whole time due to broken leg and is starting to look like Garrison Keilor
Ha, MES is actually looking better since the last time I saw them. Having to sit actually helps out the show, keeps him from ambling off stage. Naturally, he apruptly cancelled the rest of the tour for no apparent reason, though they might be re-scheduling for June. |
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speedy_m
= Frankofile =
Canada
3581 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 13:12:54
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quote:
Originally posted by Itchload
Yeah that's funny Speedy M. I always felt a little wounded when P-fork hamped on Bob's solo stuff. It was strange though because generally his Fading Captain albums get good reviews (at least 2 out of every 3), but whenever a new GBV album comes out, the review headline reads something like "GBV miraculously put out a good album!"
I hear ya Itchload. The Fading Captain Series has this weird stigma. Generally positive reviews, and yet in retrospect everyone decries it as crap, and is glad when he puts out a proper GBV record. Oh well, gotta still love the 'fork. Or Brian will get mad at me. |
Edited by - speedy_m on 05/12/2004 13:15:24 |
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mattb
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
474 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 13:17:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Itchload
unencouraging reviews of FB's solo work,
That's why I started reading pitchfork. 
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http://www.broszkowski.com |
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Itchload
= Cult of Ray =
USA
891 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 19:03:32
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ha, that so? Actually, I find bad reviews are much more fun to read than good. When I see a movie, I generally go on the web and read a few reviews, see what other people thought. Regardless of how I feel about the movie though, I generally only read the bad ones.
It wouldn't bother me too much about Pitchfork/Frank thing, but I know how a good pitchfork review can get a couple hundred people to check an album out, maybe even buy it. Taht said, a bad one, with 10 albums getting released a day, is going to cause most readers to spend their hard pressed time elsewhere.
Frank's early Catholic albums might be a little to rawk for some people, too bar band. I know they are for some of my non-uber friends. But his recent stuff, with the nods to Leonard Cohen and folk music along with his usual eclectic rock stylings have won him over in the eyes of some I know. It's at least worth something more than the "another Catholic album, the same but only worse than the ones that came before" review SMYT got. |
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Shawn
- FB Fan -
Canada
2 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2004 : 20:56:16
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Anyway, its not like Pitchfork completely snubbed all of Frank's solo stuff.
They included Teenager of the Year in their list of the top 100 albums of the 90's at #94.
Pitchfork never existed in 1994, so they never had a review for it.
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Pixfork
