[Talkin' the best songs of 2008]
Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound.
It can’t be denied that the indie rock webzine Pitchfork has a brilliant editorial model: Its newsfeed is THE go-to place for the latest updates on the goins-on of bands who for whatever arbitrary reason fall under the “indie” rubric. And its daily reviews, which always include something for everyone (and by everyone, I mean those who are ravenous about expanding their knowledge of music enjoyed by college-educated, middle-to-upper class 20- and 30-something music geeks), appear with militaristic regularity. Best of all, Pitchfork has remained steadfast in keeping its offerings simple. While competitors like Popmatters (who occasionally publishes your author’s work) continue to beef up their editorial offerings to include everything under the pop culture sun, Pitchfork has stubbornly restricted its purview to indie rock CD reviews and news, with a few columns and some multimedia thrown in for good measure. It is better off for the simplicity.
However, Pitchfork’s approval of certain bands reaches such a pitch that one has to wonder what motivates it. For example: I wouldn’t be surprised if the more casual readers were under the impression that Pitchfork puts out Deerhunter’s records, so enthusiastic has been its promotion of the band. This is not to speak ill of Deerhunter, who, in fact, is a great band. Rather it is to speak of Pitchfork with a measure of suspicion. Why give certain bands such a disproportionate amount of positive coverage? Judging from the editorial voice of Pitchfork, I suspect it’s an effort to bask in the reflective glory of a band that currently ranks high with the young indie rock intelligentsia. Still, to a not-so-young reader like your author, it smacks of shameless promotion masquerading as journalism.
To their credit, they’re promoting a good band. Deerhunter’s Microcastle is one of the best pure pop albums of the year — if not the best. But none of its singles appealed to me as much as “Recent Bedroom” from lead singer Bradford Cox’s side project, Atlas Sound, which also released an album (with an annoyingly long name) this year. Atlas Sound isn’t as good as Deerhunter, but this song is haunting, sorrowful, beautiful.
December 16, 2008 at 12:55 pm |
“Pitchfork has stubbornly restricted its purview to indie rock CD reviews and news”
This is a very 2003 way of looking at Pitchfork. I know I should probably be immune to this critique by now, but it never ceases to strike me as, well, uninformed, or just the product of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Sure, there’s good rock music coming out, and Pitchfork is on top of it, or hating on it. But that’s ignoring the vast amount of coverage given to avant-garde (Rhys Chatham gets a 9+ and the world is silent), all manner of electronic and dance music (um, the number one singles of the past three years have been by the Knife, LCD Soundsystem, and Hercules and Love Affair), and tons of rap (other than Lil’ Wayne, even!). There are columns devoted to heavy metal and entire genres of British underground dance music, and another called “Poptimist.” Calling Pitchfork “indie rock” is ignoring the top 20 tracks list that went up today. Women, Deerhunter, the Mae Shi and Vivian Girls (leaving out Fleet Foxes, whom I don’t think qualify for the designation) are 1/4 of the list.
“Still, to a not-so-young reader like your author, it smacks of shameless promotion masquerading as journalism.”
To another not-so young writer like your commenter (and I would assume the *decidedly* not-so-young staff of Pitchfork), this…sigh. Is it possible for people to write about a band like Deerhunter without sneaking in a misguided, wrongheaded slap at Pitchfork? Makes no sense, and just rehashes the same snark that others deride P4K for.
Agreed that Microcastle is a wonderful album, though. Not so hot on Atlas Sound. Have you heard Lotus Plaza (Lockett’s side project, very Atlas Sound-ish)? You might like it too, if you dig Atlas Sound!
December 19, 2008 at 3:59 pm |
I have a love-hate relationship with Pitchfork so agree with both of you in a way. IMO no-one (individual or publication) is immune to ‘madfanboy’ syndrome – and that’s why it’s OK for them to promote Deerhunter like this.
It’s refreshing in a way – if you love it, go mad for it. To be completely objective is to be clinical and boring.
What they should stop doing is being hypocrites though – they like to think the NME is just hype but they’re just as guilty of big upping music they love.
Agree that Microcastle are amazing and I’m not so hot on Atlas Sound although I like this song.
Interested that you like Surf City (me too).
January 31, 2009 at 9:33 am |
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