name droppings n – “Droppings” is as in shit. The product of person trying to impress you with their knowledge of a played out bourgeois art scene (i.e. indie rock).
It happened last year. The inevitable backlash was finally upon us. Adam Shore, General Manager of Vice Records, had this to say about indie rock:
“I feel like there has been created, in the past two to three years, an indie-yuppie establishment. Bands like Death Cab for Cutie, Iron and Wine, the Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, they are great bands, really great bands, with great albums, great songs, high quality. And to me, it’s just so fucking boring,” he says. “It’s like fancy-coffee-drinking, Volvo-riding music for kids. And kids should be listening to music that shakes them up more, makes them uncomfortable. … I don’t think we’re ever going to sign an indie rock band. … I want to sign stuff that is more immediate and shakes you up a bit.”
Last May the NY Post wrote (scroll down a bit for the article) about how Stereogum (you know that totally hip indie blog that you and your grandmother read everyday so you know what to listen to) responded to the above quote with a “You know you’re an Indie Yuppie if…” contest. The irony that most of the commentators participating in the contest didn’t even get what an indie yuppie is, wasn’t lost on the Stereogum judges.
I find it not only exhausting but also totally unrewarding to keep up with indie bands. There is a new one every thirty seconds and this month’s name droppings don’t carry nearly the same amount of cred as they used. Back when listening to indie rock meant something—back when you weren’t ashamed of your Bright Eyes albums—you could be proud to be familiar with lesser-known second tier indie bands. Now, there is some sort of expectation that you know the fifth and sixth tier bands and whatever derivative off shoot nonsense side project they have going on.
Does it really mean anything to you that Hot Club De Paris is sort of like the Future Heads meets the House Martins? Because seriously that sounds like it would sound like shit to me.
Here is the part where I talk about movies. I like “Sundance” movies. Just like everyone else I’m a sucker for coming of age stories, family dramas, and quirky comedies. But honestly if I see one more Wes Anderson knockoff I’m going to snap and that includes movies actually directed by Wes Anderson. Replace movies with music and band names with 2005 Sundance titles when Adam says, “[Movies] like [The Squid and the Whale], [Thumbsucker], [Me You and Everyone We Know], [Junebug], they are great [Movies], really great [Movies], with great [Directors], great [writers], high quality. And to me, it’s just so fucking boring.”
Breakout of the indie-yuppie establishment! Please move on with your snobbery. I have a suspicion there are a bunch of 14-year-old-more-hip-to-what-is-next kids laughing at you and your haircut right now.
Bonus Link: Zach “the Shins will change your life” Braff released the sound track to his next movie. Coldplay? No wonder Mandy broke up with him.
UPDATE: Links fixed.