I get what you're saying about those bands having backing. And I like Hipster Runoff too.
It's about time for Carles to update the site. Think the latest update was from early November? He's a got a great thing going - to satirize the music that he loves. One thing we can all agree, even if we all love the same general scene - there's plenty about indie bands and fans to be satirized!
Regardless, they still make great music - earlier in the thread it seemed like you and others were acting like they were terrible and way overrated, and I just disagree with that. With some bands, I agree - I like Tame Impala, for instance, but I don't think they're as great as everyone makes them out to be.
Can't speak for others, but my only point was to differentiate the overhyped part with maybe overrated, as a consequence, while other deserving acts don't receive the same attention. Everybody's free to like/dislike what they want. The point of this thread is just for everybody to express their opinions. Discuss whatever you want. We're not here to say "the band sucks, and you suck if you like them." This should be beyond high school-level discussion.
If there's a band that you think is overhyped, say so. With Tame Impala, "Mind Mischief" was a pretty cool tune, but "Elephant" was played to death. If other people think that they're full of awesomeness, who are we to begrudge them. In 2012, XMU played just about every song off the Dirty Projectors album. Honestly, the dude, who leads them, has some talent as far as being the creative force, but to my mind, his vocals are substandard at best. Just my reaction. Loved the song that Amber did with Major Lazer through, "Get Free."
On the other side, there are acts that weren't given the superhype that were favorites of mine: Wild Nothing, Ducktails (although Real Estate gets ample attention) and Small Black. By the same token, it wouldn't have been some form of validation if these had been on all of the "Best of the Year" lists.
Actually, I feel that way about Phantogram as well. A good band, but I don't understand all the hype. And the music is good but not revolutionary.
They're not revolutionary, but this helps drive them:
Almost enough to make you forget the chick from Chairlift for a while!
I do believe there is a way to have a discussion about the objective merits of certain music or certain bands in a critical sense, even if it's something you can't appreciate. Maybe Grizzly Bear is really just more meritorious than the other music that comes out in a given year, and a lot of critics agree with that. Similar to how you like Coldplay even though they're mainstream.. if it's good, it's good.
Of course, just decide what you like and don't like, based on your own tastes. Critics can be a guide, just like what your friends like. In the end, it's up to you to decide how it sounds. Something may seem hot, at the time, and then in a few years, it might not hold the same appeal.
Sky Ferreria is another one. Thought "Everything is Embarrassing" was great. Finally got the EP. Decent songs with variety of styles. She can sing, that's for sure. As far as the full length album, there's nothing else on par with "You're Not the One." BTW, the recording is terrible - no midrange at all. Hipster Runoff used to player those songs regularly. Here's the thing: she got massive record company backing. She'd been scouted out since she around 15 years old with clips on MySpace.
