Carrie Brownstein has a blog and it’s pretty good. Here’s a sampling from the most recent posting.
My deal-breaker is preciousness: when the music is a tiny, baby bird that needs us to be nurturing and respectful, otherwise it can’t spread its wings. I like quiet music, folk music, solo artists–it’s not a matter of volume or numbers, but it is a matter of art being able to stand on its own two feet. I don’t think music needs to be coddled, no matter how delicate or soft it sounds. When a band or singer makes me go “awwww,” as I would at the sight of a newborn child, then that is a band that needs a pacifier not an amplifier. Other indicators of preciousness include, but are not limited to: matching old-timey outfits; mumbling, soft-spoken stage banter that trails off and is quickly followed by a cutesy smile, which for some reason garners huge cheers from the audience; being so nervous on stage that someone in the crowd has to yell “you can do it!” or “we love you” (exception made here for child performers); asking people to lie down on the floor for the next song; and any audience sing-along or participation so complicated that it needs to be explained BEFORE the song starts. When I am at an overly precious show, I am often filled with contrarian, immature urges: suddenly banging a gong, stepping on a whoopee cushion, or knocking some vegans together to start a mosh pit. I think what bothers me the most about preciousness is that it takes good form and reduces it to good manners, and turns performance into charade. I have no trouble taking music seriously or considering it special, but I don’t need to be instructed about why it is.
It’s like she’s plugged right into the RTH mind!
Of course, you might that a devoted follower of “small-rock” such as myself may have issues with this piece, but not really! If Belle and Sebastian can bring a sense of showmanship (and they do!) then anyone can!
Hmmm…methinks she is NOT a Decemberists fan…
What’s funny (or sad) is that this actually has to be said. And as if it’s a defense of a minority viewpoint…
The Decemberists don’t have matching old timey outfits do they? And I think live you can see that Colin is a lot sturdier than you might guess from the records.
I wish someone would have the balls to record themselves killing a guitar the way Carrie did on The Woods. I think she’s right. If rock n roll can’t be explained with brute force and amplification, then what’s the point.
Then again, it’s Friday and that means it’s all about the monster riffs!
Well they like to pose their band photos in period or themed costumes…I kind of like that because its not the same old thing as every other band press photo shot….