U2’s Forgettable Fire or How to become a pop heretic in just one easy blog post

I don’t like U2. Truth be told, I never really have. Maybe it’s because I spent far too much time living in Utah, where I’ve discovered that it must be an FCC regulation that a U2 song must be playing at all times, on at least one station. Maybe it’s because Zooropa really left a bad taste in my mouth. I’m not sure. I just know I really don’t think U2 is that good.

One thing I do know, though, is that U2 has been riding Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby for over 20 years, and every time you hear a U2 song on the radio made after those albums, it’s only because:
It’s U2–and they’re supposed to be best band in the world. They wrote a hand full of hit songs in the 80s and 90s
Call them the best branded rock band since the Beatles. But I digress…

I finally have proof that U2 has been riding its own shirt tails. Forget Discoteque. Forget that Batman Soundtrack Song. Their latest “hit single” is bad. As in “those annoying Yoplait Yogurt girls sitting around talking about how good the yogurt is” BAD.

I’m sure you’ve heard “Magnificent” off their latest album. Radio stations, if you still believe in them, have probably been force-feeding it to you. I haven’t listened to any of the rest of their latest album, and thankfully, I don’t have to. If the hit single is this bad, there’s no sense in listening to the rest. Magnificent is like U2 Unforgettable Fire-Lite. Take all the usual U2 style (the Bono wail, the echoing guitars), and then make it boring. No, make it elevator music. And you’ve got Magnificent. There’s nothing good about this music–it’s rehashed and photocopied, but using a copier that’s on its last leg and running out of ink.

Now, I know this is harsh…and I know that there will be plenty who will call me a heretic (what, insult the gods of the pop pantheon?!). At least by Itunes, it’s off the chart in popularity…

But then again, maybe I’m being too harsh on Bono and the guys. I mean, they HAVE been around a while, and most bands ride their own shirt tails after a good music run. REM lost it when they released Monster, and then somewhere a long the line, we had to endure a nauseating trip to Reno to become a Star. Coldplay just did it with that Ipod song album (yes, I know the title, but I prefer to refer to it in the same way we all refer to that Harry Potter nemesis). Either way, I think it’s time to admit it – U2 is done, or at least, should have been, a long time ago.

Indie Bands You May Not Know About but Should: Great Northern

Haunting. Moving. Great Northern’s sounds are entrancing…like waking Love and Rockets from the dead. Great melodies and stirring guitar riffs. I first caught wind of this band on the IndieFeed: Alternative Rock Podcast.

Check them out on their site

Download two of their songs:

Great Northern – Story

Great Northern – Houses

Indie Adventure: Maryland Day

I like to find some of the underrated or even lesser-known attractions and experiences in an area, and publicize them here as Indie Adventures. They represent the Indie Experience, living life outside the mainstream.

So, why do I consider an event that brings an estimated 8,000 people to?

Because I recently got an email from someone who usually knows everything, and she just barely found out about this event…I’ve been going to it for 3 years now.  Plus, I think it’s cool and it’s got a cadre of free stuff. So it counts.

If you haven’t been to Maryland Day, it’s one of THE best free events of the year in the DC area.

Maryland Day is a one-day event where the university of Maryland throws its doors open to reveal all the fun things that people in academia do (no, dictionaries for translating academ-ish into laymen’s terms not provided). In seriousness though, every department comes out, gives tons of free goodies, and you get a day full of fun…for free.

Commercial Indie Part II

I’ve blogged on this before…so I’ll forgo the previous question I posed and pose two new ones:

Is some of the brightest new Indie music coming out through car commercials?

And if so, should I be alarmed?

A while ago, Saturn had a commercial featuring the Band of Horses’ “Funeral.” Infinitely fantastic song. Still one of my favorites. Now Toyota is following suit, but they’re one-upping Saturn, offering free downloads of the music featured in the commercial.

Check it out for yourself.

It may be Indie-Mainstream Pop fusion, but it ain’t half-bad, especially the instrumental one.

Machine-Dunking

No, this doesn’t have anything to do with Indie music.

And, no, I don’t care since no one’s reading this anyway.

I don’t know what I like more about this, the broken English imitation of Sasha Vujajic, or calling Paul Pierce “Cry Baby Weenie Man”…wait, no, I do…Paul “Cry Baby, Weenie Man” takes the cake!

Let the NBA playoffs begin!

If Indie Goes Mainstream, is it still Indie?

I’ve been thinking about this question especially after seeing this commercial:

So, after years of relishing as an out-of-the-limelight element, the recent commercial indie explosion has really gotten me thinking. Indie is known for being hard-to-find, different, and underrated–the type of stuff that mainstream just doesn’t have time for…at least until now.

This commercial has all the hallmarks of an Indie ballad: Low-fi tones bordering on boring, monotone/dressed-down singing, and acoustic simplicity…I mean, it possesses the indie essence, but is there such thing as “commercial” indie, or is that a contradiction of terms?

My hunch is that while we Indie fans have been tired of mainstream carbon-copy music, the rest of the world is catching up…My only fear is that commercial Indie may lead to carbon-copy Indie,  diluting the genrea and destroying its integrity…

The Secret of Success…

on their initial success in Ireland, which led to world distribution, Spanish Guitaristas Rodrigo Y Gabriella comment:

“There weren’t that many Mexicans playing guitar in Ireland.”

Genius.

I died three years ago…

I’m always fascinated by how social media has facilitated the Indie music explosion…and even more fascinated when one of us regular guys can do Indie just as good as the big name bands.

Case in point: John Watson, one of my favorite bloggers, who posts on all things eclectic, put together a wonderful little ditty entitled, “I died three years ago” full of satire, sarcasm, and Indie goodness. Frankly, minus the “mild” language, I think it’s as good as, if not better than, anything you can find on the Juno Soundtrack or Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.

Check it out and download it on his blog.

He’s inspired me to put some tracks together. Many don’t know this, but I have written a number of songs, including one I wrote to propose to my wife.

Sign the Petition: Don’t Let Kevin Hearn Sing

By signing this petition (leaving a comment on this post), you affirm that:

While Kevin Hearn is an unparalleled musical talent, providing the Barenaked Ladies with fantastic songs, amazing piano arrangements, and all out rockin’ albums, he should not replace recently departed Steve Page as 2nd lead singer, because he sings like Kermit the Frog. If anything, Jim Creegan is more suited to sing with Ed.

Let your voice be heard and make a difference in the future of the greatest Canadian import since dry soda! Sign the petition today!

Message to BNL: Never is Enough

Now, I understand it’s tough to re-build on the fly. Steve Page leaving the Barenaked Ladies is nothing short of catastrophic. In times of crisis, the decisions you make are critical…and I’m concerned about one that BNL may have already made.

Their latest email featured a link to download their recent concert in Orlando–which I must say is a nice touch. (I think every group or company going through a crisis should give stuff away–especially the banking industry.) It didn’t take long to realize who was replacing Steve as 2nd lead vocal: Kevin Hearn.

 Now. I love Kevin. I think he’s a virtuouso at the piano, and an amazing guitarist…but, he’s no singer.

Apparently BNL is set to hit the studio in a month. If anyone at that studio is reading this, I have one humble request:

Please don’t let Kevin Hearn sing.

I’ve blogged on this before. Kevin’s voice is ok, but it’s boring and bland. It even borders on being flat. Don’t believe me? Listen to the Orlando concert.

If Kevin replaces Steve as the 2nd lead vocal, it’s the end of BNL  as we know it.  If anything, let Ed sing everything and redefine who you are–that is, ditch the belting-out vocal songs and go total Indie, but don’t let the guy who’s voice is dry and often off-key sing.  Heck, even let Jim Creegan sing–at least he can stay on key.

If Kevin is really going to replace Steve,  I have one thing to say: To quote one of their hits from not too long ago–”Never is Enough”.