The Trials of Being an Elitist.
It's hard being an elitist. It really is. Some people may think 'oh man, it must be easy hating everything.' Let me tell you now, it's hard. I can't like the things that everyone else gets to like, and it sucks. Take Bright Eyes for example. At the Bottom of Everything, among others, are absolutely fantastic songs and they produce full and interesting albums. Their music is palatable, catchy and deep. But I dare you to ask me if I like them - I'll scoff and tell you that I like their underground stuff from the 90's better. Whenever a band I like or a singer-songwriter, I enjoy gets big, having sat in obscurity, has a big tour or gets played on the radio, I'm happy to know that they're getting exposure and on the other hand, bittersweet towards their newfound stardom. This conundrum has led me to make the following decision towards the new breed of cool...:
It is now cool to conform.
I know it sounds preposterous and blasphemous, but it's necessary. It's time to go back to the days when it was okay to like the popular. Back when Spice Girls were loved by all and N*Sync reigned comfortably at the top, supported by the masses (myself included). No longer is liking Hanson a joke or listening to The Postal Service "totally cliché." No longer must a teenage boy or girl hide their shopping bags from Hot Topic or their new Hot Hot Heat album. From this day forward, only knowing about a band's new stuff is okay. Indie is it's own obscure and impenetrable sub-culture that would never sell out.
I'd like to end with a few lines from a song that I like and admit I find to be pretty meaningful.
I tried my best to leave this all on your
Machine but the persistent beat it sounded
Thin upon listening
And that frankly will not fly. You will hear
The shrillest highs and lowest lows with
The windows down when this is guiding you home
It is now cool to conform.
I know it sounds preposterous and blasphemous, but it's necessary. It's time to go back to the days when it was okay to like the popular. Back when Spice Girls were loved by all and N*Sync reigned comfortably at the top, supported by the masses (myself included). No longer is liking Hanson a joke or listening to The Postal Service "totally cliché." No longer must a teenage boy or girl hide their shopping bags from Hot Topic or their new Hot Hot Heat album. From this day forward, only knowing about a band's new stuff is okay. Indie is it's own obscure and impenetrable sub-culture that would never sell out.
I'd like to end with a few lines from a song that I like and admit I find to be pretty meaningful.
I tried my best to leave this all on your
Machine but the persistent beat it sounded
Thin upon listening
And that frankly will not fly. You will hear
The shrillest highs and lowest lows with
The windows down when this is guiding you home