Will Blog Bands Stand the Test of Time?

By: Charbarred | in: Music |

Blogging the blogs

Tapes N' Tapes

So what is a blog band? It’s a band that gets hyped up by bloggers like myself. It tends to start out with one blogger ‘discovering’ them, and elevates to a massive drool fest over the Internet. This band usually sounds super cool, or has a sad underdog story, and for a short while everyone just wants to help them. The problem is they enjoy a shelf life shorter than that of a jar of cocaine in Courtney Love’s bedroom (cheap shot, I know).

About a week ago I read about a band called “Brothers and Sisters” which really got my juices flowing. Wanting to immediately do my own write up about them, I had to forcefully wait a few days just to make sure this is for real. And indeed, a few more listens and I was beginning to question why I liked them so much in the first place. I was reminded of why I made up the first rule of blogging – you do not talk about blog bands!
And this of course leads to a short investigation of those lovely bands we’ve all read about this past year. How many of them are still viable in my record collection? Which one will I actually pay to see live when they drop into town next time?
(note, when I say ‘bands’, I actually mean ‘artists’, weird huh?)

Tapes N’ Tapes: The first blog band I’ve ever heard of. They apparently sold a gazillion records by themselves due to all the blog love. When first listening to their album, I thought it was a bit under-produced and reminiscent of a bad Pavement album. After all the buildup, I went back and listened a few times, discovering they had a few cool tunes to offer. It still pops up in my play list, and I enjoy the occasional song.
Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah: This one I’ve never taken a shine to. Didn’t really understand what all the fuss was about. Now after all the buzz has subsided, they sound like a nice alternative band. If their singer is willing to make a bit more of an effort with his vocals, I’m willing to give their next album a chance.
Joanna Newsom: She really delivered this year and gave a new meaning to prog rock (or acousti-prog). Yes, her voice gets annoying sometimes, but Y’s is a great work of art.
Band of Horses: It was sort of nice in the beginning until I realized there really wasn’t a need for another ‘My Morning Jacket’.
Destroyer: Nearly went deaf trying to understand what the press was on about. A fresh listen now still leaves me puzzled.
Silversun Pickups: This time around they got it right. The album gets better every time I pop it in my CD player. Sure, they sound like the Pumpkins, but Billy Corgan and co. haven’t sounded so fresh in many years.
Land of Talk: Still nice to listen to occasionally. ‘Speak to Me Bones’ is an amazing song, while others don’t quite cut it.
Midlake: What a great discovery. Reminds me why I keep scouring the net for great bands. Looking forward to seeing them live in a couple of weeks.
The Blow: Very impressive with the first two tracks that appeared on the net. The rest of the album makes you continually check your sound card for faults. Nice in a playlist, but nothing more.
Sufjan Stevens: No doubt he will stand the test of time. He’s a very talented artist, but has one incredibly annoying album called ‘The Avalanche’ which sadly got him most of the blog attention this year. Saying that, it was a B-sides compilation, and I personally can’t wait to hear his next offering.
Sound Team: Gave me some great pleasure while driving to work, but it was a short lived romance. Sorry guys it’s over.
Youth Group: This is actually the band that prompted me to write this article. They’ve come up with two consistent records full of great songs. I’ll definitely be listening to them a year from now.
Cold War Kids: Meh…
Regina Spektor: The first lady of the blogsphere. She already has some modern classics in her repertoire.
Voxtrot: Everywhere I go it’s Voxtrot this, Voxtrot that. To tell you the truth, they are an amazing band. If their upcoming album will live up to the promise of their first few EP’s, I’ll be cheering them on for a long time.
The Hold Steady: A somewhat overrated band. They started out OK, until their vocalist decided he wants to sing in the current album.
Emily Haines: Deserved all the love she got from the blogsphere. This one will definitely be with me down the line.
Brothers and Sisters: Honestly, I still want to write about them. They’re very reminiscent of Wilco and Whiskeytown, and are worth checking out. Maybe in a few weeks I’ll have an objective opinion.

There are probably many artists I’m forgetting…but what does that say about them?

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Posted on October 24, 2006

Comments

10 Responses to “Will Blog Bands Stand the Test of Time?”

Rustycat on October 25th, 2006 7:11 am

Brothers and Sisters sound amazing!

Ernie on October 25th, 2006 10:14 pm

Ah geez man, seriously, the Silversun Pickups?? Sure, that one song is generally likable, I thought it sounded neat when I heard it on the KEXP podcast too, but there really isn’t any redeeming quality to the song other than it’s “catchy”. They sound like a Christian rock band.

And you got it all wrong with Band of Horses. I really don’t see the My Morning Jacket comparison at all. The production value on “Everything All the Time” is incredible. Phil Ek is an amazing producer. The sounds he was able to produce on that album border on bombastic.

Joanna Newsom should be put out to pasture.

Only ribbing you a bit, each to his own, of course.

Seriously though, nice post, I enjoyed reading it.

Charbarred on October 25th, 2006 11:56 pm

S’All good Ernie.,
Didn’t know about the Phil Ek connection, that would usually prompt me to have another listen…

Ernie on October 27th, 2006 10:34 am

I caught a Silversun Pickups show last night with Viva Voce. I’m willing to upgrade this band to “likable”. A part of me wants to stick to my guns because I just feel their sound is over-produced and just too slick sounding.

The lead singer had some pretty hysterical rock star stage moves (I’m talking full on posing for cameras and stuff.) But for the most part I liked them. The were appreciative, and more or less humble. That goes a long way for me.

While Silversun Pickups aren’t a band I would listen to in my free time, I’d rather see 20 bands like them on the radio, than whatever they are playing now. I wish them success.

wayne on November 17th, 2006 6:38 am

i really dont understand what a blog band is?. its just people writing about music they like, some people will agree and some wont, just different tastes.
obviously a blogger cant write about the same band everyday, they keep writing about different stuff everyday, i like most of these artists, its only an opinion but destroyer has stood the test of time(10 years) and runs rings around nearly everything out there

Charbarred on November 17th, 2006 7:00 am

In some cases it seems that bloggers gang up on a certain band and all write about it in a short period of time. Sure, if it’s a great band there’s no reason not to write about it, but I used this case to define a “blog band”.

bestiality on December 19th, 2006 8:33 am

Good info!
Thank.

JerryBrightonhammer on March 30th, 2007 4:06 pm

What in the name of Jerry Brightonhammer was that all about?
I dont’ know but it doesn’t make sense to me.