BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wants him some Taco Flavored Kisses.
Posts: 16,876
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Post by BRV on Dec 29, 2011 20:42:36 GMT -5
If the commercialization of music is what most consider to be the death of the music industry itself, then Foster the People is the crypt keeper. I mean, their lead singer was literally a commercial jingle writer, and I've already heard two of their songs on car commercials in the past few months.
Not to say that is an indictment on my opinion of the band. I think they're decent enough, but I wouldn't go out of my way to see them perform, it's just that I find it funny that they are literally the physical epitome of commercialized music.
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233
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Post by Tarik Dee on Dec 29, 2011 20:44:52 GMT -5
I do, and I love it, it's a good kind of different, they went to a more psychedelic style, and the band themselves said this is their style, their type of music. Also, I love Foster The People, the album is magnificent and they are very smart, writing catchy songs and original lyrics!, I don't understand all the people calling them one hit wonders, every great artist had a big song everyone listen; and the whole concept of "Rock's Dead" is ridiculous, this is rock, like it or not, this is the current rock music, just like Grunge in the 90's and Nu-Metal in the late 90's/early 00's, you can't expect the rock music always sound the same, you gotta move and diversify the genre, just because indie rock is popular doesn't mean it's the only current rock sound around here. I didn't say rock is dead....I said rock is dead as far as mainstream music is concerned. Rock is alive and well. The Gaslight Anthem are, in my opinion, the greatest rock band around today and they're only getting bigger. But how many people actually know them? Most successful artists today are not from the rock and roll genre. Lady Gaga, Drake, Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, etc, etc. There are successful rock acts - like I said before Green Day, Foo Fighters, Coldplay. Paramore is pretty big. The Black Keys are getting bigger. Kings Of Leon had that one massive album. Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers will always be huge. The point I was making is that mainstream music mostly ignores rock and roll aside from the huge hits, such as "Pumped Up Kicks". After this single dies down, so will most of the attention FTP has right now. It's not a knock on them, it's just the way the genre is treated right now. When compared to the 70s, 80s and 90s, rock is nowhere near as big as it once was. It's not dead and it never will be. It's just currently taking a backseat to other genres at the moment in terms of mainstream appeal. I think that will change again some day, or at least I hope so. Music, like wrestling, tends to be very cyclical. People seem to think that me calling them one hit wonders means I don't respect their art. I do. They write good, catchy songs. I enjoy their album. I've already said that. But I do believe strongly that "Pumped Up Kicks" will be their sole hit. Why is everyone so defensive about that? Look at Neon Trees and MGMT and Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend. Similar genres and they all had the same thing happen with them. It doesn't mean those artists aren't great, it's just the way things go. Maybe, because the connotations of "One-Hit Wonder" are basically "bands with one catchy song who then lose popularity and fans, ending down in obscurity and is never heard of them again"; I am fan of all the bands you mentioned above so IMO I dont't think they are One-Hit Wonders, maybe they are not famous but still active and making music in constant basis.
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233
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Post by Tarik Dee on Dec 29, 2011 20:48:57 GMT -5
If the commercialization of music is what most consider to be the death of the music industry itself, then Foster the People is the crypt keeper. I mean, their lead singer was literally a commercial jingle writer, and I've already heard two of their songs on car commercials in the past few months. Not to say that is an indictment on my opinion of the band. I think they're decent enough, but I wouldn't go out of my way to see them perform, it's just that I find it funny that they are literally the physical epitome of commercialized music. This is why I think they are very smart, they make amazing music because the guy worked in that business, he know how to make catchy melodies and meaningful lyrics, it's a combination of both artistic Indie Rock and dancey/catchy Pop; again the guys are musical genius from a business standpoint.
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Post by Manute Bol on Dec 29, 2011 20:50:32 GMT -5
I didn't say rock is dead....I said rock is dead as far as mainstream music is concerned. Rock is alive and well. The Gaslight Anthem are, in my opinion, the greatest rock band around today and they're only getting bigger. But how many people actually know them? Most successful artists today are not from the rock and roll genre. Lady Gaga, Drake, Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, etc, etc. There are successful rock acts - like I said before Green Day, Foo Fighters, Coldplay. Paramore is pretty big. The Black Keys are getting bigger. Kings Of Leon had that one massive album. Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers will always be huge. The point I was making is that mainstream music mostly ignores rock and roll aside from the huge hits, such as "Pumped Up Kicks". After this single dies down, so will most of the attention FTP has right now. It's not a knock on them, it's just the way the genre is treated right now. When compared to the 70s, 80s and 90s, rock is nowhere near as big as it once was. It's not dead and it never will be. It's just currently taking a backseat to other genres at the moment in terms of mainstream appeal. I think that will change again some day, or at least I hope so. Music, like wrestling, tends to be very cyclical. People seem to think that me calling them one hit wonders means I don't respect their art. I do. They write good, catchy songs. I enjoy their album. I've already said that. But I do believe strongly that "Pumped Up Kicks" will be their sole hit. Why is everyone so defensive about that? Look at Neon Trees and MGMT and Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend. Similar genres and they all had the same thing happen with them. It doesn't mean those artists aren't great, it's just the way things go. Maybe, because the connotations of "One-Hit Wonder" are basically "bands with one catchy song who then lose popularity and fans, ending down in obscurity and is never heard of them again"; I am fan of all the bands you mentioned above so IMO I dont't think they are One-Hit Wonders, maybe they are not famous but still active and making music in constant basis. There are a lot of one hit wonders who had very long, respectable music careers without every recapturing the success they had at one point. 311, Oasis (in America at least), Rancid and Sublime can all be labeled one hit wonders, but had/are having respectable careers. Maybe the term does carry a negative connotation with it, but it really shouldn't. I'm a fan of the bands from my previous post too, but based on Billboard Charts I do consider them one hit wonders. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233
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Post by Tarik Dee on Dec 29, 2011 20:51:26 GMT -5
Also, a video of FTP performing at Letterman to show more people about this band.
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Post by Manute Bol on Dec 29, 2011 20:54:00 GMT -5
Also, here are the peak Billboard Hot 100 chart positions for each of FTP's singles, listed in order of release. This is the list that charts radio play and sales (including iTunes downloads).
Pumped Up Kicks - 3 Helena Beat - 121 Call It What You Want - didn't chart Don't Stop - 115
That's one hit so far, with none of their three follow-ups even coming close to resembling a hit.
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233
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Post by Tarik Dee on Dec 29, 2011 20:58:40 GMT -5
Maybe, because the connotations of "One-Hit Wonder" are basically "bands with one catchy song who then lose popularity and fans, ending down in obscurity and is never heard of them again"; I am fan of all the bands you mentioned above so IMO I dont't think they are One-Hit Wonders, maybe they are not famous but still active and making music in constant basis. There are a lot of one hit wonders who had very long, respectable music careers without every recapturing the success they had at one point. 311, Oasis (in America at least), Rancid and Sublime can all be labeled one hit wonders, but had/are having respectable careers. Maybe the term does carry a negative connotation with it, but it really shouldn't. I'm a fan of the bands from my previous post too, but based on Billboard Charts I do consider them one hit wonders. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I think the term, like you said is negative, Im not saying that the bands doesn't make good music; mainly, the focal point is about the popularity of rock, should we be glad of this?, I mean, it's really that important if the Rock goes Head-to-Head with Pop, Hip-Hop and other popular genres? sometimes I would like it, but in the end, the music matter more, if music never become popular, we should be grateful at least that our favorite band is still making great music instead of getting angry because the "society is getting dumber" or how Rock music was better in our days; if a band like Foster The People became famous, well good for them, that doesn't make them more or less rock, and if they never get another hit, well, we'll hope they keep making great music for their fans.
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Lila
El Dandy
Slip N Slide World Champion 1997
Posts: 8,905
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Post by Lila on Dec 29, 2011 20:59:24 GMT -5
They need to put out 'I Would Do Anything' or 'Houdini'. Those would chart easily, IMO.
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Post by Orange on Dec 29, 2011 21:00:10 GMT -5
I think the term one-hit wonder shouldn't even exist anymore with the creation of the internet. For the term to even have any meaning or relevance (not direct at you lintenergy, by the way) you have to pretend that people only listen to the radio anymore, and a band's success is determined by their radio play. Truth is more and more people have ways of supporting bands past the radio on the internet, so the term doesn't even make sense in today's world.
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233
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Post by Tarik Dee on Dec 29, 2011 21:01:36 GMT -5
They need to put out 'I Would Do Anything' or 'Houdini'. Those would chart easily, IMO. Houdini was a promotional single, I think; I Would Do Anything For You would be a great single.
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Post by Manute Bol on Dec 29, 2011 21:02:50 GMT -5
I think the term one-hit wonder shouldn't even exist anymore with the creation of the internet. For the term to even have any meaning or relevance (not direct at you lintenergy, by the way) you have to pretend that people only listen to the radio anymore, and a band's success is determined by their radio play. Truth is more and more people have ways of supporting bands past the radio on the internet, so the term doesn't even make sense in today's world. That's actually very true and might explain why there aren't the massive amount of one hit wonders today that there were in the 90s. Good point, hadn't considered that.
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Lila
El Dandy
Slip N Slide World Champion 1997
Posts: 8,905
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Post by Lila on Dec 29, 2011 21:03:44 GMT -5
They need to put out 'I Would Do Anything' or 'Houdini'. Those would chart easily, IMO. Houdini was a promotional single, I think; I Would Do Anything For You would be a great single. Ugh! Houdini is so good, but I Woud Do Anything needs to be one or Love. Maybe even Warrant.
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233
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Post by Tarik Dee on Dec 29, 2011 21:06:36 GMT -5
I think the term one-hit wonder shouldn't even exist anymore with the creation of the internet. For the term to even have any meaning or relevance (not direct at you lintenergy, by the way) you have to pretend that people only listen to the radio anymore, and a band's success is determined by their radio play. Truth is more and more people have ways of supporting bands past the radio on the internet, so the term doesn't even make sense in today's world. That's another factor, the rise of Indie Rock helps musicians at the current state of music, who cares if an artist you don't like is number one, you have new options and alternatives for listening the music you like without the problem of popularity in the charts; an example, Arcade Fire, doesn't even have an One-Hit Wonder, or popularity in media, they won album of the year in the Grammys.
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233
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Post by Tarik Dee on Dec 29, 2011 21:08:24 GMT -5
Houdini was a promotional single, I think; I Would Do Anything For You would be a great single. Ugh! Houdini is so good, but I Woud Do Anything needs to be one or Love. Maybe even Warrant. I think all the songs in the album could be singles material.
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Lila
El Dandy
Slip N Slide World Champion 1997
Posts: 8,905
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Post by Lila on Dec 29, 2011 21:13:12 GMT -5
Ugh! Houdini is so good, but I Woud Do Anything needs to be one or Love. Maybe even Warrant. I think all the songs in the album could be singles material. So do I. The album is very consistant.
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233
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Post by Tarik Dee on Dec 29, 2011 21:17:50 GMT -5
I think all the songs in the album could be singles material. So do I. The album is very consistant. Like I said earlier, catchy songs and clever lyrics are a great combination for an album, specially a debut album.
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Post by Will Has 'Til Five, Ref on Dec 30, 2011 0:22:03 GMT -5
Foster The People make Death Cab For Cutie sound like Motorhead in comparison. These days it feels like it's either twee, wimpy crap like this or those Theory of Saving Benjamin's Pudddle of Shineback in Three Days bands. I'm not sure which is worse. Rock needs to grow its balls back. At least The Melvins are still kicking around and Wino seems to have a new band out every year or so. Somehow it's Fred Durst's fault. I don't know how exactly, I just blame everything on him. Sorry for sounding like a music snob.
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Lila
El Dandy
Slip N Slide World Champion 1997
Posts: 8,905
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Post by Lila on Dec 30, 2011 0:26:07 GMT -5
You're cool man. Expressing your feelings is nice.
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Post by Orange on Dec 30, 2011 0:49:02 GMT -5
Foster The People make Death Cab For Cutie sound like Motorhead in comparison. These days it feels like it's either twee, wimpy crap like this or those Theory of Saving Benjamin's Pudddle of Shineback in Three Days bands. I'm not sure which is worse. Rock needs to grow its balls back. At least The Melvins are still kicking around and Wino seems to have a new band out every year or so. Somehow it's Fred Durst's fault. I don't know how exactly, I just blame everything on him. Sorry for sounding like a music snob. Man, you just gotta know where to look Check this out, The Black Keys and Rival Sons - two modern bands that kick ass! As far as mainstream rock sucking, I agree with you for the most part. I feel like mainstream rock is in a rut, it's been that whole post-grunge sound since like 2004, it needs a kick in the pants to get restarted again. Rock should be exciting and fresh, mainstream rock is stagnant and just treading over familiar territory - luckily with the internet bands like The Black Keys can reach a large audience, because their sound is infectious.
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Tarik Dee
Hank Scorpio
I loved you before I even ever knew what love was like
Posts: 5,233
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Post by Tarik Dee on Dec 30, 2011 0:59:45 GMT -5
Here is another band with a heavier sound than the regular indie rock band: Cage The Elephant.
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