I slogged through the first half of last night’s main-stage-closing set by Roger Waters–which was billed as “Roger Waters Dark Side Of The Moon“–partially out of masochism, partially in the interest of sociological research, and partially because I didn’t feel like dragging my ass over to the stuffed-to-capacity-all-weekend dance tent to see Modeselektor, who were the only other act playing for the first portion of Waters’ set. While it was interesting in a “so this is who he lured out to the desert” sort of way, it was also infuriating, and at one point a friend said to me, “I can hear your eyes rolling back from here.” But no portion of the evening filled me with more rage than the pre-show, which had as its visual an old-timey radio, a model airplane, and a tumbler of whiskey; every so often, a hand would reach into frame to change the station and/or refill the glass, and the stations that the hand hit on, for the most part, had a playlist that lulled the classic-rock fans in attendance into a state of self-righteousness: Bob Dylan, “Hound Dog,” and “My Funny Valentine.” There was also a “humorous” bit when the radio somehow was all-ABBA, all the time, and hand man couldn’t escape from the tyranny of radio! ABBA! I mean, could you believe the nerve!
Anyway, that little interlude made me wonder if our readers would be as dismayed by the fake radio offerings as Disembodied Hand Man was–so here’s a poll.
I’m pretty sure that this is going to be lopsided in one direction, but hey, I may be wrong. The one good thing about Roger Waters’ set, though? It made me appreciate the greatness of Black Mountain even more. Holy balls were they fantastic.
@KinetiQ: Actually it just occurred to me that I’d probably listen to a loop of “It’s Raining Men” equal to the length of Waters’ set. If anyone wants to set that up, let me know.
Also: when you take dense psychy prog and add hooks and grandiose song writing, you get Peter Gabriel which is just awesome. I just found the “Secret World Live” album again recently and it’s uh… yeah, k, I’ll shut up.
@Maura Johnston: I’m not suggesting you dictate anyone’s tastes. But as the editor, you set the tone. And an “everything sucks” attitude permeates Idolator. I can only assume it was born of the Gawker Media missive to point out at least one negative thing in every post.
As for the bands you mention, I happen to like 4 of the 5. I spent the last hour viewing Portishead clips on YouTube. Your post about Portishead, if I recall, turned into a rant against airplane advertising and didn’t even bother to mention a single track they performed. How was “Machine Gun” live? It looked pretty fierce from the tiny clip I saw. Your post about the Breeders began with a dig at Lilith Fair. Does your opinion of Sarah McLachlan change now that Prince has deemed her cool?
So no, I didn’t bother commenting on those posts.
Portishead? Sucks. Kraftwerk? Sucks. Santogold? Sucks. The band you praised at the end of this post? Sucks. I demand that you stop writing about all these sucky bands immediately, and stick to the two topics we can all love: Jonas Brothers fan fiction and Rick Rolling.
@extracrispy way to change the argument’s parameters midstream. And for someone who’s been reading idolator for so long, you seem to have forgotten why I have a distaste for Lilith fair. It has nothing to do with Sarah and everything to do with the idea of solidifying what a woman in rock can be, I.e. Only a singer.
@extracrispy: Um, I don’t like these bands either: The Doors, Nine Inch Nails (well, lately), Angels & Airwaves, Muse (?!), Coldplay, etc. I think Muse is terrible. I sent the ?! back to you.
@KinetiQ: I loved the Secret World Live tour, AND one time, my band listened to It’s Raining Men on a loop for three hours in the van to stay awake. True story. It stopped sounding like music at all after a while. In fact, I feel like I know the song LESS now.
@JohnDoe: Have too.
My longstanding theory is that white people think R. Kelly must be a genius because he’s so weird.
@extracrispy: Please. Idolator is full of praise. When you attempt to call the site on its “everything sucks” attitude, it’s clear you’re just sore because their own favorites are being criticized. It’s a sign of insecurity.
But hey! Two solutions for you. #1: Turn off the Internet and it all goes away. #2: Start your own website (try GoDaddy or Blogger).
Woah, woah..why would you read a blog for two years if you disagree with 90% of its output? Where else can you read about the KLF and Jonas Brothers fanvids on the same blog? Don’t blame Maura for saying something we all secretly know is true but are too scared to say, it’s 2008 people! (Maura, I even forgive you for missing Modeselektor so you could shine a light on this Roger Waters paradox)
Actually, one of the reasons I like Idolator so much is that it *isn’t* gratuitously snarky (OK, not most of the time) for the sake of generating traffic (in sharp contrast to other Gawker sites — maybe that’s why it was sold?), and Maura and others actually seem to care greatly about the music they write about (whether they’re praising or dissing).
And yes, anything that punctures the pretensions of classic rock dickheads, indie dickheads, and gives some lip service to what’s on the radio, is A-OK in my book. Not that I’m sucking up or anything like that.
@mike a: I do have my own website. We’ve logged 6.1 million pageviews so far today. Great suggestion though. Very helpful. We haven’t tried the “running off your audience” tactic.
@moomintroll: That’s a good question. I guess it’s out of habit and some loyalty to Brian Raftery.
@extracrispy: what, no link?
@extracrispy: yes please link:)
@extracrispy: Yeah, I need a link, too. You must be working really hard to rack up the pageviews posting on io9 all the time.
@extracrispy: I had no idea I was a part of an “everything sucks” attitude. Man, this changes my perspective on EVERYTHING.
Nice try. I’ll stick with my anonymity, thanks.
Besides, I don’t write about music (any longer) so you wouldn’t be interested anyways.
@extracrispy: wow, how did i know that you would scurry away when asked to back up your “i get SO MANY PAGEVIEWS” claim? and you say *i’m* predictable.
[mirror.servut.us]
You can take my comments as objective criticism or not. But hey, I’m not the one who recently got dumped by my publisher.
@extracrispy: No, you just stopped writing about music mysteriously. Funny, that.
@extracrispy: i don’t take them as ‘objective criticism’ so much as i take them as ‘incessant complaining based on a very selective, overly sensitive memory.’ but, y’know, to each their own.
@extracrispy: Anonymity is such a tired game on the internet. I’d rather just talk shit and face the repercussions.
@extracrispy: If only that were true.
I was really hoping I could start a debate about R. Kelly.
OK - I’ll try again another time.
@extracrispy: You’re really Jann Wenner, aren’t you?
@mike a: Jann Wenner is a science fiction fan from Phoenix?
Waters has always been utterly douchetastic. Long before he actually died, Barrett was already turning over in his grave.
[blog.newsok.com]
Kind of unfair, actually, since ABBA vs. post-Syd Floyd is more or less a coin flip for me. (At least if the post-Syd Floyd in question is their ‘71-’77 stuff.)
I wish ABBA had a laser show instead of a fucking Broadway show. Imagine the mindblowing majesty of listening to Super Trouper while being genuinely blinded by lights shining like the sun!
Wow. You guys can’t even get your antique irrational classic-rock hatreds right.
David Gilmour is the one that supposedly ruined Pink Floyd after Barrett left. It’s not even close to true of course, but that’s the tired-ass cliche.
Oh, sweet, misguided Maura. I can feel only sympathy.
+ Watch video
@drjimmy11: yes, but he was not the one on stage last night.
@drjimmy11: also, i put in the ‘post-syd’ caveat because it’s the no. 1 caveat used by people to explain away their sympathies for the band. which is fine! but last night’s set was just an unending slog.
well, I was glad that we went to see new stoner rock instead of more old stoner rock. if abba reunited, it would totally rock the 10th anniversary coachella.
No way does RollingStone.com get 6 million page views a day. Unless they have their own kiddy porn cover this month. But I have to hand it to crispy for making the most outrageously false claim I’ve ever seen in this comments sections, then slinking away quietly into the mist from whence he came.
Gosh! Really!!?? ABBA vs Pink Floyd? How… modern.
Gosh! Really!!?? ABBA vs Pink Floyd? How… modern.
@GhostOfDuane: He also has a model girlfriend that lives in Canada.
@Nicolars: He met her at camp. You wouldn’t know her.
@Dan Gibson: As much as I hate Jann Wenner, I at least believe the man has moved out of his mother’s basement. Extracrispy, on the other hand…
I’d just like to say that one of my favorite things about Idolator is that after 221 votes, there’s only one ballot separating ABBA from Pink Floyd. Both are important, and totally worthy of critical praise, and yet 80% of ballots cast probably loathe one and love the other.
Shit. I still like the Doors and I’m not getting all bent out of shape about what Idolator thinks. Everyone’s entitled to their guilty pleasures and their tastes, but don’t get all peevy just because people don’t bow down to your particular faves…
Zeppelin Ruuuules!!!
@extracrispy: Also: Barenaked Ladies get hated on a lot.
i remember hearing ABBA before he came on as we made our way over to the modeselektor/SMD/chromeo/justice tent and thought how epic it would have been if abba was playing instead of waters
Maura you are a f*cking c*nt who probably likes Sh*tney Sneers. ABBA? Those damn Swedish jackasses were so boring, lame and cheesy. They were a studio creation. I like every era of Pink Floyd equally and I don’t do any drugs. However, their music did suffer on The Final Cut as it was a Roger Waters solo album as David Gilmour and Nick Mason were used sparingly and Rick Wright was absent. ABBA haven’t been relevant since 1979/80. They had a few hits but were not a big deal in the US as opposed to Europe. Thank God us Yanks had rock bands like PF, Rush, Queen, Genesis, The Eagles and Zeppelin hijacking the airwaves on FM rock stations back then. Portishead s*ck b*lls, Sh*tney is a c*nt, Lauryn Hill is a racist piece of sh*t and you are a jackoff!
@FLOYDFANATIC111: wow. nice knowing you, dude.
@GeorgeLang: ABBA, mentioned or compared compared to Pink Floyd is an atroscity! Roger Waters is a fucking inspiration, Abba churned out formulated three minute annoyances that were purchased by utter numb skulls and had no no meaning what so ever. They had no variation and explored nothing musically. It’s a ridiculous idea to even attempt to compare them to Floyd, yes they both have huge fan bases, and im sure between all of those Abba fans out there, they may even scrape together a couple of brain cells.
And also, The Final Cut, although indulgent of Waters is a great album, The Fletcher Memorial Home is one of the greatest songs ever written.