Idolator

Reggie Youngblood is actually 30. A quick search on Yahoo People Search reveals this to be true.

I haven't seen the one-sheet but someone is obviously passing on some bad information.

@owenmeany: I wonder if they have an intramural betting pool on whether or not Black Kids will recoup their advance. I wouldn't bet on yes, but I could see them beating the spread.

I finally caught up with a Coachella attending friend during my
lunch break today at work and got reviews for every single band she
took in. When she got to the Black Kids [and how great they were] I
asked in all seriousness, without batting an eye: "Oh. Do they have
more than four songs yet?"

And I'm not even a music snob/elitist with my tastes and opinions.
[Hot Hot Heat's Elevator was one of my favorite albums of whatever year
it came out]. What I am trying to say is I'm gonna wait this one out
and give em a chance. Cause I can only listen to I'm Not Gonna Teach
Your Boyfriend...so many times.

@villagegreen: I guess they have been working hard, but the work doesn't seem to be paying off at all. Their stage show is sloppy, their songs are half-baked, and the overall takeaway I got from their show this weekend was something resembling a slightly lukewarm mess. I'm not absolving music bloggers (and Pitchfork, whose "Best New Music" on their *demo* also helped get the ball rolling) in all this -- I just thin they were rushed to get where they are, and they've been stunted as a result. (And I think it's the execs who are trying to get them to be the next VW, because major-label higher-ups aren't really known for their forward-thinking strategies.)

There is no reason to lash out at Black Kids. They are so not the enemy. In a world overrun with crappy music, their music is a refreshing alternative, and could actually be a gateway for younger people to discover their influences, such as Prince, Blondie, and the Cure.

I don't think Black Kids are trying to prove anything or take over the world, nor are they making an effort to be the next "Vampire Weekend". What people seem to forget is that it is music bloggers and the like that create hype, not the artists themselves.

So what we have is an artist working hard to create good art. That's it. And what do they get for it? They get chewed up and spit out by elitist music writers who oddly give more love to so-called "talent" like Jason Castro on American Idol.

Its hard enough as it is to succeed as an artist today. What do you propose - that aspiring artists like Black Kids just stop trying and stay at home? What kind of world would that be? It seems that you'd like to squash their music career before they even put out an album. And let's be honest, if you were in their shoes you would not have done a thing differently. If Columbia Records was knocking at your door, would you turn them down? What's the point?

I'm sorry, I just don't get the backlash. Black Kids hating is so 2007! Let's move on, people.

Adapted from one of my bitchier friends:

"They should take up competitive knitting because all they have is one hook and one loop."

That is all.

"They're called Black Kids! It's EDGY! It's HIP! SHAKING THINGS UP!"

Seriously, I think that is the thinking on this.

And @ Ned Raggett: BB is doing all sorts of odd production work of late. There's a backlash against him in NME, even:

[www.nme.com]

All because the Duffy record solds truckloads, I would guess.

I await Richard Oakes's production career!

@RaptorAvatar: Ha. Yes, I read that Aoki review...sounds like it deserved it, as the tracklist was akin to the Vice records sampler you get for free at Amoeba. And I agree, the low-scored reviews are better than reading a review for an 8 or 9...mostly because I could read those reviews two or three times and still have no clue what the record sounds like or if i'd like it or not.

I saw them live in december and thought that "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend" was their worst song by a mile. But I'm afraid Columbia will fail to see their soul/funky side (basically the one that makes them different from the umpteenth Cure rip-off, therefore interesting) and push them in that direction. Damn hype :(

@RaptorAvatar: It's certainly not bad, but I've only listened to it all the way 2 or 3 times, as opposed to listening to the EP at least 10 times. I will say though, Your English is Good is fantastic, and I also really liked The Harrowing Adventures Of.

They're an endearing, talented bunch of kids (or slightly-older-than-kids, whatever) who could be a pretty decent band after a few years of hypeless toil. Problem is they won't be as cute or fresh-faced by then, and since they are endearing and talented and some people seem to genuinely like them, why not accelerate the process? This is why music blogs and the hype machine/Hype Machine et al. exist, and even if it's a little uncomfortable to those still tied to the merit- or effort-based measurements of band stardom, well, it's the fucking internet innit?

@MtHeartAttack: I thought it ruled. It's certainly stuck with me much more than the first EP did and "Your English is Good" is probably my favorite song of 08' so far.@MayhemintheHood: I used to browse for everything with below a "2" because it's way more fun to read an excellent takedown than just about anything else. Their rip on Steve Aoki earlier this year was mega satisfying.

@MayhemintheHood:

Jesus, whittling down the thousands of Buzz Bissinger's would be the hard part.

On a side note, I wish Bob Costas would hold a roundtable discussion with music bloggers and old school music journalists. But who would be rock and roll's Buzz Bissinger?

@Maura Johnston: For sure. I whole heartedly, if not begrudgingly, accept that fact. I still can't believe they gave a random band's 4 song demo with one catchy song their "coveted" Best New Music.

Pitchfork is losing it with me. I still check 'em out everyday though, if only to see what their lowest rated album of the day is, because that's usually what I end up liking(like KOL's "Because of the Times", which they gave a 2 or 3 something and ended up being one of my faves from 07).

@MayhemintheHood: Do not forget Pitchfork. Who have much, much more leverage over the popular-music consciousness than any blog (or even a collection of blogs) ever will.

@villagegreen: I think you're right about who is creating the hype, and it isn't Black Kids, it's the blogosphere. That being said, they should feel lucky as hell because blogs made their crappy band pretty popular and got them a record deal basically. So yes, we should blame the blogs for the backlash, but regardless, they aren't that good.

Reggie Youngblood is 27?!?! What the hell? He reminds me of Sonny Landham, aka "Billy" from Predator.

I hope if anything comes out of this, it's that Pitchfork wont give their Best New Music to an amateurish band's four song demo.

Wait what the hell? Reggie Youngblood is 27?! That makes this whole thing so much more ludicrous. Man.

@villagegreen:

"I don't think Black Kids are trying to prove anything or take over
the world, nor are they making an effort to be the next "Vampire
Weekend". What people seem to forget is that it is music bloggers and
the like that create hype, not the artists themselves."

Say it again, say, say it, say it again...

@NickEddy: All because the Duffy record solds truckloads, I would guess.

Hooboy.

I await Richard Oakes's production career!

Simon Gilbert went off to drum for a band in Thailand -- I always liked that as a career move.

Fair enough, but there are actual bands with potential that are probably being hurt by this. Tokyo Police Club are a pretty good example, A Lesson in Crime was pretty awesome but then everyone was like OMG BEST BAND EVER and then Elephant Shell was kind of meh.

@MtHeartAttack: Honestly, I don't really think there's much room for "growth" in Black Kids' plan when they can't progress past having two decent songs.

My gosh, is this ever going to end? Seeing bands like Tapes 'N Tapes strike out on the second album after being built up by the blogosphere (and I happened to really like The Loon, it's a pretty great pop album) is just getting embarrassing. It's a waste of energy for everyone really. Give these bands time to grow.

@Maura Johnston: Thanks for the response. It sounds like you're saying, and I would agree, that maybe they have been rushed by music execs to be more than they are, yet. I have a couple of responses to that:

1. That has always been the nature of the music business. It is a business, after all, and they are trying to cash in on early signs of success.

2. Their potential for success is not completely unfounded. They just had a #11 radio hit in the UK.

3. Perhaps we should be criticizing the music machine more, rather than criticizing Black Kids for being less than they are (or purport to be).

4. I don't think we should write off Black Kids as failures before they have really begun. How many artists in the history of rock music have had great major label debut albums within barely two years of beginning their careers? I can think of tons. I don't think its necessary or realistic to spend ten years on the road before pursuing major label success. I say reserve judgment until the album comes out. If it sucks, it sucks, and finally the backlash will be justified. In the meantime, it seems a bit unfair, in my opinion.

their Bernard Butler-produced debut album

Okay waht

@Maura Johnston: Hmmm. You know, I can't say I remember that one. I'll give it a spin. I just got turned off once I realized the singer sounds like a zany morning radio dj. That and the fact that they write songs so catchy my head spins.

Yeah, that EP and Make Up the Breakdown are still worth hearing on occasion, but nothing else is up to snuff.

I was over Black Kids before the mp3 for "Teach Your Girlfriend" (or whatever its called) was even finished.

Jeezus. Columbia is on a shitty band signing spree! Rick Rubin won't last long there.

@MayhemintheHood: Hot Hot Heat's Sub Pop EP is still very worth listening to.

Ha. Interesting you mentioned Hot Hot Heat. When Make Up The Breakdown came out, I listened to it continuously for a whole day because it was so damn catchy. Then I never listened or liked them again. Same with Black Kids for me.

My friend said about them "Hey, I guess there aren't too many Cure rip-off bands right now so they're smart for making that their thing."