Taking Sides: Bashing Pitchfork OR Bitching about Bright Eyes

I am of the opinion that, since there are more people associated with Ptchfrk, and hence more hearts therefore to break, it is more ennobling to champiom them, whereas the C. Obert is just one lone mizzundatude geniis dude living a high life (perhaps) Ptchfrkrs, like the rest of us, can only dream about, that to deride betrays not just one's own bitterness but one's own inadequacies in the face of tremndous Dyalanesque talent that in any event in the name of the future of protest folk should not be discouraged or troubled by the jealousies of the little people. This is too hard for me to choose from.

On the other hand, Bright Eyes is overrated and well-loved by hacks like Robert Hilburn.

No, I'm not a paid writer. I effin' wish.

[ducks]

Bobo Dyalan?

That's a great point. If you don't have your dumb face in Rolling Stone/Spin/Voice/MTV news or spend all your time sitting in a pub with other blogging tools, you tend not to get overexposed to shit.

While a coroner kneels
Beneath the great wooden crucifix
He knows there’s worse things than being
Alone.

And so I’ve learned to retreat
At the first sign of danger
I mean, why wait around if
It’s just to surrender

And ambition I’ve found
Can lead only to failure
I do not read the reviews
No I am not singing for you

and then wonders why rock journalists are still giggling at him behind his back.

little Conor O might be a tool, and indeed, 'digital ash...' does suck in name and perhaps in content, but you cannot deny the man 'Lifted', which was and remains lovely.

I thought rock critics were slobbering all over him, giving him too much press and calling him the new Dylan?

I'd like to add that every person I've ever talked to about meeting Bright Eyes in person has said that he's a rude jerk

So does everyone hate the Fall as well? I agree that there is enough great music out there that if someone rubs you wrong in any way, it's easy enough to kick them out of your record collection and replace them with someone you could have a pint with. But this doesn't come into play across the board and seems a little too convenient as justification for joining the mob. Not to mention that the "he's a rude jerk" verdict could come from complete psychos for all we know, or worse, web-based music critics who never left high school.

Bright Eyes, on the other hand, is just inexcusable. The lyrics are horrible, and that just can't be ignored when you're a Sensitive Singer/Songwriter.

I find myself defending him in this thread because the attacks are more "6th grade", as you say, than the Pitchfork arguments, which seem fairly reasonable. This is in contrast to the other Pitchfork bashing threads, probably because I've asked for opinions from non-writers and their evaluations are more about Pitchfork and it's product than some of the personal hang ups that color the majority of the posting here.

There's plenty of immaturity here and elsewhere on the board, but thanks for stopping by.

Pitchfork discredits itself every time they make the "incisive" and cunning observation of the order that Gang of Four's come-back contradicts (!) the radical anti-capitalist message of its youth. Pitchfork should acquire some politics and integrity of its own before it re-opens the olde "don't preach to me" bag. As to Bright Eyes, he probably shouldn't drink so much.

I'm surprised no one has brought up Conor's apparent drinking problem as a thread, or a blog for that matter, there does seem to be something there. But the Texas thing that got everyone riled up seemed kinda nit-picky.

Maybe that should be a new thread:

Taking Sides: Badmouthing Texas While Drunk (Bright Eyes) OR Calling Ray Charles a N***** while Drunk (Elvis Costello)

I'm sure all the people who can't stand Bright Eyes because he's a "jerk" who "hates Texas" also do not listen to "What's so Funny About Peace Love and Understanding"...

(British accent) Wus' rong wit it? It was fine. It wasn't one of their best reviews ever, but it didn't stand out as terrible. Besides, Nitsuh is a pimp-- he's the only PF staff member to ever give Souvlaki any love.

I'm just kidding. Big ups to Schreiberfork, all up in my monitor, hollerin at my (bright) eyeballz! And nothin but love for my lil man Conor O. Yer slayin em, kid, buckin down hearts, spittin mad tears. Word is bond, son!

Yo, is it time for recess yet or WHAT!?!?

But I believe that lovers should be tied together
And thrown into the ocean in the worst of weather
And left there to drown
Left there to drown in their innocence
But as for me, I'm coming to the final chapter
I read all of the pages and there's still no answer
Only all that was before I know must soon come after
That's the only way it can be

I stand in the sun and I breathe with my lungs
Trying to spare myself the weight of the truth

Saying everything you've ever seen was just a mirror
And you've spent your whole life sweating in an endless fever
And now you're laying in a bathtub full of freezing water
Wishing you were a ghost
But once you knew a girl and you named her Lover
And danced with her in kitchens through the greenest summer
But autumn came, she disappeared, you don't remember
Where she said she was going to

But you know that she's gone because she left you a song
That you don't want to sing

Singing, I believe that lovers should be chained together
And thrown into a fire with their songs and letters
And left there to burn
Left there to burn in their arrogance
But as for me I'm coming to my final failure
I've killed myself with changes trying to make it better
But I still ended up becoming something other
Than what I had planned to be

Now I believe that lovers should be draped in flowers
And laid entwined together on a bed of clover
And left there to sleep
Left there to dream of their happiness

= wonderful.