pitchfork is dumb (#34985859340293849494 in a series.)

Ever since the redesign (could be coincidence) they've been posting these weird stories occasionally that only exist because they involve, in whatever abstract way, someone with a connection to the music business but don't have much else to do with the actual music or the business.

'Adventure Time' Coming to an End

Yeah, pursuit of tv clicks is another post-redesign feature, but I was surprised at how they barely attempted to link that one to anything musical

the 15+ headlines about Stranger Things were way more annoying than this.

http://pitchfork.com/news/68608-indie-rock-musicians-suck-at-business-communications-new-study-finds/

“You can’t just go in without having some background on how the industry works.”

"go in"

Yesterday, before the release of Bon Iver’s new album 22, A Million, a series of listening events were held around the world that included the distribution of a special newspaper containing imagery related to the album. On eBay, sellers are auctioning off the newspaper for prices over $1,000.

That may well be, but a search for sold items on eBay puts the top-selling Bon Iver newspaper at a whopping $31.37. Many 'completed' auctions with absurd figures, but--shocker--no bids on those. This is like to me telling you that I've got a collection of fingernail clippings up on eBay for $2,000,000 and you thinking "Gee, people must really love fingernail clippings these days! I better get some before they're all gone!"

I get it: Pitchfork likes the Bon Iver album. But seems like a weird way to generate hype.

i finally heard Bon Iver today. it's generic folk w psych elements.

how is this so huge? i guess networking.

I had to deal with that logic all the time at the record store, trying to quote people's old collections "What do you mean $3? I saw this record going for $300 on the web!"

I would have to explain that it never actually "went for" that. That there is a difference between what people are willing to spend and what people are asking.

xp

xp

he has a million dollar beard that adds great depth to his muzak

see also The National, Father John Misty, etc., etc.

chin strokey music benefits from quality facial hair

I had to deal with that logic all the time at the record store, trying to quote people's old collections "What do you mean $3? I saw this record going for $300 on the web!"

I would have to explain that it never actually "went for" that. That there is a difference between what people are willing to spend and what people are asking.

xp

― Evan, Saturday, October 1, 2016 12:48 PM (seventeen minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I too have experienced this. Someone cleans out granny's attic and thinks they've struck it rich. "Yes, there are Beatles records worth large sums, but they made a lot of Beatles records, and most of them are not going to sell for enough to buy you that boat you've already picked out."

I partially blame things like Pawn Stars, Storage Wars, Antique Roadshow, etc, for this. Also probably to blame for the fact that it's no longer possible to score a Fender Deuxe at a yard sale for $25. I miss the good old days.

UK newspaper story from a couple days ago in this grand tradition: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/50000-rare-records-been-found-11956305#ICID=FB-MEN-main

is it weird to anyone else that this "news" piece is based on a sponsored post on gizmodo but the pitchfork piece doesn't acknowledge that the original story was sponsored/paid for. they also never link to the actual gizmodo story, which doesn't appear to be on the gizmodo page anymore (probably bc the sponsorship was for a limited time?) but you can still access it here: http://gizmodo.com/watch-two-original-talking-heads-react-to-documentary-n-1786383455.

do people think if they keep re-creating Talking Heads and David Lynch everyone will think they are artistic geniuses?

read this fascinating story about a bunch of actors deciding to pretend to be musicians.

I kind of hate this, but kind of love this?

Although younger male artists are returning to domestic settings in their music, there are few older male artists questioning how their work impacts upon the families they leave behind. It’s borderline inconceivable that a white, male, 40-something artist could bring a refreshing perspective to a traditional genre, but Taylor’s graceful accountability and invigorating songcraft makes him an anomaly. His own dose of perspective arrives at the end of the plainly gorgeous Heart Like a Levee.

Like on one hand it's so woke that it's completely removed from reality, but on the other hand it has unlimited potential to completely piss off total dumbasses

cold of them to throw Sufjan under the bus like that

Ach, they should leave Taylor alone. His wisdom is humble enough and small-scale enough to approach if that's what you're after, or leave well alone if that stuff sticks in your gullet.

don't trust anyone who is still alive after 40

25 is the new 40 and here's why

imagine someone over 40 having any kind of insight into anything

it's easy if you try

haha whiney otm they shouldn't have said "borderline"

how many more years does lil bon iver have before he's put out to the white male pasture

It’s borderline inconceivable that a white, male, 40-something artist could bring a refreshing perspective to a traditional genre

nobody tell them who writes all the pop songs

or made genres "traditional" in the first place

inconceivable perspective that a white, male, 40-something artist brings to Borderline

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzW-GGKyey0

omg i've never heard that before

feels like i'm going to lose my mind

Pitchfork's first "native ad": http://pitchfork.com/features/from-our-partners/9955-10-years-of-apple-music-festival-a-playlist/
The first one that's clearly marked anyway.

2nd apparently but this one was never linked to from anywhere http://pitchfork.com/features/from-our-partners/9885-french-singer-songwriter-lou-doillon-on-love-music-and-how-to-upset-your-boyfriend/

um where did pitchfork.com go

"The domain pitchfork.com is no longer parked by GoDaddy."

It's working fine over here.

I posted it to the other thread but I woke up to hate mail about a review so clearly it is not down for everyone

lol if it was your most recent one, I loved it (my bf is into her and I know nothing abt her so it was a v great intro and explanation)

Even Mering’s less philosophical takes feel distinctly modern. “Be Free,” the song that sounds the most like a waltz

... rmde

It's a fucking awful review

I'm assuming the cover art images for the reviews have recently gotten huge on desktop for everyone else too? But they're not using high res images so it looks terrible.

xp to self The way it wrangles in The Doors is completely senseless, it doesn't seem to understand what's going on musically at almost any point and it spends its second half trying to ascertain just how *kitsch* and *self-aware* the album is like this is pomo class 101 or something, with every piece of art reduced to how neatly it fits Pitchfork's ridiculous kitsch/self-aware house dichotomy and ignored on the grounds of, like, composition, musicianship, emotional intensity etc. I mean, a BNM is cool and all but come the crunch, you gave the review to the intern?

looks like they're starting to phase out track reviews? i see only 4 or 5 posted from this week so far, whereas there used to be 8 or 9 per day.

Good. those track reviews were always so confusing and pointless. even more shoehorning and spinning than the album reviews

you do realize the review was written by a senior editor and not "the intern"

like, I don't care if the review was 1000 words, 999 of which were actually a digression to endorse Donald Trump, that'd still be unnecessary and insulting

you do realize the review was written by a senior editor and not "the intern"

that it was written by a senior editor makes the review even sadder

hahaha god

not as sad as failing to read someone's title, which is right on the fucking page)

er, missing parenthetical should be (but that'd require actually engaging in good faith)

fwiw I did read it. I also know what a waltz is.

not as sad as failing to read someone's title, which is right on the fucking page)

― a self-reinforcing downward spiral of male-centric indie (katherine), Thursday, October 20, 2016 12:40 PM (eleven minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

oh come on