Reason Number 907 Why I’m a Better Journalist Than Everyone Else
Unfortunately, I’m a person who needs to make the same mistake a couple times before I learn. One such mistake is buying Spin Magazine. I sometimes forget, apparently, that I’d like to read about other things than what Pitchfork has already decided is really really trendy right now. This month’s Spin, however, was less of an annoyance and more of a travesty, as it contained this bullshit article:
“Wolf Parade: Animal Collective of Montreal”
Of course, my first reaction was “Wolf Parade, Animal Collective and Of Montreal? Are they touring/recording together? That’s kind of weird and exciting,” followed quickly by, “oh… OH…. THAT’S FUCKING BULLSHIT.”
Seriously, music journalists, what the fuck? I know it’s really easy to say things like “Spencer Krug is the next David Byrne, only Canadian,” or “Panda Bear is the next Brian Wilson, only electronic… and slightly less crazy,” but I have never come across anything that lead me to believe that good writing involved making easy, obvious, and completely inaccurate comparisons.
Let me lay it out for you: Spencer Krug doesn’t have the breadth of style that David Byrne has. Maybe one day he will, but he certainly doesn’t now. Also, Panda Bear doesn’t have Brian Wilson’s talent for melody (or lethargy). He has several other talents, most of which Brian Wilson doesn’t possess, but I really see no similarities other than Panda Bear’s propensity for harmony and the slightly beachy feel of Person Pitch.
≠ 
ALSO, WOLF PARADE IS NOT THE ANIMAL COLLECTIVE OF MONTREAL. AT ALL. Sorry, Steve, but that’s just lazy journalism. I know I’m a little biased seeing as I firmly believe that Animal Collective is the greatest and best band in the world, but they’ve proven time and time again that they are capable of improving and maturing musically with each new project they do, whereas Wolf Parade has proven nothing except that they’ve run out of ideas. Furthermore, they’re completely dissimilar bands with dissimilar styles and dissimilar histories. In short, they have almost nothing in common.
It’s clear to me that this Steve Kandell character can’t tell his ass from a hole in the ground, and probably hasn’t listened to much music not directly related to David Geffen. And while it does give me hope for my future career prospects that hacks like this get paid to write, I can’t just stand by and let him get away with doing a shitty job. Steve, you suck.
Love, Jocelyn.
Posted by Jocelyn
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July 1st, 2008 at 8:14 am
What? I am confused, I thought you really liked Wolf Parade? Your musical tastes change so quickly.
But yeah, Animal Collective is pretty okay.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I do like Wolf Parade, I just think At Mount Zoomer blows. Also, just because I like a band doesn’t mean they’re in any way comparable to Animal Collective.
…pretty okay my ass…
July 1st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Jocelyn is such a conflicted jaded youth. This fast paced world of music has taken its toll. Why can’t writers just get along!?
July 1st, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Wolf Parade haven’t run out of ideas; you’ve just stopped listening carefully (not to mention the half dozen side projects they’re involved in…). AMZ takes about 5 or 6 listens but trust me the effort is worth it, and it’s actually better than Apologies. I also love Animal Collective, but as you say it’s apples and oranges really. In my opinion Krug and Boeckner shit gold though, so I also realize I may be a tad biased…
July 1st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
No, John, I promise I’ve been listening. Perhaps I haven’t been hearing what you’re hearing, but I’ve certainly been listening.
But yeah, I mean that’s my point. You think Wolf Parade shits gold, I think the sun shines out of Animal Collective’s collective animal asses, and nowhere does our love of our respective bands spill over into our appreciation for the other. Like you said, apples and oranges.
July 1st, 2008 at 6:17 pm
i think its purely down to personal preference which band you think is better, but its unfair to say wolf parade are musically inferior based on your own personal taste and response to their new album.
just to throw in my equally biased opinion and not to fan any flames,
to me At Mount Zoomer is a fucking masterpiece equal if not superior to anything by animal collective (although the two are difficult to compare) and while he’s not david byrne, spencer krug does shit gold and seems to have diarrhea right now (if thats not taking the metaphor too far)
July 1st, 2008 at 7:09 pm
LOL
Actually, Nina, that’s taking the metaphor just the right amount of far.
As for Wolf Parade, I really don’t think that they are an inferior band than Animal Collective. They are, however, a relatively new band, and I don’t think they’ve established the kind of artistic credibility that Animal Collective has over the years.
That said, I really do hold by what I said when I reviewed At Mount Zoomer, which is that if they can’t do what they’re doing as well as or better than they did it on Apologies, they need to find a new direction. And I do firmly believe that their propensity for side projects is hurting their quality. But that’s just my opinion.
I do think they have the potential to become a really great band, but they’re just not there yet, if only because they haven’t been around long enough to prove they have staying power.