Wait, wait, wait a minute, Serotonein. Think about what you're saying here. Whether or not you like The Lashes music, *NOBODY* can say they're more gimmicky than Radiohead. That band has essentially evolved into a brand name for hipster gimmicks: Thom Yorke's habit of typing messages like he's 13; all those "enigmatic" videos and stills that don't really provide glimpses of songs or insight into the band, but show things like Yorke singing into a microphone in a mannequin head; the oh-so-carefully crafted design/image. Oh yeah, there's that whole thing about giving away "In Rainbows" for free, too, which, come to think of it is certainly the biggest music-industry gimmick of the year, and possibly our lifetimes.
It's only that Radiohead (cleverly) pitches those gimmicks to appear mysterious, sophisticated and smart -- essentially playing on the vanity of every hipster doofus in the world who thinks they're too smart to be tricked into paying attention to a band's gimmicks -- that they're not called out in the same way as The Lashes.
I'm not saying it's even possible to compare The Lashes and Radiohead's music. All I'm onto here is that NOTHING The Lashes have ever, ever, ever, ever, ever done is on par with Radiohead's deep bag of gimmicks. So, write off The Lashes for making funny little posters and its antics, but you're gonna have to take Radiohead out of contention for any sort of credibility when you extend that argument outward.
The Grim said on December 30, 2007:
Wait, wait, wait a minute, Serotonein. Think about what you're saying here. Whether or not you like The Lashes music, *NOBODY* can say they're more gimmicky than Radiohead. That band has essentially evolved into a brand name for hipster gimmicks: Thom Yorke's habit of typing messages like he's 13; all those "enigmatic" videos and stills that don't really provide glimpses of songs or insight into the band, but show things like Yorke singing into a microphone in a mannequin head; the oh-so-carefully crafted design/image. Oh yeah, there's that whole thing about giving away "In Rainbows" for free, too, which, come to think of it is certainly the biggest music-industry gimmick of the year, and possibly our lifetimes.
It's only that Radiohead (cleverly) pitches those gimmicks to appear mysterious, sophisticated and smart -- essentially playing on the vanity of every hipster doofus in the world who thinks they're too smart to be tricked into paying attention to a band's gimmicks -- that they're not called out in the same way as The Lashes.
I'm not saying it's even possible to compare The Lashes and Radiohead's music. All I'm onto here is that NOTHING The Lashes have ever, ever, ever, ever, ever done is on par with Radiohead's deep bag of gimmicks. So, write off The Lashes for making funny little posters and its antics, but you're gonna have to take Radiohead out of contention for any sort of credibility when you extend that argument outward.