The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds - Idolator Comments

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

westartedthis — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:41:41 EST

i guess i'm several months too late to comment on this one, but did Beirut really get a "rave" review on pitchfork? the record got a 7.7 which is "good-not-great" territory and Brandon Stosuy said, "...exaggerated expectations shouldn't dissuade anyone from enjoying Beirut's best work..." and, "Beirut's received quite a bit of pre-release buzz. He deserves some of it."

it's fine for pitchfork to be your whipping boy - they certainly need someone to question their influence over who buys what record in any given week - but pitchork and the idolater seem to be of one mind on Beirut, making it a bad example on which to, you know, base your entire mission statement.

westartedthis

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

alliegirlll — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 14:04:55 EST

Back in October of 1985, I submitted a letter that was published in this issue and I would like to view its contents... How do I go about doing this????

alliegirlll

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

AshBC — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 02:50:58 EDT

I only started reading music blogs a few months ago, was absolutely delighted by 'em. Insane about 'em! And then, they all just blurred together...

So yes, I think this is a great idea! A great manifesto. Best of luck with everything.

AshBC

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Kricket — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 17:59:07 EDT

am i late?

Kricket

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

lunalein — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:40:23 EDT

Here's to compounding your "my comment didn't look like it went through" error by...commenting some more.

lunalein

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

lunalein — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:37:28 EDT

You mean indie music blogs are not completely free of hypocrisy and foolish hype? Shut up, I'm dreaming of places where lovers have wings.

(In all seriousness, I foresee myself killing a lot of company time on this site. Hurray.)

lunalein

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

lunalein — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:35:19 EDT

Shut up, I'm dreaming of places where lovers have wings.

(In all seriousness, this looks like fun!)

lunalein

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Hacklestorm — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:20:07 EDT

Sweet! I'm sure the folks hawking the Madonna Brand tracksuit jacket are just chomping at the bit to get at the demographic that yearns to be told what to like.

Hacklestorm

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

QueenofSheba — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 07:17:17 EDT

Hear hear. A music blog that is discerning and not always positive? Shocking!

QueenofSheba

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

mokin — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 04:49:52 EDT

i really wish you had included the song that goes along with that picture as your first mp3.

mokin

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

jeffpardo — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 01:06:39 EDT

This has the potential to be the only music blog that matters. hell yeah. sign me up.

jeffpardo

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

tworedshoez — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:01:41 EDT

I'll agree with you on mellowdrone. Their EPs and live show are so good, but that album was only eh at best. I'd still say they're worthy of the attention they get, but to toss Next Big Thing accolades their way is a bit premature. I'm waiting to see what they do with their next album, and hoping they move more lo-fi instead of keeping their current generic LA rock direction.

tworedshoez

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Spulture — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:37:09 EDT

Can one be both both intrigued and skeptical? I mean, the subject appeals to me and I'm sure it can be entertaining, but I'm pretty sure this is still a music site by pastey white folks--probably even New Yorkers who will be biased towards crappy NY bands. In six months I expect the normal "cooler than thou" attitude.

Spulture

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

whittlz — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:27:36 EDT

kick ass, you guys.

and now I go silent forevermore.

whittlz

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

bingostig — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 18:27:14 EDT

Hopefully the manifesto will stay true. Now if only Gawker Media would return SPLOID the internet would be complete.

bingostig

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Dr. Jerry Donkey Punch — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:44:28 EDT

B-b-b-but Beirut is actually really really good. I know fuck-all about their show in Brooklyn or the apparent blogger backlash. All I do know is that the album is quite wonderful and that I've been listening to it with great joy and frequency over the past few months.

First day fighting the good fight and already so many preconceptions.

Dr. Jerry Donkey Punch

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

westward ho — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:22:33 EDT

woo-hoo! glad you're here. i've been waiting for gawker to add a musical sibling to the family.

(sorry if this is a repost, i've been having trouble with comments lately...)

westward ho

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

westward ho — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:21:15 EDT

woo-hoo! i'm glad you're here. i've been waiting for gawker to add a musical sibling to the family.

westward ho

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Keira — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 17:04:33 EDT

Curiously missing from your Manifesto was how you plan to cover the Beatles, and Beatle-related items, a subject that all young people seem to be intensely interested in. (In the same way those from the 1970s idolized the Dinah Shore of forty years earlier.)

I suggest one possibility which would show the proper disdain would be using only the first letter and last letters of all bands that have animal (or animal pun) names. Thus: A-----s for Animals, B-----s for Beatles, C-------a for Capybara, etc.

Good luck on your new endeavor.

Keira

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Bob Loblaw — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:54:40 EDT

We're a bitter, bitter bunch, amigo.

Bob Loblaw

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

DD4Life — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:51:13 EDT

Wow...so many commentators are already sounding like they're talking down!

DD4Life

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Bob Loblaw — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:45:58 EDT

"What used to be a wildly unpredictable chorus...using an adjective-addled lexicon that's one part Lester Bangs, one part street-person crazy talk."

That's an insanely convoluted sentence, considering its subject--that the average blogger writes like an acid victim with a thesaurus. Don't become the thing that you hate.

Still, I'm thrilled to start reading. Good luck.

Bob Loblaw

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Jorobot — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 16:03:30 EDT

Blogging's still in it's infancy, I say. We're nearly at the point where every music fan will have a blog, and they'll all be on a level playing field. Then, it won't be the individual agenda anymore, but the communal agenda. No more pasty-white-dude cabal.
VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

Jorobot

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Ned Raggett — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:53:37 EDT

I think a list of the bands that you think are more than just ephemeral flashes in the pan would be a good idea.

Call me a cynic but has there been any list of 'ten to watch for!' bands, in any magazine or book or story or whatever, that actually played out perfectly? Kinda best NOT to predict.

Ned Raggett

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

kid icarus — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:47:00 EDT

I've been waiting a long time for this. Sign me up.

kid icarus

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

gmschmidty — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:45:40 EDT

I have seen the future of Rock and Roll, and it's name is Idolator. (holding back laughter)

gmschmidty

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

scientifical_madness — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:40:44 EDT

intriguing manifesto. i will be so happy to read about music without the 'tude of pitchfork and its spawn, and without the ridiculously verbose musings of daytrotter (which started out as endearing, but has gotten a little out of conrol). let's see if it works...

and clare, pitchfork gave justin an 8.1.

what will truly impress me is if you can get egalatarian with the hip hop. pitchfork should just let it go-- they manage to suck all the fun out of it...

scientifical_madness

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

scientifical_madness — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:40:13 EDT

and clare, pitchfork gave justin an 8.1.

what will truly impress me is if you can get egalatarian with the hip hop. pitchfork should just let it go-- they manage to suck all the fun out of it...

scientifical_madness

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Patrick Rapa — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:35:02 EDT

I do like it, the name and the site.
I'll tell you what else I do lator.

Patrick Rapa

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Mo! — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 15:28:20 EDT

I think a list of the bands that you think are more than just ephemeral flashes in the pan would be a good idea. Seriously, I agree with Fluxblog. It's not the bloggers' faults so much as the fickle bohemians (I am trying to avoid the "h" word as much as possible) who prefer the buzz to the bands.

Mo!

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

mark duffy — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:58:06 EDT

excellent logo. horrible name.

mark duffy

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Nicolars — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:44:24 EDT

Ah, that fickle audience. If only they had someone to Urge them to be more discerning in their choices.

Nicolars

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Clare — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:39:14 EDT

If you're so egalitarian, let's hear what you have to say about the new Justin Timberlake record. Be specific and use examples.

(And congrats on opening up shop.)

Clare

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

liverpoolhooligan — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:34:59 EDT

I haven't been to many music blogs before, but I do hear a lot about them (especially the big ones) quite a lot through friends and such so I do agree with you regarding the pimping of bands that don't desearve it (ie Good Charlotte). What bothers me is that in your post you bash these music blogs, but then you state "we'll cover the people who are manufacturing the latest band buzz.." Well, isn't that exactly what these other blogs are doing. Are you just trying to be the blog thats quoted instead of being the blog that quotes others. Honestly what makes you any different then these crap blogs. It just seems that you haven't really spent any real amount of time looking for music blogs, their are plenty out there that not only feature bands that don't suck, but also bands that have no real fanbase outside of their group of friends. These are the blogs people need to be checking out. Your going to hear about these buzz bands whether you like it or not, so why not turn your attention to all the no name bands throughout the world. I do agree with the line "steer you in the direction of a good song or artist", that is what every blog should do. In conclusion, I think that your whole manifesto has left you with no clear direction and has left you with numerouse loopholes to exploite, and will only aid you in embeding yourselves in the 'crap music blog abyss'

liverpoolhooligan

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Greg — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:29:41 EDT

Yay Maura!!

Greg

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Catbirdseat — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:27:35 EDT

I love you.

Catbirdseat

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Ned Raggett — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:24:44 EDT

I just wanted to be the first to specifically say HI DERE WHAT IS IT MADE

Ned Raggett

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Balk — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:22:40 EDT

Thanks, Catherine!

Balk

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Capt.Charlie — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:11:20 EDT

The odd thing is, it all sounds like argument for a professional music critic. But ... when I say, "professional music critic," I'm not talking about someone who simply gets paid; I'm talking about that mythical big-foot-like-critic-creature who actually knows what they are talking about.

Musical quality exits intrinsically in the music itself, but also in the listener. . . so how can one tell the good from the bad from the meh? It takes the development of taste. Enthusiams are fine, but we should all seek the discerning ear for ourselves...

Capt.Charlie

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

catherine — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:08:59 EDT

hi maura! wooh! i think this is going to be my favorite gawker property (not hard to do, though).

catherine

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Matthew Perpetua — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:06:24 EDT

Though I agree that there's a problem, I'm not sure if the blame ought to be placed on the bloggers and Pitchfork writers. It's not their job to be any given act's publicist -- they can write about things enthusiastically (and preferably critically) and draw attention to obscure artists, but they are not running fan sites and should free to move on to other things to keep their sites vital and interesting. The problem often lies in a fickle audience who are too busy second-guessing the coolness of any given artist and stuck in a self-interested loop of bandwagon-jumping and backlashing, and in labels and artists who are thrown into the spotlight without having much of a plan, and don't know how to, or are totally unable to strike while the iron is hot.

Matthew Perpetua

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Mark Graham — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 14:03:28 EDT

Looking for a good first day topic? How about posting a list of these "agenda-pimping bloggers"? That oughta get the Internets goin' nuts.

Mark Graham

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Huxley — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:57:49 EDT

I agree with a bunch of what you are saying, and the Beirut example is a good one. Buuut, generalizing is bad. There are plenty of good music blogs out there that are just happy to share what they are currently digging (see 3hive). Tinymixtapes could be seen as your Pitchfork - minus hipster bullshit. So to say the whole of music blogs are doomed, is just off the wall. Is idolator.com planning on being their saviour or is this more of a point and laugh expose?

Huxley

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

Lawrence — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:48:52 EDT

Wait, we WON'T be talked down to? What kind of music blog is this?

Lawrence

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

MTS — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:35:24 EDT

FREAKIN SWEET.

MTS

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

lindsayism — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 13:11:08 EDT

This post deserves so much more, but all I can think to say is "first, bitches!"

lindsayism

The Idolator Manifesto: America's Disappointing Music Nerds

BrooklynSkiClub — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:05:04 EDT

I love the pic! Where's Booger Presley?

BrooklynSkiClub