Search

myStrangerFace It's not very popular.

Cary Clarke

Refresh

Nov 12 Cary Clarke commented on Triumph of the Chill.

This was an insightful and thoughtful piece, and it's nice to see a paper give sufficient space to its Music editorial staff to make it possible, particularly given the local emphasis.

A few thoughts:

Although it's difficult to argue with the fact that technology and the 24-hour news cycle have accelerated the boom-bust aesthetic cycle, I think it's also very easy to have romantic notions about the pace of such things in the past. Seasonal musical fads that burned out quickly have been a core component of pop culture at least since the advent of Rock n' Roll. I think what's changed is largely the ways that the public (formerly critics) frame these trends. No one would have thought to call the Raiders' and Kingsmen's dueling versions of "Louie Louie" a genre, likewise with response songs such as "Hound Dog" v. "Bear Cat." They were just part of a musical dialogue, one whose practitioners and fans, I don't think, would ever have made claims of genre-hood.

I think that arguments about beach imagery and childhood nostalgia being somehow zeitgeisty are interesting, but I think Eric is right to attribute the proliferation of those themes and imagery to the rapid-fire exchange of music through the internet from band to band. Plus, beach songs and bands have been a core element of pop music DNA for decades, and a seasonal revival that brings that strand to the forefront during summertime is kind of appealing to me. On the other hand, I find very few of these "chillwave" bands to my taste, so many of them seeming like unabashed Animal Collective acolytes. I do really dig Best Coast, though.

One point of contention I have, however, is with the notion that the real-time exchange of aesthetic ideas that the internet facilitates (and which is so clearly illustrated by the critical grouping of "chillwave" bands if not necessarily their actual content) makes geography irrelevant. On the contrary, I think that the feedback loop of the online music media shines such a tightly focused spotlight on a handful of musical trends at any given moment that its effects in terms of homogenization are similar to, if rougher-edged than, those of major lables and payola-based radio in their heyday. While internet-based musical communities and groupings are almost inherently based on aesthetic similarities, location-based communities at their best are defined by containing a broad spectrum of stylistic viewpoints belonging to people who work, live and support one another because of sharing a city. Local communities are still the key to heterogeneity and innovation in music, I think. The internet can do good for that too, of course, don't get me wrong, but writers/bloggers (not speaking of Eric here) mistaking seasonal flavors for genres does not.

More...

Oct 23 Cary Clarke commented on Tonight's Project Runway.

Um, *Spoiler Alert* would have been appreciated.

Oct 21 Cary Clarke commented on Moving Around in a Space That Is Free.

As much as fans of her work might be bummed that Honey Owens isn't playing with JOMF these days, they should know that Brian Mumford is one of the great unheralded talents of the Northwest. His work as Dragging an Ox through Water is criminally underacknowledged. Check it out!

Also, as far as tracing the splinters and seemingly diminished jazz soul of JOMF, former band member Jef Brown does absolutely amazing work as de facto leader of the Evolutionary Jass Band.

Dragging an Ox through Water and Evolutionary Jass Band: two of Portland's best-kept secrets, without a doubt.

Oct 20 Cary Clarke commented on The Most Annoying Part of Where the Wild Things Are?.

I agree about the score. I thought the songs were relatively weak in and of themselves, and distracting as a score. In fact, I'll see your Karen O and raise you a bad sound design - I thought the mixing on this film was way off.

Sep 15 Cary Clarke commented on The Culture Candidate.

I'm not sure that there's any lessons to be learned from Portland, where I lived for seven years until last week, on this matter given how poorly per capita arts spending there compares to Seattle's (or really any other major city's) numbers, but it's been interesting and, I have to say, heartening watching a mayor (Adams) who was deeply involved in local arts and culture before his mayoralty continue to work with that interest group once in office.

Adams was Portland's Arts & Culture Commissioner, and he has been essential in the current move in Portland to establish a dedicated local fund for the arts (see the website for the Creative Advocacy Network - www.theartscan.org). Whether or not that goal is viable in the current economy, and whether or not the arts community proves itself up to the task of successfully advocating for itself remains to be seen, but it's exciting to see some real motion and political action taking place around the arts in Portland.

And, yes, I agree that arts and culture should be a platform issue in politics, especially at the local level. I wasn't trying to take a position or editorialize, but I asked Portland's two mayoral candidates about what they'd do for local music and musicians last year in my Mercury column, and there was a pretty clear difference in the two candidates' familiarity with the pertinent issues:
http://www.portlandmercury.com/music/our…

Back to Seattle, I would love to hear someone ask the mayoral candidates about arts and culture issues specifically and get them on record.

More...

Sep 1 Cary Clarke commented on Teenage Jesus & the Jerks' Showbox Date Nixed, But They May Play Another Area Venue.

Wow, very disappointing. I was planning to go. That would have been at least 2 attendees.

Jul 14 Cary Clarke commented on Breakfast Mountain: "J Hollerday".

This track is on the PDX Pop Now! 2009 compilation. Just gotta say so, y'know? It's like a reflex.

Jul 14 Cary Clarke commented on Breakfast Mountain in Seattle.

Breakfast Mountain, along with 47 other bands, will be playing the free, all-ages PDX Pop Now! festival here in Portland the weekend of July 24-26. Schedule is up at www.pdxpopnow.com

Jun 10 Cary Clarke commented on Festivals, Festivals, Festivals!.

If you're looking for an excuse to make a trip to Portland and/or don't have the necessary buckage for Capitol Hill Block Party, PDX Pop Now! 2009 will be taking place down here the same weekend (July 24-26).

As always, this festival of Portland music will be free, all-ages, and feature nearly 50 bands culled from a wide variety of genres. I'm biased, sure, but PDX Pop Now! is always my favorite time in Portland all year.

We'll be announcing the (spectacularly good) line-up in the next week or so.
www.pdxpopnow.com
http://twitter.com/PDXPopnow