Music Aug 28, 2015 at 1:59 pm

I Can't Deal With "Downtown" Either, but Can We Talk About Macklemore with a Bit of Nuance?

Larry Mizell Jr.
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Comments

1
anyways, is that or is it not ken Griffey Jr. catching fish?
Wedgwood99 on August 28, 2015 at 3:05 PM Report this
2
The video is aspirational. A vision of how wonderful downtown will be when we finally win the war on cars.
MiddlePerson on August 28, 2015 at 3:06 PM Report this
3
Man that was a mess. There's a whole lotta ambitious ingredients in there (Quincy Jones, Leonard Bernstein, terrible modern indy rock, errr.... John Carpenter) and he just didn't make them blend.
Dougsf on August 28, 2015 at 3:29 PM Report this
4
They had fun making the video. They are doing their work. Mack fans (kids, mostly) will like it. It doesn't bang, but its hard to hate on this. Trying to save that for the folks who truly deserve it...
Sean Kinney on August 28, 2015 at 3:36 PM Report this
5
The video was like a fever dream, chalk full of anything and everything. And much like a fever dream, I was relieved when it ended.

All of that could be forgiven were the song strongly listenable. Unfortunately, however, the song is strongly unlistenable, and almost uncomfortable.
seatownr on August 28, 2015 at 3:40 PM Report this
6
Not bad, but it can't hold a candle to the amazing end-of-day email I sent my boss today. Shit was DOPE
yelahneb on August 28, 2015 at 3:41 PM Report this
7
Oh lordy, brace yourself for the parade of haters!
longball on August 28, 2015 at 3:41 PM Report this
8
@7, with that song and video, tf you expect?
seatownr on August 28, 2015 at 3:49 PM Report this
9
This music confuses me.
Jude Fawley on August 28, 2015 at 3:54 PM Report this
10
@1 Griffey is in the credits.
BusyB on August 28, 2015 at 3:55 PM Report this
11
Nickelbacklemore strikes again!! This video really makes Spokane look awesome, I think many of us will now move there. He made one thing clear, by hanging with the oldest of old school, he legitimizes his rap game...right?! I really cannot deal with the slam poetry style flow he has. AND yes, I am sure he's a great guy, I really do not doubt that. Great to see Jr. Griffey!!
snacktruck on August 28, 2015 at 4:16 PM Report this
13
a whole lotta joy & icons pumped into 4 minutes.... damn fun.

also love that they took the circus & hoopla to film in mighty spoke-a-looza (hometown of Ryan Lewis)

go bulldogs on August 28, 2015 at 4:32 PM Report this
14
Larry, you nailed it.
Amy Kate Horn on August 28, 2015 at 4:33 PM Report this
15
I was a tad bit long, and I thought the choreography was a little Glee-esque, but other than that, it was fine. At least it wasn't the usual recitation of bragged and brand names that most of that genre is.

And I loved the afro. I wish those would come back.
Catalina Vel-DuRay on August 28, 2015 at 4:47 PM Report this
16
Ugh. that should be "braggado and brand names". And it was a bit long, not I. I really need to proof myself better.
Catalina Vel-DuRay on August 28, 2015 at 4:48 PM Report this
17
And what about Petula Clark?
Weekilter on August 28, 2015 at 4:53 PM Report this
18
Oh, it's ... fine. Messy, catchy, too long, not very nourishing, but it's pop music. My poptimistic theater friends will like it, at least the white ones; the others will wring their hands about appropriation until they forget about it entirely; my hardcore friends will shrug and go listen to something else. A hipster or two will kvetch because they have time to.

I would've loved this when it was 1990 and I was 18, and the best thing rock could be was mopey & androgynous and the best thing hip-hop could be was "positive."
thelyamhound on August 28, 2015 at 5:05 PM Report this
19
I wish, and pray frequently, that Larry would move to NYC. I am tired of listening to his god awful show on Sunday nights where he tortures his listeners with three hours of stale hip hop music. If Larry is the preeminent expert on hip-hop then the industry is in real trouble. For the record, I do not even like Macklemore's music, and this Larry chump needs to disappear.
Jtdean on August 28, 2015 at 5:56 PM Report this
20
"Too many tabs open" really is a brilliant way to put it. The music and the video. It really doesn't tie together well at all. Not to mention I watched it two times all the way through and I still can't tell why it's called "downtown" and not "let's talk about scooters" or something.

That said, looks like a shit-ton of fun was had making that video, and I can't help but enjoy that, even if I can't keep up with what's going on. I get the impression that if you hear about a Macklemore video being shot and you just show up in a chicken costume riding a camel, they're gonna put you in it. There did almost seem to be a point to the pensive dude they kept showing standing on the fire escape, but nah fuck it probably not.
beef rallard on August 28, 2015 at 5:56 PM Report this
21
@19 thanks for listening and reading tho

prayers up trick
Larry Mizell, Jr. on August 28, 2015 at 6:28 PM Stranger Staff
22
Reminds me of "Straight Outa Grozny."
Toe Tag on August 28, 2015 at 6:29 PM Report this
23
It will be a hit, but the racist, sexist shiz is gonna keep following him around. His Foxy Shazam friend there with the funny haircut has been into his own trouble with that:
http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/arc…
Yeah You on August 28, 2015 at 6:40 PM Report this
25
One big parade of Seattle Inferiority Complex in this thread. Don't feel threatened. No one's gonna make Spokane so cool that you have to move there to keep up with the other hip(hop)sters. I'm sure there's some long ass German word for feeling bitter about seeing someone else have fun while being successful.
Beartech on August 28, 2015 at 9:03 PM Report this
26
This is pap music.
alanmotley on August 28, 2015 at 10:18 PM Report this
27
~It's not a damn moped~
SteamDawn on August 28, 2015 at 10:55 PM Report this
28
Kids music indeed. Reminded me of something from freaking Sesame Street with maybe a hint of Parents Just Don't Understand era Will Smith. Be interesting to see if Larry's prediction the guy's got something more to offer actually comes to fruition.
mikethehammer on August 28, 2015 at 11:54 PM Report this
30
I don't get the comments about not getting it. Geeus -- I thought it was epic. The creativity that flows out of these guys' brains should be celebrated; not hated. Quite frankly, their videos are the only ones I'm interested in seeing in this day and age. Who wants to look at different rotations of close-up angles of some teen diva for an entire song when you can watch this glorious stuff. Go, MM and RL.
angm on August 29, 2015 at 11:55 AM Report this
31
Yes to all. You deserve a bonus just for "too-many-tabs-open mess" in my opinion.
Grant Brissey, Emeritus on August 29, 2015 at 6:34 PM Report this
33
I was entertained by the video, which is what new singles are primarily judged on these days--right? I'd give it a 6/10: a level of quality that allowed me to watch it through to the end without cringing.
Bigsfrottin on August 30, 2015 at 10:30 AM Report this
34
Go @25, you know it.
LongStory on August 30, 2015 at 10:55 AM Report this
35
I thought it was fun and light-hearted, which is just fine. Loved seeing the old timers and the Michael Jackson-esque jabs - even if those didn't really go anywhere.

However, the fact he kept referring to his "moped" when all but one of those were CLEARLY scooters, is inexcusable. 38 mph on a moped with 2 people riding on it? No.
diggum on August 30, 2015 at 11:56 AM Report this
37
It's cute, and Kool Moe Dee and Eric Nally were great. Who would think Spokane could be cool?
biffp on August 31, 2015 at 5:07 AM Report this
38
Pretty pompous observation. I know people and go to Afro Punk. The interview was scattered with also too may tabs open. Didn't really get your true feelings by the end
Dilly hilly on August 31, 2015 at 10:35 PM Report this

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