Recently, I was with friends, driving through International Drive with "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros playing and the idea came up that I should become a music critic. Although flattered, I'm not sure I would enjoy having that title. I do not believe in music critics.
I do love music and I've been told I have a unique taste. I actually didn't get into music until around 1994, anything else I had heard was just through kids singing pop tunes on the school bus. So, "Whoomp there it is", "Baby Got Back" and "Jump Around" were songs I had heard second hand. By middle school, I was aware of pop music and enjoyed it, but it wasn't until MTV's late night Alternative Nation and VH1's Crossroads that exposed me to the alternative scene. The Smashing Pumpkins, Hootie & the Blowfish, Goo Goo Dolls, Weezer, Dave Matthews and Gin Blossoms were some of the first musical acts I had ever gotten into. In fact, it was "Molly" by Sponge as the first song I ever recorded on video tape and played over and over again.
And over time, my interests would grow, with Counting Crows, Bush, No Doubt and The Wallflowers. Around high school, I made my way into Prodigy, Moby, Fatboy Slim, Daft Punk and other techno and electronic artists. No, I was never into the rave scene, but I did enjoy the music. I might be the only guy who can jam to Trance Power without being inebriated. During my last years of high school, I also enjoyed emo rock like Saves the Day, The Get Up Kids, Dashboard Confessional and The Starting Line.
While in college, I started to get into indie rock acts such as The Shins, Bloc Party, Postal Service and Deathcab for Cutie. I also became a fan of Coldplay and Jack Johnson.
In recent years, I usually find out about music through video games, television ads, Youtube and Pandora. These days, my iPod is usually set to Phoenix, TV on the Radio, Vampire Weekend and MGMT.
So, I know I have an usual taste in music that spans over several genres and brands. One thing that is not on my iPod is country music. I could never get into it. Many times, I just want to drill a hole into my brain when I hear it. Although I do enjoy Johnny Cash and I dug Lady Antebellum before "I Need You Now" became radio overkill. But, I do know that country is popular, my father and several friends can't get enough of it. That is one reason why I know I cannot be amusic critic, for I do not have an open mind for all music like I do with movies and television.
The other reason is that I actually hate music critics. It's my personal belief that no one person can really critique or judge music to the point that it becomes “Don't listen to the Paper Tongues, but do listen to Britney Spears!”. Just like how I can't really push people who hate techno... listen to Cut Copy or Chemical Brothers. Electronic beeps and repetitive lyrics are not music to some. But its the lifeline to others.
Everyone has different tastes in music. Green Day is not The Sex Pistols. Ace of Base is not ABBA. Oasis is not The Beatles. Edward Sharpe is not Johnny Cash. Justin Timberlake is not Elvis. And no one should compare or critique any of those musicians. It just cannot be done.
What I can do is...report on music.
I can tell you about the band, their history, their songs, their albums, where they've come from and where they're trying to go. I can't sway anyone to go out and buy the album or see them in concert. But I can at least introduce you to them, give you a Youtube link and the rest of up to you.
So, let's start tonight. The band is called Foster the People. They are an indie rock band out of Los Angeles, California. The band consists of Mark Foster (vocals and keyboard), Mark Pontius (drums) and Cubbie Fink (bass and backing vocals). They started back in October of 2009. They gained popularity through The Hype Machine and SXSW. At the moment, they only have an EP out, with 3 of their songs available for iTunes purchase. Their upcoming album, Torches, will be released on May 24, 2011.
Their current single, "Pumped Up Kicks", is a song I first heard on 97X out of St. Petersburg, FL. It has a very catchy beat but with somewhat dark lyrics. It reminds me of "Jamie's Got a Gun"by Aerosmith, another popular and catchy song with very dark words. Regardless, it's a song that I have come to love and I play it as I drive out in my car. They are currently on tour as we speak and are scheduled to appear that the 2011 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (April 15, 16 and 17) in Indio, California. . I will leave you with the Youtube video.
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