An Open Letter…
Dear indie music fan,
I’ve always found it irritating when I read one of your best-of lists or mixtape tracklists and I don’t recognize most of the bands. You obviously know something (lots of things, actually) that I don’t know. I don’t like that. I’m supposed to be a bastion of indie knowledge, and quite frankly your lists have made me feel inferior. Despite a brain full of bands that have been mentioned by Pitchfork or spun on WOXY, you have managed to one up me 20-50 times over. Quite honestly, I think you’re a pretentious asshat. We will never be friends.
At least, that’s what I used to think. But I came to a revelation tonight. I’m slowly becoming you. And I have a confession. It feels good. It feels *really* good. I want to show you something. I think it might bring us closer together.
Chutz’s Top 10 Albums of 2008 thus far:
1. The Master’s Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In - Thee Oh Sees
2. Hold On Now, Youngster - Los Campesinos!
3. Who’s In Your Dreams (EP) - Strawberry Whiplash
4. Here Comes the Wind - Envelopes
5. Ten Years Younger (EP) - Bubblegum Lemonade
6. Falling Off the Lavender Bridge - Lightspeed Champion
7. Visiter - The Dodos
8. Little Death - Pete and the Pirates
9. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
10. Migration - Sambassadeur
Do you like that? Who am I kidding? You’re probably scoffing at it. I’m sure *you* know all of these bands, but I think my list shows a true progression towards an advanced indie knowledge. What’s more, only 60% of these have had Pitchfork reviews (that I know of). Independent discovery FTW! Hell, I’ve known about Thee Oh Sees for less than 48 hours and they’re already #1 my list and to top that, I don’t even remember how I learned about them! It could have been a dream for all know. Weird, huh? I know I probably can’t hang out with you because I listed Vampire Weekend, but the year is still young. I’m sure I can learn to hate them with time. Do I at least get some credit for having four Swedish bands on there?
Anyhoo, knowing about stuff that other people don’t know about it pretty sweet. I’m going to try to lord my fledgling super-knowledge over people, just like I learned from you! Maybe we can meet up at the Kimya Dawson concert and ask someone if they like the new Throw Me the Statue album. And then ask if it’s better than the new one from These United States. Naturally, they will look befuddled and we’ll laugh and laugh then mock them mercilessly behind their back. Good times!
Your pal,
Chutz
