Friday, November 13, 2015

The Kids Are Alright -- NOT!!! Part Deux: Those Youngsters From Akron Were Right -- Things Really are Devolving

So I finally figured out why that Echosmith song I posted the other day irks me so much. Apart from the fact that the singer has, in the immortal words of Shelly Fabares on The Donna Reed Show, all the sex appeal of a damp mop.



It's because it's basically this piece of shit, which has been a pop culture annoyance for way too long already...



...updated with a Disney Channel style vocal. And as the guy says in the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre -- there's no need for that.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Melt with You" is a good song. Wouldn't part with their second and third albums. They even used real drums :-)

I usually end up appreciating the youngs discovering an old song, like when No Doubt covered "It's My Life." Totally unnecessary, but put some change Hollis' pocket, and I liked it being on the airwaves.

M_Sharp said...

She's faking it.

FYI- The Echosmith video was preceded by a 2:34 Ford commercial, and the Modern English video was preceded by a 5:24 Siobhan Noir video for "Ride", neither of which can be skipped...

buzzbabyjesus said...

I find both tunes equally loathsome.

I found very little to like in the '80's, mostly due to so-called technological breakthroughs like MIDI, drum machines, Roland Jazz Chorus guitar amplifiers, Yamaha DX-7 keyboards, etc, just like I loathe auto-tune, DJ's, EDM, Line 6 guitar amplifiers, etc of today.

steve simels said...

I liked the chorus effect boxes, but that was about it. HATED the gated drum sound.

Anonymous said...

I'm thankful for the 80's pop culture scene because I hated it so much that it made me dig really deep into music and films from earlier decades. Any decade where U2 and R.E.M. are held up as the ultimate legit "rock" bands has to suck. They're fuckin' wieners. I never wore shoulder pads and had stupid hair either. Or just said no.

Sandy digs I Melt With You and we goof on it in many delightful ways. Truth be told, there are much worse songs from that decade.

The Echosmith girl may need to work on her moves but she could easily model. She's got the raw material to make that a career. She just needs a good corrupting whipping to bring out her inner succubus.

Nice point about Talk Talk and No Doubt earlier, anonymous. I like No Doubt's cover version better. It's got more sex to it.

VR

Mark said...

That sweet-sounding lead guitar riff at 2:12 in on LET'S LOVE does have a ring of Modern English's I MELT WITH YOU, but unlike others, I like I MELT WITH YOU. I just don't want to hear it in intervals of less than two years for the rest of my life.

Moreover, Echosmith's lead singer, Sydney Sierota, looks like she's modelling already -- for Colgate and Noxzema, simultaneously.

And her three brothers, Graham, Noah and Jamie -- yes, this is a sibling act with REAL siblings unlike the Brothers Ramone or Elvis, and jeeeez! The Elvis Brothers were GOOD! Though not technically siblings, like these Sierotas -- are modelling as well. Themselves.

Steve, give 'em a pass. Worse things could and do happen.

And finally, I can't tell you without looking at their position papers, but I'd rather vote for ANY of these four Sierotas than any of the Top Ten current Republican Presidential candidates, and no ... I'm NOT the childhood friend of Ben Carson upon whose belt buckle Carson's blade broke.

Anonymous said...

And then there's is the live raw version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBUMIRJT-sI

VR

Anonymous said...

The bass player's pretty good on that Thunderbird. These guys have potential to be a really kick-ass combo.

pete said...

Interesting that not everyone agrees with you, Steve. Unusual for this site. But I agree with you. To me the real question is: Who decided these guys play the Today show and not the literally 50,000 bands who sound just like them?

steve simels said...

Hell, Pete, half the time I don't even agree with me.

Anonymous said...

Steve, you are the perfect example of why critics and pundits are as useful as the dodo bird. You somehow think that your opinion on any music is somehow superior to anyone else's view on a song, and if someone disagrees with you then they are somehow less gifted than you. You are just a pretentious blowhole that somehow has this delusion that the masses need someone like you to tell them what is worth watching or listening to. I couldn't give a fuck what you think about anything.

Anna said...

Anonymous @ 8:30–well, obviously you did give a fuck, enough to write an obnoxious diatribe instead of just clicking the window shut–advisable next time you feel like this, btw.

Anonymous said...

Pete: I don't think anyone here is endorsing the band. I just like looking for the silver lining. Just because something doesn't fit in my musical pocket, isn't reason enough for me to hate it. Kix are for trids.

Though hardly Murry Wilson and crew, or, The Jackson 5, they're a sibling band managed by dad and will probably wind up as a flavor of the week. If they haven't already. I'm just looking for their strengths. The bass player is alright and his axe looks like Entwistle's from the early Seventies. They are pretty energetic live in spite of the weak, but cute, front-girl.

They got on the Today Show like any other band. Good management, agent, connections and sales. Life ain't fair.

If it all falls apart for Echosmith, I'm sure they could play for worship services at their local kerk.

VR

Anonymous said...

Anonymous:

What's your problem - penis envy? If you're so smart start your own fucking blog!

Capt. Al

Anonymous said...

Ignore that nattering nabob of negativity. Unless it's Steve giving himself a good Dimmesdale-ing, there is no need for concern.

VR