Broken Social Scene manages do this kind of breathy, atmospheric, self-indulgent pop without entirely sucking (in fact, I like a few of their songs quite a bit).

The Walkmen however are bad. They make bad music. They are a crappy band.

I dunno, I don't really see the Walkmen as a band similar to BSS, but as some kind of Strokes related thing. They are more interesting than the strokes, but i dont know if they are any better. I very much reccomend this 'side project' done by the guitarist of Broken Social Scene. The band is called 'Apostle of Hustle' and the new CD is one of the best records ive heard in awhile. I would be playing it on my show every week but someone stole it right after i put it out there.

do you know what? this band means almost nothing to me, but that doesn't mean i don't think that they are, well, okay. i saw them live recently, and it occurred to me, ah, patrick, worse things could happen in this world than this: it's not that bad, at the end of the day, to sound like early u2. not crap - no!

ps - how come nobody's mentioned their jonathan fireeater pedigree yet?

segerandpriest wrote:do you know what? this band means almost nothing to me, but that doesn't mean i don't think that they are, well, okay. i saw them live recently, and it occurred to me, ah, patrick, worse things could happen in this world than this: it's not that bad, at the end of the day, to sound like early u2. not crap - no!

ps - how come nobody's mentioned their jonathan fireeater pedigree yet?

NOT CRAP
I was really into Jonathon Fire*Eater and when the first Walkmen disc came out, I bought it as soon as I found out it was people from JF*E. Both bands are excellent. I just wish JF*E wouldn't have cancelled when I went to see them with Skeleton Keys years ago.

not crap

Not Crap. Waffle Factor: High.

I saw them open for Built to Spill a few months ago. I'd say it was the mix that made them sound horrible, but BTS sounded fine. It was as though their set was played through an ancient tweeter. This didn't translate well in a live setting. A few of their melodies are catchy enough. Some of it is pretty grating at times. Good enough 'filler.'

Boy do they kick my ass.

I came across Everyone Who Pretended... in a bargain bin a few years ago, loved it, and got more records and saw them play a few times (including last night @ Metro). I'm blissfully unaware of any contemporary soundalikes or any broader scene they may be part of. I've never read a review of them or an interview with them. I just think they rock (and I love when that happens).

And yeah, there's some kind of Bono/MacKaye/Dylan fusion in the vocals. I like that too.

Funny, this band sounds so much like U2 to me as well.
CRAP.

segerandpriest wrote:ps - how come nobody's mentioned their jonathan fireeater pedigree yet?

Oh shit, really? That sucks--i loved JF*E. I saw the Walkmen live a year or so ago and was bored bored bored. CRAP.

What am i missing that this band gets such the raves from people i consider to have solid musical taste?

DrAwkward wrote:

segerandpriest wrote:ps - how come nobody's mentioned their jonathan fireeater pedigree yet?

Oh shit, really? That sucks--i loved JF*E. I saw the Walkmen live a year or so ago and was bored bored bored. CRAP.

What am i missing that this band gets such the raves from people i consider to have solid musical taste?

Have you heard them recorded? I dunno if I'd like them if I only heard them live. The recordings are really nice. Reverby in a non-cheesy, organic kind of way.