Collected Thoughts 03-25-09

• Alright. I'm going to see The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at Spaceland next week. I'm extremely distrustful of this band. The critical praise screams "flavor of the year" and as, ya'll know, super-pro vinyl acts earn a groan from His Bloggership.
  
  Here is a band with so many indiepop references and nods to their predecessors that I am reminded of Kevin Smith film characters that name-drop Star Wars for no sensible reason other than to prove nerd cred; the aura PoBPaH are willfully emanating suggests a troubling self-consciousness and calculated image, like something needs proving. (Unaffected vocals! Music video shot on super 8!)
  
  (To their credit, PoBPaH first hit my radar maybe a year ago when Marion Hodges was singing their praises. They impressed a lot of smart listeners before Pitchfork got wind.)
  
  Like all C86-influenced acts (of which there are too many imitators), I am looking for either 1) innovation not imitation or 2) an amazing live energy. If neither is there, I'm unimpressed.
  
  Anyways, I really like a couple of their songs. Most of the songs I've heard are so-so and at this juncture I'd rather listen to The Mezzanine Owls. I've heard mixed things about the PoBPaH live show. If I love their live show I'll probably be pushed into the fan status. File under: "Wants to like, will wait and see."

• Rockville, CA Episodes 5 and 6 are up. (I can't believe I went back. I'm sorry.)
  
  They're not terrible -- or at least, not as terrible as the launch episodes.
  
  Just about everything is a notch or two up above the four launch episodes. Most notably, the music is featured better. During episode 5 I even caught myself being accidentally entertained. I think the "guest character + regular character plot movement" per every episode is the way to go on shortform internet shows.
  
  It's still absurdly removed from the reality of LA indie rock (The ditzy west side girls thought the crowd looked like "Warped Tour extras". Uh, what?) but maybe it's salvageable?
  
  Last thought: I'm pro-legalization and all, but does a Myspace-sponsored show really need to feature two characters smoking weed? And how can these characters have a private conversation in the bathroom without strangers coming in and out?
  

• "Cut with me if you want to live!"

• The killer Egyptian SMS!