automatik

Our desperate need for albums to be appropriately ranked without pluralism, subjectivity or shades of grey

I'm out.

I was kind of embarrassed to see that it was written by Sean. Really didn't enjoy the review, but I do want to listen to the album now.

I tend not to read articles that include certain words in CAPITAL LETTERS, because it's usually a good sign that that the author is an idiot and is ranting for lack of a more persuasive writing style. I read this, though, because I'm a fan of Desaparecidos and Bright Eyes. And, just as I suspected, it's a pile of drivel. Yes, Conor Oberst constantly goes on about the relatively inconsequential woes of heartache. So does Morrissey. So does Malcolm Middleton. So do many songwriters, because it's sometimes how they feel, just as it's sometimes how the listener feels. You can't wallow forever but then Conor Oberst doesn't anymore (unlike Morrissey).

The tragic irony is that the author used to listen to Bright Eyes themselves. There are lots of bands I listened to as a teenager that I don't anymore, but that doesn't mean those bands are now redundant to the world. There's a time and a place for abject, self-indulgent misery in music. There really is. And you won't ever succeed in patronising young people into growing out of it until they're ready.