Rivers Cuomo Says Weezer Is 'Done'

[Ongie]

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[Ongie]

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[JLBats]

Bands that sell-out make music less and less about art. It becomes a corporate construct that is tweaked, packaged, and shipped out to be consumed... losing its meaning.

Look at what that system has done to Hollywood movies. These monopolizing studios are sending out phony, glossed-up crapfests for the most part... It's usually auteur directors with independent spirit and control that create the lasting artistic pieces. The Scorseses, Wes Andersons, and Francis Ford Coppolas of the world that bring us masterpieces.

So in a nutshell... If you like your music to be paper-thin, easily consumable, and catchy... and that's ALL you want out of it... You won't notice much of a difference between corporate music and independent fare.

However... There are many out there who regard music as something much more... and hate to see dollars get in the way the purity of the process.

Er, like I said, if the MUSIC is still good, who ****ing cares if the band has sold out?

That's so stupid. Led Zeppelin has music playing in commercials. How did having a song in a commercial reduce The Shins in terms of quality?

Yes, there can be a connection. But it is not inherent.

 

[Ongie]

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[PLAS]

Bands that sell-out make music less and less about art. It becomes a corporate construct that is tweaked, packaged, and shipped out to be consumed... losing its meaning.

gee, isn't that what being in a mayor label is all about? having your music tweaked, packaged, shipped out and consumed by the masses? even if it's a little "**** the man in the butt"

Look at what that system has done to Hollywood movies. These monopolizing studios are sending out phony, glossed-up crapfests for the most part... It's usually auteur directors with independent spirit and control that create the lasting artistic pieces. The Scorseses, Wes Andersons, and Francis Ford Coppolas of the world that bring us masterpieces.

you are absolutely right, but don't forget that there's also a lot of crappy independent movies done very halfassed, and also, there's some mayor masterpieces that come out from hollywood too, crap and genius grows in all creative gardens

So in a nutshell... If you like your music to be paper-thin, easily consumable, and catchy... and that's ALL you want out of it... You won't notice much of a difference between corporate music and independent fare.

true dat, but I'm not the person to tell these kinds of things to, but your observation is dully noted

However... There are many out there who regard music as something much more... and hate to see dollars get in the way the purity of the process.

that's exactly the reason why I have been making imusic for the last 12 years, because I love it, otherwise I would have forgotten about it a long time ago

 

[jaguarr]

Artistic integrity and creativity have nothing to do with marketability and sales.

jag

 

[PLAS]

Artistic integrity and creativity have nothing to do with marketability and sales.

jag

exactly

 

[The Chairman]

While I'm a little upset over it, their new stuff sucked, so maybe it was for the best.

 

[PLAS]

I bet there'll be a new weezer album before the next six years

 

[Ongie]

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[sinewave]

List of bands/artists that haven't sold out...
- The Arcade Fire
- Death Cab For Cutie (Despite signing to a major label)
- Bright Eyes
- Ben Folds (Even after his mainstream work)
- Sigur Ros
- Ryan Adams
- Belle and Sebastian
- Franz Ferdinand
- Coldplay
- Bloc Party
- The Arctic Monkeys
- Modest Mouse
- Pavement
- Sufjan Stevens
- Radiohead
- The Decemberists
- The New Pornographers
- The Unicorns
- TV on the Radio
- Regina Spektor
- The White Stripes
- Wilco
- Elliott Smith
- Danielson
- Cursive
- The Faint
- Azure Ray
- Rilo Kiley
- Animal Collective
- The Futureheads
- Imogen Heap
- My Morning Jacket
- Pixies
- Saves the Day
- Anti-Flag
- Reel Big Fish
- Catch 22
- Streetlight Manifesto
- Wolf Parade
- Muse
- Nickel Creek
- Guster
- HelloGoodbye
- Sareena-Maneesh
- Mission of Burma
- Set Fire To Flames
- Godspeed You! Black Emporer
- Copeland
- The Streets
- Cake
- Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
- Armor for Sleep
- At the Drive-In
- The Blood Brothers
- Etc... There are plenty of them out there that I'm not naming at the present.

I don't think any of those bands have changed their sound to become more marketable or accessible.

I think the Faint just signed to a major label.

 

[Ongie]

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[jaguarr]

While I'm a little upset over it, their new stuff sucked, so maybe it was for the best.

Weezer has been crap the last few years, anyway, so it's probably better that they quit while they're ahead and try some new things as individuals.

jag

 

[sinewave]

NOT ANOTHER INDIE CASUALTY .
Weren't The Faint signed with Saddle Creek? Oh well... Hopefully they won't change.

Yup. I live in Omaha and as long as I've been here the Faint have sworn up and down that they'll never sign to a major and will never leave here to move to LA or New York. It looks like they were full of **** like so many other bands. On the plus side, Conor Oberst did just sell his apartment in NYC and bought a really nice house here, so it looks like he's not going anywhere soon.

 

[PLAS]

NOT ANOTHER INDIE CASUALTY .
Weren't The Faint signed with Saddle Creek? Oh well... Hopefully they won't change.

that kind of mentality is what keeps a lot of bands and scenes from truly developing

 

[sinewave]

Weezer has been crap the last few years, anyway, so it's probably better that they quit while they're ahead and try some new things as individuals.

jag

Agreed. The last album of theirs that I bought was the green album and it was shadow of their former work like the blue album and Pinkerton. For me, they stopped existing years ago.

 

[PLAS]

Yup. I live in Omaha and as long as I've been here the Faint have sworn up and down that they'll never sign to a major and will never leave here to move to LA or New York. It looks like they were full of **** like so many other bands. On the plus side, Conor Oberst did just sell his apartment in NYC and bought a really nice house here, so it looks like he's not going anywhere soon.

really, who gives a **** if the faint move to la or if connor oberst buys a house in weslaco ohio?

those things DO NOT affect an artists integrity or output

 

[jaguarr]

that kind of mentality is what keeps a lot of bands and scenes from truly developing

I agree. When artists have to struggle and work sh1tty jobs to make the rent and put food on the table instead of being able to just focus on their music or painting or whatever, their art almost always suffers because they aren't able to focus on it. If they can make a decent living from their art, though, and be able to put their full attention to it, then they have a better chance at longevity and growth as an artist. The whole "sell-out" thing has always been a bunch of bullsh1t in my eyes and quite frankly, I think it's something people who AREN'T musicians or artists seem to be more concerned with than the people actually doing the creating. And I say that as a musician, painter and writer as WELL as a fan of the arts.

jag

 

[sinewave]

that kind of mentality is what keeps a lot of bands and scenes from truly developing

you have to understand this scene, though. the faint, along with other bands like cursive and bright eyes literally built saddle creek records and the entire omaha indie scene. it's their baby. they all had a hand in building up the saddle creek label and made it one of the most successfull indie labels in america. for them to jump ship to a major is kind of a slap in the face to the rest of the scene. they've been an extremely successfull indie band, touring with no doubt and having their songs and videos appear on mtv and in video games and on movie soundtracks. if they were doing that well for an indie band, why screw the people that got you there and the scene and label that you helped build to go on to be a ****e in a coporate stable? it's just disappointing.

 

[Ongie]

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[sinewave]

really, who gives a **** if the faint move to la or if connor oberst buys a house in weslaco ohio?

those things DO NOT affect an artists integrity or output

you can't say if it affects their output until you hear their new major label album. for all we know the label will force them to write certain kinds of songs, rather than what the band itself prefers to make. i guess we'll have to wait and see with the faint. as for oberst, i was just giving an example to his devotion to the scene and label he helped build. it's admirable, but doesn't necessarily affect his music.

 

[sinewave]

I agree. When artists have to struggle and work sh1tty jobs to make the rent and put food on the table instead of being able to just focus on their music or painting or whatever, their art almost always suffers because they aren't able to focus on it. If they can make a decent living from their art, though, and be able to put their full attention to it, then they have a better chance at longevity and growth as an artist. The whole "sell-out" thing has always been a bunch of bullsh1t in my eyes and quite frankly, I think it's something people who AREN'T musicians or artists seem to be more concerned with than the people actually doing the creating. And I say that as a musician, painter and writer as WELL as a fan of the arts.

jag

trust me, the faint don't have day jobs and haven't for years. they've lived off of the money their band generates. that's excellent for an indie band and the reason why i'm questioning their move to the majors.

 

[sinewave]

I'm jealous, indeed. Omaha seems to be an indie hotbed... I'll bet you get a load of great shows.

And in regards to Weezer...

I downloaded "Make Believe" when it leaked online before its release... and when I heard the song "We Are All On Drugs", I knew the Weezer of old had officially died. That song sounds as if it was written by a gang of ******s during a circle jerk. I promptly deleted the rest of the tracks and tried to forget anything was released post-Pinkerton.

It's okay. Omaha's "prime" was a few years ago, but we still have a pretty good scene and yeah, we get some good shows here. I guess I'm pretty lucky.

 

[jaguarr]

trust me, the faint don't have day jobs and haven't for years. they've lived off of the money their band generates. that's excellent for an indie band and the reason why i'm questioning their move to the majors.

Well, they made a decision that they felt fit with their particular vision for the band, which is as much a part of the artistry of what they do as the music is. I'd wait and see what comes of all of it before passing judgement. *shrug*

jag

 

[sinewave]

Well, they made a decision that they felt fit with their particular vision for the band, which is as much a part of the artistry of what they do as the music is. I'd wait and see what comes of all of it before passing judgement. *shrug*

jag

yup. i've never been a big fan of their music. i guess we'll wait and see if their new stuff is any good. honestly, i'm not even sure if the rumor is true, it's just something i heard from somewhat of an "insider" in the scene here. it could all be hocum for all i know.