R.I.P. Brian Wilson And Sly Stone
R.I.P. Brian Wilson And Sly StoneDigest
The podcast opens by acknowledging the deaths of Brian Wilson and Sly Stone, reflecting on their musical legacies. A discussion follows on the GQ article declaring a "summer of dad rock," questioning whether the term describes a sound or a listener demographic, referencing artists like Cameron Avery, Wednesday, and MJ Lenderman. The hosts then update their album ranking competition, highlighting the challenges of using Metacritic scores due to inconsistencies and fluctuating scores. Listener mailbag segments address the use of Metacritic in the competition, the phenomenon of "stan armies" manipulating reviews, opinions on Title Fight's *Hyperview*, and the proposed "tennis core" music genre, with Pavement and Stephen Malkmus offered as examples. The episode concludes with personal music recommendations, including First Day Back and Beauty Saloon's *BS*.
Outlines
Passing of Icons & Dad Rock Debate
The podcast begins by discussing the deaths of Brian Wilson and Sly Stone and transitions into a debate about the evolving meaning and application of the term "dad rock," analyzing its use in relation to contemporary artists.
Album Ranking & Metacritic's Challenges
The hosts update their album ranking competition, discussing the challenges and inconsistencies of using Metacritic scores, including the influence of "stan armies" on review scores.
Listener Questions: Title Fight, Tennis Core & Music Recommendations
This segment addresses listener questions about Title Fight's *Hyperview*, explores the concept of "tennis core" music, and concludes with the hosts' music recommendations for the week (First Day Back and Beauty Saloon's *BS*).
Keywords
Dad Rock
A term initially used derisively to describe rock music perceived as overly nostalgic and derivative, now often used more affectionately or ironically to describe a genre or style.
Metacritic
A website that aggregates reviews from multiple sources and assigns a weighted average score to albums, movies, and other media. Its methodology is often debated for its potential biases and inconsistencies.
Stan Army
A highly dedicated and often fiercely protective fanbase of a particular artist or celebrity, sometimes engaging in online campaigns to influence public opinion or ratings.
Brian Wilson
Co-founder and principal songwriter of The Beach Boys, known for his innovative and influential work on albums like *Pet Sounds*.
Sly Stone
A highly influential funk and soul musician known for his innovative and groundbreaking work with Sly & the Family Stone.
Indie Rock
A genre of rock music characterized by its independent production and distribution, often featuring experimental and alternative sounds.
Tennis Core
A hypothetical genre of music that reflects the culture and personality of tennis players and fans, characterized by a blend of elegance, intensity, and perhaps a touch of pettiness.
Title Fight
An emo/indie rock band known for their album *Hyperview*.
Album Ranking
A competition where the hosts rank albums based on various criteria.
Music Recommendations
The hosts share their personal recommendations for new music.
Q&A
What are the main criticisms of using Metacritic scores for the album ranking competition?
Metacritic uses a limited number of review sources, sometimes assigns scores to non-numerical reviews, and the number of reviews per album varies greatly, leading to score volatility and potential unfairness.
How has the term "dad rock" evolved over time?
Initially a derogatory term, "dad rock" is now often used more casually or ironically, sometimes even affectionately, blurring the lines between a genre descriptor and a demographic label.
What is the significance of Brian Wilson and Sly Stone's deaths for the podcast hosts?
Their deaths represent the passing of a generation of influential musicians, prompting reflection on their impact and the emotional weight of their legacies.
What are some examples of "tennis core" music, according to the hosts?
Pavement, Stephen Malkmus, and Black Midi are suggested as examples, reflecting the blend of technical skill, intensity, and sometimes abrasive personalities associated with tennis players.
What are the hosts' recommendations for new albums this week?
First Day Back's *Forward* and Beauty Saloon's *BS* are highlighted for their unique sounds and strong songwriting.
Show Notes
This week's Indiecast opens with a tribute to two fallen icons, Brian Wilson and Sly Stone, who both passed away at the age of 82 within a few days of one another (0:00 ). The guys discuss their respective legacies and the influence they have on modern music. They also discuss a recent article on dad rock and how the term now is used to describe any form of rock music (13:07 ). Then they check in on the Fantasy Albums Draft, which Ian is suddenly dominating (21:34 ). In the mailbag, they answer several emails -- topics include the utility of Metacritic, a yay-or-nay verdict on Title Fight, and "tennis-core" bands (28:07 ).
In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks about the SoCal emo band First Day Back and Steven recommends the Chicago indie group Beauty Saloon (51:17 ).
New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 243 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at indiecastmailbag@gmail.com, and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.
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