Anybody know who is opening up for them??
Stellastarr* roll call...
Originally posted by falconetti:Wow, how did you pick up on that factoid? Nice work.
According to their website, Giant Drag is opening.
www.giantdrag.com
And… Giant Drag is not bad. The clips are too short to make an impressive, but the Blunt Picket Fence song is pretty good. It starts out a little draggy, but the music gets more interesting. Hopefully they'll be the 3rd band on the bill and the 2nd bill will be someone like the Arctic Monkeys or Test Icicles.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to this show very much.
Stellastarr* are immediately annoying for a number of reasons. First is the name. It's not Stellastar, or Stellastarr, it's Stellastarr*. There's a little asterisk at the end. And guess what, it kind of looks like a tiny star. A stellar star, you ask? No, a Stellastarr*! Either it's a clever play on words that utilizes a helpless symbol normally reserved for touch-tone phone menu operations, or it's a tribute to a Tennessee Williams character and humorous misspellings.
The second annoying thing is the voice of lead singer Shawn Christensen. It's not bad; there's just something a little bit off. It's as if the band needed to find a replacement for their real singer and grabbed the guy with the most enthusiasm, neglecting to check his vocal chops. One of my music instructors once claimed that my voice had personality because it had a complete lack of personality. Ditto Mr. Christensen.
The third thing that's annoying is the fact that you think you've heard Stellastarr* before. You may not have actually heard them, but you think that you have. They are one of the many bands exported from New York that sounds like a host of '80s bands. They're a clone band, and they don't try to hide that fact, which is commendable. So they sound like a clone of the Killers and Interpol and all the other throwback bands that were inspired by the Cure and New Order and a glut of other new wave bands. Xerox copies of Xerox copies can still get the job done if the copying is expert. Few people complain about Interpol sounding like other bands because they've carved a unique niche for themselves and injected enough originality into their music to demand attention. Stellastarr* sometimes achieve this, but more often, they do not.
The second annoying thing is the voice of lead singer Shawn Christensen. It's not bad; there's just something a little bit off. It's as if the band needed to find a replacement for their real singer and grabbed the guy with the most enthusiasm, neglecting to check his vocal chops. One of my music instructors once claimed that my voice had personality because it had a complete lack of personality. Ditto Mr. Christensen.
The third thing that's annoying is the fact that you think you've heard Stellastarr* before. You may not have actually heard them, but you think that you have. They are one of the many bands exported from New York that sounds like a host of '80s bands. They're a clone band, and they don't try to hide that fact, which is commendable. So they sound like a clone of the Killers and Interpol and all the other throwback bands that were inspired by the Cure and New Order and a glut of other new wave bands. Xerox copies of Xerox copies can still get the job done if the copying is expert. Few people complain about Interpol sounding like other bands because they've carved a unique niche for themselves and injected enough originality into their music to demand attention. Stellastarr* sometimes achieve this, but more often, they do not.
Where did you lift that from, Rhett?
The normally rather generous popmatters.com
http://popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/stellastarr-harmonies.shtml
http://popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/stellastarr-harmonies.shtml
Originally posted by Jaguär:
Where did you lift that from, Rhett?
Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:This is the most absurd part of this whole diatribe. Stellastarr* sounds more readily like the Pixies (at least vocally) then New Order. To say Interpol or - gasp! - the Killers have a more original take on this sound then Stellastarr* is ridiculous.
The third thing that's annoying is the fact that you think you've heard Stellastarr* before. You may not have actually heard them, but you think that you have. They are one of the many bands exported from New York that sounds like a host of '80s bands. They're a clone band, and they don't try to hide that fact, which is commendable. So they sound like a clone of the Killers and Interpol and all the other throwback bands that were inspired by the Cure and New Order and a glut of other new wave bands. Xerox copies of Xerox copies can still get the job done if the copying is expert. Few people complain about Interpol sounding like other bands because they've carved a unique niche for themselves and injected enough originality into their music to demand attention. Stellastarr* sometimes achieve this, but more often, they do not.
Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:It's actually supposed to be lower case "s" - so it's stellastarr*.
Stellastarr* are immediately annoying for a number of reasons. First is the name. It's not Stellastar, or Stellastarr, it's Stellastarr*. There's a little asterisk at the end. And guess what, it kind of looks like a tiny star. A stellar star, you ask? No, a Stellastarr*! Either it's a clever play on words that utilizes a helpless symbol normally reserved for touch-tone phone menu operations, or it's a tribute to a Tennessee Williams character and humorous misspellings.
I'm not sure of the exact details, but they got their name from some girl, Stella Star (obviously), the singer went to high school with. Something about her lying to her boyfriend about being pregnant and him committing suicide. The singer saw it all over the papers and decided to name his band after her.
Meh….Stellastarr is kind of a guilty pleasure for me…haven't heard the new album though.
Originally posted by Wayne, BadSushi Fellatio AFICIONADO:Agreed. And how can stellastarr* be a clone of The Killers if stellastarr* formed in 2000 and The Killers in 2002??
Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:This is the most absurd part of this whole diatribe. Stellastarr* sounds more readily like the Pixies (at least vocally) then New Order. To say Interpol or - gasp! - the Killers have a more original take on this sound then Stellastarr* is ridiculous.
The third thing that's annoying is the fact that you think you've heard Stellastarr* before. You may not have actually heard them, but you think that you have. They are one of the many bands exported from New York that sounds like a host of '80s bands. They're a clone band, and they don't try to hide that fact, which is commendable. So they sound like a clone of the Killers and Interpol and all the other throwback bands that were inspired by the Cure and New Order and a glut of other new wave bands. Xerox copies of Xerox copies can still get the job done if the copying is expert. Few people complain about Interpol sounding like other bands because they've carved a unique niche for themselves and injected enough originality into their music to demand attention. Stellastarr* sometimes achieve this, but more often, they do not.
Originally posted by amnesiac:Exactly. I saw the killers play a 30 minute support slot (and not even direct support) of stellastarr* a few years back. Oh, the revisionist history.
Agreed. And how can stellastarr* be a clone of The Killers if stellastarr* formed in 2000 and The Killers in 2002??
Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:That's such horseshit. What band doesn't sound like another band? And if Stellastarr is xeroxing another band, which band exactly? Seriously, which band sounds exactly like Stellastarr? I would love to know, because then I can go check them out too. And while on this topic, what band out there doesn't sound like any other band?
Stellastarr* are immediately annoying for a number of reasons. First is the name. It's not Stellastar, or Stellastarr, it's Stellastarr*. There's a little asterisk at the end. And guess what, it kind of looks like a tiny star. A stellar star, you ask? No, a Stellastarr*! Either it's a clever play on words that utilizes a helpless symbol normally reserved for touch-tone phone menu operations, or it's a tribute to a Tennessee Williams character and humorous misspellings.
The second annoying thing is the voice of lead singer Shawn Christensen. It's not bad; there's just something a little bit off. It's as if the band needed to find a replacement for their real singer and grabbed the guy with the most enthusiasm, neglecting to check his vocal chops. One of my music instructors once claimed that my voice had personality because it had a complete lack of personality. Ditto Mr. Christensen.
The third thing that's annoying is the fact that you think you've heard Stellastarr* before. You may not have actually heard them, but you think that you have. They are one of the many bands exported from New York that sounds like a host of '80s bands. They're a clone band, and they don't try to hide that fact, which is commendable. So they sound like a clone of the Killers and Interpol and all the other throwback bands that were inspired by the Cure and New Order and a glut of other new wave bands. Xerox copies of Xerox copies can still get the job done if the copying is expert. Few people complain about Interpol sounding like other bands because they've carved a unique niche for themselves and injected enough originality into their music to demand attention. Stellastarr* sometimes achieve this, but more often, they do not.
And sorry to say, but Stellastarr came before the Killers, so if anyone is copping between those two, it's the Killers. As for Interpol, it's fine *now* to say they've carved out a new sound, because they have now released two records and played a thousand shows. Who was saying after Turn On The Bright Lights that they'd carved out their own sound? Noone, it was all a lot of griping about how they were copping Joy Division. In the few songs I've heard from the new Stellastarr album, it sounds like they are progressing and forging their own sound.
Stellastarr has only released one record. They are still developing as a band, and I think eventually they're going to hit the big-time in a big-time way. When I listen to their debut, and think back to the Black Cat show, it reminds me a LOT of the first years of the Smashing Pumpkins. You can argue all you want on whether the Pumpkins were a good band or not, but there's no denying that they hit it big and had a shitload of fans who loved their records. I'm betting that Stellastarr eventually reaches the same level.
The singer's voice is distinctive, to be sure, and it will rub some people the wrong way. But more people are going to be grabbed by it, and it will be the intro to the rest of the music. The same gripe about the vocals can be said about the Pumpkins, Jane's Addiction, Neil Young, the Cure, etc., I'd rather hear unique vocals than generic Killers yelping.
Stellastarr write good songs to which people will connect, as long as the band keeps at it. They've got an art-y vibe, so it will attract the snob types, plus they all look very pretty, which always helps. Based on the Black Cat show, they know how to put on a good show, and the songs are "epic" enough to give them a solid rep as a killer live band.
Okay, the asterik after the name is pretty dumb. But is it any more dumb than putting umlauts over the Husker and the Du?
But then, you didn't write the critique above so this might be just shouting into the wind.
Originally posted by Relaxer:Still haven't decided if I'm going to this or Gang of Four at Sonar. But if Arctic Monkeys are added to the bill, I'll definitely be at 9:30.
Originally posted by falconetti:Wow, how did you pick up on that factoid? Nice work.
According to their website, Giant Drag is opening.
www.giantdrag.com
Hopefully they'll be the 3rd band on the bill and the 2nd bill will be someone like the Arctic Monkeys or Test Icicles.
Originally posted by amnesiac:I completely pulled that out of my ass, by the way. It could just as easily be Inara George or Army of Me.
Originally posted by Relaxer:Still haven't decided if I'm going to this or Gang of Four at Sonar. But if Arctic Monkeys are added to the bill, I'll definitely be at 9:30.
Originally posted by falconetti:Wow, how did you pick up on that factoid? Nice work.
According to their website, Giant Drag is opening.
www.giantdrag.com
Hopefully they'll be the 3rd band on the bill and the 2nd bill will be someone like the Arctic Monkeys or Test Icicles.
Stellastarr has two albums out,actually.
When I heard them, I though they sounded like an inferior version of Rusted Root, who in turn sound like an inferior version of the Talking Heads.
When I heard them, I though they sounded like an inferior version of Rusted Root, who in turn sound like an inferior version of the Talking Heads.
Originally posted by Relaxer:Yeah, I figured. Just wishful thinking…
Originally posted by amnesiac:I completely pulled that out of my ass, by the way. It could just as easily be Inara George or Army of Me.
Still haven't decided if I'm going to this or Gang of Four at Sonar. But if Arctic Monkeys are added to the bill, I'll definitely be at 9:30.
Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:As of 2 hours ago. Most of us cannot give qualified analysis of a band's growth (or lack thereof) on a record we haven't heard yet. I'm sure you could, but still…
Stellastarr has two albums out,actually.
Sorry, I was going on what allmusic said, which was an August 23 release date. I was put off sufficiently by their first album that I need not follow their growth. Finite supply of time and money dictates making a better choice than that, for me.
Originally posted by Wayne, BadSushi Fellatio AFICIONADO:
Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:As of 2 hours ago. Most of us cannot give qualified analysis of a band's growth (or lack thereof) on a record we haven't heard yet. I'm sure you could, but still…
Stellastarr has two albums out,actually.
Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:Rusted Root? The hippy-ish jam band? Are you serious? I realize that everyone is entitled to their own asinine opinion, but that's mind-boggling. Truly truly I say to you now. You need more bran in your life.
Stellastarr has two albums out,actually.
When I heard them, I though they sounded like an inferior version of Rusted Root, who in turn sound like an inferior version of the Talking Heads.
I've only heard stuff off of the first two Rusted Root albums, which sounded like the Talking Heads to me (especially vocally). The second Rusted Root album was produced by Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads. Maybe they became more jammy after that.
Originally posted by Relaxer:
Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:Rusted Root? The hippy-ish jam band? Are you serious? I realize that everyone is entitled to their own asinine opinion, but that's mind-boggling. Truly truly I say to you now. You need more bran in your life.
Stellastarr has two albums out,actually.
When I heard them, I though they sounded like an inferior version of Rusted Root, who in turn sound like an inferior version of the Talking Heads.