Party Ends

   The other day, while carrying a mound of my wifes clothes around Forever Twenty-one, I heard my beloved I'm From Barcelona's We're From Barcelona not two songs before the slightly less shocking but equally angering CSS's Lets Make Love (and Listen to Death From Above). When did all of this start!?

   I've grown accustomed to fucking buzz-kill Urban Outfitters nearly wringing the coolness out of everything from Hot Chip to Spankrock (The Warning is actually available as an impulse buy at the counter! for God's Sakes!), but I shouldn't have to worry about hearing Uffie while I'm pumping gas, or Yelle blowin' up the Lane Bryant in the mall next door to my local Adidas store. It's not just the OC we have to worry about anymore. And, it's not that I don't want these musicians to be successful, especially when so many of them have been in the game a while and deserve to make some cash. It's just that, there is a  distinctly cheapening aspect to being unceremoniously dropped into an inappropriate setting for people who will either not get it, or who will latch onto it and turn it into something it shouldn't be: it affects the musics dynamic in the world. Much like that fateful day I watched Chan Marshal dance around like a middle aged drunk woman last ACL festival- the music will never be the same again.

(Do you really want these kids to like your music?)

   I knew things were going the wrong direction months ago when, walking through a JC Penny's, past the tween girl's tube-tops, stone washed mini-skirts and Bratz(tm) patent leather stripper boots, I saw a giant video screen blaring the music video for M.I.A.'s Galang, which at the time I hadn't even seen. What I thought was a fluke has now become a growing trend and, though I'm sad to say it, I'm not sure there is anything we can do about it. I implore you, though, don't let the good music go the way of Emo, New Wave, and so many other once respectable genres before it. Hold onto what is great with the strength of ancient Native American eagles talons! Don't let those people have it! Grrrr!

   Anyway, that went nowhere pretty fast. So, yeah, be cautious next time your walking around your local Wal-Mart, cause you never know when you might turn around and see some 14 year old deutsch in a letter jacket and Uggs rocking out to Klaxons or Deerhoof; and if you don't know what I mean now, they'll get one of yours soon enough. Just you wait. Juuuuust you wait...