I agree with this. Attribute it to a lethal combination of every kid thinking they deserve to be a celebrity and the internet allowing them the opportunity. ANYONE can start a music website and have a blog, no matter how far up their own asses they may be. It has seriously hurt legitimate music journalism, which really wasn’t all that great to begin with.

Take music sites with a grain of salt. You don’t know who is writing that stuff. It’s most likely some 16 year old indie snob who thinks ‘alternate tunings’ means you don’t have to know how to tune a guitar.

Hype is generated for the sake of profits. That’s what Chuck D is chastising. Hype would be someone taking this writer’s words (not Dean, necessarily), & proliferating them out of context, repeating them as if they felt the words were true, when in fact they have some self-serving motivation behind it. (I don’t think this is what Dean was trying to do.) Or hype would be making statements about a band that you don’t believe to be true.

Chuck D wasn’t saying “Don’t believe someone’s opinion unless it lines up with most of the world. Or at least one million other people.”

My issue here isn’t with the music (it’s not my cup of tea, but good for you if you dig it), nor is it with AJ’s philosophy to be the best ‘you’ you can be (which seems obvious, but is still overlooked by many bands) — it’s with the assumption of some sites/critics/etc. that their personal tastes either do or should speak for the rest of the planet. It’s incredibly egocentric. Just my own personal beef with people who think they’re god’s gift, I guess.

If they’re truly a ‘world class’ band, time will prove them as such. If not, time will prove Loud & Quiet and similar ’style makers’ to be ignorant, arrogant or both. In the meantime, enjoy listening to what you like and in the words of Chuck D “don’t believe the hype”.

I don’t think this band is overhyped because to people who like this style of music, I wouldn’t be surprised if this really was the most exciting & original band they’re aware of. In this new niche-based market, statements like that no longer apply across the board. Like AJ said, do what you do, be the best at it, & hope you can build a niche there. Trying to be mainstream is passe.

“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion — music is mainly personal taste, after all — but I found it boring at best and annoying at worst.”

My opinion. Nothing more.

And we’re not talking about “most known bands” here, as you suggested. According to the ‘experts’ at Loud & Quiet, we’re talking about “the most exciting and original band in the world right now”. A band of that genius and stature SHOULD be bigger than The Beatles and should SURPASS all those ‘meaningless indicators’ (and if sales numbers are meaningless, why does KOAR post them frequently?).

All I’m saying is that it’s a ridiculous, overblown quote and anyone who wants to defend it should be required to check back on the band in a few years and see how they’re doing. Surely, “the most exciting and original band in the world right now” you would have to have a massive following (mainstream or cult) after five years on the scene, no?

There’s a VAST different between ‘personal favorite’ and ‘greatest in the world’. Those who don’t undertand that shouldn’t be broadcasting their opinions to the masses.

Don’t get me wrong, I have also adopted the policy of being suspicious of anything Pitchfork endorses, but we’re all grown up here; we can form our own opinions. Holding new artists to a standard of meaningless indicators most known bands couldn’t meet does nothing more than make you miss out on opportunities.

‘Great’ is not a genre. Artists are out to create different things should only be judged by how well they execute that vision. Have a trip hop jug band? I don’t care…but be the best trip hop jug band that has ever been and ever will be. Master the jug and all its capabilities. Maybe they will offend your personal sense of structure and melody, but that doesn’t automatically make it bad.

Check back on them in another year, or better yet, five years. If they’re truly “the most exciting and original band in the world right now” they should have a HUGE following, mainstream or cult (ala Radiohead). Otherwise, they’re just another over-hyped band from a scene that seems to praise the stylish and eccentric over the truly talented. Just my .02.

To Jalan (the comment above me), they’ve already made a blip. They’ve sold out 3 big shows in London this month. I tried getting a ticket for one of the shows on ebay but they price got ridiculous. Also, Pitchfork has reports on Crystal Castles all the time, which is amazing for a band that’s only released 2 vinyl singles.

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion — music is mainly personal taste, after all — but I found it boring at best and annoying at worst.