Backlashes
How do they start? Why do they start? I hope someone is doing a Pop Conference talk on them. They wax and wane depending on something -- mainstream popularity? Dumb extracurricular stunts? Bad magazine covers? Dumb interview? Money made? What makes it a backlash -- do the critics turn against the artist, or do the fans? Which is worse?
Jenny Lewis is subject to one right now, and it's almost amazing how quickly the Lashes were dissed* -- technically that is too easy, because although their major label LP isn't quite out yet, they've been hamfisting their way through photo shoots for at least three years. Bright Eyes may have had a brief one right before last year's much beloved releases, but seems to be in the middle of a "lash" (the opposite of a backlash)?
What is a backlash?
(*huge kudos to Ryan, who expands on Sasha Frere-Jones' one-word pronouncement on the band (simply: "No") with this poster. In some ways I have a soft spot in my heart for Ben -- we were kids together in Spokane -- but subtlety has never been his strong suit.)
1 comment:
I think the idea of backlash stems from the visibility of the artist. Rilo Kiley were darlings until their major label debut and the No Doubt-esque coverage of Jenny Lewis seemed to eclipse how beautiful her solo record actually is. I'm going to go with the notion that it's critics who turn on the artist and getting the fans to turn on the artist as well.
As far as the Lashes go, they're sort of like My Chemical Romance or Slipknot where they're more image than substance. Not to say that they're a bad pop band,I just think that they're kinda like Winger or Poison for the Myspace generation.
In response to the origin of backlash, someone probably thought it sounded cool.
PS: thank you for the kudos.
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