otium cum dignitate

Shock and Awe

Much has been made of the New England Patriots' ridiculous 8-0 start to the 2007 NFL season.  The Patriots aren't just winning easy, they're pounding teams into brutal submission (41.4pts scored/game and only 16pts allowed/game).  Unfortunately, the Patriots, like any hegemon, have begun to incite a significant amount of resentment among players and fans of the NFL.  This week's 52-7 demolishing of the Redskins only added fuel to the fire.

The most controversial play involved the Patriots opting to "go for it" on 4th an 1 in the 4th quarter when the score was already 38-0.  Tom Brady converted the 4th down on a QB keeper, and the Pats went on to score twice more, driving the score up to an absurd 52-0.

Joe Gibbs, the Redskins Coach, decided to take the high ground and refused to openly complain about the apparent disrespect that many saw in the Patriots' late-game tactics.   In a league where injuries and freak turnovers can change a team's fortunes on a weekly basis, most coaches know not to push their luck when things are going well. 

More directly, though, what sense does it make to have Tom Brady and the rest of the starting lineup out on the field with your team up 38-0 in the 4th quarter?  What good can come of such a decision?  Last week, Brady's backup came in late in the game and promptly threw an interception for a TD -- bluntly indicating the difference a good QB makes, even for the mighty Patriots.  Does anyone doubt that this team would become everyone's favorite punching bag were an angry and resentful lineman to "accidentally" fall on Brady's knee in the 4th quarter of an upcoming (and inevitable) rout? 

Apparently, Bill Belichik is willing to take such a risk in order to inflict a pointless embarrassment on his opponents.  If I were a fan of the Patriots, I'd be a little bit concerned that my coach was less interested in the future of the team than in another obligatory touchdown in a week 8 blowout.

Indie Rock: A Bad Mix?

After agreeing to go along with a friend of mine to see The New Pornographers, one of his favorite bands, perform live, I spent the last week or so trying to get acquainted with the band's music so as to enhance my appreciation of the show.  But as hard as I tried to approach the music with a positive attitude, I could not help but acknowledge a recurring frustration that i've felt after listening to some other "indie rock" bands such as The Arcade Fire and TV on the Radio.  It's something I've had a hard time explaining to indie-rock enthusiasts, but this recent article in The New Yorker really seems to nail it on the head:

"And what I really wanted to hear, after a stretch of raucous sing-alongs, was a bit of swing, some empty space, and palpable bass frequencies—in other words, attributes of African-American popular music."

To summarize briefly (and bluntly), the article goes on to discuss the general segregation of white people into rock bands and black people into hip-hop routines - to the detriment of all.  To me, this may be looking for a deeper meaning to a problem that could be alleviated by simply fixing the mix.  In other words, my first impulse while listening to some of the newer "indie rock" music is to boost the bass on my stereo's old-school equalizer.

Obviously, this is an over-simplification, but I feel that many indie rock bands seem overly fixated on the trebles -- vocals, guitars, and other various noise-makers -- while forgetting about the bass and rhythm.  Even though this perhaps makes for a more "heady" sound, it isn't something that really makes you want to move.

Some bands, like The Arcade Fire, can get away with this, as the strength of their melodies and vocals somewhat distract from the lack of bass and rhythmic creativity.  Likewise, I did really enjoy seeing The New Pornographers live last night at the 9:30 club, although it did begin to feel like somewhat of a "sing-along" towards the end.   

I can't help but mention Radiohead's new album "In Rainbows" to sum up this post.  No matter how you rate the new album (I like it a lot), there isn't any doubt that Radiohead is intent on experimenting (and often succeeding) with unique and creative rhythmic variations often at the expense of vocals and melodies.  To me, this is what makes Radiohead so enjoyable to listen to.  The music grabs you immediately -- something that I just cannot always say for the newest "indie rock" bands today.