Comments on: Auto-Tune the News #13

Auto-Tune the News #13

nj_subgenius — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:51:53 -0800

The Gregory Brothers auto-tune Charlie Rangel, Anthony Weiner, Ron Paul, Tinky Winky, and the President to Weezer's Memories (SLYT)

By: nj_subgenius

nj_subgenius — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:56:37 -0800

(via)

By: jnrussell

jnrussell — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:03:58 -0800

By: The 10th Regiment of Foot

The 10th Regiment of Foot — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:04:27 -0800

For the next metaphorical fourteen minutes or so, the Gregory Brothers (with special guest star ____) could just autotune their grandma's podiatrist appointment and acheive viral status on YouTube.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:05:41 -0800

On the one hand, I hate how stupid Weezer has become. On the other hand, this is pretty awesome. On yet another hand, I sort of respect Weezer for recognizing that there's nothing wrong with totally selling out. And, on a fourth hand, Weezer had some great moments, but none of them were really as great as people like to remember.

By: jnrussell

jnrussell — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:13:38 -0800

Weezer had some great moments This is true, and they probably weren't as great as I remember them, but Pinkerton was basically the soundtrack of my adolescence, El Scorcho my anthem.

By: I_pity_the_fool

I_pity_the_fool — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:14:55 -0800

I wonder if the Gregory Brothers get paid by their special guest stars. I hope so.

By: discountfortunecookie

discountfortunecookie — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:26:29 -0800

I've been a big fan of ATtN, but does anyone else feel this is starting to get played out?

By: jb

jb — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:26:50 -0800

The other day I heard their "Double Rainbow" song on CBC Radio. It was a weird meeting of internet famous and rest of the world famous. My mother didn't understand (why I thought it was surprising that they were on the CBC, or why the song is awesome).

By: schmod

schmod — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:31:17 -0800

That was pretty good, but I'm still disappointed that Sarah Gregory keeps getting distracted with her husband and brother-in-law's silly videos. She can really sing well, and I needs me some blue-eyed soul from her... Andrew Rose Gregory is also quite talented. I really wish that the rest of the band would drop the silly shtick, given that they've obviously got the talent to make great music.

By: I_pity_the_fool

I_pity_the_fool — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:32:39 -0800

I really wish that the rest of the band would drop the silly shtick, given that they've obviously got the talent to make great music. I think they probably just enjoy it.

By: Fuzzy Monster

Fuzzy Monster — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:33:02 -0800

Wow. Auto-Tuned Charles Rangel sounds awesome.

By: emelenjr

emelenjr — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:34:31 -0800

About three or four years ago, Andrew Rose Gregory played a solo guitar/vocals set to open up for an old band of mine at the now-defunct Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville. Who knew?

By: Fuzzy Monster

Fuzzy Monster — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:43:44 -0800

I really wish that the rest of the band would drop the silly shtick Yes. Weezer, Ween, They Might Be Giants and any other band with a sense of humor should stop having fun and start making serious music. You hear that, Weezer? If you cut out the humor and really applied yourselves, you could become the next Godspeed You Black Emperor.

By: adipocere

adipocere — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:47:23 -0800

Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks" is weirdly reminiscent of a Weezer that had dropped the faux nerdcore pose they adopted, favoring "Buddy Holly" over "Say It Ain't So" and "Hash Pipe." It's a shame that they decided to become the xkcd of the alt-rock superclade, as awkward in definition as the band is in delivery. One can only imagine that, in between naming albums after themselves, they'll follow up Maladroit with a title like Horn-Rimmed Glasses. I'm still digging through Grizzly Bear's other stuff trying to find that particular sound, but I know not to look to Weezer for it anymore.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:56:20 -0800

This is true, and they probably weren't as great as I remember them, but Pinkerton was basically the soundtrack of my adolescence, El Scorcho my anthem. It's ok if a once-beloved band from one's adolescence becomes stupid. It's part of growing up and a good reason not to get a tattoo related to a favorite band. For example, The Cult's first three albums were the soundtrack to my adolescence. But I'm totally ok laughing at it now and acknowledging that Sonic Temple and Ceremony are really terrible. And I'm glad the soundtrack to my adolescence also included a lot of other music that I'm not embarassed to say I love.

By: nj_subgenius

nj_subgenius — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:56:32 -0800

I don't want to give 'em the keys back! That is all.

By: schmod

schmod — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:58:34 -0800

Yes. Weezer, Ween, They Might Be Giants and any other band with a sense of humor should stop having fun and start making serious music. You hear that, Weezer? If you cut out the humor and really applied yourselves, you could become the next Godspeed You Black Emperor. Arg. Before my original intent gets completely corrupted: They should make whatever music they damn well want to. Right now, it seems like they're selling out with a set of cheezy internet videos, and putting their albumwriting on the backburner, which is a shame, because they've got a talented singer and songwriter amongst their ranks. Sorry if that first comment reeked of musical elitism. Not my intent -- I love The Gregory Brothers, Autotune The News, and all 3 bands you referenced. However, it pains me to see a band restrict itself due to the pressures of popularity. The Gregory Brothers have proven themselves capable of producing excellent music, and also for having a zany/funny persona -- but so far, they haven't really done both simultaneously. _{And believe me. I hate it when musicians take themselves too seriously.}

By: Fuzzy Monster

Fuzzy Monster — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:30:11 -0800

Fair enough, schmod! For a minute there I thought you were advocating the musical equivalent of Synthosaurus taking off his dinosaur suit.

By: The Whelk

The Whelk — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:51:16 -0800

via lore's twitter, I give you The Backin' Up Song. "Apparently I'm like Aquaman, except instead of needing water every 24 hours, I need this video: "

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:52:39 -0800

God dammit I love Anthony Weiner.

By: Copronymus

Copronymus — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:02:18 -0800

Right now, it seems like they're selling out with a set of cheezy internet videos, and putting their albumwriting on the backburner, which is a shame, because they've got a talented singer and songwriter amongst their ranks. They're averaging about 2 videos a month over the last year (and a most of those are two minutes or less). The last Auto-Tune the News was two months ago. The last 30 seconds of the video sure make it seem like they've abandoned all non-auto-tuned endeavors, and they've come out with a lot more videos recently, but I still don't think it's to the point where they're spending more time on this stuff than on less gimmicky music.

By: jnrussell

jnrussell — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:20:41 -0800

I think I need the Backin' Up Song as my ringtone.

By: The 10th Regiment of Foot

The 10th Regiment of Foot — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:54:04 -0800

I was about to shut it down for the day and I decided "what the heck, let's click that Backin' Up link." Now I'm thinkin' I should faint.

By: mullingitover

mullingitover — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:55:23 -0800

A word on "Selling Out": if you're in a band and you don't have a day job, YOUR MISSION IN LIFE IS TO SELL OUT. Selling out means selling every copy of every album you press. I always chuckle/wince when artistic neckbeards wag their fingers at professionals who are trying to put food on their family.

By: The World Famous

The World Famous — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:57:24 -0800

I agree, mullingitover. Once you decide that music/art/whatever is your livelihood, you have sold out - get over it and get to selling.

By: anniecat

anniecat — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:47:47 -0800

I realize this is auto-tuned, but something tells me that President Obama has an excellent singing voice. I really enjoyed his part. I want that to be a full song, like Bed Intruder.

By: anniecat

anniecat — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:49:03 -0800

Wait, is that the Backing Up link you're talking about. I'm going to go find it.

By: waitingtoderail

waitingtoderail — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:31:43 -0800

I realize this is auto-tuned, but something tells me that President Obama has an excellent singing voice. Obama singing Happy Birthday. Yeah. He doesn't.

By: Wuggie Norple

Wuggie Norple — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:22:15 -0800

I think I read somewhere where they talked about whose voices "sang" better. Katie Couric is obviously up at the top and Ron Paul certainly can hit those high notes (along with Joe Biden). Obama, not so musical.

By: pecknpah

pecknpah — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 17:10:55 -0800

Auto-Tune the News #5 is by far the best of the 13, I think.

By: l33tpolicywonk

l33tpolicywonk — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:41:56 -0800

jb: "The other day I heard their "Double Rainbow" song on CBC Radio" You heard it at the end of the season 7 premier of Jonathan Goldstein's WireTap (which was seriously awesome).

By: opsin

opsin — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:47:57 -0800

Auto-Tune the News #5 is by far the best of the 13, I think. I spent much of this evening walking around with it's the, it's the inhalation, it's the smoooo-oooo-ooo-ooooke stuck in my head. Again.

By: empath

empath — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:58:34 -0800

Let's assume that the ATTN guys have an ambition to do 'real music'. Their options aren't realistically to do ATTN or spend all their time making 'real music'. Their options are probably to get a Real Job and make 'real music' on the side or to do ATTN and make 'real music' on the side. All things considered, it's better to make music as your day job if you want to make music. I think doing ATTN is enough, personally. I enjoy the hell out of it and hope they keep doing it.

By: Ian A.T.

Ian A.T. — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:04:23 -0800

What are you guys talking about? Obama has an AMAZING singing voice...

By: kakarott999

kakarott999 — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:47:48 -0800

I really wish that the rest of the band would drop the silly shtick, given that they've obviously got the talent to make great music. Yes, they should totally stop doing the thing that we are all talking about and go back to doing the thing none of us ever heard of.

By: pecknpah

pecknpah — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:19:14 -0800

I spent much of this evening walking around with it's the, it's the inhalation, it's the smoooo-oooo-ooo-ooooke stuck in my head. Again. Haha you're welcome. "God bless America! (eh!)"

By: HeroZero

HeroZero — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:55:00 -0800

Wow. Auto-Tuned Charles Rangel sounds awesome. It's amazing that even autotune can't take the rasp out of his voice.