| -Perhaps taking their cue from hipster bands of yore such as The Pixies, a staple in naming your band includes using "The" before the plural noun following. For example, The Hives, The Vines, The Strokes, etc. -In stage presence, these bands evoke the spirit of "classic" bands such as the Rolling Stones (one only needs to watch The Hives� lead singer Pelle Almqvist�s swaggering antics to see he�s channeling a pre-geriatric Mick Jagger). |
| -However, the image behind (or in most cases, glaringly at the forefront of) this music movement is just as crucial in its popularity. The "look" to these bands is an art form of sorts. The moppish hair must be disheveled just so, jeans must be faded and fit with the precision of a glove, t-shirts must relay ironic messages or be emblazoned with rock god in manner of Joe Strummer, sneakers� soles must be worn down to the thickness of Kraft cheese slices, most preferably Converse. Surly attitudes, excessive drinking and smoking are a must. It also helps to have dated Winona Ryder or the like (serial-dating starlets Drew Barrymore or Gwyneth Paltrow also apply). |
| I suppose what is stranger than this musical phenomenon is the drastic change in teenage trends. Gone are the hyper-Americana Abercrombie & Fitch cargo pants, instead kids are wearing beat up Converse sneakers and scarves in 80 degree weather, attire that is normally exclusive to a marginal group of teens found mournfully listening to The Cure in the sanctuary of their bedrooms. The "indie" scene has exploded into mainstream culture, and people are finding that watching black and white films, reading. Nietzsche and listening to vinyl records is a marker of hip. |
| I have yet to decide whether all this is a refreshing change from the plastic assault and meaningless lyrics of Britney Spears, or if it is a thousand times more irritating. For here, it is cool to not acknowledge your efforts. While Britney fans unabashedly hold up signs and cry for their pop princess, this new breed of trendsters -pride themselves in their perfected sneers and snobbish contempt for trend-following sheep. How utterly ironic. So, my final tally? Jack and Meg White. "Stranger than Paradise". Fifteen points for me. |
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| "the moppish hair must be disheveled just so" |
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