Pitchfork Music Festival 2011: Odd Future

The butthurt contained in this post is off the charts.

You take a lot of things out of context and manipulate them to work from your views without considering those of others. You compare Odd future to Justin Bieber only to later say they are nothing special. I dont recall seeing Bieber stage dive with a broken foot...but I do recall him selling out shows all over the world so I guess it's not too bad you compare them. If you actually listen to the song in which you quoted "Kill people burn sh*t f*ck school" you would see that the song is about not forcing your ideas and beleifs upon others. People like YOU and SCHOOLS are the main establishments that force beliefs and ideas down peoples throats. I mean you fail to look from any other perspective than your own. Although you are a great writer grammatically, and a talented person, you surely fail at analyzing the perspective of others. But I guess that is fine if all of your readers are self centered individuals who always and only consider how they feel.

In interest of full disclosure, Windish is also the agency that books Sound Opinions, so maybe they accomplished the snake eating it's tale.
Yes, I know how I spelled it.

Jim, I went to high school with Cliff Berru and run into him every so often. I can guarantee that, at least ten years ago, he wasn't a bad dude and certainly was no homophobe or misogynist. I don't know whether or not the same can be said about his choice of clients, but quite honestly, I really don't care, because there's an underlying principle: Odd Future is a sh***y act.

Shock music is always around. When I was in grade school, it was Marilyn Manson; but, as Manson showed on the Bowie tribute (or rip-off, depending on your perspective) "Mechanical Animals," he can actually write a hook. When I was in high school, it was Eminem; but songs like "Stan" and "Like Toy Soldiers" proved that, when he's actually got something to say, Em can actually be quite deep and moving. But Odd Future... ::sigh:: I've seen no evidence of either the long-term sense of humor that can sustain a novelty act (like, say, Gwar) nor the talent that can move one out of the novelty arena (think Mercyful Fate). And when the music sucks, who the hell cares about the reaction?

That's why I think it's silly for groups to protest Odd Future. Give it another year, and no one will be paying attention anymore. Odd Future are just another in a long line of bands that shock for awhile and eventually fade away. Or have you forgotten the Mentors? ...yeah, I forgot 'em, too.

"Yes, they indulged in a bit of stage-diving—including crew leader Tyler the Creator, who did it with the cast still on his broken foot. Big deal; so what? It was nothing we haven’t seen Courtney Love do. Or Justin Bieber."

I'm sure you had a big smile on your face as you typed that last little quip, thinking yourself oh so cute and snarky, but Tyler regularly admits to being an adamant Belieber. But no doubt someone like you, with his fingers firmly on the pulse of today's music culture, already knew that.

Swing and a miss.

Your ignorance and obvious disconnect from relevancy is appalling for someone who is supposed to be a music writer. Whenever you write about odd future, it's painfully obvious your entire knowledge is based off of about four of their songs. "Rating for Odd Future: Why bother? It’s just entertainment." Don't ever f****ng say that. be ignorant but don't insult the people who find solace, joy and therapy in these kids. They're doing something for their generation. You're just getting Lester Bangs to roll in his grave

Chris: From my story of June 30: Disclosure: Until recently, I was represented by another agent at the Windish Agency for speaking engagements, but I was unaware that the firm booked Odd Future, and the split was unrelated.

http://www.wbez.org/blog/jim-derogatis/2011-06-30/pitchfork-promoters-me...

lol @ a middle aged guy trying to figure out why kids like what they like, still (not really commenting on this actual write up). You sir have been trolled by Odd Future. I'm not the biggest fan but the kids have talent past all their shock value and will be around for quite awhile.

you completely ignore a packed crowd of kids having the time of their lives. to them—the future—this music is revolutionary. maybe have an open mind next time.

Oh, but you were so WORRIED about the desecration of the festival's good name by the presence of such unprecedented degeneracy! What happened, Jim? Don't you CARE anymore about the poor innocent festivalgoers who, against their will and knowledge, were maliciously and brutally exposed to such horrors? What about all the women who will surely now be Raped and Murdered as a result of Odd Future's endorsement -- nay their irresistible ENCOURAGEMENT -- of various unspeakably vile acts and ridiculously shocking atrocities by anyone ill-fated to enough to wander within earshot?

Whiplash-inducing flip-floppery, or unfathomable false bravado? Doesn't really matter, I guess; either way you're a blathering gasbag.

You still praise Phil Spector and Sid Vicious all the time, and, you know, they ACTUALLY MURDERED WOMEN.

Elitist "music" critics like you are the reason Odd Future and similar independent alternative hip hop (among other genres) acts have and will continue to have an impact on the music industry. And while I will leave you entitlement to your opinion, you should certainly not pretend that you are even remotely aware of the kind of impact that Odd Future has and will have as a musical act.

Tyler's introduction to the Goblin album (which you should probably give a listen to before you run your mouth about Odd Future's mediocrity) includes a verse that "they [critiques like you] want to critique everything that we, Wolf Gang, has ever released... But they don't get it, cause it's not made for them." Consider their audience, young kids that are striving to be rebellious again after music (namely rap) got so diluted and incorporated into society... We (their audience) are the kids that grew up to Eminem ravaging our eardrums with such obscene music that we feared what our parents might do if they knew we were listening. That idea coupled with the "skate-punk-vandal" notion that is seen as so rebellious and anti-establishment, makes for music that allows kids the freedom to be irresponsible again.

And while you, being uninformed as you are, believe this to be the " he current new low in lyrical homophobia and misogyny," their audience sees it as an expression of how they can be unafraid to artistically convey their deepest frustrations and darkest thoughts. Their lyrics, without context, do appear these things, but when you consider the fact that their use of "f*****" and "b****" and "c***" have no grounding in what your personal connotations are for these words, you can understand that they are doing more to break down the prejudice behind these words than to perpetuate them. In fact, if you believe their lyrics to be so homophobic and misogynistic, then I would assert that you are the bigot, since you cannot see past what YOU personally interpret from these words. Oh, and as a side note, their DJ Sydney is a lesbian female, so do better research.

And finally... Their shows are fun as f***, you just didn't want to give it a chance because you are trapped in the box of your preconceptions.

Odd Future is crap. In a year filled with legitimately intriguing hip-hop, from the terrific beats of DJ Quik's Book of David and Curren$y's Weekend At Burnie's to the humble and quality lyricism of Big KRIT's Return of 4Eva, I see no reason why a discerning music listener should spend their time with the degrading lyrics and unremarkable beats of Odd Future and the face of the monster, Tyler. Goblin features some memorable moments, but nowhere in that indulgent mess is true greatness achieved, and nothing of inherent worth is said. Odd Future is the new face of shock-rap, left for dead when Eminem dropped Encore. I see nothing that separates the cult of Odd Future from the Juggalos of ICP; they were even wearing stupid masks at Pitchfork today.

In short: it's a vaguely interesting product supported by half-assed music. I'm not 15, and I've heard more than five hip-hop albums, so I know this is both meaningless and mediocre; I find the latter far more offensive than anything they said on stage today.

Listen Deeper Than The Music Before You Put It In A Box.

"He started to get a bit more specific—“This one’s for the fat guy”—but reconsidered, cutting himself off, and finishing the show."

I'm the fat guy!! This was when Tyler said they only had one more song and looked over to the right side of the stage. I was yelling F*** back at Tyler and he said he was also mad they had to end so he said this one is for the fat guy. Wish someone recorded it or took a picture. lol it was amazing!!

Wow, Robert snagged some amazing shots. Nice work!

Charles B, I really hope that story is true. So awesome.

It's called free speech. You mad bro?

It's funny seeing all the bloggers and adults who try to take everything out of context to use for their own advantage. Odd Future is a bunch of kids living life doing what they want. What about everybody's beloved Steve Harvey? Ever see some of his comedy? But oh, that doesn't matter, it's just comedy right? Same can be same about Odd Future's music, it's fiction. Also, to Brendan and others like him, the people in OF and the people who represent it aren't homophobes, rapist, murderers or anything, it's fiction. You don't go review movies and cry about how there was a murder scene in it. Quit making double standards. Go listen to songs like Bastard, Goblin, Analog, Fish, and Nightmare using RapGenius to get a good understanding.

First of all, whoever did sound for them at Pitchfork sabotaged their set. There's no reason it should've sounded that bad.
Second of all, most of the songs they performed were created before they had any idea how huge they would be. What makes Odd Future so fresh and exciting, especially Tyler, The Creator, is the raw, unfiltered, unpretentious expression of angst. This will never go out of style because it's real and kids will always relate to it. People who consider themselves "serious" or "professional" musicians are extremely conscious of their perceived audience and the way their music will be received. This sucks the life and spontaneity out of their creations and makes them just another mediocre (insert genre) band. These kids, and I emphasize kids, are making this music for THEIR OWN SATISFACTION. That much should be clear. It's not for out-of-touch music critics and politically correct intellectuals. If you don't identify with the Wolf Gang, you're immune to the entire point of their existence.
Why the heck should a band like Superchunk exist anymore? So aging hipsters can relive their glory days? So Superchunk can continue working and earning? There's nothing exciting or appealing about these old fart indie rockers. Pavement was a great band when they were making records, now they're just a classic rock band best enjoyed on album. Their reunion, as the Pixies, is BUSINESS, NOT ART. Once a band has established a critically accepted body of work, they are SAFE TO ENJOY so the cubicle drones can feel okay about listening to it and spending their dough on seeing them live.
"Indie" doesn't mean "independent" anymore. It's just the new word for "alternative rock."
Pitchfork is helping to kill REAL independent music and DIY youth culture.
Odd Future may have a chance of inspiring kids to express themselves without the thought of its critical reception.
Try putting down your iphone for 5 minutes. Can you? Or do you need to see if someone liked your facebook post?
.GOLF.WANG.

I totally agree with what Randy says below. If you want to express your feelings about OF then that's totally ok, everyone has a right to their opinion. But I don't think anyone takes the time to REALLY listen to what their music is saying. Out of context the song "Radicals" that you mention ("kill people burn sh*t f*ck school) sounds pretty bad obviously. But Tyler even says in the beginning and end of the song that everything is fictional. The REAL message is that you should do what makes you happy, and what's right for you. OF is the youngest group of individuals rap has seen in a long time, making their own beats and videos, and stepping outside the box of getting money, as many rappers do now. They are inventive with their lyrics and provide a much-needed reality check to society in general about conformity. They speak for the younger generation who just wants to express themselves; self-expression has always been attacked, and it's time for people to realize that everyone is different, just let people do what they think is right for them. OFWGKTA clearly speaks to people, or they wouldn't have had people lining up 3 hours before Pitchfork even STARTED, let alone had drawn such an excited crowd during their performance. I was there, and their music honestly helps me break out of the ideas that sometimes bind my thoughts. I don't do the things they mention in the song, it's just an escape. They don't want to screw things up, they just want some freedom with their ideas--no matter how radical.