So, I was at a bowling alley this past weekend. Late. When no kids were present and drunken douchebagery was highly palpable. And I just have some stuff to say. At risk of sounding like this guy I must say I can't really stand society for too long. That party scene thing. Whether it be at a club or bowling alley (the poor man's club). Especially when there's music being played for the masses. Maybe it's because I was cooped up in an art school for four years but, it kind of makes me want to punch everyone. And I'm a big people-watcher so I notice a lot and some of the stuff I notice is just... it's just... well... ?!

Take, for example, the girl in the next lane and her sorority-bred friends. Not to talk down to drunkenness but, I estimate they were all at a drunken level of about "everything-is-totally-awesome-LOL" — it's just below "I'm-a-fake-lesbian" and right above "guys-I'm-gonna-get-so-wasted-tonight!" To her, every song was "her song". First off, how can that be your song? Secondly, it's a shitty song so what does that say about you? Shitty too? Or oblivious to shittiness? Which is worse? To me, these types are the epitome of why mainstream music is so successful and yet still a complete and utter failure.

But, I really have to hand it to whoever was running the music (in this case — music video). That person was either the epitome of said epitome or the most brilliant (wo)man on earth. That VJ pandered to everyone! There was Run DMC for people who dress like the Bling Bling Era but don't listen to it, Pantera and Tool for the frats covered in tribal — snarky at the only two goths in the place who actually listen to the same stuff as them, Atmosphere for the locally in tune, and some B-52's for whoever the fuck likes the B-52's. It seemed everyone had gotten something they wanted to hear in their night of tossing balls down the alley.

By the way, the first song you thought of for each band above — yeah, that's the song that was played.

I know only a tiny bit about doing the DJ thing and what only took me two seconds to understand was the fact that it really is about pleasing the masses. Everyone has their taste and a lot of tastes are on opposite ends of the spectrum so it's in your best interest to compromise. But how much can DJ's fluctuate with no one's taste? Whether you're at a bar, club, or bowling alley — uptown or downtown — the music is almost always undoubtably mainstream. Just like listening to the radio with more people around and a drink in hand. When is it a DJ's place to play a good tune that nobody's listening to and to what extent? And will people automatically discredit it because it's unchristened by the radio?

I have no idea! I'm just a music snob with a holier-than-thou opinion about everything. Could you tell?

Here is a conversation with Carrie Brownstein, formely of Sleater-Kinney, and Mary Timony about their days (or day) in The Spells. Way back when.

You can listen to some unreleased tracks via the link and even download a couple. Sweet sassy molassy!

Very sad.
More.

It is my strong theory that you can synch up the violin solo of Baba O'Riley* to anything and make it seem ultra-dramatic.

* By the way, look at the URL to the above link closely. Why the hell is it ../Teenage_Wasteland when they specifically point that mistake out in the article.