Case Study #301: "Selling Out"

"Selling out," as defined by Wikipedia (best source in the world, no?), is the compromising of one's integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, 'success' (however defined) or other personal gain. It is commonly associated with attempts to increase mass appeal or acceptability to mainstream society.

In my experience, the most common use of the term "selling out" seems to stem from the music industry. While it makes obvious sense to use it there, I think the term is thrown around much more liberally than it should be. People tend to label a band as a "sell out" at the first sign of a song they don't like. It is definitely most common among so-called "old fans," people who pride themselves in liking the band at the release of the first album and before the band became "popular." I definitely agree that this happens all over the place with bands changing their particular style to generate more fans, make more money, get more radio airplay, etc. But at the same time, I think there's a fine line between "selling out" and changing/ evolving as a band. The problem comes with how do you properly distinguish the two?

For example, if you were to go back and listen to old Red Hot Chili Peppers, you would notice a distinctly different sound than from their recent albums. Does that mean they sold out? They were relatively popular back in the day, but I would argue that their popularity didn't take off until "Under the Bridge" was released. That song was much different than anything else they produced prior. Since then, they obviously kept their rock sound, but also included much slower songs and dropped a lot of their funk from subsequent albums. Therefore, I would argue that they modified their sound, and in turn, became more popular. Why have we never heard any discussions of RHCP "selling out?" I think there are 3 plausible explanations: we are a little too young and probably don't know as many old school fans as we think (maybe we should ask Drama...?), and/or these old school fans have accepted the maturation of the band, and/or since RHCP became arguably one of the best bands of our generation nobody wants to bring it up.

Another band that tends to come to mind is Incubus. Incubus' first EP and LP (S.C.I.E.N.C.E.) are very unique from the rest of their music. You could definitely make an argument that the band was still trying to discover itself during that time, as their second album was released not long after S.C.I.E.N.C.E. However, from there on to the most recent album Light Grenades (which I despise for the most part), I don't think their music has changed dramatically. Their music has definitely gotten softer, and I enjoy their old albums much more than the most recent one. Singles tend to be weaker, sappier, over-produced, and more love song-ish, but does that mean they sold out? I would say no. I would argue that there isn't much difference between their first true hit (Pardon Me) and their last big one (Dig). I think this is a case of a band continuing to evolve, just, in my personal opinion, not for the better.

And now, the most recent case and the purpose for this post: O.A.R. It's a sad sad day when you have to say goodbye to one of your favorite bands. As much as I was furious to see Dispatch break up, its days like these that make me thankful for their decision to separate and leave their memory and roots in tact. I would much rather see a band break up before I watch them slowly sell out like O.A.R. is doing. O.A.R. had already been on my nerves after the most recent album, writing one too may slow and sappy songs (and having pushed these to the radio *cough*Shattered*cough), essentially removing what made them awesome and unique (the sax) from a majority of the tracks, and pushing their songs to every damn commercial and promotion (no matter how unrelated) possible. After hearing the most recent single they released, I have officially put them in the "Sell Out" category. The new song is called "Love is Worth the Fall" and can be found on the Twilight soundtrack. Yup, that rights, the Twilight soundtrack. Don't believe me how shitty it is? Listen to it yourself. Then think, would O.A.R. have released this 10 (or even 5) years ago? No. Go and listen to the new EP they released. Listen to the clips of the "new live" songs available on iTunes (please don't buy it) and look me straight in the face and tell me they haven't changed. O.A.R. has officially gone down the drain. No more jams, no more sax, no more uplifting, happy songs (Nightshift, anyone?). They sould like ever other shitty, studio-run, overplayed, radio pop band. I don't know whether they chose to go down this path or they were pushed to it from their studio. Either way, congrats guys, your fan base has grown to include pre-teen girls and people who don't even know what O.A.R. stands for (Of a Revolution, by the way). You've sold more copies of your recent album than ever before and you're making more money. But you're also losing what made you unique. You're alientating your old fans, but most importantly, you're alienating you're most passionate fans.

It just goes to show you that money can affect even the best of bands if they lose touch with their roots. Would I have done something different? I don't know. I would hope so, but you never know until you're put in that situation yourself. Either way, I hope you're happy with the path you've chosen. It was fun while it lasted; you've been a great band to me over the past 8 or so years and I will continue to jam out to your old albums. But today, it's time to say goodbye and part ways; I wish you the best of luck O.A.R., but do me a favor and don't bother to keep in touch in the future.

1,000 VIEWS! Did we break it?

I woke up today feeling like shit. Two cats apparently decided to fight to the death outside my window last night/this morning at 4:00 AM. And to the majority of people out there that have never heard a cat fight before (not girls clawing each other's clothes off in hot oil), it sounds like a baby crying mixed with the occasional viper hiss. Thinking about it now it really could have been a left-astray baby outside my window that was being attacked by snakes, but either way I was way too tired for something like that and went back to sleep.

Anyways, I digress. I woke up feeling like shit and came into work thinking that today was just a normal Wednesday where I had to take out the trash and sit in my cubicle for the day. But, then I signed on to our awe inspiring blog to check what was new and saw "IT" ...

1,000 VIEWS!!!!!

A kilo, a millennium, the sum of Euler's totient function over the first 57 integers, 1 E+3 views!!!! Despite the awkward glances of my co-workers, I danced around for a while like Michael Jackson and then screamed out like a conquering general, "WE DID IT, BOYS!" But then a thought came to me and I sat down on the spot deep in thought. How can we commemorate such an epic occasion? With Fireworks? BBQ? Beer? Naked Women? A petting zoo? Midgets on unicycles? An aberrant combination of them all? Nothing seemed like it really could capture the monumental achievement that we have accomplished here. That is until I remembered the radio challenges I hear every morning and thought of this:

The first person besides the writers who comments on this blog gets a free giveaway. Thats right! A framed and autographed (probably partly forged) photo of all the bloggers together (probably partly photoshopped). Simply beautiful.

Yeah, lets see if that actually happens. But, who cares if the web-counter is probably just tracking us and ICT - the resume builders! I just write to try and make you guys laugh every once in a while and bicker with pretty much anything any of you say. So as Ghostface Killah once told me, "I just want to celebrate like we just beat trial ... We bout to have a good year!"

come as you are

the halcyon days of summer have come to an end, signaling the start of school. summer's end also marks a full year of living in the pacific northwest.

for me, that has meant 365 days of grunge, sir-mix-a-lot's "baby got back," and jimi hendrix on the radio; 365 days of fresh fish, fruit, and vegetables at the public market; and 365 days of being panhandled.

neither a bustling metropolis, nor a mid-sized city, seattle confronts this identity quandary with an inferiority complex, excessively celebrating even minor accomplishments. (see continued airplay of "baby got back).

as with most cities, neatly categorizing the types of people is unhelpful and the categorizations are most often untrue. yet one cateogry of people sticks out in seattle. when lieutenant colonel frank slade welcomes charlie to the big apple, he yells "welcome to the greatest freak show on earth." seattle, for sure, has a disproportionate amount of freaks. i've seen people dress more bruno (do not know how to insert an umlaut) than bruno (again with the umlaut), i've see a man in cutoff jean shorts and a wifebeater walk his ferret on a leash, and i've seen a woman place her starbucks coffee and nordstrom's bag on the sidewalk, hug a tree and slowly start chanting.

other than myself, this city's largest asset is mother nature. i've spent time in british colombia, the oregon coast, the columbia river gorge, mt. rainier, and the olympic peninsula, and only red rock country in southern utah or the continental divide in glacier national park match the natural beauty of the pacific northwest (none of these areas, however, can give lake tahoe a run for her money). the scenery here is truly remarkable.

i will refrain from further inadequate descriptions of the city and instead invite you to come experience seattle for yourself.

on an unrelated note, we are almost at 1000 page views.

Smile!

Track has been plagued by steroids for years, just like most sports this decade. It will continue and I hope they try to police themselves as much as possible, because it's simply unfair to have cheaters.

Although we may have our suspicions on certain athletes, we must spend our disbelief, like when reading a good piece of fiction. If we are able to watch the recent World Championships in Track & Field as good ole-fashioned races, it is quite possibly the best meet ever.

Usain Bolt is fast, but his smile is infectious. He actually enjoys the process. He is a legend and his talent immense, but it is his immeasurable enthusiasm that makes you want to share his success. And quite frankly, I'm pretty sure that a lot of his success is due in part to his enjoyment of lacing up his spikes.

As we stare in awe at Bolt, track & field is following his lead. Powell now jokes around with Bolt before his race, so does Spearmon, yet these guys are still running personal bests. Although it's good to focus and I respect Tyson Gay for his death stares, I also admire the ability of the other sprinters to understand their place in society and entertain us with their footraces.

We are slowly realizing that we can embrace athletes because they are likeable. We can now ignore the red-eyed drug cheats and the gun toting criminals to party with somebody that can balance at a night at the club with a podium finish.

Author Christopher McDougall addresses this, in his recent book 'Born to Run.' A tribal group from Mexico, the Tarahumara run hundreds of miles in a couple of days. They don't run with a firm training plan or because they are forced into it; instead, they run because they love it, they love to smile and feel the footfalls. Although they may often run in a competitive spirit, they do it good naturedly and for the love it.

Berlin has done a good job making track & field a sport to love. They have a visible mascot that has been goofing around with Bolt and giving piggy back rides to other gold medallists. Sometimes the sport and running can be grueling. But if we all take a step back, it's worth smiling.

After winning the 400 meter hurdles, Kerron Clement stands atop the podium atop the entire stadium. In years past, it has been mostly business and paycheck for these athletes. But Clement's teeth betray his overwhelming feeling of joy that I've never seen before. Track has always been an embodiment of the different facets of life, and this year's championships remind us that despite the adversities we face, we need to dream and smile.