OK, I give up. If you have a band, and you feel the need to rip off Joy Division, then by all means, please do so. Consequently, this also results in a record deal. I'm not going to even be indignant anymore. I'm just going to accept that it's a sign of the times and a by-product of what I will lamely call "The Pursuit of Cool." Let's deconstruct.
The Pursuit of Cool begins very humbly. Usually those involved are branching off of another "cool" movement, going their own way to create a new and different product. These pioneers normally do not achieve a high level of success and the project is typically short lived. A good example of this would be Joy Division. Joy Division broke off from the late 1970s London punk scene to craft a much darker, somber music. Joy Division was short-lived and while they did find some success, it was not until after the suicide of singer Ian Curtis that the band's popularity began to really grow.
Through the 1980s, Joy Division remained "cool," inspiring other "cool" bands to branch off from the somber rock and post-punk movement and create new music and form new movements, most notable of these are the Cure and the Goth Movement.
The cool kids that listened to these "cool" old bands then grew up to start bands of their own to showcase their talents and influences, using the "cool" bands from their past as both inspiration but also as a "cool" springboard to quickly push their band into the consciousness of other "cool" people who liked those "cool" old bands. I will refer to this mimickery, intentional or otherwise, as "cool dropping." Cool dropping, like name-dropping is an effective way to make other people think you are more knowledgeable or cool simply by knowing the proper band names (AKA, what I do here every other day).
This, however, is where the Pursuit of Cool falters. Instead of branching off of the current movement and creating a new sound, these new "cool" bands are simply rehashing musical history and "cool dropping" as a short cut to fame, money and "coolness" as opposed to doing the proper thing by recording music no one will understand for another ten years, not making any money and then committing suicide (which, by the way, is now another form of "cool dropping," thanks Cobain).
So that's it. In case you are wondering, here's the current list of bands unwilling to risk the Quest of Cool:
Interpol, Elefant, She Wants Revenge and the Editors. For the record, this is simply an interpretation. I like Interpol and am currently really enjoying the Editor's The Back Room. But I don't care for the rest of it. And that is also an important part of cool . . . having a completely outrageous double standard.
Website: Editors, Interpol and Suckfest 1 and Suckfest 2
Stuff to Sample: From the Editor's The Back Room "Blood" from Interpol's Antics "Narc" from Joy Division's Substance "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
Update: Just found out that the Editors are signed to Sony BMG. How sad.
I like the fact that you both recognize and condone that outrageous double standard as an integral part of cool dropping.
By the way, I always thought cool dropping was when you took a shit in the snow.
Anyway, I think your ridiculing of ABBA and praise of mid-80s Rush is the perfect example of this practice.
[1] Yes, outrageous double standards are the back bone of cool. But for the record - mid 80s Rush might as well be blonde, Swedish and snow covered shit for all I care. In my book the only good Rush was 70s Rush and 1992 Rush. Anything in between and after (and ABBA) is a crime against humanity.
How's that for a double standard?
You have problems, RFO. I think you need to be like Timmy Treadwell and get eaten by a bear. I bet the last thing that runs through your ginger mind as you hear your femur getting crunched is "Dancing Queen." I, for one, can't think of a better way to cash out. And yes, for the record, the double standard is completely necessary for entry into cool kingdom.
[3] Of course I have problems, why do you think I hang out on the Internet (and with you)?
Also, I think I made it quite clear in my post that the double standard is a necessity of cool (and later reaffirmed it in my comment reply to KW).
Therefore, your nearly verbatim regurgitation of afore mentioned sentimement, though paraphrased, would be considered a solid instance of "Cool Dropping." And while there is nothing wrong with that, it is now up to the other "cool people" to decide whether or not you are cool.
I have decided that you are cool (even though you think I should be eaten by a bear). But, since the double standard is necessary - you are only cool on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. You would also be cool if you were eaten by a bear. Simply being mauled would relegate your cool status to previously mentioned days and every other weekend.
Wow. You've got this cool thing down. So, does that make you cool or are you only cool if you don't really know it or at least deny your coolness to the nth degree? As for my repetition, well, I was just trying to be...cool.
[5] In order to be cool you have to know you are cool while at the same time seeking the approval of other cool people. If questioned, you must deny this and say you are the way you are "because it's your art" or some other queerishly vague answer like that. Then, and this is important, immediatley change the subject to something that is cool and cool drop like your status of being cool depends on it. Because it does.
I think there's a Simpsons episode that could teach us all about being cool, although I can't remember the title of it nor what season it's from. Something about Marge wanting to be cool, and applying logic similar to the one that Fresh espoused on this hallmark of internet quality. Then Bart and Lisa tell their mother that no matter what she does she'll never be cool. Because she's a mother. And mothers (with the exceptions of Angelina Jolie and Debbie Reynolds) are almost never cool.
PS If you need Google to tell you who Debbie Reynolds is you're not cool.
[7] I think the episode you are referring to was from the later seasons, thus making it uncool and not a reliable source for determining cool.