There's got to be a word to describe the Peak Pitchfork Era Bands who released albums this year that no one remembers: -The Decemberists -St. Vincent -Real Estate -Amen Dunes -Bat For Lashes -Toro Y Moi -Of Montreal -Future Islands -Phosphorescent - ThreadSky

ericdharvey.com • 78 days ago

There's got to be a word to describe the Peak Pitchfork Era Bands who released albums this year that no one remembers:

-The Decemberists
-St. Vincent
-Real Estate
-Amen Dunes
-Bat For Lashes
-Toro Y Moi
-Of Montreal
-Future Islands
-Phosphorescent

Comments

mattlemay.com•78 days ago

Serious, non-bitchy question: is it that no one remembers, or that the media ecosystem has shifted enough that we don't see anyone remembering, even if roughly the same number of people actually *do* remember?

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

Yeah I'm being a little glib with the "no one remembers" and my actual take aligns with yrs, to wit 2008-13ish Pitchfork was a big tent that could support...at least *discourse* about this kind of music

robinjames.bsky.social•78 days ago

Non-sleazy indie

kenixfan.bsky.social•78 days ago

Phosphorent -- a band I don't even remember, frankly -- made one of our lists this year. I think that Of Montreal got a pretty bad review from me. The Future Islands is not bad though. http://www.apessimistisneverdisappointed.com/2024/12/top-albums-of-2024.html

digitallandfill.bsky.social•78 days ago

tea

omgnyc.bsky.social•78 days ago

The Jesus Lizard put out their first album since the '90s and practically no one talked about it! I love it!

Also, new record from MGMT totally fell off and no one cared about the Liam Gallagher / John Squire record once the Oasis reunion was announced (and probably before that too)

glassran.bsky.social•78 days ago

I’ll be damned if no one remembers Of Montreal St. Vincent and Toro y Moi. They have bangers tho.

warmwestwind.bsky.social•78 days ago

fuck.

snowman.bsky.social•77 days ago

The Real Estate release is soooo good!

bowiesongs.bsky.social•78 days ago

Was wondering how long the St V fall from critical fortune would last and it seems like it might be long term

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

Yeah I feel like a lot of these artists are residual 2008-2015 "indie" who are kind of mercenaries without a discursive home, St. V would've had a better chance at her latest reinvention/"comeback" from that last one with a more functional ecosystem, maybe?

natepatrin.bsky.social•78 days ago

A damn shame, because I enjoyed it plenty on first listen

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

Yeah I'm still a fan

jtramsay.bsky.social•78 days ago

Have heard her described as Nü Beck and it tracks for me

joehk67.bsky.social•78 days ago

I like her new album. There's a very "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" era P.J. Harvey vibe to it.

malonine.bsky.social•78 days ago

I thought she was still a critical darling? I like her later stuff much more than her angular early work and saw her at the LA Greek Theater this year. Her shows are much more theatrical than you’d expect if you’ve never seen her.

bowiesongs.bsky.social•78 days ago

somewhat, but i think there's been a notable shift in the reception of the last two albums (I like the new one a lot, but think Daddy's Home was a misstep)

trickwastaken.bsky.social•78 days ago

The only think I know about The Decemberists is The Mariners Revenge Song. It’s my go to pick whenever I’m given the aux. Yes I’m a menace. No I’m no longer given the aux.

alshipley.bsky.social•78 days ago

i even forgot vampire weekend released one this year

jackwdenton.bsky.social•78 days ago

Amen Dunes album was a really interesting left turn for him. A lot of gems for "the interlude is the best song on the album"-type-people like me.
(Good @matthewschnipper.bsky.social interview w/him on this that I wouldn't be surprised if you've already read)

lexibabyqueen.bsky.social•78 days ago

St. Vincent album is EXCELLENT. Critically acclaimed and Grammy nominated for a reason!!

joejan.bsky.social•78 days ago

5th wave emo

zachschonfeld.bsky.social•78 days ago

also WHY?

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

I'm not sure, why do you think?

zachschonfeld.bsky.social•78 days ago

The Who's on first, Why?'s on second

wrexweed.bsky.social•78 days ago

Outpaced. The word you’re looking for is outpaced. Culture has outpaced what used to be popular 20 years ago. That’s how it goes.

willgoodey.bsky.social•78 days ago

Somehow this seems even more mealy mouthed than even Peak Pitchfork was.

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

somehow your mom is more mealy mouthed that even Peak Pitchfork was

clem13.bsky.social•78 days ago

“Grow up be a man and shut your mealy mouth. Dial a cliche.”

eweisbard.bsky.social•78 days ago

Too late for this to register but: St. Vincent album is in the top 40 of Album of the Year's list aggregate, that's respect. None of the other bands on your list ever made a good album, IMO, save Of Montreal, who burned out their good will many times over.

natepatrin.bsky.social•78 days ago

"Future Islands never made a good album" is, I'm gonna say, an agree-to-disagree stance there

labelscar.bsky.social•78 days ago

I feel like the Real Estate album still got a lot of chatter from people I follow but you’re spot on with the rest. Forgot a few of these even came out!

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

Yeah that's one of them that completely passed me by, I just learned about it a few hours ago

solace.bsky.social•78 days ago

I’d argue it’s one of their best too if you’re a fan of the band.

cubicbolognium.bsky.social•78 days ago

Who?

amyphillips.bsky.social•78 days ago

Sufjan also released an album this year that no one remembers… 🤣 https://www.hearingthings.co/the-most-depressing-album-of-the-year-is-john-legends-sufjan-stevens-produced-childrens-album/

koala666.bsky.social•78 days ago

Hey now! Justice for the decemberists- I really enjoyed their album and went to their concert earlier this year (and was surrounded by 30-something millennials so…. 😂)

rhinestonemice.wtf•77 days ago

I was a music journalist during the peak of crybaby indie snob music. If too many people liked the music it was no longer cool so it created isolated bubbles of hipsters that people eventually moved on from. +1 a lot of these artists (esp St. V) are still active and killing it.

burningambulance.bsky.social•78 days ago

Obsolete Indie

jyergs.bsky.social•78 days ago

Yeah wow kinda forgot St. V even released one this year. I really like the Future Islands record but yeah I haven’t seen it pop up on any lists

themacattack54.bsky.social•78 days ago

I put “The Tower” by Future Islands on my year-end top 50 list if it means anything. Also put on “Classical” by Vampire Weekend. I think that’s it for Pitchfork-core on my list though. A shift has definitely occurred and modern indie tends to be louder and heavier like Fontaines D.C. or IDLES.

malonine.bsky.social•78 days ago

I call them “established acts” that don’t have to rely on indie critics to exist. It’s kind of like getting married after dating for so many years. What you lose in that hungry energy to “make it” you gain in peace of mind to just create.

robhatchmiller.bsky.social•78 days ago

Let’s call Pavement/GBV etc “elder indie” and this stuff “middle aged indie”

joanpixton.bsky.social•77 days ago

The Decemberists album is incredible. I spin it constantly.

skrt-sqrl.bsky.social•78 days ago

Yeah, I wanted to like almost every single one of these albums and nothing could quite distinguish itself.

vanderhoofy.bsky.social•78 days ago

The Real Estate and Future Islands ones did pretty well among the country set though, due into small part to the fact that Morgan Wallen is himself a huge fan lmao

brianfauteux.bsky.social•78 days ago

There's one future islands song from that album I remember

northerns0ul.bsky.social•78 days ago

The two Amen Dunes recommendation really made my day

danielwbrody.bsky.social•78 days ago

MP3 indie

attackofhubris.net•78 days ago

I was a big Of Montreal fan back in the Gay Parade days. Once they went electronic, they lost me.

johnhunter38655.bsky.social•78 days ago

The Decemberists are somehow nearly a quarter-century into their career. No knock on them, but few bands can sustain their golden era/imperial phase past five years, and fewer still past a decade.

bobbker.bsky.social•78 days ago

Not to play "remember some guys" but Washed Out, Heems, Christopher Owens, and Camera Obscura had records too.(The latter two albums are actually quite good)

forcefieldpr.bsky.social•78 days ago

I was also going to bring up the Caribou and Four Tet records - good records, extremely Pitchfork coded and not on any year-end lists. I think the year end economy just favors the young.

robduffy.bsky.social•78 days ago

Listening to Christopher Owens right now, one of my albums of the year.

bobbker.bsky.social•78 days ago

It’s really good! At the time it seemed like Girls almost existed entirely within P4k’s borders but he’s a genuinely talented songwriter and it sounds like hard luck derailed his career.

robduffy.bsky.social•78 days ago

It’s wonderful to see him happy and doing well. And playing shows! I wish he was playing my town!

gloriousnoise.bsky.social•78 days ago

Where’s that spreadsheet that aggregates all the year-end lists?

oldmanant.bsky.social•78 days ago

Making "Portland Dudes" the music tastemakers for 30 years was a mistake.

sctttnnnt.bsky.social•78 days ago

I liked the Real Estate and Phosphorescent albums, though admittedly not enough to put on an EOY list.

indieartlove.bsky.social•78 days ago

the albums are definitely not bad.
but none are peak.

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

"peak Pitchfork" era not "peak bands"

indieartlove.bsky.social•78 days ago

yes i got that 😏

sweaterpoorlyknit.bsky.social•77 days ago

Several of those are excellent. I wouldn’t expect them to be zeitgeisty though.

rossonradio.com•78 days ago

Combining two words for “dwindie.”

banghazi.bsky.social•78 days ago

Millennial-Dad Rock

marissarmoss.bsky.social•78 days ago

that Phossy album is very good and I have my own thoughts about why it's not been more visible, and none of that has to do with the record itself

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

Please tell me yr writing something about it?

marissarmoss.bsky.social•78 days ago

I wanted to! I think there are some themes here that Matthew confronts....parenthood, leaving behind the idea of being "cool," mortality etc...that played a part. dare I say, themes we more often hear from women about! I think it's an amazing album.

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

putting it on with this in mind...this ^ counts as "writing" lol (and thanks!)

marissarmoss.bsky.social•78 days ago

it's really a wonderful album

gloriousnoise.bsky.social•78 days ago

I wish he’d play more shows!

raypadgett.bsky.social•78 days ago

Yes! Such a beautiful record. Almost spit out my drink when I heard him croon "Phyllis Diller is a cock thriller."

solace.bsky.social•78 days ago

It’s been in my top 5 albums of the year since the moment I first heard it.

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

I'm throwing it on right now (and using "Phossy" going forward)

jasonpwoodbury.bsky.social•78 days ago

"Wide As Heaven" is as good a song as Houck's ever written. A real treat.

marissarmoss.bsky.social•78 days ago

time is a raven with a beak of blood!!!! JESUS

solace.bsky.social•78 days ago

I was at this little solo show he did at a bike shop in Minneapolis almost exactly a year ago and he opened with 3 brand new songs that just floored me: https://youtu.be/wlNH7FQrGo8?si=w6HtWlsdXtmdduiT

jasonpwoodbury.bsky.social•78 days ago

Seriously, the whole thing just kills me. And don't get me started on Amen Dunes' Death Jokes. People will get that record more in decades to come...

solace.bsky.social•78 days ago

When I first heard the record I easily played Impossible House two dozen times in a row. Still feels like a sequel to Dylan’s ‘Most of the Time’ to me.

adamvoith.bsky.social•78 days ago

Record rules. When I go and re-listen to the “popular” Phossy stuff (which is sometimes good) I’m like “uh this new shit is better”

wissewords.bsky.social•78 days ago

Landfill indie.

jeremysteel.bsky.social•77 days ago

another one: Les Savy Fav

graemephillips.bsky.social•78 days ago

lol what?

A bunch of those are great and relevant

auldbendy.bsky.social•78 days ago

Yeah, St Vincent is massive

vieuxquelquechose.bsky.social•78 days ago

It is a massive album as usual, but she is way under the radar in the states. Those who know her tend to worship her. I know I do.

auldbendy.bsky.social•78 days ago

Really? That's wild, she's everywhere in the UK

auldbendy.bsky.social•78 days ago

In a good way, I'm a fan! Her last album was incredible

vieuxquelquechose.bsky.social•78 days ago

ABS peaked at 86 on its first week, but she did score 4 Grammy noms. Top 5 in the UK...

graemephillips.bsky.social•78 days ago

I saw a show on St Vincent’s first ever tour

Just wanted to insert that brag 😆

graemephillips.bsky.social•78 days ago

Toro fans are just mad he doesn’t make the same record over and over.

auldbendy.bsky.social•78 days ago

Yeah, I like them too! And Bat for Lashes, and Future Islands.

graemephillips.bsky.social•78 days ago

That Amen Dunes record is amazing, too. All his stuff is

auldbendy.bsky.social•78 days ago

I'll check them out!

solace.bsky.social•78 days ago

Could probably tangentially add the Dan Boeckner and Sunset Rubdown records as well (the former is fantastic).

catstello.bsky.social•78 days ago

St Vincent is still ver much around and loved still lol

jamiesoncox.bsky.social•78 days ago

the list is screaming "first term Obama" to say nothing of Vampire Weekend (more successful record, still feels like it flew somewhat under the radar) and Washed Out (couldn't even make the cut...)

aladd.bsky.social•77 days ago

“Hope Hangover” Effect might be what @ericdharvey.com is thinking of. Hard to listen to these bands and not see them in light of a very different psychic space. That said, Future Islands and Phos records both hit for me…

charcoalcrow.bsky.social•78 days ago

Oh, I know. Is it milquetoast? Though I will defend St. Vincent and Phosphorescent.

musicdeepdive.bsky.social•78 days ago

Pitchforgotten

fluxblog.bsky.social•78 days ago

Of Montreal is strictly for the freaks now, they were barely for the Pfork audience in the mid 00s

stephen-fine.bsky.social•77 days ago

Wait a second. Am I… am I a freak?

Finally!

robpeoni.bsky.social•77 days ago

Also the “pitchfork audience” became GQ. So, there’s that.

mattsouva.bsky.social•78 days ago

Definitely me telling on myself:

St. Vincent's "Broken Man" is probably my favorite song of the year, and "Joan in the Garden" was thrilling at The Decemberists show in May.

marchogan.bsky.social•78 days ago

i would "like" this, but it hurts. quite enjoyed the Toro y Moi album! "Tuesday" goes

ericdharvey.com•78 days ago

The Toro was a toughie for me...though I was listening to it in Pasadena traffic when I heard "trapped in Pasadena / stuck behind a Prius" so that cemented it in my 2024 canon

radiodead.bsky.social•78 days ago

I think that Amen Dunes record is the one that could have legs!

pattyped.bsky.social•78 days ago

I love the real estate one! Does every song on it sound the same? Yes. And I love it

labelscar.bsky.social•78 days ago

Yeah it’s good but it’s def more of a vibe

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