Well, this beef meant that I finally got around to actually listening to The War on Drugs album so thanks a lot Mark because, damn yeah, they’re really good!

Is it just me, or is this pretty clearly self-parody?

No one really bats an eyelid when rappers take shots at each other in their lyrics, even when the intent behind the verbal sparring is earnest, because it’s an established part of the culture. But god forbid an indie rock musician does the same in an exaggerated, absurdist fashion clearly intended (stated, in fact) to be in jest.

Don’t think it’s funny? That’s fine. I’m not sure if I find it particularly funny, either.

But what really makes me cringe are the people claiming to be longtime Kozelek fans who feel that his body of work has somehow been severely tainted for them by what is, at worst, an unfunny joke. This is the most absurd, and the most pathetic, aspect of the entire situation, because unlike Kozelek, you guys are sincere.

An artist’s behavior can absolutely affect how I perceive their work, so I understand that part of the equation. But, just as a point of comparison, R. Kelly still has a successful career and seems to be well-received by sites like Stereogum and Pitchfork, even though there is a significant amount of evidence to suggest that he has a history of sexually manipulating and assaulting countless young women. But Koz writes a tongue-in-cheek diss track and his whole body of work is jeopardized?

I can’t help coming away from this feeling like Kozelek’s attitude towards his fanbase of white guys in tennis shoes is somewhat justified–the response to this by some has been characterized by such painful oversensitivity, humorlessness, and a lack of awareness that I would hate to have some of you as my fanbase as well.

Ultimately, I don’t think the joke is really on the War on Drugs at all. They’re essentially a placeholder and could have been any other critically-adored band. The joke is on you guys.

This time tomorrow…’Mark Kozelek releases ‘Perfect Pussy can Suck My Cock’…

Except he keeps using that “off the cuff” remark, then wrote a song about it.

For her own sake, I hope Meredith is never exposed to rap music. I think she would have a seizure at the sheer volume of hyper-aggressive, oft times violent imagery that’s been a hallmark of the genre since its inception. Even worse, most of that music has come from the sorts of long marginalized voices that she seems to be hanging her utopian hopes for the future on.

Human beings are assholes. Artists, in particular, are assholes. Being an asshole isn’t a trait unique to those who are old, or white, or male or “rockist”. I promise you there are plenty of young, black, queer, female artists out there who are raging douchebags with inferiority complexes (see: Azealia Banks). Artists do and always have fought amongst each other, independent of medium, independent of race, independent of time and place. It’s monumentally silly to try to spin this one wholly unexceptional example of a guy being a prick into an epitaph on white male privilege.

I also don’t see how Mark Kozeleck telling a band to “suck his cock” is in some way more “problematic” than Perpetual Think Piece Generating Device Beyonce screaming “Bow down, bitches”.

3. (III)
2. (I)
1. (II)

312 minus 1 (i.e. Alice Glass) equals 311.

Jesus.

Sometimes when I drink myself blind on a friday night and then am worthless until around 11:00 on a saturday morning I’ll grab a breakfast burrito and a bloody mary and loudly declare “Brunch!” in the middle of my sad and empty living room. And then I stare off into the middle distance……….

What were we talking about ?

“The whitest band I’ve ever heard is War on Drugs.” I’m doubled over in laughter, seriously. This isn’t anywhere near as cataclysmic and awful as people were expecting. I think it’s funny, biting, sparse, and indeed, self-deprecating in a way. Classic Kozelek.

My reaction listening to this song

I kind of got the impression that Kozelek was just dicking around and the War on Drugs/Granduciel are probably silent not because they’re trying to be “the bigger man” but because it’s really not a big deal at all.

This article is just lame, you can write personal stuff like that on facebook, but not on supposed-to-be-professional music blog. The best thing Tom could bring up is same old privilige background bullshit?? LAME.

Good god, I have a serious crush on this girl. She’s so insanely fuckable.

oh no, a white man said something that wasnt politically correct

so much oversensitivity here! i expected more from you stereogum, name ly you Michael. come on, threading on eggshells much? Full support of Kozelek here, too much niceties in music anyways! TWOD can suck his dick alright! lol

No misogyny here at all. Just a coincidence that these dudes are ripping this girl to shreds.

g I need help! I love God and I am 8 weeks pregnant with a man that listens to this demonic band. I know I made a mistake by dating and having sex with someone like him but now I don’t know what to do. I think abortion is wrong but am considering having one b/c I don’t want someone like him to father my child. What should I do???