i don't know how familiar any of you all are with hipster runoff, but its a joke site .. for the most part. i mean it is written in internet slang and classifies hipsters as altbros, entry level alts, etc. anyhow, this animal collective post is amazing. however, its too long to post, so here are some highlights:
http://www.hipsterrunoff.com/2009/01/animal-collective-is-a-band-created-byforon-the-internet.htmlone part of this super long analysis:
?I h8 AnCo because the people who like Animal Collective are s00 annoying.?
After understanding the internet-era and the pressure for bands/labels to create these non-profit lifestyle brands, you can now begin to explore the ?types of fans who love Animal Collective.? They are probably a sampling from the absolute worst type of people to ?talk about music.? In their world, music is the most important art form, and Animal Collective is the master of the arts. Animal Collective shits on everything else, whether or not is art. Most of the most ardent Animal Collective fans are ?failed creative-types? who have convinced themselves that they ?could have made the music that Animal Collective made? if they ?just saved up some money to buy ________(type of instrument).?
These are Anco fan stereotypes:
a) the bros who are waaay too connected to ?new bands? and ?music news? and ?whatz goin on? in the world of independent music
b) bros who ?don?t care about what?s going on in the altmusicsphere? because they ?only care about how music makes them FEEL?
c) bros who pretend to only care about judging music based on ?how it sounds? but secretly check P4k rankings on a weekly basis to construct what they ?like? based on how they perceive the masses are digesting new content.
I feel like the most annoying thing about Animal Collective fans is their ?evangelistic? tendencies. It?s kind of like a ?cult? that is asking you to ?trash your pre-existing tastes and experiences when it comes to music, and join the AnCo army.? To them, Animal Collective is a band that satisfies ?what they are looking for in a band? from a musical and social perspective. They have told themselves that in their perfect version of society, every one will participate in communal sound sessions. Every sound ever made in this perfect society will be recorded, and later used in a meaningful song. We will all have animal/weird names and be inducted into THE ANIMAL COLLECTIVE at sundown on Sunday nights. We will sacrifice humans who do not appreciate our society.
ANNNND...
SWOT ANALYSIS on AnCo
Strengths:
* Conceptual
* U don?t really know what they are singing about (in a good way)
* they sound ?good?
* They are a well-implemented brand
* Core audience of evangelists
* They have the internet perception economy on their side
* ?nice guys?
* meaningful album art
* ability to create LEAK DEMAND
Weaknesses:
* The sing a lot about fatherhood but might not have that many fans who are fathers
* Don?t play enough songs from ?their most recent album? at shows
* too experimental?
* Too much LEAK buzz when they are not on a Lil Wayne level yet
* They all live in different parts of the world
* They rule the world (they used 2 rule the world) -the coldplays
Opportunities:
* Less Avey Tare?
* More Panda?
* License more songs for commercials
* Come out with a 6 song EP per 6 months and ?stay relevant? forever
* The death of jam bands and festival and the rise of jam bands at festivals
* Starting a mini record label that exploits bands that have a similar aesthetic to build an economy for ?nontraditional music?
* Record deal with the iTunes LBL
* play at the Obama inauguration
* We will never know if they are ?not good? any more or if they are just ?too much? for our mainstream ears.
Threats:
* What happens if Avey Tare / Panda leave the band?
* They might get ?disenfranchised? with the ?music scene?
* They will focus on their families and take a 10 year break
* Geologist will make a solo album that ?kinda sux? and ruins the brand
* Deakin is better than the current 3 members of anCo
* Hype Backlash in 2k11
* Getting ?too progressive? before our ears are ready for it
* turning into ass holes who care too much about ?social change.?
