who is Bob Lefsetz?

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There’s plenty of money if you get mindshare. But you want to give up mindshare?

tylerw, Friday, 20 November 2015 16:50 (eight years ago) link

Oh wow, that Adele piece is seriously fucking ignorant. How dare one of the biggest selling artists of the decade, one of the last major performers whose fans are actually willing en masse to invest in a CD, LP or full album download, maker of one of the handful of genuine "Event Albums" of the year, elect to not go to a streaming platform right away!

Boz Scaggs was Adele back in 1976 (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 20 November 2015 19:03 (eight years ago) link

I was inundated with e-mail about this act Adele. At first listen I loved her, then when I downloaded all the tracks I realized that she was just a bit too jazzy for me. But I applaud where she’s coming from. But although she’s a smash in the U.K., I seriously doubt she can make it big here in America. Because she’s FAT!

feb. 21, 2008

h/t digital music news

fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 25 November 2015 15:18 (eight years ago) link

brutal, what a huge piece of shit idiot

bricc baby hitlo (Whiney G. Weingarten), Wednesday, 25 November 2015 15:23 (eight years ago) link

First and foremost, mindshare. It’s nearly impossible to get in today’s cluttered, cacophonous society. Used to be you got on radio and then MTV and you reached everybody. Now, except for Adele herself, no one can do this. Quick, sing a 1D song! You can’t, but they just won big on the AMAs. And you can pooh-pooh that awards show, or you can just admit that music has changed. It’s not that you’re old, it’s just that the biggest acts are niche and if you’re not one of them, god help you in making a living.

Boz Scaggs was Adele back in 1976 (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 27 November 2015 23:59 (eight years ago) link

haha no just kidding you're old

Larry Elleison (rogermexico.), Saturday, 28 November 2015 06:17 (eight years ago) link

So I was wondering what the heck this one was after these past few days of him being rightly trashed.

http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2015/11/25/broken-together/

And...I don't know, it's like a combination of nakedly confessional fucking up in a post-divorce/midlife crisis way that somehow is a big build-up to saying this towards the end:

"That’s the name of the song, “Broken Together.” It’s by Christian rock band Casting Crowns, whose name I knew but whose music I was unfamiliar with."

But seriously, this essay is like Emo Mitch Albom run rampant. Which should say something.

Ned Raggett, Saturday, 28 November 2015 14:15 (eight years ago) link

We all want to be touched. Metaphorically and physically.

I don't have the time or energy to make a counterargument (stevie), Saturday, 28 November 2015 14:20 (eight years ago) link

Seems like he's angling for David Brooks' spot.

the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Saturday, 28 November 2015 14:29 (eight years ago) link

I imagine the part about '...your ass falls...' isn't part of the Casting Crowns song, and that makes me sad.

Boz Scaggs was Adele back in 1976 (C. Grisso/McCain), Saturday, 28 November 2015 15:06 (eight years ago) link

haha tooting my own horn here but my fake lefsetz adele post on ned's facebook wasn't too far off:

This isn't the old days, stars don't last the way they used to. There's no more Jackson Brownes, no more Bruce Hornsbys...nowadays it's keep moving -- or die. If you're not the Next Big Thing, you're yesterday's news. Adele better wake up, because the new world of streaming music is a fast lane that -- in the words of Don Henley -- will "surely make you lose your mind."

Sure, there are still a few senior citizens that will log on to iTunes to pay for music -- or worse yet, go to Target and buy a CD. But they are dying - and dying fast. Today's listeners need it now and they need it for nothing. This is a generation that's too busy Snapchatting and sexting to even notice that you've released an album. In fact, most of todays music consumers have literally never seen a television. It's not about selling music, it's about selling a lifestyle that they want and you have. If you don't get it, you're just another loser hawking antique teakettles from a park bench in Pittsburgh.

Amira, Queen of Creativity (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Saturday, 28 November 2015 15:12 (eight years ago) link

But seriously, this essay is like Emo Mitch Albom run rampant.

tuesdays with mopey

Why because she True and Interesting (President Keyes), Saturday, 28 November 2015 15:43 (eight years ago) link

well done UMS. pitch perfect.

husked, tonal wails (irrational), Saturday, 28 November 2015 17:12 (eight years ago) link

three weeks pass...

People gravitate to one winner. Hear anybody championing their Samsung Galaxy recently? Everybody’s on an iPhone, with iMessage. And if you’re about to send me hate mail telling me I’m wrong, I hope you like your low income no friends lifestyle, because all the winners are on the Apple platform, and you keep saying you want to win…

(please no long guns of any kind) (Eazy), Wednesday, 23 December 2015 17:36 (eight years ago) link

what a fuckin asshole

Artists are two-faced. Taylor Swift can refuse to be on Spotify but is all over YouTube, what’s up with that? Have the courage of your convictions Tay Tay.

Amira, Queen of Creativity (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 23 December 2015 17:43 (eight years ago) link

So I’d like to say I watch every episode of “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee,” but it’s not that funny. Turns out Larry David was the genius. He’s even referenced herein, with the Prez talking about playing golf with Mr. Enthusiasm, who wears enough sunscreen to have it dripping from his ears. How can it be that an irreverent schmuck can play golf with the most powerful man in the world? That’s what happens when you hang it out completely, when you’re unworried about judgment, people cling to you. That was the essence of John Lennon. Could Larry David be the next Lennon? Think about it.

denies the existence of dark matter (difficult listening hour), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 05:54 (eight years ago) link

Lefsetz is really operating at a consistently mindblowing pitch right now

tremendous crime wave and killing wave (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 10:28 (eight years ago) link

Lennon... Larry David... ...Lefsetz?

Less surprised by the total lack of surprises (stevie), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 11:48 (eight years ago) link

Think about it.

The Male Gaz Coombes (Neil S), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 11:49 (eight years ago) link

In fact, most of todays music consumers have literally never seen a television. It's not about selling music, it's about selling a lifestyle that they want and you have. If you don't get it, you're just another loser hawking antique teakettles from a park bench in Pittsburgh.

Still laughing at this. Perfection.

impossible raver (Re-Make/Re-Model), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 12:46 (eight years ago) link

Too many wankers revere the good old days which weren’t so good. Like vinyl. Remember warps and skips and returns? I miss those not a whit.

Blind pig finds acorn.

the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 13:12 (eight years ago) link

finding nuggets of truth in Lefsetz is a useful self-diagnostic tool - like, if you find yourself agreeing with him, you can choose to either amend where you know you're wrong, or just continue down the path of sounding more and more like Bob Lefsetz

tremendous crime wave and killing wave (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 13:44 (eight years ago) link

My S.O. has actually bought antique tea kettles in Pittsburgh, so I take this remark personally.

juggulo for the complete klvtz (bendy), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 14:20 (eight years ago) link

finding nuggets of truth in Lefsetz is a useful self-diagnostic tool - like, if you find yourself agreeing with him, you can choose to either amend where you know you're wrong, or just continue down the path of sounding more and more like Bob Lefsetz

Fortunately, immediately after reading that one, I read his Lemmy obit, and was reassured that the yawning gulf between our worldviews will never close. Seriously, Lemmy's greatest artistic achievement was writing power ballads for Ozzy? OK, dude...

the top man in the language department (誤訳侮辱), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 14:30 (eight years ago) link

we've all met dudes like Lefsetz though, right? somehow found their way inside the industry and are similarly somehow treated with respect, even though their opinions are deeply suspect.

Less surprised by the total lack of surprises (stevie), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 14:33 (eight years ago) link

and some days you meet a Lefsetz, and some days you are the Lefsetz

Less surprised by the total lack of surprises (stevie), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 14:34 (eight years ago) link

clearly lefsetz forgot about how important giant tvs are to people who want to play video games

maura, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 15:07 (eight years ago) link

yeah idk I don't think television sales are lacking, and the number of bars/restaurants with televisions seems to be at an all-time high

μpright mammal (mh), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 15:14 (eight years ago) link

haha guys that's my fake Lefsetz post, I got too method and somehow spiritually merged with the essence of Lef

Amira, Queen of Creativity (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 15:35 (eight years ago) link

:)

μpright mammal (mh), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 15:35 (eight years ago) link

this is the part where m@tt removes his mask and reveals himself to have been lefsetz all along

tylerw, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 16:02 (eight years ago) link

this is the part where m@tt removes his mask and reveals himself to have been lefsetz all along

― tylerw, Wednesday, January 6, 2016 10:02 AM (8 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

And I wouldn've gotten away with it if it wasn't for Tay Tay and you pesky kids!!!!

Amira, Queen of Creativity (upper mississippi sh@kedown), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 16:11 (eight years ago) link

my initial Cream purchase was “Disraeli Gears,” way before “Sunshine Of Your Love” got airplay

(please no long guns of any kind) (Eazy), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 16:29 (eight years ago) link

and some days you meet a Lefsetz, and some days you are the Lefsetz

this is the most brutal truthbomb maybe ever

tremendous crime wave and killing wave (Joan Crawford Loves Chachi), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 23:18 (eight years ago) link

The Lesfetz Inside Me

tylerw, Wednesday, 6 January 2016 23:23 (eight years ago) link

It's cleansing to fit "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969" into conversation once a week or so.

longform Gordon thinkpiece (Eazy), Wednesday, 6 January 2016 23:46 (eight years ago) link

two weeks pass...

Make him stop....

And I was brought back to those days when I saw the Dave Rawlings Machine last Saturday night.

There was no drummer. No backdrop. Some lights.

And a full house. Of people my age. How did they know?

You see boomers follow the scene, they're less interested in trends than satiation, and they've decided Dave and Gillian are satisfying.

And they were.

Their act was filled out with a couple of fiddle players, and a standup bass. It reminded me of our old pharmacist, Marc Zimmerman, proprietor of Marc's Drugs in Bridgeport, who'd schlep his double bass to a party, our parents were always having parties. No photos were posted on Instagram, but memories were made.

And memories were made Saturday night

curmudgeon, Friday, 22 January 2016 21:11 (eight years ago) link

You don't want to look at his Chris Stapleton on SNL piece either then...

"Damn the Taquitos" (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 22 January 2016 21:15 (eight years ago) link

Trump never felt like he could win. His ascension to the throne was as flimsy as a “Rocky” story, fiction.

So when it doesn’t make sense, it doesn’t.

How in the hell did an entire country think this guy had a chance?

How did our entire media system lead us astray?

In what other ways are they leading us astray?

And Yes, tha Lef managed to work refs to Taylor Swift, Adele, and streaming services into this Trump postmortem.

"Damn the Taquitos" (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 2 February 2016 23:05 (eight years ago) link

did taylor and adele lead us astray, too? are they, too, flimsy works of fiction?

fact checking cuz, Wednesday, 3 February 2016 00:17 (eight years ago) link

He was backed by a combo. You might call it jazz, I would call it music.

And I know it when I hear it.

Especially because he was followed by Tori Kelly, who was execrable, I couldn't check my phone fast enough. A mildly talented neophyte overhyped by her manager...if this is the best we've got, we're screwed.

Lots to unpack here, but I don't even think Tori Kelly's mom thinks she's the best we've got.

thom yorke state of mind (voodoo chili), Friday, 12 February 2016 15:34 (eight years ago) link

Just because someone’s cute and a good conversationalist, that does not mean they’ll be a good mate. You’re looking for someone with perseverance, who will also call you on your b.s. One of the greatest predictors of commitment is credit rating.

i'll bet he's a really fun first date.

fact checking cuz, Thursday, 18 February 2016 20:39 (eight years ago) link

i just spent a weekend in LA mingling with industry types for work and let me tell you there are a lot of Lefsetzes out there

SCROTUS (stevie), Saturday, 20 February 2016 09:24 (eight years ago) link

Just realized I would love to see Al Pacino read Lefsetz Letters. Meandering, philosophical, sentimental, INTENSE.

... (Eazy), Saturday, 20 February 2016 15:15 (eight years ago) link


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