Well put........

The biggest critique of this band yet has been all the hype. No one has panned the music and no one is denying the fact that Matt Brooke is a talented songwriter.

I think for a band that's played all but one show, a bit of skepticism SHOULD be in order. Don't you agree?

They'll get a chance to win us all over and when that time comes you can stand in the corner with your arms crossed saying I" told you so."

Until then ...

I agree...glorifying a band because of past endeavours and hype doesn't amount to squat. how about they prove themselves before being hailed worthy.

What about glorifying a band because they cut a great record? Archives' demo is really fucking good. Plus Brooke's talent is well established, so there's no worry that said demo was some kind of fluke.

Is a recording not a valid way for a band to prove themselves?

Eric, nothing is valid when people think you're a hipster (whatever that even means). Everything is suspect. Everything is "ironic." Everything is contrary for the sake of being contrary.

it's a nice write-up. I think that this, in particular, is spot-on:

" sounds like the project most Carissa's Wierd devotees have been pining for."

My favorite part:

Grand Archives could very well trump the regional success and cult status attained by their forebears, for whom ambition seemed impossible. At the very least, their spelling has improved.

Bwah ha hah.

I miss Carissa's Wierd tons and am very excited to see what Grand Archives have in store for us...

I'm looking forward to hearing them, and might well like them (although I never was a CW fan), but I'm already sick of hearing about them, for what it's worth. Not that that's anyone's problem but mine (probably just means I read blogs too much), but I kinda see whatevs's point.

And seriously, how hard is it to figure out that your band name is taken before sending the demo to the press/radio folks? Same thing happened with (Band of) Horses. But that's a minor quibble.

Regarding PitchFrik and scholarly discourse, here is a beautifully served smackdown c/o dj/Rupture:

http://www.negrophonic.com/2007/the-fork-pitches-both-ways/

That's a fun tangent. I'm also quite taken with Mr Clayton's "10 Step Guide To Selling Out" and "TOP 5 PROBLEMS WITH TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR LISTS", though neither of those aren't explicitly fork-related.

I meant "neither of those ARE"

Actually, it's "neither of those IS." HA[HAHAHAHAHAHA]!

Fuck internet grammar me.

Eric Grandy, shut the fuck up already.

Anonymous commenting rules bitch!

Maybe if we talk enough shit and not embrace new and by there demo, obviously talented acts in Seattle they'll move to Portland......

Man, I hate it when white people try their hands at gangsta rap and that's why I ain't feelin' this shit.

I don't think people should be skeptical of these dudes... they are all really talented and experienced guys that have been in their fair share of huge bands in the past...

Mat (and the rest of em) has built up so many good relationships in music over the years that it's just gonna be different for him when starting up a new project... there's an implicit trust on the side of promoters/labels/venues etc. when they are dealing with a guy like Mat and his track record. And when you couple that with really good music, which Archives is, the "ramp-up" time will be a lot faster than it would be for some new band of unknowns that haven't spent any time making people on the business side of things happy.

That's not a bad thing at all. As individuals, they've all spent years and years earning it and proving themselves to listeners and music business peoples.. If people are flabbergasted at their meteoric rise to the top of the Seattle food chain in a matter of weeks, that's merely a symptom of ignorance at how the local music biz works.

I guess the bottom line is that Mat's earned it, whether you know anything about him or not. Just enjoy the music..

i really don't like jeff and mat as people, so i probably won't like their music.

to 18- So it would follow that you've withheld judgment on the music of artists you've never met, because you don't know if they're nice people or not? Gonna wait for a heart-to-heart with Bob Dylan before deciding if he makes good records? I have friends that make terrible music, and I've got people I hate that make amazing music.

there's just been another name change
Grandly Making Losers Jealous Archives

I don't need to see a band play live to know that they're damn good...the demo speaks for itself. Yeah, hype gets tiresome but so does a bunch of negative hipsters/anti-hipsters demanding that a band "prove themselves." What exactly does that entail...three months of Tuesday night gigs?

Holy Jesus fucking christ,

are you people for fucking real???

What would a fledgling band want more than a bunch of barstool critic choads debating their validity?

Sheezus, we all know any press is good press right?

wheeeeeeee

The other day some friends of mine told me Seattle has an awesome music scene. Seattle has an awesome music scene?
Archives give hype and music a bad name.
Hope you enjoy your ironic ipod play list of sanjaya (sic) vs the Archives.

listen biggie j, seattle does have a great music scene, stranger doesn't cover it. check out the Renedezous on may 5th for good bands that paid some dues.

Decontextualize this shit. This is a great demo. Nothing more needs to be said.