Foster the People

**falafel** · 10-10-2011, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by RobinFinderson View Post

Ok, so I agree that Pumped up Kicks is way overexposed, but it is also a damn-near perfect pop song (I still think Outkast's Hey Ya! holds the title of best pop song). I keep hearing these grumblings about Pumped Up Kicks, and I am wondering what gives. Is it just that the song is overexposed? Is it the violent content paired with a bubble-gum smacking hook that offends? Is there something uncool about the band? Watching Foster the People on SNL last night, I really liked what I saw -- the band has has talent and a cool stage presence, and the singer has some serious charisma. More importantly, I liked both songs they performed. After watching them perform, I found myself really hoping that they don't end up as one-hit-wonders, because I would like to see more of them.

Wow, really? I thought the singer had anything but charisma or stage presence. He looked scared and nervous up there. His dance moves on the first song were strange and contrived. It felt like an executive made him do something, anything, besides just sit there any sing. The whole thing was hard to watch.

That being said, I still find myself whistling Pumped Up Kicks, even while I'm thinking that the song is over-exposed.

**TripletDaddy** · 10-10-2011, 10:11 AM

I try to support LA bands because I really enjoyed living most of my life in such a vibrant musical culture.

Foster the People is ok...their disc is ok (not great)...But I am sick of it. It isn't just Pumped up Kicks. Helena Beat gets on my nerves, as well. Something about them seems fishy. I get the sense that they are going to head in a Maroon 5 direction, playing summer festivals like the KIIS FM Wango Tango with Michelle Branch, Rooney, and Ashley Simpson. I'm not going to bother following them on that particular journey.

**RobinFinderson** · 10-10-2011, 10:26 AM

Originally posted by falafel View Post

Wow, really? I thought the singer had anything but charisma or stage presence. He looked scared and nervous up there. His dance moves on the first song were strange and contrived. It felt like an executive made him do something, anything, besides just sit there any sing. The whole thing was hard to watch.

That being said, I still find myself whistling Pumped Up Kicks, even while I'm thinking that the song is over-exposed.

Yes, really. Pumped up Kicks is so slick sounding, I was expecting a slicker performance. So that thing that you interpreted as 'scared and nervous' played well against my expectations. Sure, there was a bit of a freshman feel to his dancing, but it seemed adequate, and it didn't come across to me as fear... I didn't feel anxious for him. It seemed more like some young kids having a huge day in their career, and managing to pull it off.

To DDD's point, yeah, I could see these guys going in that direction. Hopefully they don't. I guess, for me, SNL moved me from being an indifferent appreciator of their big pop single to hoping that they succeed in an interesting way.

**TripletDaddy** · 10-10-2011, 10:36 AM

Originally posted by RobinFinderson View Post

Yes, really. Pumped up Kicks is so slick sounding, I was expecting a slicker performance. So that thing that you interpreted as 'scared and nervous' played well against my expectations. Sure, there was a bit of a freshman feel to his dancing, but it seemed adequate, and it didn't come across to me as fear... I didn't feel anxious for him. It seemed more like some young kids having a huge day in their career, and managing to pull it off.

To DDD's point, yeah, I could see these guys going in that direction. Hopefully they don't. I guess, for me, SNL moved me from being an indifferent appreciator of their big pop single to hoping that they succeed in an interesting way.

If you like their disc, you should check out bands like I'm From Barcelona or, to a lesser extent, early Polyphonic Spree. They both perpetuate that electronic chorale arrangement sound but do it much better, imo. Plus, Polyphonic Spree looks like a religious cult, which is a bonus.

A couple of songs you may already know, but if not, you might enjoy. Puffy Check really loves I'm From Barcelona, especially. Very fun music.

[YOUTUBE]3Wi1d0FNgdQ[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]aCPvRLrzp5U[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]rHJo_klmPcA[/YOUTUBE]

**wuapinmon** · 10-10-2011, 03:39 PM

I like them about as much as I like the Sneaker Pimps.

**jay santos** · 10-10-2011, 03:44 PM

I don't know but I kinda like listening to a pop music station. I listen to my kids' music station 103.9 and seriously they play a max of 6-8 songs over and over and over. I never knew this world until recently.

This place about to blow. Pumped up kicks/kids whatever the hell it is. Pretty girls in this city. Sky full of lighters. My heart's a stereo. Moves like Jagger. Love you like a love song baby beep beep beep beep beep beep. Maybe a couple others.

Something very comforting about listening to the same songs over and over.

**MarkGrace** · 10-10-2011, 04:04 PM

Originally posted by jay santos View Post

I don't know but I kinda like listening to a pop music station. I listen to my kids' music station 103.9 and seriously they play a max of 6-8 songs over and over and over. I never knew this world until recently.

This place about to blow. Pumped up kicks/kids whatever the hell it is. Pretty girls in this city. Sky full of lighters. My heart's a stereo. Moves like Jagger. Love you like a love song baby beep beep beep beep beep beep. Maybe a couple others.

Something very comforting about listening to the same songs over and over.

I agree, grape.

**Surfah** · 10-10-2011, 04:54 PM

Moves like Jagger is a terrible song. Terrible.

**falafel** · 10-10-2011, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by Surfah View Post

Moves like Jagger is a terrible song. Terrible.

I like it.

**Commando** · 10-12-2011, 02:40 PM

I heard this song back in March as I was getting ready to move to AZ, and noticed they were playing Kilby. They made a lot more sense to me back then and as a kilby band. Then I saw the video and I thought, "what the hell- they're going right for the throat at the Jack Johnson fanbase/Maroon 5 swooners." I wrote that off and thought "well, the record company is just trying to market effectively"

At the SP show in Vegas, their show was being displayed as part of the rotation on the Cosmopolitan's huge marquis on the strip. Then I saw them on snl trying way too hard to make up for a clear lack of talent, awesome song notwithstanding. And then I noticed this promo pic. The lead singer is always doing this thing with his hands.

This guy just cruised by Anthony Keidis in the race for the Most Punchable Face in Music.

I cannot remain quiet any longer. These guys are douchebags. In the non-sexist way.

**UtahDan** · 10-12-2011, 02:45 PM

This thread reminds my why I'm glad that what I like is not influenced at all by anything other than the music itself. The rest is noise.

**falafel** · 10-12-2011, 02:54 PM

Tim Tebow can't stop looking at the camera. He's the Jim Halpert of the band.

[YOUTUBE]SDTZ7iX4vTQ[/YOUTUBE]

**SteelBlue** · 10-12-2011, 02:57 PM

You guys crack me up. Can't really like 'em because of the direction they might take down the road. Whatever. This old man liked the cd; so sue me.

**Commando** · 10-12-2011, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by SteelBlue View Post

You guys crack me up. Can't really like 'em because of the direction they might take down the road. Whatever. This old man liked the cd; so sue me.

Hey I have the music don't get me wrong. I also listen to the Chili Peppers despite Anthony Keidis' thunderous douchiosity.

Foster the People

Foster the People

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