Brit-pop. Lollapalooza’s biggest standby. Seriously, every year, it feels like England’s new big things take up half of the lineup. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not necessarily complaining—Kaiser Chiefs in 2009 may perhaps be the most fun that I’ve ever had at a concert. Do we need so much of it, though?
Honestly, I don’t know how I feel about this takeover. It’s late, I’m a little cranky, and it’s very possible that I’m just looking for something to complain about. So I’m going to stop right here, and switch it over to a discussion of Friendly Fires’ self-titled debut record.
What is it? Standard brit-pop. Is that a bad thing? Well, that’s up to you. Personally, I’m always up for a little low-substance music. Sure, I prefer stuff with a little more meaning than you’ll get out of this record, but hey, I’ll admit that it’s pretty fun to listen to.
Thing is, these guys put on a pretty good show too. They played before Kaiser Chiefs in ’09, and I’ll be seeing them under similar circumstances this year. For some reason, they’ve been placed right before Death From Above 1979…Kaiser Chiefs, I understand. Angry, screamy, hate-rock, on the other hand…ehh.
No, Friendly Fires doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. No, this record isn’t all that creative or meaningful. It’s catchy as hell, though, and perfectly suited for a mid-afternoon slot on a main stage at a massive festival. I’m looking to have fun at Lollapalooza, after all, and I think seeing a Friendly Fires show will definitely help me accomplish that goal. I also can’t wait to see the reaction from the people waiting for Death From Above…
Swole Ear 
So by that post I take it you’re not into DfA? Heads Up is a pretty good album. Super short (if you count it as a full length, not sure if it is). You should check it out. Crystal Castles sampled it on their first album.
Nah man, I love DFA. They killed it today.