March 18th, 2009
SXSW In Six Words
Last year, journalist Paul Ford of The Morning News created quite an online stir when he listened to MP3s by 763 musical acts playing the annual South By Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, and wrote six-word reviews of each — a far, far harder and more time-consuming effort than it seems, and in the end a really great, enjoyable read. For this year’s SXSW, which is underway as of today, Ford’s outdone himself, offering six-word reviews of 1,302 SXSW acts, along with a rating from one to five stars/circles/whatever. Here’s his reviews of some of the Philly bands and musicians playing the fest this year:
- Reef the Lost Cauze, “I Wonder”: “He’s out asking the important questions.” (5 out of 5 stars)
- U.S. Girls, “A Day At the Races”: “Soundtrack for bugeyed space monster comix.” (4 out of 5 stars)
- Good Old War, “Coney Island”: “Philly. Great lyrics, (nearly) ideal length.” (5 out of 5 stars)
- Steve Goldberg and the Arch Enemies, “Things I Used to Know”: “Surprisingly tight pop for five minutes.” (5 out of 5 stars)
- Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer, “Death or Radio”: “At this point I’d prefer death.” (2 out of 5 stars)
- Greg Weeks, “Lay Low”: “This goes on weeks too long.” (1 out of 5 stars)
- Hoots and Hellmouth, “Want On Nothing”: “Lo-fi reggae. Still reggae, even so.” (4 out of 5 stars)
- Joe Jack Talcum, “Sex Sting”: “Former Dead Milkman complains of arrest.” (4 out of 5 stars)
- Mr. Lif, “The Sun”: “Label name is ‘Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises.’” (4 out of 5 stars)
In six words: Not too shabby of a showing!
