Blogtown, PDX

Monday, November 13, 2006

Music Of Montreal Sells Out To Fake Australians

Posted by Scott Moore on Mon, Nov 13 at 5:12 PM

I have mixed feelings about the growing use of indie rock songs in large corporate commercials (think HP and Flaming Lips, M&Ms and Iron & Wine, soccer mom vans and Modest Mouse, McDonald’s and The Shins, etc.). On the one hand, fuck you, fucking corporate sellout whores. On the other hand, it does give them a ton more money than touring or album sales ever will, enabling them to continue their creative endeavors without having to moonlight as a barista or whatever.

It’s an age old debate that’s been around at least since Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici started kicking down funds to support Masacchio’s fresco habit. And in most cases, I can give modern artists the benefit of the doubt—in fact, I’m even open to arguments that commercial work in itself is even art, subverting notions of art as commodity, etc., etc., Warhol, etc.

But this, THIS, is fucking unforgivable. Of Montreal has sold its song “Wraith Pinned to the Mist” from the Sunlandic Twins album to motherfucking Outback Steakhouse. Not only that, they’ve changed the lyrics to better fit the fake-ass Australian theme. Motherfuck. Here’s the commercial:

Yes, I realize I’m way late on this—Pitchfork had a little blurb about it with a weak defense from the band in August—but I saw the commercial for the first time on Friday. Maybe it just hit the Portland market, or maybe I don’t watch enough television. Either way.

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Comments

This was one of my favorite albums of the past few years; now every time I listen to it, its lyrics will be replaced with those about how much I should love going to the Outback Steakhouse. Goddamn it.

Posted by Erik Henriksen | November 13, 2006 5:19 PM

Lame ass. At least The Thermals said no to Hummer.

Posted by Sunles | November 13, 2006 5:34 PM

that song already sounds like an outback commercial. who cares. they were meant for this

Posted by jon | November 13, 2006 7:53 PM

That is the perfect song for Outback. Totally catchy for a commercial jingle.

Posted by freekaleek | November 13, 2006 7:54 PM

Ahh most of these so called indie bands suck anyway...wasnt indie short for independent? did anyone see the jack white coke commercial? nobody stands for anything anymore...thats why most of the music put out is uninspired crap...I cant remember the last time i saw a band in PDX that inspired me...they are all borderline emo whine-ooohs who cant rock...but they sure look good though!! fuckin tards

Posted by CaptYoda | November 14, 2006 9:02 AM

so JTimberlake is a viable artiste but making some money off retarded corporate america is being a soulless whore?

MAKES SENSE TO ME!

Posted by Donnie | November 14, 2006 11:26 AM

Nobody actually eats at that place anyway. Do they?

Posted by threebs | November 15, 2006 1:36 PM

They didn't actually record the Outback version. But I just wanted to tell you all that I know MUCH MORE about harmony and composition than you do. Your opinions are fickle. All that bullshit about "selling out" and "standing for something" and "sounding whiny" is pretty pathetic. You don't know the first thing about the medium of art that you're so brilliant at criticizing.

Posted by Jackson | November 16, 2006 12:00 AM

Can you see this. Do not hesitate to choose. Look

Posted by texas holdem | November 27, 2006 8:49 PM

I agree please revange

Posted by ativan | November 30, 2006 10:26 AM

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