NPR’s All Songs Considered has given us a list of “overlooked gems” released this year. It includes music from Flobots, Department of Eagles, No Age, Helio Sequence, Human Highway, Vivian Girls and Deerhunter.

I know that everything is relative in terms of exposure and what not — and I understand why NPR specifically labeled the releases as they did — but I’m hard pressed to say that any of the folks mentioned have been “overlooked” this year by most music snobs.

In fact, if I hear another person talking about how Department of Eagles compares to Daniel Rossan’s other band (Grizzly Bear, duh!), or how Human Highway eclipses the primary act of Jim Guthrie and Nicholas Thorburn (Islands, double duh!), I’m going to shove freshly-sharpened pencils in my ears. I’ve got nothing against them. As it happens, I kinda dig most of these bands. But geez, who isn’t talking about them this year?

Saying this stuff is “overlooked” is like saying Amy Winehouse was good at Glastonbury earlier in the year. Almost forgot about that, didn’t you?

Vivian Girls – Where Do You Run To
Human Highway – The Sound

5 Responses to “NPR Talks About ‘Overlooked Gems’ of 2008”

1. 

   On 11/18/08 12:10 PM, sir jorge said:

   flobots overlooked? No, I just rather hear Atmosphere do that style a lot better, minus the ambitious cult-like political fever.

3. 

   On 11/18/08 12:40 PM, andy said:

   Damn it I’m getting old. I haven’t heard of ANY of these bands.

5. 

   On 11/18/08 12:41 PM, Matt said:

   Good post.

7. 

   On 11/18/08 4:45 PM, TDWP Fan said:

   I haven’t heard of any of these bands either

9. 

   On 11/18/08 7:28 PM, Radio Exile | Daily Dose - Tuesday Linkage said:

   [...] NPR’s list of overlooked musical gems this year.  Download All Songs Considered, November 10, 2008 and listen [NPR via Buzzgrinder] [...]

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