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Awake on My Airplane

12 Mar 2008 12:45 pm

Spencer Ackerman takes note of a DOD press release that includes the fact that former Filter bass player Sgt. Frank Cavanagh is an Army reservist scheduled to deploy. "For reasons of patriotism," writes Spencer, "Filter no longer officially blows." I say Filter never blew. Spencer wants to make them out to be nothing more than "Hey Man Nice Shot" but there's also "Take a Picture":

I think that's at least "okay" though the video is annoying.

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Comments (25)

I say Filter never blew.

And yet you have the nerve to complain that college basketball is mediocre.

How is it patriotic to fight and kill for a pointless war?

Filter always has and always will blow. They are a really suckier version of NIN, which also really sucks.

Filter is the Duncan Hunter of new rock.

take you how you will.

I like Filter too. Agree though that the video detracts from the song.

I remember all the trouble I had tracking down Hey Man Nice Shot. I would hear it here and there; but I had no idea who the band was or what the song title was. Then I found it by accident on a VHS tape that a friend lent me - it was playing in a commercial for a TV show, La Femme Nikita. I listened to it over and over until I finally figured out the song title from the chorus. So I bought a CD single and a CD album. I don't remember liking the other songs. Now I have several mp3 versions of Hey Man Nice Shot; but the CDs are still packed away because I am lazy. BTW I always thought "Hey man, nice shot" was a perfect reply to online flames.

How is it patriotic to fight and kill for a pointless war?

You don't fight for the wisdom of the policy or the righteousness of its geopolitical implications; you fight for the guy on your left and the guy on your right. The imperfection of the nation and the flaws of its leaders don't diminish the honor or patriotism of individual soldiers, in my view.

Filter's music is, at best, inoffensive schmaltz.

Fliter blows. I'm sorry, but they were a bad Jane's Addiction/NIN rip-off.

Ugh, I saw them as part of a big festival in Europe in the mi-90's. They were lame, imo.

Also, the R. Budd Dwyer story that inspired Hey Man Nice Shot is powerful enough (or at least the video footage of it is) without having some NIN imitators riff off of it.

Ok, that was pretty snarky for my first comment here.

Not all of Filter's music blows, but Take a Picture sure does. The compliments for that song in this thread are tongue-in-cheek, right?

Filter rocks! "Take a Picture" is one of my all time favorite songs plus their cover of "One" is amazing. They are one of the few mainstream hard rock bands I still listen to without embarrasment.

"The Only Way is the Wrong Way" is a great song.

"Hey Man, Nice Shot" is okay.

Who will we be getting next on here, Stabbing Westward?

Filter and Gin Blossoms, Matt please stop talking about music... you're only causing me to not trust your judgement in other areas.

Beg to differ; this song is pretty awful. It sounds like it was written as the backing track for a commercial for a cruise line, or a pharmaceutical.

Calling Filter a NIN ripoff is a little redundant: they were basically Reznor's touring band circa "Pretty Hate Machine", so if anyone's earned the right to rip him off it's them.

...which is not to say that they don't suck. One decent single aside, they really really did.

"How is it patriotic to fight and kill for a pointless war?"

Sounds like something a New York City Democrat might have said in 1863. Plus ça change...

I, for one, salute Matt's courage in embracing uncool, and yes, often genuinely terrible bands. C'mon, don't all of us have at least one band in our closets like this?

Next up, why Staind wasn't so bad. I actually found a Filter album in a pile of CDs that had been collecting dust since middle school and felt ashamed. Also, the lead singer's brother kinda blew on the X-Files.

They are a really suckier version of NIN, which also really sucks.

Uh, no.

I'm sorry, but they were a bad Jane's Addiction/NIN rip-off.

You guys have heard their music right?

Look, I wouldn't rate Filter as one of the top 100 rock bands of all time or anything. But they don't suck, and as a bit of a music snob myself I say this with some authority.

C'mon Matt, let's hear some Toad the Wet Sprocket appreciation!

I believe they are the University of Chicago's most famous band. Not a very musical school, as you can see...

Hrm... Sounds like watered down Dave Matthews Band. I thought Matt's tastes ran a little more eclectic than this.

I'm reminded of the onion's spot-on article on Matchbox 20.

Hrm... Sounds like watered down Dave Matthews Band. I thought Matt's tastes ran a little more eclectic than this.

I'm reminded of the onion's spot-on article on Matchbox 20.

Finally! Matt mentions a band that I've not only heard of, but actually have an MP3 of.

"Take a Picture" isn't that great, but it's okay.

Just for you, Matt, I won't mention the Corrs in this thread.

Oh, wait...


Comments closed March 26, 2008.

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