Music Feuds

Feuds in the music press are an odd thing. What prompts a musician to openly insult another is beyond me. It doesn't make either party sell records (actually this could be disputed) and it certainly doesn't further the musician making the comment, so why do it? It's mainly about the reaction on the other artist's part that we're all waiting for, and when they don't deliver or they react poorly, they lose. It's a really horrible system but I find myself always engaged by it, eagerly awaiting who will seem the more victorious.

Usually when we think of feuds through music, we think of hip-hop. It makes sense considering it might be the only genre that has lead to multiple deaths stemming from them. Focusing on a less morbid example, I turn to a recent statement made by Matthew Friedberger of the Brooklyn duo The Fiery Furnaces about Radiohead, where he blasted the band for making a song about the experimental composer, Harry Partch. In actuality, they made a song about World War I veteran Harry Patch who passed away over the summer. Friedberger's comments basically were condemning the band for associating themselves with anything people percieve as cool to further their already immaculate status (I guess Harry Partch is cool...?). Radiohead didn't reply.

When Friedberger realized his error, he then backpedaled with another statement (written in the third person, as if dictated I suppose) about how he was making a joke, not without making more insulting comments toward both Radiohead and their fans. He then finished his statement with "Matt would have much preferred to insult Beck but he is too afraid of Scientologists." Radiohead still had no response but Beck did. Delivered within two weeks, Beck released his own song ("Harry Partch"), that celebrated the work of the late composer. He even went as far as employing Partch's 43 tone scale, something the Friedberger had mocked Radiohead about in his first statement. Friedberger responded, but with a long sprawling essay that basically just changed the subject.

It's a case of actions speaking louder than words. Because Friedberger opened his mouth, the world now has this new, weird, 10 minute Beck song. So I guess in a way these feuds can be good. Still, it irks me to see someone I respect, like Wayne Coyne, going out of his way to attack a band like Arcade Fire. It serves no purpose and it puts the other artist in an unfair position. In that case, Win Butler responded tactfully, defending his band without having to sling mud backward on Coyne. This however will most likely not lead to an Arcade Fire song about being mistreated by one of their heroes so i say, why bother?