We Must Become The Pitiless Censors Of Ourselves

[travis]

i don't really understand 'cop killer' completely. the lyrics seem to be 'cop killer, let's kill the cops tonight, kill them, cop killer, kill every cop in sight, cop killer. against the law'. it seems to be more of a portrait of a cop killer, than something else, like, exploiting the 'cop killer' for not having a better solution...???????????? i don't think any portrait can simply be a portrait unless the artist is unknown, which, i guess could appeal to some diversion of popular culture if that was the situation.

[travis]

i don't really understand 'cop killer' completely. the lyrics seem to be 'cop killer, let's kill the cops tonight, kill them, cop killer, kill every cop sight, cop killer. against the law'. it seems to be more of a portrait of a cop killer, than something else, like, exploiting the 'cop killer' for not having a better solution...???????????? i think anything can simply be a portrait unless the artist is unknown, which could appeal to some diversion of popular culture.

maybe also points out how killing a cop is against the law, which seems to be like, impressing a question upon us, but we already knew that, i guess it's a tragic song. i guess i get it, but...??? whatever.

[travis]

or maybe it's personally mocking me for not killing cops because it's against the law, or, maybe john doesn't kill cops because it's against the law. what do you all think? i'm a dumb crazy asshole?, i mean really, about the song, not me.

[MausterofDisguise]

-

[travis]

In an interview he said it was more about "killing the police in your mind," like freeing yourself from your own restrictions (something like that) and "of course you should never kill another human"

yeah, so i'm taking it as, instead of my mind, it's like john maus' mind, and in his mind he's thinking, it's against the law to kill a cop, so, if 'i' kill a cop, i've broken the law, and i'll be in jail or 'dead', but the cops should be killed. i've personally got reasons to kill cops, i hate cops, but why does john maus think about killing cops...if he does, and why did he write the song. i think, if he says we shouldn't kill another human, then, he's not supporting cop killing except in a passive political way, and, why would someone write a song about killing cops who is concerned about politics, it would seem to impede their intention....why did ice t write 'cop killer', or, what did we learn from ice t's song 'cop killer'?? it became a big 'thing' and topic for discussion. is ice t 'real', in opinion, he wasn't any different than any other local of the prescribed location who knows a little of politics and resource management. i haven't studied ice t and his music, but from what i've seen he's got to an end, which displays what he's about.

[pluckypurcell]

In an interview he said it was more about "killing the police in your mind," like freeing yourself from your own restrictions (something like that) and "of course you should never kill another human"

yeah, i see that. this song is about personal revolt against the capital-L Law. like how the capital-F Fear is back.

travis, by no means do i think you are a dumb crazy asshole, but just be happy about it, man. it's a bunch of new material from an artist you obviously love. i just think it's pretty dismissive to write it off so quickly as shit.

[travis]

if cop killer was just !there! on the radio or mtv, damn, with the right visual, and john looking all funky ringy eyed and manic, it would catch a very unique demographic and maybe stir things up, but would mtv even allow it.?? how does shocking stuff like that even make it through the channels.?? they know what's happening don't they,? so it'd have to be some sort of collaboration, which would take it down to exploitation of their demographic, imo...but maybe the demographic is like, what i've heard john say, maybe misusing this, the untruth, or, maybe i made that up, like people that are mental, who need someone to express their strong emotions because they want to kill cops. it's just like over the top for no reason other than personal gain. capitalist. which is like, college mental, right?

[travis]

In an interview he said it was more about "killing the police in your mind," like freeing yourself from your own restrictions (something like that) and "of course you should never kill another human"

yeah, i see that. this song is about personal revolt against the capital-L Law. like how the capital-F Fear is back.

travis, by no means do i think you are a dumb crazy asshole, but just be happy about it, man. it's a bunch of new material from an artist you obviously love. i just think it's pretty dismissive to write it off so quickly as shit.

yeah, an artist i did love. i think for me he's pulling further into his own gain, which i do think is probably best. he's letting himself down into life, or, family, or, love, or, whatever that is, community. i hope him well, but, his plight's attempted public resolve has brought me no consolation. i think ariel's idea is more in stream and acceptable, although, i respect john for giving his thing a good strong push. ariel's thing being like, uhhh, hating and loving whenever is right for self. i guess being selfish. ariel is about being selfish and john tried to counter that by some idea of one or community, which, to me, turns into an orgy, or some sort of sickness. really, i don't think there is a solution and the game is leadership for personal gain, but, growing in public is hard, but growing in isolation is just as hard, if not harder. everything is difficult. fuck the cops..fuck the law..................

[pluckypurcell]

yeah, an artist i did love. i think for me he's pulling further into his own gain, which i do think is probably best. he's letting himself down into life, or, family, or, love, or, whatever that is, community. i hope him well, but, his plight's attempted public resolve has brought me no consolation. i think ariel's idea is more in stream and acceptable, although, i respect john for giving his thing a good strong push. ariel's thing being like, uhhh, hating and loving whenever is right for self. i guess being selfish. ariel is about being selfish and john tried to counter that by some idea of one or community, which, to me, turns into an orgy, or some sort of sickness. really, i don't think there is a solution and the game is leadership for personal gain, but, growing in public is hard, but growing in isolation is just as hard, if not harder. everything is difficult. fuck the cops..fuck the law..................

what is up with your obsession of seeing things in absolute terms? multiple, entire theses could be written about either man's oeuvre, and under no circumstance would either one'sa b reduced down to such simple, base ideas. and ultimately isn't there a little egotism in any artist? by your logic, ariel doesn't give a fuck about protocol and standards (although he seems to be pretty well versed in them) and does what he wants, while john thinks his problems are so poignant that they deserve public catharsis via art. i don't necessarily agree with either statement, but that's where your argument is taking me.

i love the art of both men, arguably more than the art of any others, but i don't worship them and expect to find universal truths in their music. maybe you should look at the music as a means to an end and not the end itself. it might mean more to you that way. it's pretty fickle and elitist to stop liking an artist so immediately after hearing their most recent release. and at least john maus is still interested in producing new material. it's more than ariel can say.

[travis]

well, we could be both stop speculating if john came into this and addressed the meaning of the song. in his interview he's very indirect and seemingly manic and a stuttering dodging void. i didn't like love is real either, btw, but i liked the idea of love being 'real'. i guess there is john's ability to advert his audience by being aggressive with verbal communication and presence and law. i think you're right on with ariel being strung to protocol and standards and using it as his 'crucifix' you know.? the standards have got him hung, but in a good enough position (better than most) - the doldrums, whtvr.. and john maus writhing on the cross as our savior, but he's not dying, he's sitting up pretty well, coming down, gonna have a vacation and all is good. it may seem i'm taking it far too far, but i think that's what their music does and i think they deserve a critic that does that as well, right?

[travis]

i think they both attempt to exploit themselves and their family in the most fantastic way.

[pluckypurcell]

i don't really expect him to do address anything or think that there is a need for artists to engage their fans in such ways. would you honestly ask him these questions in person? i think that's the reason he comes off as so evasive and whatever you want to call him; people read 'continental philosophy instructor' on his bio and expect some immediately profound shit. just like people read 'reclusive hermit' on ariel pink's bio and expect insane outsider art. we both know those aren't the phrases to sum up either's work.

that being said, i understand what you mean about the crucifix sounding like geneva jacuzzi

[travis]

i don't really expect him to do address anything or think that there is a need for artists to engage their fans in such ways. would you honestly ask him these questions in person? i think that's the reason he comes off as so evasive and whatever you want to call him; people read 'continental philosophy instructor' on his bio and expect some immediately profound shit. just like people read 'reclusive hermit' on ariel pink's bio and expect insane outsider art. we both know those aren't the phrases to sum up either's work.

that being said, i understand what you mean about the crucifix sounding like geneva jacuzzi

yeah, i do expect him to address his fans. he capitalizes off of his fans and he throws out some outrageous ideas about community and shit. i would ask him these things directly, and i have sent him numerous emails, although none have been in impersonal format as he usually responds to, although, he recently complained about conventional interviews and the people responsible. ??? it frustrates me. i don't have a popular music blog, right, i'm not going to propel his progression with my questions. mine are of an extreme personal reasoning and interest...and i have wanted to be in that 'circle' of artists so i can imagine that was apparent and something to avoid. i definitely was trying to acquire a role model and supporter or whatever, 'brother'. i think 'continental philosophy instructor' is correct, labeling his accessibility and competence. i'm not known as a 'philosopher' am i? if i am, it's in a derogatory way. and i think 'reclusive hermit' is a huge attraction to emerging artists who seek to find a way to be creative/independent. i know i've heard ariel described as such and the people on the receiving end of that were undoubtably compelled. i think ariel is the doorway, or forerunner, for john, geneva, gary war, etc... to really pull other artists into a deep investment, but, i don't think they really offer followers of their ideology any chance. i've heard ariel consistently being condescending towards following, emerging artists. i know his type, i think...fraternal almost, like, a queen. i'm not supporting, with money, never. fuck'em, right? the whole lo-fi, chillwave, r.stevie, throwback thing is fun hype, it's fun, it's good, whatever, if you can get on it, it's your thing, no matter what ariel scoffs about, or john, it's an extremely small, exclusive, inclusive understanding that tries to ride on. it's inside their head and no one else.

[travis]

i don't really expect him to do address anything or think that there is a need for artists to engage their fans in such ways. would you honestly ask him these questions in person? i think that's the reason he comes off as so evasive and whatever you want to call him; people read 'continental philosophy instructor' on his bio and expect some immediately profound shit. just like people read 'reclusive hermit' on ariel pink's bio and expect insane outsider art. we both know those aren't the phrases to sum up either's work.

that being said, i understand what you mean about the crucifix sounding like geneva jacuzzi

...and the geneva thing and the animal collective thing, it's like, entropy, and what i mean is, it's like, a pull on them, like, we're the same, like, let's ride on together, we're on top of this, it's a plead and a compliment, and an insult, maybe - to me it is...it's a crutch and insult...

[pinkspoons]

haha the maus owes you NOTHING. sorry but you pay for the music and you get the music, nothing else.