Dear Backspace,
I know it’s cliché, but you need to hear it. It’s not you. It’s us. Nobody did anything wrong. We just grew apart. When we played there last July, not that many people knew about us. Saddle Creek had re-released our album that day. Do you remember that? It seems like so long ago.
Don’t get us wrong. Your high ceilings are still really charming. And your low corner stage is perfect for an intimate performance. But when so many people come out, it’s hard to see, and the sound dissipates into a muddy mess past the first few rows. I’m not blaming you. It’s just that we’ve had a lot of time to think out on the road, and that’s not the kind of show we’re really doing now.
Our songs have always had an immediacy to them; you knew that going in. Being on tour for so long just made it clear. And I know it was hard for you to hear them, but the new songs are only more so. We can’t go back to the way things were. We’re going to have to have to play encores now, and you just don’t have a backstage to go to. That was really awkward. We all felt it. There’s no sense pretending we didn’t.
But that’s not the real reason we’re breaking up with you. Ultimately, we need something else. Something you can’t give. No. Don’t try. You’re great the way you are. And some up-and-coming band is going to be really lucky to play on your stage. I mean it.
We’ll always have the memories. It’s . . . just . . . it’s just not going to work out the next time we come to Portland. I’m sorry.
Sincerely,
Nils, Amy and Paul
The Rural Alberta Advantage*
*[Please note that this review expresses only the views of melophobe, and not those of The Rural Alberta Advantage or any of its members]
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This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
you’ll notice the author’s name under title.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.11 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.”
by HKD on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.10 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
i saw them open for the Cave Singers, not very original, the crowd was not into it either, frankly i think they suck
by rigamarole on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 11.30 am from the entry: The Dutchess & The Duke Tour Dates, Y'all
bravo daniel, bravo
not only is this hilarious and well-written review, but it sums up the evening at backspace perfectly.
Fantastic.
Those portraits are adorable. No wonder melophobe has such a band crush on these guys.
While fair criticisms of a bigger band in a smaller venue, writing a review posing as a band saying they had a bad experience is so, so out of line.
Throwing a “jay kay!” at the end doesn’t really count. What if I read only the first three paragraphs on my rss reader or phone?
Pretty bogus. Save it for McSweeney’s.
If you had only read the first three paragraphs, how would you have known it was from the Rural Alberta Advantage?
also would a band ever write a letter like this to a venue? seemed like a joke to me from the get go.
awesome stuff guys. great photos and the sentiment about backspace is on the nose.