Reverting To The Mean

My friend wrote from London recently to ask whether Lana del Rey, the 25-year-old songstress who exploded from nowhere during the past six months, is indie, which is a simple but worthwhile question. One could argue that she's the end of indie rock: If an unsigned musician can post a song on You Tube and have it garner 30.7 million views (and counting), major label and modeling deals, and a performance on "Saturday Night Live" in six months, then the term "indie rock" is no longer relevant. The whole entertainment ecosystem is totally contorted, as indie, which one meant prideful knottiness, now means worldwide fame and acceptance, and labels don't matter until you decide to sign to one. I instead replied to my friend that she exists in her own world of hype cycles that compound upon themselves, which also seems to be true.

For better or worse, Lana del Rey's rise also highlights how the Internet, in its early-21st-century incarnation, has ended the career arc of critically adored and commercially overlooked musicians. The Replacements (and Paul Westerberg's solo records) were probably the most famous version of this archetype, though Dean Wareham's output in Galaxie 500 and then Luna, as well as the Magnetic Fields, are also good examples. With each release, critics shout it's a crime these artists don't reach a wider audience -- and then they don't reach a wider audience. But now, everyone pretty much ends up where they should end up, if not better. Neko Case, Bon Iver, Beach House and on and on have wide audiences that are much more substantial than they would've been if they released records 15 years earlier. They still make their own path, so they're not going to sell out arenas, but at the same time, they're catchy and charming and deserve the fan bases they've won. Those that don't break through don't make it because they're a bit too quirky, challenging or esoteric -- which isn't necessarily a criticism -- or because they're not quite as good as those in the upper indie echelon. I've been trying to think this week of a band with at least three recent records to its name that would fit the "overlooked critic's favorite" label and none comes to mind.

This is a good development in the music industry because it's wonderful to see talented people earn the recognition and money they deserve. This is also a disappointing one because some of the thrill of having your own personal treasure is gone. When the Internet opens all doors it also uncovers all secrets.

Above is the video for Luna's "California (All the Way)," to promote nostalgia. Though I like "Video Games" a lot, Lana del Ray has landed the farthest ahead of where her talent should place her -- at least at this point in her career.