Lollapalooza '09

The headliners for this year's Lollapalooza kind of disappoint me. Beastie Boys, Depeche Mode, and Jane's Addiction? I have nothing against any of these bands, except maybe the Beastie Boys, but it's honestly nothing I'd get excited over. Actually, I'm going to be blunt about this. I like a lot of music, but I don't like the Beastie Boys. Not one bit. They don't even exist on my hard drive, except for "Sabotage," which I downloaded as part of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs. And I think the selection is undeserved, but obviously enough people disagree with me on this one. As for Depeche Mode and Jane's Addiction...I absolutely love the 80s revival thing that's been going on these past few years. It means I get a chance to see bands that became big (and then separated!) before I was even born, and I think almost everything from the 80s is excellent, regardless of what those snotty music critics say. Keyword is "almost," though. Depeche Mode and Jane's Addiction are two bands from that era that I've just never been that into. Depeche Mode is probably one of my least favorite new wave bands. I've made a valiant effort, in my opinion, to like them, but I tend to think of them as a watered-down version of Duran Duran. Sure, they have some good songs. But their music lacks replay value, I think, because once I listen to one of their songs a certain number of times, it gets annoying. For example, "Just Can't Get Enough." And "People are People." As opposed to Duran Duran or New Order, which I will love eternally, I think. Or even Yazoo. I wish Depeche Mode had reformed as Yazoo instead of Depeche Mode. Screw name recognition, really. I have been listening to Yazoo's "Only You" practically nonstop, and I like it better than anything I've heard by Depeche Mode. And I really haven't got that much to say about Jane's Addiction. I like their hit, "Jane Says," don't care much for "Been Caught Stealin'," and I haven't listened much to the rest of their catalogue. Yes, I know they started Lollapalooza, but that doesn't make me appreciate their music any more. I prefer my 80s music to be heavily electronic.