The Raveonettes and Interpol both get called out for imitating their influences (JAMC and Joy Division, respectively) a little too blatantly in the New York Times Magazine's "Year In Ideas" (Tribute Bands in Denial). Article goes on to state that "allegiance to the faded sounds of yesteryear is the new authenticity". That statement already seems like an empty pronouncement. It goes on that in the past lack of originality hurt the copying band. I always thought that bands that copy a more successful band can more easily ride coattails into fame. If the music industry were to be purged off all bands without an original concept on their record, the charts would be a ghost town with Bjork and Josephine Baker duking it out for the title of supreme queen. Bjork's arsenal contains eggs from her swan dress while Ms. Baker has an outfit constructed from bananas. Who would win?
