I think we’ve all been guilty of buying music on the basis of reading about the singer or band before we’ve ever heard a note. I’ve not done it all that often, but inevitably I’ve got home and put on the vinyl/CD are wondered just what the fuss was all about.
This certainly happened at least once in 2007 when I bought a 7″ single by the Brooklyn-based synth-orientated indie-pop combo, Au Revoir Simone. The trio, consisting of Erika Forster, Annie Hart and Heather D’Angelo were very near the top of the hipster’s lists of acts to latch onto, and when I came across the single on display in a shop in Glasgow, I decided to plunge in…..possibly having been subconsciously influenced by the sleeve!
I recall being a bit underwhelmed by it all, and after a couple of listens just stored it away. But it was one which came out via the lucky dip a while back, and so it was given a fresh spin:-
mp3: Au Revoir Simone – Sad Song
It’s not earth-shattering, but it’s certainly a pleasant enough listen. Maybe I was expecting too much back in the day.
Here’s the b-side, which I don’t think I’d ever listened to ever since its initial play on the mp3 turntable for conversion to digital purposes for the i-pod.
mp3: Au Revoir Simone – Sad Song (Alexis Taylor remix/version – 7″ edit)
The man from Hot Chip does exactly what you’d expect from him, and while it might be down as a 7″ edit, it still comes in at over six minutes in length.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Is there a more damning mark of “it’s ok I guess” mediocrity than “very near the top of the hipster’s lists of acts to latch onto”. I remember this band. I didn’t like them much
I think “Sad Song” is quite good. If I were a DJ, I might play “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service afterward. A song with its own Wikipedia article. I love that.
[silly kisser]
Hi JC. Not a huge fan either, but there was another single by them that came out at just about the same time I liked quite a bit better than Sad Song. When you have a minute, check out Fallen Snow. Full of atmosphere and the vocals at the bridge are beautiful. Feel like they might have been listening to ‘66-era Beach Boys. – Brian