Trans Am walks the same line between substance and style that its namesake car model did in its heyday. Often considered the leading light of the ’90s post-rock scene, the Maryland-based trio switches between big, loud rawk riffing and spacey, experimental ambience, sometimes within the same song. Trans Am gleans imagery and sounds from the synth- and vocoder-heavy music of decades past, but also informs its songs with a detached, millennial indie attitude. The group shifts gears from album to album, and this intellectual restlessness continues with the atmospheric, trippy Thing (Thrill Jockey). The LP should appeal both to new-school stoner-metal fans and the hippie oldheads at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, where Trans Am will be playing a free show on August 18. Nathan Means will also be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with the band.
Means: Every worldwide football (soccer) critic knows that Lionel Messi is the best player in the world. Fact. Except, of course, in the United Kingdom, where the football press is obsessed with pretty-boy Cristiano Ronaldo. They list abstract qualities that supposedly make him superior, such as “athleticism,” “pace” and “power.” In fact, the quality that these British journalists are really admiring in Ronaldo are his very sexy good looks. Messi, though obviously the superior player, appears somewhat stunted and plain off the pitch. While this forward-looking gay tendency among the British sportwriting press is admirable, it still shouldn’t be used as a sort of socially progressive bludgeon against Messi.
Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0DJ_OykPxc
One reply on “From The Desk Of Trans Am’s Nathan Means: U.K. Soccer Fans: Gay For Ronaldo?”
I absolutely love it when a musician I happen to admire comments on any sport, but I especially love it when that sport is football of the English variety. I won’t lie, I hate Manchester United with a passion, so I naturally agree with your astute assessment of Chrissianne Ronaldo. As for Messi, I think he needs a few years of seasoning to be mentioned amongst the all-time greats of the game. While I agree that Messi possesses an unreall skill set and lightning pace, I think he was out-performed in the World Cup by the likes of Diego Forlan and David Villa. As much as I hate CR, it will be interesting to see how he fares under the surveillance of the Special One. Thanks for the football post on off all places, magnet.