Bundesvision 2010: Bremen

kleinstadthelden: Indie Boys

Writing a good music review is easy. Good music touches emotions and creates connections. Writing a bad music review is even easier. There is nothing like spite and disdain for something to excite ones literary pretensions. But God almighty, it's hard to write an interesting and informative review of a song that's just eh.

And that brings us to Bremen's entry in Bundesvision 2010: kleinstadthelden's Indie Boys. It's competent alternative rock without innovation or passion. The musicians play their instruments well. Their key progressions demonstrate an understanding of musical form. But put Indie Boys up against 100 other alternative rock anthems by competent musicians, and it will disappear without a trace.

Of course, standing out in a crowd can win it all or it can spell ruin. Sometimes the best strategy is just to do what you do well, without attracting too much attention with innovation. In the restaurant world, it's certainly worked well for TGI Friday's. In the automobile world, it's certainly worked well for General Motors (setting aside the past few years). I'm sure this strategy will serve kleinstadthelden well in the marketplace over the years. Unfortunately, it's not going to win them Bundesvision.

Prediction: kleinstadthelden will do tolerably well. They are young and good looking, and look like they can put on a decent live show. But even with all of that, I predict that Indie Boys will rise no higher than the middle of the field.