MADE-UP GENRES OF THE MONTH

BRIAN EMO Tight, carefully structured songwriting, cyclical melodies, and personal lyrics, done with an Eno-like obsession with production. (See: Death Cab for Cutie’s Transatlanticism, Pinback’s Summer in Abaddon, Aloha’s Here Comes Everyone.) Usage “Have you heard that new Polyvinyl comp? Some of those bands sound so Brian Emo when you listen with headphones on.”

FLOCK ROCK Sparse acoustic songs with overt Christian and/or biblical references and often whispery vocals. (See: Sufjan Stevens’ Greetings From Michigan, Woven Hand’s Consider the Birds, Brother Danielson’s Brother is to Son.) Usage “We wondered why there were so many people there for the opening band. Turns out those faithful flock-rock fans like to get there early.”

BLINGER-SONGWRITER A twenty something neo-soul singer whose music eschews excess, yet whose wardrobe and stylist costs clearly equal his or her recording budget. (See: John Legend’s Get Lifted, Lyfe’s Lyfe 268-192, Van Hunt’s Van Hunt.) Usage “Considering how much that John Varvatos jacket goes for, my man can’t deny he’s a blinger-songwriter.”