Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I thought Ben was full on gay?



I really, really, really hope these allegations against Ben are unfounded. I'd only just discovered these guys a few months ago and I fell hard for them, their music gave me hope and confidence and inspiration as a bisexual man, in a way very few bands ever have. It would absolutely break my fucking heart to learn these allegations are true.



Very conflicted about the whole thing. On one hand I don't want to at all try to trivialize or ignore the allegations or just assume it must be bullshit because of my love for their band, but I also don't want to just immediately assume guilt like it seems everyone fucking else is doing. They were going to a play a show around here in about a month and the venue is already offering people refunds and all their opening bands have dropped off. It doesn't look good, but I won't condemn Ben until we learn more about the situation. I realize it's basically impossible to "prove" these allegations and I'm not trying to shame the victim if she was indeed a victim, I just really, really don't want to believe it's true. I pray it isn't.



Kind of hilarious though seeing the same people who love listening to actual murderers and rapists music suddenly disown this band like they're above their music. It is possible to separate an artist from their art guys, I still watch and enjoy older Woody Allen or Roman Polanski films, still listen to Burzum or Eric Clapton, etc. If these allegations are true I don't think that somehow makes their music invalid by default or something.

Album Rating: 3.5

"if you let allegations stop you from listening to soemthing, fuck you."



Well, sorry for being human?



Sure, seperating art from artist is one thing, but when the art blatantly talks against what's being allegated against them...the whole thing falls apart in a way.

Big [2] for Jiggly

Album Rating: 3.5

It's just natural human reaction when you get down to it. It's like if I made an anti-big money political song and then went behind everyone's back and took money from big oil and big pharma and the payday loan industry. Oops.

I've never gone from absolutely loving to absolutely hating a group so fast. I thought the allegations might be an unfounded smear campaign at first but there's so so so so much evidence piling up that Ben is just disgusting and Liv's known about it the whole time.

Man.. this sucks.

oh no, a human being is a piece of shit and does bad things?

how could this happen?

this band kinda sucked but their message was cool until they started raping people

if you guys wanna listen to a queer band that doesn't rape their fans check out HIRS

new perfume genius as well. may have lost one but we will not be defeated

I really hope they feel horrible about the damage they've done

They both deserve prison time.

Some of the support bands who pulled out said they confidentially had been warned about Ben's behaviour but didn't speak out until it broke. They have no reason to lie.

Whoops, PWR BTTM just completely shit the bed. They're done son.

As for queer bands - Like Pacific, Museum Mouth, Drenge. All awesome.

They've been removed from the Polyvinyl store. Think they'll be dropped from the label today

Album Rating: 3.5

Wow, this is depressing af.



Oh and Perfume Genius AOTY.

Album Rating: 3.5

@bach: Thanks for the rec! Just got some stuff off their bandcamp.

thank you based perfume genius

I was really considering giving this a spin but now I don't know if I'll be able to go into it without outside influence affecting my enjoyment. It's a shame.

Just going to listen to Hornets of the Pogrom instead

Seconding some folks' reactions. Considering the image and subject they were going for this is just a huge mess.

Album Rating: 4.0

I just finally checked it out and this is really good. Sucks about the controversy surrounding them and how kneejerk everyone in the industry was as far as ditching them, but in the same breath the fact that there are multiple accusations coming to light is pretty damning.