So here’s something I don’t get.

Stephan Groth of Apoptygma Berzerk granted Side-Line an interview where…well, to be honest he says a lot of really stupid things – including comparing scenesters to Nazis through a tremendous leap in logic. Now, there are plenty who will say, “Yeah, I like early Apop but hate everything they’ve done this decade.” And that apparently grates on Groth who is lashing back while trying to come off as a person who “doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.”

I can respect a guy who isn’t out to please scenesters and just wants to write the music he appreciates regardless of what people with painfully limited tastes might say. But seriously…watch the video for “Apollo” (embedding has been disabled due to high suck content). A great evolution in sound this is not. It can be argued that there are some fine Pop chops on display here but it can also be argued that this is safe, sterile material that has already been covered by the likes of (*shudder*) the Killers, Editors, etc. Hell, this is one rung up the ladder from the friggin’ Goo Goo Dolls.

So why is that such a big deal? Well, Groth makes the argument in the interview that American audiences are “10 years behind” in their musical tastes and yet he’s making music that’s been done pretty extensively, both here and across the pond, by far better groups over the course of the past decade. And we really didn’t give a shit about them either, then or now. So why should we give a damn that Groth has decided to jump on this bandwagon, about ten years too late, in an effort to sell more records rather than rely on his edgy, earlier output? Note to Stephan: if you were looking to gain in popularity why not drop the name and start afresh? It’s doubtful you’re going to become a huge commercial hit with a dumb, overly long name like Apoptygma Berzerk.

We shouldn’t. And most of us don’t. If we wanted to listen to the Killers, we’d be listening to the Killers. Hey, if you can get into this that’s great but not only do I have a problem with the bland music I’m having a difficult time swallowing this guy’s attitude as well. And I’m the kind of guy who adores attitude. This is just…sad, all the way around.