Salem is the type of band who sleeps through their New York Times interview; and then gives answers so waffley and non-committal that I’m convinced they’re too stupid to function as humans let alone musicians. The infamous videos of them performing at the Fader Fort include the band doing what they do best—looking like a mix between nervous, aimless, and totally confused; poking and prodding at their gear like it’s going to bite them; fetching cigarettes in the middle of a song; and somehow making their “breakout star” a white person who can stand in front of a room of people and freestyle an atonal, arrhythmic Southern-rap minstrel show. I have no idea how these talentless fuckups sleep at night EVER, let along through Ben Ratliff’s phone calls. By the way, yes, they got booed by a bunch of people at the Fader Fort only there for free jeans and bragging rights. Good work indie rock. Your tireless persecution complex about not being invited to the cool parties in high school is now making underground music a parade of people too unemployable for the fashion industry!