Video: Damon Iwanaga Slays Northstar Bike Park

 I’m not sure what that elevator-music pop rock was, but I hope to never hear it again =P

 @WRCDH: regardless if you like the music or not, but not recognizing the Black Keys? They've been around for about 20 years and have had a pretty big hit every year for like the last 7+...

Breathlessly awaiting your edit with an all-original soundtrack!

 @plyawn: Yes...I work with a famous composer actually =P

 @plyawn: Ahhh, that’s why I didn’t like it — every song I’ve ever heard from The Black Keys (maybe a dozen?) have made me cringe in auditory agony. Being a percussionist, I’m utterly pained by their uninspired rhythmicity on drums / guitar / bass / vocals, lack of a hint of syncopation, cliché guitar riffs, rudimentary song structures, and worn-out tired composition...being over-produced in a predictable way, all in an effort to sound catchy to the broadest spectrum of untrained ears (clearly to try to sell records and get the most air time vs creating something unique which could be considered art...not just derivative “music” that’s an amalgamation of the most simplistic and ubiquitous sounds and song structures in pop rock). Although The Black Keys might be a “safe” choice for agreeable music that will vaguely appeal to numerous generations, it just doesn’t fit with, nor do justice, to his riding. I live right between two of the most famous grunge-era recording studios in Seattle where Pearl Jam recorded Ten, Nirvana recorded their last song, Soundgarden recorded, etc. My neighbor is a frequent conductor and first-chair violaist of the Seattle Symphony / guest symphonies, and my other neighbor is a music producer (hosting Grammy winners for small concerts in his back yard)...that’s just to say I’ve been around some good music and elite musicians with whom I’ve discussed what makes music culturally significant and worthy of praise. So yeah, I’m a bit of a discerning elitist / connoisseur when it comes to truly inspired and unique music that can certainly be called art (even including certain techno, Drum & Bass, and other proper underground electronic music from around the world — which would probably be on my edit, produced in collaboration with the classical yet progressive composer with whom I work). The Black Keys would be a good music choice for a video ad for 3 generations of a family buying Specialized bikes and going on a family ride...but not for shredding =)

 @plyawn: “The Blah Keys” is my new nickname for them =)

 @plyawn: But their ability to sell records and appeal to a broad spectrum of demographics is impressive. The Blah Keys are sort of the base-model Subaru Legacy of the music world, haha.

 @WRCDH: hahahahaha...I just spoke with Damon and he's agreed to take all of these illuminating insights into consideration before landing another careless edit.

 @plyawn: Who had "Guy from Seattle who thinks he's too good for popular music" on their hipster douche bingo card?

 @N-60: So how is not liking uninspired canned music production that’s created more according to an executive-dictated sales algorithm than unique artistic expression, hipster? Then again, many people like boring cookie-cutter everything in their lives...and never seeking out new anything, rather willfully consuming everything broadcast to the masses on the radio, television, social media, etc. The only thing douchie here is your attack on me — particularly when I’m pointing out the soulless pop-commercialization of mountain biking videos...as demonstrated by this music.

 @giantcop: I doubt Damon selected that music — almost certainly some middle-aged marketing manager at a Specialized who drives a cookie cutter car, lives in a cookie cutter neighborhood, and listens to The Black Keys because it’s the only music his wife, kids and parents can agree on...their favorite family pastime being clapping off-beat while awkwardly trying to move to the beat because “it’s so darn catchy!”

 @plyawn: Black Keys f*ckin suck. They're for people who buy fedoras and graduate from Dave Matthews Band lawn concerts.

 @youknowitsus: LOL! “...Dave Matthews Band lawn concerts.” LOL! Bullseye!

 @plyawn: Heard the name, never heard their music. Where would you even hear it? Programmed commercial FM radio? The only reason I use FM is so my pre-AUX Toyota can play Bandcamp and YouTube music through the ciggy lighter BT adapter. I don't have an antenna anyway

 @WRCDH: hahahaha it's true!