Idolator (formally ‘my new favorite blog’) just pushed the wrong proverbial button for me. As they are the Kings and Queens of quoting other music sites and criticizing them, I figured I’d do them the honor.

The always satirical music news blog (whose snobby approach to reporting had entertained me until now – despite their claim that they are not “pasty white taste-makers”), have decided to trash Thom Yorke and Radiohead for participating in NBC’s “Green Week” via a performance on Conan O’Brien’s late night show on Wednesday. A special performance of “House of Cards,” filmed specifically for the show, will air in the slot where the band would normally play.

The point of the band’s recorded performance, according to Radiohead, is to avoid a carbon footprint equivalent to “driving one’s car for a solid year” that would have been left from one flight from NYC to London to play live in the studio.

What did the Idolator have to say about the announcement?

Fuck you, Thom Yorke. I’m supposed to applaud you for finding a way to promote your new album on Conan without increasing your “carbon footprint” on the planet? I know how easy it is for Radioheadis to film themselves playing live in a room. It’s all you guys do. This only deserves commendation is if I accept that it was a necessity for you to appear on Conan in the first place. And as I’m not a self-righteous, self-enamored rock star (yet), I can’t make that logical leap. Are you going to send holograms of yourself on tour, allowing fans to congratulate themselves (and you, of course) by declining the ecological strain that would created by dragging your moanyass across the world? Should award nominees preface their “live-via-satellite” acceptance speeches by saying that by staying on set and not walking down the red carpet, they’re helping keep our planet just a little bit healthier?

As I said in my comment to the post, I see the old adage still applies that no good deed goes unpunished.

Perhaps I’ve fallen too far into Radiohead fandom to find the humor in this? All things aside (politics and the like – I’m not a preachy environmentalist by any means), there is no reason to criticize a band for attempting to help a good cause. Actually, I take it back. Criticism I love. This post is just downright nasty for absolutely no reason. I’m sure Conan asked them to participate in this, seeing as they were his first musical guest ever and he is obviously a fan. Seems like a pretty low blow, even for them.

Maybe Buzznet will buy you some tact.