Phoenix, Arcade Fire, Spoon, MGMT, Regina Spektor. These names are musical trademarks of hipsters, and their music is jumping the shark and sweeping the nation in even the most improbable of places.

For instance, Bel Air, Maryland.

It has completely taken over. Even during the winter season, when symphonies of Christmas carols dominated, I still heard hipsters on the radio. On two separate occasions, I walked into stores in Harford Mall and heard Conor Oberst’s Christmas album playing. I suppose everyone else assumed the singer was another dark, unnamed Christmas caroler, but no, he was Rolling Stone’s best song writer of 2008.

Despite how much I love Conor Oberst and this mainstream recognition, I can admit that Harford Mall’s average audience has probably never even heard his name before. Bel Air isn’t exactly teeming with hipsters. That much is obvious.

But, it seems that hipster music is being flooded throughout many local businesses.

I can’t deny how much I love it. It’s great that people who worship top 40 radio stations are being introduced to a different genre. The indie and alternative market is booming, and it’s about time it has made its way here.

I can only hope that people will listen with open minds and give this music a chance. It’s time to drop the obsession with pop songs that rip off Britney Spears lyrics. It’s time to stop polluting our world with songs that lack originality and meaning. It would be a shame to let the next decade become known for nothing other than popular music’s declining quality when there is so much talent to be offered.

Kaitlin Bobbin can be reached for comment at [email protected]