It’s time for another rapid-fire round of hard-hitting questions, known in the Halls of Rock as Dugout Chatter! Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, only true ones. Let’s get it on!
Driving into work this morning I was listening to the one Paul Simon album I really like, Rhythm of the Saints. As I enjoyed the tunes I was reminded of his MOJO interview from a few years ago, in which he dismissed most of his Simon & Garfunkel works in the same terms I always have and declared his solo works as pretty much the only stuff he’s done that matters—pretty much what I’ve been saying for the last 25 years! How satisfying it was to read this interview and feel like Simon was backing me up after years of arguing with E. Pluribus Gergely and others over the merits of those S&G albums. So that’s a long-winded set up for my first question: What’s the most satisfying piece of self-analysis by an artist that you’ve ever read or seen in an interview (eg, print, documentary, liner notes)?
Earlier this week I was listening to my favorite XTC album, English Settlement. I tried really hard to avoid skipping songs, because I always feel there’s much to learn from that album, even the lesser songs. I couldn’t resist skipping “Fly Upon the Wall,” but I had no trouble sticking with the silly “Down in the Cockpit.” As awkward as I find that song, I feel it is loaded with “teaching moments.” What’s an awkward song (by any artist) you’ll usually let play through for its “teaching moments?”
I distinctly recall a day spent with the daughter of one of my Mom’s friends when the Gallery song “It’s So Nice to Be With You” began running through my head. I must have been 11 years old. What an innocent “first crush” song to recall, but that’s the truth. What’s the earliest song you identify with a youthful crush?
I’m a Gemini, but most likely I just happen to associate with the Talking Heads song “Air.” In astrological terms what element would best describe your musical tastes: air, water, fire, or earth?
I look forward to your answers.
What’s the most satisfying piece of self-analysis by an artist that you’ve ever read or seen in an interview (eg, print, documentary, liner notes)?
I’ve been listening to the WTF podcasts by Marc Maron lately. He’s a comedian who interviews other comedians for about an hour and it is fascinating to hear people who are really funny, emotionally angst ridden, and willing to just put it all out on public display.
What’s an awkward song (by any artist) you’ll usually let play through for its “teaching moments?”
Not sure what you mean by “teaching moment” but I’ll sit through a sogn that I don’t particularly like if there is one element that I’m fixated on. Like that rhythm guitar in Year of the Cat.
In astrological terms what element would best describe your musical tastes: air, water, fire, or earth?
I’m a Libra, which I just discovered is also an Air sign. I’m a bit of a generalist when it comes to music and these bits from wikipedia regarding Air signs seem to apply to my music listening habits: “generally well-rounded” “generally know a little something about everything” “They carry a grudge, and are quick to express their opinion.”
I also found this to be relevant to my guitar playing endeavors: “Air signs have a tendency to judge themselves harshly. They set standards for themselves…”
And finally, I found this which now seems obvious given the Mod’s prednisone-induced ‘roid rage that was on full display at the end of the most recent Saturday Night Shut In: “Libra is not as violent as Aquarius or Gemini.”
Vincent Gallo’s liner notes for his Soundtrack Anthology. They let you know he knows he’s a prick.
I try not to get “taught” by rock too much, but I sit through It Aint Easy from Ziggy Stardust even though i think it sucks. The rest of the album is so good, there must be somethin to it. I’ve been waiting 25 years to figure out what it might be.
Woman In Love by Streisand & Gibb went well with the super-crush i had on my baby sitter in 1st grade.
FIRE MOTHERFUCKER!
You have understood my concept of “teaching moment,” cdm.
Funny what you say about “It Ain’t Easy,” shawnkilroy. I was listening to that album on Saturday morning and have been forming a new point of view on my man Bowie that concerns that song and a few others. I think the verses are pretty good on that song, by the way.
Bowie didn’t write “It Ain’t Easy,” right? Not a bad song and all but certainly “Sweet Head” should have been on the record instead. It’s great.
1. I quite like some of the analysis, self or otherwise, in the Biograph book/liner notes that Dylan did with Cameron Crowe. There’s one great bit where Dylan goes off on critics for assuming that “You’re a Big Girl Now” is about his wife: “I mean, it couldn’t be about anyone else but my wife, right? Stupid and misleading jerks sometimes these interpreters are. Fools, they limit you to their own unimaginative mentality.”
2. Sticking with Blood on the Tracks, which is one of my favorite records, period, I will sometimes sit through and sometimes skip over “Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts,” which is a good song, but which is marred by one of the world’s most repetitive bass lines (and it is a very long song), which can tend to induce a catatonic state; and which suffers from occupying a slot on the record that could and should have been occupied by the magnificent “Up to Me” which came out on Biograph. What is learned from this teaching moment? I’m not so sure.
3. I can’t think of anything, but I crack up whenever I hear “It’s So Nice To Be With You” ’cause it’s such a Neil Diamond wannabe song. I mean that in a good way.
4. Wow, this is a tough one. I think my musical tastes are a combination of fire and air, or, you might just say, hot air.
Awkward Song for Teaching Moment – “Hair” by the Cowsills – there is one awsome bass fill
Crush Song – Precious & Few
Musical sign – Rhythm
There’s probably way too many self-analysis moments and I probably wish Macca would have some. He did own up to the problems with McCartney II, which may lead me to like the album better. I’ve got a copy of the Elliot Mintz/Dylan show promoting the Bootleg Series. Mintz keeps trying to get Bob to admit that he’s great and Bob just won’t bite.
I’ve always found “Within You Without You” a teaching moment from Pepper. When I first discovered that album in high school, it was hard for me to get through it. I don’t know why I found it so difficult, but it really drug what I thought to be a brilliant record down. I have since really warmed to it and accept it as is. I don’t know where this acceptance came from or exactly when it happened, but I enjoy it now.
“All Through The Night” by Cyndi Lauper stirred images for me as a youth.
Fire taught me to burn.
TB
I haven’t listened to that Dylan-Mintz interview in ages. There is a fascinating bit I recall when he’s asked about his “legacy” and Dylan goes into a Slow Train-esque rant about how “legacy” is a lot like “legion” which is the devil’s word, and so a legacy is far from anything he want to be thinking about. Ol’ Mintzy doesn’t quite know where to go with that one.
It’s a GREAT interview. My GF got huge kick out of it questioning if Bob really believes all that stuff or was just messing with him. I wouldn’t want to interview him.
“Art? My stuff don’t hang in museums…”
TB
1. Peter Buck et al, pretty much dissed “Around the Sun” when they were doing press for “Accelerate” a few years ago — yet another supposed “return to form” album for R.E.M. I thought that was pretty interesting for a band to disavow an entire album that had at least had a decent single — “Leaving New York.”
2. I used to have to explain “Hot Dog” on In Through the Out Door” to some of my pals when it came out.
3. Used to sing “I Think I Love You” with a cute neighbor girl.
4. Earth – love the rootsy rock.
written by a fellow named Ron Davies. Three Dog Night also did the tune. They named an album after it.
What’s the most satisfying piece of self-analysis by an artist that you’ve ever read or seen in an interview (eg, print, documentary, liner notes)?
I don’t know if it’s so much self analysis as much as band analysis, but Mick Collins’ liner notes for Blacktop’s I’ve Got a Baaaaaad Feeling About This are a fascinating look at his life for a short time. Sometimes I read it without listening to the album.
What’s an awkward song (by any artist) you’ll usually let play through for its “teaching moments?”
I can listen to virtually every Stones song up until 40 Licks, because even the lesser ones just have so much craft and obvious skill that there’s always something worth hearing, and often they slowly become songs I feel like hearing.
What’s the earliest song you identify with a youthful crush?
William De Vaughn’s Be Thankful For What You Got. Drift Away was a good one, too.
In astrological terms what element would best describe your musical tastes: air, water, fire, or earth?
Earth, I guess. I don’t know anything about Astrology because it’s bullshit, but I guess I like earthy music. I hope I like fiery music, too.
What’s the most satisfying piece of self-analysis by an artist that you’ve ever read or seen in an interview (eg, print, documentary, liner notes)?
Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour — hours and hours of entertaining insight into Dylan’s worldview and musical taste.
What’s an awkward song (by any artist) you’ll usually let play through for its “teaching moments?”
Country Honk.
What’s the earliest song you identify with a youthful crush?
Louis Louie.
In astrological terms what element would best describe your musical tastes: air, water, fire, or earth?
The ancient Greeks had a fifth element — aether which, because nature abhors a vacuum, filled the space above the terrestrial sphere between the planets and the stars. Now known as ‘nothing,’ space is my element.
What’s the most satisfying piece of self-analysis by an artist that you’ve ever read or seen in an interview (eg, print, documentary, liner notes)?
Tom Petty late ’80’s interview in which he expressed a desire to be as good of a songwriter as Elvis Costello.
What’s an awkward song (by any artist) you’ll usually let play through for its “teaching moments?”
Any Noel Redding songs on Hendrix albums. Lesson learned: Charity can get ugly.
What’s the earliest song you identify with a youthful crush?
Singing “Just What I Needed” to a fellow Summer Camp attendee.
In astrological terms what element would best describe your musical tastes: air, water, fire, or earth?
Water — (from wiki): “…good communicator and persuader, intuitive and sympathetic to others and good at conveying feelings & emotions.” A nice summation of my musikal tastes (or lack of).
#2 — I’ve had an occasion or two where I’ve had to explain “Hot Dog” as well. Funny!