May 032011
The Sound of Smog?
I’ve been reading about Bill Callahan and Smog for at least 10 years without ever knowningly hearing a single song by the man. I know more of his backstory than I have any business knowing. I know he’s amazing. I don’t know what he actually sounds like.
I have, however, developed an image in my mind of what his music probably sounds like: Fred Sanford‘s musty, roll-neck cardigan.
How about you? Is there an artist you’ve somehow managed not to ever consciously hear while creating a picture in your mind’s ear of how that artist’s music might sound? Do tell.
I’ve never heard anything by Guided By Voices, but a few people (including former lead Katydid Susie Hug) have told me some of my own recordings sound like theirs. This has not made me want to listen to them, however. I imagine their music is much better than mine. It probably sounds like a fresh box of Crunch N Munch…the butter toffee kind, not the caramel, mind you.
I’ve never heard the Fleet Foxes but I would be very disappointed if they didn’t smell like a pine tree with just the faintest whiff of ass (in a good way, like weed or Heineken).
They’re not for everyone, but if they are for you, you are really missing out by not giving them a listen. Start with Bee Thousand or Alien Lanes. That should help you decide fairly quickly if you like them or not.
I picked up Patti Smith’s Horses this week, having never heard a single song from her. I was reading “Just Kids” and wanted to put the music with the story. It was not what I expected at all (actually much better that I was expecting)
Another one that I picked up was The Jeff Beck Group (Truth and Beck-Ola) not sure how I missed this (being a rock and blues fan as well as a fan of Rod). I knew Aint Superstitious and their Shapes of Things reworking (both on Rod’s box set).
Again, it was better than I expected (reviews of Beck-ola are not very positive) There is one good LP woth of songs spread out over some lazy covers and instrumentals. The two LP on one CD sounds like one great LP with lots of bonus tracks.It’s no Led Zepelin as far as cohesiveness and the playing is not as good as LZ either, but there is something about it that I do really like.
Again, dont know how I missed both of these in the last 30 years
I went for quite a few years before hearing anything by the Replacements in their prime. Based on their reputation, I expected the music to be fast, punky, unskilled, and snotty – sort of like a US version of Wreckless Eric or something. Or maybe fast and powerful guitar-raunch like Husker Du. Well, not long back I got to hear their Let It Be album in its entirety. While there were a couple of loud bashers, much of the album is guitar-based power pop that was downright tuneful. Surprise!
Until quite recently I had never heard (or perhaps barely heard) Spooky Tooth, which I assumed sounded like a combination of Uriah Heep and The Nice, two other bands that I have never heard (or barely heard). In fact, what I heard was pretty good, and sounded more like Traffic. A pleasant surprise.
Fleet Foxes kind of sound like Surfs Up – Holland-era Beach Boys, to me. Quirky harmonies, but in a good way.
I never manage to hear a lot of those folk/rock crossover guys that get a bit of attention among rock fans. But I think I know what I would think of these guys, having never heard a note of any of them:
John Fahey – Blind Joe Death, absolutely!
Will Oldham / Bonnie Prince Billy / … – Not sure, he may be overthinking it a bit
Bert Jansch – no thanks, his recent interview sounds pretty insufferable (http://www.phawker.com/2011/04/30/lord-of-the-strings-qa-with-bert-jansch/)
Although I dig Psychic TV, I’ve yet to hear anything by Throbbing Gristle. I imagine it sounds like My Bloody Valentine but 1000 times noisier and more punk…possibly violent? I have no idea!
I’ll have to cue up some Throbbing Gristle for this week’s Saturday Night Shut-In. They’ve got a couple of sides to them, at least one of which is not too different than some Psychic TV.
I finally heard Fahey last year. It was OK for background music. He actually did a Christmas album, if memory serves, that was good.
I finally heard Will Oldham a couple of years ago. I thought he, too, would sound like Fred Sanford’s musty roll-neck cardigan. It kind of does, but in a good way, like poor man’s Band.
I still haven’t heard Jansch, but wasn’t he in Pentangle? I finally heard them a couple of years ago. They were all right.
I was with you every step of that learning process!
Great story.