Oats

RTH, I Need Your Help!!

Posted by Oats

Jun 162008

So my latest personal rock project is quite possibly the nerdiest thing I’ve done yet: The History of British Rock, According to Me. It’s currently five volumes of CD-length iTunes playlists. It’s also a work-in-progress, so I’m not ready to share the full track listing. However, I need some feedback from discerning rock-o-philes such as yourselves. I’m a little unsure what to do about bands from other countries who resettled in England at some point.

I’ve decided that The Pretenders and My Bloody Valentine belong in this collection. But what about the following acts?

’60s-era The Bee Gees
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Nick Cave (The Birthday Party, The Bad Seeds and/or Grinderman)
The Go-Betweens

(It’s too bad Links Linkerson, with his exacting standards of chronology and classification, continues to eschew this mutation of RTH. I just may have post a query in the RTH basement.)

RTH, I Need Your Help!! The Great 48, alexmagic, berylant, Mr. Moderator, saturnismine, hvb and everyone else, please let me know your feelings. Homefrontradio, surely you must have an opinion to share about the three Australian-based acts.

Who’s Your Favorite Journeyman British Rock Producer?

Posted by Oats

Jun 112008

An exceedingly nerdy question to ask, yes, but a worthwhile one, nonetheless, I think. Let’s consider some nominations, shall we?

CHRIS THOMAS
Beginnings: Famously served as George Martin’s understudy during the White Album sessions.
Some Highlights: John Cale’s Paris 1919; Roxy Music’s second, third, and fifth albums; Mixed Dark Side of the Moon; Never Mind the Bollocks; First three Pretenders albums; INXS’ commercial juggernaut Kick; Pulp’s Different Class and This Is Hardcore.
WHAAA? Many interchangeable Elton John albums of the ’80s and ’90s.

JOHN LECKIE
Beginnings: Helped engineer Plastic Ono Band and All Things Must Pass. John Lennon nicknamed him “Licky,” supposedly.
Some Highlights: Be-Bop Deluxe (That’s for you, Mr. Mod.) Early XTC and Dukes of Stratosphere; Three Fall albums, which is more than most members of The Fall can manage (I’m kidding, Berlyant!); First Stone Roses album; Radiohead’s The Bends.
WHAA? Los Lobos’ Good Morning Aztlan

STEVE LILLYWHITE
Beginnings: Engineer somewhere. Does not appear to have learned at the feet of anyone Beatle-related.
Some Highlights: Peter Gabriel’s third album; XTC’s Drums and Wires and Black Sea; many U2 albums; Kirsty MacColl; The Pogues; the last Talking Heads album.
WHAA? Blamed for the big drum sound of the ’80s, but what’s really strange is his alliance with latter-day hippie jam types, particularly Dave Matthews Band.

Celebrate California Day with Randy Newman

Posted by Oats

Jun 052008

I just found out about this new compilation this week. It’s a collection of Randy Newman compositions from his songwriter-for-hire days in the ’60s. Artists featured include Dusty Springfield, Eric Burdon and the Animals, and Fats Domino. It appears that album came out in April of this year on Ace Records, a British label. Hey, BigSteve and Dr. John: You guys hear about this album? Looks pretty cool. Details here.
Continue reading »

The Most Coked-Out Song Ever

Posted by Oats

Jun 052008

In celebration of California Day here at RTH — and feel free to correct me if I’m wrong — I submit that “Those Shoes” by The Eagles is The Most Coked-Out Song Ever.

First, take the arrangement. It’s not enough to have one talk box guitar. No, here, all the guitars have bendy mouth things on them, the better to convey the sound of snorting noses. Then, there’s the mix of drum machine and Henley beats. (Guess which of the two has more swing.) The relentless, unchanging bass line convinces me that even mellow nice-guy Timothy B. Schmit is feelin’ kinda nervous right now, man.
Continue reading »

Ah, Internet

Posted by Oats

May 072008

Yesterday, I happened across X drummer D.J. Bonebrake’s Wikipedia page, which contained this mind-blowing nugget:

(Born Andrew Morrison, younger brother of rock legend Jim Morrison of The Doors)

I looked for any online confirmation. The best I could do was a comment on Brooklyn Vegan:

you realize “DJ Bonebrake” is Andrew Morrison, younger brother of James Daniel Morrison, aka theThe Lizard King

So, is this bit of trivia actually true, and did anyone here know this? (More frighteningly, is this common knowledge I’ve just embarrassed myself by admitting I didn’t know it?)

Also, note the above clip (from the awesome X: The Unheard Music) in which Manzarek claims he first learned about X by reading a concert review in a newspaper? Does this mean he actually passed up an opportunity to mention Jimbo?

Rock Gateways, Advanced

Posted by Oats

Apr 292008

Okay, here’s a topic. Can you think of band or artist that was a specific gateway to your current overall thinking of what rock is? I don’t mean the first band you fell in love with. I’m thinking more about the moment you realized that there was more to rock than you initially perceived. What band first hipped you to that. By way of example, I’ll tell you my answer. I think my early exposure to Talking Heads videos, such as the one above, laid the groundwork for an adult life of cherishing off-kilter lyrical perspectives and nerdy, unconventional frontmen.

Corporate Synergy!

Posted by Oats

Mar 052008

I just saw this last night — a commercial featuring The Kinks’ “Everybody’s a Star (Starmaker)” from Soap Opera. Song choices in advertising are getting more and more obscure. How soon till Apple gets its hands on “Think Visual”?

Older Entries Newer Entries