2000 Man says:

11/09/2009 at 9:21 am

Has the disparity between craftsmanship and content ever been so great as that in Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody?” (That is, “What a waste of time that song is, but boy do I admire the work that went into it!”)

Doesn’t it take Boston six years to make the same album over and over again? I swear they just waited for another generation to come of age so they could sell more records.

Has anyone in rock had a more elegant approach to baldness over the course of his career than Brian Eno?

Wearing a hat is elegant? Phil Collins didn’t need a hat! However, it does seem that the more hair that fell out o fhis head, the less songs he had to write. Maybe each hair was a song, and now Phil has nothing left to give.

Beside Jefferson Starship, what’s the most recent example of music you never cared for that you’ve now begun to appreciate?

Lynyrd Skynyrd. Some of it is way too hoe down for me, but what’s not seems to be really pretty good.

Beside Queen, if applicable, is there an artist whose music you don’t like yet whose album productions you do like a lot?

I can’t get past the sucky music to notice the unsucky production.

If Sting characterizes the e-mail compliment of an NPR listener as “nourishing,” what does the guy shit?

Apple Cinnamon Febreze?

mockcarr says:

11/09/2009 at 9:44 am

Has the disparity between craftsmanship and content ever been so great as that in Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody?” (That is, “What a waste of time that song is, but boy do I admire the work that went into it!”)

– Those hit ABBA songs are plenty glossy but I could care less.

Has anyone in rock had a more elegant approach to baldness over the course of his career than Brian Eno?

– Maybe he’s not a rocker, and I’m not really a fan, but James Tayler hasn’t hidden his baldness after being a young longhaired type. He didn’t even shave his head.

Beside Jefferson Starship, what’s the most recent example of music you never cared for that you’ve now begun to appreciate?

– I’m tolerating synthesizers more than I used to, not exactly LIKING them, but still.

Beside Queen, if applicable, is there an artist whose music you don’t like yet whose album productions you do like a lot?

– I was thinking of the opposite type of thing last week. I bought some Bobby Sutliff stuff, and his songs are excellent and produced in a style I really enjoy, but his voice is just a little weak. I was wondering how a really good singer on top of his producion and songwriting would work.
The Faces sound good, but not much is memorable.

If Sting characterizes the e-mail compliment of an NPR listener as “nourishing,” what does the guy shit?

I guess it would have to be a critical massive.

Mr. Moderator says:

11/09/2009 at 10:18 am

2K, interesting that you’re beginning to appreciate some Skynyrd. Did you know they were massive Stones fans and thought they were modeling their sound after them? I read an amazing piece on them in Musician years ago that really helped me appreciate the best aspects of their music. They talked a lot about the Stones and eating.

chuckflack says:

11/09/2009 at 8:53 pm

Craftsmanship and content:
Fusion jazz, the lot of it.

Bob Mould’s done all right with his baldness.

I’m liking a lot of Dion these days.

The Smiths’ music sounds good, but I could never take Morrissey’s voice.

In the same spirit of trying to save the rain forests from oblivion, Sting shits reunion tours to save Andy and Stewart.

hrrundivbakshi says:

07/11/2007 at 8:14 am

“Mustang Sally” or “Bring it on Home”?

“Mustang Sally”! I really don’t understand musician’s general disdain for this song. Why would you hate playing – even over and over — a song with such a killer groove?!

Over the course of your life, have you spent more time listening to Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” or reading about it?

Good question! Probably a tie.

Name a move by a rock band more tired than playing the Hollywood Bowl.

Come on, dude — Budokan!

OK, name a move by a rock band more tired than playing accompanied by an orchestra.

Come on, dude — playing unplugged!

Name a move by a rock band more tired than playing the Hollywood Bowl accompanied by an orchestra.

Come on, dude — watching an awards ceremony in tribute to your band at the Hollywood Bowl, where the orchestra plays snippets of your biggest hits as they go to commercial!

Has anyone heard the Midlake album Van Occupanther?

No — have you ever heard Scuffy Shew?

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters (not the drummer version from Nirvana): Good egg or enough already?

Enough already — he’s becoming the rock Doc Severinsen.

What’s your favorite interview with a sideman that you’ve ever read?

I’ll accept roadies in this category, and again I give mad ups to the book “Sharp Dressed Men” by former Zeez roadie David Blayney.

What song or album has been impressing you of late?

A coupla traxx from my upcoming Thrifty Music selection(s).

What song or album has made you hear music in a new way of late?

One particular track from my upcoming Thrifty Music selections. When I slapped the dusty 45 on the turntable yesterday, it was the first time I’d ever heard the original of this famously-covered number, and it *totally* blows away the much better-known cover.

shawnkilroy says:

07/11/2007 at 9:20 am

“Bring it on Home to Me”, ’cause of a girl I used to date.

Not much of either, Missed the whole Sam Cooke thing.

Any rock band playing in a sporting arena really needs to take a look at itself. What are you in this for?
Sports and Rock don’t mix. Now before you all freak out and tell me to “shut up and sit down”(in a chat room i love it!), I’m not saying you can’t like sports and rock, just have enough class to keep them seperate, (no bands in arenas, no baseball caps onstage)
Besides, Rock Shows need to happen inside in the dark, with booze, fuck festivals, fuck arenas!

Worse than with an Orchestra: Have you ever seen the ICON series? where MTV/VH1 declare an artist (Aerosmith, Metallica, etc.) an icon and stage a grammy sized celebration of their work complete with speeches, interviews, orchestras, celebrity cocksmoking, and RNR Hall of fame style Jamalongs?
gag me with a maggot!

Dave Grohl seems like he’s rocking for the right reasons. Not my cup of tea, but he was born again righteously from the wreckage of Nirvana. Does Great covers. (Baker Street, Down in the Park, Tiny Dancer)

Some NICO book I read that was written by her Keyboard player in the 80’s. Wicked tales of degradation. I like that shit.

Rubycon-Tangerine Dream. I am reading 3001-The Final Odessey. They go together.

Mr. Moderator says:

07/11/2007 at 10:38 am

“Mustang Sally”

I’ve read about “A Change Is Gonna Come” more than listened to it.

Regarding tired rock moves, I’m getting real tired of bands through a pretty violinist or cellist or three up on stage to sway in their cotton skirts and play parts that really aren’t necessary. Just stick some go-go dancers in cages if your band is that hard up for adding some sex appeal to a live performance.

Yes, I’ve heard that Midlake album, at least most of it.

Enough already of Dave Grohl, at least until the tip of that guy’s nose grows over and I’m not faced with looking directly up his nostrils.

I read a strange interview with Television sideman Richard Lloyd once:) Actually, the reference to The Big Beat was a good one. I’d like to read more interviews with sideman.

An album by Finn’s Motel that Kpdexter burned me a while back sounded real good yesterday. That Neu! and Midlake stuff I recently downloaded impress me as well.

Your thoughts on The Byrds have made me think about music in a new way, but the jury’s still out on whether revisiting the music will make me hear it differently.

BigSteve says:

07/11/2007 at 11:37 am

Mustang Sally is a great groove, but the harmony singing on Bring It on Home just kill me. It was Lou Rawls, right?

I don’t think I’ve read all that much about A Change. I first became familiar with the song by way of The Band’s Moondog Matinee cover, and then I subsequently got that most excellent The Man and His Music compilation. I love The Hem of His Garment. Does anyone know if the Soul Stirrers stuff is worth investigating in depth? Is there a good comp?

As far as tired moves, unplugged is definitely a good one. I’d add covers albums. And an idea that once seemed kind of cool — playing a classic album in its entirety at a festival — became tiresome very quickly. I suspect we have very few Phish fans here, but I liked their idea of playing someone else’s album in its entirety. If it’s your own album, I don’t see what’s the big deal.

I have not heard Midlake.

I really liked the first few Foo albums, and Grohl is a likable guy. But I can’t say I’ve been inspired to keep up with his recent stuff.

It’s not an interview, but Dave Davies’ book Konk is fascinating. He’s a sideman, right? I’m looking forward to finding an in depth discussion of tambourine technique with Ray Cooper someday.

I’ve never been a big fan of Afrobeat, but I’ve been totally digging Tony Allen’s new album, Lagos No Shaking (he was Fela’s drummer, and he’s in The Good The Bad & The Queen with Damon Albarn and Paul Simonon — highly recommended too btw), and I downloaded an excellent comp of psychedelic afrofunk from http://matsuli.blogspot.com/. These were the earbud soundtrack on my recent travels, and they turned my ears around.

kpdexter says:

07/11/2007 at 11:48 am

I also wanted to add that Fela Kuti is EASILY the best bargin on eMusic. Many of his classic albums are only a track or two long. Tremendous value for your download dollar.

look to the link on your right and sign up!

BigSteve says:

07/11/2007 at 11:57 am

Kp, I know what you mean. Apparently Allen came to the project when it was already partially recorded, and he decided to lay back and not overdub everything. I hope they make another record so we can see what can really do in that context, but I don’t know how likely that is.

I got Allen’s solo albums from the late 70s off of emusic, and I like those. I think my problem with Afrobeat is Fela’s ego, which I find it hard to get my head around.

berlyant says:

07/11/2007 at 2:26 pm

Without reading the other responses yet, here are my answers:

“Mustang Sally” or “Bring it on Home to Me”?

“Bring It On Home to Me” by a mile, though I like both.

Over the course of your life, have you spent more time listening to Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” or reading about it?

Definitely listening. I wore out one cassette copy (dubbed from my hometown library’s CD collection) of Sam Cooke’s The Man and His Music, so that should tell you something right there. I also like Billy Bragg’s version, for the record.

Name a move by a rock band more tired than playing the Hollywood Bowl.

Playing Madison Square Garden. 🙂

OK, name a move by a rock band more tired than playing accompanied by an orchestra.

The whole unplugged thing. I mean, on VH1 Classic last night I watched a bit of Bon Jovi unplugged. They were doing “Livin’ On a Prayer” unplugged with an orchestra. Yeech.

Has anyone heard the Midlake album The Trials of Van Occupanther?

Yes many times and I love it (np as a matter of fact). See my responses in the Midlake post.

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters (not the drummer version from Nirvana): Good egg or enough already?

Enough already. He hasn’t put out anything decent since The Colour and the Shape or maybe the “Learning to Fly” single (and its awesome video). Then again I was never a big enough fan to buy any of their records and overall, he’s a way better drummer than he is a singer/songwriter with a few exceptions.

What’s your favorite interview with a sideman that you’ve ever read?

For whatever reason, I’m thinking of an interview with Keith Huckins of the hardcore bands Rorschach, Deadguy and Kiss it Goodbye where he basically reveals his disdain with his bands’ fanbases as well as then current punk trends (this interview was conducted in the mid ’90s) and also admits to his metal past (i.e. going to see Exodus and bands of that sort when he was growing up). I don’t agree with many of his sentiments, but I appreciated their sincerity at the time.

What song or album has been impressing you of late?

I like the new Interpol and New Pornographers albums quite a bit so far. As far as old stuff, there’s this great track by The Modernettes (an old Vancouver power-pop/pop-punk band from the late ’70s/early ’80s) called “Rebel Kind” that’s really been doing it for me lately.

What song or album has made you hear music in a new way of late?

A great question, but I’m afraid I don’t have an answer. Maybe the newest Melt Banana album?

berlyant says:

07/11/2007 at 2:33 pm

I got Allen’s solo albums from the late 70s off of emusic, and I like those. I think my problem with Afrobeat is Fela’s ego, which I find it hard to get my head around.

As opposed to say, Robbie Robertson’s humble manner? Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Seriously, though, it’s ultimately about the art and not the artist, though admittedly I dig the outlaw/anti-government aspect of his stuff, though the whole cult-like aspect of the compound kinda creeps me out a bit. I assume this is what you mean?

General Slocum says:

07/11/2007 at 10:25 pm

“Mustang Sally” or “Bring it on Home to Me”?

True, I don’t know “Bring It On Home,” at least by title. But no one can argue anything other than overexposure against “Mustang Sally.”

Over the course of your life, have you spent more time listening to Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” or reading about it?

A very definite tie for “neither.”

Name a move by a rock band more tired than playing the Hollywood Bowl.

Apple-butter wrestling in your video.

OK, name a move by a rock band more tired than playing accompanied by an orchestra.

Getting matching band ostomy-ports.

Name a move by a rock band more tired than playing the Hollywood Bowl accompanied by an orchestra.

Putting a potato in your neighbors exhaust-pipe.

Has anyone heard the Midlake album The Trials of Van Occupanther?

Just the tracks you posted. I like them, but they don’t hold a candle to their album cover. Reminds me of your “Traps, Buckshot, & Pelt” phase. Was that after we saw Chris Cutler with Pere Ubu at Revival? With the woodland scenes on his drums? The cover is enough to make me like the songs. I don’t find the spirit of Psychic Oblivion. Just the minor-chord changes and lack of specific gravity of structure.

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters (not the drummer version from Nirvana): Good egg or enough already?

Boy. I’m sometimes glad I lack regular contact with outside mainstreamish music sources. Not to be snotty, honest. Even if it would turn out the Foo Fighters would have been the kind of band I would have loved, I’m kind of glad to have not gotten a breach of my aesthetic boundaries by a band with that name.

What’s your favorite interview with a sideman that you’ve ever read?

I can’t remember reading one. Although I know over the years I’ve read countless little bits by musicians complaining about 1)Zappa, and 2) Buddy Rich, and the Buddy Rich shit is funny.

What song or album has been impressing you of late?

That Heron set I picked up a while back has never gone out of rotation at our house. I think of you, Mod, and don’t know how their similarity to the Kinks in my ears would be reflected in your hearing of them. I start with “How could he not like this stuff?” But you never know. I’ll drop you a disc. Hey. Speaking of which, I just picked up a four CD set of David Thomas’ stuff from the eighties. The Pedestrians, &c. Just to find the song “Bird Town.” You had given me that on a mix at the time. This set, though is only $19 on Amazon. I recommend it. It’s got all the Ubu guys, Cutler, Richard Thompson… [Hey, Mod, I know your David Clayton Thomas thing started before the age of google, but, man, try googling David Thomas, and you get a “Mr. Mod: Heaven vs. Hell” sampler.] In any case, the CDs: some’s annoying, as he often is. But the ideas are always worthwhile. A tip to David Thomas: After the first homeless person calls out to you with the name, “Big Man!” you should realize that on-stage Kabuki dance moves are probably not your friends. And making squealing noises will only alienate people (not in a good way.)

What song or album has made you hear music in a new way of late?

I will cop to not having heard music in a different way for a while. Last month I played tuba with a bunch of septuagenarian dixieland guys at a home for severely disabled folks in NJ. It was their annual picnic, and there were better part of a thousand patients, and their families and caretakers and such, at this big cookout. I had thrown my back out the night before in a big way, and this was the first of three gigs for the day. So I’m on muscle relaxers, and I start watching these two guys in their forties or fifties dancing right in front, and they’re doing these really out-there dances. They weren’t too far on the disabled scale. They looked like guys who would have gotten turned back at Ellis Island. They were obviously somewhat gay, and somewhat uninformed about the concept of sexual orientation in general. They were doing the moves to a Britney video or something, with their expressions completely disconnected from their body language, and all the employees in the area were constructing a Group Anxiety Net around them by palpably wondering whether, or when, they would sprint right over the line where you no longer call it “dancing.” All the while I am trying to feel the changes to “If You Knew Suzie Like I Knew Suzie” with these old guys. So, in the end, this experience wasn’t about the “hearing” so much. But I wanted to share.

Mr. Moderator says:

07/11/2007 at 11:39 pm

Welcome back, General! Yes, that period when we saw the reformed Pere Ubu is the period you had in mind. Glad to hear you picked up that David Thomas box set. I’ve got it too and love it. I’ll gladly revisit Heron with fresh, open ears.

shawnkilroy says:

07/12/2007 at 7:25 am

Holy Crap Slocum!
What a story.