If you don’t know the drill by now, watch the others and follow their lead!
What explains the flaccid PiL single “Rise” and John Lydon’s/Johnny Rotten’s similarly flaccid subsequent career?
a) Bill Laswell
b) Getting his wish of only wanting to be loved
c) Janet Lee’s departure from the PiL organization
d) The artistic dead end of The Flowers of Romance
Is it time Chrissie Hynde tries a new haircut?
Is there a less flattering live document on film than Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same?
Has the triangle been used to more rockin’ effect in any song than on Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion”?
After hearing the triangle in “Sweet Emotion” for the first time today and a “plucked” synth string way in the background of Eno’s “By This River” last night, I got to thinking: What’s the last song you thought you knew inside and out over the years until something new suddenly jumped to the fore?
I look forward to your responses.
I’d really like to put Don van Vliet on the poll, and then not vote for him. BTW, great questions today, I’ll have to make time to respond. Let me just say, “Chrissie, baby, he don’t mean nothing by it, you stay jest the way you are!”
Well, but you much can you expect out of Lydon, who was never the greatest talent in the first place? He made good music with one band of absolutely essential historical significance, and then more good music in a second band with a completely different, more experimental approach. Then he was out of ideas. So? How many other musicians out there have played key roles in two different sounding bands that really make a mark? Give the guy a break. He’s still a more interesting washed-up figurehead than Paul McCartney.
A-dogg, I see your fingerprints all over today’s vote, and you have my support. Due to a lack of any physical sightings over the past few months, I have a very strong suspicion that Mr. Mod is no longer who we think he is and has been replaced by Tom Verlaine using his moniker. I’ll try to confirm or dispel rumors that the original Mr. Mod has been collaborating with Eugene Landy instead.
2nd edition is the only thing i like by Lydon Rotten.
the rest of it is crap(bollocks included)
Gimmee Shelter is pretty fucking unflattering
(musically and personally)
yes, a new haircut would have been great for her 20 years ago, now it’s all she gots.
Ed Grimley.
— Is it time Chrissie Hynde tries a new haircut?
No. She can wear her hair anyway she likes as far as I’m concerned. Careful Mr. Mod, she might need to open up a can of whoop-ass on you…
— Is there a less flattering live document on film than Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same?
I recently saw the Stone’s Rock ‘n Roll Circus and tend to agree with them that they pretty much sucked. The Who stole the show and everyone else was pale in comparison…
Actually it wasn’t me who put that up there – although I did vote for it.
I’d love to hear why you think so. Not that I expect to find your reasons convincing.
the general said:
Funny just last night I watched Anton Corbijn’s short film about Don called Lo Yo Yo Stuff, because I got word it was now available for free on Ubuweb (a great site … nothing to do with the band Pere Ubu). The film was made in 1993, and it consists of Don talking with some visuals. His voice was so incredibly feeble even then that I don’t think we’ll be hearing from him again.
http://www.ubu.com/film/corbijn.html
So has anyone else heard the rockin’ triangle in “Sweet Emotion” before? I hadn’t. Maybe it comes in earlier, but I noticed it during the essential “the rabbit done died…” verse.
Gimme Shelter just may be a worse live document than The Song Remains the Same. Good one.
Hynde’s haircut is iconic. So, no. It’s her image. It would be disaster if she got a bob or shaved her head or something. Plus, bangs will always be in;) What I’d like to know is, which rocker has the best iconic haircut?
Passing the time – anyone ever seen this site?:
http://elvispelvis.com/fullerup.htm
What explains John Lydon/Johnny Rotten?
a) Bill Laswell
Yes. Why does he have this effect? He’s brilliant in his own right, but I think he suffers from Michael Caine syndrome. Just taking on any project under the sun nets you a lot of forgettable crap. But Laswell does have a better effect on some of his projects.
b) Getting his wish of only wanting to be loved
Yes. When your main contribution to music is being the embodiment of piss and/or vinegar, the slightest waft of positivity can be death.
c) Janet Lee’s departure from the PiL organization
? Who is Janet Lee?
d) The artistic dead end of The Flowers of Romance
No. I just re-bought that album recently, after the last hubbub about PIL II on here, and I like it as much as I did in college. He had finally found a way to express a musical idea (his first, IMO) without dilluting the piss/vinegar stance at all. He could have gone somewhere from there. And suddenly, like Miho from Cibo Mato, he tried to catapult himself to elder statesman/diva status, leaving out the entire substance of a career which would have supported such posturing. I think Bullocks is a great record, and I like all of PIL’s first 3. But I think Flowers is the first time Lydon rose above the status of a vocal time-stamp function.
Is it time Chrissie Hynde tries a new haircut?
Come on. Should Mae West have had breast reduction sugery when she hit AARP age? Indeed not. What are you suggesting here, Mr. Mod?
Is there a less flattering live document on film than Led Zeppelin’s The Song Remains the Same?
I feel there is not. Not that the Stones didn’t blow in Circus, or that there aren’t other bad performances on film. But never has anyone been standing on the pinaccle in their own minds grasping the Chalice of Illusory Greatness as they look into the distance of Genius, while actually displaying their guilessly arrested pubescent development in such shudderingly embarrassing clarity. In that hideous moebius strip of a film, the only person who doesn’t embarrass himself (any further) is Bonham with his drag racing fantasy sequence!
After hearing the triangle in “Sweet Emotion” for the first time today and a “plucked” synth string way in the background of Eno’s “By This River” last night
Eno is my favorite artist in this regard, especially Another Green World. I have listened closely for years, and yet things keep appearing on there. But, for the life of me, I can’t find your plucked string. The only synth I hear is the melody on the break. I think you’re hearing the action on the piano, mixed with the Fender Rhodes. Where did you hear it? All through? Or just in one spot?
Sally C asks:
What I’d like to know is, which rocker has the best iconic haircut?
I reply:
Now THAT is a great question! There are so many, but for now, the only iconic rock ‘do I’m conjuring up for my mind’s eye is Jeff Lynne.
Note that the question isn’t “best” rock ‘do, or most outrageous, or what have you. An iconic ‘do is a whole ‘nother animal. Sorry, Sib Hashian!
I’m sorry that my Chrissie Hynde haircut question has caused such indignation, but remember folks: it’s a question. The answer is yours to keep.
General Slocum, I heard what I thought was a plucked synth string part that goes under the piano chords – it mirrors the melody but throws in a few extra notes. I’ll try to find it again as I do errands today. I think it may play the same part as the grand synth solo.
Another icon — Brian Jones’ blonde bowl do.
I din’t know fron The Song Remains The Same, but Gimme Shelter was clearly not intended to be a flattering portrait in its final form. It’s the exploration of a disaster, not a triumphant tour. The Stones get credit for having the sheer guts to let themselves be seen in that light. What I have read of The Song Remains The Same does not indicate to me that those guys had any of the self awareness about the ridiculousness of that venture. Hence, Led Zeppelin would win for least flattering portrait. They probably would beat out the Beatles Let It Be entry for similar reasons, plus the rooftop sequence closes that one with a brief glimpse of the dormant superpowers in that one.
They’re not primarily live, but Penelope Spheeris’ two Decline and Fall of Western Civilization docs are pretty unflattering, esp the second one.
Festival Express was certainly disappointing and not as flattering as some of the participants thought (cf. Woodstock).
Also what movie is that about an Isle of Wight festival where Joni Mitchell pleads pathetically with the unruly audience?
There’s also Elvis: That’s the Way It Is.
Good answers to some of these questions, but I’m still curious to hear answers to this one:
I actually enjoy the song “Rise” a lot. What’s the problem with it? It’s got nice hooks.
I didn’t think I had one until just a few moments ago when it struck me that I did – but mine would have to be Teenage Fanclub’s song “Going Places”, I never noticed how much the pretty mandolin bits affect the whole song on it before Geo’s comments about the Fannies that made me listen again and de-simplify the song for myself. I didn’t write in on the comments on here about that, but usually when I like a song, the harmonies and the lyrics are what impact me first – for instance, this song always gets me at the beginning when he sings “Bound in motion / Found my headwind was blowing fine / I’ve requested the stars to shine / For words that no longer rhyme…”. Bizarrely, I just noticed now that it does have a triangle striking part at about 1:50 (that I never even noticed until now either!!!!) Look at that, Mr. Mod, you’ve completely opened my ears on this one… (!) Gerard Love wrote this track.
Townsman Trolleyvox asked what’s the problem with “Rise”… I don’t know, it would be fine if it had been a new direction for REM, but despite its hooks, it sounds cheesy coming out of Lydon. What’s that hook line in the coda, “Anger is an energy.” Sounds like an ad for Philly’s old Zipperhead punk boutique.
If that “anger is an energy” one is “Rise,” then which one’s “Seattle”?
Yes, the emusic ad is fine where it is now.
I can’t remember which one’s “Seattle”, although I remember the title. Was that on the album after Generic? I fear that I actually may know that!
the only sex pistols album is worthless because:
it was a scam. fashion and attitude are the Sex Pistols contributions to modern culture, not music. the album was just made so they could call it a band. if ya happen to like it, that’s cool, but it’s not good.
frankly, i think it’s kind of weird that Lydon was ever able to make a good record (second edition)
i love clash music
i love stooge music
i love banshee music
i even love that ramones song they kept writing over and over.
i love johnny rotten red hair
i love sids bloody chest
i love safety pins in clothes
musically, however, the pistols were pretty vacant
Shawn, I think there’s some merit in what you say. I like the Sex Pistols album better than you do, but I agree that it pales in comparison to a dozen other albums from that time and scene. Johnny Rotten’s the show, and a great show he is, but there are only about 4 songs I ever care to listen to from start to finish, without waiting for that cool moment when Rotten raises the stakes with an especially impassioned break or coda. I do like it better than the first Generation X album, however.
Agreed!
Hey Mr. Mod, I have an idea for a thread.
How about a discussion of the effects of L.A. on english people. Like The Moody Blues, LED ZEP, Billy Idol, etc.
I’m sure there are more good examples, but you notice how awful it makes them. Like Golum’s precious, it gives ’em something, but it kinda takes something away too!
Ian Faith