Rock ‘n Roll Hazmat!

 Posted by
Jan 192009
 

Handle with care

Some of you may think the likes of E. Pluribus Gergely and I are joking when we warn you of the hazards of taking something like those late-60s Beach Boys albums too seriously. If you need to pick up $1 copies of those albums to complete your collection, out of healthy curiosity, or to mine what good ideas the Brian-less Boys might have had up their sleeve, more power to you! But beware: the take-away musical lesson may be an insular take on “Afternoon Delight” in Bearded Beach Boys drag. Witness (WARNING: The following video clip may be hazardous to your health):
Continue reading »

Share

The World Moves on a Woman’s Hips:
Female Bass Player as Contemporary Fertility Goddess

 Posted by
Jan 052009
 

The world moves and it swivels and bops

My infatuation with female bass players is well documented and this thread could easily, especially for me, be a flippant, voyeuristic look at hot chicks thumping basses (don’t worry we’ll get there), but the truth is that I feel that there is a deeper connection between the bass and the female that is primitive and intoxicating.

Nothing against men bass players but more so, I feel, than any other instrument, the bass and woman have a unique connection. In fact I would haphazardly postulate that there are more female bass players in rock bands than female any-other-instrument players. The sexist hypothesis might be that the bass is easier to play. Well that’s as may be. But, regardless, I think women are drawn to play the bass.

My theory is that bass-chicks are modern-day Fertility Goddesses.

Continue reading »

Share

Your Five Favorite Beach Boys Songs Following Pet Sounds and the “Good Vibrations” Single

 Posted by
Jan 022009
 


Among the many stimulating rock conversations that took place at our live Philadelphia chapter of RTH gathering earlier this week was the question of our five favorite Beach Boys songs following the release of Pet Sounds and the “Good Vibrations” single, also known as the period marking the end of Brian Wilson as the band’s leading light.

My top 5 in the post-Brian era was led by “Do It Again,” which E. Pluribus Gergely thought was a turd. “I Can Hear Music” was another one that quickly came to mind. Then, beside “Kokomo” (a given) I was stuck on clear song titles to round out my top 5. Maybe “Vegetables”… Others were quicker and more definitive in listing their top 5, and maybe those who were there will want to restate their selections here. As we wrap up 2008, I would encourage the rest of you to list your top 5 post-Functional Brian faves.

Note: Tracks recorded primarily during Brian’s reign and finished later will not be allowed for consideration. Things like the finally completed Smile, which were completed by people who aren’t even Beach Boys while Brian was propped up in a corner with an IV drip of B12 in his butt also do not count.

Share

The Correlate of Soul?

 Posted by
Jul 082008
 

In a positive sense, what is the correlate of soul?

Let’s be frank, as we look into this question: the term soul is strongly associated with qualities found in African American music. It’s considered a positive quality and a quality that is bound to impress when attained by rock ‘n roll musicians. However, it’s not the be all and end all of rock ‘n roll. Rock ‘n roll can have soul, but we’ve seen it also succeeds through the expression of other qualities, some of which we characterize as “white” musical qualities.


As painful as it may be to process these ideas, you do understand what I’m saying, right? For instance, The Beach Boys are considered a very “white” group – and a great one at that. They took a vocal group tradition that was based partially on what would be considered some of the building blocks of what would lead to soul and made it their own. They came up with a great approach to music, but if it doesn’t have soul, in the sense that we commonly use that term, what does it have? What is the correlating, positive term that can be used to describe musical attributes we typically ascribe to white people?
Continue reading »

Share

Party On, Sloan!

 Posted by
May 202008
 

In the tradition of The Beach Boys‘ Party! record, Sloan released their own faux-live party album, Recorded Live at a Sloan Party!, as a bonus CD that came with the initial gatefold-sleeve release of One Chord to Another. In honor of our Last Man Standing: Songs in Which a Deliberate “Party” Vibe Plays as Prominent a Role in the Song as Almost Anything Else, we’re posting Sloan’s Party! album. This is a rare release I bought at the right time that makes me feel slightly cooler than usual. Pretty cool, eh? Enjoy.

Let’s Get the Party Started
I Can Feel It
Dignified and Old
Glitter and Gold
Over You
I Am the Cancer
I Can’t Let Go
Stood Up
On the Road Again/Transona Five
I Wouldn’t Want to Lose Your Love

By the way, as with The Beach Boys’ “live” party album, the “party” at which Sloan is playing “live” is also fake. Someone nerdier than myself, although possibly not as cool (because remember, I bought this special edition CD when it came out), will likely correct me, if need be.

Share

Last Man Standing: Songs in Which a Deliberate “Party” Vibe Plays as Prominent a Role in the Song as Almost Anything Else

 Posted by
May 202008
 

Surely you know of The Beach Boys‘ Party album, a studio release that was presented as an impromptu live performance during an intimate party. Fact of the matter is, it wasn’t a live recording in the middle of an intimate party, but it’s a pretty fun album and a great concept for sounding that way. “Barbara Ann” is the best-known track from this album. Those of you who know it well can probably anticipate certain “party” sounds as well as you can any vocal or instrumental lick in the song. Pretty cool – and not the only example of its kind. So as the title of this post suggests, we’re seeking songs in which a deliberate “party” vibe plays as prominent a role in the song as almost anything else. Go for it!

Share
 Older Entries  Newer Entries

Lost Password?

 
twitter facebook youtube