My "go to" compliment is either 'You guys looked like you were having a lot of fun up there" or "The ___ sounded real good"

I think the overrated studio overdub is the "octave" guitar

The worst part of a song I otherwise like is the spoken-word part of The Doors "Peace Frog"

Re: octave guitar
A-Dogg, you know that band we've talked about forming? I think it's going the way of the proposed 4-way deal sending Kevin Garnett to the Lakers.

Re: "Peace Frog"
OK, the band offer stands. Good one!

As far as "go to" compliments are concerned, I'm gonna just keep them to myself right now. I'll probably using a lot of them on Thursday night.

How about best rock and roll chuckle? I'm giving it up for Jagger at the begininning of "Stray Cat Blues" and Bowie at the beginning of "Andy Warhol". You gotta be something special to pull that off.

And one more thing, Robbie. You are so dead wrong about Beggar's Banquet. I listened to that thing yesterday, and it really holds up. Not a stinker on either side. There's plenty of bass too, despite what you say.

I know my man Andy's a fan of that platter. He's just too much of a pussy to speak his own mind when he's around you.

Sincerely,
E. Pluribus

Give me some time with Beggar's Banquet, all right? I want to do the album justice. Recently, I've been side-tracked thinking about what it means that The Monkees are better that The Byrds.

Hey Plurb, I'm with you on Banquet, no doubt about it. And none of this "We Reach" crap about it either. You just make good sense here, that's all.

Thank God somebody out there's got some sense. How can ya NOT like that album? Like I've said many a time before, it's one of the few LPs with absolutely no stinkers! Not one!

I know where Robbie stands on the LP so I need not hear from him regarding tracks that are the supposed losers. If anyone else wants to take a swing, feel free. Educate me as well as mwall.

Hope to hear from you soon,
E. Pluribus

I'll spring for anyone who needs a round of Dutch courage at Thursday night's planned board meeting. Hold tight, Gergs, Mwall, et al.

What's your favorite aside in a song (eg, Jimi's "Move over Rover, and let Jimi take over!")?

I GOT BLISTERS ON MY FINGERS!

What's your "go-to" insincere compliment for a show or record you really don't like a whole lot?

I'm nowhere near that glib. Actually I'm more likely to compliment the band on something it doesn't do that would annoy me.

What's the most overrated studio overdub (ie, not part of the band's standard live arrangement and not including double-tracking)?

Synthed horn arrangements. There are actually people who can still play the real horns. And ho

What's the worst part in a song you otherwise like?

I like I Will a lot until that doo doo at the end. How many sweeteners can you pack into a song? Sugar, honey, high fructose corn syrup, sucralose, and aspertame?

Have you heard the new albums by Bryan Ferry and Nick Lowe, both due out today?

No.

If 2000 Man can see the need for rewriting rock history through a Stones perspective, through what perspective could you imagine yourself rewriting rock history - provided you had the time, of course?

The Who's perspective. Minus the child porn thing, Townshend is a fascinating and deeply confused man. You could get ten different viewpoints just from him. That was a band of strong personalities who all exhibited rock elements.

--What's your favorite aside in a song (eg, Jimi's "Move over Rover, and let Jimi take over!")?

The most recent one I like is Shai from the Capital Years shouting "Oh Fire!" in the song "Mounds of Money" right after a drum break. Certainly not original but it works.

--What's your "go-to" insincere compliment for a show or record you really don't like a whole lot?

"Man, -insert name of band menber here- was really on tonight." Meaning "the rest of you lot sucked!"

--What's the most overrated studio overdub (ie, not part of the band's standard live arrangement and not including double-tracking)?

Horn parts. I'm so sad we fell for that crap...

--Have you heard the new albums by Bryan Ferry and Nick Lowe, both due out today?

No but I'm more likely to check out Nick's than Bryan's

Beggar's Banquet is a great album.

The three of the first four Byrds albums are excellent. I will admit they all have one stinker on them, but they had the decency to put the crap song at the end of the first two lps. Really, Mr. Tambourine Man holds up with the best if you stop before We'll Meet Again. It's really too bad Gene Clark didn't like going eight miles high.

One of these days I'll post cleanly. But notnow.

Hey, Gergles --

What's wrong with you, boy? I just gave "Beggars Banquet" a quick scan for a reality check, and I was right -- it's a stinker! It's got a few strong -- in one or two cases, crucially important -- Stones tracks, but in general, the album is chock-a-block with the worst kind of pretendo-country/blues nonsense. Really. I'll give you "Street Fighting Man" and "Stray Cat Blues" -- those are songs where the Stones actually bring something unique and Stonesian to the table. But all those acoustic snoozers? Gimme a break! Music to clean the bong by!

Alls I know is that when I used iTunes to search under "Beggar," I mistakenly got Smokey & the Miracles' "Choosy Beggar" at the bottom of the tracklist. After suffering through 20-second previews of those Stones tracks, the Miracles number sounded *so* much better; so much more *real* and heartfelt and interesting. Given that the Glimmer Twins were desperately trying to make an extremely *real* album with "BB," I'd say that's a pretty sad revelation.

Figures you and mwall would bond over this turd.

Mockcarr sez:

One of these days I'll post cleanly. But notnow.

I say:

Clearlynot.

test

my favorite aside is when bon scott says "and my mama hates me" during the last chorus of "problem child". there's also jimi's "see if i can talk to this girl a LITTLE bit..." on "wait 'til tomorrow".

plurb, i kid you not, i was JUST THINKING about jagger's playful moans at the beginning of "cat"...and didn't even know the question was asked on rth, today.

fritz, i'm not so much of a fan of the hoaky "dear doctor", "factory girl" and "prodigal son" either, but let's be fair. by the very aeshtetic you seem to be espousing in your "I'll give you "s f m"" paragraph, you gotta at least also "give" plurb "parachute woman", "jigsaw puzzle", and, of course, its evil twin, "sympathy". "no expectations" is quite the plum, too.

BB is not a turd (said in schwarzenegger's 'not a tooomer' voice). but it's my second favorite of the Stones 'murderer's row' run of albums, with 'sticky' clocking in at number 1.

back to the dugout chatter: most overrated studio overdub...i'm w/ clean on this one. eff the horns.

insincere compliment? none. "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything."

worst part in a song i like: since it's on my mind, i could never stand the "honey...i'm sorry....to hurt you...." on "dear doctor", which, as i say above, aint my favorite stones tune, but i like it enough not to skip it.

- haven't heard the new albums...

- hasn't the history of rock n roll largely been written through the stones' perspective, wha??? don't they loom large enough for us to concede that? i mean, they're the only band that's ever been introduced / billed as "the world's greatest rock and roll band", with nobody really questioning it. maybe i don't get what it means to write a "history of rock and roll through x's perspective", but 2000 man's suggestion doesn't seem all that radical to me. hell, let's say it HASN'T been written that way. would it make such a huge difference if it had? i mean, these guys practically held hands with the beatles all the way through the sixties, copped alot of their winningest ideas, and cast themselves in opposition to so many others....didn't the stones themselves "write a history of rock and roll through the Beatles' perspective?"

for some reason it wouldn't post the rest of what i had written (thus the 'test' post). here tis....

i'd like to see a history of rock and roll through a 50s / 60s / 70s conservative's perspective. we always hear about how frightened they were of rock, but that's all. it's such a two dimensional portrayal of "squares". life is never that simple.

What's your favorite aside in a song (eg, Jimi's "Move over Rover, and let Jimi take over!")?

The Red Hot Chili Peppers' version of the same song, where they change that part from "Jimi" to "Mr. Huckleberry". Just kidding. You know, the first song I can think of is "The Little Girl I Once Knew" by The Beach Boys. The aside (IIRC) is this line:
"How could I ever have known that
She'd be what she is today.
An' look at how her boy friend calls her. I'll be movin' in one day."

Have you heard the new albums by Bryan Ferry and Nick Lowe, both due out today?

Why, as a matter of fact, I just listened to the new Nick Lowe album earlier day. On first listen, I really liked it. It's a lot like his previous three albums, but it feels more like a Charlie Rich record for some reason, at least to my ears.

Aside: I like Hendrix's "that's all" after the last verse (and before the last guitar solo) on the BBC version of "Killing Floor." Though I also like "Over here!" from The Georgia Satellites' "Keep Your Hands to Yourself." The song hasn't aged well, but I like the idea that, even on record, the singer is redirecting attention from the guitar solo back to the verse.

Insincere compliment: Congratulations!

Overdub: Rhythm guitar under a guitar solo in a three-piece band.

I can find a stray duff lyric in many, if not most, of the songs I like. If soething strikes me in the next few hours, I'll specify.

Rock Perspective: Either the producers, the girlfriends or the lawyers.

It's really too bad Gene Clark didn't like going eight miles high.

Huh? For all intents and purposes, Gene wrote "Eight Miles High" (McGuinn stole that one and other songwriting credits from him).

Oh and P.S. I'm definitely on Team Beggars' Banquet. I mean, c'mon, how can you hate on an album that also gave a great label its name (much like Creation, which obviously is a band and not an album title but you get what I mean)? :-)

Insincere compliment:

Said with redneck bonhommie and a genial slap on the back: "Hey, you guys can really PLAY!" Usually followed by "You sounded great up there!"

In the case of the former "compliment," I am merely observing that the band members are capable of playing their instruments. The latter statement is usually actually about the talent shown by the sound man.

Hrundi,

Beggar's Banquet will never be an LP for your ears. Why? 1) It doesn't have your beloved written and recorded at Sam Ash sound that Aerosmith too favored when they recorded their version of "Walkin' the Dog." 2) There's an originality in the pseudo country blues numbers that you're not hearing, i.e. taking Harry Smith anthology material and making it dirtier, ethics and style wise. 3) There's an overall emphasis on acoustic instruments. And 4) They thought Bob Dylan was good.

I'm being a jackass here (what else is new), but honestly, how much can your opinion matter if you prefer the superclean "Walking the Dog" written and recorded at Sam Ash sound as well as having no appreciation whatsoever for Bob 63-66 Dylan? I really don't get it. Who cares if you can't figure out what the hell he's going on about? He looks cool and sounds cool. In my book, that's all that really matters. The cool factor is very important in rock. Attitude, look. . . .if you deny the importance of those two factors, you're missing the boat completely.

Get out of the Chess King duds and smoke some of Andy's grass.

E. Pluribus

Hey, Gergs --

For you, rock and roll in its entirety died in 1981. For me, Bob Dylan stopped being listen-worthy in 1965. We each have our quirks.

Here's my real concern: do you prefer the version of "Stray Cat Blues" on Beggars or Get Yer Ya-Yas Out? Much depends on your answer to this question.

Your pal, and still -- *still*, despite these serious issues -- your number one fan,

HVB

Favorite aside in a song: From "Re-make/Re-model"- "Ooh! Show me!"

insincere compliments: All the good ones have already been mentioned.

Have you heard the new albums by Bryan Ferry and Nick Lowe?

Yes, the Nick Lowe is excellent. Ferry, less so.

What's your favorite aside in a song (eg, Jimi's "Move over Rover, and let Jimi take over!")?

"Fast 'n' bulbous!"

What's your "go-to" insincere compliment for a show or record you really don't like a whole lot?

"Interesting influences."

What's the most overrated studio overdub (ie, not part of the band's standard live arrangement and not including double-tracking)?

A string section. Not bad in itself, but so hard to do correctly, and so frequently done poorly.

Have you heard the new albums by Bryan Ferry and Nick Lowe, both due out today?

Not yet, but I will probably get both.

If 2000 Man can see the need for rewriting rock history through a Stones perspective, through what perspective could you imagine yourself rewriting rock history - provided you had the time, of course?

From the perspective of the piano. Or the organ, or the bass or drums, anything but the guitar.

mockarr sez: It's really too bad Gene Clark didn't like going eight miles high.

matt sez:
Huh? For all intents and purposes, Gene wrote "Eight Miles High" (McGuinn stole that one and other songwriting credits from him).

sally sez:
matt - mockarr was alluding to the fact that gene clark was a nervous flier - apparently he witnessed a tragic flight crash in his younger years, and would have panic attacks before flights/touring, and before the byrds were due into NY from LA for a radio interview, gene refused to board a flight and the rest of the band went on without him... Literally, after that episode. They went on without him.

"You can't be a Byrd, Gene, if you can't fly." Roger McGuinn

What's your favorite aside in a song (eg, Jimi's "Move over Rover, and let Jimi take over!")?

Agh. So can't think of one right now.

What's your "go-to" insincere compliment for a show or record you really don't like a whole lot?

Rock diversion tactics 101: "Um... that was, wow. So are we still on for drinks tomorrow? Hey - Mike made it to the show too!" I honestly just try not to be a jackass. If it's a good friend, you can usually talk it over with them afterwards when they start to come clean on their own feelings about their performance. Now, that, is a good friend.

What's the most overrated studio overdub (ie, not part of the band's standard live arrangement and not including double-tracking)?

Anything having to do with The "Cher" Effect ("thechereffect"). Crappy delays or compressed drums. And anything related to putting pre-recorded vocals through a vocoder. Bleeeaccchhhh...!

What's the worst part in a song you otherwise like?

That squishy-weird-whiffle ball-sounding part in Radio Radio, by Elvis Costello... what do you call that?

Have you heard the new albums by Bryan Ferry and Nick Lowe, both due out today?

Nick Lowe - yes - "I Trained Her to Love Me" should be covered by Jonathan Richman! and I'm in love with "Hope For Us All"... and, Bryan Ferry, no... Completely off-topic, has anyone heard the Client album Heartland yet? I wasn't expecting to dig it, but I kinda really do.

If 2000 Man can see the need for rewriting rock history through a Stones perspective, through what perspective could you imagine yourself rewriting rock history - provided you had the time, of course?

Through the perspective of Daniel Johnston or Roky Erickson - I'd like to read something with some real imagination! orrr... I second Ismine's good call on the 50s, 60s, 70s conservative kick. Also, Buddy Holly a.d.(?) ;-)

Not sure "fast n' bulbous!" is an aside, but I love it just the same.

Tight also!

HVB

mockarr sez: It's really too bad Gene Clark didn't like going eight miles high.

matt sez:
Huh? For all intents and purposes, Gene wrote "Eight Miles High" (McGuinn stole that one and other songwriting credits from him).

sally sez:
matt - mockarr was alluding to the fact that gene clark was a nervous flier - apparently he witnessed a tragic flight crash in his younger years, and would have panic attacks before flights/touring, and before the byrds were due into NY from LA for a radio interview, gene refused to board a flight and the rest of the band went on without him... Literally, after that episode. They went on without him.

"You can't be a Byrd, Gene, if you can't fly." Roger McGuinn

Thanks for the clarification, sally. I knew I was missing something there! Oh and count me on Team Fast 'n Bulbous, though I'm not sure if it's an "aside" either.

I just thought of another cool one, though. On The Dead Milkmen's "Do the Brown Nose", there's an "aside" where Rodney (I think) is mock-preaching to the crowd and asks them to repeat the words "Erlenmeyer flask". It's probably not that funny taken out-of-context, but on record I always found it funny because of its randomness. Hey Mr. Clean, can you verify that I have the song title correct here?

-- Hey Mr. Clean, can you verify that I have the song title correct here?

I believe you are correct sir!

Hold tight, Beggar's Banquet contestants, we'll be bringing this to the Main Stage shortly.

Meanwhile, keep up the Dugout Chatter! Good stuff!

Man, I got some work I gotta handle, but when I can, I'm gonna have to sling some shit about Beggars Banquet. Fuckin' glorious, that one is!

What's your favorite aside in a song (eg, Jimi's "Move over Rover, and let Jimi take over!")?

I suppose it's in the beginning of Break 'Em On Down by the Soledad Brothers. I guess it's an aside, but it's the beginning. "My name is Johnny, you'll deal with me now. Step it to the side now, band."

I just get the feeling that these dudes are about to Bring The Rock, and as usual, they do.

What's your "go-to" insincere compliment for a show or record you really don't like a whole lot?

I don't compliment shows or records I don't like. I generally love it or hate it. I can't get my head around the stuff that elicits no feelings either way. I think they call that "Classic Rock" in the generic term.

What's the most overrated studio overdub (ie, not part of the band's standard live arrangement and not including double-tracking)?

You should see the Stones these days, they could play Beethoven and have four people with nothing to do on stage. But strings are the thing I hate. If they're that important, then don't play the song live.

What's the worst part in a song you otherwise like?

Are any of The Eagles on In the City by Joe Walsh? If so, then I detest that those slick agents of the devil are anywhere near Joe.

Have you heard the new albums by Bryan Ferry and Nick Lowe, both due out today?

Nope - didn't even know they were coming out. I like Roxy a lot, but Bryan's solo stuff never moved me much. Nick is okay, but I don't own anything with him on it except Rockpile.

If 2000 Man can see the need for rewriting rock history through a Stones perspective, through what perspective could you imagine yourself rewriting rock history - provided you had the time, of course?

Maybe I should have phrased it differently, but then again, since I'm the one rewriting it then it's gonna be a Stonesy perspective. It also means that I generally think that while Rolling Stone Magazine and their followers think they already wrote the history of rock n' roll, I think they're far too often full of crap.

How Keith Richards of me.

I haven't played yet. I'll do so now.

"What's your favorite aside in a song..."

I should do a better job of cataloging stuff like this in advance of my asking these questions. The whole "fast and bulbous" one from Captain Beefheart makes the song, so maybe that's my answer. Lou Reed's listing of places where he played football as a young man in high school at the beginning of the Take No Prisoners version of "Glory of Love" )or whatever that song's called) also cracks me up and provides some detail.

"What's your 'go-to' insincere compliment for a show or record you really don't like a whole lot?"

There's nothing better than a great sound mix of a mediocre show, even "The drums sounded great!" helps. To be sincere, I do try to find a highlight of the show to point out.

"What's the most overrated studio overdub..."

Beside 128-string guitar, a horn section. I love my share of horns on rock songs, but there needs to be some new approaches.

"What's the worst part in a song you otherwise like?"

That's another tough one. Probably one of a half dozen extraneous "la-la"/"bah-bah" parts in a Jam song? Actually, Andyr may have nailed it off the bat with the poetry break in "Peace Frog".

"Have you heard the new albums by Bryan Ferry and Nick Lowe, both due out today?"

I bought the new Nick Lowe one. So far, it sounds too much like his last few albums, the last two of which I liked.

"If 2000 Man can see the need for rewriting rock history through a Stones perspective, through what perspective could you imagine yourself rewriting rock history - provided you had the time, of course?"

I'd rewrite it through the perspective of all the fun, second-rate '60s bands: The Rascals, The Hollies, The Turtles...

Art, I'm actually busy workin' on some shit today, but I'll come back atcha with some further thoughts on this mediocre album.

I will say this in regard to much of your commentary today: BACKSTORY!

Your pal,

HVB

take-a-you-time fritz.

i look forward to it...

grumble grumble...

After much pondering, it occurred to me -- the most non-essential, irritating, cliched overdub in the rock/pop canon:

those tiny chime thingies that drummers drag their drumsticks through to make the "dreamy" trrrrring! sound.

Know what I'm talking about?

I KNOW what you're talking about Hrrundi. So you're saying your studio's not going to include them?

But those chimes are essential to the Steely Dan Sound!

It will NOT. Neither will it offer rainsticks or digeridoos. Sorry, Mod -- your band's world music concept LP, "Heading into the Outback," will have to wait!

Mr Mod wrote: "I KNOW what you're talking about Hrrundi. So you're saying your studio's not going to include them? "

Hey Cuz, How does this jive with your love of the Starship's "Miracles"? That song is full of them.

"Miracles" is an exceptional song that breaks all the rules. For instance, it's by Jefferson Starship yet it's good.