I’ll keep this simple. Do you like the Marx Brothers? For extra credit, tell us why — or why not.
Mr. Moderator, I swear this is rock-relevant. I’ll explain why later.
HVB
Mar 242008
Mar 242008
Here’s a clip from an early 1979 ABC special, Heroes of Rock ‘n Roll, which was hosted by Jeff Bridges. I’d forgotten about this special, but seeing this clip, I’m reminded of how important a tv-watching event it was when I was not quite 16. I believe pretty much the same artists who made me pump my fist triumphantly during that opening roll call made me pump my fist just now. I believe many of the same artists who made me scratch my head and say, Huh?!?! that night make me say the same thing today. There are a few exceptions.
If you’re old enough to span the initial broadcast of this special and today’s walk through memory lane, care to share your thoughts on that roll call, yesterday and today? If you don’t go back that far, feel free to share your fist-pumping vs head-scratching moments on this, your first viewing of the ancient special’s intro. If any discussion follows, I’ll be happy to share my few changes in perspective, or what might be termed “growth.”
Mar 222008
Pay particular attention to the commentary about 25 seconds into this epic match!
Mar 222008
I’ve been skeptical about Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Budos Band, and the hub of this neo-soul scene, Daptone Records. Yesterday, however, I dug out a recent issue of TapeOp that I had not finished and made myself read an article on the head of this scene, Bosco Mann? He’s also the bassist for The Dap-Kings and their producer/mastermind. He’s got a great ‘stache, but I was skeptical. In short time, I couldn’t help but love almost everything he said about his old school, decisive ways in making records.
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Mar 212008
How about we do some rock critic word association? This is only a test, but there are no right or wrong answers. Are you ready?
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Mar 202008
What is it about Peter Gabriel that’s made him an untouchable among critics and rock nerds? Beside the “Sledgehammer” single/video, which rock nerds feel free to dismiss and mock, the guy seems to have been given a free ride despite having been one of the most over-the-top of tuneless prog-rockers and a long-time enabler of players of geeky instruments, like the Chapman Stick, headless guitars, and hi-tech synths that I can’t understand enough to fully describe and then mock.
For some understandable reasons, Peter Gabriel is thought of as having a higher degree of integrity and relevancy than his prog-rock contemporaries – and even moreso than most of his more readily embraced “Art Rock” contemporaries (I trust you understand these fine lines). In fact, Salon termed it “weirdly arty integrity.” Understandably, this shields him from the slings and arrows so freely directed at former bandmates and members of other prog ensembles. Along with the prog-transcendent Robert Fripp, he’s reached out to younger, non-prog artists for collaborations on his albums, such as Paul Weller, at the time still a member of the decidedly un-prog The Jam, and Kate Bush. He’s done the charity/world music scene as well as anyone, some cool soundtrack work, and other deeds befitting a musician of David Byrne‘s rock-crit stature, but even Byrne gets beat up now and then.
Here’s a sampling of some of the worst things I’ve seen critics say about Peter Gabriel:
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Mar 202008
Speaking of freak-scenes… Anything going on in yours we should know about?
