“I can’t play this music, it sucks!”
Apr 102009
Apr 102009
If you don’t know how a Dugout Chatter works by now, there are two things you can do: 1) Just answer the following questions – from your gut – or 2) watch how experienced Townspeople answer the following questions from their gut, then clear your mind of all efforts to impress and answer in kind. Here goes!
I read that Neil Young‘s new album, Fork in the Road, was inspired by his alternative-energy car. If this album is not the one, what is the dumbest concept around which a concept album has been constructed?
Friend of the Hall Richard Lloyd has a new album coming out that pays homage to Jimi Hendrix with 10 loving Hendrix covers. I’ll be curious to hear this. Can there be any other Artist B Plays Artist A album with a higher degree of difficulty?
Who’s got the best bleached hair in rock history?
Musicians, what’s a bad or cheesy song that, although you don’t like, you can’t help but play a few bars of at least a few times a year when handling your instrument of choice?
What Beatles song lyric is least convincing coming out of the mouth of its Beatles singer?
When “straight” friends and colleagues ask you what kind of music you like, how do you answer?
I look forward to your candid answers.
Apr 092009
In our ongoing effort to keep up with the Facebook nation, we are proud to bring you our latest quiz.
What are your 5 favorite Blind Faith albums?
Apr 092009
Tell us what’s on your mind. It’s cool. It don’t have to rhyme.
Apr 092009
Townsman Mwall‘s recent cautionary comment about another Townsman’s use of a cliche in his comment reminded of another of our objectives, beyond those of science and healing, on Rock Town Hall: the improvement of rock criticism.
Although we could boast of our daily examples of leadership by example, it may be helpful, every few months, to concentrate a thread on a specific area of rock criticism that is in need of improvement. Today, let’s examine rock-crit cliches and see if there are alternatives to phrases like It’s [artist’s] best album since [last actually great album]…
The rock-crit community thanks us in advance for our efforts.
Apr 092009
In our recent investigation of rock’s most pompous singer, Townsman and major Queen fan 2000 Man directed us to this delusional video clip on The Story of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Already-forgotten bands like The Darkness proclaim the song as “the Holy Grail,” then go on to say that if anyone says they don’t like “Bohemian Rhapsody” they’re lying!
Well, call me a liar. I’ll argue that not only do I not like the song but that the song itself has almost no influence on anything that came after it. You could argue that the joy and flamboyance of Freddie Mercury was inspiring to some future gay (and straight) frontmen. You could argue that the band’s production techniques were influential on ’80s hair metal bands. But I don’t see how you can argue that “Bohemian Rhapsody” was influential on any song that would follow in the history of rock to date.
I could argue that the song completed work started by Paul McCartney and Wings through various cut-and-paste songs, from “Uncle Albert/Uncle Halsey” through “Band on the Run” and “Live and Let Die,” but once Queen so perfectly completed McCartney’s artistically suspect efforts, no band had a chance of following in “Bo Rhap”‘s footsteps. Queen was too good at that shit! Despite the fact that I can’t stand “Bo Rhap,” it’s a masterpiece of execution. But it’s not influential.
Are there other huge rock songs that would be, for whatever reasons, in no way “influential?”
Apr 082009
What Else Do I Have To Say?
A week or two ago, several Townspeople owned up to having seen Billy Joel in concert. In the spirit of those courageous admissions, I ask you: what is the least objectionable Billy Joel song? Please factor in lyrics, intent, unwarranted adoption of tough-guy persona, overall delivery, potential drunken singalongs, and that smug face of his if there was a video that went with it.
For some of you, this may translate as “most favorite of Billy Joel’s many hit songs” and to you, I say I’ll see you in hell thank you for sharing; this is a friendly, supportive environment.
