April 2010 Archives

What Dramatic Rock Movies Don’t “Get it All Wrong,” in the Eyes of Musicians, Almost Immediately?

Apr 142010

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The other night a couple of Townsmen and I were talking about how hard it is as experienced musicians (to some degree, not accounting for talent or acclaim) to enjoy any dramatic rock movie, whether based on fact or not. We were not talking about rock documentaries or rock operas, such as Tommy, Quadrophenia, or The Wall, but dramatic rock movies centering on the lives of a musician or multiple musician characters. Some we had never seen all the way through, such as The Buddy Holly Story. One of us mentioned The Idolmaker as a relatively accurate portrayal of the lives of rock ‘n roll musicians, but he was the only one of us who’d seen that movie all the way through. The films that immediately came to mind all had major flaws right off the bat that took us out of fully enjoying whatever else the movie had to offer.

We finally agreed that That Thing You Do was a less-objectionable-than-usual portrayal of the lives of musicians. I mentioned that The Germs movie I saw a couple of months ago was impressive for the fact that the actors were probably no less talented than the real members of The Germs. We’d heard that the dramatic movie on Joy Division was supposed to be good in terms of getting the musical stuff right, but we hadn’t seen it. Likewise, none of us had seen that fictional take on The Temptations, The Five Heartbeats, all the way through.

Years ago I remember getting into a big fight with two friends over Grace of My Heart, the dramatic re-telling of a Carole King-like character. I kind of liked the movie thanks to it being stocked with a bunch of actors who get the six-pack from me, but my friends were totally bent out of shape over anachronisms in the model microphones and cut of striped jeans that characters wore. I’ve been there too many times myself when watching rock movies not loaded with six-pack-worthy actors.

I’m sure there some tremendous examples of dramatic rock ‘n roll movies that don’t immediately bum out musicians for their inaccuracies, that do get it more or less right. Truth be told, one of my least-favorite rock movies isn’t so far off the mark in terms of rock ‘n roll when it sticks to the band members’-only dynamic (and when it doesn’t have them sing a completely inappropriate song on a bus trip). We just couldn’t think of them that night, right?

Least-Appealing Band Name in the History of Rock ‘n Roll?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Apr 142010

In the history of rock ‘n roll has any band had a less-appealing name than Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich? Until Townsman Hrrundivbakshi presented us with his latest Thrifty Music selection, I’d always purposely avoided hearing a lick of this band’s music for no other reason than the turn-off of the band name. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich struck me as the dream playdate for The Monkees’ Davy Jones and his bestest grade school buddies.

Incidentally Intolerable

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Apr 142010

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A Townsman told me recently that he couldn’t make it through the film Into the Wild due to the incidental music by Eddie Vedder. He swore it was the Vedder music alone running through the narrative that made him pop out the DVD. At first I was shocked, but then I thought, Well, I can see that. Those of us in the Halls of Rock could be expected to react more strongly to incidental music than “regular” people. How many times have you been in a public space and found the canned music that’s barely audible to most people overwhelming? I know I have. Have you ever had a moment like the one my friend told me about, when music that’s secondary or even tertiary to the event at hand overwhelmed your senses and spoiled whatever good may have been offered by the primary activity?

Lou Reed…As His All-Star Jam Was Meant to Sound!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Apr 132010

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As early as the 42-second mark, Lou can’t stand it anymore. How long until you bag it?

What do you consider a successful All-Star Jam – and by All-Star Jam I think the performance has to involve at least five or more disparate artists and at least seem like a somewhat impromptu performance. I doubt that The Last Waltz‘s star-studded finale of “I Shall Be Released” was that impromptu, but there are a few dozen notable musicians on stage. Chances are a dozen of them had to be following along, not quite sure if they knew the next chord or all the lyrics on the chorus. On the other hand, I don’t think songs composed specifically for an All-Star Jam count in this examination, such as “We Are the World” or the following: Continue reading »

“One apology at a time,” says Vatican, “OK?”

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Apr 132010

At a time when they surely have bigger things to think about, the Vatican’s official newspaper has published a glowing appraisal of the Beatles, calling their music “beautiful” and dismissing their years of drug use and excessive living. On the front page of the L’Osservatore Romano, the paper admits that the band once “said they were bigger than Jesus and put out mysterious messages, that were possibly even Satanic”, but also asks: “what would pop music have been like without the Beatles?” Read more…

The Pope stressed that this apology only extened to The Beatles, that he was not planning to overstep the Church’s jurisdiction regarding Rock Crimes.

It’s the thought that counts.

Previously…

Thrifty Music, Vol. 20.6: Freaking Out!

Posted by hrrundivbakshi

Apr 132010

The Sun Goes Down

Greetings, fans of music that the world inexplicably wants to throw away! Today, I bring you a lovely bit of English psychedelia from the improbably named Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, entitled “The Sun Goes Down.” I have little to share with you about this band, other than the fact that they were not necessarily known as a “psychedelic” band per se — they were more famous for pop hits on the UK charts, such as… such as… hell I don’t know, and don’t care to find out.

But here they are in full, acid-drenched flower, sounding even more like the Dukes Of Stratosphear than the Dukes did… or something. I hope you enjoy this track as much as I did after finding it in the possession of a 70 year-old woman in rural Maryland, who had no use for it. It calls to mind a question, however: for those of you who ever indulged in the use of psychedelic substances — did you have a preferred soundtrack to your visits to the Land Of Little Horses? For those of you (like me) who were always too chicken to indulge: did you ever think there might be a piece of music that would provide a suitable soundtrack? Please share — we’re all friends here; let’s mellow out together.

I look forward to your responses.

HVB

News: Supergrass Break Up

Posted by Oats

Apr 122010

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Supergrass announced their breakup today. As a memorial, please enjoy the above video, which never fails to cheer me up. I really enjoyed their stuff. Early on, they sounded like the Buzzcocks. Later on, they sounded like T.Rex and Bowie.

To be honest, though, their most recent album, Diamond Hoo Ha (2008), was easily my least favorite. Maybe this is mean, but I’m kinda relieved they’re breaking up, because I couldn’t really see myself buying any more of their albums. To put it a nicer way, they’re getting out just in time. Any other artists you feel that way about, glad they’re splitting because you can feel their inspiration waning?

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