Mr. Moderator

Mr. Moderator

When not blogging Mr. Moderator enjoys baseball, cooking, and falconry.

Female-Fronted Nineties Rock

 Posted by
Jan 262011
 

Female fronted.

The following term appears in the headline of a recent Rolling Stone article on some “up-and-coming” Welsh band.

…Female-Fronted Nineties Rock

The subtitle of the piece continues the patronizing tone:

Welsh trio’s debut disc recalls classic albums by bands like Hole, Elastica and PJ Harvey

What a pathetic, offensive reduction of a band’s work! The “female” thing is bad enough; call a woman a woman. This isn’t biology lab. Also, beside the fact that I can’t stand Hole, how do they fit in with Elastic and PJ Harvey other than era of popular breakthrough, vaginas, and a degree of shared “attitude”?

Perhaps this band is thrilled by the comparison and the RS ink, but to me this is no different than comparisons in the ’80s and ’90s, respectively, of The Busboys and Living Color to a handful of unrelated African-American rockers based almost solely on the fact that the band members are all “negroes.” With Exploitive Black Rock History Month upon us, what other offensive biases would you like to see eliminated from rock criticism?

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Dugout Chatter

 Posted by
Jan 252011
 

It’s time for another rapid-fire round of hard-hitting questions, known in the Halls of Rock as Dugout Chatter! Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, only true ones. Let’s get it on!

Driving into work this morning I was listening to the one Paul Simon album I really like, Rhythm of the Saints. As I enjoyed the tunes I was reminded of his MOJO interview from a few years ago, in which he dismissed most of his Simon & Garfunkel works in the same terms I always have and declared his solo works as pretty much the only stuff he’s done that matters—pretty much what I’ve been saying for the last 25 years! How satisfying it was to read this interview and feel like Simon was backing me up after years of arguing with E. Pluribus Gergely and others over the merits of those S&G albums. So that’s a long-winded set up for my first question: What’s the most satisfying piece of self-analysis by an artist that you’ve ever read or seen in an interview (eg, print, documentary, liner notes)?

Earlier this week I was listening to my favorite XTC album, English Settlement. I tried really hard to avoid skipping songs, because I always feel there’s much to learn from that album, even the lesser songs. I couldn’t resist skipping “Fly Upon the Wall,” but I had no trouble sticking with the silly “Down in the Cockpit.” As awkward as I find that song, I feel it is loaded with “teaching moments.” What’s an awkward song (by any artist) you’ll usually let play through for its “teaching moments?”

I distinctly recall a day spent with the daughter of one of my Mom’s friends when the Gallery song “It’s So Nice to Be With You” began running through my head. I must have been 11 years old. What an innocent “first crush” song to recall, but that’s the truth. What’s the earliest song you identify with a youthful crush?

I’m a Gemini, but most likely I just happen to associate with the Talking Heads song “Air.” In astrological terms what element would best describe your musical tastes: air, water, fire, or earth?

I look forward to your answers.

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Mystery Date Revealed: South Africa’s The Flames (Prior to Their Washing Ashore With The Beach Boys)

 Posted by
Jan 252011
 

Will Your Mystery Date Be a Dream or a Dud?

Our most recent Mystery Date, a cover of the Small Faces-P.P. Arnold showstopper “(If You Think You’re) Groovy,” was performed by The Flames, the South African group featuring future Beach Boys Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar. Some of you may also know Fataar from his work as Stig O’Hara, the “George Harrison” character in The Rutles. He’s also produced and played on records by the likes of Bonnie Raitt and the Crowded House crew. As a Townsman speculated, the band most likely includes musicians of Indian descent.

Here’s their 1968 version of the Jerry Butler classic, “For Your Precious Love.”

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/the-flames-for-your-precious-love.mp3|titles=The Flames, For Your Precious Love”]

Beginning in 1970 the band would record as The Flame, to avoid confusion with James Brown’s band, when they joined the Beach Boys’ Brother label. A piece on their Carl Wilson-produced debut can be found here. Following are Chaplin and Fataar with “Carl & The Passions.” Continue reading »

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Mystery Date

 Posted by
Jan 242011
 

Today’s Mystery Date was suggested by a Townsman who may or may not choose to help me coax your opinions on this song. Thanks to our Mystery Shadchen!

Let’s review the ground rules here. The Mystery Date song is not necessarily something I believe to be good. So feel free to rip it or praise it. Rather the song is something of interest due to the artist, influences, time period… Your job is to decipher as much as you can about the artist without research. Who do you think it is? Or, Who do you think it sounds like? When do you think it was recorded? Etc…

If you know who it is, don’t spoil it for the rest. Anyone who knows it can play the “mockcarr option.” (And I’ve got a hunch that some of you know this one.) This option is for those of you who just can’t hold your tongue and must let everyone know just how in-the-know you are by calling it. So if you know who it is and want everyone else to know that you know, email Mr. Moderator at mrmoderator [at] rocktownhall [dot] com. If correct we will post how brilliant you are in the Comments section.

The real test of strength though is to guess as close as possible without knowing. Ready, steady, go!

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/MysteryDate012411.mp3|titles=MysteryDate012411]
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