Mr. Moderator

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

Midlake’s Journey to Psychic Oblivion

Jul 112007

Judging a book by its cover

For some reason, earlier this year, I’d been keeping my eye on a late-2006 release I spotted on eMusic*, The Trials of Van Occupanther, by a band I’d never heard of called Midlake. It was probably the thumbnail of the cover that got my attention. It had a Fairport/Incredible String Band/Nick Drake look to it that I’m always a sucker for, at least in terms of graphic appeal if not the actual music delivered by these quirky British folk-rockers. So I sampled some songs and then downloaded half the album. I’m digging it.

There’s some of that British folk-rock in the music, but moreso the half album I downloaded is a journey to Psychic Oblivion. Or so I think. I’m curious to hear what experienced travelers of the roads to Psychic Oblivion think, Townspeople like Mwall and Dr. John. I’m also curious to hear what you think. Check out the following tracks.

“It Covers the Hillsides”

Let’s start with “It Covers the Hillsides”, which features a bizarre and perfectly inappropriate overdubbed instrumental section coming out of a more standard solo. Anyone who’s spent time in a studio with me is probably aware of my penchant for perfectly inappropriate overdubbed instrumental parts. I also dig the fringed mocassin-style bass playing on this and other songs. When I first realized that I was liking this song, I tried to recall whether I liked hearing bands like Firefall on the radio when I was a kid. I don’t think I did, but I do love those mid-70s Jefferson Starship songs like “Miracles”. This song may fit in with that form of Psychic Oblivion.
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Dugout Chatter

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 102007

All-Star Game Edition

“Mustang Sally” or “Bring it on Home to Me”?

Over the course of your life, have you spent more time listening to Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” or reading about it?

Name a move by a rock band more tired than playing the Hollywood Bowl.

OK, name a move by a rock band more tired than playing accompanied by an orchestra.

Name a move by a rock band more tired than playing the Hollywood Bowl accompanied by an orchestra.

Has anyone heard the Midlake album The Trials of Van Occupanther?

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters (not the drummer version from Nirvana): Good egg or enough already?

What’s your favorite interview with a sideman that you’ve ever read?

What song or album has been impressing you of late?

What song or album has made you hear music in a new way of late?

I look forward to your responses.

I Don’t Get It: The Byrds

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 102007

Had more dinners than most

I get why people like The Byrds. I also get why they’re credited with bringing a fresh synthesis of already established and important sounds to rock that would be perfected about 25 years later with a few great, late-70s power pop singles and a run of solid Tom Petty records. What I don’t get is why they’re considered a major player in rock history. The best example, and this has bugged me since I first spent my hard-earned money on a Byrds’ “twofer” in 1980, is The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll, which dedicates an entire chapter to The Byrds! Right between Dylan and Folk Rock is an entire chapter dedicated to a band with few more than a dozen great songs, probably eight of which are essentially the same reworking of a verse from a Dylan song. I don’t get it.

Had a chapter, a box set, the works…

Oh, I get the super-cool Roger McGuinn specs. I get the Rickenbackers and the perfect combination of lean legs and well-cut trousers. I get the pretty cool hair and the American Beatles appeal. I even get the dozen jangly songs with Dylan-lite delivery and mid-period Beatles harmonies. The Byrds are one of those bands for which Greatest Hits albums were made, but even then the dozen greatest hits pretty much hit exactly the same mark. Take away their couple of psychedelic hits, in which McGuinn played some cool guitar solos, and you’ve got a bunch of songs that would be George Harrison‘s contributions to mid-60s Beatles albums. Without being a member of The Beatles, would George Harrison’s 8 variations on “If I Needed Someone” and his best late-Beatles songs have been worthy of a full chapter in any rock history book? I think not.

I could, but I won’t rest my case!
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Lou Reed…As His Music Was Meant to Sound!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 062007

This surprisingly lucid slow-burner really picks up speed with about 1:04 left to go, as Lou cranks out a nasty Rock Porn Soloing Face. From that point forward, the sound Lou always had in his head is evident.

Last Man Standing: Cheesy Stage Moves by Rock Bands

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 052007

If you’re not familiar with the Last Man Standing game, we throw up one answer at a time in response to the day’s theme until all answers are spent. It’s time we come clean with every cheesy stage move done to death by rock bands. May I kick things off with one that always bugs me?

Multiple guitar picks taped to the mic stand, ready to flick out to fans

What have you got?

Hall and Oates Confirm Group Now a Duo

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 052007

Our very own Townsman Oats made mention of how strange it is seeing T-Bone Wolk play guitar with Hall and Oates these days, making particular note of the fact that the former bassist has different faces to accompany his guitar playing. Good point!

I guess Wolk’s former compadre G.E. Smith no longer plays with them. I’m sure he’s moved onto bigger and better things since wincing for the cameras as SNL cut to commercial breaks during the show’s mullet years. Not much is made of Smith’s departure from the Hall and Oates fold, but I’m sure it’s significant.

A video to make you reconsider seeking out those Hall and Oates “deep cuts.”

However, the most significant change in the pop duo’s line-up has gotten even less ink. Check out this old publicity shot of the band. As usual, key sidemen like Wolk and Smith are not pictured, but a third member who might have been considered an equal member of a trio act – not a duo – is.

Now check out this more recent shot of the – no doubt about it, anymore – duo.
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Worst of the Great Albums (Extended Dance Mix)

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 052007

At a recent “live” gathering of a handful of Townspeople, we picked up on the then-burning “Worst of the Great Stones albums” and got into a brief discussion of Worst of the Great Albums by other great artists. So, for a handful of you, you’ve already chimed in on some of these artists, but this topic might interest other members of the Hall.

Here’s the deal: What’s the worst of the great albums by any of the following artists? It should be pretty clear where the line on “great” albums is; if not, we’ll be sure to point it out for you. Here are some artists to kick off the discussion:

Elvis Costello & the Attractions (My Aim Is True included)
The Clash
XTC
Wire
Bob Dylan
Joy Division

Feel free to suggest others we could discuss. As a special bonus question, What’s the worst of the great songs that populate side 1 of Television’s Marquee Moon?

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