Mr. Moderator

Mr. Moderator

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

The Beach Boys Love You, Do You Love Them Back?

 Posted by
Apr 022007
 


Thanks to Townsman Matt, we’re headed for a Rock Town Hall-style confrontation with The Beach Boys’ Love You, the 1976 Brian Wilson “comeback” (Hrrundi wears the Pince NezMark IV) album that some hail as an unintended outsider masterpiece and others scoff at as the most-desparate of rock nerd faith-based initiatives. Chances are The Truth is at one of these poles or the other! Or at least that’s how we’ll likely begin this discussion.

But first…let’s take a few days to listen to the music! Your Moderator himself has only heard part of this album one time, and that was many moons ago in a land, well, not so far away. You may download a .zip file with the entire album here. If you’re having trouble with this file, send me a message offlist or post your difficulties in the Comments box for this post. We’ll see what we can do to help you.

Now gather your materials, and begin taking notes!

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Do Kick-Ass Rock Guitar Riffs Preclude Intelligent Lyrics?

 Posted by
Apr 022007
 


I’m listening to today’s tasty Thrifty Music selection, Deep Purple’s “Rat Bat Blue”, and I’m struck by the thought that kick-ass rock guitar riffs may preclude intelligent lyrics. Does Rock Guitar Heroics require thinking with one’s dick? And you know what I’m talking about, SmartyPants – not Tom Verlaine or some other “brainy” guitarist. I’m talking about practitioners of Hot Licks from the late-60s Age of the Guitar Hero and beyond: Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, King Crimson, Aerosmith, Frank Marino’s Mahogany Rush…

What’s the best lyric any of these fierce riff-driven artists has produced, “The Wind Cries Mary”? Name a mighty guitarist, and then name a song lyric associated with this artist that’s stupid, funny, or plain silly. I challenge you, and I shall determine which suggestions do not qualify.

I look forward to your responses.

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Chillin’ with The Iceman

 Posted by
Apr 022007
 

A Trayful of The Iceman: Click image for iTunes Mix.

Jerry Butler, “You Make Me Feel Like Someone”

In conjunction with partner Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler was a Chicago soul architect and founding member of The Impressions before launching his solo career, initially with continued collaboration with Mayfield. “The Iceman,” as Butler was known, sang about the transformative powers of love with the best of them. He also sang about being a man, or a mensch, if that helps you understand what I’m saying without thinking in terms of blues-based braggadocio. I know these are among corniest, cliched, and suspect claims one will make regarding a musician in this day and age, but bear with me.

Following are two examples of Butler’s work on the Vee-Jay label.
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Quiz Time

 Posted by
Apr 012007
 

Which of these high school dullards went on to fame and fortune in the pop music industry — and famously reminisced, in song, about his years with this rockin’ teen combo?

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Dugout Chatter: When Thoughts Turn to Baseball Edition

 Posted by
Mar 312007
 

It’s one of those days when thoughts turn to baseball. Take your turn at bat, take a hack, see if you can get a hit!

By what date will Ken Griffey Jr. land on the DL (for the first time this year)?

What’s sadder, another year for the Cubs without a healthy Mark Prior or another year for the Cubs without a healthy Kerry Wood?

What, exactly, is the official location for the Angels this year?

Do Nationals fans have anything to look forward to in 2007 beside Ryan Zimmerman?

Couldn’t George Steinbrenner’s son-in-law have waited a few more years to screw up his marriage and ruin his chance to inherit the Yankees?

Will there be any joy outside San Francisco the night Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s career home run record?
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