Mr. Moderator

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

Once and for All: Excluding Anything by the Rockpile Crew, What’s the Third-Best Late-’70s Pure Power Pop/New Wave Song That Made a Dent in the US Charts?

Oct 152012

Cheap Trick‘s “Surrender” is the greatest late-’70s pure power pop/new wave song ever. This from someone who also believes it’s possibly the “Secretariat’s 30-length Belmont Stakes victory” relative to any other song in any band’s career. This is a testament to the song’s strength as much as it is my lukewarm appreciation for anything else Cheap Trick has released. But that’s another story. There’s nothing I’d like least than to distract you with my thoughts on Cheap Trick.

I would guess we’re all pretty much in agreement that The Records‘ “Starry Eyes” is the second-best late-’70s pure power pop/new wave song that made a dent in the US charts. (An important distinction for purposes of this discussion that rules out some of our personal favorites, such as my favorite song of this genre ever, The dB’s’ “Big Brown Eyes.”) That point settled, the time is long overdue that we settle—once and for all—a related topic that’s long stumped deep thinkers in the world of rock: Continue reading »

More, More, More?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 152012

I’ve long been a skeptic regarding the musical value of Leonard Cohen, but I’ve always liked the song “Suzanne.”

As a Beatles diehard who’s never been a big fan of vocal jazz music, I did make an effort to check out Nina Simone shortly after reading that a section of “Michelle” was lifted/inspired by one of her songs. Anything I’ve heard from her is OK. It’s got that jazz singing thing I usually don’t like.

This marriage of “Suzanne” with Nina Simone, however, is a revelation. I suspect the dashiki-wearing band factors into my enjoyment. Nevertheless, is there more like this?

Perhaps there’s an artist who has never otherwise impressed you yet who has one performance that’s caused you to seek recommendations of possibly more similar charms. Who might that be and what’s the one track that’s raised your curiosity? Maybe we can help.

Is There a Drummer in the House: Has Any Song Ever Been Improved by the Use of a Double Bass Drum?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 152012

Is there a drummer in the house?

The first thing that caught my eye when I stumbled across the above video by Christie’s 1970 UK hit “Yellow River” was the double bass drum featured in the video’s still. As unappealing as I’ve ever found even the concept of hearing a song involving a double bass drum, those things look cool. I suppose that’s the point, but drummers: has any song ever been improved by the use of a double bass drum? Have you ever been playing a song with your band and thought to yourself, Damn, if only I had a double bass drum!

I am curious to learn of songs that were actually improved by the use of the dual kick drum, and I am curious to know whether you prefer Christie’s take on “Yellow River” using that set up or, as seen in the following clip, when the drummer is reduced to a single bass drum.

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 122012

Is that Mike Damone at the back of the crowd? Don’t just stroke your chin and watch, Mike. Tell us what’s on your mind.

Chariots of the Rock Gods

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 112012

In which we ask mind-blowing questions, such as Did indie rockers visit planet Earth as far back as the early 1970s?

Remember the book (and cheapo movie) Chariots of the Gods? Most of what little I know about religion comes through The Ten Commandments (the movie), The Last Temptation of Christ (ditto), and the paperback edition of Chariot of the Gods, the last of which blew my mind when I read it as a kid. The book speculated that stories from the Bible and other early texts were actually ancient civilizations’ attempts to explain visitations by…aliens! The thought of this happening (and you know it did) still boggles the mind.

Yesterday I stumbled across a photograph that blew my mind in a similar fashion. I forget how I even stumbled across it, but…well, why don’t I let you see it for yourself, with no further preamble:

Rock ‘n Roll Holy Grails: Prime-Time Pere Ubu Video Found on YouTube!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 102012

NEWS FLASH!!! An actual Allen Ravenstine-Scott Krauss-Tony Maimone–era Pere Ubu video other than “Birdies” from Urgh! A Music War has been found on YouTube! Enjoy this performance of “On the Surface” from my favorite October day album, Dub Housing, before the fog lifts. I believe David Thomas is highly protective of the band’s appearances on YouTube.

As a special bonus, this performance is from the band’s 1988 reunion tour, featuring second drummer Chris Cutler. In my frequent searches for video evidence of the many great shows I’ve witnessed by this band beginning with this particular tour, I have had trouble finding anything involving these key members other than the excellent performance of “Birdies,” with a boyishly trimmer-than-usual Thomas looking like a plump Liev Schrieber. Usually, all I find is stuff from their appearances on David Letterman and David Sandborn‘s Night Music, a couple of years later, when they tried cleaning up their sound and core members began moving on. That stuff’s not as exhilarating, although shows I saw during those years were strong.

UPDATED: HERE’S ANOTHER PERFORMANCE FROM THAT TOUR!

Rock ‘n Roll’s Extinct Bands

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 102012

EXTINCT!

Townsman RaoulG asked:

Who are the extinct rock ‘n roll bands? The ones that can’t even trot out one original member? Even the “Ramones” could go out with a drummer, correct?

Our old friend The Great 48 asked a similar question on his Facebook page a couple of weeks ago. The only major band he could think of that was extinct was The Jimi Hendrix Experience. I don’t recall his Facebook friends coming up with anything else. Someone even tried to shoot down that one case of rock ‘n roll extinction by citing the possibility that Billy Cox was briefly a member of what had still been called the Experience. Come on.

So, who are rock ‘n roll’s extinct bands?

Older Entries Newer Entries