Thank you, friends. Let the healing begin!
May 292009
May 292009
Big Star, 1972: Can someone mess up that coffee table?
Even those Townspeople bold enough to choose one, in our current poll, between the first two Big Star albums, #1 Record and Radio City, would probably agree that both albums are fine additions to any rock fan’s collection. But simply choosing is not enough, and as a Townsperson you know it!
May 282009
Hosts on the two sports-talk radio shows that I listen to often joke around about fan violations, those breeches to the unwritten code of cool sports fan behavior. Common violations that are cited range from the obvious, such as wearing the hat or jersey of a rival team if you’re not from that city, to more subtle offenses to the code, such as wearing the shirt emblazoned with the name and number of a good-but-not-legendary player a few years after he has left town. At Rock Town Hall, we typically monitor the unwritten code of rock musician violations, from issues of Look, between-song banter, and gear to the practices of Holstering or playing with one’s feet too close together, but have we ever discussed the unwritten code of appropriate rock fan behavior? Isn’t it time we do a service to rock fans worldwide and identify rock fan violations?
May 272009
This is quick one. When thinking about great bands that have deep catalogs of great albums, there are few of which I can say “This is their best, hands down.” For The Beatles or Stones or Kinks or…there is no way I could pick a best.
But for XTC, I can say, hands down, English Settlement is their best. For classic Pink Floyd, I can say, hands down, Animals is their best. For Crowded House, I can say, hands down, Together Alone, is their best.
And I use “best” rather than “favorite” as with these albums, the bands, IMHO, delivered what they were growing towards all along and then never quite achieved again.
Feel free to agree with me regarding the above specifics but the question is really- Do you have any hands down albums?
May 272009
They don’t make All-Star Jams like A&M Records made them in 1967! (CAUTION: The segment beginning at 5:30 may not be safe for work.)
May 272009
Are there tales of triumphant second bananas in rock? I know there are second bananas who’ve moved away from their original band to go onto success in their own right, such as Brian Eno, but are there second bananas who have triumphed and taken over the lead of the same band? There must be, but aside from possible situations like The Beach Boys, in which leader Brian Wilson had to set aside the reigns for any sibling brave enough to pick them up, I’m not coming up with a killer example of “triumph.” Maybe the power plays I’m looking for were worked out in advance of the band making it in the first place. Do tell!
May 272009
Horror…
Ever have one of those weeks when you’re reminded too often of just how petty and self-centered some of your fellow adults can be? Man, oh Manischewicz, I’m having the second of such weeks out of my last three—don’t worry, it’s none of you and no one you know! Thankfully, over the course of the last two unseasonably chilly and gloomy days I’ve found comfort in some recently purchased songs. In case you’re feeling anything like I’m feeling and have a lot of stuff on your mind that’s better left unsaid, I thought I’d share the following mix. Enjoy!
Fairport Convention, “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” (live)
