…every freshly-scrubbed little kid’s face should have been sued off the face of the earth. They should have taken their houses and cars…
Click the headline for the full story.
Nov 142007
Nov 132007
A great deal of fanfare accompanied the brief life of The Libertines. You remember them, right? They were the Greatest Band of the Week a few years back. Right about that time, their leader, that Pete Doherty guy, became better known for poking his arm with needles and poking a fellow junkie supermodel. Great stuff! Probably the greatest band since The Clash, wouldn’t you agree?
Now The Libertines’ legacy is represented by an honest-to-goodness Best of… collection, entitled Time for Heroes: The Best of The Libertines. It’s due for release on December 4, but eMusic subscribers can download an advance copy now. (Remember, if you haven’t tried eMusic yet, you can sample it through the link on the right column of RTH!) The collection culls 13 tracks from their two releases. Talk about some tough decisions…and who even knew they put out a second album?!?! In case you were on vacation during their week in the spotlight, here’s a sampling of what you missed.
The Libertines, “Time for Heroes”
The Libertines, “Don’t Look Back Into the Sun”
The Libertines, “I Get Along”
Whaddaya think? Each song better than the previous one, eh? Each song at least as good as anything The Clash ever did! Don’t miss this band, kids. Get this album before Doherty’s newer band, Babyshambles, does anything that might make you sit up and take notice!
Next: Friend of RTH Richard Lloyd has delivered the greatest album since Electric Ladyland! Continue reading »
Nov 122007
Manfred Mann led bands in two eras and experienced the thrill of a big hit song in each era. His early big hit was this one.
I hear you rustling through your dog-eared copies of the Billboard Top 40 book, nerdboys: a few smaller ’60s hits, including his cover of Bob Dylan’s “The Mighty Quinn”, should also be considered from this era. I’m not calling the guy a 1-hit wonder through the ’60s.
Then the ’60s ended, and Manfred Mann fell out of most rock music circles until he came back with his Earth Band and this cover of an album cut by a “new Dylan”:
Has any other artist had two hits from two different eras that had so little in common?
Nov 122007
Hearing Lou’s music as it was meant to sound requires a little work in today’s clip. The interviewer asks questions in English and French; Lou seems to understand whatever’s thrown his way and answer back in English. French subtitles will aid our French-speaking readers. First, Lou discusses the universality of New York humor and love. Then, as the YouTube clock runs down to the 4:05 mark, a discussion of the album Magic & Loss ensues. A minute later, after the interviewer bemoans the public’s dismissal of this masterpiece and encourages viewers to revisit the album, our always forward-thinking hero says, “Now they should hear the new one, then they should go back and listen to Magic & Loss.”
To those of you who have questioned the point of this Rock Town Hall series, I hope this answers some of your questions. Believe Lou: hear his music as it was meant to sound and see if it doesn’t enrich your experience of hearing earlier releases as well.
Nov 112007
Nov 102007
I’m always on the look out for sites that showcase LP/CD and related artwork. Here are some links to checkout:
Sleevage
Record Envelope
LP Cover Lover (my favorite is above…)
Blue Note Covers Gallery
Album Cover Art Gallery
I suppose I must link this over-linked Worst Album Covers page.
Sadly one of my favorites – a large collection of Bollywood LP covers seems to be offline now. Please post some links to good LP/CD art in the comments if you have any…
Nov 092007
Carrie Brownstein has a blog and it’s pretty good. Here’s a sampling from the most recent posting.
My deal-breaker is preciousness: when the music is a tiny, baby bird that needs us to be nurturing and respectful, otherwise it can’t spread its wings. I like quiet music, folk music, solo artists–it’s not a matter of volume or numbers, but it is a matter of art being able to stand on its own two feet. I don’t think music needs to be coddled, no matter how delicate or soft it sounds. When a band or singer makes me go “awwww,” as I would at the sight of a newborn child, then that is a band that needs a pacifier not an amplifier. Other indicators of preciousness include, but are not limited to: matching old-timey outfits; mumbling, soft-spoken stage banter that trails off and is quickly followed by a cutesy smile, which for some reason garners huge cheers from the audience; being so nervous on stage that someone in the crowd has to yell “you can do it!” or “we love you” (exception made here for child performers); asking people to lie down on the floor for the next song; and any audience sing-along or participation so complicated that it needs to be explained BEFORE the song starts. When I am at an overly precious show, I am often filled with contrarian, immature urges: suddenly banging a gong, stepping on a whoopee cushion, or knocking some vegans together to start a mosh pit. I think what bothers me the most about preciousness is that it takes good form and reduces it to good manners, and turns performance into charade. I have no trouble taking music seriously or considering it special, but I don’t need to be instructed about why it is.
It’s like she’s plugged right into the RTH mind!
Of course, you might that a devoted follower of “small-rock” such as myself may have issues with this piece, but not really! If Belle and Sebastian can bring a sense of showmanship (and they do!) then anyone can!
