Be Brave.
Apr 152007
Apr 142007
All-Star Jam. Wake up.
Apr 132007
Take at least one, then pass it on!
What’s your least-favorite song that’s considered a critical classic by an artist you love? For instance, I love The Impressions and Curtis Mayfield, and many fellow Mayfield lovers salivate over his song “Move on Up”. I don’t. In fact, I dislike it.
What’s your fondest feeling toward a digitally stored file (eg, .mp3, .wav, iTunes format)? Please describe a particularly fond moment.
What’s the stock comparison critics use in describing a band that you feel is least appropriate to that band’s music? For instance, there’s an automatic mention of The Doors as a historical comparison whenever Echo and the Bunnymen come up. Sometime last year, I questioned whether Echo’s music was in any way like The Doors. I didn’t hear it – until Townsfolk jammed a few good examples down my throat. I still don’t think they sound much like The Doors.
Please discuss the most talented musician you’ve known who’s done almost nothing with his or her gift. For the sake of everyone’s feelings, please use a pseudonym in describing this person. What did they have going for them? What might you have expected of them in terms of their “Shooting Star” potential?
I look forward to your responses.
Apr 132007
As I’m sure you know by now, the coming week will feature the debut of Hear Factor, in which Rock Town Hall members will be sent anonymous mix CDs lovingly (sincerely) compiled by other Townspeople that may be inappropriate to a recipient’s usual tastes. For 3 days, each participating Townsperson will listen to no other music but the possibly inappropriate mix CD they have received. They will report back to the list. Highlights of their mixes will be posted for all to experience and chime in on.
In the meantime, I’d like to reward participants and all Townspeople in advance with a fistfull of Northern Soul tracks that only one without ears could not find at least the slightest joy in cranking up. These tracks come courtesy of Townswoman Sally Cinnamon, who will be participating in the initial launch of Hear Factor. Happy weekend, all!
The Feathers, “Trying to Get to You”
Chuck Wood, “Seven Days Too Long”
William Bell, “Happy”
Robert Knight, “Love on a Mountaintop”
Archie Bell & the Drells, “Here I Go Again”
For an Archie Bell interview with possibly the archetypal Type A-S-S broadcasting individual you can imagine…
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Apr 132007
You may recall my earlier post on the growth that Oasis demonstrated while ripping off old songs for their 2005 album, Don’t Believe the Truth. Today, I bring you another example from that album, a little number called “Turn up the Sun”. Tell me if you don’t hear a widely expanded palette of stolen and hinted at musical ideas. Bravo, Oasis!
Apr 122007
Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends — the Thrifty Music show, that is! And why exactly does this show never end? Because people will never — repeat, never — stop throwing perfectly good music away. Well, society’s loss is our gain here at RTH, and it’s my job to scour the junk stores and thrift shops to catalog all the cool stuff that folks are tossing in the bin.
This week’s Thrifty Music sampler comes to you from Nashville, Tennessee, where I had the dubious pleasure of spending around 14 hours a few days ago. While on my whirlwind visit, I stopped by my fave thrift store on the outskirts of town, and — lo and behold — somebody had finally lost patience with the vinyl medium and dumped their entire collection of 45 RPM records. In this rather sizable pile, I managed to find a few oddities and nostalgic boomerangs that I thought worthy of sharing. So, onwards!
First up: “Dream Queen” by Rusty & Doug — as in Rusty and Doug Kershaw. I just love this number — a perfect stew of ’50s doo-wop, cajun abandon, and Everly Brothers polish. The number one find of the day, for sure. Dig that doo-wop backup vocal in the chorus!
Next: “Muleskinner Blues” by The Fendermen. Wow — what a wonderfully weird record! Before any Townsman goes conjuring up some romanticized, obscurantist fantasy about two barefoot hillbillies in overalls, a-stompin’ their feet and smokin’ corncob pipes, while waving jugs of “X X X” moonshine over their heads — the Fendermen were actually a couple of teenagers in Wisconsin who had a freak hit with this song back in the early ’60s. But, “authentic” or no, it still kicks major ass, sez I.
Track 3: “I Know I Should” by The Sophomores. I knew it would finally happen — I’d find a dusty old 45 out there about which the Internet seems to know nothing. This one has really grown on me — maybe it has something to do with the weird, circular chord pattern in the verses. Plus, every now and then, everybody needs a solid dose of Vox organ. Enjoy!
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Apr 122007
I LOVE science!
