Main Stage

In Defense of American Idol

Mar 252007

Spend more than a few minutes browsing RTH during springtime, and like as not you’ll run across somebody either busting on American Idol or trying to explain to the naysayers why it’s worth watching. I’m firmly in the latter camp, and, at Mr. Mod’s prodding, I thought I’d take a moment to share the reasons why. Hopefully, I’ll manage to steer clear of any yawn-worthy defenses of “pop” music (how many times do we have to go down that road?), as well as the temptation to get all catty about the frankly awful performances that can certainly still be found on Fox every Tuesday night at 8:00 pm.

Because there are some awful performances to be found there. I suspect it’s these awful performances that cause folks like Mr. Mod to get all tight-assed about the show — and the pepole who tune in for the train-wreck cheesefest, then breathlessly blog about how bad Sanjaya Malakar‘s version of “You Really Got Me” was, make it easy for folks like Moddy to “take the high road” by simply never watching. I don’t exactly understand how it’s easier to spend an hour pondering sides three and four of “The Best and the Rest Of Be Bop Deluxe” than watching 10 kids sing their hearts out for America, but whatever.
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“So you’re telling me this will help us sell records?”

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 252007

Dave Edmunds and Rockpile go through the motions to suit the new business model.

Now Playing: iTunes Radio

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 252007

Townswoman Crystal reports that she has been spending a lot of time in a computer lab for her digital art class doing homework. She’s been slowly making notes of the different iTunes radio stations for her personal use, and she wanted to share them with her fellow Townspeople. Here’s what she’s finding.

Worthy of listening to
Ghetto Radio. It’s primarily ’80s, but it’s like old radio stations. They’ll play Aerosmith next to Eddy Grant. They did a block of Rush next to Genesis’s “Land of Confession”, which I promptly left but later they played New Order. So you’ll never know what you get.

Fresh Air – The Alternative. It’s worth it for the Edinborough accents alone. Sometimes, it’s dance music, and then it will be a show on internet dating.

Music to work by
Baroque classical station. Insert your own joke here, but very calming.
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Weekend Download: Elvis Costello & The Attractions with Martin Belmont

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 242007

Here are some tracks from the most-influential bootleg/radio concert of my youth: Elvis Costello & The Attractions with Martin Belmont (Graham Parker and The Rumour) subbing on guitar for injured keyboardist Steve Nieve. This is half of a King Biscuit Flour Hour concert that I taped off the radio when I was however old I was the year my favorite album of all time, Get Happy!!, was released.

I love the way the band steamrolls through these songs. I love the way the recording actually sounds like someone stuck a mic up in the middle of the club (ie, rather than a dreadful “board mix”). I love the material. I especially love the way the band takes command of the material and makes it work be sheer force of will (and the strength of rock’s finest rhythm section ever). No slight to Steve Nieve, because the full-strength Attractions back then could also pull this off, but as a youngster in the process of forming a 2-guitar band – without organ – getting to hear one of our favorite artist’s music performed in this configuration was a godsend. I can’t tell you how many times we sat around the bong and played the cassette of this concert, detailing all that was right about this approach. We might as well have been studying Ted Williams‘ swing.

So without further ado, here are some tracks to study over the weekend!

“Temptation”

“One More Heartache”

“Secondary Modern”

“High Fidelity”

“Lipstick Vogue”

“Oliver’s Army”

Brian Jones’ Wet Dream: North Mississippi Allstars (Acoustic) at World Cafe Live

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 232007

Townspeople, judging by the poll results, it would seem you know your Moderator well, but I have some news that might shock you as much as it’s shocked me: I loved tonight’s North Mississippi Allstars show at Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live. The band – playing an acoustic set, no less – went from respectable to impressive to dazzling to moving over the course of their set. I was impressed by their musicianship, their comfort, and their humility.

These guys are Brian Jones’ wet dream. Three dedicated followers of the American music tradition with plenty of natural style but totally devoid of cliched “Southern” and “black” manipulations of self-conscious white folks. There was no alt-country/Americana moaning and mumbling. No swigs from the Southern Comfort bottle filled with apple juice. None of that nonsense. Even their Look was cliche free: the two Dickinson brothers were tiny, and lacking in muttonchops.
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All-Star Jam

Posted by Gerry Todd

Mar 232007

Smells like Proctomusicology. What do you smell?

For Want of a Chill Pill

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 222007

This idea may be related to the recent Humble Album thread. While visiting my friends at Phawker.com, I came across Fiona Apple’s video for her cover of “Across the Universe”. I’d forgotten about this cover. It wasn’t spectacular in and of itself, but what impressed me was that it was a rare time I got to hear Apple relaxed and, seemingly, not so tied to playing up to her troubled, precocious girl reputation. With the aid of a simple, direct John Lennon song, she took a rare chill pill.

As much as I like my rock ‘n roll of the high-octane variety, there are artists who don’t allow themselves to settle into a groove. These artists have something to offer, but they work through a smokescreen of anxieties, twitches, and whatnot. As a listener, I feel I feel anxious listening to their music. There’s enough to these artist that I wish they’d just chill and allow me to better enjoy what they have to offer.
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