Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Lou Reed…As His Music Was Meant to Sound

Sep 122010

I take it that Peter Gabriel covered this song on his recent album of cover songs, called I’ll Kiss Your Ass If You Kiss Mine, or something like that.

As one of the YouTube commentators said:

Please remember that Peter’s version would not EXIST without Lou’s vision and that Peter was INSPIRED by Lou to create his masterpiece.

However, that doesn’t mean you should disregard another commentator’s words:

This version sucks big time. I know he wrote it, so I give him credit. But seriously, this sounds horrible – like something William Shatner would sing. Peter Gabriel took it to a whole new level and Lou Reed’s version just sounds awful by comparison.

Whaddayaknow, here’s Peter performing the song live. Continue reading »

Mister, Are You a Better Man Than Townsman misterioso?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Sep 112010

In a recent thread, Townsman misterioso posted a link in his Comment to the above Loggins and Messina video, with the following challenge:

If you can get through this clip, in which Loggins and Messina approach Mike Love levels of pseudo-playful loathsomeness, without wanting to punch someone, then mister you’re a better man than I.

A few Townspeople have already watched this thing and have confirmed misterioso’s apt description! I finally got time to view it, but not even I could make it all the way through. I had to bail around the 2:05 mark, when the camera catches Messina’s butt at an unnaturally protruded, Carl Wilson angle. I’m not a better man than misterioso. Are you?

Can you handle a competing version of this horrible song…after the jump? Continue reading »

Jock-Rock Anthems

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Sep 112010

I found this clip linked in a long and ultimately slightly interesting and wholly depressing article on former Padres pitcher Eric Show, who gave up Pete Rose’s record-breaking base hit and dabbled as a musician and a John Birch Society member. As jock-rock (and white-boy blues, for that matter) recordings go, this isn’t too bad. Enjoy.

What’s your favorite jock-rock recording that specifically was thrown together to celebrate a team’s championship season? (And beside Muhammed Ali and probably some other boxes, has any solo sport athlete, such as a golfter or tennis star, recorded a record in praise of his or her championship run?)

Dugout Chatter

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Sep 112010

Who’s game for a little Dugout Chatter? Trusting your gut, please answer the following questions. Absolutely no expertise is required. All are invited to play.

Quick: What’s the first non-English language lyric in an English-language song that comes to mind?

Which modern-day band description (courtesy of Pitchfork) gets a reaction from you, be it positive or negative?

Brooklyn synth-gazers
Drone-psych warriors
Leather-clad fuzz-pop
Synth-punks

Quick: What’s the first quaint phrase in a song lyric that comes to mind for you?

Should Taylor accept Kanye‘s apology?

What’s your favorite apology song?

What’s the earliest band or song you recall strongly disliking?

I look forward to your responses.

Van Halen. John Lennon. What’s the Difference?

Posted by 2000 Man

Sep 102010

Who’d a thought? All it took was David Lee Roth and I can stay awake through the whole thing! Does this seem okay to do to you? I really don’t care. I don’t care about either song really, but if I did this wouldn’t bother me any more than a car commercial.

Previously Unseen Beatles Photos

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Sep 102010

Linda, Paul, and David Gilmour, supposedly from 1975.

If, like me, you’ve spent enough of your youth geeking out over photos of your favorite musicians you may find yourself, 30 years later, with jaw dropping over an image you’ve never seen before. I spent countless hours of my youth looking over photos of The Beatles in whatever rock book or magazine I could get my hands on. Although I was never a giant Wings fan, I probably saw my share of solo McCartney shots in the process. I’d never seen this shot…until now.

What does it mean? Not a thing, most likely, but I never knew Linda smoked – cigarettes. Where did David Gilmour get that wholly inauthentic Dallas Cowboys shirt, in Central Europe? And I either didn’t know or forgot that Paul brought back his Sgt. Pepper’s moustache. Nice.

Did you ever spend hours gazing at photos of a favorite artist? What’s the most recent previously unseen photo of a favorite musician that you’ve stumbled across? What did you learn from it?

A Common Link in Much of What I Don’t Like?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Sep 092010

I’d completely forgotten about this post and the interesting discussion it spurred! For all the topics we kick around I especially like when we find a way into this sort of discussion. A lot of the participants on this topic have been quiet over the last months – or longer. A lot of you weren’t here when we first kicked this around. Maybe you’ve got something new to add, maybe not. If nothing else I hope this is a worthwhile trip down memory lane.

This post initially appeared 3/14/07.

In checking out some Sonic Youth tracks recently, I think I came across the common link in much of what I don’t like in rock music: an, at least, perceived lack of musical lack of hierarchy. I like hearing musicians come to the fore. I like knowing who’s the Alpha Dog. Too many singers, too many soloists, too many anythings doing their thing simultaneously and democratically is almost always a kiss of death for my ears.
Continue reading »

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