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Something seems to be missing…could it be that nugget of rock wisdom you wanted to share with us?
May 202010
May 192010
Little red fly.
Townswoman ladymisskirroyale raised the following question for discussion on The Main Stage. We may have had a thread or two related to this topic long ago, but there’s been lots of turnover since then, and lots of new Townspeople to add to the collective personal history of rock that is part of our mission. To that end, please do us one favor: keep your misheard lyrics personal, OK? Don’t copy entries out of some “There’s a Bathroom on the Right” book. Here’s what ladymiss wants to see discussed:
I see a post that needs to be done of misheard lyrics. Shall we start one? One of my favorites: My brother thinking that Wings‘ “Live and Let Die” actually says, “Little Red Guy.” Hmmm.
May 192010
How well do you know the sound of a band you like? If I told you to check out the new song by Death Cab For Cutie, would you be interested to check out this link?
I don’t know how to disguise this video – so I’ll just tell you, it’s not DCFC – It’s a band called Velveteen. A blogger named Joe Berkowitz was fooled by another blogger who claimed to have a leak of the last DCFC album, Narrow Stairs. But in fact, aside from actually containing the single “I Will Possess Your Heart,” the “leak” actually was music by the band Velveteen.
Read here.
To Mr. Berkowitz’s credit, he does refer to himself as a “jackass,” and further, I certainly hear the similarity between DCFC and Velveteen. But then, he also goes on to say, “the rest of the album hit all major points on The Death Cab For Cutie Sound checklist.” Now does it? Does it really?
The writer’s byline is vague, but it’s my feeling that if he really thought this music was by Death Cab, then he has no business writing about music. Despite the similarities, he can’t hear the difference between the vocalists? What about the drumming? Death Cab’s drummer, to me, is very distinctive because he plays some very technical stuff and lays down a deep pocket, deeper than the casual listener might realize. But then, it says he’s an “assistant editor,” so for all I know, his gig is reading manuscripts from the slush pile for a publisher of romance novels.
This person listened to the wrong album for 16 months, and apparently thought it was great. Do you think you could listen to an album for that stretch of time, not realizing that you were actually listening to something else? Really, I want to know.
May 182010
This has been said before, but I’m pretty sure this will be our most challenging Last Man Standing competition yet! If you’ve never played before, the idea is to submit one entry at a time until no other answers to the LMS competition come to mind. The reason I feel this LMS will be the most challenging ever is because I can only think of 4 possible answers, 2 of which come from the same band. I’m pretty sure there are no more than 4 possible answers, but I’m also pretty sure that I’m wrong about this. Prove me wrong!
By the way, there are a couple of limitations. Only songs by ROCK artists will be accepted – no hip-hop artists, who are self-referential on 75% of their songs. Also, the song must come in the second half of the artists’ relevant years. The song “Bad Company,” by Bad Company, for instance, does not qualify, because it was one of their first singles.
Because there may be so few answers to this question, I will not kick off this thread with an entry, but I will give one clue regarding probably the best-known of these songs: although rock nerds would not rank it among the band’s top 20 songs, it’s become a staple of the band’s abbreviated sets for nationwide television performances and the like. Go!
May 172010
Wasn’t there a crack in a Seinfeld episode in which Jerry, I believe, said to George something to the effect of anyone who wears a sweatsuit in public for non-sports-related purposes is announcing that they’ve given up on life? I believe Natalie Merchant is the musical equivalent of that sweatsuit. I know a lot of you R.E.M. fans thought she was special when 10,000 Maniacs first hit and she was Michael Stipe‘s tour bus partner, but come on, if you’re listening to Natalie Merchant in 2010 are you announcing to the world that you’ve given up on music?
Actually, rather than pile on with negativity, as we here in the Halls of Rock Town are sometimes wont to do, let’s make an extra effort effort to find something good to say about, you know, stuff that is clearly godawful.
It is in that spirit that we embark on yet another effort to bring some positivity to our proceedings. Please spend some quality time with the video above, then — if you can — please find something nice to say about it. You’ll feel a whole lot better, I promise you.
I look forward to your comments. Just remember, if you can’t say anything nice about this video… please don’t say anything at all.
May 172010
This could be your first demo tape!
A premature premonition of Ronnie James Dio’s impending death, circa 1984, so rocked a Townsman and his old college buddy that they quickly picked up pen, axe, and other tools of the recording arts and bashed out the following number.
Our colleague, who wishes to remain anonymous, hopes that along with providing solace for fans of Dio that this ancient recording will inspire participants in Rock Town Hall’s Talent(less) Search: My First Demo, coming soon!
May 172010
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I know next to squat about the recently deceased Ronnie James Dio. I know he replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, and I think I know he was really short. And I know he led a band called Dio. He seemed like a totally reasonable, level-headed guy in this recently conducted interview. I’m only slightly surprised, after learning in recent years that heavy metal icons can be regular blokes too.
It’s hard enough for any rocker to age. Rockers in some genres can turn to folkier, bluesier singer-songwriter material to grow dignified and old, but what’s an aging icon of metal to do? Robert Plant, not quite a heavy metal singer, but close enough for discussion, has classed up his act into his 60s by effectively going roots-rock. Has any other metal musician found a way to make music and present himself in a way more appropriate to his age? Is Ritchie Blackmore and his medieval lute-rock the next best attempt? Has Metallica effectively prepared for old age by crafting their middle-aged PowerPoint Rock Strategy?
NEXT: Rock Town Hall’s Official Eulogy…
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