Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Movie Review: Frank, or What Almost Famous Intended to Do for Me

Nov 042014

A few years ago the dearly missed Happiness Stan wrote up a piece on an English cult artist I’d never heard about before, Frank Sidebottom. Despite Stan’s typically charming and personal presentation, this artist was hard to swallow. However, I had to give Sidebottom props, at first site, for being annoyingly funny. After that post faded from The Main Stage and after Happiness Stan faded from these Hallowed Halls I never gave Frank Sidebottom another thought…until this past summer, when my wife and I were desperate to see a new movie and came across the description of something called Frank.

Rock Town Hall’s Saturday Night Shut-In: Be Cool

Posted by cliff sovinsanity

Nov 012014

Sounds of the hall in roughly 33 1/3 minutes!

Are you cool?

Be Cool

[Note: You can add Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your iTunes by clicking here. The Rock Town Hall feed will enable you to easily download Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your digital music player.]

Playlist after the jump

Nonsuch: How NOT to Do Surround Sound

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 312014

I know that this site has raised the ire of Andy Partridge, which is unfortunate since he is somebody whose music has been absolutely integral in my life. [“Mine too,” says the authors of the old piece that got his goat.- Mr Mod] I’m not trying to piss him off. And I know the Nonsuch album is not so widely loved in these halls, but it does have some tunes I love – yes, I *like* “That Wave.” I’ve played that album many, many times, I know where the little squeaks and clicks are, I know the timing between the songs. I was psyched to hear it in surround, I thought it would be cool.

Feeding this also is that I joined the FB XTC group, mostly to hear news, but honestly I’m a bit turned off by the rampant fandom there, where the praise is generous and lavish and criticism is not especially welcome or considered. Those fan groups can have a weird dynamic and maybe I’m reacting against that. But I’m not trying to piss off those fans either, just to state my opinion.

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 282014

Don’t give up on us, baby. The All-Star Jam is the place to do your thing. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got much to report, once I get the time. Meanwhile, I may post some random thoughts here. Feel free to do likewise.

R.I.P. Jack Bruce

Posted by funoka

Oct 262014

I can only imagine what is was like to drop a needle on Fresh Cream in 1966.

Best Incorporation of Beards in Rock?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 212014

I love how Steve Cropper’s paid no attention to his hair, probably not even washing it for 3 days, but his beard is magnificent! Then there’s the delicious matter of that Tam O’Shanter, or whatever that hat is called!

“Early Stones,” or Jeez, I’m Old!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 202014

While flipping the radio dial between sport-talk radio ads on my ride home from work last week I landed on the opening measures of one of the most perfect (and perfect-sounding) songs in my world: “Beast of Burden,” by The Rolling Stones. The coming updates on the Eagles’ (my hometown football team, not the band) bye week, following the commercial break, could wait. I had to listen to this soulful gem all the way through!

At the song’s conclusion, the DJ came on and said, “That was some early Stones: ‘Beast of Burden,’ off 1978’s Some Girls album!”

First, I felt like the DJ was an idiot. Then, I felt like I was 100 years old. Finally, considering the Stones have survived 36 years since that album, it could technically be considered a song from their “early” period.

I know the Stones are old, but jeez…

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