| Author | Message | ||
     Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 267 Registered: 04-2005 |
Some of rock's classics take a battering. I'm in total agreement with Luke Pritchard of the Kooks on 'Pet Sounds'. And Green on 'The Neon Bible'. http://music.guardian.co.uk/rock/story/0 ,,2102991,00.html (As usual you have to take out the space after the first '0' in the url) | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1642 Registered: 05-2005 |
Aaah, these things are fun arent they? No mark, talentless musicians who slag off landmark albums. Although I did agree with the Sgt Pepper slaughtering of course. And as for Ian Rankin on the VU and Nico album, well words fail me, I just wish they did for him and then we wouldnt be bombarded by his crap novels. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1426 Registered: 04-2005 |
I don't agree with a lot of what those guys wrote, but that was definitely a fun read. And while I'm not a Flaming Lips fan, I really liked Wayne Coyne's take on "Nevermind" and think he's spot-on. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 591 Registered: 10-2004 |
This was a fun read, thanks for posting. While I agree with several of these nominations, of course I have to disagree intensely with "Pet Sounds" and "Meat is Murder." I mean, hey, *I* never asked for "Pet Sounds" to be considered sacred. It's just an album I have loved intensely for a very long time. Peter Hook's take on "Trout Mask Replica" was pretty funny, and although I do like some of Beefheart's work, I totally know where Hook is coming from. It was nice to see the Stone Roses album listed. Apart from the gorgeous "I Wanna Be Adored" and the cool "She Bangs the Drum," I always felt horribly let down by the rest of that album. All pose and no substance. I never got the hype for that one. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 592 Registered: 10-2004 |
It occurred to me that two of the biggest "sacred cows" of my generation were, for some bizarre reason, left off: Radiohead's "OK Computer," and My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless." Two albums that everyone else loves, which I will loathe 'til the day I die. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2028 Registered: 03-2006 |
I guess everybody reading that immensely entertaining article will enjoy it, in general, but have one or two favorites that it grieves them to see be placed in such dubious company. Mine is "Nevermind". Who the hell does Wayne Coyne think he is? He's not fit to carry Cobain's jockstrap. At least Nirvana managed to be compelling in concert without having to wear bunny suits. Also, the comparison to Nickelback makes for a good line, but has no basis in fact - clearly, Coyne hasn't actually had the (unfortunate) experience of hearing them. I like "Sgt. Pepper's", but clearly Childish comes by his dislike of it honestly. If you had followed closely the poppier, uptempo strains of the Beatles, it would have to seem like a departure, a breach of faith. Also, not liking "Pet Sounds" and the "VU and Nico" records just seems ignorant and symptomatic of a complete lack of awareness of what's important in music. I thought Green's piss take on "Neon Bible" was amusing, but it seemed kind of fussy and overly academic - I was wondering if he was going to start criticizing the brand of guitar picks AF used. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 269 Registered: 04-2005 |
Hey LK, So I am ignorant and have a 'complete lack of awareness of what's important in music' then? Outside now pal. But Iain Rankin is way off on the Velvets. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2030 Registered: 03-2006 |
Sorry, man. I was reacting primarily to the Kookie guy in the article... I would never make such insinuations about a GBs board person. Unless it was Kevin.  | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 673 Registered: 08-2006 |
A few observations: 1. It seems like posturing for whatshisname from Franz Ferdinand to trash "Marquee Moon"; comes off like he's been stung by all the "they sounds just like (insert band here)" comments. I'm surprised he didn't hurl a brick through the windshield of "Entertainment." 2. I can't imagine any rock and roll fan not at least liking "The Velvet Underground and Nico." It's unnatural. Really. 3. I hope Wayne Coyne's caught wearing his bunny suit during rabbit season (or when Mitt Romney's around, hunting varmints). 4. Abba is not a "sacred cow." Neither is the Partridge Family. Or the Archies. It is kitsch. 5. Comparing "Pet Sounds" to "Dark Side of the Moon" is like announcing your love of fine wine by producing a bottle of Night Train. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1643 Registered: 05-2005 |
Watch it big guy, I'm aware of a complete lack of blandness in my music collection, and thats whats important to ignoramuses like me | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2032 Registered: 03-2006 |
Rob, great reference. As someone who's consumed gallons of that fine vintage they produce at the Charles Shaw winery, mentions of cheap wine always gratify and amuse. And, believe you me, they consumed plenty of Night Train in La., along with MD 20/20. Kev, you know I kid. You are still my favorite person on the board from Scotland (as I'm sure I'm your fave from Orange County, CA) | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2033 Registered: 03-2006 |
I'm still hurt, though, that you don't care for 16LL. Bland albums need love, too! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1646 Registered: 05-2005 |
Gotcha, So you admit 16LL is bland then!! Sure, you're the main man from CA, still kinda miss that Hardin dude though. | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 235 Registered: 07-2006 |
re: kev - **bump** rob, i have the banana album and still don't know what to do with it. listening didn't work. abba might not be part of your canon, but they're certainly right up there in mine. yours is probably bigger than mine, mind. also, given i'm probably the only one here who thinks the sugababes are brilliant, i wouldn't get yer pants into too much of a twist as to what that scorned reject thinks. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 756 Registered: 08-2006 |
Ha! I actually think that's great, Joe. If the Sugababes do it for you in a way that Lou/John/Mo/Sterling don't, no apologies necessary. As long as you don't try to formalize that viewpoint in the pages of the Guardian (insert that f-ing smiley face thing I can never figure out). | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 236 Registered: 07-2006 |
i love lou, i just really don't know what to make of the velvets. and who is this mo and sterling of which you speak? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1290 Registered: 03-2005 |
Ahh! Maureen Tucker. She of the minimalist drum beat that is harder than hell to imitate correctly. She with her snare that sounds almost like a muted trash can lid. One of rock's absolute greatest. I confess I've never really focused on Sterling Morrison's contribution. It changed a bit when John Cale left. He occasionally sings and sounds to my ears like a blander Lou. Joe, I suspect that a big part of the problem you have is with the dreadful recorded sound of the first Velvets album. I recommend listening to it in mono. But it will never have the nice wide dynamic sound of a more professional recording. "White Light/White Heat" is even worse. These junkies just f'd up the whole concept of professionalism in music and laid out a template to be consulted up to this very day. Although I personally think it's less exceptional musically, you might find their last studio album "Loaded" much more digestible. "VU" is probably the best showcase; the music is varied and the songs are great and the sound is generally pretty good by 60s standards. But back to the first album: Joe, are you truly unmoved by the drag queen-like vocals of Nico on "Femme Fatale?" If so, come back to it every five years and see what you think. Think of Jeanne Moreau in Fassbinder's "Querelle." "Each man kills the thing he loves . . . ." | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2100 Registered: 03-2006 |
Stick with it, Joe. The Velvet Underground, or the Velvets, as we hipsters call them, were just like an early Sugababes that couldn't sing very well, had more guitars, took a lot of heroin and wrote epic songs. Apart from that, there was virtually no difference. | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 237 Registered: 07-2006 |
the babes have released some epics too....but sure, will give the other mob another go. thanks for the lowdown randy, i hadn't planned on delving any further but i will have a listen to loaded. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 275 Registered: 04-2005 |
Joe, Try listening to the Velvets' 'Foggy Notion' from 'VU'. As Randy says, Mo Tucker is a genius and as for those guitars! Or 'Live 1969'. This is all pure rock'n'roll. After that go back to the first LP + maybe it will make more sense. But each of their original records is so different from the one before. Going from WL/WH to the self-titled third record is like another band entirely. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 758 Registered: 08-2006 |
I agree with Andrew, Joe. I love "Loaded," but I think "VU" is a great starting point for non-fans. "VU" is maybe their best-sounding record, and it still has some the punky vibe they kind of lost with "Loaded." I think he's right, too, about the fact that "VU" could wind up being your gateway drug into the banana record. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1471 Registered: 04-2005 |
I dunno. You say you love Lou, Joe, but if you don't appreciate "Sunday Morning," "Waiting for the Man," "Venus in Furs," "Heroin," "There She Goes Again"--all of which have decent fidelity (by the standards of the era, anyway) and strong vocals by Lou--then I'm not sure you're ever going to like the Velvet Underground. I admit "Run Run Run," "Black Angel's Death Song," and "European Son" might be rough going for neophytes, but overall the VU & Nico is, to my ears, Lou Reed's greatest collection of songs and pretty much his defining statement. It might help if you tell us which Lou you love--"Transformer" era? "Berlin"? "Rock 'n Roll Animal"? | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 690 Registered: 01-2005 |
Why no one has mentioned the eponymus third Velvet album is beyond me. It's still my favorite, although I love "VU" and the the first one a ton, and WL/WH and "Loaded" aren't far behind. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 1473 Registered: 04-2005 |
The third VU is a great album, Michael, but it's not one I would recommend as a starting point to the Velvets. I think it works best if you know of Big Bad Scary Lou from the first two VU albums, and then suddenly--surprise!--here's this quiet, introspective, thoughtful album where he lets his guard down. | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 238 Registered: 07-2006 |
yeah berlin's my favourite though...thanks to a tip on this board a while back, i've also got into street hassle. i had no idea the simple minds track was a cover! i'm having a bit of a go-b's fest with a friend tonight, but when i get home (providing i'm not too drunk and it's not too late) i shall download said velvets records and give them a play over the weekend. |