| Author | Message | ||
     Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 498 Registered: 09-2006 |
I don't agree with everything written in the article in the link below, and I think the author loses himself in contradiction a bit too much at times (for instance, he starts out cringing at uncoolness but then later declares cool to be a lie [which I'd say it is, mostly]). But there's also some good ideas and writing there, and I can certainly identify with that slightly tortured tone, as to an extent it mirrors my own relationship to Paul McC's solo music. As I think I've expressed once before here, I think the idea of Guilty Pleasures is crap: if you respond to something you respond to it, fuck what anybody else has to say. This music is probably as close as I come. It's a slightly more formal pleasure than a passionate one, but that hardly means that passion is absent...it's just a little more abstract. The lyrics are throwaway a lot of the time, but that never really bothered me that much, because even with the Beatles he was only sporadically great in that regard. For me the magic comes through in the melodies, the hooks, the singing, the playing, the production. To fully complete the coming-out process I'll just say that I've listened to all of the below many times over the years with enjoyment: McCartney Ram Band on the Run Venus and Mars half of Wings at the Speed of Sound London Town Back to the Egg Tug of War Run Devil Run Wingspan And I won't even mention that Bobby D. had some very nice (though covertly sarcastic as usual) things to say about him in the Rolling Stone 40th anniversary issue interview...ok, maybe I will. http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/Conte nt?oid=242770 | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1673 Registered: 05-2005 |
Each to their own I suppose Alan, if the music does it for you then who are we to disagree. However, I hate The Beatles and his solo drivel is beyond my comprehension, sorry. Although I have to admit I havent heard these albums, just the stuff that the radio force fed us once upon a time - does he even get radio play these days? | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 704 Registered: 08-2006 |
I'm not a huge fan of Macca's solo output, but I do own "Run Devil Run," which I'm surprised the author of the article dismisses. I think it's got as much spunk to it as anything he's done since that band he was part of back in the '60s. And I'm midly curious about the new one, especially since I heard Christgau say a couple nice things about it on NPR, and he's been less than kind to McCartney's solo output. If memory serves, he called "Red Rose Speedway" "perhaps the worst album by a rock and roller of the first rank." Then he threw in the caveat "unless you count David Crosby." Heh. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2062 Registered: 03-2006 |
Hmmm...all I gotta say, I sign on completely to your stance about that hair-dyeing, wife-beatin', gazillionaire Macca, Allen, as well as your position on guilty pleasures. I always thought the idea was bullshit. Why should any pleasure be guilty. I think it is, at its root, an attempt to divert criticism, by saying, in a way, that, "hey, I know better - I'm ordinarily too cool to like this kind of music, but..." Some of his "solo drivel" really is excruciating, stuff like "Silly Love Songs" and, man O man, I'd rather have my 'nads crushed in a vise than ever hear "Someone's Knockin' at the Do'" again. It's almost as bad as "Stairway to Heaven". But now that I'm through qualifying my own admission, and maintaining that I'm still cool, I've gotten a lot of pleasure from his solo stuff and, though I don't have all the albums mentioned above, I have a few, and also a greatest hits compilation, and there's a lot of great music on 'em. Even some of the hit songs that I didn't like have little musical tidbits on 'em that still make 'em pretty tasty. For instance, the bass riff on "Silly Love Songs" is fascinating. Which reminds me - it needs to be mentioned that he is one of the all time great bass players, end of story. I mean, you can find more technically proficient players in the jazz arena, but in the arena of music people actually listen to, he's hard to beat, up there with people like James Jamerson. But "Band on the Run" is a bona fide classic, McCartney and Ram are great, as are Run Devil Run and Tug of War. I also loved a couple you didn't mention, AB: "Flowers in the Dirt" and that collection of old rock and roll covers, originally released in the USSR, called "Choba Bop", or something along those lines. Your dismissal of the guilty pleasures concept reminds me of a bit the comedian Bill Maher has about that weird qualifying thing people do when they say someone "looks good for their age". He says, "bullshit! You either look good or you don't." | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1268 Registered: 03-2005 |
I am a definite believer in the phenomenon of guilty pleasures. For example, I happen love certain certifiably rubbishy things like Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich's "Legend of Xanadu." It's seemingly unapologetically in your face about its trashiness. But it IS trashy and that's part of the joy of cranking it up loud. A large chunk of the Joe Meek's recorded legacy falls into this classification. The music will be outrageously contrived (usually in a very two-digit IQ way) but at the same time eerie or downright frightening in its equally two-digit IQ sincerity. And inimitable. Some of the best Meek records make you simultaneously blush with embarrassment and also with pleasure. And, well, I was raised in a very reactionary religion. I don't believe a bit of it but nonetheless the childhood conditioning has assured a lifetime of sex as a very guilty pleasure. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2063 Registered: 03-2006 |
Life's too short for guilt, Randy. Let your freak flag fly! Tarantino is probably not your thing, but his latest movie, "Grindhouse" featured a very lengthy and impassioned defense of the artistic worth of the Dave Dee, Dozy, etc., group you mention, from a very comely young female. And, I have to admit the track they played by them was supremely rocking - sort of combination of Creation and the Kinks. According to the character, some notable rock star, Jimmie Page, maybe, had hoped to join them? | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 499 Registered: 09-2006 |
LK, I agree with you about "Let 'Em In," and used to share your feelings toward "Silly Love Songs, but I've actually warmed to that latter one over the years - from the multi-movement structure (a McCartney specialty) to the darn lovely arrangement of voices in the middle part (with Linda integrated to the point where even she sounds good) to the lyrics, which, used to bug me but now sound like an actual statement of purpose. A polite statement (because that's his way),a somewhat defensive statement (because after years of bad reviews that's almost second nature, too), one that you might find irritating or unworthy of his talent (I used to), but one which he's held true to for years and years now. Silly love songs aren't everything, but they're hardly nothing. | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 602 Registered: 10-2004 |
Allen, I think "Ram" and "Band on the Run" are awesome records, and I know very few people who think otherwise. I see no reason to feel any guilt over those. But really, the whole notion of guilty pleasures is a silly one, and one that I try my best to ignore. I mean, it's totally self-conscious. It's all about qualifying something because you're afraid of what others will think of you. I like what I like and I have no control over that. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 707 Registered: 08-2006 |
I actually do believe there's such a thing as a guilty pleasure, but I think it's something I define, not something someone else defines for me. It's like Randy said above; there's music I listen to that is definitely not on par with the rest of the stuff that's usually in the CD player. I know it's lightweight or trashy or flawed, but I still like it even though I recognize its (sometimes major) shortcomings. But that's defined by me, not someone else's opinion of what's good. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 675 Registered: 01-2005 |
Jeff, The former CBC Radio 2 weekend show "Nightlines" which was on late Friday nights and Saturday nights and was hosted by the best DJ that I ever listened to, David Wisdom, used to have a "Guilty Pleasures" weekend one a month or so. David had an incredible record collection. He did "Ten Singles in Alphbeticle Order" every Friday night and it took him a decade to finish. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 708 Registered: 08-2006 |
BTW, Jeff, one of the bartenders at my local pub was playing "Ram" just yesterday while I was watching a little baseball. I don't know if I've ever heard that album in its entirety, but I enjoyed it a lot. Kind of a surprise when I asked him what was on the record player (yes, he was playing the vinyl). | ||
| Jeff Whiteaker Member Username: Jeff_whiteaker Post Number: 603 Registered: 10-2004 |
Rob, I see your point. I mean, sure, I listen to plenty of music which when placed alongside, say, the Go-Betweens, is comparitively trashy or lightweight. But I hesitate to use the term "guilty pleasure" when describing it. For me, if it genuinely moves me, despite whatever unintentional humor or shortcomings it may possess, it's still as valid as anything else I listen to. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 709 Registered: 08-2006 |
You're right, of course, Jeff. Guilty pleasure is a silly term. But I confess it's the term I use for certain things I listen to. I think it's the intellectual part of listening to music - thinking about why you're enjoying something - trumping the emotional response where I just let my pleasure centers have their way. It's a stupid thing to do but somehow I conditioned myself that way. Maybe everyone does. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1612 Registered: 05-2005 |
Ahh, the Macca's a harmless old fella, leave him be, or let it be!!! Haveing sed that, doesn't he go beating women up with their false legs, rendering them semi-legless and then goes and lays to 100, 000 cap venues just to rid himself of his anger? Mind you, you'll never see Macca down the labour exchange!!!!!!!! | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 239 Registered: 05-2005 |
I missed this one. I had my head down doing reports. Macca...how can you resist those gorgeous melodies? But, yes, he is a tosser who is far too aware of what he's done. But..resisting Ram, McCartney, Band on the Run, Tug of War and Chaos and Creation is pointless!!! The new one's a bit "modern" and some of the turns a bit Cher like! I thought Follow Me was of Beatle standard on Chaos though. Sorry to say, I felt I was burnt by Run Devil Run - the reviews were all fantastic but it sounded like some old 60 year old git trying to "get back" to his "yoof"....hang on, it WAS! I'm still mad at him for not coming back to Auz after cancelling after the lame excuse that arriving after the first Bali bombing would be insensitive to Australians. The bucket PLEASE!!!! Best gig musically ever for me was Macca in 93 doing Paperback Writer, Lady Madonna etc etc etc. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 780 Registered: 08-2006 |
I heard some tune from the new one on the radio the other day. What was it called, "That Was Me" or something? It was really quite good. He can still yell/sing like a champ and the melody was ridiculously catchy. I'd consider buying it if I saw it used, even though I'm not a huge fan of his solo stuff. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 547 Registered: 09-2006 |
I've liked what I've heard too, Rob. Xgau also had some very nice things to say about it in a review in Rolling Stone. As is quite obvious from the very existence of this thread I part ways from him fairly substantially on this subject. I was thinking today that my liking for this stuff is partially due to my age...I was very young when the Beatles had their time, and was only aware of them at a distance - beyond maybe "She Loves You" I couldn't even have identified a single song as theirs. '73 was the time I started listening to the radio with any real interest, which was right around the time "Band on the Run" came out, so Paul's solo music from that time period infiltrated my consciousness first, and more all-pervasively. LK, I forgot about that Russian album - that was a good one. And I really do need to give "Flowers" a few more listens. I can't even remember now why I didn't at the time... |