Respect the classics, man!

[bloop]

heh - that's part of what draws me into The Bends.

[murlough23]

heh - that's part of what draws me into The Bends.

One man's treasure...

[Aaron]

Mur, can you explain what you mean about the vocals on The Bends? 

[bloop]

One man's treasure...

Not a phrase I've ever actually bought into (I guess this is another way of saying that I think some things are good in themselves regardless of what anyone thinks of them), but I know what you mean.

Mur, can you explain what you mean about the vocals on The Bends?

I can probably help, actually.  Thom Yorke has moments where he loses the melody in what can only be described as emotional outbursts.  Really, this element is present on any of his albums (and isn't all that uncommon with rock frontmen in general).

[murlough23]

Mur, can you explain what you mean about the vocals on The Bends? 

No. (And I really mean "can't" here, as in "I don't know how to explain it", not just "I don't feel like going to the trouble of explaining it.)

Not a phrase I've ever actually bought into (I guess this is another way of saying that I think some things are good in themselves regardless of what anyone thinks of them), but I know what you mean.

I don't think the fact that something is trash to one man and treasure to the next implies anything either way about its objective status. Me hating and you liking it could be true regardless of whether it's truly a masterpiece or truly crap. (Of course you aim not to like anything that is crap. I get that. And I'm not saying that it is in this case.)

[bloop]

I regard it as a cop-out in most discussions - a way to not discuss an issue further than a surface level, I guess.  As I said, though, I understand what you mean by it.

[murlough23]

I regard it as a cop-out in most discussions - a way to not discuss an issue further than a surface level, I guess.

I tend to only use it when I feel that an issue has already been discussed and rehashing it will get us nowhere. Come on, you know me. I usually dissect things to the point of oblivion.

NP: "God Is Smiling (live)", Delirious?

[bloop]

I already downloaded some Sam Cooke and Joy Division.  I figured I'd start with smaller discographies.

[NinjaRob17]

I've been trying to get into the classics, too, but I usually do research on the bands to find the albums worth getting before delving into their entire discography. See: Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, etc.

[valleycat]

I love Nirvana.  But they are not my favorite 90's band.  That would go to...one of these:

Built to Spill
Guided by Voices
Neutral Milk Hotel


And I think Joy Division's Unknown Pleasures is one of my favorite albums I own.  But I didn't like Closer much...

[Wildcatblue7]

I've been pondering what "classic" band I haven't paid any attention to . . . I'm pretty familiar with all the usual suspects in the classic/dinosaur rock arena, and I have a pretty healthy exposure and appreciation for jazz.  Any major suggestions?  (perhaps my last.fm would help--click my sig)

[murlough23]

I've been pondering what "classic" band I haven't paid any attention to . . . I'm pretty familiar with all the usual suspects in the classic/dinosaur rock arena, and I have a pretty healthy exposure and appreciation for jazz.  Any major suggestions?  (perhaps my last.fm would help--click my sig)

I think I could sooner come up with a book of the Bible to recommend to my pastor.

[Wildcatblue7]

I think I could sooner come up with a book of the Bible to recommend to my pastor.

HAHA.  I'm not just talking "old" classics...I mean new-ish/er junk that I haven't, for whatever reason, explored at all.

[bloop]

I think I could sooner come up with a book of the Bible to recommend to my pastor.

I'd recommend James.  Lutherans need to hear "faith without works is dead" from time to time.

HAHA.  I'm not just talking "old" classics...I mean new-ish/er junk that I haven't, for whatever reason, explored at all.

Going by what you already like, The Hold Steady?  sthingy?

[enemy anemone]

sthingy is a definitely a phorum classic.

[murlough23]

I'd recommend James.  Lutherans need to hear "faith without works is dead" from time to time.

When you figure out one for kinda sorta liberal American Baptists, you let me know.

[bloop]

I'm enjoying my own little exploration so far.  I think I'll go to Buddy Holly next.

[murlough23]

Does anyone think it might be worth adding Talking Heads to my list?

Also, while I recognize that it's a critically reviled genre, at some point I want to add some sort of 70's-era acoustic rock to my list. America or something like that. I like the sound and the musicality of some of it, even if a lot of the lyrics are fluff.

NP: "Your Beautiful Mind 2009", Kevin Max

[bloop]

Talking Heads is a more than worthy addition.  Radiohead named themselves after a rather good song.

Also, you didn't ask, but Bob Dylan could basically do no wrong in the 60s.

70s acoustic rock . . . hmm - I don't have a lot of experience with it.  Cat Stevens?

[murlough23]

Talking Heads is a more than worthy addition.  Radiohead named themselves after a rather good song.

So noted.

Also, you didn't ask, but Bob Dylan could basically do no wrong in the 60s.

You're right. I didn't ask.

70s acoustic rock . . . hmm - I don't have a lot of experience with it.  Cat Stevens?

Not a bad suggestion.

[Aaron]

Does anyone think it might be worth adding Talking Heads to my list?

Also, while I recognize that it's a critically reviled genre, at some point I want to add some sort of 70's-era acoustic rock to my list. America or something like that. I like the sound and the musicality of some of it, even if a lot of the lyrics are fluff.

NP: "Your Beautiful Mind 2009", Kevin Max

Me.  David Byrne was a screwed up yet brilliant musician.  TH is an acquired taste but totally worth the time.  Shame that his ego ruined the band.  He's touring this summer with Brian Eno.  They are doing the hits of Eno & Byrne which equals the biggest Talking Heads hits.  Not as good as when the band was together. 


Anyways, yes check them out even if you don't end up liking them.  They have some fun stuff.


BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE

[bloop]

Not a bad suggestion.

Neither was Bob Dylan.  

 

[murlough23]

I'm only interested in Dylan songs if other people are singing 'em. And even then, my reactions have been widely varied.

[bloop]

Well, while we're acquiring tastes . . .

(at least a fair number of these artists are acquired)

[murlough23]

Well, while we're acquiring tastes . . .

(at least a fair number of these artists are acquired)

And there's no guarantee that I'll acquire them all. I only put artists on my list that either I'd already tried some of and liked, or that I hadn't tried at all and thought I stood some chance of liking. Given the size of my list, if I've already tried somebody and didn't like 'em, I'm not really interested in going back for a second helping. Remember that my goal here is not to be comprehensive. It's to find classic stuff that I have a good chance of actually liking.

I've been through the Dylan argument at least ten times previously. I mean no disrespect. But my final answer is NO. Let's drop it.

[bloop]

That's fine, but there's nothing to argue yet.

I don't have a lot of experience with Cat Stevens, but Tea for the Tillerman is a really good album.  Sadly, I only have it in vinyl, and I have no experience ripping those to the computer.

[murlough23]

That's fine, but there's nothing to argue yet.

Yes, because I'm ending it before an argument even starts.

[bloop]

Yes, because I'm ending it before an argument even starts.

Not quite what I meant, but ok.  See Cat Stevens suggestion.

Has Steely Dan or Elton John come up?

[murlough23]

I figure I should probably note my reactions to stuff from my list as I listen to it enough times to get a handle on it.

After five or six spins through Pearl Jam's Ten, I'm loving it. Probably even more than the self-titled, which is a pretty solid album. I like that it's got the raggedy edge of alternative rock's heyday, but that it doesn't really have the "slacker aesthetic" going on. A lot of the songs hit hard and are pretty instantly memorable (which explains why I recognize snippets of "Alive" and "Even Flow" from my college days even though I didn't listen to anything secular at the time). I know some fans of latter-day Pearl Jam criticize or marginalize this album for being so "catchy", but come on, it's not like they were making feel-good pop music here. The subject matter on Ten is pretty challenging, even disturbing at times, but ultimately I like how they have sympathy and/or can identify with some of the society's most easily misunderstood characters (the homeless, serial killers, the mentally disabled, suicidal teenagers, Oedipus, etc.) It's tempting to focus on the front half of the album because it's packed with obvious classics, but I'm getting a lot out of the back half as well. I like that even this early on, they could pull of a moody, reflective piece like "Oceans" or a grinding, dissonant guitar jam like "Deep". Honestly, there's not a dud track to be found on the album.

The problem that I know I'm facing now is that if I let myself love Ten, I'm setting myself up for a bit of a WTF reaction to a lot of their later material. At least I more or less know to expect it to get less anthemic and more experimental from here on out. That'll help me to manage expectations. I wouldn't want to be the Pearl Jam analogue of one of those so-called Jars of Clay fans who I despise so much for proclaiming that their first album is their best and being dismissive of everything else.

[Wildcatblue7]

Has Steely Dan or Elton John come up?

I thought about bringing up Steely Dan, but I don't really see Mur getting into them very much.  Maybe the obtuse lyrics, but I think the jazz-heavy composition might put him off...

But if you try them, Mur, start with Aja.  SD, in their original decade, were consistently awesome.

[murlough23]

I thought about bringing up Steely Dan, but I don't really see Mur getting into them very much.  Maybe the obtuse lyrics, but I think the jazz-heavy composition might put him off...

If it's anything like Morph the Cat, then hell to the no. (Note: I don't dislike all jazz-influenced composition. But straight-up jazz doesn't tend to float my boat, especially when it's centered around keyboards or it's more of the "vocal jazz" type stuff where the singer is the most important element.)

NP: "The Artist in the Ambulance", Thrice

[bloop]

Are you saying to work backward from Aja, Wildcat?  I ask because I would think murlough would have the best chance of liking the more concise Pretzel Logic the most out of their catalog.

[bethany]

This is a really fun thread. I'm enjoying reading it.

[bloop]

Ooh, the other thread made me think of a good one, although I'm not sure how "classic" they are.  Ben Folds Five?  He alternates well between light-hearted material and heavier themes - could make a good palate cleanser.

[Wildcatblue7]

Are you saying to work backward from Aja, Wildcat?  I ask because I would think murlough would have the best chance of liking the more concise Pretzel Logic the most out of their catalog.

Yeah.  I really like Gaucho, too, but I'm a minority there, I think. "Babylon Sisters" is brilliant.  I really like some of the songs on Pretzel Logic, but I don't think it's the band's best album as a whole.  What about Countdown to Ecstasy?  Love that one too.

[bloop]

Well, I love Pretzel Logic personally, but that's not why I recommended it (or, at least not the entire reason).  I just think it would be more inline with the kind of thing murlough might enjoy more.

Oh, and Ben Folds had a rather good cover of "Barrytown".

[murlough23]

Well, I love Pretzel Logic personally, but that's not why I recommended it (or, at least not the entire reason).  I just think it would be more inline with the kind of thing murlough might enjoy more.

Probably best to redirect the conversation to what others might like. I just don't see Steely Dan as the kind of band I'd want to add to my list at all.

NP: "Red Tide", Neko Case

[bloop]

You know, I really need to give Rush a good run-through.

[NinjaRob17]

If you're planning on listening to Rush, I would start with Moving Pictures and work backward from there. I'm not familiar with anything after Signals, though.

[Aaron]

You know, I really need to give Rush a good run-through.

Yes, yes you do.  I have most of their albums.  One of the more underrated bands.  Some people can't get over Geddy Lee's voice, but it's not bad at all.  The Spirit of Radio - Greatest Hits 1974-1987 is a good start.