Posts
1. The album “Nevermind” by the group Nirvana is the single most overrated album of all time. The constant exaggeration of the music and talent of Kurt Cobain is mind-boggling. The songs on the album were good, but they in no way should be compared with the likes of Lennon/McCartney, Springsteen, or Dylan, as they often are. In fact, in comparing the album to music of the same time period, I would put Pearl Jam’s “Ten” and Green Day’s “Dookie” in a much higher class for musicianship, lyrics, and overall impact on the music industry.
2. Bruce Springsteen is not a songwriter. He is a poet who happens to play guitar.
3. Pop stars who sing songs written by someone else cannot be referred to as artists. An artist creates something. How is Brittany Spears not considered a karaoke singer? What does she do differently? I guarantee that if she were unattractive, she would be bagging groceries at the local A&P.
4. I think the most important albums of the 1980’s are (in no particular order): U2’s “The Joshua Tree” (catapulted one of the most influential bands into worldwide fame, allowing Bono to take up and promote causes that benefitted millions of people), Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” (revitalized rock music at time when disco had ended and New Wave was taking the genre in a very different direction), Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (successfully melded pop music and R&B and brought along a style that is still imitated today), Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” (took speed metal to a level of artistry that no other metal band has ever been able to accomplish—6-10 minute songs of blistering powerchords, machine gun drumming, and thought-provoking lyrics), John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Scarecrow” (changed the entire persona of the singer and brought attention to the issue of the American farmer—became part of the creation of the Farm Aid concert) and Guns-n-Roses’ “Appetite for Destruction” (one of the greatest debut albums ever, AFD did not contain a single piece of filler music and epitomized the L.A. metal scene as it developed into more than just big hair and make-up. I would also throw in any Run-DMC album from the decade.
5. Van Halen was great with both David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, but “5150” was their most complete album.
6. The day John Lennon was murdered should be considered “the day the music died.” No disrespect to Ritchie Valens, Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly.
7. Beatles over Elvis any day. Not even close.
8. The idea of a movie soundtrack has evolved tremendously over the past few decades. John Hughes’ use of avant-garde and undiscovered pop music for his movies was just as important to the films as the writing. John Cusack’s selection of songs for “High Fidelity” was simply brilliant. And “Dazed and Confused” and “Almost Famous” perfectly captured the essence of the struggling rock genre in the mid-1970’s.
9. Music for children today is great. Laurie Berkner, Dan Zanes, and They Might Be Giants are so much cooler than Raffi.
10. I miss the soft, crackling sound of vinyl records.
11. I do not miss the impossible task of returning the giant paper record sleeve into the album cover.
12. Why did record companies make 45’s with a giant hole that required a special little plastic piece to secure it to the record player? Why not make the hole the same size as the one on the 33’s?
13. I loved to play records on the wrong speed and imagine the Chipmunks were singing.
14. Certain bands were just meant to be heard live: Dave Matthews Band, AC/DC, and Genesis. Bruce Springsteen circa 1985 would be tops on the list if time travel were a possibility.
15. Bands I wish I had seen in concert before I was born, before they split up, or before they died: Beatles circa “Let it Be”, Led Zeppelin, original Pink Floyd lineup performing “The Wall”, The Doors in their early days at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go.
16. Eminem’s rhyme patterns are simply brilliant from a poetic standpoint. They are reminiscent of the early songs of Kool Mo Dee, who applied massive doses of alliteration throughout every song.
17. I miss songs that tell stories and incorporate elements of literature into the lyrics. Where are the characters? Brenda and Eddie in “Italian Restaurant”, Mary and her swaying dress in “Thunder Road”, Desmond and Molly in the marketplace…
18. If I were the President, my first law would require musical artists to include lyric sheets in every album.
19. I love Weird Al. I think he is a genius.
20. The acoustic guitar song in the movie “The Story of Us” is one of my favorite instrumental songs. It was the best part of that movie.
21. I saw Bruce Springsteen in concert at the Orange Bowl in 1985 when he was touring in support of his newly released “Born in the USA” album. It was summer, and he played for nearly four hours. I never sat down. His stage was set up in the open end zone of the stadium and I remember thinking that at one point, the palm trees outside the stadium were swaying in time with the music. My dad took me and my brother and had surprised us with the tickets long after the show had been declared a sellout. Our seats were great and my dad bought me a poster and a concert shirt. It is one of my favorite childhood memories with my dad. I still have the shirt (it doesn’t fit).
22. I have never been into a musical group or performer as much as I am into the Dave Matthews Band. This includes my years of obsessing over the music of Billy Joel, Springsteen, and heavy metal in general. DMB has been able to reach something in me that I can’t put into words (or would want to). Seeing them in concert is a religious experience. Not organized religion, but rather some sort of hedonistic or pagan form of hippie/medieval voodoo type of religion. Yeah, it’s that complicated.
23. While The Who’s “Tommy” and Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” are probably the best known rock concept albums, and rightfully so as both albums sent forth some mind blowing songs, my two favorite concept albums are by far lesser known artists. Iron Maiden’s “Seventh Son of a Seventh Son” tells the story of a boy born with the extra sensory perception of clairvoyance and his burden of being able to see into the future. Maiden does not let the story get in the way of some of their best musical efforts. In the same rock genre of heavy metal, Queensryche’s “Operation Mindcrime” is filled with espionage, lust, drug use, religion, violence, and the breakdown of the most basic elements of human nature. The music is exceptional and the live performance of the entire rock opera was remarkable. Green Day’s “American Idiot” and “21st Century Breakdown” rank near the top as well and over time will probably be one and two respectively.
24. Bette Midler is so much more talented than Barbara Streisand, as an actress and a singer. And no, I’m not gay.
25. Any rock band can write a hit ballad. Ballads are easy, both lyrically and musically. Show me a band that can create an unforgettable, fast moving anthem and I’ll admit to their talent. You hear that, Coldplay?
26. I do not like any songs that have the words “Honky—tonk” in the title.
