noyes

That's Beatles or Dylan question is very very difficult.

Both are incredibly saturated with infinite amounts of inspiration and moments of pure genius, but I think Dylan hits me in a more gut level. The Beatles music is beautiful music, no doubt about it. It's just as eternal and revolutionar as Dylan's music is, but, to me, Dylan, in his most perfect and inspired, sounds like life, much like A Love Supreme sounds like life.

It's difficult and a part of me really can't decide, but I'll go with Dylan.. Beatles.. (dylan)

And as much as I like country based music here and there, the whole realm of 'rock-related music', as you put it, makes it an extremely easy choice. Pop and Rock, which I would assume includes punk and indie and metal etc, is what I love the most. That's the music that matters most to me, among the various other types. Either that or I misunderstood the two choices.

I certainly don't think they are 'overrated'

and if you think they are, then you're listening to the wrong people.

There aren't the Best of the best, because that's where favoritism comes in

but they are definitely among the dozen greats (some of you mentioned the Stones and Dylan etc)

All you need to know is that they all fall into the category of great and incredibly influential bands

who wrote a great batch of incredibly beautiful tunes.

It's funny because I've recently been reading Geoff Emerick's book on the Beatles and reading about the early '62-'63 recordings actually makes me listen to them with much much open ears. Songs like "Thank You Girl" and "P.S. I Love You" sound so great and are impeccably crafted. It's easy to undermine their early recordings, but they are just as great as their later stuff because they were too tight as a band. Completely honed their craft. Another big part of liking the Beatles is the myth and history of the Beatles as a band. Their story and their life and band history gives being into them a new and even greater perspective. That's what the innumerable books on them and The Beatles Anthology are there for. Most people that love the Beatles more than just the songs know what I'm talking about.

So no, there’s nothing wrong with not liking the Beatles. But they are definitely far from shit. 40 plus years of unparalleled acclaim doesn’t just come out of thin air. Maybe you’ll get into them someday, who knows. Maybe one day it’ll just hit you. The Beatles just came into my life when I got into bands and musicians that were inspired by them. Elliott Smith for one and hell.. a LOT of bands/musicians.

And there's one thing I know for sure: Having The Beatles in your life and liking them (like Dylan, The Clash, the Stones, etc) is a fucking blessing. Truly.

Here's a PDF of Mark Lewisohn's "The Complete Beatles Chronicle", for anyone that wants it.

http://rapidshare.com/files/150795491/CmpltBtlsChrncl.rar

And here's Lewisohn's "The Complete Recording Sessions: The Official Story of the Abbey Road Years 1962-1970"

http://megaupload.com/?d=XD05Y5P3

(it truly is mind-bogglingly how many incredible noteworthy Beatles books there are out there,

including books on individual Beatles and anything Beatles related. that shit is beyond belief.

i'm slowly going insane trying to find books that are worth purchasing.)

I bought The Complete Beatles Chronicle for $15 at Strand Annex (which is now defuncted, unfortunately, since it was a lovelier smaller version of the main Strand Bookstore on Broadway and 12th here in NYC). They have Lewisohn's Complete Recording Sessions for 20 dollars now and I have to pick that up as soon as possible. In the meantime, I borrowed the '88 edition from the library, along with Emerick's book and "Every Little Thing: The Definitive Guide to Beatles Recording Variations, Rare Mixes & Other Musical Oddities" by William McCoy and Mitchell McGeary, a book that's mostly disorganized but fascinating in it's telling of differences between the various and countless versions of album and discography releases.

I'm definitely looking forward to Lewisohn's three-volume biography. Should be the be-all, end-all, or at least I hope it is. The way Picasso's recently multi-volume biography is mostly relevatory. The same old history, along with unearthed history, told in an completely detailed and fascinating way.

I went to the bookstore today and marveled at all the different Beatles books they have. And it wasn't even an independent bookstore where you are bound to find the good and rare ones. There are so many Beatles out there, with unique and fairly legitimate information, that it's interesting to read in one book what's been left out of another. So many little details.

I think the Past Masters are vastly superior to the Mono masters. Vastly.

"The Inner Light" especially. It's not awful but the Past Masters just sound much better.

But when it comes to the White Album, I think that's the album that sounds really good on mono, even on headphones. In fact, I think all mono's sound good on headphones. It all comes down to listening to the music and especially the vocals in both ears, instead of just hearing Paul or John or George singing in your right ear exclusively. Headphones or not, it's not detrimental in my eyes.

I've been listening to that tune over and over (old version cds) the past week or so and was wondering as well if they kicked it up a notch on the new ones.

 

I get the feeling that it was meant to be recorded quietly like that, because of not only the subject matter but the way the song builds and progresses. It's interesting that they recorded 67 takes of the song until the wee hours of the morning, George being in good spirits and all. It also sounds much better and clearer on the remaster, but like I said, the Mono sounds just as good and I actually prefer listening to George's voice in both ears. But stereo/mono, it's still the same song. Not much difference in this particular track.

I KNOW!

It's tiring to read so many different takes on these remasters, most of them being rehashed questions and uninformed judgments over and over and over again.

Like the whole 'Mono vs Stereo war' crap, which is mostly subjective, but to read nonsense like the Mono remasters are 'useless' or that they is 'no difference whatsoever' is just ridiculous.

The White Album, as it's been known for years now, is the only true album where Mono and Stereo is truly pro and con. Stereo is missing stuff and mono is missing stuff. I personally prefer listening to The White Album on Mono, listening to John's lyrics in both my ears as opposed to only one, same goes for almost every other song and the minor positive differences present on the mono. Not that stereo isn't great, it is. It's strange. It's the same song but you get some and you lose some.

As far as Long Long Long goes, it was recorded quietly so it's going to be 'quiet', more or less, however you heard it. BUT if you've ever heard the Ebbetts Mono mix, you'd find that it sounds just as 'loud' as the remasters, the immediate difference being George's back vocals come in on the first 'long' in mono, as opposed to the third in stereo. It all depends on how it was equalized and all that technical nonsense.

Little things like that that don't really change the song overall, it's just subjective is all.

Long story short, when you really get into the Beatles, digging into little details upon little tiny details, it's an ultimately draining experience. The most I've ever experienced concerning any kind of artist, ever.

If you read that and laughed to yourself it's because you can relate, being an extreme Beatle history lover yourself. It's not just music but the tiniest little personal details. It's endless and the innumerable discrepancies (seemingly infinite) only serve to drive one insane. haha.

I recorded the whole show, and it should be up on nyctaper.com by tomorrow night at the latest.

Right now, I have a photo of Stan's written setlist and a photo of the big Keyspan logo with YLT on the video screen here: http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=1350

nice dude. i could have gone to this show but was unfortunately busy tonight.

good to know someone recorded it.

44 'nothing's', wow haha.

whats the highest 'nothing' count again, on Misunderstood?

terrible news. gone too soon.

RIP Jay. you will definitely be missed.

So glad this is streaming finally. Can't wait to give it a good listen.

i suggest everyone in here watch Zeitgeist and call it a night.

what a sweet setlist.

and sweet photos..

..from Fakebook and Doctor Zizmor's respective Flickrs

The one that have been released must have sold out already.

I found out too late haha.

all i ask is that someone record this show, and record it well.

i'm an idiot for not getting tickets :/

Ulusaba - Life Is Too Short For Traffic

fun times.

thank god for wilco webcasts.

everything sounds awesome tonight

i can understand the good in not getting wrapped up in the whole "rock god" point of view when it comes to music,

and i don't think anyone here is not embracing new music or "willing to reign in" new bands like wilco etc.

if anything, i would assume that everyone here thinks that Wilco is an extremely special band that will be looked back upon as masterful songwriters and musicians,

but to literally belittle someone like Bob Dylan as just someone who's "doing his job", as if he didn't write album upon album of classic and truly exceptional songs and was just merely "making music", manages to be an even worst point of view than putting them on an untouchable pedestal.

by relating Dylan or Neil to accountants, you are, whether you mean to or not, consciously trying to not accept their place in legend, in music history.

they're there for a reason and the reasons, for the most part, aren't bad. in fact, they're good, very accurate and well deserved.

sure, they're not perfect and many of them are actually downright flawed people (who isn't?), but anyone who pretends like they're completely normal and simply everyday Joes is just kidding themselves.

Nevertheless, you're obviously not an idiot and just speaking your mind, bringing up a good point about Jeff comparative down-to-earthness, but then again Jeff himself would most likely tell you that he's not quite near the same ballpark that guys like Neil and Bob are, despite the fact that they haven't been truly on top since the 60's and 70's

but it doesn't matter, it's completely irrelevant. they've already proven themselves. they are revered for a reason.

the same way Shakespeare is widely sited and read, or the same way the goddamn Beatles are what they are.

But anyway, I'm exhausted. That's my two cents. Sleep.

Dig these songs, especially One Wing, which reminds me of ATTWYS in "quite-loud" kinda way.

Sunny Feeling sorta recycles the "Once in Germany..." guitar bit in 'I'm A Wheel', and it fits nicely.

Sweet songs. A perfect blend of SBS and AGIB indeed. Sounds good so far.

i enjoy and love practically everything Kinsella related

that includes, Owen, Noyes, Aloha, Ghosts and Vodka, Joan Of Arc, Owls, Promise Ring etc etc.

Analphabetapolothology practically changed my life

John Wesley Harding, easily. From start to finish, a beautifully composed album. The instrumentation, the complicatedly simple lyrics, etc. Love it.

But Another Side of Bob Dylan is the album, after listening to Freewheelin', that really got me into Bob.

From the first line to the chorus of "All I Really Wanna Do", I was had.

two for now, off the top of my head:

Sweet Virginia - The Stones

Oh Yoko - John Lennon

'Backwater' is one of the best songs ever written.

Pre-Sale begins Wednesday, April 23 via Music Today.

Public On Sale begins Friday, April 25 @ 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster

Ticket Price:

$39.50

Includes $1.00 facility

& Parking fee

woo hoo!!

i was hoping for a nyc date. awesome news.