Wild Frank

Off on a tangent a little bit but......What exactly is Bowie up to these days. I kind of liked his nineties output (Outside/Earthling etc), especially songs like 'Heart's Filthy Lesson' and 'Hello Spaceboy'. He seems to have gone very quiet in recent years. Bowie is someone have have never managed to see live and I would like to rectify that in the near future. I don't listen much too him nowadays but I feel, if you listed his top twenty or so songs it becomes apparent that he compares very well with almost any other artist in rock history.

p.s: Tin Machine were S**t.

And like [Pink Floyd's] Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the mono versus the stereo on that. It's more something I go back to now, having spent some time in the recording studio and listening to the differences.

Jeff like a bit of early Floyd? Thats an interesting direction for the band to explore. 'Careful With That Axe Eugene' or 'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun' would be nice to hear for the current incarnation of Wilco (Not sure about Bike/Gnome/Biding My Time!!!).

Well… I wouldn’t necessarily call ‘Rain Dogs’ the definitive album for me. That’s just the one that I first heard when I started to really get into Waits… I guess that’s when you can say it all clicked for me, though. Plus, I just love the whole concept behind the name. I think it’s almost impossible for me to pick a favorite Tom Waits album. I honestly love every single one of them for what they are! But yeah, ‘Real Gone’ is a magnificent album and you’re right about it being highly underrated!

I think the only Tom Waits album that I can live without is 'Foreign Affairs', which i feel is a bit week and predictabale. However, that one has 'Burma Shave' on it which is one of the all-time classic Tom Waits tracks. Although he is more of a left-field artist I cannot think of anyone else who has been so consistant over such a period of time. Even Dylan and Neil Young have put out a large amount of duff albums. Tom's quality control is second to none.

I'm gonna give 'Grant Lee Buffalo' a shout here. Great band, whose first three records all hit the spot. Quite influencial in terms of alot of the 'americana' bands that followed. Similarly 'The Jayhawks' deserve a mention.

In the UK the nineties were a strange decade. We had 'Brit-Pop' with bands like Oasis, Blur, Pulp etc but, and much more interesting, was the trip-hop scene that came out of Bristol. The four key contenders in the scene would be Portishead, Massive Attack, Tricky and Roni Size. In terms of best band of the decade I would plump for 'Massive'. The three album run of 'Blue Lines', 'Protection' and 'Mezzanine' was sublime.

Whilst not a band, special mention needs to be given to Bjork. See had quite a decade. 'Debut' was an amazing record and she followed that with 'Post', 'Homogenic' and 'Vesperine' (was that one in the nineties?). I think in terms of one artist that had a huge influence over all facets of popular culture (the music video, fashion, film) she was massivlely important.

wasting no time - myspace announcement:

 

END TIMES are coming: New EELS album due January 19:

The eighth EELS studio album, entitled END TIMES, will be released January 19, 2010. Stay tuned to www.EELStheband.com for album info as it comes in.

I wasn't expecting to see another album so soon after 'Hombre'. Whilst I do love 'hombre' I am hoping for a more varied and ecletic bunch of songs this time around.

I just picked up the Four Disk box set of the Last Waltz from Amazon.co.uk for £11. That is some bargain. Not sure if it was a mistake on their behalf but I'm loving it. There are some great tracks that never made it onto the original two-disk set. Even bearing in mind the overdubs and re-doing, its still one hell of a show. Loving 'Van The Man' belting out 'caravan' and, as everyone always mentions, Rick Danko's heartbreaking 'It Makes No Difference'. There is a nice version of 'Four Strong Winds' on disk three. Its a lovely package, especially for that price. I would also recommend the six-disc retrospective that came out two or three years ago.

The only news I heard as of March 2009 (noted in this thread's first post) was that Tom and Kathleen were writing new songs with plans to record this summer. I guess there will be more news in the new year.

That's a classy photo of Tom you have there 'Rain-Dog'. If ever there was a role Mr. Waits was born to play then the Devil is it!!. We seem to share a common with our Waits-related names. I assume 'Rain Dogs' is the definitve album for you?. I would certainly agree thats its the best of the lot. One album I really love is 'Real Gone' which doesn't seem to get much love at all. What a great album that it. I'm also very fond of 'Franks Wild Years' (unsurprisingly) which has some corkers on it.

Happy days. Just ordered the CD/Book/T-Shirt set. All looks very nice. Roll on the 24th November. I'm especially looking forward to this as I couldn't make the UK shows last year (Bloody wife going into labour!. She wouldn't even let me name my newly born son Tom in respect!!). The Orphans Vinyl set also looks very tempting. Having five or six bonus songs much just sway it. Any word on a new album?

I'm with you, Wild Frank. I respect how "important" the Beatles are, but really couldn't stand to listen to any of their albums for a long time. Later on, I did some force-feeding to myself and realized I basically just don't like the way some of the melodies are put together. "Hey Jude" and "Yesterday" typify the kind of Beatles songs I just can't stand.

 

Yes, they were great innovators, but that doesn't mean they're automatically the best. That's like saying the Wright Brothers were the best pilots ever, because they flew the first airplane.

 

Meanwhile, I really would rather listen to Buddy Holly, or Elvis, or Woodie Guthrie, or Bo Diddley, or Little Richard, or the Stones, or the Who, in terms of pre-1970s music. It doesn't make me a bad person, or stupid, or musically illiterate. It just means I have different taste, and I think it's awfully close-minded to say that people who dislike the Beatles just have no taste in music. It's called personal taste for a reason.

Thanks, I was beginning to think I was on my own. I'm gonna leave leave this thread alone now. My closing comments sums it up and proves I am sane.

1) I accept that the Beatles are the greatest band ever. They are the most influencal and have the largest catalogue of classic pop songs. There is no-one remotely even close to them. I live in Shrewsbury in the UK, which is relatively near Liverpool, and was brought up on the Beatles. In this Country they are beyond critisism. They are Icons.

2) Personally, I never have any desire to put on the Beatles and listen to them when I am on my own and listening to music. They're not my thing. I own no Beatles CD, all though I could easily reel the albums off to you. I could probably name over a hundred Beatles songs, which shows how influencial they have been.

 

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.

They are far from shit. I would totally agree that they are probably the greatest rock band of all time. There's just a lot more bands I would rather listen to. I'd much rather listen to Wilco for example.

Wow....this one really prompted some discussion!!

"and I, I never took much, I never asked for your crutch, now don't ask for mine."

 

I love that line.

Don't get me started on Dylan lyrics!!!. But I've just got to say: "Ain't It Just Like The Night To Play Tricks When You're Trying To Be So Quiet". Thats a nice line.

Considering how noticeably affected/influenced by Dylan's writing they were, I think they definitely would agree.

Although I do think the affect/influence was two-way. I'm sure Dylan respected The Beatles and craved some of what they had. Remeber the fuss about the Norwegan Wood/4th Time Around comparisons. They are basically the same tune but they argued over who wrote it first.

Was Michael Jackson a musician?? I have ALREADY forgotten.

 

 

LouieB

I agree with you.....but I think the wider world will continue to remember Jackson for many years to come whether he deserves it or not.

Well, I know you said band, but I think Dylan was consistently at a level above the Beatles.

 

Honestly, if you asked Lennon (RIP), McCartney, Harrison (RIP) and Starr they would agree with that statement. I think Lennon especially was a bit intimatated by Dylan.

There was an interview with Jakob Dylan in Rolling Stone a few years back where he was asked about his dad, and he said something to the effect of "People really take him for granted, they don't realize that you're not always going to be lucky enough to be living in the age of a Bob Dylan. It probably won't be until he's been gone for a hundred years that they'll recognize what he was."

It's stuck with me because it is probably true. A hundred years from now Dylan will be on the same level as Shakespeare. His work will be independent of this era, of his contemporaries. At some point even his "minor" albums will be the subject of more focus than we can imagine. So while it's easy to talk crap about MT and TTL and this Christmas album, I recognize that it's also a luxury.

This, Sir, is the most acurate and correct statement that will be made on this site today (Thats coming from someone who's just admitted he doesn't like the Beatles!!!). Dylan will, along with the Beatles and probably Michael Jackson, be remember through the ages. They will be studying him in English classes.

OK, I'll bite. Name one better band.

 

The Rolling Stones get my nod at the very end of the decade, but from '63 to '67 or so, who was better?

I'm with you. There was no band better....Just not to my taste. I'd still put Dylan above them as a better artist between those years. (Times They Are A-Changin, Another Side Of Bob Dyaln, Bringing It All Back Home, Highway 61, Blonde On Blonde and John Wesley Harding). No one has ever done a run of albums that good in the rock Genre.

I think my indifference specialy relates to albums. Now I realise I might be on dodgy ground here but albums like Sgt Pepper and Revolver, whilst obviously being very good, just don't seem as consistantly appealing as say 'Blonde on Blonde', 'Highway 61 Revisisted' or 'Astral Weeks'. Feel free to shoot me down on this point but when my old man puts on Sgt Pepper songs like 'For The Benefit of Mr. Kite' and 'When I'm 64' just don't do it (That said...'A Day In The Life' is very good!)

I love the story about David Crosby who used to get really frustrated with Neil for always playing with Crazy Horse. He could'nt understand how a band who were not technically competent could be good. Neil just said it's not about their ability it's about their 'Feel'. Give me Neil and the Horse over CSNY any day.

Do you know the tune to Yesterday? Of course you do. Think about that. Hum it. See if you can find a person who can't hum the melody.

I would wager that the melody to Yesterday is in the top 5 worldwide recognizable tunes - up there with happy birthday and twinkle twinkle little star.

That takes it out of the "is it good?" question, and puts it into another universe entirely - it's something so natural and primal and universal that there have been tests to see if monkeys could recognize the tune.

 

I agree with all of the above. The thing is, I can't say I ever really thought "I'd love to listen to 'Yesterday' now" no matter how instantly recognisable it is. If its on the radio I wouldn't turn it off. Its true, the Beatles are on another level as far as influence and worldwide appeal. But if I'm in my cellar listening to music the Beatles aren't a band I would ever think of putting on.

I imagine how you are all responding is similar to how I would reply to someone saying they can't see what the fuss is about with Bob Dylan, who is probably the only other contemporary artist whose genius is so totally recognised and accepted. When people say they don't like Dylan I think they're crazy!!

Thanks for your re-assurances guys!!!!!. There has to be someone else out there who feels the same!!!Its not that I don't think they're any good. I really do. When people say they are the best/most influencing band ever etc I have no arguement with it at all. Its just when I actually listen to the music 95% doesn't get me going at all.

Right, I'll get back in my padded cell and put on some Tom Waits!!

I'm a big Neil Young fan but I'm not as knowledgable about the activities of Neil's legendary backing band when they are not under his employ. I have their first Album (The one with 'I Don't Want To Talk About It') which is O.K but nothing more. Is there anything else out there to discover. I would love Neil to let 'The Horse' out for one last run out before they get too old. Been listening to alot of 'Ragged Glory' and 'Arc-Weld' recently and they rock really nicely!!

I had a boss once who thought Elton John was better than The Beatles.

I'm not a fan of the Beatles....but even I don't think that Elton is better!!

I've really tried I promise. They are back in the public glare again so I gave it another shot to no avail. My problem is.....I just can't get excited about The Beatles. Am I the only one? Is there something wrong with me? They do nothing for me. I'm in my mid-thirties and I love The Stones, Dylan, Neil Young and all the other legendary artists. Are there others like me out there? If so I'd love to hear from you. If I am the only one, don't think any less of me.

I might be in a very very small minority, and I have no idea whether they ever made an impact in the States, but I have always followed Marillion. Back in the early eighties, thought the commercial peak of 'Misplaced Childhood' and right up to the present day. Recent albums like 'Brave' and 'Marbles' are great. Anyway, they have a new record out this month, an acoustic re-working of the some of their material and it is a really beautiful piece of work. So if you used to follow them but lost track I would recommend giving them another go. Their still a bit proggy but in a less Genesisish way. More reminisant of Radiohead I suppose. It would also nice to have some re-assurance that their are some other sad proggies out there!!