tnstranger
My Digital Music Collection
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As a washed up musician and a member of the middle class, frustrations much like the ones in my formative years started to pop up over the last few years. Living in East Nashville and working in Rivergate can do that to you (I am not in the “cool/hip” part, I am nearer the beer at 9am and making babies for income crowd) So what happens…
Metal Returns!
It turns out most my exposure to Metal was all Hit Parader and Circus as a kid. There was a whole other wing of extremeness going on across the pond and near my front door that I completely missed. Bathory, Celtic Frost and Sodom in Europe. The Obsessed, Pentagram, Unorthodox and a ton other doom bands right next door to me in Maryland and Virginia.
Doom it is agreed started with Sabbath, but Blue Cheer, The Stooges, Sir Lord Baltimore, and Pentagram influenced a whole wing of Metal that grew up to be St. Vitus, Candlemass, Catherdal, Trouble, Witchfinder General and then The Sword, Witch, and a few others today. Doom is defined (IMHO) by downtuned, groove laden songs sung about drugs, witches, mythology, satan, and other super cool things. Plus it is HEAVY. Like really HEAVY. And I love it! So…
Doom Band #1
Pentagram
They started in 1970, so they were literally neck in neck with Sabbath. But the heavy was accentuated around 1971-72 so there was definitely a few spins of the first records possible. The Relapse release “First Daze Here” documents the beginning, and tracks like “Forever My Queen”, “Walk in the Blue Light” and “Starlady” are head bobbin’ groove fests, not to mention criminally overlooked retro classics. They really came into to focus in 1985 with the release of “Relentless” with a new line up under singer Bobby Liebling (who is the closest I have seen anyone come to actually looking like a vampire) and the addition of Victor Griffin who is one mean riff writer. This album is currently Hank III’s favorite album and they even played together (I would have loved to see that…) Regardless, as a Rock dork it rarely gets better than the bonehead stomp of bands like Pentagram, Bedemon, Sir Lord Baltimore, Blue Cheer, Groundhogs, Leaf Hound and other old forgotten dinosaurs I am slowly finding out about. To all the guys and gals digging Witch, The Sword, Witchcraft, and other retro groovers of today, lend an ear to the old guys who started it. Part 2 to come, I’m sure you can’t wait….
I have decided what my problem is with Music. People prematurely deem things to be great, and then get overly excited if there is a difference of opinion (I myself have been guilty of this in the past.) However, I have a barometer for this problem: Time.
I once thought Alice in Chains hung the moon. A few years later and I realize some of it still stands but on a whole it was kinda weak. I thought in the late 90’s Elephant 6 was the future of rock. Now I own Zero cds made by those folks (except NMH). Everyone wanted me to like the Strokes a few years ago and now they are forgotten. Even the holiest of Holies to me, Nirvana, are being treated like a 90’s fad and are largely dismissed!
The problem I have with talking about music with others is that I listen to and search out things that I read about from the past, and nobody has ever heard of most of it, so we can’t have a conversation about it. (check out my mog and if any of you like any of my music, let's chat!) And it pains me because no one else is aware of these artists but yet they want to go on about how amazing (enter new hip artist here) is. It seems the majority of music loving folks triumph things now and then move on the next “new” thing.
Here is my point, it seems like we are over the hump of western culture and it is going downhill fast. Let’s take 1996-2006. 10 years. (I picked this time so no one can use grunge bands) Who is still around from the beginning of that era and still relevant? Or who from this era do you think will last? (Ps Death Cab for Cutie is excluded for obvious reasons (ie the fan club that lives here))
Also once you cast your ballot, print this page, put it in your sock drawer, pull it out in ten years and see if you were right.
(Dear 2012 reader, I told you so!)
Seriously, we are all intelligent here (for the most part) who is your choice for Rolling Stone/Spin/AP etc. etc. artist of the decade 2012? You can only pick two…
Comments
Hype is used to sell things, nothing more. The whole argument of art vs. commerce is that commerce demands an immediate return, while art looks for relevance in the long run. It's a pretty good bet that almost anything receiving a lot of hype up front probably wont endure with the changing times. That's where the term pop culture comes into the conversation. Most of the things we talk about are pop culture. We won't know what's truly art and what truly becomes part of the culture for many years down the road. Like what you want to like, but be honest with yourself about what it is.
I was in Wilmington, NC in 1997 when I First heard Whiskeytown. I heard 10 seconds of “Inn Town” off “Stranger’s Almanac” and bought it right there. In all of alt-country at the time, I liked them the best. First off, they were a current and still performing band and the songwriting was head and shoulders above the rest of the “No Depression” magazine crowd. It was timeless instead of tongue and cheek or overly earnest like a lot of that stuff tended to be.
I saw Whiskeytown live that year at a half full Music Farm in Chucktown and it was great. The next day the manager of the store I worked at, that went also, remarked about how much of an asshole Ryan Adams the lead singer was. I had never heard of anyone being offended by a musicians “assholitude” before, since I just took for granted all musicians are assholes (at least the majority of the ones I have met.) But that would be the first in a long lime of times I would be reminded how much of an asshole Ryan Adams is by other folks….
Let me preface this with a disclaimer. I too think that Ryan Adams has been an asshole in the past. His posturing during the “Gold” tour, the embarrassing Elton love fest, the Ryman thing (but I will forgive him that because I was there and that guy was drunk and interrupting the whole show), dating Alanis, his need for dressing like what he sounds like at the time, etc. etc.
But I forgive him. We are the same age and if you gave me that talent, those drugs and actresses, those hotels, those rowdy crowds, I would have done far worse. But I digress…
Take away all that attitude and prissy behavior and listen to the songs. Now who is a better writer today? Name them. I am sure you can come up with at least one name. We all have our fruity sensitive singer songwriter we hold dear, but seriously. He is pound for pound the best writer going today.
You may wonder where I am going with this. My point is I think this guy is the shit. He has not done one thing (give or take one tune or two) that I dislike. Plus he puts out about a forth of what he actually records and still puts more quality work out than any other solo singer/songwriter guy today. I am the pickiest person I know when it comes to new music, so much so most people find it is unbelievable and I am just being snobby. My point is my wife thinks I am gay for liking him so much, none of my friends like the guy or have heard of him, radio play is scarce, and rarely is he recognized as a talent. Why?
Is it because John Mayer is just so good no one can make room for him? Sufijan Stevens? Bright Eyes? How are these guys better? If anything they are the same but yet more posey and fey and hateable. Yes, I know John Mayer plays guitar well. Good for him. But is his style is all SRV, and I wasn’t much for him either. Ryan has his traits and they can be grating too but those songs are undeniable.
This is just to get a read from all those in Mogland and a) if you have heard of him and b) if this made you curious and c) to slag off John Mayer. Also, I respect everyone has taste here but ol Johnny boy sure gets under my skin for some reason. Must be the pout…
Comments
SUPER SOARAWAY FACT!!! Ryan Adams has the same birthday as Bryan Adams. 5th November. Remember? Intruiged? No, me either.
i should have made a mention that when you bring up his name that name usually follows.. same birthday as Gram Parsons too!
"But I forgive him. We are the same age and if you gave me that talent, those drugs and actresses, those hotels, those rowdy crowds, I would have done far worse. But I digress…"
Exactly. If I were in Adams' shoes, I would've had my groupies prank-call the Pitchfork writers every night of the Rock N Roll tour.
That aside, my biggest criticism of Adams is that he really needs someone around to rein him in, musically speaking — an editor. On just about every album, there's usually a song or two that really shouldn't be there and one or two that are a minute or so too long.
MOGs That Trust Me (8 of 27)
MOG Meter
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I don't think I like Doom metal as much as Death metal such as Opeth or In Flames; and I really like the Black Dahlia Murder, who mix it with blast beats.
Groundhogs are great, though.
It's all good, Brother. St Vitus! I got these album's given by my old Manager/Photographer when he decided to convert all his album's to CD by those guy's....They look how I feel sometimes....Ha,ha,ha...
I like to consider that I am open to many styles of music. When it comes to doom metal I get all giddy like a schoolgirl. I'm a softy when it comes to this. It started way back with my first exposure to Sabbath (duh!) and has continued to this day.
I'm not that familiar with Pentagram but I need to correct that right away. My one friend has played some in the past but I think I need to hear it again. I just need to figure out a good starting point and go from there.
A good early 70's suggestion, if you are not familiar with them, is the Japanese band Flower Travellin' Band. I know the name is bad but the two albums I have are excellent. The self-titled 1st album is pretty lo-fi but has some good covers ("Black Sabbath", "21st Century Schizoid Man") on it. Their 2nd album ("Satori") has much better production. A great mix of early doom/psychedelia.
I (heart) Doom Metal!