Here's the Thing

Yesterday Ronnie James Dio passed away. Although I’m not a big heavy metal fan one of my first albums was Black Sabbath’s first. Shortly after that they fired Ozzy & picked up Ronnie James Dio. One of the great singers of metal, the “inventor” of the rocknroll hand sign, and an icon of the genre. AND from what i’ve read – a really nice guy. I’ve seen a few interviews & he seemed articulate and soft spoken. For a guy who could blow like he could, it seemed incongruous. So we say goodbye to a legend. May his music live one.

As much as I keep trying to like the Grammy show i just can’t. I get bored (except for the fashion), irritated at the emphasis on one genre (lately hip/hop, rap or the new celine dions), the complete ignorance and old deciders who think they know what’s going on, and just how long it is. First, the good stuff. Pink’s performance was terrific, amazing, and thank god also not lipsynched. As she said “no excuses anymore”. suspended overhead in a fabric sling, drenched in water, spinning in circles she KILLED IT!!!! I did like Beyonce’s performance a lot but after Pink and then the talking, i was gone. Back and forth between that and some other show until they lost me completely. I saw 10 seconds of Bon Jovi (really?) and that was it. Lucky for me the real fun part of the show was repeated on ETV monday – the red carpet and the fashion police. Seacrest needs to step up his game BUT the clothes! wonderful. The Grammys don’t seem to be about the music – for a music lover they are a disappointing night. For a closet fashionista, i loved it.

well. Let’s talk cd’s and the dying nature of ‘concept’ albums or long listening music. not too much around. I just picked up the newest Alice in Chains which seems to have an overall thought to it. I don’t want to analyze what Cantrell & Co. are doing but just the idea that someone is putting out something more than a bunch of singles for the radio. I used to listen to Camp Freddy radio on Indie 103 from LA with Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison. They talked quite a bit about their influences and Tommy by The Who was a big one for Navarro. It’s such a seminal work from a band who shaped those years musically. Much of Pink Floyds work is thematic (about Syd Barrett). Lately i’ve read some interviews and information by the Beatles regarding St. Pepper – one album you’d think WAS themed really wasn’t. I’d love to hear a fully expressed concept work from some current band – take that Nickelback!!! In the meantime, i’ll put on Dark Side or The Wall, sit my butt on the couch and let the music wash over me. not distracted by dishes, cleaning or conversation. listen to music as it was meant to be. not background – in the foreground. Hopefully I’ll fall in love with it all over again. At the very least maybe I’ll relax for a change.
Do you have any bands you’ve heard about recently that have pulled off the concept album? let me know – i’d love to check it out.

huh.  I don’t think that music, being the subjective experience that it is, or bands can really be ‘categorized’ other than in a very general fashion.  Rock, pop, jazz, etc ok.  but nu-metal? punk-pop? grunge rock vs. industrial?  post-modern-punk-new wave???  emo??  To me, you either like it or you don’t and it doesn’t really matter what ‘category’ it might fall in to.  I got the opportunity to listen to some really hard core ‘thrash’ metal of bands that existed in the 70’s including a 1970 cut from Iron Maiden & a couple from Flying Hat Band (an English band that ruled along side Judas Priest).  I”m not a fan of just screaming or of just pounding for the sake of the decibels.  I have to say tho’, it was a great reminder that some loud rambunctious music goes back before Korn or Slipknot.   

Recently on a website of a famous rock magazine, there was an article about Kings of Leon.  Some fan posts were wondering what Molly’s Chamers meant (Kings of Leon) – vagina or her bedroom.   Are you kidding me?  It really matters?  If you want it to be Molly’s bedroom, then it’s her bedroom.  If you want it to be her vagina, then it’s her vagina.  Guess what-  you’re both right!   Guess what -  you can interpret it whatever way you choose.  If it moves you, music has succeeded.  If it doesn’t move you, it may move someone else.  Guess what -  that’s perfect.  It’s the way it should be. 

Sometimes i want to crank Korn up to 11 – sometimes i want to listen to bach.  Sometimes – not often but sometimes – i want to listen to KDWB.  I hope that people back off the judgement.  I cannot listen to Fall Out Boy but I will defend your right to listen to that drivel.  I will make fun of you and hassle you to get therapy, BUT I will defend your right to listen to what YOU like. 

So here’s what I’m hooked on right now.

Seether – Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces

Kings of Leon Youth and Young Manhood

Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA

Fat Boy Slim – weapon of choice

The Chemical Brothers 1993 – 2003

so what are you listening to?

Music is really important to me. And I think all beings. Joggles the emotions (think of while my guitar gently weeps)and once in awhile a band or song comes along that really speaks to the world at large (whats going on or imagine). It beats with our hearts and sometimes allows our souls to have words when we can’t find them. I remember my first musical memory – riding in the back of my dad’s 54 plymouth and johnny cash’s ring of fire was on. i was 6 or 7. then later my brother who’s a little older played led zepellin, the who, the beatles, moody blues, pink floyd. One of my first purchases was because of KDWB 11:30am saturday nights with Tony Glover. He played Black Sabbaths’ first album & i loved it. Dark, dangerous – I thought it was the end of the world. As i’ve moved along, i’ve gone through phases (yes even country) but always something playing in the background, something to move me, get me dancing, get me singing, get me thinking. And as much as I’d like to name the greatest song ever (probably Ave Maria but maybe not) cause i can never choose. Somewhere Over the Rainbow? Closer? O Holy Night? Jesu Joy of Mans Desiring? The Theme from Deer Hunter?
I don’t think it’s about the best – I think it’s about what is.
Genre – I mostly listen to hard rock. Nine Inch Nails is my favorite band. After that, it’s a mish-mash of stuff -60’s acid rock & 2009 Seether or Kings of Leon. That’s the great thing – anyone can listen to what they want & get what they want from it. The best thing in the world is to let yourself be moved by it, be taken away, be transported.
This column won’t be devoted music alone but it’ll be a main topic. reviews of concerts, cd’s, debate what’s happening to the industry and maybe talk about why artists do what they do. I hope it’ll be fun – i hope it evolves – just like people are supposed to.