Great post, Bill (whart). In the early 2000’s, Dave Alvin (The Blasters and solo) said in an interview that he never "got" Brian Wilson or The Beach Boys, but that he just recently had an epiphany regarding him. I found that funny, as after having become obsessed with Brian upon hearing the Smiley Smile album in 1967 (merely liking The Beach Boys before that, owning all the albums up through 64’s All Summer Long), I found myself finally satiated with his music, now more interested in other styles of music and artists, primarily Americana in Pop and Baroque in Classical. There was a thread a couple of months ago here on Audiogon, in which a younger poster described Brian in terms that revealed he knew him only in terms of the early (1962-4) Beach Boys "Surf, cars, and girls" material. Many people share that perception of him, though it is his Pet Sounds (1966) onward work that is most revered by hardcore BW fans, including Paul McCartney. But some of Brian’s early songs---"In My Room", "Don’t Worry Baby", "I Get Around", etc. are timeless classics. Time is a true test of the quality of music. There is a whole new generation of young songwriters/singers who have discovered the Dylan & The Band Basement Tapes, and are making music in it’s spirit. The material in the those 1967 Basement Tape recordings is leading them back to so much original American music, just as the Blues being made by British bands in 64-68 lead my generation back to the original creators of the music, at least those who managed to get recorded in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s. |
For clarity, when I say Beck was dancing around on stage, I don't mean merely moving physically, whether in response to the music or in terms of showmanship. (I think stage performers should put on a show, not just stand there like the Grateful Dead or Phish. Boring!) I mean he was literally dancing, like he was on the dance floor. Both his arms straight out, movin' and groovin', like he had a dance partner. That seems appropriate for what a great songwriter I worked with called "body music" (Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, whatever)---that's what that music is for. But for anyone who aspires to be taken seriously as a songwriter, which I thought Beck did? Can you imagine John Lennon, Tom Waits, John Hiatt, Leonard Cohen, or Paul Simon, dancing like they are a Vegas entertainer?! Cheesy, man. |
Sheesh, tough crowd. When I say Beck was dancing around the stage, I don’t mean just moving. Did you see him last night? It was vapid, in every way. IMO. Feel free to watch the clip and form your own opinion. If you like the song, his singing, the band and gratuitous choir, his showbiz outfit and stage moves, I won't fault you. |
What a coincidence---Beck was on Jimmy Fallon tonight. He was wearing a showbiz "outfit" (costume?), including a big hat he was more concerned with keeping on his head than he was with singing. He was also "dancing" around the stage. I don’t know about you, but I don’t care for that. Dancing on stage is what guys like Duran Duran and Wham do, not artists. The "song" he performed was terrible, with a pedestrian chord progression, no melody, and clich’ed lyrics. There were at least ten other people on stage, including a bunch of background singers. Pure showbiz bs. |
Uh, yeah, I know, Geoff. That was my point. Hel-loo! I, like Bob, love Ricky Nelson (he is dismissed as a lightweight by R & R historians), Bobby Vee (whom Dylan played with before leaving Minnesota), and Doug Sahm. Beck? Nope, sorry. Mediocre songs, not much of a singer (c’mon, you know it’s true ;-), haphazard accompaniment. |
For what it's worth, the only words Dylan spoke to the audience were to thank Beck, and to say "He's going to be around a long time", something along those lines and very close to it. Dylan played five nights in a row at a small theater in L.A., with a different opener each night. I have no doubt Dylan hand-picked those openers, and that his comment was spoken in complete sincerity. In spite of that, the comment elicited widespread, muted laughter, including mine. I am well aware of the critical and commercial success of Beck, but I for one don't hear it. I'll concede that it may due to a blindness (deafness?!) on my part. There are a lot of very popular entertainers and entertainers I don't care for, or even vehemently dislike (I don't want to use the "h" word ;-). I didn't like Stevie Ray Vaughan or, after a brief romance, Jimi Hendrix. Yet they are revered by most. I love ABBA and enjoy Shania Twain (for what she is, in spite of the fact that an artist I love, Steve Earle, dismissed her as "the highest paid lap dancer in Nashville". Funny!), many of my colleagues don't. Hey, we don't all have to like and even love exactly the same things! |
Just about anyone is going to suffer opening for a Dylan audience. I saw Beck try in 2001, with the to-be-expected results. He came off as a complete lightweight, a little kid playing in a man's world. I felt sorry for him, but he should have known better. The arrogance of youth? |
I saw and heard Bill Weir and what remains of The Dead (the two drummers) on TV last week, and omg was he awful. Can’t sing to save his life, and neither could Jerry Garcia. I kinda liked the first three Dead albums at the time of their release, but when they, like everyone else (especially Neil Young), tried to be The Band (whose first two albums raised the bar SO high, and actually changed the rules of the game)---which is exactly what Workingman’s Dead is, they failed miserably. Bill performed "Uncle John’s Band", and it was absolutely atrocious---unlistenable! |
defientboomerang, that's the thing---I consider The Ramones a Pop band, not a Punk one. They're in with Weezer and other bands with Pop hooks, but Garage energy. |
I think The Ramones are UNDER-rated. |
