Rithma - Music Fiction
Supreme Beings of Leisure - 11
Supreme Beings of Leisure - 11
What's in your CDP tonight? the minority report
I enjoy vinyl and digital (lately, with recent changes, vinyl actually sounds better than digital to me), BUT given what seems an overall preference for analog/vinyl on A'gon, I'm curious what the non-vinyl "1/2" is listening to. I tried to see if this was a previously posted question. Did not seem so.
This evening for me, it's Genesis (definitive edition remaster) "A Trick of the Tail".
This evening for me, it's Genesis (definitive edition remaster) "A Trick of the Tail".
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elvis costello/attractions, this year's model--listening to this thru really good headphones i grasped how sonically excellent this record is. ec's got a lousy voice, though he knows how to sing, and his guitar is merely functional here, though he's smart enough to underplay. his band, however, really kicks it. steve naive (who tended to overplay badly on subsequent records) sounds great and the drummer swings. the real mutha here is bruce thomas on bass--he's front, center and everywhere else. the bonus tracks are just as good as the main album--"big tears" may be his best ever. paul griffin, a blowing session--at first blush just another 50s blue note date, but listen closer and you'll hear some of the best drumming ever on record. no great revelation, i suppose, but art blakey isn't human--he's simply on another plane. i once saw a video of him in a "drum-off" with ginger baker and it was like watching michael jordan play one-on-one with herve villechaize. |
Loomis - another great contribution. Art Blakey compared to Ginger Baker, "like watching michael jordan play one-on-one with Herve Villechaize." Great analogy though I'm wondering if you are overstate the case?? on the other hand, I'm no jazz expert and would love to see that video for myself. Thanks as always. |
Hey Loomis...I will look for the video. I like Ginger as a rock drummer a ton and though I know he (and Jack) came out of jazz backgrounds I don’t know enough to say how good a jazz drummer he was. I watched a concert (on YouTube) of him with Charlie Haden and (Bill Frissell?) on guitar. Pretty straight up jazz. He seemed okay to me - certainly not overplaying in that context but there’s more to it than that. Glad to hear you like Ginger too...means your assessment vis a vis Art B. is more likely to be an accurate one (no axe to grind). Starting to look for that video you mention, came across this discussion on the Steve Hoffman forum. Makes for some interesting reading re what Elvin Jones thought about Ginger (vs Keith Moon of all people!). http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/elvin-jones-feelings-about-ginger-bakers-playing-style.238445/ Sure, Bonham, Moon & Baker were the "trinity" of rock drummers in my day but I’d put Baker (way) ahead of either of them. Leastways, that’s my O-pinion. Again, not talking Baker's jazz talent. |
Loomis - might this be the one you were referring to? "Art Blakey & Ginger Baker: "Drum Battle" (1972) http://artblakey.com/battles/ |
Hello Loomis...OK. Well, I watched the Baker/Blakey "drum battle". With all due respect, I couldn't pick a clear cut "winner" there. Not to my mind anyway. Even if Blakey gets the edge overall, I didn't think Baker got humiliated. I'm not a drummer though so I'll defer to those that know more...just expressing my opinion. I was impressed by Art. I knew the name but that's it. Some of the rolls he did were outright ferocious. Lot of sound from a smallish kit too, I thought. He used an awful lot of cymbal though...not my preference. Maybe give him a bit of an edge on variety. Rhythmically, I found Baker's playing a little more complex but also thought he was more repetitious than Blakey. Differences in styles for sure...seemed like Art had the lighter hands. Baker more of a rock feel. (If I were blindfolded, can't swear I'd say that - but that's how it seemed). BTW - wish the video quality were better. Hard to make out facial expressions clearly. Found it interesting how intently AB and GB watched one another...esp.GB on Art. Couldn't tell if AB's look was boredom, disdain or what...video quality was just not that great. It WAS interesting stuff. Thanks for bringing it up. I will check out the Elvin Jones/Ginger Baker video too. |
gh, thanks for checking it out. i don't really disagree with your analysis--my own sense (not being a drummer either) was that baker tends to default to that same sorta tribal/african rhythm while blakey shows a much wider dynamic range and in general, seemed to have supreme mastery--i.e. he shifts from cool to frenzied in a heartbeat. i was probably being unfair to baker earlier--he's still a great rock drummer--but since he's generally regarded as the spawn of satan i won't apologize in person. |
Loomis - I enjoy reading other viewpoints...especially articulate, well-presented ones like yours, that don't take on a condescending, pissy tone (yours don't). "baker tends to default to that same sorta tribal/african rhythm"...I think I agree with you on this. It's like a trademark or something of his and what I was getting at when I said "repetitious". Have to say I give points to Blakey for having stayed (and, I assume, made his fortune) in jazz...rather than bailing to pursue (easier?) commercial success in rock. What would be really great in those videos is have some knowledgeable commentator break it all down...e.g., from 0:52-0:75 Art is using this and this to do that and that. He's playing in double X time until 0:67 when he changes to XYZ, etc., etc.. Not a critique so much as a musical analysis. Spawn of satan...hmm. Certainly a wee bit of a misanthrope! He and Jack could make the sparks fly. OK. Later. |
Loomis--- John Wicks, The Records frontman/singer/songwriter (though drummer Will Birch also contributed songs) lives in L.A. now, and has recently survived a bout with cancer. There have been some benefit shows to raise money to help with his medical bills, organized by Vicki Peterson of The Bangles. So far, so good. I played briefly with John in the late 90’s/early 00’s, accompanying him on semi-acoustic shows around town. He gave his high-paying gigs to Blondie drummer Clem Burke! For some reason Buddy Rich didn’t care for Ginger. There was a drum "battle" between Ginger and Art Blakely organized, and Buddy was quoted as saying something to the effect of Art would prove Ginger to be the clown he was. But then Buddy didn’t like many other drummers, especially ones successful in Rock music. I consider Ginger a Jazz drummer, not a Rock one. |
by all accounts, no one cared for ginger baker--he seems to have been exiled from several continents. if you haven't already, check out his documentary on netflix, beware of mr. baker, which is a real hoot. bdp, must have been quite an experience to play with john wicks--his was a songcraft which you rarely see anymore (maybe teenage fanclub and matthew sweet). i do find the lyrics of "teenarama" deeply disturbing, however. speaking of sociopaths and songcraft, i was just listening to "hold on to me" by courtney love. it's always irksome when horrible people are blessed with some form of genius, but this is a fantastic song off the much-maligned america's sweetheart. |
In keeping with the Ginger Baker theme, I listened to Masters of Reality featuring Ginger Baker. Amazing performance as usual. https://youtu.be/VL5IcnD9gqo https://youtu.be/beyj3BE7RPY N |
Hey Nutty...I will check her out. Also, saw your mention of "Tin Machine" over on your "What’s Playing....". Believe it or not, never heard that - ever. Will have to check it out on Spotify. For me right now, listening to Crowded House (been a long time fan of them/Neil Finn). The CD is Time on Earth. Excellent, excellent. He has quite a gift for melody. |
You know what was better loomis? Playing with Emitt Rhodes! I did his late-90's Poptopia appearance with him. His first time on stage in a quarter century, and people came from all over the world to see and hear him. In the band was Jamie Hoover (The Spongetones, The Van Delecki's, REM sideman), Brian Kassan (The Wondermints, Chewy Marble), Walter Clevenger, and Ray Paul. Emitt's first album is a stone classic, and he has a brand new one, which I haven't yet heard. |
Emitt's new album is awesome--especially if one takes it on its own merits rather than comparing it with his vintage material. I hesitated buying it for a good long while, because the (admittedly brief) samples I heard were kind of . . . meh. But then I finally decided to buy the album. And, boy, I'm glad I did! You really have to listen to it in its entirety to get the full scope of its brilliance. Sometimes samples can be helpful in ascertaining the merits (or lack thereof) of a particular album, but in this case, they didn't tell even a fraction of the story. It really is a fantastic effort. |
ghosthouse, I think you'll really like Joanne Shaw Taylor. Her guitar skills are amazing and her vocal are unique as well. The CD sound quality is pretty good also. She has a ton of YouTube links showing her laying it down with some amazing solo's. Check out my links over on my "Whats playing...." thread. By the way, she has some tour date on her web sites where she is performing with some of our favorites. She's scheduled to perform with Glenn Hughes in August, 3 shows with Joe Bonamossa at a British Blues Explosion concert honoring blues greats Page, Clapton and Beck. She also has a show booked at Daryl's House. N |
bdp, i only know emmitt rhodes' first record, but i got the new one queued up. also the wondermints first (curiosly not on spotify), which i haven't heard for a long while. you obviously lead a more interesting life than i do... in the same vein, check out cotton mather's kontiki, which is something of a masterpiece of the genre--tuneful and really, really smart |
Bersarin Quartett III. Call it Modern Composition or Dark Ambient...it has elements of both. Moody and engaging with interesting sound textures. Melodic at times but not melody driven. Highly atmospheric. Works as background but rewards attentive listening as well. A nice addition to his I & II. From the excellent Denovali label. |
Agreed Loomis, about Kontiki. The cover of Emitt’s new one disturbs me; what’s with the crying face?! He’s a pretty miserable guy (his original contract, ex-wives), but c’mon, that’s no way to present him! I listened to the samples of it on Amazon, and it sounds pretty good, I'll get it. I think the producer may have helped Emitt with it somewhat, ’cause Emitt played Ray Paul and myself the stuff he was currently working on when we recorded with him at the time of the show, and the songs were in a sophisticated, Jazz-chord Steely Dan kinda style, not exactly what he is known and liked for. Can you imagine McCartney songs incorporating Jazz chords?! Since you like Kontiki, give Chewy Marble a listen. Brian Kassan was The Wondermints original bassist/songwriter, leaving them right before they hooked up with Brian Wilson, becoming his touring and sometimes-recording band. Doh! He left because he wanted to do more of his songs, so he started Chewy Marble as a vehicle for his songwriting career. Great Pop songs, very Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney influenced---melody and harmony. I'm on about half of the second album (Bowl of Surreal); all Brian wanted was Ringo Starr fills! |
bdp, what bands were you in? i did listen to the emmitt rhodes on spotify--it's quite a bit removed from the mccartney-ish stuff i remember, and sorta downcast/sad--his divorce record? also the chewy marble (i remember them from my not lame period)--vg, much more straightforward power pop than the wondermints. not sure, of course, which tracks you played on, but i like the drum sound |
Cry of love..... Only made two albumns... Diamonds & Debris and Brother. Lead singer Robert Mason spent some time in Warrant atfer Jani Lane passed and worked with The Lynch Mob as well. https://youtu.be/k1vEONnGdPo |
AC/DC, HIGH VOLTAGE. Great song called "Soul Stripper". It's got a great groove including bongos in the beginning of the song. Bon Scott was irreplaceable and Angus is definitely a guitar hero, IMHO. https://youtu.be/6FpeX7JqdyI N |
ghosthouse, Yeah, I'm not one to have AC/DC cued up often either. But the particular song I mentioned above is unique, I think. I listened to some of the Bersarin Quartet you mentioned. Some of it is kind of brooding but I did like "Mehr Als Allles Andere". It has a bit more energy that I like. Please send some more recommendations my way when you can. N |
Ana Popovic '...Ana is Serbian and she fronts a blues based band from Tennessee. Lots of material, "Ana Popovic' Live in Amsterdam" is a great set. https://youtu.be/f49BQUJ7mN4 N |