Originality Is Overrated

As someone with an extensive background in listening to, and playing, music, I would just like to give my opinion on the concept of originality in the music world.

To my way of thinking, originality doesn't rank very high on things that I look for in my enjoyment of music. I wouldn't want to hear something that is totally original, if such a thing is possible. It would probably sound like some abstract noise with some bleeps and bloops or something like that. To me, that is very boring although I guess some people like it. It probably wouldn't be melodic in a classic way, which is an interesting concept - why couldn't so-called "futuristic" or radically original music be melodic, like in a powerpop vein? Maybe it's because there are only so many notes to work with, and arranging them in a melodic way would be considered "old fashioned"? Who knows...

It's all about taking the elements of the past, and doing it well. Taking guitars, vocals, bass, drums and keyboards, among other possible instruments, that we've all heard countless times before, and recycling it in a way that is good, competent, energetic, and to go the extra mile, fresh or even witty.

Take a band like the Datsuns. There is nothing "original" about them, but so what? Who cares? They are a great band! Not striving to be original shouldn't automatically exclude you from being great. Anyone who writes off the Datsuns as being "derivative" and moves on with their life is totally missing the point, not to mention being a big jerk. Other great bands I can think of offhand that fit the template of being great, but not original include Kula Shaker, The Darkness, or perhaps Mando Diao. Interestingly enough, none of the bands I mentioned are American.
Europeans seem to have a unique way of taking something American, even something we sort of lost interest in, and making it seem new and fresh again.


The Datsuns


Kula Shaker

Let me just say that not being original isn't some ticket to greatness. Simply copying the cliches of the past in an unengaging way won't buy you any points. Actually a vast majority of bands do this I think. Simply copying is no good. It's all in HOW you do it. Just blindly striving for some vague notion of "originality" is the wrong approach, and seeking to be original just for its own sake will inevitably lead you down the wrong road, into boredom and cliches, exactly the place you supposedly were running from.

So, in conclusion...I guess it's all in the execution.

Analysis of 2 famous 80's songs

Today I thought I would talk about two famous songs of the 80's. Both of the following songs have been written and talked about a lot, but that's not going to stop me. Until they invent a time machine that can go back to the 80's, I will continue to extol the virtues of this amazing decade. The music, fashion, politics, toys, movies, inventions, TV shows, and any and all culture, pop or otherwise, that flowered then can never be repeated.

1. FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - relax

This song is truly amazing for many reasons. I'm not really sure where to start. The Trevor Horn production is HUGE - big, booming, bombastic, bodacious, and of course the awesome bass. Trevor Horn is a production genius (known primarily for The Buggles and Art of Noise among other projects, my personal favorite that I have heard/that I own is his production work on ABC's "the Lexicon of Love", which is a triumph on behalf of everyone involved) that realized bigger IS better - an arena is too hopelessly puny to contain this sound. It makes so-called "arena rock" sound like bar-band stuff. Horn must have realized in order to make an impact, you have to rise above the pack in a shameless fashion. You only live once, let's go full throttle, to the max and not look back. And clearly it worked, because the song is a legendary number one hit that we're still talking about today. With inferior or substandard production, this would not be the case.



Now, putting aside the marketing campaign and "Frankie Says" T-shirts, just think about the song itself. There are many great and mind-boggling things about this song: 1. That it was made at all. 2. That it was dreamed up in the fevered minds of Horn and Holly Johnson and the whole crew - it is said many did not even play their instruments on the record 3. That a song so raunchy (I suppose in a typically British "naughty" way) could be a huge hit at that time 4. That it could be so raunchy and be a hit with Americans and others not knowing what they were talking about 5. The open gayness of it all (Although Holly looks so cool in the second video for the song, it must have opened the minds of many people, and of course the 80's was a very gay-friendly time for pop music, what with Wham!, Culture Club, Dead or Alive, Frankie, etc.)6. That all these factors could come together, in a somewhat unlikely manner and create a timeless moment in pop culture history.

A-HA - take on me

This truly is a thrilling and exhilarating song - you actually feel like you're moving when you're listening to it, perhaps speeding along the Autobahn (yes, I know they are from Norway and not Germany, but still the raging EUROPEAN-NESS permeates the whole thing).



Brilliant melodies never die - and this is pop music genius if there ever was such a thing. 99% of so-called "indie" bands WISH they could pull off something so masterful. Add to it a sense of drama, and your cup runneth over with greatness!!! After some dramatic highs and lows in the song which are pulled off so skilfully you barely notice them on a conscious level, a stroke of genius occurs: the tempo slowdown during the chorus. What I mean by this is, the song is moving along at it's brisk and sprightly pace, until Morten sings the line "I'll...be...gone..." during which the drums switch to a breakdown-like tempo, just for that one line. This practically makes the song a legend right there, and is an obvious genius that underlines some of the more moving emotions attached to the song. Not to mention, on the perfect album closer "Here I Stand and Face the Rain", the same technique is employed, but in a slower, more somber context, thereby wonderfully bookending the album. I have no idea if this was intentional or not, but it works.
Much has been made over the fact that this is a "one-hit wonder", however the A-ha boys have had a long career in Europe and in other territories. Perhaps it speaks to them more than it speaks to us on that level, and who could forget the amazing video? While the same techniques were used for the video for "hunting high and low" for whatever reason MTV didn't deem it as worthy. The whole album has that sort of "overcast" feeling...despite the brightness of the song in question, the full album makes for great rainy-day listening.

Both songs and videos spoken of here today scream "80's!" and I say so what! That makes it all the better! I'll take then over now anyday! What makes today's "music" so much better? It's godawful! I wish I was a pencil drawing in a comic book...

The Punk Scene

What's interesting about the world of punk is that the very thing that makes it good is the thing that makes it bad. It's very Shakespearean in that way. I'm fascinated by the fact that it's greatest strength and it's worst weakness are the exact same thing. And that is, that anyone can do it.

The fact that anyone can do it, and there are no prerequisites whatsoever to starting a punk band, not least of which ever included possessing any musical ability, was good, in a way, because it leveled the playing field. Now all you needed were some friends willing to give it a try.

Unfortunately, this bred far too much mediocrity and just plain awful music. This is only natural, because, strictly speaking in odds, if something is turned loose on the general public, it will become mediocre and watered-down. That's just what happens. Think back to anything in the past to see an example.

Thankfully, the punk movement produced The Ramones. The Ramones have always been an extraordinary band, and a very special one at that. If the punk movement had not produced this flagship band, I think a lot of people would be scratching their heads, thinking, "what was it all about?"

However, I submit to you that the Ramones are the first and LAST true punk band. They are the only real punk band to ever have existed. Everything else is just a bunch of lies. Importantly, the Ramones were unpretentious in the extreme, almost to the point of parody, and had no image to live up to, at least at first, and no standards to live up to. They just looked at all the popular musical trends that came before them in the sixties and attempted in their own inimitable way to do what they did. And thank goodness for everyone, they were wildly successful.

All the post-Ramones bands that call themselves punk are not so. Utter, unmitigated crap like The Casualties, Aus-Rotten, Crass and all the "spikey-haired" crew may be something, but in my view it's not PUNK. It's a distortion of the original meaning. What the spikey-haired crew is -- and here's a cold, hard fact for them -- are hippies wearing different clothes. But they are hippies 2.0, because they've added (faux) anger to their noxious stew.

I know of what I speak, because I was involved in the punk world for many years. I came to realize it is NOT a good or kind world. It is a selfish, dumb, spoiled, talentless, repetitive, redundant, boring, abject, gutter-level group that self-oppresses. They choose to stay in the basement when they could live in the penthouse. This is contrary to all logic. But most importantly, they are a CLOSED-MINDED group. This is important because they pride themselves on being open minded. They never, ever stop beating that drum of "open minded". I see now that is because they are severely insecure of their own closed-mindedness.

Here's a quick example. If you were to show up to a punk show wearing a Kiss T-shirt, you would be openly mocked and ridiculed, and probably even confronted by total strangers. And this is just a T-shirt. That is not the open-mindedness I've heard them talk so much about. Just the contrary, they only want you listening to punk rock. If you dare listen to all the myriad other types of music in this world, you're not "true" , you're not "punk", you're not "core" or whatever the terminology of the minute is. You're just a worthless traitor in their eyes. They WANT you to stay in the "basement" I spoke of earlier. They WANT you stuck on an endless hit parade of songs about how life sucks, beer, and "police brutality" (a popular punk subject that the "songwriters" have absolutely zero experience with.)They don't want anyone to excel in life. Probably because none of THEM has excelled in life. That's not just ignorant and lazy, it's actually unhealthy. That's one form of the self-oppression I spoke of earlier. (many punk songs are about how they are VICTIMS of oppression). They prefer to stay in the dark when there's a lightswitch right there. How could I continue to be involved in such a group?

The bottom line is, you mustn't break the orthodoxy. What's fascinating about punk rockers (and liberals, which is really what punks are), is that they have a hatred for religion (and this is exemplified in countless songs on punk albums and in any punk literature, if that isn't an oxymoron). (Side note, Oxymoron is the name of a punk band)....So despite their avowed hatred for religion, what they don't realize, because they're blinded by their own hypocrisy, is that liberalism/punk IS a religion, with its own dogmas, orthodoxies and rules. So once again, there is a set of rules for them, and a set of rules for everyone else.

Once that hypocrisy dawned on me, and saw that the punk rockers were not kind, they were self-absorbed, suddenly those repetitive same chords endlessly repeated on the guitar seemed boring and empty. Their philosophies, such as they were, were all lies and hypocrisy. And these are the ones that had no interest in just drinking beer and fighting. I'm talking about the pseudo-intellectual contingent of the scene. But you can be pretty dumb and still be an intellectual in the punk scene. Talk about a big fish in a small pond. And I've been selling my punk records ever since. If you are after any, feel free to contact me!

DVD Review I Wrote For the Hartford Examiner

Here is an review I just wrote for the Hartford Examiner. I am "simulcasting" it if you will, here on my blog. I may start doing that periodically. Here it is:

Exodus is a band from the Bay Area of California. They formed in the early eighties, and by the time of the mid-eighties, a new subgenre of heavy metal was born: it was called thrash. A scene sprang up in the Bay Area (among other places), and with bands such as Exodus, Testament, Forbidden, Vio-lence, Death Angel, and yes, even Metallica, who claims they were "kicked out of L.A." and found their spiritual home in San Francisco.

In 1985, Exodus released their debut album on Torrid records, entitled "Bonded by Blood". Taking all the pre-existing elements of the heavy metal genre, and amping them up to the next level, the album featured fast, pounding drums, lightning fast guitar riffs, and the maniacal screams of the legendary (and now sadly deceased) Paul Baloff. This was an exciting time for the metal genre as fans and critics alike flocked to this new sound.

With the current resurgence of interest in the thrash metal of days past, enter the new DVD released by Zaentz records, "Exodus: Double Live Dynamo". While the title and font recall Ted Nugent, this is somewhat puzzling because the Motor City Madman is nowhere to be found. The DVD is set up as two concerts: the first in 1985 at the Dynamo club, and the second from 1997 at the Dynamo open air festival, both in Eindhoven, Holland. This is identical in structure to fellow metallers Toxik's DVD "Dynamo open air 1988" (and who doesn't have that one? Just kidding).



The first concert, the club date, is excellent. While not TOO dissimilar to what, in years past, would have passed as a bootleg, the mid-eighties camcorder footage, rather than decrease enjoyment, adds that dewy layer of nostalgia and charm. The crowd is going crazy (European fans tend to appreciate American metal bands visiting their countries), and the band performs a tight, energetic and highly entertaining set. Also of interest are the performance of two songs not released on any album, "Hell's Breath" and "Deathrow", making, by default, this DVD an essential purchase for completists due to that alone. Add to that some pre-show soundcheck footage and a great time is had by all.

Sadly, the second concert doesn't quite live up to the first. From 1997, a low year for metal generally speaking, I applaud Exodus for soldiering on and keeping the flame alive. But on that big stage there is no immediate connection to the audience like in the club gig. Plus its hard to tell if the fans are truly appreciating them or on an "ironic" level only. Additionally, the sound is a bit weird. We cannot hear Rick Hunolt's guitar at all. We see he is playing but we hear no sound. Maybe the live audience did, but the home audience cannot. Add to that his receding hairline and bad, super-baggy 90's pants, and a pretty picture is not painted. While we can hear Gary Holt's guitar loud and clear, unfortunately, the signature Exodus "crunch" is SO low and distorted it just sounds squelchy and is hard to listen to at times. Plus his short, California-dude hair is more suited to pop-punk than pure Metal. But I will give them the benefit of the doubt because it is said they had just returned to the stage with this lineup after just practicing with it. And it's not terrible, but in comparison with the previous concert, it's just somewhat sad to see how times have changed.

In conclusion, first concert = awesome. second concert = pass. But with the new interest in all things 80's and all things metal, I'm sure we can expect to see more DVD's like this in the future. Besides the fact that my wallet will take a beating, I say, go forth and thrash!

As you can see, I wrote the above article for those who know little to nothing about the band Exodus or Metal in general, especially thrash. I kept it pretty simple. I'm not sure the audience of the Examiner so I just assumed their knowledge base about Bay Area Thrash was minimal. This is at the risk of insulting their intelligence and seeming like a knowitall. We shall see?

My records WILL be in heaven, stop arguing with me!

There was a metal band in the 80's and early 90's called VIKING. They released two albums on the Metal Blade label. However, before their second and final album, entitled "Man of Straw" was completed, at least one member of the band went Christian and decided to change the lyrics to some of the songs because he (or they, I'm not really sure) felt that they did not fit with the Christian image he was now pursuing.
I once read an article with the main guy behind this decision. It was a while ago as you can tell from my lack of remembering the details, but that's just the point: something he said really stuck with me, and not in a good way.
I believe he works in a church now, and that is all well and good, but he said something to the interviewer to the effect of: "In heaven, your record collection won't be there. Heaven is much deeper than your record collection". First off, anyone reading this article is a fan of heavy metal music...EIGHTIES heavy metal music, so they're obviously not going to heaven. Secondly, this really offended my delicate sensibilities. My first question after reading that statement was, "What's the point of heaven if my record collection isn't there?"
The way I see it, if my record collection is not there, it's not heaven. Period, end of sentence. Why be good and follow all of God's laws here on earth if I won't even be reunited with the one thing that made living worthwhile in the first place?

I would also like to add that in my vision of Heaven, not only will my entire record collection be there, but also ALL the rare, hard to find CD's LP's, Cassettes, Cassingles, CD5's and anything else that I wasn't able to track down during my earthly existence or was too expensive or too out of reach, will be there as well. That gives me an incentive to follow those commandments, however many of them there are.
I know, this God guy was trying to make a point about how material possessions have no place in the Kingdom of the Lord. I'm not blind to that. But I'm just being realistic. Why would God take away happiness once I get to heaven? That's not fair, it doesn't make any sense, and, frankly, it's not very heavenly. Because if I'm supposed to go all eternity floating around in the sky without ANYthing involving Dee Snider, why bother?
I suppose I can gather from what the man said, that if your record collection is not waiting for you in heaven, the only way to be reunited with it in the afterlife is to go to hell. Now is that very Christian? Or should I say SISTER Christian? Hm.

A Tribute To Greatness In Entertainment

The temptation here at this blog is to get too negative about life. Well, that would be unfair. From what I've been able to gather, life is generally mediocre or bad, with scattered moments of greatness, like a a desert with a few scattered grains of emerald sand.
Since everyone turns to TV, movies, music, sports and such for entertainment to dilute the awfulness of life, I find it disappointing who is held up as role models and the quality of "stars" out there today. I'm not going to go further into it, or name any names, you fill in the blanks. So today I hope to show, once again, how much better the past was than the present is. You may notice that is a theme with me. Expect many blog posts about this in the future. Almost all of them deal with that in one way or another. So, in that spirit, I present to you: A Tribute to Greatness In Entertainment!

MUSIC


Liberace has sold millions of albums, I think. It's hard not to love this picture, as well as this man's lust for... "life". Millions of blue-haired ladies who are unaware of the concept of "gay" were, and, I'm sure, still are huge fans. He made millions of dollars, has a museum and got to live life to the max his way. You gotta love that. I mean, I'm not totally convinced he was gay.

BASEBALL


I know nothing about Rollie Fingers, or about baseball in general, but two things: he has a great name, and even without the mustache, he would be a legend just with that name alone, but couple that together with that 'stache, this man is a God. NO ONE could come out like him today. Now baseball is all about scandals, juicing and guys with giant heads. The world needs another Rollie Fingers.

GAME SHOWS


In the 70's Richard Dawson would kiss all the female contestants because it was the 70's - their spirits were free and there was a harmless, freewheeling sense, if they thought about it at all, that it was OK to kiss and love in an overriding spirit of friendship and good will, it was all part of the zeitgeist. Now, we live in an age where that is frowned upon and it's all about lawsuits, sexual harrassment and STD's and that's why I'm angry and disappointed and life sucks and I hate everyone.


NO, not you! You're everywhere! Get out of here! Can't I mention the words "game show" without you magically appearing?

WRESTLING


Back when the WWE was the WWF, and before those selfish and pesky annoyances at the World Wildlife Fund had their way, and before the term "sports entertainment" was ever coined, there was a warrior. An ULTIMATE warrior. Not to be confused with the Yul Brynner film of the same name, I feel that this picture says it all. Mainly because I don't know anything about the Mr. Warrior. Was he the guy that demanded we "Snap into a Slim Jim"? Because I doubt he would have that muscular physique if he snapped into a bunch of Slim Jims. Why wouldn't he hawk something healthier? NO ONE knows what are in Slim Jims. NO ONE! Not even Jim himself!!! But I digress.

TALK SHOWS/EXCERCISE & FITNESS


Sweatin' To The Oldies and Deal a Meal rebelled against the previous generation, defiantly declaring "we don't want to do things your way!" Looking at it in today's perspective, they were clearly more cultural statements than anything else. Expect to see this graphic many more times in the future. I mean, I'm still not totally convinced he is gay.

TELEVISION


Who didn't love this man's double takes and reactions? Not to mention his physical movements and voice? Today's TV stars could learn a lot. Learn from the past. Shame on everyone. I mean, I'm still not totally convinced...ah, never mind.

MOVIES


I LOVE Ernest Borgnine. If you don't love him, I hate you. His Oscar-winning movie career (Marty, a great movie) is absolutely stellar, with many, many classics, and his TV work such as McHale's navy has gone down in history as classic. The icing on the cake is he is from HAMDEN! He is a Hamden High graduate, and there is an Ernest Borgnine park in Hamden (actually a small bit of excess grass in front of a brown wall, he deserves better) and an Ernest Borgnine Way (actually the driveway leading up to a golf course, he deserves better) -- You HAVE to love him. He is still going today, with his TV movies and traveling the country in his bus. He is like everyone's Grandpa. God bless this great man.

BASKETBALL/RAP/VIDEO GAMES


It takes one many years of training to learn Shaq Fu, and should one be lucky enough to be able to execute the infamous Shaq Attaq -- notice that's spelled with a Q (interesting, seeing some of the other people on this list). Apparently Hawking Icy Hot Medicated Pads hasn't slowed down this scary giant. If anything, it has increased his already huge powers. Was he the first guy to be successful at basketball, thus thinking he could rap well? Or were people just too scared to tell him "No"? Nevertheless, he is a true trailblazer. A big, scary, possibly insane trailblazer.

EVERYTHING ELSE (MASTER OF ALL MEDIA)


What can I say that hasn't already been said? I'm NOT going to make fun of him. (Or, in other terms, "hassle the Hoff") I wouldn't dream of hasslin' the Hoff. Or Wrasslin' the Hoff.

If you liked this more visual piece, do let me know. I enjoyed presenting it to you.

HONORABLE TV MENTION


They could never do this show today due to political correctness. Those PC snobs won't rest until all great stuff is gone. Who knows what other classic material fell under their blade? It's just a shame. Now I'm mad. Well, I'm really OK now. I'll save an anti-PC rant for another day. I want to go out on a positive note. Good night and Godspeed!