Intelligent Life On Planet Rock
Born on the 4th of July
Posted by Adman on 3 July 2009 - 11:11pm.
Anyone care to discuss favourite American music? I'm finding lately that my faves are from across the pond. Saw an acoustic performance by Pixies on TV last week which reminded me what a great band they were. I am also very excited about the new Wilco record. I could go on, with your help I will!
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Just been watching that
Just been watching that Pixies concert - at Newport Folk Festival, was on Sky Arts last week? Great performance. Trying to get over the fact I never got tickets for any of their Brixton shows, which sold out pretty quickly today.
That's the gig!
Thought Newport looked like a great location for a gig. Kim Deal remains the coolest woman in rock!
Couple more recent wonderful American albums
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing - think Nirvana meets Jack White meets the Shins
and Todd Snider - The Excitemnet Plan - one of his best albums
Cold, Cold, Cold
Yes I'm on a big trip of discovery of Little Feat - and CSN, and the Allman Brothers
Also all sorts of British stuff from a similar era Fairport, Traffic, Family - and, gulp, Jethro Tull
So more Old, Old, Old - really
Good man..
and don't discount Yes (recommend the Bruford years), King Crimson (take your time), Van der Graaf Generator (early 70s stuff), Groundhogs (Bomb, Split), Audience, Genesis (mid 70s), hell, even ELP (gulp!) had their moments.
I'm in a US phase too
It's odd but I think this goes in phases. I remember that probably for most of the 80's I was mainly listening to American music then in the 90's I was back on a UK diet now it's mainly back to the States. My most recent phase may be due to the fact that the Americans do the sort of "calmer" music that I like better than they do here which is what I prefer these days. I agree with that Pixies gig - it's a long time since I saw it but it's amazing how they still get that power across with accoustic instruments.
I think it goes in phases too...
Re the power of the Pixies - it was remarkable on acoustic instruments, but I think Joey Santiago (what a major dude!) wore the look of a man who wished he had a distortion pedal!
Happy Birthday - America
Let us be lovers well marry our fortunes together
Ive got some real estate here in my bag
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies
And we walked off to look for America
Kathy, I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
Michigan seems like a dream to me now
It took me four days to hitchhike from Saginaw
Ive gone to look for America
Laughing on the bus
Playing games with the faces
She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy
I said be careful his bowtie is really a camera
Toss me a cigarette, I think theres one in my raincoat
we smoked the last one an hour ago
So I looked at the scenery, she read her magazine
And the moon rose over an open field
Kathy, Im lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I'm empty and aching and I dont know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey turnpike
Theyve all gone to look for America
All gone to look for America
All gone to look for America
http://open.spotify.com/track/6Cdd38Y9v3hl2INqBXWCUQ
I love this song
it breaks my heart, yet fills me with joy, anticipation, optimism. How does he do that?
It's brilliant isn't it?
I cannot have played it in years to actually listen to it. I was just thinking of songs suitable for July 4 - and there it was.
It does do all the things you say it does.
Like America really
Dylan? Pah...
Goosebumps...
Just brilliant. Even as a tiny lad I knew that was just the saddest song.
re Wilco, would you say
A Ghost is Born is better than Yankee Hotel Foxtrot? I love Summerteeth, and I think YHF is one of the greatest records ever made but I gave up on the next one after 2 or 3 plays, I think missed Jay Bennett's musicality, rip. Should I give it another go?
I think you can draw a developmental line
from Summerteeth (high commercial watermark) through YHF (record company wanting more of the same, Tweedy trying to stretch out musically) to AGIB the more experimental end of the Wilco sound. Less melodic (missing Bennett's talent) more wilfull & ornery! I play it less than the others, but Handshake Drugs, I'm a wheel & The late greats are all top tunes. It seems that the new album is a bit of a return to a more straightforward sound - not that I want Wilco to be too straightforward - the awkwardness is part of their charm!
Sky Blue Sky
divies up on repeated listens too... Impossible Germany is a cracking track.
so many American acts to choose from
so I'll just chuck in a couple of As.
Dunno much about Akron/Family but I like what I've heard - it has that sense of mystery and magic that I get from Sparklehorse - as though written and recorded in some weird little backwoods place - all the more surprising that they're based in Brooklyn, I think.
Also Afghan Whigs - much missed, love every album, macho grandstanding, self loathing, bar room rock, sweet soul stagger.
one or two ...
MC5 - American Ruse
Chuck Berry - Back in the USA
Blasters - American Music
The Fleshtones - American Beat
and - the man who claimed to be born on the 4th of July - Louis Armstrong!
with Johnny Cash ...
What did the Americans ever do for us ?
Johnnie Allan - Promised Land
Elvis Presley - Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
more!
Otis Redding
Howlin Wolf
Yes
Most if not all of my all-time fave bands that have emerged this decade have come from America: The Strokes; The Shins; Bright Eyes; Grandaddy; Felice Bros; Interpol.
Was hoping Grandaddy would get a mention...
I think 'Sumday' is one of the best records ever made. Great tunes, unexpected lyrical twists, well crafted arrangements. The Group Who Couldn't Say is an amazing song. That line about drag and click and dragonflies gets me every time. Genius!
Also been having a bit of an American 'phase' recently...
There are a lot of good US bands around at the moment, but if I had to restrict myself to three (which, of course, I don't, but I don't want to bore you) it would be (in no particular order):
The National - last 2 full albums (Boxer & Alligator) are great - this is one of the better tunes, but they are pretty consistent.
Cold War Kids - astonishingly mature song writing on their debut album.
Beirut - I still can't get over just how good this kid is. I would happily buy 500 albums a year just to discover one band this good.
I've also loved the Pixies since I saw them at their first Brixton comeback gigs and Black Francis's recent output has been great.
Grand Duchy
I agree with you about Frank Black - that Grand Duchy album is by far his best for maybe ten years.
And then of course, there's this...
Funny, funny men... not a pop at America, or Americans per se, just a certain kind of American music... When you think about it the States have been kind to F&L in recent years.