Post by Kathy on Jun 10, 2012 8:43:04 GMT -5
Thought this was very interesting from Jim Walsh's interview with Kevin about his new record. Asked Kevin what he learned from all the people he's worked with. His answer on PW:
Paul Westerberg: “Everything. He taught me what rock ’n’ roll is when I first started. He taught me what songwriting was, back in the day. He came over to my apartment on 20th and Aldrich and we were having coffee and I said, ‘How do you do it? How do you write those songs?’ Which is an asinine question.
“And he said, ‘You know, you’re a pretty funny guy. You should write like you talk.’ Unfortunately it took me several years to understand what he meant, but the minute I started doing that, then I was making gold records and making a living at it. So, originally what I learned was songwriting, and then when we toured together he schooled me again, somewhat severely, to be in the moment. He reminded me. He doesn’t want it good, he wants it his way. He’ll trade a whole night of competence for one 30-second burst of spontaneity.
“He laid down here on the couch about a month ago and said he wanted to hear every song [on ‘Natchez Trace’]. So I started playing the songs, and talking over them, and he told me to shut up. When we got to the song ‘Fallen Satellites,’ he said, ‘Goosebumps! That’s the best song you’ve ever written.’ ”
Paul Westerberg: “Everything. He taught me what rock ’n’ roll is when I first started. He taught me what songwriting was, back in the day. He came over to my apartment on 20th and Aldrich and we were having coffee and I said, ‘How do you do it? How do you write those songs?’ Which is an asinine question.
“And he said, ‘You know, you’re a pretty funny guy. You should write like you talk.’ Unfortunately it took me several years to understand what he meant, but the minute I started doing that, then I was making gold records and making a living at it. So, originally what I learned was songwriting, and then when we toured together he schooled me again, somewhat severely, to be in the moment. He reminded me. He doesn’t want it good, he wants it his way. He’ll trade a whole night of competence for one 30-second burst of spontaneity.
“He laid down here on the couch about a month ago and said he wanted to hear every song [on ‘Natchez Trace’]. So I started playing the songs, and talking over them, and he told me to shut up. When we got to the song ‘Fallen Satellites,’ he said, ‘Goosebumps! That’s the best song you’ve ever written.’ ”
