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Post by FreeRider on Aug 9, 2016 10:42:59 GMT -5
So, the SPIN magazine article had been posted before, but did anyone notice the word association on his solo efforts? Especially this bit on Folker. To dredge up the old arguments about Folker again for discussion sake, for those of you who hated it, do you feel vindicated? It's not my fave but I don't hate it nor do I love it, even though I haven't listened to it in awhile. His quote on Folker: Folker (2004): “Every one of these records makes me think of someone. I thought ‘Jingle’ was kinda good. I can’t remember any of the other songs because they’re s**t. I’ve learned that there’s a reason you don’t remember the ones you’ve forgotten.”www.spin.com/2016/03/paul-westerberg-i-dont-cares-replacements-interview/Is he really dismissive of Gun Shy? Lookin' Up in Heaven? As Far As I know? Take it with a grain of salt? Discuss. |
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Post by pm on Aug 9, 2016 10:58:36 GMT -5
"Jingle" is one of least favorite PW songs off of any album and struck me as a weak start to an album I had been looking forward to and really wanted to like. Gun Shy,Lookin' Up in Heaven, and As Far As I Know are great songs, I have forgotten most of the rest myself.
Sometimes I think the pacing and song order on Folker could improve the record. For example, what better song to open with than "As Far As I Know"?
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Post by gowhileucan on Aug 9, 2016 18:30:34 GMT -5
He overrates 49:00 (a lot of people do) and he underrates CFMT which may be his best solo record top to bottom. Folker was a dud for me, like it was for Paul, except for a couple standouts but he also thought it was one of his best around the time he released it.
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Post by FreeRider on Aug 9, 2016 21:58:14 GMT -5
yeah, Folker just wasn't a strong effort, but it's not completely unlistenable for me. I wonder why Paul released those tunes when he had all these other songs sitting around that he used for The I Don't Cares CD (well, apart from Juliana's influence!) In the Harp interview with Bob Mehr, he said: ... As I was writing the other albums every now and then I would write one specifically for the Folker record. I wanted the songs on there to flow together, keywise and harmonically. This is the first time I ever took any real time to make a record flow like a classical piece would. Where the keys kinda go in a circle and stuff." www.paulwesterberg.com/paul-westerberg-bob-mehr-interview-2004/So was it just a musical and intellectual exercise for him??? And true, he short changed CFMT in favor of an inspired concept like 49:00. Did he really forget Crackle and Drag? What a Day for a Night? Meet Me Down the Alley? But more intriguing is that he still felt Suicaine is his best. Maybe personally for him it's his best for reasons only he knows, but I find it interesting that he chose that one as being representative of his best work! |
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Freddy
First Class Scout
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Post by Freddy on Aug 10, 2016 7:04:09 GMT -5
I really like $100 Groom and My Dad. Overall, I have probably listened to that record less than anything else he's done. I don't like or hate it overall....just sort of indifferent to it.
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Post by FreeRider on Aug 10, 2016 9:17:12 GMT -5
I really like $100 Groom and My Dad. Overall, I have probably listened to that record less than anything else he's done. I don't like or hate it overall....just sort of indifferent to it. yeah, I like $100 Groom too, but that 's a good word for it: "indifferent". Really? Less so than Dead Man's Shake? I don't think I've listened to DMS more than three times (although I do like Vampires and Failures). I've listened to Suicaine, no matter how dour and bleak a CD it is, more times than either Folker and DMS!  |
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Freddy
First Class Scout
Posts: 200
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Post by Freddy on Aug 12, 2016 18:56:42 GMT -5
I really like $100 Groom and My Dad. Overall, I have probably listened to that record less than anything else he's done. I don't like or hate it overall....just sort of indifferent to it. yeah, I like $100 Groom too, but that 's a good word for it: "indifferent". Really? Less so than Dead Man's Shake? I don't think I've listened to DMS more than three times (although I do like Vampires and Failures). I've listened to Suicaine, no matter how dour and bleak a CD it is, more times than either Folker and DMS! OK.....Dead Man Shake is right there now that you mention it, but I listened to Souvenirs and Vampires A LOT when that came out. I gave Suicaine another shot last year. I took "Actor In The Street" off of it and listened to it with headphones. I really enjoyed it and have probably revisited the record 5 times since. It's a little more intimate in some ways than I would have given it credit for previously. If you want to rediscover that record, put on some decent headphones, turn out the lights and soak in to it. Oh, and if you have a little herb....that won't hurt!  |
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Post by thepogo on Aug 15, 2016 23:12:08 GMT -5
I really dig $100 Groom and My Dad. Gun Shy rocks it.
Chasin' middle age, I'm pacin' in my cage tonight
I feel a little gun shy, gun shy
Chasin' middle age, pacin' in my cage tonight
I'm a jack rabbit, rock star, fruit jar, fuck you
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Post by FreeRider on Aug 16, 2016 9:19:35 GMT -5
I really dig $100 Groom and My Dad. Gun Shy rocks it. Chasin' middle age, I'm pacin' in my cage tonight I feel a little gun shy, gun shy Chasin' middle age, pacin' in my cage tonight I'm a jack rabbit, rock star, fruit jar, fuck you Exactly! those may be the best lyrics he's written in quite awhile, so it surprises me that Paul claims (take it with a grain of salt perhaps?) Folker didn't have anything worthwhile on there. And then he sings: I'm pacin' in my cage and I've nowhere to hide... Love the imagery of being cornered, restless, and being totally exposed |
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Post by brianlux on Aug 20, 2016 13:43:17 GMT -5
I listened to Folker a lot when it came out the tour to back it with His Only Friends is the only time I've seen Paul live (and got to chat with him at his bus) so it still holds a special place in my music world even if I don't listen to it much any more. It was a good time for me but meeting Paul, I definitely got the sense it was not a great time for him. I'll never forget the sad shared glances between us as I walked away and turned back briefly.
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Post by teddinard on Sept 1, 2016 7:01:12 GMT -5
He overrates 49:00 (a lot of people do) and he underrates CFMT which may be his best solo record top to bottom. Folker was a dud for me, like it was for Paul, except for a couple standouts but he also thought it was one of his best around the time he released it. Eh. I've always had a hard time connecting to Come Feel Me Tremble. The double dose of Sylvia Plath homage mars it for me, and the rest of the songs don't seem very ambitious, though they have some appeal. I'm glad it exists, but... |
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Post by raccoon on Sept 3, 2017 11:06:06 GMT -5
I always knew I was a weirdo. I love Folker and CFMT but truly dislike Stereo/Mono. To me some his weakest songs both lyrically and musically are found on Stereo/Mono yet everyone raves over that set and slams Folker/CFMT....then again I love Don't Tell a Soul and feta and ham on my pizzas.
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