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Post by GtrPlyr on Nov 6, 2015 14:44:44 GMT -5
Looking forward to hearing the b-side "I 1 2 #2 on U".
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Post by GtrPlyr on Oct 11, 2015 21:55:12 GMT -5
Rock and roll is a specific genre of music. I'm not buying this "spirit of rock and roll" thing. I mean, it makes as much sense as calling it the Rap Hall of Fame and including The Beatles Well, if we’re going to take the “Rock and Roll” part literally, we probably need to get rid of 95% of the bands and artists in there now. Few inductees are true Rock and Roll artists once you get past Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley, Bo Diddley, The Rolling Stones. etc. Woody Guthrie, The Supremes, Bill Monroe, The Drifters, Donna Summer all inductees, none are rock and roll. Do we give them a pass? Even a band like Nirvana, they may rock, but there is zero “roll” in their music. Do they get a pass? They already have genres such as bluegrass, country, disco, gospel, folk, soul, r&b and jazz represented, so why not rap and hip-hop too at this point? I don't necessarily disagree with your statement, but the Hall has been something other than "rock 'n' roll" for so long that it seems a bit late to get all nitpick-y with it.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Oct 11, 2015 9:53:08 GMT -5
I think first off, one has to not take the “Rock and Roll” part of the name so literally. From the get-go, the hall has inducted everything from blues, soul, r&b, and country to folk, jazz and pop artists. So why not Rap and Hip-Hop too? None of these music styles are an island; rock and roll was influenced by blues, country and jazz. Hip-Hop was influenced by funk, soul, jazz and rock, and has over the years gone on to influence rock musicians. The whole thing is circular, all these genres feeding off each other, so I think of the hall as a catchall: “Modern Pop Music Hall of Fame.”
With that in mind, I have no issues with the hall inducting anything within the popular music realm, as long as the artist has some discernible impact, influence, or an undeniable canon of great music. Of course like anyone, I often question their picks: how is Green Day in before Harry Nilsson, Warren Zevon, The Replacements, Cheap Trick? Those of us that have followed the history of the hall are probably aware of the cronyism, bias and hidden agendas that permeate the hall decisions at times. The thing is far from perfect, and some could argue that the glaring omissions make it irrelevant. Valid arguments to be made for sure on that front. I look at it like I would the Grammy’s or the Oscars: not definitive takes on their respective fields by a long shot, but that doesn’t mean the art being honored is always without merit. All of these institutions kinda fall in the: sometimes they get it right, sometimes they don't category for me.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Sept 18, 2015 20:20:01 GMT -5
Tonight Mrs. K. was at the same Walgreens and they played The Underwear Song (aka Love Untold). Someone at Walgreens has good taste in music. Love Untold was playing as I walked into a Target a few weeks back.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Sept 9, 2015 7:51:59 GMT -5
So they recorded some Tommy songs, tried the democratic band approach this time around. My guess, like a few others, is that this probably didn’t work out so well. I imagine it would be difficult to spend the past few decades doing whatever you want artistically, then be put in a situation where you have to deal with the input of others. I don’t know, maybe Paul didn’t feel his, or Tommy’s current batch of songs were good enough to carry The Replacements moniker. There’s less pressure and expectation on a solo career, where you can release rough demos and undercooked songs if you want, and have it all be par for the course. The Replacements legacy has to be a bit daunting, it’s certainly easier to go back to old, and more comfortable work methods.
As far as Tommy’s place in the band, after all these years, and now that it’s just him and Paul as the remaining originals, I’m not sure he’s willing to take a backseat anymore. He’s no longer the teenager in the shadows of Paul and his brother. Now that he’s a full-fledged songwriter and band leader in his own right, I think he must see his position in the band in a different light. Who knows for sure, it’s all speculation until the leads speak up.
Personally I don’t care if they ever release another studio release at this point. If the Whole Foods song and that uninspired 30 minute jam are the sort of things they got up their sleeve, it’s probably best they just leave things as they are and focus on their individual projects. I have the memory of the reunion shows, and that’s more than I ever could have expected having a few years back. I just hope Paul gets back to releasing songs, that to me is the most important thing here.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Jul 24, 2015 8:55:01 GMT -5
The first time I heard this track, The chorus obviously jumped out, like hey, is this a nod to Paul? The track as a whole has little in common with Paul's, but there are definite melodic and lyrical similarities during the chorus that make one wonder if Kacey or her co-writers heard the track at some point.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Apr 21, 2015 9:33:03 GMT -5
It's amazing he has held onto that guitar all this time, espcially with his penchant for destroying them.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Apr 20, 2015 13:51:45 GMT -5
Did Paul have the Dan Armstrong guitar before this current tour? I can't recall seeing it. I wonder which guitar is the "cream" one.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Apr 20, 2015 13:47:38 GMT -5
With the exception of the first reunion show at Riot Fest in 2013, this was the best Replacements show I've ever experienced, and a lot of what gives the Riot Fest show the edge over this one is sentiment, as it was the first 'mats show I'd seen in 25 years. The Toronto Riot Fest show is a hard one to top. They had something to prove, were quite energized and they delivered the goods. I saw them twice after that, neither show quite got to that same level for me (the predictable set list didn't help matters.) I'm hoping when I catch them in Detroit they will blow me away once again.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Jan 23, 2015 10:33:13 GMT -5
Got in my car last night, started it up, Can't Hardly Wait was playing on the radio. Still get a kick when I hear The Mats on the radio, because frankly I can count the number of times it has happened on one hand. Nice! I love that Sleater-Kinney--a band that already has two guitarists--has added a third one, and still have no bass player. p.s. I see she is also playing keyboards on the tour. Looking forward to seeing them next month when they hit my city.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Mar 19, 2014 7:48:12 GMT -5
Last time I was in Montreal I stayed in a hostel and Oloff from Sweden decided to make me his fun buddy. By "hostel" I'm guessing you really mean "jail."
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Post by GtrPlyr on Mar 13, 2014 10:01:45 GMT -5
Personally, I don't think enough credit is ever given to the tone of the human voice. There is just something about the tone of Strummer, Westerberg, Springsteen that just works with the instrumentation of their music. It just melds together. It's just right. As such, I will always prefer the Replacements over REM. Yes, I've always maintained that the tone/sound of the voice, and how a song is delivered is probably the most important aspect in how a song is received by a listener. Moreso than the lyrics. A song with so-so lyrics if sung with the right amount of conviction and passion can totally win me over. It's all in the delivery and how it's couched musically*. *I don't think Richard Thompson is a great singer necessarily--I am a fan nevertheless--but this is a good example of how a singer can transform a song just by they way they arrange and sing it:
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Post by GtrPlyr on Mar 13, 2014 9:42:31 GMT -5
New Adventures in Hi-Fi is probably the last really good R.E.M. record as far as I'm concerned. Definitely one of their more underappreciated releases. In the last few years I'd say it's the record I've listened to most from them funnily enough.
p.s. I'm with you Anarkissed, except for the part about 'E-Bow the Letter' being one of the weaker tracks on that album. I don't know, to my ears that song still holds up. I love the moody atmosphere of the song, plus it's great having Patti Smith on the track.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Dec 18, 2013 22:10:09 GMT -5
Kind of an odd list as far as some of the choices and the order of it, but there are some irrefutable choices in there for sure.
Uncut: 50 Greatest Singer/Songwriter Albums From Take 199 – December 2013 edition
1. Tim Hardin – Tim Hardin 1 – 1996 2. Leonard Cohen – Songs Of Leonard Cohen – 1967 3. Laura Nyro – New York Tendberry – 1969 4. Al Stewart – Love Chronicles – 1969 5. Dory Previn – On My Way To Where – 1970 6. John Lennon – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band – 1970 7. James Taylor – Sweet Baby James – 1970 8. Loudon Wainwright III – Album 1 – 1970 9. Kris Kristofferson – Kris Kristofferson – 1970 10. Joni Mitchell – Blue – 1971 11. David Crosby – If Only I Could Remember My Name – 1971 12. Judee Sill – Judee Sill – 1971 13. Nick Drake – Pink Moon – 1972 14. Gene Clark – No Other – 1974 15. Jackson Browne – Late For The Sky – 1974 16. Neil Young – On The Beach – 1974 17. Bob Dylan – Blood On The Tracks – 1975 18. Joan Baez – Diamonds & Rust – 1975 19. Janis Ian – Between The Lines – 1975 20. Paul Simon – Still Crazy After All These Years – 1975 21. Al Green – The Belle Album – 1977 22. Marvin Gaye – Here, My Dear – 1978 23. Brian Ferry – The Bride Stripped Bare – 1978 24. John Martyn – Grace And Danger – 1980 25. Pete Townshend – Empty Glass – 1980 26. John Cale – Music For A New Society – 1982 27. Lou Reed – The Blue Mask – 1982 28. Richard & Linda Thompson – Shoot Out The Lights – 1982 29. Dexys Midnight Runners – Don’t Bring Me Down – 1985 30. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Blood And Chocolate – 1986 31. Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel Of Love – 1987 32. Mark Eitzel – Songs Of Love – 1991 33. Nick Lowe – The Impossible Bird – 1994 34. Steve Earle – Feel Alright – 1996 35. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – The Boatman’s Call – 1997 36. Elliott Smith – Either/Or – 1997 37. Paul Westerberg – Suicane Gratification – 1999 38. Ryan Adams – Heartbreaker – 2000 39. Rodney Crowell – The Houston Kid – 2001 40. Beck – Sea Change – 2002 41. Lucinda Williams – World Without Tears – 2003 42. Warren Zevon – The Wind – 2003 43. Amy Winehouse – Back To Black – 2006 44. Sun Kil Moon – April – 2008 45. John Grant – Queen Of Denmark – 2010 46. Josh T Pearson – Last Of The Country Gentlemen – 2011 47. Sharon Van Etten – Tramp – 2012 48. John Murry – The Graceless Age – 2013 49. Alela Diane – About Farewell – 2013 50. Laura Marling – Once I Was An Eagle – 2013
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Post by GtrPlyr on Sept 17, 2013 13:04:34 GMT -5
I did the VIP in Toronto and the GA in Chicago. In hindsight I don't think I would've bothered doing the VIP. First off, the VIP section is not in front of the stage but a segregated section off to the side. In Toronto it was to the left of the stage and to the right in Chicago. We had our own portable toilets and vendors in the VIP section in Toronto, big deal though, totally not worth the extra $60 or whatever it was in my opinion.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Sept 1, 2013 15:39:15 GMT -5
I think for the remaining festival gigs they're going to stick to their more rockin' numbers, with a couple softer moments like a Swingin' Party thrown in for good measure. Festival crowds kinda suck for doing subtle acoustic stuff, ballads or slower tempo stuff so I think that stuff will be on hold until a proper Replacements tour happens.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Sept 1, 2013 15:33:44 GMT -5
I'm with Chris, at this stage an acoustic set would be a waste of a great band. I wouldn't want to see Neil Young & Crazy Horse do an acoustic set, I kinda feel the same way with the current Mats line-up. When you have Tommy, Dave and Josh at your disposal, you want to make the most of it and tap into your rock 'n' roll side.
I would love to see an acoustic set at some point if Paul were to do another solo tour in smaller venues. That would be the ideal setting to do that, but right now, after the Sunday show, it's definitely all about the unbridled rock 'n' roll for me, and the band I'm pretty sure.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Aug 29, 2013 14:57:02 GMT -5
Just listened to the whole Toronto show, and two lines jumped out at me pretty clear: On "Androgynous," he sings, "Might be a father but he sure ain't your dad." I had thought it was "sure ain't a dad," which had always bothered me, because it might imply that the androgynous guy couldn't be a parent. "Your dad" fits much better with the theme of changing times: this guy isn't anything like your old man. The other was in "Left of the Dial" he sings "We were voices laughing on the radio once," which makes more sense to me that "Weary voice that's laughing," because it fits with "we sounded drunk" in the next line. Of course, he may be tweaking lyrics as time goes on. But if so, both are improvements. I didn't notice that in Toronto, but I always thought "He might be a father, but he sure ain't a dad" was a great line. I always took it to mean that the character in the song got a girl pregnant, but wasn't around or didn't do a good job of helping raise the kid. I don't know, I could be completely wrong on that. As for the "Weary voice that's laughin', on the radio once," that totally works for me too. That song, and the line sorta paints an image of the struggling band on tour, slogging from town to town, half asleep in a van, not sure where you are half the time, missing friends and family, showing up for radio interviews when you'd rather be sleeping...
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Post by GtrPlyr on Aug 28, 2013 21:43:04 GMT -5
And what was the response from the other bands on the bill to them reuniting? During the Dinosaur Jr. set, Lou Barlow mentioned how The Stooges and The Replacements were two of their biggest influences. Later I spotted J. Mascis bopping his head quite a bit during The Replacements set as he watched from the side of the stage. The Weakerthans mentioned how excited they were to be on the bill, their lead singer was standing in the front row shortly before The Mats were about to take the stage. I have a feeling there was quite a bit of excitement amongst the musicians regarding the reunion. The excitement went both ways I think. Tommy was standing a few feet in front of us for a bit watching Mike Watt and Iggy perform their asses off.
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Post by GtrPlyr on Aug 21, 2013 12:02:48 GMT -5
Thanks Mod man! I'm taking notes. I also heard about one called Monkey's Paw that has a book-o-matic book dispensing machine. Looks pretty cool. No problem. Ignore the mod tag, I don't have any moderator powers, it shouldn't really be there. I haven't been to the Monkey's Paw. I'll have to check it out next time I'm in that area.
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