|
Post by BigWheel on Jan 28, 2004 12:05:59 GMT -5
Did Tweedy have surgery? I like the guys voice with all it's warts.
I really do think Westerberg's voice is the same, it's just the home studio lacks the sophistication to give it the "OOomph" that a state of the art place could.
I hope he does a new record at home except does the vocals in a big studio and the drums in the same big studio with an actual drummer playing......
|
|
|
Post by torethatbridgeout on Jan 28, 2004 12:12:58 GMT -5
I believe you , wheelie I do, but then why did he have that singing to the back of his teeth sound on his solo tour? At least on some songs it was major whine alert. A the Guthrie he stopped Once Around the Weekend cold and I was glad cause I would have had a hard time hearing it all the way through sung like that. Maybe it's the upper registers ...
Tweedy didn't lose his rasp I don't think, just corrected something in his nasal passages. I think it did help his voice actually.
|
|
|
Post by BigWheel on Jan 28, 2004 13:23:04 GMT -5
I really hope the new record is different than the last four. He needs to shake it up a little. I am all prepared for a quiet acoustic kind of record, but if I have to hear that drum machine again I may just throw in the towel on hoping for a career ressurection.
he can't just go on trying to sell records to his established fans. At some point he is going to have to go out and try to earn some new ones.
|
|
|
Post by scoOter on Jan 28, 2004 13:39:26 GMT -5
guardedly, i agree with bigwheel on his points.
|
|
|
Post by torethatbridgeout on Jan 28, 2004 13:49:44 GMT -5
guardedly .... hmmmm
let's put it this way, do you like electric shavers or trumpet clips?
|
|
Monkey
Beagle Scout
Ninja Republican
Everybody dance like there's ass in your pants
Posts: 2,438
|
Post by Monkey on Jan 28, 2004 14:02:26 GMT -5
Not trying to be argumentative, just genuinely curious - how likely do you guys think it is that the music landscape will allow him to earn many new fans? Stranger things have happened (Liz Phair on VH1) but to me a major crossover seems unlikely at this stage of the game, radio is just too teen-oriented to let a guy like Paul break in.
I don't know enough about the economics of the music biz but it seems like plenty of artists w/ PW's level of sales/concert attendence/etc. have enough of a core audience to support themselves without needing to worry about bringing new fans aboard, even if they're not going to be millionaires that's not necessarily the worst career path. But I'm open to being corrected, I just don't know enough about the business side of music.
|
|
|
Post by prozach on Jan 28, 2004 14:47:14 GMT -5
I also am quite inexperienced in the business aspect, but it seems that it would take a massive fluke/coincidence for him to have a big hit, some influential radio station taking a song and playing the heck out of it til others caught on.
Anything like this happen recently? Was Jimmy Eat World on major label? (I know thats apples and orangutans).
|
|
gravy
Beagle Scout
"OK Terrific !!!"
Posts: 1,589
|
Post by gravy on Jan 28, 2004 15:00:04 GMT -5
He's better off where he is. The overhead that goes into his records is almost nothing. Even with the minimal(but excellent by Indie standards) promotion he gets, he is out there. (Billboard, Rolling Stone,,,etc) He's better of selling 100,000-150,000 units on an indie, then selling 300,000 - 400,000 on a major.
If a label spends $1,000,000 on an artist, (advance,studio,costs, promotion, tour support) The artist has to sell approx 90,000 units just to break even & start to earn. (these stats are as of 5 years ago so it's probably more on both ends)
ask Aimie Mann about Indie vs Major, & Pat Metheney & Face to face to name a few.
|
|
|
Post by BigWheel on Jan 28, 2004 15:10:52 GMT -5
The reason we are seeing so much product from Westerberg is undoubtedly because he needs the money. It is also the reason the "product" is recorded at home and put out in simple packaging and with little fanfare. It's the same reason there was no band tour. he would have to pay the band, and that would eat into what little money was left afterwards.
Judging from how many records he sells and how many shows he plays a year I would be shocked if he pulled in more than 50 grand a year from being the artist known as Paul Westerberg or Grandpaboy.
As for Replacements royalties, I am certain there are none.
|
|
zook
Beagle Scout
You be me for awhile and I'll be ewe...
Posts: 1,246
|
Post by zook on Jan 28, 2004 15:16:22 GMT -5
I don't think Paul is going to start playing the music game at this point of his life and is happy doing it his way as long as he can do it. He will likely pick up a few more fans each time he puts a record out as he gets positive reviews, word of mouth support and credit as being the hero of more visible artists. But his core fans will continue to support him and as long as he doesn't have to work the docks for a living or tour or play the media game too much I think he's happy. I certainly will keep buying his records as long as he keeps putting them out.
|
|
gravy
Beagle Scout
"OK Terrific !!!"
Posts: 1,589
|
Post by gravy on Jan 28, 2004 15:18:33 GMT -5
There was no Twin Tone contract so i wonder if he saw any money for the Re-issues (81-84)
I'm they got a bit for the "all for nothing" set. but who's to say how much!
There is good money in soundtracks though. 20-30 grand per song. makes sense
Waiting for somebody Dyslexic Heart Stain yer blood Can't Hardly Wait
|
|
|
Post by scoOter on Jan 28, 2004 16:27:14 GMT -5
to be clear, i LOVE cfmt and stereo/mono. and the reason i "guardedly" agreed with bw is because i do not think paul has to go out with the purpose of winning over new fans.
i would like to hear a return (maybe just periodically) to a more produced sound for a change of pace; for himself & for us.
if this financially cannot be done WITHOUT going out & sucking up for new fans, so be it. let it go.
|
|
|
Post by Placemat on Jan 28, 2004 18:52:01 GMT -5
Certainly one of the more interesting threads in awhile...
Honestly, Under or Over I pretty much like it all. I can get tired of the slick stuff after awhile, but then I can get tired of Paul's drumming too.
Made to pick one, I'd go with under-produced. Seems to be a certain honesty/truth that comes with the raw stuff. To me, it just sounds more Paul-like.
As for Paul's voice, I've noticed a difference on the recent albums. It sounds more thin & reedy (not a bad thing). However, I couldn't say if it has to do with the equipment, production or years of hard living.
I can say, when caught his show in N. Hampton last tour he sounded just like the old Paul. If memory serves correct (& I doubt it) He kicked things off with High Times & then did one of the best Alex Chiltons I've ever heard. Both songs seemed to have his trade mark raw, brash scream that everybody remembers from Bastards.
It'll be fun to see what Folker has instore for us. But I gotta admit, I hoping for a few rockers & a new drummer.
|
|
|
Post by landshark on Jan 28, 2004 20:21:11 GMT -5
Hey, placemat, that Noho show was fantastic, wasn't it? Voice, guitar, attitude was all great, I almost wept ...
but yer right, a live drummer on Foker would be great. No need to tour with the band if it eats up the cash, I thought the solo tour was a lot of fun.
The problem for PW with the band is he doesn't want to give musical instructions, it seems, but also doesn't want to accept the improvisatory musical choice of the guys who are just hired hacks
He'll only do well with a band if they're guys who he totally respects and won't yell at in the middle of a song
gives me a thought for a new thread ...
|
|
|
Post by Placemat on Jan 31, 2004 12:00:11 GMT -5
Hey, placemat, that Noho show was fantastic, wasn't it? Voice, guitar, attitude was all great, I almost wept ... Yeah, the Noho show was Fan-f*ckin-tastic. One of the best (if not the best) I saw off the last tour. Paul played just about everything I wanted to hear w/no requests needed. Plus, He really seemed to dig the crowd & the crowd really dug him. I understand our "Leader" Kathy was also in attendence. You wouldn't happen to have a copy of that show for trade? I NEED a copy & maybe we could work something out...
|
|
|
Post by TomT on Feb 1, 2004 1:41:38 GMT -5
About the Noho show - was any video from here used in the DVD? Was the black and white footage with Paul in the white shirt from Noho?
|
|
|
Post by adamapple on Feb 1, 2004 12:24:27 GMT -5
i'll stick with paul current mode of basement tapes,....flubs and all.....its raw honest and completely exposed, like the best of things paul
|
|
|
Post by Placemat on Feb 1, 2004 12:54:46 GMT -5
About the Noho show - was any video from here used in the DVD? Was the black and white footage with Paul in the white shirt from Noho? Yeah, the Noho show pops up a couple of times on the DVD. Think all the footage is in B&W. But, I can't remember if it ever covers an entire song or just bits.
|
|
|
Post by sadbastard on Feb 2, 2004 5:00:49 GMT -5
I sound like a geek posting this, but I love it all. The point of his under-production is that the songs withstand any kind of treatment. Sure there are hipsters that fret about Don't Tell a Soul and All Shook Down, but those clowns need to grow up and recognize that he's been writing awesome songs since day one. There's a stinker here and there but his track record far exceeds any other contemporary songwriter.
Also: I'm still seeting 5 years later on how music critics dropped the ball on Suicaine, probably one of my favorite albums ever.
|
|
|
Post by Elizabeth on Feb 2, 2004 10:19:59 GMT -5
music critics are some sad characters. my last boyfriend is a 'music journalist' who will never get over the loss of his personal rock-star dream, and his head is a mess over it. I've met most of the music critics in Boston, and half these guys are aging hipsters trying desperately to stay relevant. Nikki Sixx makes an excellent music critic though. In the current RS he said "I hate REM. Someone should line them up and shoot them."
|
|