Since the Internet is all about stealing other people’s ideas, the format of
this column comes courtesy of Bill Simmons. These are just a few random
thoughts that couldn’t be stretched out into a full article:
I get it, the members of The Dave Matthews Band are all talented musicians. I
just don’t like the songwriting and style. Get over it.
If you’re covering a song written in a different time signature, please leave it
in that time signature unless you completely change the rhythms and rewrite the
song. Don’t just play it in 4/4 and pretend that we won’t notice. If your
drummer can’t count to five, skip it or get a new drummer.
Musical genres that need to be revived: Doo-Wop and Barbershop
Weezer – I’m still a fan but they haven’t written a great song since Matt Sharp
left. It’s been nothing but a couple good songs and a few mediocre albums since
then. It’s kind of like Star Wars that way. The first body of work was
outstanding (Blue/Pinkerton, Star Wars/Empire/Jedi) but the resurrection was
mediocre bordering on awful.
Boston’s debut album still rocks.
Who’s the one with the Madd Skillz?
If you’re downloading music, support the artist. If you don’t want to buy the
CD, at least go see them live and possibly buy a T-shirt (unless they’re
charging $40 for a T-shirt)
Which brings me to my next issue, how can bands charge $40 for a T-shirt?
There’s a difference between making a living and gouging your fan base.
Why is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland? Honestly, there’s nothing Rock
& Roll about the city.
To answer a question I posed earlier, T-Bone.
Do Nickleback fans actually exist? I’ve yet to meet one.
Yes, Mr. Pibb and Red Vines are crazy delicious.
I still can’t pronounce Sufjan Stevens’ first name correctly.
Remember when music television stations played music? Neither do I.
Just because something’s independent doesn’t make it better. There’s a lot of
bad music that gets released independently.
The Docks in Toronto easily the worst concert concert venue I’ve been to. Best
concert venue? Mr. Small’s Funhouse in Millvale, PA.
Robert Smith and Morrissey are not gods, no matter how much you want them to be.
Tribute albums never seem to work out well. There is usually one or two good
tracks on the album but the rest is horrible. It’s tough getting people to
re-imagine songs without completely destroying it or producing a clone. There’s
a balance in there that’s tough to find.
Someone should remind the people who master albums that dynamics still exist.
There’s much more to William Shatner’s album Has Been than just unintentional
comedy.
Can you really hear the difference between a CD and vinyl? Shouldn’t any real
music fan have been to enough live shows that there’s already some permanent
hearing damage? At least that’s what the ringing in my ears tells me every
night.
