Modern Rock In Just Nine Songs

Lisnaholic · 06-07-2019, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I bought this album right when it came out. It’s one of the greatest rock’n’roll records of all-time obviously in large part because of J Mascis but this track, written by Barlow, is definitely one of my favorites. I’ve listened to this countless times and still it amazes me. So ****ing brilliant

^ This is turning into a steep learning curve for me - all new material despite how highly OH is placing this album. I like the cover, album title and the Poledo song. It's usually a good sign imo when an artist discards conventional sound engineering wisdom and goes for some rough edges to the music. Nice.
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Despite the line, I'm not necessarily drawing a line under Lou Barlow, but to maintain momentum in this thread, here is:-

Song #2: Fugazi - Waiting Room (1988)

I love the bass guitar lead in and how you can hear that same riff throughout. The anguish/anger from the vocalist caught my attention immediately, as did the opening lines:-

Quote:

I am a patient boy: I wait, I wait, I wait, I wait
My time is like water down a drain
Everybody's moving, Everybody's moving,
Everybody's moving, moving, moving, moving
Please don't leave me to remain In the waiting room ...

"My time is like water down a drain" Brilliant! What a pity though, that the song comes to such an early and abrupt end.

OccultHawk · 06-07-2019, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

^ This is turning into a steep learning curve for me - all new material despite how highly OH is placing this album. I like the cover, album title and the Poledo song. It's usually a good sign imo when an artist discards conventional sound engineering wisdom and goes for some rough edges to the music. Nice.
__________________________________________________ ________________________

Despite the line, I'm not necessarily drawing a line under Lou Barlow, but to maintain momentum in this thread, here is:-

Song #2: Fugazi - Waiting Room (1988)

I love the bass guitar lead in and how you can hear that same riff throughout. The anguish/anger from the vocalist caught my attention immediately, as did the opening lines:-

"My time is like water down a drain" Brilliant! What a pity though, that the song comes to such an early and abrupt end.

Under three minutes. If that’s not enough listen to it again. The abrupt end was an extremely smart move.

You gotta respect Ian MacKaye and his stick to your guns DIY $5 tickets no giving in to ticket master punk ethics. I totally respect the whole straight edge thing too. By that time drugs had already caused us all so much pain. It’s still rampaging full speed ahead but even back then young creative talented energetic people were dropping like flies.

BUT going from Minor Threat to Fugazi is one of the greatest musical falls from grace ever. When I first heard Minor Threat it was so revolutionary. I was in high school and it was like so rock’n’roll can go there? Holy f uck!!!

This music was incredibly empowering, I mean it still is, it literally brings tears to my eyes. I know it gets old people bemoaning the past but my life was so hard back then. That sound said to me, told me there’s a ****ing place for you in this world. It was like being given a ****ing home.

By comparison Fugazi was mostly a bunch of frat rock bull****. It’s not like I felt betrayed or anything. It’s just Fugazi was bland.

**Marie Monday** · 06-07-2019, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

My favourite Minor Threat song, it's perfect

Lisnaholic · 06-07-2019, 04:49 PM

^ Thanks for fleshing out the Fugazi rec with a couple more songs, Mo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

You gotta respect Ian MacKaye and his stick to your guns DIY $5 tickets no giving in to ticket master punk ethics. I totally respect the whole straight edge thing too. By that time drugs had already caused us all so much pain. It’s still rampaging full speed ahead but even back then young creative talented energetic people were dropping like flies.

^ Yep, very commendable to limit concert prices. As for straight edge, perhaps it's a worthy reaction to lethal drug abuse, but it's developed a reputation for intolerance, hasn't it? Just what the world needs, another club that allows you to feel a self-righteous contempt for everyone else.

Quote:

BUT going from Minor Threat to Fugazi is one of the greatest musical falls from grace ever. When I first heard Minor Threat it was so revolutionary. I was in high school and it was like so rock’n’roll can go there? Holy f uck!!!

This music was incredibly empowering, I mean it still is, it literally brings tears to my eyes. I know it gets old people bemoaning the past but my life was so hard back then. That sound said to me, told me there’s a ****ing place for you in this world. It was like being given a ****ing home.

By comparison Fugazi was mostly a bunch of frat rock bull****. It’s not like I felt betrayed or anything. It’s just Fugazi was bland.

^ Thank you for this insight into the young OH!

I wouldn't ask anyone to believe it, in fact I hardly believe it myself, but I also had some years of undirected rage, listening to Beefheart at high volume and having a more emotional response to music than I do today. So even if I no longer feel the rage, I can respect the rage in those Minor Threat songs. The way the music stops for the F-word accusations in In My Eyes is particularly effective.

Bedlam Ballroom · 06-07-2019, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

You gotta respect Ian MacKaye and his stick to your guns DIY $5 tickets no giving in to ticket master punk ethics. I totally respect the whole straight edge thing too. By that time drugs had already caused us all so much pain. It’s still rampaging full speed ahead but even back then young creative talented energetic people were dropping like flies.

I like him so much that every Dischord Records record I've got (except for 13 Songs) I bought directly from their website.

And what's even cooler about it is that every record was packaged together with a hand note by Amy Farina thanking for buying it. I wouldn't trade that for a meeting and a photo with Billy Corgan or Mark Lanegan (just to cite two alternative rock stars I like)

Lisnaholic · 06-09-2019, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mo Bounce

I like him so much that every Dischord Records record I've got (except for 13 Songs) I bought directly from their website.

And what's even cooler about it is that every record was packaged together with a hand note by Amy Farina thanking for buying it. I wouldn't trade that for a meeting and a photo with Billy Corgan or Mark Lanegan (just to cite two alternative rock stars I like)

^ Is that the same Amy who is the wife of Ian McKay? That's cool.

( Yeah, I really know nothing about straight edge, and of course attempts to reduce the misery of addiction have gotta be good)
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Perhaps it's now time to move on to:-

Song #3: Pixies - Monkey Gone to Heaven (1989)

Thanks to the enthusiasm of Black Francis, I'd at least heard of The Pixies before, though this song didn't sound much like the material I remember him recommending. TBH I found this song a bit disappointing: a vocalist who's spent too long studying in the Lou Reed School of Cool, and although there is some biting guitar work going on, pretty soon the song just repeats, repeats and stops without having gone anywhere. It sounds to me like, just 4 mins in, The Pixies have completely run out of ideas and direction - and yet this was apparently a college radio hit, so perhaps it grows on you after a few listens.

(MB user name Black Francis comes from The Pixies band member. Duh.)

Bedlam Ballroom · 06-09-2019, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

^ Is that the same Amy who is the wife of Ian McKay? That's cool.

Yes, and the drummer of their duo, The Evens.

Bedlam Ballroom · 06-07-2019, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

^ This is turning into a steep learning curve for me - all new material despite how highly OH is placing this album. I like the cover, album title and the Poledo song. It's usually a good sign imo when an artist discards conventional sound engineering wisdom and goes for some rough edges to the music. Nice.
__________________________________________________ ________________________

Despite the line, I'm not necessarily drawing a line under Lou Barlow, but to maintain momentum in this thread, here is:-

Song #2: Fugazi - Waiting Room (1988)

I love the bass guitar lead in and how you can hear that same riff throughout. The anguish/anger from the vocalist caught my attention immediately, as did the opening lines:-

"My time is like water down a drain" Brilliant! What a pity though, that the song comes to such an early and abrupt end.

Fugazi and Minor Threat founding member Ian McKaye also has a band with his wife Amy named The Evens, it's a duo guitar (him) and drums (her).

One thing cool, Fugazi used to swap vocalists.

Here's the one who took the more "emotive" songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=looSwGHulFI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFlUFwbWXEs