Apropos of a heated conversation on one of the threads downstairs, I was musing to myself yesterday about how the whole grunge thing -- Pearl Jam in particular -- was basically nothing more than just Led Zeppelin riffage with angsty lyrics replacing the macho squeeze-yer-lemon stuff. And how when bands figured out that it was even more commercial to insert big melodic pop choruses you got -- tada -- emo (and by the way -- emo will forever be for me merely one of the two stupidest coinages for a rock genre).
In any case, here's a sort of barely pre-emo song that sums up the whole esthetic -- Tonic's "You Wanted More."
Goddamn thing's infernally catchy, of course.
True confession: Back in the day, I had to review the DVD of American Pie for the Magazine Formerly Known as Stereo Review, and that video was one of the bonus features. I used to play it obsessively, which should give you an insight into my emotional state at the time.
PS: A coveted PowerPop No-Prize to the reader who guesses the second incredibly stupid genre coinage.
Hm, dunno, sounds closer to Savage Garden than emo to me. Which would be a compliment if they'd have the guts to go all-out with the Savage Garden.
ReplyDeleteOh, and it's gotta be "ACTIVE," right? Or is that more of a radio categorization? Otherwise, probably "grunge." Or, um, "power pop." (Sorry, don't excommunicate me.)
ReplyDeleteNu Metal.
ReplyDeleteDon't know how to do the umlaut in HTML.
That is worse. But I am all for a good genre coinage.
ReplyDeleteI dunno, I think the coinage of "nerdcore" is pretty lame, though I like the music.
ReplyDelete(Did you really figure out how to embed your own videos? I told you it was easy.)
--NYM
I've always hated "shoegazing."
ReplyDeleteIt's a genre that deserved a better name, especially considering great bands like Ride.
NYM --
ReplyDeleteI thought you posted the video. I didn't do anything...
Weird....
dave:
ReplyDeleteIf you're still there, any thoughts on Rooney?
I have to review their new album this week, so I'm curious...
Steve,
ReplyDeleteI posted the video. Hope that's ok!!
Does Rooney still sound like ELO?
KC:
ReplyDeleteBless you for posting the vid. Somebody I'm gonna have to figure out how to do it myself, but if you're gonna be the i.t. guy, I'm down with it.
Actually, the Rooney CD mostly sounds like Wham. It's annoying, acually. I mean, if I want to hear George Michael pastiches, I'd rather hear them on the soundtrack of a Hugh Grant/Drew Barrymore movie....
Steve,
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. The producer John Fields has done a lot of cool power pop stuff in the past.
I checked out a tune on Rooney's website and it was pretty vanilla sounding.
Can't lissen to the vid at work, but Tonic's toon Casual Affair from the debut album was nice.
ReplyDeleteAnyone got any thoughts on the story about Mr. Mojo Risin's demise?
enceradeira??
ReplyDeleteFloor polisher?? :o)
ReplyDeleteoi yes! I saw waxing the floor and he called me the attention. I am iara, Brazilian, nor I know as I found you.
ReplyDeleteWell Iara however you found us, welcome! We have a pretty firm rule here that we always encourage beautiful Brazilian women to post!
ReplyDeleteWow -- we're going international!
ReplyDeleteobrigada...thak's.
ReplyDeleteserá um prazer.
I've always been slightly baffled and more than slightly irritated by "soft/light rock". Seriously, can you rock softly or lightly? If you think you can, you're not rockin'... I'm talkin' to you, Celine and Elton...
ReplyDeleteTonic's first two albums are pretty solid, imo. The third was a bit formulaic and seemed to lack enthusiasm, which I suppose isn't unusual these days.
I think the song works. Nice guitars! A little earnest for me on the chorus, but I am just a cynical bastard that way.
ReplyDeleteThe video does nothing for me.
Trey