tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post3765501180085285857..comments2024-03-28T14:41:03.787-04:00Comments on PowerPop: Weekend Listomania (Special Not Their Finest Hour Audio/Video Edition)NYMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10863355110457910935noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-39858512505039256742011-03-21T09:11:41.606-04:002011-03-21T09:11:41.606-04:00Rod Stewart doing standards is the pop equivalent ...Rod Stewart doing standards is the pop equivalent of nails on a blackboard.Brooklyn Girlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-80318093604857984152011-03-20T11:41:23.291-04:002011-03-20T11:41:23.291-04:00I've noticed Rod Stewart has been given someth...I've noticed Rod Stewart has been given something of a pass here. I've always felt that he put out some fantastic stuff early on, Every Picture Tells A Story is pretty much wonderful from beginning to end.<br /><br /> I'm not sure where the shark was jumped exactly but, oh my god has he put out a great deal of atrocious material since some time shortly after that. It became embarrassing to admit that you liked anything he'd ever done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-38715269159307230832011-03-19T20:23:47.830-04:002011-03-19T20:23:47.830-04:00How about that symphonic Tommy extravaganza with t...How about that symphonic Tommy extravaganza with the guest vocalists? Just about unlistenable, even with a still relevant (at that time) Rod Stewart and Steve Winwood....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-13153836215392773382011-03-19T15:57:28.699-04:002011-03-19T15:57:28.699-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.steve simelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13247393763004076992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-58925075786703422542011-03-19T14:35:30.075-04:002011-03-19T14:35:30.075-04:00Okay, sure, the Dylan "Boxer" is horribl...Okay, sure, the Dylan "Boxer" is horrible, but it's compellingly horrible, can't-turn-away-from-a-car-wreck horrible.<br /><br />The Hollies "Blowing in the Wind," however, is so over-the-top awful that it's almost admirable. And then it becomes awful again.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13372496375739714441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-80494559048468118982011-03-19T01:56:51.391-04:002011-03-19T01:56:51.391-04:00Steve, thanks and i actually WAS wondering about M...Steve, thanks and i actually WAS wondering about Mr. D -- i like lots about the song, but probably the biggest thing is, the riff is just so perfectly, arrogantly, in your face, slooow and ... insouciant, if that's the word?Who Am Us Anyway?https://www.blogger.com/profile/08260586634760800759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-3301766009716172332011-03-19T01:15:00.144-04:002011-03-19T01:15:00.144-04:00My choice is with R.E.M.--but not as one would thi...My choice is with R.E.M.--but not as one would think something from the post-Bill Berry era. I've enjyed those albums (the new one included), difficult as they could be, and I'll even to a point defend "Around The Sun", no matter what Peter Buck has to say about it. The annyoing moment for me is "Bad Day", a sort of dry run for "It's The End of The World.." that wasn't finished and released until they put it on a best-of album in 2003. It's another one of those "My life sucks because the Republican administration is in power" venting moments, it could actually pass an an REM parody if one didn't know any better. Some actually rate it as one of the better moments of the post-Berry era. Not me.TJWoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00312890704167853988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-39117822278402855742011-03-19T00:25:27.471-04:002011-03-19T00:25:27.471-04:00I agree about Quadrophenia and the White Album, an...I agree about Quadrophenia and the White Album, and how about Cahoots by the Band? Or the Last Record Album by Little Feat?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16965815258050677130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-81033454187463526752011-03-18T23:38:13.849-04:002011-03-18T23:38:13.849-04:00Well, I gotta give Sinfonian a run for the title o...Well, I gotta give Sinfonian a run for the title of "world's biggest fan of the Who", so I nominate..."Helpless Dancer" from <i>Quadrophenia</i>. Pete really should apologize to Roger for that one. But, seen from a distance of 38 years, <i>Quadrophenia</i> is an uneven set anyway - as I mentioned here some weeks ago, the whole of Side 2 is very tough sledding except for "I'm One." The title track from "It's Hard" is pretty bad too (come to think of it, most of that disc is bad).<br /><br />And although I don't particularly care for the Who's version of "Squeeze Box", Townshend's demo, collected on his first <i>Scoop</i> set, has irresistible verve and charm that never fails to make me smile.<br /><br />There's a few real stinkers in Richard Thompson's oeuvre, particularly in the Mitchell Froom produced stuff - "Read about Love" or "Baby Talk" anybody?cthulhunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-40544824296755465672011-03-18T22:19:55.955-04:002011-03-18T22:19:55.955-04:00Having listened to that Marah song after a decade ...Having listened to that Marah song after a decade of trying to pretend it never existed, I gotta say -- in fairness -- if I didn't know who it was or the context in which it was made, I'd probably go -- actually not a bad song. Like Oasis, but better constructed and sung.<br /><br />I'm still not nuts about it, and I still think the album's the most unconscionable sellout in rock history after Jefferson Starship, but like I said -- not a bad song.steve simelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13247393763004076992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-12677246575241754432011-03-18T21:46:31.128-04:002011-03-18T21:46:31.128-04:00Steve,
Ditto on "Kids on Philly." Absol...Steve,<br /><br />Ditto on "Kids on Philly." Absolutely changed my life. I was absolutely evangelical about it. Made my friends and relatives buy it. When I heard Springsteen was going to be on the follow-up to "Kids," I was beside myself. When the album came out, If Bruce is on there, I sure as hell don't hear him. I played it twice and put it away forever. To this day, I have to be reminded that the album after "Kids" isn't "20,000 Street Under the Sky."<br /><br />Now, back to the Listomania theme. I would add Southside Johnny's "Trash It Up," the execrable dance music follow-up to "Love Is a Sacrifice." Best remembered as a Frisbee and not an actual record.Blue Ash Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-91961673545431295552011-03-18T21:25:07.760-04:002011-03-18T21:25:07.760-04:00I love "Kids in Philly" and "Float ...I love "Kids in Philly" and "Float Away . . ." - but probably not on the same day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-29818764147186649202011-03-18T21:19:18.802-04:002011-03-18T21:19:18.802-04:00Brooklyn Girl said...
SINFONIAN???? HEY THERE! :-...<i>Brooklyn Girl said... <br />SINFONIAN???? HEY THERE! :-) </i><br /><br />It. Is. Alive. I mean, <i>I</i> am alive. :) Saw this posted on Facebook, loved the premise, and had to pop by. (Get it? Pop?)<br /><br />Let's see ... as The World's Biggest Fan of The Who, I ought to be able to come up with something that fits into this category... lots of folks hate <i>Quadrophenia,</i> even with a gem like "Love, Reign O'er Me," but I really dig that album myself. Oh, wait, how about "You Better You Bet".... that's a real piece of crap. "Your dog keeps licking my nose and chewing up all those letters that say 'you better'".... Geez, that's pitiful. And "Squeeze Box" is good only as a novelty, kind of like "Boris the Spider." Guess they had a tough time bouncing back from Keith's untimely death.<br /><br />There, I knew I could come up with something. My work here is done. :)Sinfonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01955550748015255716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-57437202620063433822011-03-18T20:50:19.558-04:002011-03-18T20:50:19.558-04:00^^^ Whoa! Someone jumped the shark here.
(No off...^^^ Whoa! Someone jumped the shark here.<br /><br />(No offense intended.)stevesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-17352724638712099612011-03-18T20:44:44.572-04:002011-03-18T20:44:44.572-04:00White Album. Don't get the love for this recor...White Album. Don't get the love for this record. The "Revolution" single is far superior, "Rocky Raccoon," "Don't Pass Me By," the "Honey Pie"s, "Piggies," "Bungalow Bill," oy. Good stuff sprinkled throughout but what you have to wade through to get it...Noam Sanehttp://refreshingbeverage.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-90550249384423285122011-03-18T17:15:31.967-04:002011-03-18T17:15:31.967-04:00My wife LOVES that Elvis and Burt album. It's ...My wife LOVES that Elvis and Burt album. It's what got her into Elvis in the first place!dave™©https://www.blogger.com/profile/15303249276504183167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-91240516482435113342011-03-18T15:55:17.751-04:002011-03-18T15:55:17.751-04:00"You Got Me Rocking" and "Sparks Wi..."You Got Me Rocking" and "Sparks Will Fly," to my ears, are the Stones at their laziest and most embarrassing. Jagger's phrasing alone on "Ahm uh butcha, cutta up meat" on the former, makes my cringe meter sizzle. That said, I agree Billy B, some pretty decent stuff on Voodoo Lounge, those two songs aside.<br /><br />And Shriner...I am so with you on Elvis & Burt.Sal Nunziatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09221629293545204260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-41098426003663348502011-03-18T15:42:44.403-04:002011-03-18T15:42:44.403-04:00And I'll defend "Painted From Memory"...And I'll defend "Painted From Memory" -- it's *exactly* what you think it is -- Elvis singing over Burt Bacharach material. <br /><br />And for that -- and for the most-beautiful "God Give Me Strength" which transcends almost anything EC has ever been involved with -- it succeeds on it's merits.Shrinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12843553710427657926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-67087968451659417732011-03-18T15:40:40.201-04:002011-03-18T15:40:40.201-04:00I could probably hoist a list of albums I think ar...I could probably hoist a list of albums I think are disappointed, but let me focus on songs that stand out as teh suck:<br /><br />"The Day We Fall In Love" by the Monkees.<br /><br />The only song from their second album to *not* make it to the TV show.<br /><br /><br />"More Than Meets The Eye" really makes the Bangles debut album come to an unexpected screeching halt at the end.<br /><br />"Superman" by Robyn Hitchcock on the Queen Elvis album. Not one of his best albums overall, but this song is like nails on a chalkboard to finish off the album.<br /><br /><br />And, it's probably cliche, but "Within You, Without You" kills Sgt. Pepper right in the middle...<br /><br />"Theme from the 3rd Movement of Sinister Footwear" from Zappa's You Are What You Is album. It's not that this instrumental jam sucks any worse that some of Zappa's other noise experiments, it's that it's the *only* track like this on an otherwise excellent double-album full of songs. So it's jarringly out-of-place.<br /><br />"Still We Remain" on the Romantic's excellent 61/49 album. Yet another example of a closing song that ends an album so badly that it (briefly) makes you forget how good the rest of the album was.<br /><br /><br /><br />How about reversing the list another week? Singularly great songs from otherwise crappy albums from established artists (to rule out the one-hit wonders...)Shrinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12843553710427657926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-36652596059172847162011-03-18T14:19:31.022-04:002011-03-18T14:19:31.022-04:00Another voice defending Nebraska here.
Goodbye Cr...Another voice defending Nebraska here.<br /><br />Goodbye Cruel World has a few songs I wouldn't turn off, but have you ever listened to North more than once?<br /><br />Speaking of country attempts, Jonathan Goes Country by Mr Richman is a big miss.<br /><br />Can't say I'm fond of Randy Newman's academy award winning songs and soundtracks, but maybe those are a special catagory.<br /><br />Patti Smith's Radio Ethiopia is one I'll gladly skip.edwardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-76459766397340529972011-03-18T13:46:21.867-04:002011-03-18T13:46:21.867-04:00I can't help wondering if Gil Scott-Heron is s...I can't help wondering if Gil Scott-Heron is still proud of putting "The Subject Was Faggots" on Small Talk at 125th and Lennox. <br /><br />Also, "Let's Dance" by Bowie ended one of the great streaks in the history of recorded music. And I'm not just saying that to annoy Steve. (though partly)The Kenosha Kidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-79486517379513803292011-03-18T13:37:07.910-04:002011-03-18T13:37:07.910-04:00I most definitely part company on this one. Voodo...I most definitely part company on this one. Voodoo Lounge has some great stuff on it. I listen to it regularly to this day. <br /><br />Sparks Will Fly, Baby Break It Down, Love Is Strong, You Got me Rocking, I Go Wild, Out of Tears are all great tunes. <br /><br />Glad to see Power Pop hasn't switched to that crappy mess Black has.Billy Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-2836120705727239602011-03-18T12:50:26.405-04:002011-03-18T12:50:26.405-04:00I could say 50 percent of McCartney's post-Bea...I could say 50 percent of McCartney's post-Beatles output, but that would too easy. Also, Dylan's "Christmas From the Heart" stands out as true senior moment for him--along with Modern Times, IMHO. (But I'm with Sal on "Nebraska"--REALLY?). So, I guess I'll go with Paul Simon's "You're the One," an album that almost no one remembers, and for good reason. <br /><br /><br />(...and looking over the above, I realize: I really am a fossil, aren't I?)stevesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-15206788800190841082011-03-18T12:41:45.996-04:002011-03-18T12:41:45.996-04:00Yes, the recent "Smile" was a head-scrat...Yes, the recent "Smile" was a head-scratcher in a category by itself: greatest piece of drugged-out kitsch?<br /><br />And speaking of the sad deflation that was the last two Byrds albums, what about Love after Forever Changes?<br /><br />But Dylan really is the champ. For my money nothing after Infidels is worth a repeated listen, although if Lennon hadn't been murdered (murdered, not assassinated) he might have matched Bob crap for crap.<br /><br />And the universal scorn prompted by Metal Machine Music kept me from listening to it at al until Steve put some up here a few months ago. And I liked it.petenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8921382.post-69962663236230744572011-03-18T12:27:37.075-04:002011-03-18T12:27:37.075-04:00SINFONIAN???? HEY THERE! :-)SINFONIAN???? HEY THERE! :-)Brooklyn Girlnoreply@blogger.com