What do you think when you hear an obvious fuck-up/bum note/etc in a song?

There are at least two distinct reactions possible when you hear it:

1. "Why the hell didn't the band fix that before finishing tracking?"

2. "Wow, this band is so "human" sounding and real, they may even have recorded this live and in one take, that's great."

Personally, I think it depends on the mistake. If it's too obvious and amateurish, it usually annoys me and makes me wish they had tried it again or overdubbed that part.

However, there are a few times that I've heard mistakes in a complex piece and heard the band recover from it very well. This can sometimes make my jaw drop - it reminds you of how well-oiled a good band can be.

Obviously this happens live an awful lot, but I wanted to get your opinions on when its left on a recording for posterity.

My most recent encounter with this phenomenon was during repeated playings of Interpol while I was trying to understand what their appeal was. That song "untitled" has the most flagrantly wrong note in it--when the bass should go down to an A but he goes to G#. It's repeated over and over too so it's not accidental. What were they thinking?

Interpol blows... and that half-step off thing must be one of the gimmicks that they incorporate that... ultimately.... contributes to their mass suckage as a sorry-ass (candy-ass goes well here too) excuse for a band. Terrible terrible garbage. The worst band of the decade! ugh...

There is no excuse for this band!

I was recently listening to Bush's Swallowed (off of RazorBalde Suitcase) and the lead guitarist, in a quiet part of the song, played a half step off, then slid into the right note.
Sometimes I enjoy this stuff. What I don't like is a song that a band can't actually play the way it's recorded. I don't mean overdubbed BGV, I mean some digitally edited crap. I prefer A band to leave a minute mess-up in if that's the best they can do it.

C.Hardings

You were listening to Bush?

I agree with the last poster-you were listening to Bush?

But I wanted to bring up Paul Westerberg's last LP "Stereo", where he records in his basement and if, say the tape runs out during a song, he just says "fuck it", and puts it on the LP. Not really the same as missing a note and not fixing it, but he literally leaves all the mistakes from every recording on this particular LP. What do you guys think?

I think that, although they are obviously mistreated by their label, and did put out some (most) stuff that was definately crap, I think Bush is a band with good musicians, who, although accused of being Nirvana copy cats, is not afraid to be the first to admit their influences.
And Razorblade Suitcase (albini) is a good example of their actual musical talent.

Chris

That song "untitled" has the most flagrantly wrong note in it--when the bass should go down to an A but he goes to G#. It's repeated over and over too so it's not accidental. What were they thinking?

that phenomenon is apparently known as the 'Robert Smith' effect, i.e. make a fuck-up, then repeat 3 more times to cover your tracks.

Sorry to go off at a tangent but has anyone heard that 'Baptist Generals' LP 'No silver/No gold' ? On the first song a cell phone goes off in the studio when the guy's halfway through playing, he completley flips out and starts swearing/throwing shit around etc. despite his bandmates trying to calm him down.... A pretty interesting listen.

I think Bush is a band with good musicians

yeah, in the same way that Phil Collins is a 'good drummer' and Sir Elton John is a 'good pianist'

is great on several now-classic 1970s albums by Brian Eno. Just because the man has peddled a lot of crap over the decades doesn't mean he's not a good drummer.

...that phenomenon is apparently known as the 'Robert Smith' effect, i.e. make a fuck-up, then repeat 3 more times to cover your tracks.

also known as "jazz music".


I don't like Don Caballero. at all. Metal is not something I am interested in. Regardless of how off timed, or complicated you make it, it just isn't good.
which (by your apparent definition) means I (should) think they're not good musicians.

Chris