Premier Rock Forum

numberthirty wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:38 pm
There's just artist/bands where "In one song..." just doesn't really work.

Take someone like PJ Harvey. If I picked a song from Rid Of Me, I'd be leaving so much of that artist's accomplishments out in the cold.

There's just times where it is almost impossible to any real justice in just a single tune.

I feel the same way about a lot of bands I love. Chuck Klosterman wrote a whole essay about bands who really just do one thing and continue to try and do that with more precision and craft their entire career.

So yeah, a PJ Harvey, Fugazi, Nick Cave, Low, Wilco, Beatles, Coltrane etc (x1,000) version of this doesn't work because so many of our favorites are searchers and changelings. There are phases, not a definitive album, let alone song.

But some folks have a crystalized vision of what they're trying to do. It would be really hard, but you might be able to come up with a basic mission statement song for AC/DC, Hot Snakes, The Specials, Johnny Cash, Wu Tang Clan, Black Flag, or Kraftwerk. Sure they all tried some different things, but arguably those artists were always kind of about one thing.

Yep.

It's like if we're talking those Izzy Stradlin solo records/Hanoi Rocks/The Living End/George Thorogood. I can probably pick a tune, and feel like I am nine-tenths of the way there.

Uncle Tupelo? That winds up being about like Murder City Devils. By the time they hit the Thelema? It ain't exactly the same band that recorded "Boom Swagger Boom" or "Murder City Riot".

losthighway wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:47 pm...so many of our favorites are searchers and changelings. There are phases, not a definitive album, let alone song.

True, but I also think it's possible (and fun) to nail the song that best captures the essence of an artist, even if that gets refracted in different ways over the course of a career.

numberthirty wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 8:45 pm Politely...

You are selling this band way the hell short.

Disagree. It's got everything in this one song. From the folksy acoustic stuff in "March" to their signature Neil Young on punk rock. You get old school country styled lyrics with a little edge. Fantastic fuzz face sounding solos. Lap steel. Sometimes all at the same time. It's from the first record, but wouldn't be out of place on their last (with a little production tweak). Loud somber rock. This song just feels like their first fully realized own thing. All of the peaks and valleys within 4:45.

tommy wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:35 am Disagree. It's got everything in this one song. From the folksy acoustic stuff in "March" to their signature Neil Young on punk rock. You get old school country styled lyrics with a little edge. Fantastic fuzz face sounding solos. Lap steel. Sometimes all at the same time. It's from the first record, but wouldn't be out of place on their last (with a little production tweak). Loud somber rock. This song just feels like their first fully realized own thing. All of the peaks and valleys within 4:45.

Without trying to be too argumentative about what is essentially "The Details..." -

When it comes to what this band is fundamentally about?

I'd look at anyone who came up with a "Just Jay Singing..."/"Just Jeff Singing..." song like they must be joking, That pair singing together is just to big of a piece of that puzzle.

Past that...

To me, it's not even the most "Encapsulates..." tune that was a "Just Jay Singing..."

Take "Sauget Wind" Arguably a better tune as far as lyrics/vocal that is in the same "Instrumentation..." ballpark with more of Jay as a "Lead..." guitarist.

As for "About As Close..." as I do think that any of there songs can get?

If someone was gonna force me to make a call, it's "Fall Down Easy" by a mile. It's essentially in the same neck of the woods as "Whiskey Bottle" with -

- An acoustic section with Jeff actually singing.
- Pretty solid version of why those guys were brilliant as an instrumental trio.
- A hint of Jay as a "Lead..." guitarist near the end.

That said, any one of those tunes still sells them pretty far short. Just that the band that someone would hear the "Just One..." tune someone picked also recorded "Cold Shoulder" sticks out.

They were just more than that.

Past all of that...

Folks should listen to Grand Champeen.

(No, I ain't picking a song to try to sell you on. Just do it, and potentially thank me later.)

What if we did two UT songs, one for each singer?

You could pretty much take two off of Still Feel Gone, "Gun" and "Punch Drunk" and have it nailed. Ah, but those are both rockers, then you'd need "Watch Me Fall" and "Still Be Around" to show the acoustic side. 4 songs, 4. I've narrowed it down. Dammit, I suck at this.

My favorite band is Cocteau Twins. Pearly Dewdrops Drop is the song that will tell you what this band is about.

Gallon Drunk is not my favorite band, see above. But they are great and Some Fools Mess tells you what this band is about.

jason from volo wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:15 pm

losthighway wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:06 pm What if we did two UT songs, one for each singer?

You could pretty much take two off of Still Feel Gone, "Gun" and "Punch Drunk" and have it nailed. Ah, but those are both rockers, then you'd need "Watch Me Fall" and "Still Be Around" to show the acoustic side. 4 songs, 4. I've narrowed it down. Dammit, I suck at this.

Just makes me want to listen to all of Still Feel Gone.

Seriously, there is NOTHING wrong with that.

As stated before in other posts, a guy could do a lot worse.

ErikG wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 11:37 pm Gallon Drunk is not my favorite band, see above. But they are great and Some Fools Mess tells you what this band is about.

This isn't very helpful, but I think that if the beginning of Some Fool's Mess isn't just a little bit exciting to you, then, eeeesh, I dunno. I'm really really sorry.