Premier Rock Forum

Ryan Zepaltas wrote: Sat Jun 12, 2021 9:29 am The Band

I used to put them on a pedestal and totally believed in their schtick. After reading Levon Helm's book and seeing how stupid they kinda were in The Last Waltz, they make me cringe. Now to me they are just a bunch of caricatures who wrote some really great tunes. I still love them, but I wish that I knew zero backstory and only had the music. Robbie Robertson is a cock. The rest of the guys seemed sweet.

I think you'd have to be a little bit goofy to be Dylan's back up...

Rick Danko is where it's at though; Stage Fright, and the like.

I hated Bob Seger for years, maybe it was from radio oversaturation from growing up in Michigan, or maybe it was through association with the turkeyneck auto workers who listened to him where I grew up and their racist and misogynistic attitudes, maybe it was just because I hated "turn the page" and "old time rock n roll" and put that onto everything else he did. Anyway around the time I hit 35 it totally clicked and I love all his music. Except for Turn the Page and Old Time Rock N Roll.

There's been a few bands that I liked as a kid when I was first getting into music (ages 10-13), then ignored/disliked/made-fun-of in my teens/20s/early 30s, that over the last couple years I've come back around to liking much more than I did in lil' dude times:

Metallica (pre-Black Album and Lulu)
Rage Against the Machine
Nine Inch Nails (especially post-Downward Spiral stuff I never really listened to)
Soundgarden

Like, I'm not saying they're my favorite bands or anything, and there are plenty of bands I liked in that era that I eventually realized were crap and still think are crap, but those four specifically I find a lot in those records that I missed as a kid.

Steely Dan - nc

I've def warmed up to some 70s rock. Black Sabbath are much better than I thought, that drummer is a badass. Thin Lizzy and Jethro Tull are really good. I like when I hear soul influences and I dig the hippie vibe of the latter. I like groove too. Groove really went missing in 80s rock.

There is still stuff I can't abide though, like Deep Purple or (sorry to disappoint some) AC/DC.

kokorodoko wrote: Thu Jun 17, 2021 3:04 pm... or (sorry to disappoint some) AC/DC.

They were probably the biggest band that took me forever to get into. I always recommend Powerage to skeptics - no hits, Bon, very wry but ultimately melancholic lyrics, great great great playing. Gone Shootin' was the song that cracked the lock:

Grouper.

Clicked in a big way fairly recently. Listening right now to soothe my frazzled nerves.
Called it "pretty much Enya in a silo" back on the old thing.
Much easier to appreciate post-hype. Identify in a big way with her thing now and have enjoyed reading interviews/profiles.

M.H: Hm nope, doesn't do it for me.

In other news:
I used to think Sade was horrible cheese and boring but I like them a lot now. The live performances bring out the best. I would have no problem with the songs being double the length. I love that nothing really happens that stands out, it just lets you chill and lock in with it, but because it's still a little eerie and cold it keeps you a bit on edge. Reminds me of Aerial-era Kate Bush. Very, very good stuff.

Dinosaur Jr.

I never hated them or anything, they just never did much for me back in the day. Also, I was DECIDEDLY in camp Sebadoh in the 90's. I remember many arguments with Ike Turner about this, then one day I caught him listening to Harmacy - HA! Got You! In the last few years I have come around to liking them and actually actively listening to them. I saw them when they reformed with the original lineup back in 2007, so that helped. And I like the new albums also. Still prefer Sebadoh though.

My city’s proximity to Seattle meant early exposure to the long list of great bands that went on to fame or obscurity: U-Men, Green River, Tad, Melvins, Fastbacks, Flop and so on. So I fairly ignored most of the grunge-bandwagon wave that started popping up on major labels, including Alice In Chains. Even when the guitarist of the somewhat short-lived Atlanta ‘80s hardcore band Neon Christ became their new singer about 10 years ago. Recently listened to a podcast interview with the dude (William Duvall) and decided to listen to the band’s music. Was surprised to hear a few weirdly satisfying riffs that were almost Chavez-like in their construction. The vocal harmonies are a big part of this band as I understand it and Duvall pulls it off. The first album they did with him (Black Gives Way to Blue) is all I have checked out so far and it’s not bad at all.