NerblyBear wrote:Some bands that work in a similar vein but who are light-years better are: Ruins, Flying Luttenbachers, Hella, Upsilon Acrux.

How can you say one band is better than the other? Don't you get that music makes people feel something in their viscera that is holy and sacred, and you boil it down to some ordinal ranking?

Just kidding. Yeah, Don Cab aren't the greatest band in the world. One criticism is that they are bound to a sound. I would take them over Ruins, Flying Luttenbachers (who are very good), and Hella. Hella are even more into their sound than Don Cab.

Surprised you didn't mention Cheer-Accident. A far better band than any of the afore mentioned ones. Not the greatest band in the world, but definately a great one and terribly underrated by most people (and unfortunately overrated and worshipped by a few).

yut wrote: One criticism is that they are bound to a sound.

No, my problem is not that they were bound to a sound. I don't mind this if "the sound" is compelling. The problem is that the music went nowhere.

Heard an album or two back in the day from a math-rock-dork co-worker.

A very dull experience.

Crap.

could you explain what you meant when saying "the music went nowhere". To me it's extremely compelling stuff. You are forming an opinion, which is fine, but you are stating it as if its fact. Not all music is made for the same reasons, and music can be emotive in abstract or subtle ways, it does not even have to be for people to enjoy it. It's all art, an expression of oneself or a collective and people take it in different ways, consciously and sub-consciously. It is pretty obvious here that either you 'GET' Don Caballero or you don't, simple as that, and a lot of people that get it, love it more then anything. Just stop trying to discredit a musical approach because you don't like it.

If I went back several years, I would probably not even have liked Don Cab, maybe i would have even said it was a "dull experience", I used to hate various bands who I now like, it's all evolved in thinking, what you like, your approach towards life and art, lots of things change and so do peoples tastes, I think that Don Caballero express themselves very skilfully and they are full of innovative ideas that will do nothing but better or evolve music composition for a lot of people here on out.

toomanyhelicopters wrote:if i could take old Yes albums, and either remove or maybe even just change the vocals, i would take that over Don Cab any day. Yes had all the creativity and virtuosity, but were less obnoxious, less overstated. it's like... the non-vocally-challenged Yes would be the equivalent of a girl lifting up her blouse and showing me her belly and maybe the very bottoms of her breasts... and Don Cab would be a whore pressing her crotch up against my face. or, for the ladies, Yes would be like a guy telling you a joke and flexing his biceps... and Don Cab would be a guy smacking you in the face repeatedly with his giant rock hard cock.

looks like about 75% of the folks here like to be smacked in the face with a giant rock hard cock. you guys are so weird!

I would take the old Yes records with the vocals over Don Cab. They're in a different league... Don Cab are great. Yes were a band who were supported and funded very well by Atlantic. Also, Wakeman's solo stuff was on A&M, so A&M and Atlantic were always competing. They once picked up Wakeman in a limo filled with hot chicks, and everyone else in Yes took a cab, so A&M could show the rest of Yes how cool of a label they are...

I don't hear the vocally challenged nature of Yes. Jon Anderson is one of the best singers of that 70s era. That guy from the Buggles had a hell of a time trying to sing those old Yes tunes when he took over. That said, Drama is an excellent record, and is so underrated, even by Yes. Yes apologize for that record, even more so than Tormato, which was 80% crap. Drama (the 1980 Yes release with 2 guys from the Buggles) is something I can listen to from beggining to end, and it holds up to today's standards. Beyond my likes, it exhibits great musicianship and composition skills.

For an independent rock band, Don Cab has very high standards and produces some incredible music. Damon is one of the best drummers I have ever heard. My only criticism is that they kind of lock into a sound. American Don, in particular, uses that same guitar looping technique throughout the record. This is a criticism one can posit against 95% of independent rock bands, and also 99% of major league rock bands. It's almost as though people do market research before they start writing tunes. When I was writing music, people always told me I need to find a sound, so I think it is what most people like and expect. It also makes it easier to market the band (they are "emo" or "death metal").

I also think there is the notion of an "indie rock caucus (or as I shall call it "cockass"). There are definately bands that independent rock fans and bands will appreciate by fiat. King Crimson is one (hippies also love these guys... strange). No independent rockers will touch Dream Theater with a 500' pole (unless there was a piece of turd on the pole). What a shame. Some of the DT stuff is so bizzare, it makes Don Cab seem like Pearl Jam.

Anyway, the indie rock cockass is what keeps indie rock kind of boring. I always listen, though... Who knows, maybe those golden years of the mid to late 90s will return. Maybe people will stop trying to look like Rod Stewart and start wearing belts that match their shoes. One can only hope.

I think Don Cab's World Listening Party is still as good as what they have always done, maybe better. I'd take it over American Don.

z00york wrote:could you explain what you meant when saying "the music went nowhere". To me it's extremely compelling stuff. You are forming an opinion, which is fine, but you are stating it as if its fact. Not all music is made for the same reasons, and music can be emotive in abstract or subtle ways, it does not even have to be for people to enjoy it. It's all art, an expression of oneself or a collective and people take it in different ways, consciously and sub-consciously. It is pretty obvious here that either you 'GET' Don Caballero or you don't, simple as that, and a lot of people that get it, love it more then anything. Just stop trying to discredit a musical approach because you don't like it.

If I went back several years, I would probably not even have liked Don Cab, maybe i would have even said it was a "dull experience", I used to hate various bands who I now like, it's all evolved in thinking, what you like, your approach towards life and art, lots of things change and so do peoples tastes, I think that Don Caballero express themselves very skilfully and they are full of innovative ideas that will do nothing but better or evolve music composition for a lot of people here on out.

I can explain. KeithV does crap/not crap based on what he likes. So if he doesn't like the music, but the musicianship are writing are excellent, it is crap. He cannot appreciate music that he does not personally like.

I dislike most classical music (I know, funny for a symphonic fan, but the rock part is essential). Yet, I can appreciate classical music.

Anyway, he has a right to turn c/nc into whatever he wants. It is just difficult to discuss or debate personal likes or dislikes.

I don't like pickled herring... So what...

yut wrote:Some of the DT stuff is so bizzare, it makes Don Cab seem like Pearl Jam.

Please, a song for me to hear?

Not Crap.
Honestly I have never really cared for Don Caballero until this new record. Maybe I should revisit the old stuff now and see if what I like about this record leads me to see something that I didn't see before.

God I love music.

I've been listening to Don Cab's 2 all afternoon. I bought the LP's new last weekend, and for whatever reason it is sounding particularly awesome. The black record was a surprisingly good listen, the white record seems a little lacking. American Don has always been a favorite of mine, What Burns... had some wonderful moments. I just loathe the metal areas.

The new record was a unique form of intolerable crap. I think most of it has to do with a deep loathing for Damon Che's drumming. Its too flashy and monopolizing for my taste. I listen to Don Cab records in spite of Damon Che.

Not Crap. tiny waffles.

It took me a long time to see the intrigue of Don Caballero.

I'm glad I finally do. A pretty nearly top-notch band.

...waffles 2.