Want List / Rant ListI am especially interested in live shows and/or studio outtakes by late 1960s psychedelic groups, especially the lesser-known ones. For example, I would prefer discussing Ars Nova to, say, Herman's Hermits. Here's a few I really want to discuss:
Beyond the above, well, here's the thing. I am getting really finicky. At this point I am really only interested in really unique, unusual stuff. It's getting more and more difficult to pique my interest. For example, someone wanted to discuss some live recordings of Flo and Eddie. Now THAT got my attention. Another individual had dozens of Todd Rundgren shows going back as far as 1971. Now WE had lots to talk about. I'm really into powerpop, 60s garage, freakbeat, psych, some prog...that kind of stuff. I'm happy to discuss artists that fit into that category. Hopefully you get the idea. I'm VERY interested in anything by the artists featured on Nuggets and Nuggets II and the Trash Box. Check my list for more ideas. Stop Reading Here to Avoid Rant Now, the negative approach: no cowpie music1, no metal2, no 'pop divas3,' no Suthin' Boogah4, no solo artists with one name (e.g. Cher, Jobriath, Eminem, Sisqo, Pink, Dido)5 or a symbol (e.g. that lil' ol' purple dude), no artists whose audiences consist (or consisted) primarily of 14-year-old suburban boys (e.g. KISS, Rush, Marilyn Manson, Metallica). And though I enjoy a tiny bit of it from time to time, no music from artists whose fans tend to go barefoot and unbathed (e.g. Grateful Dead, Spin Doctors, Dave Matthews Band, God Street Whine, Rusted Root, Ratdog, Phish --ESPECIALLY PHISH -- and similar purveyors of jamwankery). Put another way, if it would look out of place on my list, please don't waste your time. Put yet another way, no no no no no no no. Also, a super-size "no" on Pearl Jam (this of course includes Creed, which is essentially Pearl Jam with a New Testament in yer hand). You want fries with that? Finally, the following is a partial list of artists that I think are great, but I DO NOT want to discuss their stuff: Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Rolling Stones, The Doors, Led Zeppelin. 1 Except Junior Brown and Old 97s 2 Except Spinal Tap 3 Except Kirsty MacColl (sadly departed) 4 Except maybe the Allman Brothers 5 Except Sting Bring Me the Head of Jimmy Buffett Oh...and NO Jimmy Buffett. My experience is that HIS fans consist of people who (a) own less than a dozen albums; (b) don't like rock music in general and (c) are walking billboards for some guy named Tommy Hilfiger. They also (d) drive SUVs while talking on their cell phones, (e) make day trades on the internet and worst of all (f) talk nonstop during concerts. And although they find Mr. Buffett's music "amusing" they don't seem to get the humor in, say "This is Spinal Tap" or a Firesign Theatre album. In short, nonmusical dullards. Word has it his next album is to be called A Pirate Looks At The Demographics Before Writing The Songs (alternate title: Changes In Latitudes, No Changes in Musical Approach). If you found the above mildly amusing (if not spot-on true), we probably can discuss. If you're insulted by the above, then you may have wandered into this site by mistake. But if you've never heard of the guy (a discussion with a collector in the UK proved it can happen), then CONGRATULATIONS. When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide... |
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