tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post1669222643138988322..comments2024-03-29T05:14:33.223-07:00Comments on Steve Sailer: iSteve: Lou Reed, RIPUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-57990903137013263292013-11-02T16:06:37.284-07:002013-11-02T16:06:37.284-07:00The fact that lead guitarist Kim Thayil was Indian...<i>The fact that lead guitarist Kim Thayil was Indian may also have had something to do with that influence.</i><br /><br />I thought about that possibility, but it seems unlikely. The Soundgarden songs written by Thayil ("Room A Thousand Years Wide," "Kickstand," "Never the Machine Forever," etc.) sound distinctly <i>less</i> Indian than many of the ones written by Cornell (e.g. "Searching With My Good Eye Closed," "Mind Riot," "Mailman," "Like Suicide"). "Flower," "Hands All Over," and "A Thousand Days Before" are the only obvious exceptions I can think of.Power Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13365109338643310492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-36397255183031615482013-11-01T02:44:23.690-07:002013-11-01T02:44:23.690-07:00"Soundgarden's frontman Chris Cornell was..."Soundgarden's frontman Chris Cornell was/is a huge Beatles fan. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some Harrison influence in "Black Hole Sun." Of the four Beatles, Harrison's songwriting seems most likely to have influenced Cornell's, particularly given Harrison's interest in traditional Indian music."<br /><br />The fact that lead guitarist Kim Thayil was Indian may also have had something to do with that influence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-80229735767031079832013-10-31T19:38:59.494-07:002013-10-31T19:38:59.494-07:00Something struck me that I've never noticed be...Something struck me that I've never noticed before. That ching ching ching in the background is about the same tempo of the sound of a Las Vegas casino. Samnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-5513426260954498012013-10-31T11:04:19.619-07:002013-10-31T11:04:19.619-07:00@JeremiahJohnbalaya
Interesting about Helmet and ...@JeremiahJohnbalaya<br /><br />Interesting about Helmet and writing code. Something about Helmet's music has always reminded me of engineering and other techy stuff like that.<br /><br />Maybe because Page Hamilton basically looks like an engineer or IT guy. When <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUKz3exgfjU" rel="nofollow">Beavis and Butthead comment on the video for "Unsung,"</a> Beavis says the drummer looks "like a regular guy," and Butthead agrees: "If you saw these guys walking down the street, you wouldn't even know that they're cool." (Mike Judge, by the way: former software engineer.)<br /><br />(Can you imagine Chris Cornell even <i>using</i> a computer? I mean, obviously he does, but he must look out of place while doing so.)<br /><br />But no, I think there's something about that disciplined, rhythmic, masculine, subtly complex sound of Helmet's that jibes well with the work done by meticulous, logical, high-IQ straight white guys.<br /><br />Eddie Vedder seems to have always been kind of an adrenaline junkie. Shortly after moving from Illinois to San Diego he took up surfing. The song <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hthj9KZrgpo" rel="nofollow">"There He Goes"</a> from Pearl Jam's underrated album <i>No Code</i> is Vedder sort of addressing himself, worrying about his risk-prone behavior.Power Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13365109338643310492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-32013531963285055302013-10-30T14:11:46.893-07:002013-10-30T14:11:46.893-07:00Cool to know so many iSteve readers are Helmet fan...<i>Cool to know so many iSteve readers are Helmet fans.</i><br /><br />I do my best work (writing code) to either Helmet or a few famous classical pieces.<br /><br />This talk of Soundgarden reminds me that I watched a 20 year retrospective on Pearl Jam the other day. It was mostly focused on Eddie Vedder, of course. Had quite a few clips of Chris Cornel talking about them. It also included some absolutely ridiculous footage of Vedder climbing into the supports over the stage. There's a music video of him doing a little bit of that, but they were showing him swinging around like a monkey 40-50 feet above the stage. The dude is very very very luck to be aliveJeremiahJohnbalayanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-89522001968168742252013-10-29T22:20:14.329-07:002013-10-29T22:20:14.329-07:00Good question, Steve.
Soundgarden's frontman ...Good question, Steve.<br /><br />Soundgarden's frontman Chris Cornell was/is a huge Beatles fan. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some Harrison influence in "Black Hole Sun." Of the four Beatles, Harrison's songwriting seems most likely to have influenced Cornell's, particularly given Harrison's interest in traditional Indian music.<br /><br />Lyrically, "Black Hole Sun" is mostly just verbal acrobatics for its own sake, but sonically the band recognized and was encouraged by its similarity to the Beatles' sound.<br /><br />Says so right <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hole_Sun" rel="nofollow">here in Wikipedia</a>.Power Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13365109338643310492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-27224469158929298002013-10-29T20:47:21.746-07:002013-10-29T20:47:21.746-07:00Is "Black Hole Sun" some kind of musical...Is "Black Hole Sun" some kind of musical inversion of George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun"?Steve Sailerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11920109042402850214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-4108724003813936152013-10-29T20:16:50.074-07:002013-10-29T20:16:50.074-07:00"Whiskey said...
Nirvana, Pearl Jam etc are ..."Whiskey said...<br /><br />Nirvana, Pearl Jam etc are songs to slit your wrists to, Black Hole Sun? Name me an advertiser using Nirvana. Allstate uses Human League."<br /><br />I'm not a big fan of grunge, myself. However, I think I did once see a commercial that used "Black Hole Sun". It was pretty odd.Mr. Anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-3400267360994725052013-10-29T12:32:16.795-07:002013-10-29T12:32:16.795-07:00About ten years ago I ran into Lou Reed in the men...About ten years ago I ran into Lou Reed in the men's room at the Quad Theater on 13th Street. When I said that I was a huge fan, he smiled and asked me if I'd give him a blow job. I just laughed because I thought he was joking. I'm basically straight, but if I had known he was serious, I probably would have done it.<br /><br />Rest in peace, you beautiful, talented soul.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-57402213002408412842013-10-29T12:20:08.466-07:002013-10-29T12:20:08.466-07:00@BB753:
Genesis's Foxtrot helps make my point...@BB753:<br /><br />Genesis's <i>Foxtrot</i> helps make my point: that album never even made the charts in the US, not surprising since it was pretty much confined to the prog rock/art rock sub-genres. One of the tracks is 23 minutes long--it would NEVER be played on the radio. (Don't get me wrong, I love Genesis.) Plus, look at the music that was popular in 1971: mostly very unsophisticated.<br /><br />The thing about early 90s alt rock that I was pointing out wasn't just that the music was sophisticated, it was also <b>catchy and popular</b>. This combination of sophistication and popularity--of a whole music scene, not just a few bands--is what I'm saying was mostly unheard of before or since.Power Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13365109338643310492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-10784590962556684592013-10-29T11:38:00.239-07:002013-10-29T11:38:00.239-07:00Lou's "Street Hassle" , which came o...Lou's "Street Hassle" , which came out in 1978, was up there with some of his VU work. His un-sentimenatlized look at street vermin was his mainstay. Unfortunately he strayed from his forte with facile PC preachiness on albums like "New York". However, "Romeo had Juliette" from that album is excellent. I'll never forget Lou's 1979 show at Boston's Paradise Theater in 1979.breathnachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12308036185276331387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-40481763292097721612013-10-29T09:54:22.665-07:002013-10-29T09:54:22.665-07:00Huh. Cool to know so many iSteve readers are Helme...Huh. Cool to know so many iSteve readers are Helmet fans.Power Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13365109338643310492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-56887807218888440072013-10-29T09:39:14.491-07:002013-10-29T09:39:14.491-07:00I don't get the point of your comments. 71 is ...I don't get the point of your comments. 71 is not much of an age to attain these days. It is less than average.<br /><br />If this guy - whoever he was - had died at 91 there might be a story here. But 71?<br /><br />BTW what did this person do? I take it he was famous in pop music? Was he a drummer or a singer? Or what? I ask because a few years ago symphony conductors were said to live longer because waving there hands around was supposed to be good for the heart. Perhaps rock star longevity varies by position. <br /><br />AlbertosaurusPat Boylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13477950851915567863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-13170222301687857292013-10-29T08:40:11.440-07:002013-10-29T08:40:11.440-07:00For those longing for unusual time signatures and ...For those longing for unusual time signatures and chord progresssions ("Odd time signatures and rhythmic subdivisions, unorthodox song structures, cryptic and abstract lyrics, rapid or abrupt key changes, unusual instrumentation, obscure harmonies and modes", look no further than Genesis´1972 album Foxtrot.<br />Tony Banks is a hell of a musician.BB753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-6546791421510195982013-10-29T07:35:02.502-07:002013-10-29T07:35:02.502-07:00His songs are morbid and decadent. While every cul...His songs are morbid and decadent. While every culture needs to explore its shadow side, in our era <i>nostalgie de boue</i> has assumed proportions that are truly not viable.<br /><br />CennbeorcAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-47530448496570777682013-10-29T07:22:07.974-07:002013-10-29T07:22:07.974-07:00He claimed that his parents tried to "cure&qu...<i>He claimed that his parents tried to "cure" his homosexuality with electroshock therapy (three times a week) when he was in high school.</i><br /><br />They deny this and say it was applied to treat other psychological issues. That make sense, since electroshock was a treatment for some forms of depression, but I've never heard of it used as therapy for homosexuality, and anyway Reed was a drama queen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-61031651646198291452013-10-29T06:57:09.190-07:002013-10-29T06:57:09.190-07:00Heroin is his best.
No doubt it's at or near...<br /><i>Heroin is his best. </i><br /><br />No doubt it's at or near the top of the list. The music very effectively reinforces the changes in mood suggested by the lyrics.ben tillmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-87889684125322120652013-10-29T03:38:30.505-07:002013-10-29T03:38:30.505-07:00Feh on Soundgarden, Faith No More, etc. The best ...Feh on Soundgarden, Faith No More, etc. The best 90s alt-rock band was Sleater-Kinney, and that was three chicks.peterikenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-6721132080303639612013-10-28T21:44:45.625-07:002013-10-28T21:44:45.625-07:00The intertubes seem to a breeding ground for certa...The intertubes seem to a breeding ground for certain types:<br /><br />Gays, SF fans, Fans of "The Wire", Nerds, Atheists, Libertarians, Randians, and now..<br /><br />Old English Lit Rock Singers.<br /><br />I'll let iSteve explain why.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-46446771128535844002013-10-28T21:25:19.612-07:002013-10-28T21:25:19.612-07:00Heroin is his best.
I don't know just where... <br />Heroin is his best. <br /><br />I don't know just where I'm going<br /> But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can<br /> 'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man<br /> When I put a spike into my vein<br /><br />And I'll tell ya, things aren't quite the same<br /> When I'm rushing on my run<br /> And I feel just like Jesus' son<br /> And I guess that I just don't know<br /> And I guess that I just don't know<br /><br />I have made the big decision, I'm gonna try to nullify my life<br /> 'Cause when the blood begins to flow<br /> When it shoots up the dropper's neck<br /> When I'm closing in on death<br /><br />And you can't help me, not you guys<br /> And all you sweet girls with all your sweet silly talk<br /> You can all go take a walk<br /> And I guess that I just don't know<br /> And I guess that I just don't know<br /><br />I wish that I was born a thousand years ago<br /> I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas<br /> On a great big clipper ship<br /> Going from this land here to that on a sailor's suit and cap<br /><br />Away from the big city where a man cannot be free<br /> Of all of the evils of this town<br /> And of himself, and those around<br /> Oh, and I guess that I just don't know<br /> Oh, and I guess that I just don't know<br /><br />Heroin, be the death of me<br /> Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life<br /> Because a Mainer to my vein<br /> Leads to a center in my head<br /> And then I'm better off than dead<br /><br />Because when the smack begins to flow<br /> I really don't care anymore<br /> About all the Jim-Jim's in this town<br /> And all the politicians makin' busy sounds<br /> And everybody puttin' everybody else down<br /> And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds<br /><br />'Cause when the smack begins to flow<br /> Then I really don't care anymore<br /> When the heroin is in my blood<br /> And that blood is in my head<br /><br />Then thank God that I'm as good as dead<br /> Then thank your God that I'm not aware<br /> And thank God that I just don't care<br /> And I guess, I just don't know<br /> And I guess, I just don't know<br /><br />Songwriters<br /> Reed, Lou / Lang, David<br /><br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-65781238965537719812013-10-28T21:04:10.719-07:002013-10-28T21:04:10.719-07:00Elvis to Eminem: quantifying the price of fame thr...Elvis to Eminem: quantifying the price of fame through early mortality of European and North American rock and pop stars<br /><br />http://jech.bmj.com/content/61/10/896.fullAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-15203490552090415372013-10-28T20:26:45.720-07:002013-10-28T20:26:45.720-07:00How can you tell? Easy Hollywood used and uses tho...<i>How can you tell? Easy Hollywood used and uses those musicians in movies and commercials constantly. Heck I'll say Starship was on the whole Superior to Jefferson Airplane. Rolling Stone hates that song but We Built This City is a great pop tune.<br /><br />... Name me an advertiser using Nirvana. Allstate uses Human League.</i><br /><br />I guess that proves it then! <br /><br />Speaking of commercials I've heard Reed's Perfect Day more in the last week or two than at any other time in my life because of that Playstation commercial that's on permanent rotation for just about every sports broadcast.<br /><br /><i>Sweet Jane's a great song, but there were 5 or 6 other VU songs of comparable quality, including Sunday Morning and my favorite, All Tomorrow's Parties as sung by Nico.</i><br /><br />Agreed. The VU & Nico album is in the top ten of all time. Satellite of Love and quite a few other solo songs, including some from the 80s, are better than Walk on the Wild Side.<br /><br /><i>Also, he had a great track "Good Evening Mr. Waldheim" on "New York" which lambasted Jesse Jackson.</i><br /><br />It's been over 20 years since I heard the song but IIRC the lyrics suggest that Reed was a pro-Israel Jesse Jackson supporter who was upset that the latter wasn't condemning Farrakhan and Arafat.Matranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-48941714358459907272013-10-28T19:53:21.839-07:002013-10-28T19:53:21.839-07:00I'll give some nod to 90's (alt) roc, and ...I'll give some nod to 90's (alt) roc, and Helmet in particular. Top 10 favorite band and best concert I've ever been too. And the opening band was some unknown band called The Regurgitators who were fun as heck.<br /><br />The only simple tune I can think of that's more fun to play on a guitar than Sweet Jane might be Dear Prudence (but Jerry-style, since I hate hate hate the Beatles).JeremiahJohnbalayanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-59805739558394160332013-10-28T17:19:21.039-07:002013-10-28T17:19:21.039-07:00I think I first heard of the Velvet Underground wh...I think I first heard of the Velvet Underground when browsing through "Please Kill Me". Sometime later I saw "Sweet Jane" on some list of the best guitar solos and decided to check it out, not realizing that it was the live post-Velvet version they were referring to. I was completely disappointed, thinking "This is proto-punk?!" Of course I listened to "Sister Ray" later and it found a permanent place alongside "TV Eye" on mixed CD of abrasive music.<br /><br />I dug "Helmet" (though not as much as the grunge coming from the other coast at the time) and also liked the song "Mute Massaker" by Caspar Brotzmann, so I was psyched when I read Brotzmann & Hamilton had collaborated on "Zulutime". The samples I heard made me feel like an old man. "What is this noise? Why don't they make music?" So I guess that's how cool I'm not.TGGPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11017651009634767649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9430835.post-24325853226793070422013-10-28T15:22:09.581-07:002013-10-28T15:22:09.581-07:00Admitedly, Bowie is a far more accomplished musici...<i>Admitedly, Bowie is a far more accomplished musician and composer than Reed ever was. Just listen to "Hunky Dory".<br />And Reed could´t sing at all, unlike Bowie.</i><br /><br />But it's embarrassing to hear Bowie cover Waiting for the Man and screw up the lyrics. "Hey White Boy, whatcha doing up town ... you chasing ALL THE women around?" No, David, it's "OUR" women.ben tillmannoreply@blogger.com