Ask 411 Music 06.26.08: Lists, Lists Everywhere!

Posted by Blake Lauderback on 06.26.2008

Stop on by as we take a look at another list of greatest bands, the possibility of Guitar Hero: The Beatles, illegal t-shirts, and my thoughts on Marilyn Manson's place in metal history. Plus, I reveal my list of the top live albums ever!

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Good day boys and girls, and welcome back to Mostly-Useless Knowledge 101. Come in, grab a seat, and please… put on your thinking caps and any other article of clothing that will assist you in the absorption of musical knowledge. It isn't all osmosis you know.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic week and that things are looking bright for your weekend plans. Things are starting to get back to normal here in the Lauderback home. We are almost finished living out of boxes and I am knee deep in my new job. One would assume that working a 50-55 hour workweek would be more stressful, but considering I clocked in over 70 hours a few times at my previous employer it isn't so bad after all!

Let's do a brief review from last week's edition. What did we learn?

- Yoko Ono may well be the most despised individual in the world of music, and I am not sure that some of you wouldn't have her ranked in the top five worldwide. Not a single soul came to her defense, though several people came to the defense of Darth Vadar, claiming that my reference to Darth Yoko was unfair to the fictional dictator. Ouch.
- I had a few complaints about the Fender Greats Top 7 list. While most of them did not merit comment, two names certainly did. I should have created an honorable mention for the two guys last week, but I did not. Had the list included a number eight and nine, it would have been Stevie Ray Vaughn and Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple. Both of these guys were quite obviously brilliant guitar players, and I by no means intended to slight them for their playing abilities. The only reason that they were omitted was that I believe the other seven to be more important to the popularization of the Fender Stratocaster in their respective genres.
- A few of you criticized me for looking for meaning in the lyrics of Queens of the Stone Age, claiming that it wasn't about the words, but about the music. I could not disagree more strongly. There are bands out there who's lyrical content in irrelevant, but I don't believe QOTSA to be one of them.
- Bo Diddley still has the respect of many of you. Thank you to all of you that sent in your fond memories of such a great pioneer.
- Finally, many of you proved my theory once again that no subjective list will ever make everyone happy as many of you disagreed with the Rolling Stone Guitar Song list AND my thoughts on it. Keep those ideas coming, because we are all about the open debate of music here at Ask 411 Music. However, those of you that continue to try to convince me that The Strokes have more business on this list than Rush should give it a rest. I will never see it your way.

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Now before we did into this week's informational goodness, I'd like to take a few moments to rant just a little. As always, if you aren't interested in the ravings of an obsessive music fan, feel free to skip down to the questions. I promise, I won't be insulted. I will join you there shortly. To the rest of you, bear with me.

I happened to catch a news post on this, the greatest pop culture website in the world, 411mania last night. It was in regards to a trend in the land down under (Australia for the uninformed.) that has seen quite a few music fans be arrested for wearing t-shirts supporting the English hardcore band Cradle of Filth. The shirts in question were deemed obscene and offensive for saying "Jesus is a C***" and picturing a nun pleasuring herself. My issue with this event is not with the arresting officer, because they were doing their job, enforcing the law as it is stated. I am not even going to go in on the fans for wearing the shirt, because frankly, some people are just stupid. My real beef is with the band and the record company.

My question is simply "Why?"

Now, before everyone starts in on free speech, freedom of religion, and the rights of an artist and all of that, I don't deny that the band has a right to produce such things. I am not complaining because the remarks are anti-Christian, because that is what the group believes, and I wouldn't dream of stifling their ability to express and share what it is that they believe on such an important topic. My problem is that the shirt is designed to be offensive and inflammatory, and I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone would make it his or her goal to offend and upset another individual purely for the sake of doing so. I think that the band and label should put some thought into tolerance before releasing such an item.

Maybe it is just me, but I thought that common decency toward your fellow man (or woman) was still the ultimate goal and that the concept of love one another was pretty much universally accepted.

I don't use this space to go into my personal beliefs on anything other than music, but for the record, I am a Christian, and I do find the remarks offensive. However, I also find those people you always seem to find in downtown screaming about Sodom and Gomorrah and condemning everyone to hell to be offensive as well. In my mind, freedom of religion is just that. I am free to believe what I believe, and you free to believe what you believe, and I will promise not to force my opinions on you or insult what you hold dear if you will do the same for me.

So, this is my plea to everyone. Please check into the concept of tolerance. I know that it is a novel idea, and that it sounds clichéd and corny, but be nice to one another!

Alright, enough of that.

Class is in Session

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"You know I work all day to get you money to buy you things / And it's worth it just to hear you say you're gonna give me ev'rything. / So why on earth should I moan, 'Cos when I get you alone, You know I feel okay.

When I'm home ev'rything seems to be right, / When I'm home feeling you holding me tight, tight, yeh.

It's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a dog / It's been a hard day's night, I should be sleeping like a log / But when I get home to you I find the things that you do will make me feel alright." – A Hard Day's Night

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Q: First off, it's good to have you back. Scratch that, great to have you back.

And i found out that the meaning to the song "First it Giveth" by Queens of the Stone Age is about drugs in the music industry. First it Giveth then it taketh away. Apparently it giveth to Queens a lot and it seems to not taketh a lot either. Also, some of my favorite covers are:
Higher Ground- Red Hot Chili Peppers (Stevie Wonder)
One- Korn (Metallica)
War Pigs-Faith No More (Black Sabbath)
Down in the Park- Foo Fighters (I'm not sure who)
Home Sweet Home-Limp Bizkit (Motley Crue)

That last one's a joke. I hate Limp Bizkit and Motley Crue.

I got a lot of questions, but i'll try to limit it.

Is it just me or is Marilyn Manson very overrated. I mean Layne Staley and Trent Reznor were 10X sadder than Manson...and they write their own stuff.

Back to the VH1 Top 100 List. Isn't it a crime that Spinal Tap made the list and then Tenacious D didn't?

Do you consider Dimebag Darrell to be one of the top 100 guitarist of all time? I noticed that Rolling Stone left them off of their top 100 list. I'd consider that overrated as he may be; the fan following he has should warrant at least a mention at #98 or something.

And i have an idea for you. Top Ten bands for every decade from the 60's to the 00's. If you're swamped, you don't have to do it, i just think it'll be a great project. Maybe even a top 7 like you always do.

On a side note totally not dealing with music....doesn't Wanted look like the stupidest movie of the summer...maybe even the last five summers. It actually looks like the dumbest commercial i've ever seen...ever.

Good to have you back,
- Steveo

P.S. I found another top 100 list! This one may be better. It takes a scientific approach to finding the best band. Oh, and CCR's on it!

http://www.avrev.com/top-100-bands-of-all-time/top-10-rock-bands/index.php

Let me know what you think man!

In case you need some extra motivation, here's the top 5.

1. Led Zeppelin
2. The Beatles
3. Pink Floyd
4. The Jimi Hendrix Experience
5. Van Halen

A: Thanks for the kind words friend. It is very nice to be back with you all. I will take chatting about music over moving cross-country ten out of ten times.

I have to admit that I was a little worried about your inclusion of Limp Bizkit covering a Motley Crue song on your list of favorite covers. I was quite relieved when I saw it was all a joke. I didn't think we were going to be able to be friends any more.

My thoughts on Marilyn Manson are as follows. I believe Manson to be a second rate shock artist that capitalized on a generation that didn't realize that all of his good bits and shock antics were rehashes of acts by greats like Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne, and those guys put out some phenomenal music while Manson's music was… well… crap. There was nothing creative or innovative in his music, and everything about him was wrapped up in the shock, horror, and offensiveness of his act and persona. If you want to see an effects-laden show, go find Alice or KISS. At least the tunes will be tolerable.

Thankfully, it seems as though the public has realized his shortcomings musically as he seems to have dropped of the cultural radar. If we could only get them to do the same with emo…

I personally do not believe that Spinal Tap should have been included in Vh1's list of great rock bands seeing as how they were a fictional band. I think the movie is a priceless gem of a film and that they hit the nail on the head with their view of the 80's rock scene, but I think it is insulting to all of the bands on the list below them, and especially to any band that was slighted on that list all together.

I do agree with you that Tenacious D is more deserving of a spot, though I am not sure that I could rank them that high in good consciousness either. They have actually had a career playing music over the past decade, and despite the humorous nature of their work, they are pretty sound musically.

I do find it pretty bad that Dimebag Darrell was omitted from the list. I will agree that he is sometimes given too much credit for his contributions to metal, and I do believe that there is much more to the instrument that pure speed, but to say that there have been 100 guitar players that are better than he was is ridiculous… especially since the likes of Kurt Cobain and Jack White cracked the top 15. Pantera fans have every right to be pissed off about this slight. Then again, if I remember correctly they left Slash off the list altogether as well, so what do they know?

The top 10 by decades list is a brilliant idea. I will have to do it and take credit for it very soon! In all seriousness, expect to see that one in the next couple of weeks. It sounds like fun.

I have to admit that "Wanted" does look pretty ridiculous. Everybody seems out to recapture the greatness of "The Matrix," which is a slight problem for me since I didn't think "The Matrix" was all it was cracked up to be either.

Oh lord, another list to incur my wrath. Before even clicking the link I am agitated with my beloved Beatles not being in the first spot. However, if someone has to be sacrilegiously ranked before them, I suppose Led Zeppelin is the best option. I'll follow last week's format. Let's see what we have here…

Too High:
- U2 #9
- Stone Temple Pilots #13
- Genesis #15
- Prince and the Revolution #16
- Soundgarden #22
- Steely Dan #24
- Dire Straits #38
- Bon Jovi #42
- Journey #55
- No Doubt #56

Too Low:
- The Beatles #2 (Not number one? Insane)
- The Rolling Stones #20 (Huh?)
- The Who #23
- Aerosmith #31
- Cream #32
- The Band #48
- Deep Purple #58
- Alice in Chains #59
- Black Sabbath #70 (?!?)
- Lynyrd Skynyrd #71

Where the hell is…
- KISS
- Alice Cooper
- Foo Fighters
- Paul McCartney and Wings
- The Traveling Wilburys
- Pantera
- Cheap Trick
- Bill Haley and the Comets
- Buddy Holly and the Crickets
- Thin Lizzy

Who paid to have this band on there?
- Dixie Chicks #43
- Foreigner #44
- The Beastie Boys #49
- Orbital #60
- The Carpenters #65
- Audioslave #66
- Thievery Corporation #82
- The Scorpions #91
- Coldplay #98
- The Black-eyed Peas #100

Just Right
- Pink Floyd #3
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience #4
- Queen #6
- Metallica #8
- Rush #14
- Grateful Dead #34

All in all, one of the better lists I have seen, though still obviously flawed. The "scientific ratings" system is cool, and will give me something to argue over for weeks! See what you started?

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This week's list…(Insert mental drum roll here)

The Top 7 Live Albums

Disclaimer: Do to a lack of time this week I am not including my honorable mentions list. So, to be fair, next week's top 7 will be Round 2 of the Top Live Albums.

7. Jazz at Massey Hall by The Quintet – I know, I know… I am using a valuable spot on the list for a little known jazz act that should have been saved for good ol' rock and roll. However, this album is too good to be missed, regardless of the genre. The Quintet released only one album and is comprised by the legends Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie, Max Roach, Bud Powell, and Charles Mingus. Since this one and only release didn't see the light of day until after the death of Parker, there was no chance for a sequel, but this collaboration between five of the biggest names in the history of jazz is a must hear for both the rookie jazz listener and the veteran fanatic alike.

6. S&M by Metallica – I think that this album is often overlooked because it isn't very highly regarded by the metalheads out there, but I personally believe that Metallica's performance of their hits alongside the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra is a truly magical moment. In a time when not nearly enough respect is paid to classical music, it is refreshing to see a band embrace the power and emotion that the symphony can offer.

5. The Last Waltz by The Band – Sometimes you have to remind people in this day and age that in the late 1960's, The Band was one of the most popular and well respected acts in the world. Unfortunately, time has erased much of their popularity, as their folksy style didn't age as well as some of their contemporaries. This album coincides with the movie of the same name, directed by one Mr. Martin Scorsese, that chronicles the last performance by this great band that got their start as a backing band for Bob Dylan.

4. Alive by KISS – You have to respect the original. Until KISS released this album, not only were they struggling financially, but the industry had little to no faith in the idea of a live rock and roll album. Gene, Paul, Ace, and Peter turned the world on its live music listening ear with this brilliant release. In fact you are much more likely to hear tracks off of this album like "Rock and Roll All Nite" on the radio than you will their studio-recorded counterpart. The album went on to launch the band to superstardom as it showed off the magnitude of their live performances, and it's success allowed many of these other albums to exist.

3. At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash – Not only did the man in black have two outstanding live albums, but they were both recorded in California prisons. This version is my favorite of the two as it real captures some deep emotions that I believe is amplified by the setting. Plus, you cannot deny the brilliance of the song "Folsom Prison Blues."

2. How the West Was Won by Led Zeppelin – I know that the more popular pick from these guys is The Song Remains the Same, and I wouldn't dream of taking away from such a brilliant work, but I feel a more personal connection to this album since it served as my own personal rabbit hole into the world of Zeppelin. Featuring classic versions of songs like "Black Dog," "Rock and Roll," and of course, "Stairway to Heaven," this album and its companion DVD are essential to every collection.

1. Live at Leeds by The Who – I for one believe that when a kid walks in to Guitar Center or wherever and purchases their first instrument, the clerk should hand them a copy of this album and say, "Here kid… this is what you should aspire to be." Bear witness to the genius of this band as they tiptoe the tightrope of brilliance and chaos on tracks like "My Generation," "Summertime Blues," and "Substitute."

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Forgotten Classic

We have spent quite a bit of time discussing the world of shock rock today, so I thought I'd pay my respects to one of the aforementioned innovators, Alice Cooper as we look at the band's 1972 album that launched them into rock history. We are talking about the classic record, School's Out. Most people identify with the album immediately as they recall the title track, which has cemented itself as one of the greatest tracks in hard rock. Few realize however that it is part of a much bigger picture. The album itself is often considered to be a concept album, and while the title track (along with much of the rest of Alice Cooper's material) is very radio friendly, the rest of the album is not, as it is designed to be heard as a single work of art… or horror… or some of both.

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Q: Hey man. I heard that they are considering doing a Guitar Hero based all on the Beatles like the did for Aerosmith. Is this something that you would be into, or is it too commercial? If you would like it, how would you design it? Just curious. Thanx man. – Josh T.

A: I am all for it. In fact, I will probably see me elbowing my way to the front of the line to lay my hands on it! While my initial response to Guitar Hero was somewhat negative, since, as a "serious musician" I first thought it beneath me… until I played it, I now think that it is an amazing thing. It is turning on a new generation to some of the music of "the old days." I think that we will soon see a big spike in Aerosmith's popularity with the young ones out there as they see how amazing their catalog is.

This is how I would create the game, based on how the designed the Aerosmith version with five venues… five tracks per venue with three tracks being straight Beatles' tracks and the other two being influences and contemporaries.

The Cavern Club
1. "That'll Be The Day" by Buddy Holly and the Crickets
2. "Johnnie B. Goode" by Chuck Berry
3. "I Saw Her Standing There"
4. "All My Loving"
5. "A Hard Days Night"

Hamburg, Germany
1. "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones
2. "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Pressley
3. "Eight Days A Week"
4. "Taxman"
5. "Paperback Writer"

The Ed Sullivan Show
1. "For Your Love" by The Yardbirds
2. "White Room" by Cream
3. "Daytripper"
4. "Hey Bulldog"
5. "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)"

Candlestick Park
1. "L.A. Woman" by The Doors
2. "My Generation" by The Who
3. "Here Comes the Sun"
4. "Helter Skelter"
5. "Blackbird"

Top of Apple Records
1. "Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix
2. "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos
3. "A Day in the Life"
4. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
5. "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End"

I am so sorry to cut this week's edition short, but work is calling and I have to keep food on the table you know. So… let's wrap this baby up.

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This week's drop of band name knowledge is…

The Traveling Wilburys- In the history of supergroups, none can match the sheer star power that this one had. Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne, and Tom Petty created the gold standard for all collaborations in the future. "Wilburys" comes from a phrase coined by Harrison for screw ups that he took from someone once saying "We'll bury it in the mix." When the time came to name this lineup of greats, George suggested "The Trembling Wilburys." Jeff Lynne decided that it would be better as "traveling," and the name was approved. So, in summary, the greatest collaboration in history basically named themselves the traveling screw-ups. Odd huh?

See you all back here next week… and send me some freaking questions.

Class Dismissed.