Ask 411 Music 07.31.08: Can I Borrow Your Bomb Shelter?

Posted by Blake Lauderback on 07.31.2008

In this week's round of questions we look at paranoid rock legends, music from Walmart, nuclear holocaust, and a sad, sad world I wouldn't want to live in. Plus, we finish our look at essential 60's artists, and by popular demand, the Top 7 Guitar Solos!

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According to my calendar, it would appear that it is time for another rousing edition of Ask 411 Music.
So, come on in and relax as we investigate deep down into the world of music. If you have joined us in class before, welcome back. The rest of you had better take a seat and listen up, because you have a TON of makeup work!

Normally, I would take this time to let you all in on the exciting goings on of my life, but frankly, I am tired. These fifty plus hour work weeks are starting to wear me down a bit. Thankfully though, I actually have a weekend off coming up. Unfortunately, I may be too tired to enjoy much of it! Eh, oh well. Moving right along…

Incase you were absent last class, here is a bit of review…

- The only issue that anyone seemed to have with my recommendations for getting started with The Who (which were My Generation, Tommy, and Who's Next) was that I should have also included Live at Leeds, which isn't a bad recommendation (I obviously like it since I recently ranked it the greatest live album of all time.) but I wanted to keep the list to 3 studio albums.

- A few of you REALLY hate Aerosmith for one reason or another. I won't argue it with you too much, but we obviously disagree. Someday soon I may have to attempt to break down my reasoning for thinking that they are a great band… but not today.

- There were some great suggestions for the Top 7 Soundtracks list. The only I must completely disagree with is Saturday Night Fever, because I can't freaking stand The Bee Gees. Just say no to disco kids.

- Now, I rarely fly off of the handle when it comes to the comments left by people about my opinions. As I have often said, opinions are great! Especially about music. I am offended by the people that dislike Thin Lizzy but love The Sex Pistols? No! I pray for them. (Just kidding!) I want you all to express your thoughts and opinions about the subjects at hand. That is whole reason we do this! I don't even get upset when some of you complain about The Beatles. I am secure enough in myself to be able to handle when someone doesn't like what I like, and I don't feel the need to convince you that I am right.

For whatever reason, a comment got under my skin last week. That comment came when someone decided to claim that The Beatles merely "watered down 50's music." Does this upset me because it is anti-Beatles? Not at all. It bothers me because it is so uninformed that it makes my head hurt. You don't have to like it, but would someone please explain to me how "A Day in the Life," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Let it Be," "Come Together," and countless other tunes sound like 50's music? I am far from perfect, but I at least try to make sure I know what I am talking about before I open myself up for criticism. Perhaps I am over reacting, why don't you head over to The Most Pit and tell Dan that Black Sabbath sucks because they just copied everything Aretha Franklin ever did and we will compare our responses.

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Time once again to step back in time as we return to our look at the 1960's. Last week we covered the first half of the most essential artists of rock and roll in the decade of flower power and social change. So, set your mind right and hop on board the magic bus en route to one of the most critical decades for rock, because as Bob Dylan said, "The times, they are a changin."

The 1960's

The 60's were an interesting time in our culture, because it was as if the sexual revolution launched right off of Elvis Presley's gyrating hips and into the public consciousness. It was a time of great change with issues like racism, sexuality, war, and politics being pushed to the forefront.

The decade saw tragedies like the death of President John F. Kennedy, (which many historians refer to as the moment that stole America's innocence) and incredible moments of joy like the "Summer of Love" and "Woodstock." In this era, music played it's role to the fullest, by not only creating many of those joyous moments, but also by helping the world heal from tragedy, and by giving a voice to the people.

While I could go on for pages about how critical the 1960's were to the world as we know it and about the artists that made it so, I will do my best to narrow it down to what I believe to be the ten most essential artists from the 1960's. (Note: We are looking at the most essential Rock and Roll artists ever. This in not meant to be a slight to the greats in all of the other genres, because they are quite important as well.)

Here they are (in no particular order)…

The Rolling Stones- I cannot believe that some of you thought that I was going to omit these guys from the list. These guys really helped spearhead the second wave from across the pond. Think of them as the reinforcements. Their sound was much rougher, as was their image, and they managed to take some of the blusier British Rock and combine it with the pop sensibilities from the first wave. Songs like "Satisfaction" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash" are absolute musts if you want to get a true feel for the decade. I wonder what ever happened to these guys… Kidding.

Jimi Hendrix - What is there to say about Hendrix that hasn't been said? He not only was an amazing artist that was VERY highly regarded by all of his peers, but he managed to forever redefine the possibilities of the electric guitar. He is remembered for his blazing solos and crunchy riffs, but he was a great songwriter all around. Besides, the man closed out Woodstock! (More on that later.)

The Doors - Not only did Jim Morrison help define the concept of the over the top front man, but these guys really opened to door for a sound that was both darker and much more psychedelic than many of their peers. Much like The Stones, their sound was deeply rooted in the world of blues. No 60's soundtrack is complete without Door's classics like "Light My Fire," and "The End" among many, many others.

The Who - A few might argue that these guys are better suited in the 1970's list, but I would like to point out that these guys were also a card carrying member of the British Invasion as well, and while they would go on to do some mind-blowing work in the next decade, none of it would have been possible without their early success in the 60's. "Substitute," "I'm a Boy," and "My Generation" paved the way for Tommy and Quadrophenia… not to mention countless bands and the whole world of hard rock.

The Grateful Dead - Now, I have said in the past that I am not a huge fan of The Dead, but I cannot deny that they played a HUGE role in the cultural and musical scene of the 60's, and how do you have a decade's worth of hippies without these guys? They were and still the most iconic jam band out there, and without their influence, music would be unrecognizable.

NEXT STOP… THE 70'S!!!

Class is in Session

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"He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun. / In case of accidents he always took his mom. / He's the all American bullet-headed Saxon mother's son. / All the children sing

Hey, Bungalow Bill / What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill / What did you kill, Bungalow Bill

Deep in the jungle where the mighty tiger lies / Bill and his elephants were taken by surprise / So Captain Marvel zapped him right between the eyes / All the children sing

Hey, Bungalow Bill / What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill / What did you kill, Bungalow Bill

The children asked him if to kill was not a sin / "Not when he looked so fierce" his mommy butted in / If looks could kill it would have been us instead of him / All the children sing

Hey, Bungalow Bill / What did you kill, Bungalow Bill!" - The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

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Q: Hey Blake!

Love what you're doing with Ask 411. The layout is cool and the mini-bar in the back rocks.

While writing my much loved/hated column on Woodstock I was reminded of the story that the Doors didn't appear (despite an invitation to perform) due to two possible legends:

1. The venue didn't ask them to play due to to Morrison's legal issues in Florida. I'm doubtful of this with the nature of Woodstock being ground zero for the counter-revolution culture.

2. Morrison didn't like to play outdoor venues. I have no idea of this is even true, but it is an interesting prospect.

So the question is if either legend is true, or if there was another reason the Doors missed the festival. Also, I'd be interested in getting you're take on Woodstock itself. I'm sure you have an interesting perspective on this.

Thanks and keep up the great work!

Dan Haggerty

A: You are a gutsy individual to take on the legendary Woodstock in such a way. Has the hate mail stopped yet?

I was actually quite surprised at the number of people that were offered an invitation to play but turned it down. Bob Dylan declined since his son was ill, Led Zeppelin reportedly declined because they would just be "another band" at the festival, and my personal favorite rejection was Jethro Tull, who reportedly turned it down because, as Ian Anderson put it, they didn't want to spend their weekend in a field of unwashed hippies.

I am not sure that The Beatles would have played even if the promoters had agreed to letting Darth Yoko intimidate the masses with her evilness. The Beatles hadn't played live in a while, so it would seem unlikely that they would have emerged, though I suppose Woodstock would be a big enough deal to warrant it.

As far as the reasoning behind The Doors absence, it would appear that it would be door number 2. (Get it!?!) The story goes that Jim Morrison hated playing outdoor venues and really large venues (both apply). Many sources claim that it was because he was paranoid that someone would take a shot at him, possibly because of his controversial image and problems with the law. This also adds a drop or two of fuel to the legend that Morrison faked his own death to avoid a real one!

As far as my thoughts on the legendary event? That is a tough one. I am not sure that I really want to join a sinking ship with you, but what the heck… two is company right?

I look at Woodstock like communism. Looks great on paper, but in reality, it stinks. (And not just because of the unwashed hippies in question.) What I mean is, I am not sure that the concert was really the end all be all of the music world for the generation at the time, but it is remembered that way, and maybe that is enough. Sure, there were some great performances, and I can't knock any bill that features The Who, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Neil Young, CSN&Y, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane, Johnny Winter and Jimi Hendrix and Gypsy Sun and Rainbows. That is a solid lineup if I have ever seen one.

What I think most people are overlooking is that the conditions were not all "summer of loveish," and that at the time many people were quite miserable. I would lop off at least one arm to see half of these guys now, but at the time, it wasn't THAT difficult to catch them all in concert, so while on one hand I would say that I would gladly tough it out now to go back and experience the music, I am sure I would feel quite differently at the time. Plus, who knows, communism might have worked if they had incorporated half of the mind-altering drugs present at Woodstock. It at least would have been happier I would think, and it is tough to start a war when you can't find your feet, much less the keys to your tank.

I suppose that in the end it is okay that people don't remember the true Woodstock. Some things are just better off left to the imagination.



Q: Thanks for answering my question last week. I didn't realize you had already been asked about Velvet Revolver but this site has so much on it that it's very easy to forget certain things. Fair comment about the damage, which has since been done to Guns N' Roses' legacy ruling them out of the untouchables list but I chose them out of personal reasons more than anything. Anyway a few questions this week.

1. How do you think the most recent Eagles record (Long Road Out Of Eden) compares to the rest of their discography.

2. Do you happen to know anything about the story behind their track Lyin' Eyes, one of my personal favourites.

3. And finally what in your opinion is the best double-album of all time? I'd go with The Wall by Pink Floyd myself.(Possible top 7 list maybe?)

Thanks again,
- Robert E.

A: Don't worry about the double question thing at all! It is no big deal. In fact, I often forget what I have already covered and what I haven't, and I write the damn thing!

I have to admit that I am not 100% familiar with Long Road Out of Eden, because while I have heard most of it, I haven't yet picked up my own copy. As far as my thoughts on it, it was okay. Obviously not groundbreaking since I wasn't immediately inspired to pick it up, but it is The Eagles, so it can't be horrible.

I did laugh like crazy when it out did all of the pop star's albums in sales despite only going on sale at Walmart, which while I am on the subject, is a major turn off for me. I don't know about Walmart in your area, but since I often don't get out of work until very late, I am well acquainted with what the "superstore" looks like in the wee hours of the morning. I find it hard to believe that being a "Walmart Exclusive" is a good thing, but I suppose it isn't so bad since is seems that AC/DC's album will get the same treatment.

I can't seem to find any info about an actual event being referenced in "Lyin' Eyes," though Glen Frey has commented many times in concert that the song was about his first wife, whom he calls "Plantiff." No word on whether it is truthful or if he is just being sarcastic. For any unfamiliar with the tune, the song is about a pretty young girl that marries an older man for money and then realizes her mistake in not marrying for love. So, she heads on over to the "cheatin' side of town."

Finally, that is a fantastic idea for a Top 7 list, so we will go ahead and pencil that one in for next week. While I can't argue with your pick, we will just have to wait a week and see if it makes the cut!

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

The Top 7 Guitar Solos

Disclaimer: This list is quite difficult to make. I reserve the right to alter it after spending the weekend meditating on it. I am also limiting it to one solo per guitar player just to be fair. Here goes...

7. "Layla" by Derek and the Dominos – How can I not include an amazing solo that features a bit of greatness from both Eric Clapton and Duane Allman? While brilliant guitar work is pretty much par for the course for these two legends, this solo is particularly sweet, as it really captures the heartfelt passion that Clapton is singing with as he pines for his best buddies girl. (And if you don't know who it is, you just haven't been with us much here lately, huh?)

6. "Eruption" by Van Halen– Why wait until the middle of the song to have a solo? Why not just melt the face of the listener before David Lee Roth can get a word in? This is the logic of one Eddie Van Halen, which appears to be quite sound since this legendary track is by far my favorite Van Halen tune, not to mention one of the best intros into any song in history!

5. "One" by Metallica – In my opinion, this is Metallica at their finest. They start of with a heavy handed tune with some beautifully intricate guitar work and some dark lyrics, and then, before long, here comes the heavy distortion and a solid solo. Nice. So here you are, enjoying a good song and then the song goes into a seriously heavy riff… throwing you for a bit of a loop. Now you are confused… but still rocking. The song gets heavier and heavier… and then holy crap their goes Kirk Hammett with a blazing solo that brings the tune to a frenzied climax, and before you know it, your head has gone and exploded.

4. "Hey Joe" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Picking out a single great solo from Hendrix is like choosing between your children. I selected this tune because it is the song that led me to fall in love with Jimi's work. While he has harder and faster solos for sure, this one seems particularly emotional as this solo is the perfect guitar moment to accompany such a sad and powerful song. (But let's be honest… any song by him would be a welcome addition to the list.)

3. "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd – What song do you all want to hear? If you answered "Hit Me Baby One More Time," please stop reading right now and head for the exit. The only appropriate answer to that question is "FREE BIRD!!!!!!!" Few bands have ever perfected the three guitar lineup the way that Skynyrd did. Much like Metallica's "One," I think what makes this song so amazing is that it has such a build up from the beginning, and if you haven't heard the live version, you certainly aren't doing yourself any favors. The beautifully controlled chaos at the end of this song is one of the reasons that it is still one of the most requested songs… everywhere.

2. "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin – What is it with me and the build ups? This one even builds up within the solo! Much like Hendrix, any Jimmy Page song could really find a home on this list, but this happens to be their most iconic song of all (which is saying something about a band with that much greatness!). This is another "soul" moment in music, because if you don't feel a little something deep down when you have this song turned to eleven, you don't have one.

1. "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd– Now I have always regarded David Gilmour as an awesome guitar player, but when I started looking at iconic solos, I couldn't believe just how many of them this man has. "Time," "Money," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond," "Atom Heart Mother…" the list keeps a going. This one however, is my all time favorite Pink Floyd moment and guitar solo of all time. Where many of these songs start of slower or darker and then build up to a frenzy, this solo seems to embrace the heavy-handedness of the rest of the song, simultaneously capturing a very laid back vibe and a deep passion. I think I shall go listen to it again…

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Forgotten Classic Last week we looked at a relatively recent album in this spot, and I think we shall continue the trend. I'd like to take a moment to talk about Lenny Kravitz. I for one find it odd that Lenny seems to have fallen completely out of the public eye so quickly despite the amount of solid music that he produced, but I suppose a lot of that has to do with him really being without a genre to call his own. I mean, honestly, who else would you lump together with him? He has some great chops on the guitar, he writes great music (well, at least his earlier material), and his sound is an amazing combination of influences ranging from funk to classic rock. One of my favorite albums by him is his 1991 release Mama Said which features a great piano ballad called "Stand By My Woman," the funky "Always on the Run" (featuring a little collaboration with Slash), and the classic rock fueled "Let Love Rule." This is a solid album from one of the few great solo rock artists in the last decade or so.

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Q: Hey man,

Just gotta tell you that i made your top ballads list into a cd and it sounds great.

Moving on to the questions. I feel it is my duty as a questioner to challenge you as much as i can. So all these questions are hypothetical.

a) If Kurt Cobain was still alive, do you think he would be a Foo Fighters fan?

b) Would the Foo Fighters even exist if Kurt was still alive?

c) What if Ten had come out before Nevermind? Would Pearl Jam be the biggest thing in grunge?

d) What if Black Hole Sun had been on the album Badmotorfinger? Would it be the greatest grunge album of all time? (I consider it to be top 3 already)

e) What if the Beatles never existed?

Good Luck with those buddy.

-Steveo

A: Good lord Steveo, those are some seriously tough hypotheticals. Let's dive right in, shall we?

I honestly think that Kurt Cobain would hate the Foo Fighters, and not because he wouldn't like the music. Remember, Kurt had a major distaste for anything successful or mainstream in music, which is part of the "moral dilemma" that led to his suicide since all of the sudden HE was mainstream. The Foos are the definition of mainstream rock music these days, because they are everywhere! (And deservedly so I might add.)

I won't say that the Foo Fighters would exist exactly as we know them now if Courtney hadn't killed Kurt hadn't died, but I do think it is safe to assume that Nirvana would have ended before too long and that Dave Grohl would have found success elsewhere.

To me, Nirvana was never destined to run a marathon. They were so explosive and so volatile that I can't see them touring into their fifties, or even at the age they are/would be now. Part of that is that their mystique is so entwined with Kurt's sudden departure, and they might seem more "human" if they had kept it up.

Plus, I seem to recall hearing on more than one occasion that Grohl's involvement with Nirvana was always temporary in his eyes, as he was looking for something more from the get go… which turned out to be The Foo Fighters.

The next question could go either way. I understand that some people say that had Ten by Pearl Jam been released before Nevermind as it was originally scheduled to be, that the movement would have never taken off. However, I think that had it gone that way that Eddie Veddar and the boys would be able to lay claim to that top spot. In a response question, would Kurt have been okay with being number two, and would that have changed things enough so that he wouldn't have wound up taking his own life?

Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden is a heck of an album, and adding "Black Hole Sun" would theoretically make it even stronger, but which track would get left off in it's place? Would you release it as a single, and if so, would that mean that you couldn't release one of the other three singles? ("Jesus Christ Pose," "Outshined," and "Rusty Cage.") If so, which one?

I suppose either way it would struggle to get recognition for being the greatest grunge album ever since I don't think anyone will let go of Nevermind andTen being in the top two. It would certainly be a very close call though. Another response question, what if Soundgarden had broken the grunge sound first?



As far as the last question goes, I am guessing something similar to the song mentioned in the next question…

In all seriousness, I don't think that rock and roll would even come close to resembling what it does to day. Keep a few things in mind.

1. The Beatles changed the very rhythm of rock and roll. Until they started experimenting, rock and roll was primarily seen as dance music. They were the ones that took the genre out of the gyms and dance halls and in to serious art.
2. There would have been no Stones, Hendrix, Zeppelin, etc., virtually derailing the entire evolution of rock.
3. They were the first band to really utilize feedback and one of the first to use distortion. (No hard rock)
4. They were the first band to use a promotional video as opposed to a public appearance, making the video that they made of "Paperback Writer" for The Ed Sullivan Show the first music video. (AKA – No MTV)
5. They were one of the first popular acts to write their own music. Before the broke down the barrier between songwriter and artist, the bands were merely the performer in many cases (including most of Elvis Presley's work.)
6. If you believe many revolutionaries in Russia, there wouldn't be democracy in Russia without their influence. (Even Russian President Vladamir Putin acknowledges their role in the social change.)

That is just the tip of the iceberg of what might be different had The Beatles not existed. Plus, I would be very, very sad and not know why.

Q: Hey Blake,

I have a question for you. Can you explain the meaning for the REM song It's the End of the World as We Know it? I can't even make out most of the lyrics other than Leonard Bernstein, much less a meaning. Is there one even? Just curious!

Thanks,
Erin P.

A: This song is actually pretty humorous to me, as I had actually heard this one from my brother in law. Much like my brother in law (and my wife) some of the members of R.E.M. were supposedly members of the debate team in school.

As a side note, I once went with my wife when she was judging a debate tournament, and so I didn't seem completely useless, I served as the timekeeper. Unfortunately kids seemed to be pissed off when I started to fall asleep during the debate. I figure that it just made the fact that you lost that much more obvious when people were slipping into a coma at the sound of your case.

It is also apparently common practice for contestants to hit on their judge… which almost resulted in me doing time for snapping the neck of some 70 pound kid in a sweater vest when he hit on my wife in front of me. All in all… it sucked. The things a guy will do for a hot girl.

ANYWAY… the reason this is all significant is because in certain forms of debate, the ultimate end to any argument is nuclear holocaust… aka- The End of the World As We Know It. As to the name-dropping of Leonard Bernstein and why it is so damn fun to scream? Not a clue.

Alrighty, to quote Mr. Plant, "let's bring it on home tonight."

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This week's drop of band name knowledge is…

Blind Melon - The meaning behind the name would appear to come from a little known slang term for an out of work hippie, which one of the band member's fathers kept calling them. The name could also be a reference to the old blues legend by the name of Blind Lemon, since lemon is an anagram for melon… and they are both tasty fruits. Great, now I am going to be stuck with the image of the kid dancing in the bee costume all day.

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

Class Dismissed.