Ask 411 Music 08.14.08: Another Magic Carpet Ride

Posted by Blake Lauderback on 08.14.2008

Stop on by as we take a look at the new wave of British rock, dreams of a Kravitz/Revolver union, country recommendations, motorcycle clubs and their music, whether or not MTV is really criminally liable for the death of the radio star. Plus, the greatest drum tracks of all time!

---

All right boys and girls, come in a take a seat. It is time once again for us to spend some time learning about the world of music. I hope you all have been enjoying your week thus far. Mine has been interesting to say the least. But you all aren't here to be bored with the details of my day-to-day grind now are you? Most of you are here to have a good time and pick up a little bit of knowledge. The rest of you are here for the free cake.

A little self promotion this week. Incase you haven't yet check them out, take a gander at THE MUSIC ZONE TOP 5 all about underrated bands, and I also went head to head with fellow author Dan Halen under the watchful eye of Dan Haggerty (so many freaking Dans) over at the FACT OR FICTION. Come on out in support!

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

- Last week's Forgotten Album, Salisbury by Uriah Heep received way too many "Who is Uriah Heep?" inquiries. Then again, I suppose that is why we talk about it.

- The debate over the range of The Beatles influence rages on, but I have said my piece and I am prepared to let it go. The discussion was met with a few detractors complaining about all the fuss about The Beatles, but considering the rest of you continued to comment, ask questions, and take a side, I figure it was mostly sour grapes on their part. I keep telling them that if they want me to talk about The New Kids on The Block for them all they have to do is ask.

- The Top 7 Double Albums seemed to be a hit with the biggest qualms being that I should have gone the Quadrophenia route over Tommy, and that Physical Graffiti deserved more than an honorable mention.

- The lack of love for country music was a hot topic last week. As I stated last week, I am definitely not a fan of the genre. I certainly maintain respect for many of the artists in the genre, in particular the early trailblazers. There were some great comments and suggestions flying about, and if you were thinking about giving country a shot, you should check many of them out.

---

Today we are going to jump back on schedule with our look at the most influential artist in each decade by beginning our look at the 1970's.

The 1970's

We left off in the 1960's, a decade that was a time for enormous changes all across the board, and the 70's weren't any different. In the previous decade, rock and roll maintained a fairly unified front, but as the decade waned, the genre began to splinter a bit. As we arrive in the 1970's, rock and roll has, and will continue to split, into more rivaling sub-genres than you can shake a stick at. Hard rock, metal, punk, progressive, proto-punk, early alternative/underground, arena rock, and many others began to take center stage. Some of the genres coexisted well together, and others viewed one another as the enemy. However, they were united on one front… disco.

Pop music had coexisted with rock for decades, as had R&B, but this new shiny but irritating fad threatened to end the reign of rock forever. Fortunately for those of us from later generations, the people finally snapped to and realized the error of their ways, and by the end of the decade, rock was king once more.

So, who were the most influential bands of this time?

Here they are (in no particular order)…

Pink Floyd- There is no denying the effect that Pink Floyd had on the world of progressive rock, not to mention rock in general. These guys got their start in the 1960's with their debut album, Piper at the Gates of Dawn, but they didn't really hit their stride until the 1970's. Not only did they shape the future of a genre, but they recorded two of the most essential and successful albums of all time in Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall.

Led Zeppelin - You can argue over whether or not they count as one of the first heavy metal bands of all time until you are blue in the face, but there is little debate about the greatness of this act. Born out of the ashes of The Yardbirds, this band brought a level of power to their music the likes of which had never been heard before. With the thundering drumming of John Bonham, the blazing solos of Jimmy Page, the screeching vocals of Robert Plant, and the rock-solid musicianship of bass player John Paul Jones, these guys cemented themselves as one of the greatest bands to ever take the stage.

Queen - Where do you start with Queen? They are one of the most dynamic and unique acts ever, particularly so because of the contributions of their legendary front man Freddie Mercury. Freddie and the boys brought elements of theater, jazz, and opera into the world of rock, and the result was otherworldly. The band proved their brilliance with hit after hit like "We Are the Champions," "Fat Bottomed Girls," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," and the immoral classic "Bohemian Rhapsody." I think it is safe to say that we will never witness another band like Queen.

The Ramones - There is no way to look at the 1970's and ignore the influence of punk (no matter how hard some metal-heads may try). The Ramones were one of the front runners of the NYC punk scene, and are often credited for taking the sound across the pond to the UK, whether the other major style of punk arose from. To me, The Ramones are the quintessential punk act with their simplistic poppy songs loaded with sarcasm, humor, angst, and a drop or two of social commentary. In my mind, one of the best things punk did for the world of rock was bring it back down to earth. Sometimes it is important to hit the reset button.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - The folk music movement of the 1960's played a prominent role in the formation of southern rock. Lynyrd Skynyrd became, along with the immortal Allman Brothers Band, one of the biggest names in the new genre. In my mind it was the poetic voice of the everyman provided by lead singer Ronnie Van Zandt that reeled in their fan base, but it was their brilliant musicianship that has allowed them to still be so popular today. Plus, how can you not love "Freebird?"

TO BE CONTINUED!!!

Class is in Session

---

"Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC. / Didn't get to bed last night. / On the way the paper bag was on my knee. / Man I had I dreadful flight.

I'm back in the USSR. / You don't know how lucky you lucky you are boy / Back in the USSR.

Been away so long I hardly knew the place. / Gee it's good to be back home. / Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case. / Honey, disconnect the phone.

I'm back in the USSR. / You don't know how lucky you are boy / Back in the US. Back in the US. Back in the USSR.

Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out. / They leave the West behind. / And Moscow girls make me sing and shout / That Georgia's always on my mind.

I'm back in the USSR. / You don't know how lucky you are boys / Back in the USSR.

Show me round your snow peaked mountains way down south / Take me to your daddy's farm / Let me hear your balalaikas ringing out / Come and keep your comrade warm.

I'm back in the USSR. / You don't know how lucky you are boy / Back in the USSR." - Back in the USSR

---

Q: Blake,

Wow, the comments section got kinda rough on you the last few weeks. For a minute there I thought I was reading the ones from one of my columns!

My vote for grunge band is Nirvana slightly edging out AIC. Pearl Jam sucks.

Since I am a semi-country fan, I just have to help you out. A list of the people who've shaped country over the years would have to include Nelson, Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Marty Robbins, Buck Owens, George Jones, Hank Williams Jr. and Sr., Kris Kristopherson and Patsy Cline. There are probably a dozen others I could name, but those are the ones off of the top of my head.

Current "country" is a little bit harder for me to talk about, because I don't like most of it. 99% of what they call country today is pop with a southern accent. George Strait and Reba are two names that stand out as being very influential. Alan Jackson, Randy Travis and Dolly Parton are as well.

One of the comments mentioned a few people. Big & Rich aren't true country, they have a rapper with them. Paisley and Urban are entertaining and could become "icons" someday, but some people think they are a little too commercial. Tim McGraw will be remembered as one if he stops going pop with his wife every other album. I personally don't like Chesney, as there is a lot of "Garth" to his act and I hate Garth, that shit is corporate country. I do really like Bentley though, he could end up being very influential. Pat Green started to become a big name in anti-Nashville circles, but he sold out for national exposure and hasn't been the same since. Cross Canadian Ragweed is a band that is starting to gain some momentum and could be really big soon.

A guy I think you would actually dig is Waylon's son, Shooter Jennings. He's got a great blend of country/rock/blues in his sound. (Trivia- James Storm's entrance music in TNA is a rip-off of one of his songs.) He has kinda taken the outlaw country his dad helped start and cranked the guitars to 11.

I will close out with this comment for the guy who was rambling about metal acts. If you don't think AC/DC or GNR were metal you know not of what you speak. AC/DC helped shape the landscape for early metal and GNR saved real rock music from Bon Jovi and the rest of the hair metal morons. Metal is not all about playing super fast, trying to eat the microphone while trying to pass off making growling noises as singing and songs about eating someone's head and crapping down their throat.

Sorry this is so long, just trying to help a fellow writer out!

Take care,
Chris Connolly

A: Thanks buddy. I appreciate the assist, as well as the loyal readership. In case you guys haven't stopped by the politics section of 411 recently, I highly recommend checking out Chris and his cohorts.

I will say this… anyone that things that C.C.R. stands for Cross Canadian Ragweed and not Creedence Clearwater Revival deserves a huge punch in the face.

What is this I hear about Lenny Kravitz taking over as the front man for Velvet Revolver?!? Is this true, and if so, how do you think it will turn out?

- Robbie P.

A: Now, the initial report was that Lenny Kravitz was in the studio with Velvet Revolver, and it was at that point that the rumors began to swirl in regards to whether or not he would be taking the role left vacant after Scott Weiland waved goodbye. Now, as Mr. Dan Wilcox broke in THE GREAT ROCK NEWS REPORT, a band spokesperson has denied that Kravitz will be taking over front man duties for the band. They also laid rest to the rumors about both Sammy Haggar and Royston Langdon filling the spot either.

I will say that Kravitz is the most intriguing name I have heard thrown about thus far. He is a very gifted musician and vocalist, and I have longed to hear what he would sound like in a full band setting. (He obviously tours with a full band, but he does almost all of his own accompaniment in the studio). That said, I am not sure that the dream team would mesh that well stylistically, and I think the power struggle would be at an all time high, considering that Lenny is used to things being done his way, and Slash and company probably would prefer to keep a little control this time around. Then again, Slash and Lenny are old friends that have worked together before, so who knows… maybe they are just keeping us in the dark for now.



Q: What was the golden age for you, personally, in music?

Mine was probably 1990-1995.

I heard this band the other day called Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. What do you think about them? They kinda have a bluesy feel to them which i dig.

Also, what do you think about the drumming skills of one Joey Jordison? A lot of people around me say he is their favorite drummer. Of course they all listen to a lot of metal. I noticed he was not on your list of top drummers. Or on your list of 20 Honorable Mentions for that matter. A lot of people like that drummer from Avenged Sevenfold too.

Take it easy man,
Steveo

A: As far as my "golden age" of music goes, I suppose that depends on what you are looking for. I will answer based on what I think you are looking for.

While it is somewhat embarrassing for myself, a self-proclaimed classic rock aficionado, it would have to be from about 1998 to 2003. It was at this point that I felt particularly connected to everything that came on the radio because of peer pressure. It was what my friends listened to and talked about, and it is what we listened to when we were hanging out.

Now, in the later part of that time period, I began to think for myself and seek out music for myself for the first time, and it was at that point that I discovered the greats, one by one… and I have never looked back.

I fully acknowledge that every thing that I have ever listened to has shaped my taste in music, so as unglamorous a time in music as it was, I cannot ignore the influence it had on me personally.

The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are pretty much as you described them. They are a great indie rock band with a solid basis in the blues. They also have some influences like Stone Roses and even The Velvet Underground that shine through well (though a little less so on the later albums). I personally like their first couple of albums, especially Howl, but their most recent album, Baby 81, kind of fell flat for me a bit. I hope the get back to form soon though!

I won't deny that Joey Jordinson has talent, but I am not a huge fan of his work, though a lot of that has to do with the fact that I am not a fan of either of the bands he has worked with, Murderdolls and Slipknot. As I said, he is a good drummer, but his work just isn't for me.

Avenged Sevenfold and their drummer The Reverend have their moments in my opinion, but, again, metalcore isn't my bag. I was really excited by their first single to hit big, "Bat Country," and I certainly enjoy a listen every now and again, but I still wouldn't rank the band or the drummer that highly.

I suppose my biggest complaint about these guys is that they seem like one trick ponies to me due to their heavy reliance on the double kick. The double kick is certainly impressive sounding, but it is far from innovative since it has been perfected by drummers like Lars Ulrich, Alex Van Halen, Dave Lombardo, Mike Portnoy, and countless others over the years. I am certainly not knocking the skill, just saying that I think it should take a little bit more to impress.

---

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

The Top 7 Drum Performances

Disclaimer: When you are talking about drummers at this level, it is next to impossible to differentiate on a quality level, so a lot of this has to do with personal preference. I would love to see what you all think are the top performances by a drummer as well.

HONORABLE MENTION: "21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimnson (Michael Giles), "The Wizard" by Black Sabbath (Bill Ward), "Fire" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Mitch Mitchell)

7. "Jesus Christ Pose" by Soundgarden (Matt Cameron) – I think that Matt Cameron deserves a great deal more credit for what he brought to the table for Soundgarden. His powerful, thundering drums played a critical role in what made the band great. This track, off of Badmotorfinger, is an excellent example of what his drumming meant to the iconic sound of the band. He has to be considered one of the best drummers of the grunge era… though I am pretty partial to Dave Grohl still.

6. "Karn Evil 9" by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (Carl Palmer) – Fair warning, if you can't handle a song lasting more than four and a half minutes, this tune ain't for you. It has "impressions." As in, Beethoven, Bach, Mozart kind of "movements." However, if you have the capacity to enjoy something a bit longer than a radio single, pick up Brain Salad Surgery, put it on, and lay back and enjoy some of the finest progressive drumming you'll ever hear.

5. "Toad" by Cream (Ginger Baker) – First off, Ginger Baker is an amazing drummer. He is an amazing drummer that almost no one realizes because his best work was done with the likes of Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton, who, understandably, frequently overshadowed Baker's drumming. While you can hear his great work on some of their more famous tracks like "White Room" and "Badge," this song is, to me, the best track from which to gain appreciation for Baker's work. If you haven't heard it, go find it!

4. "Ticks and Leeches" by Tool (Dana Carey) – I have gone on record as saying that while I give Tool much respect for what they have done in the past decade, they are not particularly one of my favorite bands. This is, as always, not intended to be a slight what-so-ever, just merely a preference. That said, this drum part blows my mind. With this song Carey assures himself a spot amongst the greats in his generation, and any other generation for that matter.

3. "La Villa Strangiato" by Rush (Neil Peart) – It is tough to pick out a single song by Peart to truly sum up his brilliance, but this one would be my favorite. While there are certainly Rush songs that I like better over all, this one displays the master at his finest. The thing that, in my mind, sets Neil apart from so many other great drummers is his incredible precision. Every hit is carefully calculated, every crash perfectly synchronized, and yet each fill still feels as heartfelt as any other drummer on the list.

2. "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who (Keith Moon) – This song is indicative of everything that is great about Moon. It features his chaotic approach perfectly intermingled with the musicianship with his band mates. What makes it so impressive is that he doesn't overstep his bounds at any point, despite the fact that it sounds completely out of control. Plus, the drum fills coming out of the organ break are probably my favorite 20 seconds of drumming ever. I always eagerly await that change in chords on the organ, knowing that the next sound down the pipe is going to be the genius lunacy of Moon.

1. "Moby Dick" by Led Zeppelin (John Bonham) – In my eyes this moment is completely unbeatable. Here is a little recap for anyone that might not yet had the chance to see it. Zeppelin starts off rocking, full band. Then a minute or so in to the instrumental tune, every body cuts out except Bonzo. He starts of fairly low key before going off on this kit full force. Then, he throws away the sticks… but keeps playing… with his hands. I have played shows on hand percussion before that have left my hands bruised and bleeding, but I can't even begin to fathom playing an actual kit with my bare hands, especially not with Bonham's force. Oh, and then he picks up the sticks again and goes right back to playing the crap out of the drums before the band returns.

---

Forgotten Classic Alright, this week we are looking at an album by a fairly famous band that is often overlooked. That album would be Steppenwolf the Second by, well, Steppenwolf, and in case you were curious, it is their second album. (See how nice it is when they make it easy for us?) Now, most of you will probably know these guys for helping to invent "Biker Rock" with songs like "Born to Be Wild," but they were also a great psychedelic band, as displayed by this album, which coincidentally features my favorite song by them, "Magic Carpet Ride."

---

Q: Hey Blake,

You are obviously a huge fan of rock from England from a long time ago, but what about more recently? What do you think about some of the more current rock acts from over there? Oasis? Killers? Any of them?

Thank you!
- Robin H.

A: You know, I like a couple of bands that have more recently migrated this way from the U.K., but it took me a while to get in to some of them.

I will say that I like Oasis from a musical standpoint. They are a solid band that took what they were already doing for their underground fan base and took it mainstream without altering too much about themselves, which is impressive. That said, I am pretty turned off by the band's attitude. Don't get me wrong, I like the general self-important rock star attitude, but these guys have taken it to a sickening degree. I certainly enjoy their work, but I always think twice about giving them my money for anything.



One British band that I don't particularly care for would be a band that followed up Oasis, The Libertines, and much of that has to do with my same beef with Oasis… attitude. Pete Doherty and his personal issues have always taken center stage over the band itself, and frankly I don't have the same amount of respect for their work that I do for Oasis'.

The Artic Monkeys have their moments, but I am not ready to anoint them as the greatest ever like much of their fan base. I think they are a very solid band at points, but there was so much build up for them before I actually heard them that it was impossible to not feel let down by them.

One band that I do really like is Snow Patrol. They caught my eye in particular when I was watching "Live 8" a couple of years back when they performed their song "Light Up." It was a beautiful and emotional song that peaked my interest in the band. I wouldn't say that I'd list them as a favorite by any means, but they are a solid band that I can certainly enjoy. I do link them to a very fine memory in my life though, as I spent one quiet New Years Eve listening to Snow Patrol with three of my closest friends (one of which was my darling wife) and enjoying champagne and whisky all evening. Easily one of the most relaxed nights of my life.



Travis and Keane are both cool with me because of their unique but solid sound. There is no denying that there is some great musicianship in both bands.

The Killers are still growing on me. I hated them the first time I heard them, but over time I am softening to them a bit. Give me some time and we'll see where I end up.

I cannot stand Coldplay, which is a shame because I really dug the song "Yellow" when it first came out, and the album Parachutes wasn't bad, but as they have plugged on, billed as one of the greatest in the world while repeatedly releasing song after song that sounds identical to the last round, I have soured on them. I can even point out the moment that I lost all hope for them. I was watching a special for them where they were debuting a new album (it may have been for Rush of Blood to the Head) and in interviewing Chris Martin about a song, he compared it to "Bohemian Rhapsody." A very bold move to be sure. Then I heard the song… and it sounded, well, nothing like Queen and everything like all of the other Coldplay songs. I have never looked at them the same since.

Q: Hi,

What do you think about music videos? I notice that you don't ever mention much about them, so I wondered what you thought about them.

- Allen K.

A: It is impossible to label music videos as either a great or a terrible thing for music, because the influence of them has had both effects on the MTV generation. I will say that the initial effect wasn't great, as the new medium was (and continued to be from time to time) dominated by the pretty people.

However, can you imagine how different rock would be if bands like Nirvana or The Red Hot Chili Peppers didn't have that medium to share their music with the world? I am not saying that they wouldn't have been successful, but history would certainly have played out differently.

So, I can neither praise nor vilify the music video because of it's mixed results from a historical standpoint, but I acknowledge that it is critical to the course of music history.


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

---

This week's drop of band name knowledge is…

Buckcherry - One theory behind this band name is that it is play on words in which the first consonant sounds of each words are switched. For example, bass ackwords, or even the Metallica song "Cunning Stunts." In this case Buck Cherry would equal Chuck Berry.. In fact, the band has reluctantly admitted that this was the meaning of the name, despite their initial claim that "Buck Cherry" was the name of a drag queen that they all knew. Some how they preferred to go the drag queen route over the classic guitar legend route. Odd huh?

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

Class Dismissed.