The Nettled Musician

Dimeslime

2005-10-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

It's been nearly a year since Dimebag Darrell was killed. He is hands down my favorite rock guitar player of all time. People may say, "Hey dude! He's only been around for 15 years!". That may be true but his playing is (was, was,was! I still can't believe he's dead.) a culmination of his influences. Eddie Van Halen and Ace Frehley were probably his two favorite guitar players, and I think he was better than those guys. I know it sounds like blasphemy saying such things, but listen to my reasons:
1) He was technically gifted. He could play any style flawlessly. He could imitate EVH or Hendrix all day should he be challenged. But, that leads my to number..
2) He was wholly original. He wrote and could pull off the best licks of anybody. He didn't need to imitate anyone, his usage of technique and soulfulness and the ability to combine the two is something to behold.
3)His use of effects was an advantage not a crutch. Some guitar players (cough*The Edge*cough) rely solely on processors and harmonizers and all myriad of effects to mask their incompetence. He used his effects (wah,phaser, etc.) to sonically create some otherworldly sounds. Sounds I've never heard another guitar player replicate. Listen to "Becoming" and the sounds he uses in that song, and tell me where you've heard squeals like that before. You haven't, I'm telling you.
4) He was a good guy. Now, this isn't star worship and I don't have some unhealthy obsession with him and speculate about his behavior. But, I have read a ton of interviews he gave and his friends gave about him, and no one ever had a bad thing to say about him. They always said he was gracious and a lot of fun. That says a lot, especially to a regular guy like me. He wasn't up there being arrogant, he was just playing. I respect that immensely.
5) He was the consummate guitar M.V.P. He could play tight rhythms and fiery leads with equal aplomb. He wasn't just a shredder like Yngwie or Steve Vai or just a rhythm guy like Brad Whitford. He was all of that plus more.

There are my reasons. Obviously, I can't explain his music. Just listen to it. If you're not really into metal, maybe some Pantera will change your mind.

Shows

2005-10-07T07:01:00.000-07:00

I used to be so into the local scene here in Tampa. I would go to as many shows as I could and network with anyone I could. It often led to being offered shows and other opportunities. I haven't done that in a long time and the same people that were on the scene 6 years ago have either quit or moved away. The new guys are younger and don't seem to have that sense of community that was around just a few years ago. I'll talk to bands now and they don't want to promote shows or put shows together, it's all done over the internet now. That's a helpful tool, but you still need to pound the pavement. Oh well. I guess I could be doing more to promote the scene, but work life and school life hinder that. I thought by the time I was 24 I'd be doing music full-time. I've been in a band since I was 14. Time sure flies when you're not focused.

Ethics...or lack of them

2005-09-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since I've updated this blog. I've been a busy man. Alas, I've decided this blog is not about my personal life (I have another one for that) but to espouse my views on my favorite subject, music. So...
For the past couple of years there has been a growing trend towards licensing songs for an increasing number of commercials and tv shows. In fact, some bands are appearing on shows such as The O.C. and American Dreams. You hear songs by Modest Mouse, Death Cab for Cutie, Kings of Leon, and many more "indie" bands on commercials for Apple, VW and others. I have a real problem with that. I understand the music industry is in a bad way and is hemorrhaging money at a furious pace, and people can make money any way they choose. I'm a capitalist like everyone else. But, when does your need for money overshadow your integrity? Maybe I have a pollyannaish attitude in which I see music as a sacred entity not to be trifled with by the likes of the corporate American lowlifes, but I can't be the only one. Once you shill for the likes of Coca Cola and Toyota, your freedom of speech is limited. Modest Mouse can no longer speak out against Volkswagen if they so choose. That is not worth any amount of money. I've also seen tours sponsored by Jagermeister and Honda. If it's sponosored than why are concert tickets still $50 plus? The money goes right into Dashboard Confessional's pocket.
Look in any cd insert by a band by a major label. Right after they thank everyone for helping them they thank all the companies that gave them free guitars, sticks, amps, ad nauseam. Again, those bands can never again say "FUCK YOU FENDER! I HATE YOUR GUITARS!" It also limits the amount of music you can make. If you're sponsored by Gibson they wouldn't be too keen on having you say in an interview, "The song needed something so I used a Jackson guitar instead of my Flying V." You'd hear from Gibson in 5 minutes.
Those bands can do whatever they want and hawk their songs on Fox if they want. I just lose respect for them. Making money is the American way. Selling your soul to a corporation (or many corporations simultaneously) for free guitar strings just doesn't sound as nice.

Criteria

2005-07-07T19:39:00.000-07:00

I have 6 top of the line, favorite bands of all time. They're not necessarily the popular or even well known choices but they serve as kind of guidepost when listening and comparing new music, or music that's new to me.
Here they are:
1)Beatles
2)Nirvana
3)Guided By Voices
4)Pantera
5)Weather Report
6)Rush

I chose these because of a myriad of things.
1) I must have heard the majority of all recorded material. How can I claim a band is my all-time favorite without hearing nearly everything they've ever done? That includes bootlegs, live recordings, b-sides (if applicable) and outtakes. I really like Sonic Youth, but they have a lot of albums and I haven't heard quite a few (particularly from 1996 until 2003)
2) I must LIKE the majority of all recorded material. Now, that sounds obvious, but how can they be all time greatest if there are 5 albums that are spotty at best? That is a tough task with Guided By Voices because they have literally 100 released items at least. But, I love them so I do the best I can.
3) I must have an encyclopedic knowledge of the bands. My specialties are The Beatles and Nirvana because they have the most material written about them. That doesn't mean I can't rap with you about intimate Weather Report details, but written material is far less available. I believe if you truly love something you invest as much time as you can into becoming more knowledgeable.
4) And for the final criteria, it must set me on fire nearly EVERY time. That's hard to explain in words. If we could explain music in words we'd have no need for music. It's a feeling everytime I hear Shedding Skin by Pantera or All My Loving by the Beatles. I am totally and utterly engrossed in every note and for the most part, it makes me feel better if I'm having a shitty day.
That's not to say I listen to those bands everyday. I can't. If I listened to Pantera all the time I'd lose appreciation for them. Well, maybe not lose appreciation but definitely not have the same feeling and affinity for them as I would if I listened to them say, once a month or every two weeks.

I'm listening to post punk compilations right now. I enjoy The Buzzcocks song I Look Alone, The Undertones song Julie Ocean, 100 Flowers song Reject Yourself. Good stuff. If you really like post punk listen to Mission of Burma or The Jam. They're different from each other but write terribly great pop songs with a great edge (I'm no music writer, send me adjectives and I'll use them!)

If I were Skinny, I'd be Bright Eyes

2005-07-04T19:50:00.000-07:00

Not really. With pompous middle school faux intellectual lyrics like,"I touch the clasp of your locket, with its picture held, some secret you wouldn't
tell but let it choke your neck." or "With each sunrise and sunset there is a change of heart or address.
Is there nothing that remains?
For a sunrise or a sunset.
You are manic or you're depressed.
Will you ever feel ok?
It's a sunrise and sunset, your lover is an actress."

Listen, I enjoy songs about anything if they're well written and sung with passion, but this schlock just can't stand up. Bright Eyes is the band du jour right now. Like Dashboard Confessional (sponsored by Honda) a couple of years ago, Bright Eyes is the lonely 10th grade girl's dream date. With good looks and an effeminate, unsure stance he's non threatening yet impressive to her at the same time. She writes similar lyrics hoping to someday sing in a band and be (oh please god! let me be...) as good or better than Bright Eyes. On her notebook she writes her first name with the surname "Oberst" and secretly dreams that he'll walk into her lit class and ask the teacher if SHE is there. She'll stand up and to the envy of her other misanthropic (but not too much, The OC is on tonight!) and downtrodden friends. They'll watch her gather her bag and walk out the door, with Mr. Eyes, arm in arm like they were going to the prom (which she's secretly wishing someone would ask her although she'll never let on).
It's ok though, in a few years Bright Eyes t-shirts and small, unreadable buttons will be relegated to the closet next to the Britney Spears gear and maybe a Spice Girls jumper.
"'ll meet up with the band in the morning
Bad actors with bad habits
Some sad singers
They just play tragic"

Here's what I've been listening too lately:
1) Beatles- Please Please Me, With The Beatles, Revolver
2)Of Montreal - Satanic Panic in The Attic
3)Steely Dan - Countdown to Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic, AJA
Steely Dan albums sound so good. Not only are the songs terrific, but the production values are beyond reproach. Take a listen to "Peg" from AJA, and you can hear Michael McDonald doing backup, I never heard it even though I've heard the song hundreds of times. It wasn't until this weekend that I recognized it. That's testament to the songs working as a whole, and being recorded so well that it just transcends the singers. Did that make any sense?

Phil Collins

2005-06-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

I'll say this. This is all I'll say. He's a good drummer. He can sing alright...but...Phil Collins sucks. Really. Genesis was great, but I attribute that more to Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford than Phil Collins. I won't venture to say that they were better with Peter Gabriel as lead singer, but it seems like when Phil Collins became a solo star he became a simple crooner. His croons are the most uncrooniest of all the faux crooners (cough, Rod Stewart, cough). His rendition of "True Colors" is horrid. "In the Air Tonight" is directionless and lacks a good hook. Su-su-sudio is hard to listen to. I had to sit through Disney's Tarzan a few years back while on a date and wanted to kill myself because Phil Collins did the soundtrack. Sting is the same way for me. He was in a great group, and then his solo stuff was less than great. Ugh.

Hardly a concern

2005-05-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

(1) I think the Beatles ARE that good. I think they are NOT overrated.
(2) There IS still good music out there. Contrary to popular wisdom, music DID NOT stop being good in 1978.
(3) There IS a higher quotient of terrible music today on the radio than there was in 1978. That is a proven fact.
(4) I don't care what anyone says, techno is NOT music. Rearranging prefab beats and having ectasy addicted teenagers tell you that it is should only make you think twice about calling it music.
(5) Talking to ecstasy addicted teenagers about ANYTHING should make you think twice about who you associate with. Unless you're a counselor in a rehab. If that is true, and talking to drug addicted teenagers all day is your job, than you must kill yourself right now.
(6) U2 does suck. They are not or will they ever be the saviours of Rock and/or Roll.
(7) No, "Where the Streets Have No Name" is NOT a good song. It is a bombastic piece of crap.
(8) Disco IS defensible only because they played real instruments.
(9) Clear Channel IS the reason terrestrial radio sucks so badly now. Too bad no one cares. Myself included.
(10) MTV is NOT the progenitor of good music. They have never been anything but style over substance. Even when they played videos all the time, it was mostly crap.
(11) MTV reminds me of when I was in high school, and the teacher asked us to break up into groups of four for some project or another. We would all be working hard except the good looking blond guy who didn't know a fucking thing. We would all do the work, except for Blondie. His only job would be to present. He would get up and present to the class and get an A. The teacher would commend him for doing a good job although he actually didn't do anything but look good.
(12) The previous statement makes sense to me.
(13) Going to see local bands WILL NOT kill you. You may actually like them.
(14) There is nothing wrong with people that listen to Justin Timberlake, Linkin Park, and Godsmack unless you over the age of 10. If you are over the age of 10 and listen to this excrement, please see #5.
(15) I am not a music snob.
(16) Maybe just a little bit.
(17) No! I will not call myself a music snob. I know what I like and what I don't.
(18) Call me whatever you want.
(19) Guided By Voices can't help they're one of the greatest rock bands of all time and no one has heard of them.
(20) I'm really a nice guy. I promise.

The Beginning of the Nettled Musician

2005-05-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

There are times in life when you just need to talk about what's bothering you. For some, it is the government. Others have the environment as their raison d'etre. Myself...Well. I have music. It's my passion. It drives me. It's really my only interest and I think about it all the time. I have no girlfriend, I have a job I like, and I have a dog. I listen to and play music as much as I can. I am truly happy when I'm rhapsodizing about it with people who are as obsessive about it as I am.For now, I won't get into what I like (a lot) or what I don't like (a lot) but will use this forum as a soapbox for my own views about what I think about music. I'll use it to let people in on new bands and start a dialog about what I think is wrong (and right) with music today. Stay tuned.