Rock ‘n Roll Confessions
Even though I play rock music critic each week on a podcast with my buddy Jason, that doesn’t mean I don’t have some glaring omissions in my rock ‘n roll resume. Some are just “I never got around to it” admissions, and some are widely appreciated/derided artists or bands that I have not been on the popular side of the opinion fence.
I decided to clear my dirty laundry and just make with the confessions, here goes:
1. I Can’t Stand Bob Dylan. Don’t like the voice, dislike most of the songs I’ve heard, find him annoying as a personality.
2. I Should, But I ‘ve Never Listened To a Pink Floyd Album. Dark Side of the Moon? The Wall? Never listened to them all the way through, just a few songs here and there.
3. They Don’t Get Respect, But I Really Like Tears For Fears. So I’ve dissed Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd, but I’m giving love to Tears For Fears. I’m probably in rock ‘n roll jail for that. Too bad. Great harmonies, fantastic songwriting, unfairly lumped in with lesser pop bands of the same era.
4. I Know I’m Supposed to Bow Down To Their Genius, But I Can’t When It Comes To Robert Pollard, Guided By Voices, and all of his various musical endeavors. 10% of what Bob writes is genius, 90% is either half-baked or self-indulgent. Everyone needs an editor.
5. A Song I Wish I’d Written Is The Good Life by Weezer. Weezer has so many good songs, but this one speaks to me on a personal level. Plus, it’s just a great, smart, pop rock song.
6. My Favorite Crank It And Sing-A-Long In The Car Song Is Birth Ritual by Soundgarden. The best part is, I can’t hear how bad I’m singing when I sing along, because Chris Cornell is so damn loud.
7. A Song I Never Change When It Comes On The Radio Is The Spirit of Radio by Rush. And as my wife Katie will attest, that goes for many Rush songs. Luckily, she’s a good sport and will actually sing along to the “OF SALESMEN!” part in the bridge.
8. A Popular Current Artist/Band Who I’ve Never Actually Heard Is Ke$ha.
9. The One Artist/Band That Can Do No Wrong In My Book Is Greg Dulli. Even Mr. Dulli’s lesser work is still far more interesting than other artists best work.
10. If I Could Be Any Musician For Five Minutes It Would Be Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 playing Wild Thing. Just watch.
Jimi Hendrix - Wild Thing - Monterey '67 from Al Sim on Vimeo.
I decided to clear my dirty laundry and just make with the confessions, here goes:
1. I Can’t Stand Bob Dylan. Don’t like the voice, dislike most of the songs I’ve heard, find him annoying as a personality.
2. I Should, But I ‘ve Never Listened To a Pink Floyd Album. Dark Side of the Moon? The Wall? Never listened to them all the way through, just a few songs here and there.
3. They Don’t Get Respect, But I Really Like Tears For Fears. So I’ve dissed Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd, but I’m giving love to Tears For Fears. I’m probably in rock ‘n roll jail for that. Too bad. Great harmonies, fantastic songwriting, unfairly lumped in with lesser pop bands of the same era.
4. I Know I’m Supposed to Bow Down To Their Genius, But I Can’t When It Comes To Robert Pollard, Guided By Voices, and all of his various musical endeavors. 10% of what Bob writes is genius, 90% is either half-baked or self-indulgent. Everyone needs an editor.
5. A Song I Wish I’d Written Is The Good Life by Weezer. Weezer has so many good songs, but this one speaks to me on a personal level. Plus, it’s just a great, smart, pop rock song.
6. My Favorite Crank It And Sing-A-Long In The Car Song Is Birth Ritual by Soundgarden. The best part is, I can’t hear how bad I’m singing when I sing along, because Chris Cornell is so damn loud.
7. A Song I Never Change When It Comes On The Radio Is The Spirit of Radio by Rush. And as my wife Katie will attest, that goes for many Rush songs. Luckily, she’s a good sport and will actually sing along to the “OF SALESMEN!” part in the bridge.
8. A Popular Current Artist/Band Who I’ve Never Actually Heard Is Ke$ha.
9. The One Artist/Band That Can Do No Wrong In My Book Is Greg Dulli. Even Mr. Dulli’s lesser work is still far more interesting than other artists best work.
10. If I Could Be Any Musician For Five Minutes It Would Be Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 playing Wild Thing. Just watch.
Jimi Hendrix - Wild Thing - Monterey '67 from Al Sim on Vimeo.