I have come to the conclusion that I am somewhat of a music snob. Or at the very least someone who thinks they know better than anyone else. I am always willing to listen to anyone's opinion on music and will go off and listen to recommendations, but here's the thing. I get very frustrated when I know something is really good and no-one else is on the same page as me. It's basically all about opinion at the end of the day, so why does it make me feel sad that some really great artists get no exposure whilst other dross is everywhere?
Sound familiar?
I went to gig last night. The artist was very good and the show was a sellout. Although the venue wasn't that big in comparison to the big arenas, it was still a lot of people jammed into a room. Now, this artist isn't really a household name, but fair play, he is very popular in the right circles and has a solid fanbase. I like to see smaller artists doing well, it's what it's all about. My quandary is this. How can someone not relatively known to many sell out a venue, whilst someone else who was say, a massive star in the 90s now not fill a room? It pains me, it really does. I'm not going to name names on this, but regular readers will know who I'm talking about.
I have to think that's it's about what's popular now. Just because that person was big nearly 20 years ago doesn't mean they will have the same appeal now. Good point. But what if the older artists have got better with age and are now doing something really good, but they still don't get the crowds in? What happens then? Is it all about marketing or is it as simple as 'you had your time and now you don't matter anymore'? This is what makes me sigh...
I have been revisiting my musical youth (no, not the band) a lot lately and have come to some interesting conclusions. I was discussing it last night before the gig as I do have a tendency to steer any conversation I have onto music as I love the debate. Anyway. My friend was asking my about musical influences and I said this. I like all genres of music. No doubt about that. But I have always been of the opinion that my roots sit firmly in rock as my overall favourite. However, I am now of the opinion that this may not be the case and my roots actually sit in 90s indie music. There, I've said it. Why do I think this? Well, as I have rambled on in the last few posts, my ongoing love affair with the Bluetones is still in full swing with no sign of slowing down and this made me think about other bands of that time. And you know what, I liked a lot of those too.
There has been a spate of 90s bands reuniting of late with one of the most recent being Ride. I was never really a fan of theirs and in fact I preferred the offshoot band Hurricane #1. Again, just my opinion. Interestingly Hurricane #1 have also reformed are going to be gigging again next year, but without Andy Bell who has now gone back to the reformed Ride. Confused? You will be!
Touring in 2015 apparently
My conversation last night continued with my friend asking me to explain why this music means something to me. I guess to a certain extent it's due to my age and the fact that this is what I was listening to at a particular time. Britpop and/or Indie was massive in the UK in the 90s, but I have to say that I wasn't in awe of all of the bands who come under this banner. There were a lot of one hit wonders and bands that never went anywhere. I remember bands like 'My Life Story', 'Tiger' and 'Babybird' who never really did much past the one song that brought them to our attention. 'Your Woman' by White Town went to number 1 in 1997 and I was one of those people who bought the CD single (remember those?). Yep, it was back when chart position mattered and I think the fact that Mark Radcliffe played the song on his radio show may have helped just a tiny bit. We never heard of White Town again though. Case in point.
Whilst I was digging around for CD's lately I found my rather well worn copy of 'Everything Must Go' by the Manic Street Preachers. Released in 1996 after the disappearance of Richey Edwards, it was an album I listened to over and over again at that time. I was never a big fan of the Manics, but this album means quite a lot to me. I've loved listening to it again and shouting the lyrics out loud whilst I'm doing the washing up (not the ironing)! Below is possibly my favourite track from the album.
I was also reading an article recently on the songs that made the 90s. Basically the ones you should know. As I was going through the list and agreeing with a lot of them, it made me think about when I was at college as this was that era. I vividly remember being in the pub near to college celebrating finishing exams and singing 'Yes' by McAlmont and Butler very loudly. What a track. And when I hear it now it always reminds me of this night and the people I was friends with at that time. One of my oldest friends tried to resurrect this music by organising an Indie night at the local pub. My brother was the DJ (cos that's kind of what he does) and I helped in providing the set list. Great fun for us, but it didn't go down that well and our hopes of a regular night were dashed. Perhaps people want to forget this period of music or maybe it just didn't mean as much as some of the others. Bearing in mind that Ride fans are really excited about this upcoming tour, I think that maybe it's all about the bands and not so much the actual music. For me, I know a Bluetones reunion isn't going to happen and I'd have to put my thinking cap on to think of who else I'd actually like to see again. A lot of my favourites are still together so I guess on that level I can't really complain.
So, am I a music snob? Quite possibly. And what's the silent sigh all about? Well, it's just that really. A feeling of deflation that musicians I love from that period of time are still lurking under the radar, but never getting the recognition they deserve. The latest plastic pop creation can fill the big arenas, whereas an artist of long standing or someone who has a hell of a lot of talent can't even fill a room in a pub now. It makes me sad, but on the plus side I guess it means I'll always get a ticket to the show and a good view! Little victories...
Hey! I'm on the front row!
You can tweet me at @call_me_cynical if you have any comments. Or even follow me if you like. I don't bite and can sometimes even be mildly amusing :0)
I was considering what to write about next last week and the whole cover versions debate came into my head. I was just about recovering from being subjected to hearing a someone sample 'Cecilia' by Simon and Garfunkel and it made me think about what a good cover version is. To be fair The Vamps haven't covered the whole song, they've just pinched the chorus. This song has been covered quite a bit, but the version I most remember is Suggs from 1995. Thing is, I don't remember it so much for the song. I have to admit that the reason I remember it is because Chris Eubank was hosting Top of the Pops when it was in the charts and due to his rather heavy lisp he had a lot of trouble reading out "At Six it's Cecilia by Suggs"...
Apologies to anyone with a lisp, it was the unfortunately chart placing that means it's stuck in my head not the fact that Chris had a speech impediment.
Anyway. Back to cover versions. When I listen to new music nowadays and I hear a sample or cover of an old song it does pain me somewhat if the new version has destroyed the original. As an example, I spent yesterday humming a little bit of a tune in my head as it was frustrating me why Olly Murs new single sounded so familiar. Now I'm not saying he has sampled someone else, but 'Wrapped Up' sounds very much to me like 'Love Come Down' by Evelyn Champagne King at the chorus. So much so that I took to annoying my other half by singing it over the top of Olly's song to prove my point.
It also makes me consider that perhaps new bands or singers don't have the talent to write their own music so they rely on classics to score a hit. Maybe or maybe it's a sure fire way to get them noticed and the managers are just playing it safe. The X Factor seems to rely on a lot of cover versions to score hits, although I don't watch the programme myself as I have other things to do, like watch some paint dry...
Was this always the case though? I'm sure back in the 80s when I was getting into music the issue would have been exactly the same. But I guess being of the age where you listen to that particular band or singer you probably won't know any different and just think 'hey, that's a good song'.
I asked, they told me
So I asked some lovely folk for their opinions on good and bad cover versions and this is what I was told:
"It has to do something different or add something to the original. Chili Peppers took Stevie Wonder's Higher Ground and added a shot of funk. Mark Morriss made Nightcall his own, blasted the original out of the water. If you want bad, then pretty much any One Direction cover takes the hook and loses the feel of the track" - Mike @mike_mimo
"Mindless Self Indulgence almost unfailingly does great covers, as well as Anthrax. 97 Bonnie and Clyde and Enjoy the Silence by Tori Amos. Bad would be Adele doing Love Song by the Cure. Already overdone and her version is pitiful". Michelle @littlehotmess77
"I think it needs to be something different or a really good take on the original without messing it up". Nicole
Now, I did ask Mark Morriss himself what he thought about covers as he has done a fair few himself with and without The Bluetones and is in fact putting together an album of covers which is hopefully being released next year. As somewhat of an expert I asked his opinion, but was told that "He's tied up at the moment, putting some stuff together and finishing off some important work". He was in fact doing his ironing at the time so was a tad preoccupied...! Nice to know that even the rock stars among us take the time to do their own housework. I'm sure his creases are amazing...
Worst superhero ever?
According to the all knowing Wikipedia, 3 different types of entertainers who might do cover versions are tribute acts, cover bands or revivalist artists. Tribute acts are bands who make their living by recreating the works of popular artists (eg, Bjorn Again, the Australian Pink Floyd Show). Cover bands are entertainers who perform a broad variety of crowd pleasing music for audiences on cruise ships or in bars (not sure about this one to be honest). Finally revivalist artists are bands who are inspired by a entire genre of music and dedicate themselves to introducing it to younger audiences who may not have experienced it before (eg, the Blues Brothers). A bit of food for thought there.
There are some bands though who just cannot be covered. I will always moan about people covering Queen songs as I don't think anyone could do it justice to be honest. Freddie Mercury had such an amazing voice and for anyone to try to emanate it, it would always fall short. That's just my own personal opinion though, as is most of what I write.
A few people mentioned that they like to hear something a bit different when an artist is covering a song and I would agree with this. Hearing the Bluetones do a cover of 'Woman in Love' by Barbara Streisand was quite unique as although it was written by the Gibb brothers, I don't think it was intended for a bloke to sing! The same with the Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson duet of 'I Know Him So Well' from the musical Chess. It has been covered by various people, but the one that stands out for me is the John Barrowman version which he recorded with Daniel Boys. Worth a listen I'd say!
Sing along everyone...
I don't think this post is actually answering the question of what makes a good cover version to be honest as I guess it's really all about opinion. Some people will love it, some people will think it's an abomination, but it's their choice. I like some, hate others and have no opinion on the ones that are just a waste of time. Whilst trying to appear a bit professional and researching online for some examples I came across the video below by Okkervil River. It's a cover of the 80's song 'Dance Hall Days' orginally by Wang Chung. It was listed in Paste as one of the best covers of 2013 and stated that with horn section and Will Sheff's unmistakable low-croon, it could slip by in a live set without younger fans knowing any better. Very true.
So to recap, basically it's all about opinion. I'll leave you with the best response I got to my quest for insight on covers which comes from Adam Devlin, guitarist extraordinaire. He summed it up very succinctly as "the good covers are good, the bad ones are bad and the TV ad 80s acoustic covers are the ugly". Amazing...
So, I wrote a post a while ago about the concept of an album changing your life. It was an interesting piece to consider so I have decided to take this a little bit further and talk about the bands that have had an influence on my musical experiences over the years. We all have a favourite band (or group if you like), but why are they your favourites? Have they changed your life completely or do you just buy their albums because you feel obliged to as a fan even though sometimes you may think they may have sold out? Let's ponder those thoughts a little bit.
Bands, bands, bands
I have mentioned my all time favourite band numerous times, but for those of you who don't know it is and always will be Crowded House. As a band they have bubbled under the surface since they formed nearly 30 years ago and it does seem to me that folks are embarrassed to admit that they dig their music. Neil Finn said recently "I have written some good songs. Don't ever apologise to your hip friends for liking them. They'll be singing them in a karaoke bar someday". I would never apologise for the fact Neil has written some down right amazing songs or for the fact that he is my hero. When someone has been in the music business as long as he has (don't forget he joined Split Enz in the late 70s) I think he deserves the utmost respect for his songwriting ability and longevity of his career. The band have been through some changes over the years and we've seen different line ups, but they will always remain in my heart as my all time number 1. Why? Well, because for starters Neil is a true master of his art. I watched him in awe on his solo tour earlier this year commanding the stage (and a rather large stage it was too) while he sat and played the piano completely alone. Not many artists can hold the audience completely spellbound in that way, but Neil does it with ease. One of the many reasons why I will never tire of the music he produces with or without the band.
I have to admit, I now struggle to name a second favourite band as honestly, I like so many others I don't think there is a clear winner. My taste has changed over the years and I'll get into a new band (like recently Alter Bridge) and then immerse myself in their back catalogue (if they have one) and get to grips with their style.
For many years I would always name Barenaked Ladies as my second choice, but now I'm not so sure. They are definitely up there, but I have to admit that after Steven Page left the band my interest faded slightly. His was the voice I tuned into and as much as I love the output from the rest of the band, it was his voice that drew me to them in the first place. Without him it just hasn't been the same. Don't get me wrong, I've still been to see them live without him and thoroughly enjoyed it as they are great performers, but it was just missing that something. His solo work is not too bad, but didn't really set the world on fire, although his album does have some really great tracks on it and I enjoy listening to it when it pops up on my iPod.
Fall Out Boy are another band that feature heavily in my playlists. I got into them when 'Folie A Deux' was released and once again it was the voice of Patrick Stump that hooked me in for the long haul. I was a background fan for many years, liked their stuff, but didn't go overboard with them really. This was until the made their comeback from hiatus and released 'Save Rock and Roll' last year. It was a well received album and they have been on the up ever since winning awards and gaining a whole new fanbase in the process. Interestingly though, just last week I was sent an interview that DJ Annie Mac gave where she informed the public that she couldn't stand FOB and that she actually found them 'offensive'. No idea why she feels this way, and although everyone is of course entitled to their own opinion, to say they are offensive is a bit much. They don't have rude lyrics, swear or degrade people so it's a bit much to state such a fact if you ask me. Anyway, during their enforced break Patrick released a solo album and EP which are both very good. Unfortunately the public didn't seem to agree and the album wasn't met with much success. I've never really understood why it didn't do better than it did as it's actually a really great piece of work. He did absolutely everything himself and you can tell that it's been lovingly put together. I was lucky enough to see Fall Out Boy when they played the Download festival this year and they do give a great show. Let's hope there's more to come from them next year.
Behold, the greatness that is Fall Out Boy
The last post I wrote on this blog was about the return to my youth in the 90s and my continuing love affair with the Bluetones. They therefore have to feature on this list as a band that mean something important to my life. They are nothing if not a quandary for me though. Massive success when they burst into the British charts in the mid 90s, followed by some lows, then success again and finally the sad conclusion that it was all over. I still find this hard to take and feel that perhaps the public weren't paying attention hard enough cos you know what? They were bloody awesome! Lumped in with the whole Britpop scene (which they weren't at all) they hit us with the jangly guitar of the wonderful Adam Devlin and lyrics which were something to behold. I followed them through their career, but was never fortunate enough to see them play live which is something I will always regret bitterly. I have, however been lucky enough to see lead singer and all round top bloke Mark Morriss play his solo material live (and Adam was with him so it was 2 for the price of 1!!) and I am doing so again very soon. Both Mark and Adam are kind enough to put up with my stupid ramblings on Twitter and I feel very privileged to be able to communicate with them both especially as I have been a fan of theirs for nearly 20 years and will continue to be for the foreseeable future (or until they get fed up of me pestering them)...
What platform for the last train to Clarksville guys?
So, who else? Other bands I've followed from the start include Counting Crows, The Gin Blossoms, Hootie and the Blowfish, Ben Folds Five, the list goes on. Lots of American acoustic style rock bands seemed to be my genre of choice in the 90s/00s. From a British point of view I love bands such as Squeeze, Genesis, The Divine Comedy, Teenage Fanclub, The Smiths, Del Amitri and the wonderful Turin Brakes.
It was being a fan of Turin Brakes which earned me some cool points a few years back as a ex mate of mine was trying to appear 'down with the kids' and asked me to name some good music so she could impress her workmates. I reeled off a load of stuff including the aforementioned Brakes and she told me she was greeted with "that's impressive actually, maybe she does know a thing or two". Yes, I certainly do thank you very much indeed.
I'm actually listening to a lot of Turin Brakes at the moment to be honest as their latest album is fab (We Were Here - check it out) and lead singer Olly Knights has a solo album called 'If Not Now When' which he lovingly put together in his own home using a very unique and personal recording style. I watched a documentary on the production of this album and it was a moving and inspirational journey for him and made me consider that perhaps not all music is constructed by faceless producers for the masses. This was a labour of love for him and a legacy that he could be proud of. It made me hopeful for the future of the industry and confirmed to me that there are still musicians out there who care about what they do on a higher level and these are the people we should be following with interest. Watch the documentary below.
I guess there are also the 'classic' bands that most people like (or say they like cos if you don't you appear to be an idiot) like the Beatles, Queen, the Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin etc. I love all of these by the way. We also have to give consideration to other such bands as Guns 'n Roses, Oasis, and even Coldplay and U2. Yes, bloody Coldplay and egomaniacal carnival ride that is U2. People seem to buy their albums and get them to the top of the charts, but whenever I speak to anyone, no-one actually seems to like them! So who is buying their bloody music then?? It can only be because people feel they 'should'. I never buy anything just for the kudos of it. It has to be something I am interested in and enjoy listening to otherwise what's the point? My CD collection is for me and no-one else and I don't feel the need to impress someone with my choices so they'll think that I'm cool. I mean, come on. Everybody already knows that I am...
Anyway, there are are tons and tons of other bands that could be mentioned in this post, but it would then go on forever and I have other things to do. I'm sure you all have your favoutites and that there are reasons why you particularly like them so think about it, chat about it with your friends and keep the conversation going. Or tweet me about it if you want. I'm always up for the debate.
