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Up to the minute notes on the current state of free thinking and free living: Kentucky moonshine - original analysis and reporting from MoreThings, and all round pop culture museum of sight and sound - photo galleries, mp3 and video downloads.
Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
Live free or die!
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February 15, 2003
"What's Going On": The stupidest protest song ever
Seeing What's Going On listed as classic protest music, please note that the title song in particular has perhaps the most ignorant, trite excuse for a lyric of any major pop song.
Marvin Gaye was no war protester, or civil rights activist. He gave not a rat's ass about politics. I don't recall him marching in Selma. This is not a criticism; there are other things in life than social protest.
In 1970, however, he apparently felt the need to be "socially relevant" as the wind was blowing in those days. So, he got some words expressing a broad liberal position, and VOILA! He's a protest singer.
Now, the tune is great, the production and performance are spot on. He was a singin', songwritin' SOB. You really can't argue against the record. Marvin was a talented musician. I've spent a good many hours listening to Marvin, and I'm glad of it.
Father, father, we don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer, for only love can conquer hate
However, "only love can conquer hate" constitutes a really stupid, cheap SENTIMENT, just as trite and deleterious to your ability to deal effectively with reality as the mushy love songs Frank Zappa bitched about. It's absolutely, objectively factually not true. Often the only thing that can conquer hate is getting a big gun and shooting the hater. Why, if we would just get together with Hussein and Bin Laden, hold hands and sing Kum-ba-frickin'-ya, it'd all be fine.
Then, consider such lyrics as "Who are they to judge us just because our hair is long?" Really. When did Marvin have long hair? He was just sucking up to the hippie establishment, trying to be cool.
Then consider the cheap supposedly "progressive" laundry list that gets pasted in for lyrics in the rest of the album. Particularly egregious to any proper sense of decency and geometry, "Let's save the children. Let's save all the children." Oh, HELL no. I'm against that. I say we feed 'em to the whales- then we EAT the whales!
Truly, it's generally asking too much to make any kind of specific political arguments in a song. Music is about emotional expression, not logical argumentation. If you want to make a serious political statement, write a book or a newspaper column or something.
Smooth grooves, though.
posted by Al at 2/15/2003 04:24:00 PM
February 13, 2003
Top Records of 2002
What were the best songs of 2002? The Oracle of Laurel aka ol' Al has spoken. The correct answers:
1) Get Over It - OK Go
The underlying song has an outstanding power pop melody. The lyrical viewpoint of the song is bracing rather than saccharine or whiny. This may be the best song that Ray Davies never wrote.
2) We Are Going to Be Friends - White Stripes
They dropped a clean, pretty, quiet schoolyard love story in the middle of all the alternative rock. It's a tender and catchy tune. The lyrics are pure but direct and simple poetry. And unlike many modern pop records, this song is entirely appropriate for even very young children.
3) Makes You Feel That Way - Blackalicious
There's actually some songwriting under this deal. It may be the most uplifting rap record you'll ever hear. One funny thing about most rap: despite being so overwhelmingly about words, the big majority of rap lyrics are exceedingly redundant and stupid. Besides having a tune, these words are actually imaginative and poetic. They even read good on the page.
4) Hate to Say I Told You So - The Hives
This recording gives you the best of a couple of worlds: the shrieking abandon of good old fashioned punk rock- along with the skillfully sculpted songwriting very few punk acts ever achieved.
5) When I Was Cruel No. 2 - Elvis Costello
Long, slow trip hop electronic groovery in the classic title song of his latest album sets up long and twisted but memorable melodic phrases. The whole thing throbs with an involuntary empathy for just the type of petty scheming entertainment industry jackasses whom he has classically regarded as his most hated enemies throughout his career. "Things were so much easier when I was cruel."
6) Hot in Herre - Nelly
Doggone, but there's a smooth, catchy tune running under this dance floor monster. Those spare guitar chords cast some nice harmonic accents into the rhythm. Also, he sets up a really classic image leading to the best lyrical hook of his career, describing the girl dancing in front of her mirror at home, talking to her girlfriend on the phone, declaring "I think my butt's getting big."
7) Stairway to Heaven - Dolly Parton
This recording is not as unlikely an idea as you might imagine. "Stairway to Heaven" by rights was really a folk song guilded in fancy Led Zeppelin guitar work. Dolly brings out the more pastoral aspects of the song. The arrangement is intricate and flawless, her voice as good or better than ever.
8) Without Me - Eminem
The guy's getting substantially overexposed and overrated. Geez, he's probably already sold more records than James Brown. Nonetheless, this is one of the top good time jams of the year. It's got a real song underneath the rhythmic elements, strong hooks, and probably his best ever lyrical celebration of the pure joy of bad-boyism. Note the distinctly celebratory natue of this song versus the free floating anti-social anger of, say, "The Real Slim Shady." It also has an exceptional video.
9) Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground - White Stripes
Real rock and roll romance, a strong tune, and some harsh guitar for that extra dramatic edge.
10) John Walker's Blues - Steve Earle
Personally, I think John Walker Lyndh deserved to be shot. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. Despite me being really unsympathetic to the idea, the actual song is probably the best thing Earle's written in a dozen years or more.
Honorable mention also to "The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash; "My Ride's Here" by Warren Zevon; "Lose Yourself" by Eminem; "The Last DJ" by Tom Petty; "Tear Off Your Own Head", "Alibi", and "Episode of Blonde" by Elvis Costello; "None of Us Are Free" by Solomon Burke; and "Lord Franklin" by Sinead O'ConnorLabels: johnny_cash
posted by Al at 2/13/2003 01:22:00 PM
February 11, 2003
It was FORTY years ago today
On February 11, 1963 the Beatles recorded 10 tracks for their 1st album, including the title song "Please, Please Me."
posted by Al at 2/11/2003 02:49:00 PM
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