That's a whole other sore subject for me....I've got issues with the Beatles, too....or ...maybe not them, but their 'legacy', popularity and deification.

America's answer to the Beatles was the Blues.....it just took the Stones, the Who, the Animals, etc. to rockify them...never mind that they were British, too

two worthy posts ^^^

For a change of pace

Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power

Sometimes the voices must be drowned out

It took me a while to really cozy up to the entire album. In the days of vinyl and when I bought my first stereo cassette recorder, I picked and chose the songs from albums. At the time, “Pet Sounds” was no different than almost any other record. When it came out on CD, the light came on and I started to understand the “concept” part better.

I also think it’s hard to look back 50+ years later and try to understand the impact it had when it hit the shelves. The times were completely different and the thought that an album had a “theme” was totally foreign to the industry, let alone the general public. Plus, Brian was using instruments and sounds that no one had used before. I mean, a theremin? Wtf is a theremin? Or using a guitar plugged into a Leslie? Dogs barking? A train? To say that this was ahead of its time is a slight understatement.

I dunno, you love it, hate it, get it, don’t get it, doesn’t matter. Everyone’s taste is different, that’s what makes life interesting. I love vocal harmonies, I love power guitar solos, I hate rap, I don’t get EDM, but they all have their place in the world.



Southside Chicago blues? Muddy, Howlin’ Wolf, John Lee Hooker Buddy Guy, etc. The Blues had a baby and they called it Rock ‘n Roll. The English groups certainly helped popularize electric blues but the elements of rock were already there. But it is ironic that it took them to expose that genre to the world.

I agree with most, Conan. With music more than most things, we’re a product of our environment. My tastes were being shaped on the down side of Beatles and Beach Boys popularity. My early impression of Beach Boys received an unfairly large dent due to a simple circumstance. As a pre-teen, my grandparents had an old Wurlitzer in the basement and one of my favorite 45’s was Barbara Ann. My later exposures to them found them lacking on two major fronts, to me. They weren’t the blues based band of the early 60’s that I thought they were….and the classification as surf music frustrated me, since I loved Ventures, Safaris, ****** Dale type surf guitar music and blamed the Beach Boys for ‘corrupting’ the genre. So, I guess, to me, it was always more about what they ‘weren’t’ than taking them at face value. By the time I was starting to buy music, I was listening to AOR and buying J Geils, Edgar Winter, Zep, Chicago, Doobies, BTO; even America, James Taylor, Elton John, Frampton, Rod. I feel, maybe subconsciously, that Beach Boys and Beatles lack of blues guitar influences meant they weren’t worthy of their elevation….IDK. So, I fly my hypocrite flag with pride while saying everybody’s tastes are different and worthy….but, under my breath whispering that mine are better 🙂
I don't hate rap, though, I demand some original musicality (melody and rhythm) if I'm to listen; I do hate almost all electronic/dance music and cannot begin to defend it. I respect classical and truly enjoyed playing in orchestras, but I rarely have the patience demanded to listen to it -- doesn't work at all as background music for me. Tried a bit of opera in recent years and found I can admire vocal talent while despising the music.
I had zero aptitude for music theory and now wish that wasn't the case. I think that I could be a lot more open minded if I could intelligently analyze more music. I really admire the breadth of your music interests and knowledge.

Gary Clark Jr. - Blak and Blu

First listen. Good, entertaining, but a bit scattershot. You get earthy blues, country, rock, honky tonk, R&B....on successive songs

Dave, thanks for that last sentence in the prior post but I’m just a guy that loves music and happened to work in the record business for a few years right after high school. I was lucky enough to be exposed to a wide range of music early on and have the people I worked with to thank.

The O’Jays - The Essential O’Jays

I was talking to a former co-worker about their 2019 Compensation Plan and quoted a couple lines from “Backstabbers” (...in reference to Corporate America...) so it prompted me to give the O’Jays a listen.

75F / 78% RH / 10 mph - although overcast for most of the day, it was still a bit warm

“

I've gained recently renewed appreciation for the O'Jays -- another group I unfairly put in a box that I set aside (I included Love Train in list of songs I disliked because I felt they caused disco.)

I'm currently listening to Chris Stapleton - Tennessee Whiskey.....there's money changing hands for this tune -- doesn't matter what Pandora station I am listening to, this song pops up -- today its on Black Keys....yesterday it was Neil Young....Saturday it was Van Morrison

The Stooges - Raw Power

Raw, yes but pure adrenaline on Search & Destroy and Need Somebody is sexy as hel. Always liked me some Iggy

Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (Original Soundtrack)

Gonna have to check Netflix for this.

73F / 70% RH / very light breeze

Listened/watched The Wrecking Crew last night...with extras, there's over 4 hours of fascinating music and history. Was some great, timely emphasis on the genius of Brian Wilson. Same studio musicians on Beach Boys songs as on Byrds music....funny.

Just listened to Angry Eyes and Can't You Hear Me Knockin back to back....always loved both songs, especially for the jams....just didn't realize until now how eerily similar they are

Megadosing on the Pixies after awhile away from them with some Breeders mixed in.

yeah, I'm a Kim Deal fan. Paz does a good job too so if they come near here I might go see them.

But, you just made me completely flash back to my best friend from high school. Need to check up on that bastid

*Bur not but

War - All Day Music

The title track from this album is one of the iconic songs from my long ago youth.

74F / 76% / 9 mph - felt the a Summer day - high was 85

Foghat - Energized

Nothing like some mid-70s English rock. Really enjoyed Rod Price on slide guitar.

77F / 66% RH / 13 mph - slightly overcast but otherwise perfect day for a cigar out in the garage

Slipknot The Subliminal Verses