dum dum dum dum dumb dumb
erm, one of the least effective criticisms of any rock act is that they're too stupid. a lot, if not all, good rock and roll is stupid. or at least has elements of stupidness. And it doesn't have to be knowingly stupid (prog) or even knowingly not smart (electric eels) or even just plain stupid (most rock). stupidity is ingrained in rock given that at it's most effective it's just riffs and rhythm and maybe a hook. the music of the rolling stones is stupid, the ramones is stupid, the beatles, elvis, chuck berry, modern lovers, hawkwind, and prog heads are actually stupider than most (given their self-deception) and ultimately just make stupid music too, or bad music.
whatever, i'm getting distracted, because the two significantly stupid rock records i've purchased recently are the recent 3xcd live led zeppelin collection 'how the west was won' and the afterbirth 7" "who's in there?" with the classic song "mr. louis". stupid in two different ways and not of equal merit in rock terms.
Easy one first: Afterbirth are idiots, the music is sub-moronic, the lyrics are offensive, and generally the whole affair has the feel of really stupid guys with really backward ideas trying to make the most offensive record possible. I showed someone the lyrics and then tried to explain the appeal being "You know, the lyrics are borderline misogynistic/homophobic but...," the reply being "Borderline?" Yeah, so this isn't something that you play for your parents or a future soulmate on a first-date. That is unless you really want to test'em, separate the wheat from the chafe, etc. There is some debate about the sincerity of the whole affair but at least it can be said with certainty that Afterbirth intended to be offensive. Oh well, it does have the single greatest guitar solo ever written. How far is this really from say the Electric Eels, or even early Half Jap or saaaaay everyone's favority GG Allin.
On another point of stupidly offensive music (for cool kids but you know, not most people) is stuff like Led Zeppelin (or Grand Funk Railroad or Iron Butterfly or Jimi Hendrix (for different reasons) or Cream). Blatantly LCD music for the masses, or actually not lowest common denominator, because wouldn't that be MOR pop of some kind. Led Zepp is nothing if not extreme in it's stance, maxed out on stereotypical dude rock. But low and behold, if it rocks it rocks 'cuz for me it's all about the riffs. and if you like your riffs in your hardcore and faux-pseudo revival rock, most recent Load release, etc, how can you not honestly, with a straight-face, like the biggest riff monster of all time? They didn't invent the riff, or even the heavy riff, but they did a lot with it. And Bonham plays some heavy funky beats.
This is me calling out all you folks who swear by Black Sabbath and choose to dismiss Led Zeppelin. It's just inconsistent.
whatever, i'm getting distracted, because the two significantly stupid rock records i've purchased recently are the recent 3xcd live led zeppelin collection 'how the west was won' and the afterbirth 7" "who's in there?" with the classic song "mr. louis". stupid in two different ways and not of equal merit in rock terms.
Easy one first: Afterbirth are idiots, the music is sub-moronic, the lyrics are offensive, and generally the whole affair has the feel of really stupid guys with really backward ideas trying to make the most offensive record possible. I showed someone the lyrics and then tried to explain the appeal being "You know, the lyrics are borderline misogynistic/homophobic but...," the reply being "Borderline?" Yeah, so this isn't something that you play for your parents or a future soulmate on a first-date. That is unless you really want to test'em, separate the wheat from the chafe, etc. There is some debate about the sincerity of the whole affair but at least it can be said with certainty that Afterbirth intended to be offensive. Oh well, it does have the single greatest guitar solo ever written. How far is this really from say the Electric Eels, or even early Half Jap or saaaaay everyone's favority GG Allin.
On another point of stupidly offensive music (for cool kids but you know, not most people) is stuff like Led Zeppelin (or Grand Funk Railroad or Iron Butterfly or Jimi Hendrix (for different reasons) or Cream). Blatantly LCD music for the masses, or actually not lowest common denominator, because wouldn't that be MOR pop of some kind. Led Zepp is nothing if not extreme in it's stance, maxed out on stereotypical dude rock. But low and behold, if it rocks it rocks 'cuz for me it's all about the riffs. and if you like your riffs in your hardcore and faux-pseudo revival rock, most recent Load release, etc, how can you not honestly, with a straight-face, like the biggest riff monster of all time? They didn't invent the riff, or even the heavy riff, but they did a lot with it. And Bonham plays some heavy funky beats.
This is me calling out all you folks who swear by Black Sabbath and choose to dismiss Led Zeppelin. It's just inconsistent.
posted by furtanic at 2:12 PM
3 Comments:
hey how do you feel about MOUNTAIN?
mountain is a group i've heard mention of a couple times as good 70's heaviness. i haven't heard enough to make a good judgement though.
not only do I like Zeppelin, I'll go you one better-- i actually have that 3xcd set!! i could do without the 19 minute drum solo masquerading as "moby dick," though... You should DEFINITELY check out Mountain.
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