The Friday Morning Listen
Published July 29, 2005
Then there's the issue of musicianship: that one group/artist is somehow better and/or more deserving because their successful use of certain songwriting devices combined with an 'acceptable' level of chops. So obviously a group like Styx were 'better' musicians than say (to use Al Barger's example), Iggy Pop. That conclusion leaves out all sorts of other reasons that people become enamored of tunes: passion, power, aggression, lust. Iggy, being the appropriately named 'Godfather of Punk' had all of those traits in spades. That and a killer growl of a voice. It was like the man was possessed or somethin'!
Lastly, there's the nostalgia factor. Sorry, but I can't get away from this. It applies to nearly every single recording in my collection. The Grand Illusion has attached to it my cousin Andy's bedroom (where I first heard Pat Metheny while getting my game-pacifist ass kicked in backgammon...but hey, he had a cool Styx poster on the wall), the television ads for Styx at the Moncton Coliseum (WLBZ 2, Bangor, Maine), the time I saw them in concert with my old buddy Tyler (on the Pieces of Eight tour, where we stopped on the side of the Maine Turnpike just outside of Augusta to lob full bottles of beer at a huge exit sign....we missed), Dennis DeYoung's piano rising from the chemical fog during the intro to "Come Sail Away", Chuck Panozzo calling a crowd member a "big fucking asshole" for hitting him in the face with a bottlecap, my confused reaction to the release of Cornerstone, my even more confused reaction to the release of Kilroy Was Here. All of those thoughts are there, they just can't be denied.
And, like William Hurt's character said in The Big Chill:
- You're so analytical! Sometimes you just have to let art flow over you.
Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. On his best day, he hopes to channel the ghosts of Lester Bangs and Jack Kerouac. He spends the hours of 9:32PM to 1:37AM carving out music reviews and essays for Jazz.com, Blogcritics.org and other publications.
- The Friday Morning Listen
- Published: July 29, 2005
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Part of a feature: Friday Morning Listen
- Writer: Mark Saleski
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...but in a world this big it's hard to find something that doesn't have at least one ardent fan.
It's always been a theory of me and my friend DD Blank that every band ever formed has at least one fan that thinks the band is the greatest in the world.
This band has thousands of fans. I've been a fan for over 28 years and I will see them live (again) next week. If you haven't listened to Grand Illusions, Pieces of Eight, Cyclorama and Big Bang Theory (for starters) do yourself a favor, get them and give them a listen. Better yet, go to a STYX concert and be prepared to rock!
Well, well, well, well, well....
To the people that posted "one ardent fan". Quit posting. If you are going to be taken seriously, you must be intelligent in your poise and state facts, not ignorance. Styx had and still has, more fans than most groups around today. To say "one ardent fan" is ignorant and plain wrong. If you are correct, then that one fan is bringing all his friends to the concerts because they sure are selling out.
I re-iterate that simple "chops" meaning just a fancy technical proficiency at playing an instrument don't necessarily mean anything. Indeed, that would be a very shallow defense of an act. Chuck Berry still beats the crap out of ELP.
Indeed, "passion, power, aggression, lust" are great things in music. But all of those things are being expressed through singing and playing of instruments. Some minimal technical proficiency thus comes into play. If you only know three chords, and your vocal range less than half an octave, you do not have the minimal competence for musical greatness.
The song (composition) and the musicianship are the basic foundations on which all that other stuff rides. If there's no real song, and you don't have decent technical proficiency, then none of that other stuff even comes into play.
The tension in the group was between Tommy Shaw, the guitarist starting around 1975, and DeYoung. The song Babe came off their '79 album, exactly the kind of stuff that Shaw hated. The shit really hit the fan with "Kilroy was Here," which led to Shaw's departure, and a critical lambasting.
"no real song" al, is in the eyes of the beyolder.
and if you're going use the three chords and limited vocal range thing, are you going to apply it to Hank Williams as well?
Mark, "no real song" is partly in the eye of the beholder. Different strokes for different folks. But "no real song" is in some significant part objective. There's some math, if you will, under music, logic and structure and patterns. I feel fairly reasonable in proclaiming that "Born to Run" is OBJECTIVELY a better song than "In Da Club," to pick a crappy modern hit at random.
Speaking of the songs especially, separate from the performance, I've heard precious little tunewise that was distinctive compositionally from Iggy.
Knowing more chords and theory and whatnot doesn't mean you've got anything to say, but it does strongly tend to give you a broader palette from which to express yourself. On the other hand, yes, Hank Williams made magic from the very simplest primary elements. He might have only used mostly a handful of basic chords, but he sure knew what to do with them.
I feel fairly reasonable in proclaiming that "Born to Run" is OBJECTIVELY a better song than "In Da Club,"
well, we'll never agree here but...so, i don't agree. it's a DIFFERENT song. better is left as an exercise to the listener.
I've heard precious little tunewise that was distinctive compositionally from Iggy.
and that is exactly the issue. YOU can't hear it....that doesn't mean it's not there.
Interesting point about not bothering to post a negative review, Mark.
I think a negative review is worth posting, but I think a critic should keep in mind his/her place in the creative universe.
I think the most important part of any review is not the opinion itself, but the reason behind it. I read a negative review of an Allman Bros. Band album. The reason for the negativity? Too much guitar. Too much guitar? I love the guitar work of the ABB - that's the kind of negative I like. Because the critic explained what he did not like about the album, I was able to make an informed choice on my own.
"You're so analytical! Sometimes you just have to let art flow over you."
I love it!
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I still think some music is objectively hideous, but in a world this big it's hard to find something that doesn't have at least one ardent fan.