Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Time Warp

None of this matters, but because it doesn’t I’m not sure why I wrote my original post on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - yet rather than simply delete it, the bit between my teeth has made me bite a little harder and I have this to try and spit it out: how can Guns N’ Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aerosmith and Van Halen get inducted before Deep Purple? The Rock Space Time Continuum isn’t anywhere near as complex as on Star Trek so there is something silly here defying the Basic Laws of Rock Physics.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2013 Nominations

Haven't Really Got A Clue

When I first heard the nominees for next year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame I got my kneejerk opinions sucked in to the circus by both a sense of obvious support for some and then dismay at others, before I remembered being aroused when I bothered, I think last year, to find out who had and hadn’t already been inducted over the years when today’s poles of reaction where rocket-launched to gratified satisfaction and incredulous outrage.

This time round the new nominees are Rush, Deep Purple, N.W.A., Public Enemy, Albert King, The Marvelettes, Procol Harum, and these join the previously nominated acts Chic, Heart, Kraftwerk, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Randy Newman, Donna Summers, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The Meters.

In tackling the above list and considering offering an opinion one has to first decide whether to accept any or all of the nominations. That of course is impossible without recall to who is already in, and I can’t in all honesty be assed, so in accepting the premise that these are logical nominations, one can at least engage in offering views on who should and shouldn’t be considered from this list.

Not one to ever shy from expressing musical opinions – which would make writing this blog a non-starter – I did suddenly realise how subjective these would necessarily be, but not just because of the simple if critical factor of liking or disliking a nominee. It is more complex than that, obviously. The most evident aspect is whether I actually know the music well enough of any one nominee, and for quite a few I don’t! This being the case I couldn’t really comment that expansively on Rush, N.W.A., Public Enemy, The Marvelettes, Chic, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and The Meters.

Removing those from the list makes the job of choosing easier if you don’t mind cheating. Some speculation would concede that Rush has a significant fan base, Heart equally so and an importance for their role as female exponents of Rock [is that sexist, really?], and The Meters are perhaps the most distinctive in their contribution to and influence upon a genre in music.

Of the rest, it seems to me that Albert King gets a free pass because he’s Albert King. After that, as it’s Rock, Deep Purple should have been inducted long ago, Kraftwerk are ripe candidates because of their innovations, Randy Newman should be there if other singer/songwriters are because he is one of the greatest though I am not a huge fan in terms of how much I actually listen to him, and Paul Butterfield Blues Band should also have been inducted long ago. Donna Summers? As performer/purveyor of a new sound? You tell me.

My biggest personal surprise is in querying if I’d put Procol Harum in. I’m sure if I did revisit who already is a famer I’d definitely push them in. If it was for one enduring brilliant song, I’d push them in. But when I think about their albums as a whole and the impact they have made, I don’t readily recall that impact.

If you want to have your wider say, you can do so here: http://rockhall.com/get-involved/interact/poll/

 

Trixie Whitley - NoiseTrade Mixtape

Listening To Ladies

I’m currently working through a GCSE English Literature remark which is a drag – not the process itself, because righting wrongs is one of the many positive aspects of the job, contrary to the moronic judgements of it from many who know little – but because at the moment there is so much good music from female vocalists I want to spend time listening to.

There’s Lucy Kruger who released her debut album near the end of September, sounding like a slightly country version of Tracey Chapman; there’s the two Beths, Hart and Orton, who have just released very strong albums [BH on this week’s Later....with Jools]; Tift Merritt’s fine latest; Natasha Khan of Bats for Lashes and her imminent release along with the same from Martha Wainwright, and then there is newcomer Angel Snow whose debut eponymous album introduces another truly strong female voice to wipe away my dismay of all those wispy affected and slurred pretenders out there [a running gripe, and my aural jury is out on Ellie Goulding who I watched on Channel 4 last night, which reminds me to mention the intelligent and lovely singer/songwriter Lianne La Havas who also appeared].

I refer to Snow just before mentioning the main subject of this planned quick post [the marking is on the table waiting, and this was meant to be a brief break], but as I checked my emails I just received another notification from NoiseTrade advertising a free download of Trixie Whitley, the superb gutsy vocalist I reviewed recently in her work with Daniel Lanois as Black Dub. I’m listening now and it contains two songs from her forthcoming album in January as well as live cuts, like another hearing of the superb I’d Rather Go Blind recorded at the Engine Room. Yesterday I downloaded a free ep of live recordings from Angel Snow which adds to my newfound respect for this artist.

So as well as praising all these heard and yet to hear female artists, with Trixie Whitley in particular, I am also praising NoiseTrade and its facility for artists to promote themselves [artists get your name and zip code/post code in exchange so I guess email promotion could mushroom if you download loads - but you can always unsubscribe to these]. I’ve just found their site and will download more – how could you not – and with the Trixie I did give a donation of $6 as they request [they call it a 'tip' which is clever], but there’s clearly no compulsion. I didn’t for the Angel Snow which I will instead be reviewing, and I will see for the others. It’s a great and effective promotional tool at NoiseTrade and a slight variation on the move for artists to self-promote on the internet, often looking for backers in order to actually fund recordings and releases and offering signed copies of releases along with other extras to these backers. You can find NoiseTrade here http://noisetrade.com/?dc=Nbkhzf including the Trixie download. 

Baseball

Reading poems about baseball tonight I thought

I’d toss one in the air and take a swing even after

all these years and living in the wrong country.

Perhaps it’s like riding a bike and the first hit’s a

home run, the second a homespun metaphor,

and there you go: a rhyme gets caught out running

just like the high ball gloved and held in the outfield.

My two voices tag-team an idea trying to steal a base

and it’s another out, only one more left in this innings

where even the hot dog vendor is running out of

mustard. So far it has all been for the big show,

a major league attempt by a minor still at third base

remembering that one call to the pitcher’s mound -

how easy it would be to throw the mitt to the earth.

The Temperance Movement - Pride ep

Rock'n'stay

It's an obvious result, but goggling 'the temperance movement' to get information on this band produces details in stark contrast with the stereotype of a rock'n'roll lifestyle....

Having heard their single Only Friend on Planet Rock today, I made that search, found the band's site and paid £10 for a signed copy of their current ep Pride which includes a free download [the digital download on its own is only £4, cheaper than amazon] and have listened to it a couple of enjoyable times. I still can't find exact information on who is who and who plays what [there's no biog on their site, and Wikipedia having not yet caught up with the band informs instead on that antithetical alcohol abstinence], but the lead singer who I'm guessing is Phil Campbell has a lot of the Burton Cummings about his vocal - and a little of Jim 'Dandy' Mangrum - but it is the former mirrored tone that is particularly distinctive.

The band of Phil Campbell, Nick Fyffe, Luke Potashnick, Paul Sayer and Damon Wilson play retro rock so there's the immediate appeal, obvious if you have been following recent posts here, but also quite simply if you have been following contemporary musical trends. On this ep, opener Ain't No Telling is a jaunty, climbing-beat rocker that introduces that Cummings-rasp of a vocal. This is followed by the Planet Rock supported Only Friend which is equally rock-generic with a single drum stomp laying down the chugging rhythm beneath a Facesesque guitar riff [RW then] and it is on this track that I hear an echo of Black Oak Arkansas - so the influences, direct or indirect, provide solid company. Third Pride is a slower number that provides a softer tone to the vocal, but one that confirms its fine qualities.

The five songs on the ep were written and recorded quite quickly into the band's formation in 2011 and it will be interesting to hear the full album when released. In having to surmise quite a bit about this band I'd chance it that they impact most live at the moment. This ep provides solid enough evidence of their quality as performers and some gift in their writing that recreates a rock sound from the early 70s. If that reads as tentative I'd remind you that I've gone for the signed physical copy of their ep as they sound to me as if they're here to rock'n'stay.

Wishbone Ash, Exeter Corn Exchange, 7th October, 2012

Reality Over Retro

I have been waxing lyrical of late about the current rock/psychedelia musical renaissance and will, no doubt, continue to do so. However, if it is possible to still see and hear the original, then that is an opportunity to grab with relish and I therefore strongly recommend catching Wishbone Ash on their current Elegant Stealth tour.

Formed in 1969, this band has written some of the finest melodic rock tracks out there and performed these then – and now – with exquisite twin guitars and west coast harmonies. Last night’s performance was a knock-out with the tightest harmonies but more impressively the sublime guitar work of both Andy Powell and Muddy Manninen – their duel on the perfect rendition of Phoenix, from side two of their debut eponymous album, simply stunning. This current guitar line-up is ably supported by Bob Skeat on those fine harmony vocals and bass, and Joe Crabtree on excellent drumming and percussion duties.

The band has over its 40 years undergone significant line-up changes and there are in fact two incarnations: last night’s, and original member and named Martin Turner’s Wishbone Ash. I can’t speak for the latter, but Andy Powell’s embrace of the band’s history – and their current output – is superb, and he is the single original member to have consistently straddled the band’s fluctuating membership. The Corn Exchange set was bookended by The King Will Come and Blowin’ Free, both from the band’s third and their most successful album, third Argus, and it’s genuinely one of those nostalgic aural reveries to hear such a classic like Blowin’ Free being played live and with such pristine presence. Other blasts from a significant past were Warrior, Lady Jay and Jail Bait. 

I picked up a copy of their latest release Elegant Stealth and will be reviewing that soon. This morning I have been listening to a bootleg copy of a recent gig in the States [April, 2012] and these are relatively easy to find and will demonstrate just how consummate this band’s playing is. But do yourself a considerable favour and get to one of their current gigs – such reality over retro is about as far-out as it can get.

Tame Impala - Innerspeaker

Don't Bogart The Psychedelia

The current musical resurgence of and fad for psychedelia is aural acid for this ol' hippie, a listening sensual delight and I don't care if it is absolute replication or idiosyncratic development - I'm just enjoying the trip. Ahead of Monday's release of Tame Impala's latest release Lonerism, I'm simply dropping this first tab of their/Kevin Parker's lysergic dealing Innerspeaker on the page to encourage others to experience. It is remarkably fresh even though there will always be influences, and I do hear the Beatles at their playfully psychedelic best amongst the rest of the swirling and distorted explorations.