I have no opinion on the legacy of Hawlin' Oates, however, their hit machine of the early 80s was something (even as a chart-following stooge/youth) was something i couldn't then, and still cannot embrace. Props for a bunch of their earlier output when the were really digging-out a spot for themselves -- but the comparisons to the Everly/Righteous Bros for such drivel as "Private Eye" was unwarranted, and only buoyed by an inept audience of media consumers who, literally, bought-in to their covers of far superior source material (much of which, is a bit derivative as well).
No doubt, the guy can sing; and Hall's affinity for sweet harmonies is always welcome -- but just about everything after (and including) "Kiss On My List" smells far too formulaic for me to be excited about. Personally, i blame the fickle money-grubbing nature of the commercial media that drove these tracks to be slathered over the airwaves, and the empty-headed buying populace that made these mega stars.
The coolest thing i've heard about Hall concerns his interest in preserving 18th Century homes, even to the point of specing out single-pane glass in the windows in lieu of far more efficient modern replacements (his "Live from Darryl's" home is a prime example).
Well, lookie there, i guess i have an opinion after all.
― suspecterrain, Saturday, 30 March 2013 05:01 (eleven years ago) link
I don't know how "formulaic" is an insult, not when within the bounds of three- and four-minute pop few H&O songs sound the same. How is "Kiss On My List" like "One on One"? How are "Family Man" and "Out of Touch" similar? What about "I Can't Go That"?
Also: "an inept audience of media consumers" -- really?
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 11:41 (eleven years ago) link
suspecterrain, a man who has never ever been influenced by the media, nor consumed anything.
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 30 March 2013 16:06 (eleven years ago) link
he has only consumed expertly
― gentle german fatherly voice (President Keyes), Saturday, 30 March 2013 16:23 (eleven years ago) link
It's not formulaic if you invented the formula and demonstrated its effectiveness time and again in a variety of settings, the results of which are a body of wonderfully hummable and fun-to-listen-to tunes which are delightful to hear some 30 years down the line.
― "Turkey In The Straw" coming from someplace in the clouds (Sparkle Motion), Saturday, 30 March 2013 16:35 (eleven years ago) link
few H&O songs sound the same
Raggett & Keyes -- get your head out of the sand and address the argument, not opine on the person who wrote it, then, go get intimate with yourselves and your old Lionel Ritchie records.
It's not formulaic if you invented the formula
― suspecterrain, Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:04 (eleven years ago) link
watch out - this guy takes no prisoners!
― balls, Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:10 (eleven years ago) link
how the hell wasn't Al Green dropped by his record company?
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:21 (eleven years ago) link
oh no "product" waaaaaanhh
― brimstead, Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:22 (eleven years ago) link
go get intimate with yourselves and your old Lionel Ritchie records.
hello, it is me i'm looking for
― "Turkey In The Straw" coming from someplace in the clouds (Sparkle Motion), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:23 (eleven years ago) link
their pedigree demonstrates an existence that has difficulty expanding outside the realm of radio
This isn't just absurd as a premise -- an artist has an obligation to look beyond radio confines? -- but just wrong, as the number of R&B and hip hop acts who've cited H&O's New Wave soul moves in their own work (there's a song called "Billie Jean" you might need to hear).
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:24 (eleven years ago) link
"formulaic" is not a terribly useful concept when criticising pop music. it seems to miss the point.
― brimstead, Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:24 (eleven years ago) link
yeah I mean if you despise commercialism, radio and formula then a Hall and Oates thread is kind of a lol place to sound off
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:26 (eleven years ago) link
Ned, is it true you dance on the ceiling?
This thread reeks of "product."
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:27 (eleven years ago) link
I'm sure Ian McKaye has a LOT to say about Hall and Oates.
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:28 (eleven years ago) link
"You're Out Of Touch (With The World)"
― EZ Snappin, Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:29 (eleven years ago) link
*steps away to bathroom to get intimate with myself*
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:30 (eleven years ago) link
...All night long
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:33 (eleven years ago) link
"Formulaic" is the last word I would use to describe "Delayed Reaction" or "Say It Isn't So." It sounds like you've deemed yourself an expert on this band after becoming familiar with about 8 of their biggest songs. H&O doesn't get nearly enough credit for stretching their influences outside of what was expected... I'm surprised "Crime Pays" hasn't been sampled anywhere in hiphop (as far as I know)... And "Gotta Notta Nerve" is easily the best Devo knock-off I've ever heard.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:38 (eleven years ago) link
This is "formulaic"?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lagKbNP7SvU
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:40 (eleven years ago) link
I was gonna cite "Open All Night" but then someone could've said it sounds like Ariel Pink which makes it formulaic.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:45 (eleven years ago) link
man <i>H20</i> has so many good, unexpected tunes.
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 17:54 (eleven years ago) link
...number of R&B and hip hop acts who've cited H&O's New Wave soul...
...there's a song called "Billie Jean" you might need to hear...
It sounds like you've deemed yourself an expert on this band
nice to see some actually find some humor in this -- i mean, how can anybody be so fragile that they can be hurt by an opinion
― suspecterrain, Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:01 (eleven years ago) link
We're awestruck by your perfect ear and discriminating intelligence.
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:02 (eleven years ago) link
I have no reason to be hurt. Just saying, your opinion seems misinformed.
― billstevejim, Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:04 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?nomobile=1&v=FvcJqcUlYTo
― Naive Teen Idol, Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:12 (eleven years ago) link
suspecterrain can you recommend some non-formulaic music to listen to? also looking to buy some records that aren't product
― balls, Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:17 (eleven years ago) link
or maybe just cut to the chase and instead of giving me fish teach me how to fish: what makes an act bonafide? you've clearly thought this out
― balls, Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:18 (eleven years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vPonjXOfYo
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:32 (eleven years ago) link
if you despise commercialism, radio and formula then a Hall and Oates thread is kind of a lol place to sound off
Naive TI -- that we disagree somehow makes me a curmudgeon?
balls -- while it's worse now than it has ever been, most cities have pretty much the same hand-full of radio stations. they may be dance-oriented or pop or classic rock or oldies or "outlaw" country or whatever, but there is little variation in the playlists from town-to-town as media conglomerates are pedaling the same product in what is likely several dozen separate markets. I certainly recognize that iTunes (et. al.) has expanded the possibility for individual musical discoveries, but you can pretty much expect them to repeatedly shove whatever's "hot" in your face in hopes of selling more copies.
Personally, i view music as art, not product. Art, no matter how much critical consensus it garners, is still subjective to the individual participating with it.
― suspecterrain, Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:54 (eleven years ago) link
you're opening my eyes man
― balls, Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:56 (eleven years ago) link
ftr what cities have 'outlaw' country stations?
― balls, Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:57 (eleven years ago) link
suspecterrain what's yr take on the 'monsanto protection act'?
― balls, Saturday, 30 March 2013 18:58 (eleven years ago) link
suspectmarissa
― rocker, edgy, tight, bad boy, hip, stylish, flamboyant, unafraid (some dude), Saturday, 30 March 2013 19:02 (eleven years ago) link
The ones that play Kristofferson, Jennings, and Cash?
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 19:06 (eleven years ago) link
suspecterrain is right: the thread title is as constricted and absurd as his arguments.
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 19:07 (eleven years ago) link
Lord Sotosyn; i presume you'd prefer to exchange personal attacks and further define stereotypical divergences and the nature of each others grandmothers affinity for donning militaristic footwear?
balls -- Monsanto Protection Act -- we need to feed to the world, and gmo's certainly help achieve that in a way far more efficiently than we have ever seen. But the fallout from monculture has yet to fully demonstrate it's full impact on both crops and its pollinators. Man creates products and laws well before we are able to understand their consequences.
― suspecterrain, Saturday, 30 March 2013 19:57 (eleven years ago) link
banaka should weigh in on this
― "Turkey In The Straw" coming from someplace in the clouds (Sparkle Motion), Saturday, 30 March 2013 19:59 (eleven years ago) link
hall & oates more like hall and butts
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 30 March 2013 20:12 (eleven years ago) link
http://www.corbisimages.com/images/Corbis-U1967295.jpg?size=67&uid=9300992c-ba67-4557-9c49-8bee0bb6a8dd
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 20:12 (eleven years ago) link
In the 80s we had Hall and OatesToday we have drones
― gentle german fatherly voice (President Keyes), Saturday, 30 March 2013 20:15 (eleven years ago) link
now we've got no hall and no oates
― balls, Saturday, 30 March 2013 20:30 (eleven years ago) link
suspecterrain,
Perhaps I am misreading you. But your contributions to this thread and the Spotify one read to me like pure trolling. Most people come to boards like ILM to share their views and knowledge of music -- and to add to them by learning something. You seem dead set on letting everyone know how much you know -- and how superior that knowledge is to everyone else's.
You also appear to lack a sense of humor.
― Naive Teen Idol, Saturday, 30 March 2013 20:35 (eleven years ago) link
you're suspect
― balls, Saturday, 30 March 2013 20:36 (eleven years ago) link
under two different names i have been posting to this board for over 10 years. my initial post here and on the Spotify thread were simple statements of my opinion; that individuals used them to make indiscriminate conclusions and remarks about me as a person is something i fail to find significant humor in. I don't think less of people for liking this music, or black-eyed peas or lady gaga; but i certainly believe that this venue should be more than capable of discussing these topics on many levels. Nowhere have i stated that i am "right" and you are "wrong" -- i'm simply offering my personal standpoint -- just like in the Spotify thread; tried it, didn't like the commercials, opted instead for grooveshark. If i were trolling i would likely have made some asinine statement that grouped users of Spotify (or any other streaming service) are complete idiots -- i did not -- i stated my opinion and then had to defend myself against accusations that i was somehow a degenerate because i didn't see the value in a streaming service. Seems you might have this thing the wrong way round.
― suspecterrain, Saturday, 30 March 2013 21:46 (eleven years ago) link
this kind of asinine statement?
Personally, i blame the fickle money-grubbing nature of the commercial media that drove these tracks to be slathered over the airwaves, and the empty-headed buying populace that made these mega stars.
― quite strangly im attracted to the lass (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 30 March 2013 21:49 (eleven years ago) link
If you've been on this board ten years, then you might have seen the futility of positing binaries like "art" vs "product"
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 30 March 2013 21:50 (eleven years ago) link
if you don't like commerce probly best not listen to music
― quite strangly im attracted to the lass (Noodle Vague), Saturday, 30 March 2013 21:51 (eleven years ago) link
or engage with cultural products at all really