The Doors: Classic or Dud?

drive the snake

the descending key+guitar intro line musically depicts the windows rolling down

the ensuing guitar licks are your outstretched hand breezily surfing the waves of air

uber pool the snake

Well uhgheeguhdindatownuhbowdun ow ago

OTM.

It may be the ridiculous summer we're having, but Morrison Hotel is doing weird things to me - particularly Waiting for the Sun, The Spy and (natch) Indian Summer.

After decades of research I haven't found a better song for driving with the windows down than "LA Woman"

― Sam Weller, Thursday, June 28, 2018 7:08 AM (one month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

it is the best

it's so funny that the title track for waiting for the sun is on morrison hotel

v confusing for 11 year old me

Those crazy Doors guys and their track listing shenanigans.

"Man this song sucks, fuck this song, I never want to hear this fucking song again."

18 months later

"Let's put this song on the new record"

v confusing for 11 year old me

― niels, Thursday, August 2, 2018 2:11 PM (thirty minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

same

i used to hate this band so much, now i totally dig them. most unexpected change of heart i've ever had w/ any artist.

Welcome

Last night i had a dream that a beach bum was haranguing me in a parking lot for not being a TRUE Doors fan

i tried to get into them recently against my better judgment. came away totally loving morrison hotel and la woman

I am still on the other side of this divine revelation you J.D. and Brad seem to have had.

I used to think they were painfully overrated and hadn't aged as well as some other '60s bands, but a couple of years ago I gave it all another try and I found myself enjoying quite a lot of it. I guess they're easier to enjoy now that a lot of the "Cult of Jim" lot have fucked off.

I think they've gone through phases of being overrated and underrated, they're about due to be overrated again.

I think I would like them more if they werent stiff as hell, Manzarek is such a weak link w his rinky dink bullshit

Looks like the beach bum was right >:(

He was

Lol

I'm not sure that some widespread "cult of Jim" where people idolized him in annoying ways or whatever ever really existed.

It did...it's called "High School".

OTM.

Is it still though ? It was the case when I was in high school but it was around the release of the O. Stone movie. I kinda doubt th kids are still into the lizard king instead of migos or whatever...

None of my high school classmates (late 90s) gave a shit about the Doors so I've never been directly exposed to Lizard King worship. Why should I hate them? A lot of their music is just banging and the S/T is still a favourite of mine to this day.

Last night i had a dream that a beach bum was haranguing me in a parking lot for not being a TRUE Doors fan

― Οὖτις, Sunday, August 12, 2018 11:24 AM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

it's ok, we've all been tested

when it happened to me I recited American Prayer in its entirety from memory and he saluted me and said thank you for your service

When i occasionally want to listen to the the Doors I listen to ‘weird scenes inside the goldmine’, rather than any of their studio albums. It’s one of those weird German double vinyls - I do the same with the Who, most of the time.

I think I would like them more if they werent stiff as hell, Manzarek is such a weak link w his rinky dink bullshit

― Οὖτις, Sunday, August 12, 2018 7:26 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I guess I don't hear them as stiff at all? Densmore has kind of a light, jazzy touch and Krieger is one of the least macho or chugging of the 60s guitar heroes

also on most of the records it's usually some ace pro bass session dude not Manzarek on bass

I'm not sure that some widespread "cult of Jim" where people idolized him in annoying ways or whatever ever really existed.

― timellison, Monday, August 13, 2018 2:06 AM (eight hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I want to say that 75% percent of my high school friends circa 1993 had a Jim Morrison flag in their bedrooms, along with copies of Wilderness and The American Night.

https://d9nvuahg4xykp.cloudfront.net/1122575879283534192/-6879144968917854075.jpg

they sound pretty cool

there was also a wave of dorm posters around 1980, when Jerry Hopkins published No One Here Gets Out Alive

Also, "Apocalypse Now" soundtrack.

Huh, not my experience at all though I guess I was in high school in between Hopkins and Oliver Stone. The Doors were a very esoteric interest at the time.

(College too now that I think about it - late '80s)

Must...try and...remember...

Was at an art gallery on Saturday and it seems Val Kilmer is producing Morrison-related art works. Stuff like this.

https://cdn8.bigcommerce.com/s-bamcrxgk9l/images/stencil/500x659/products/686/641/JM0_095__99801.1518721636.jpg?c=2&imbypass=on

To his credit he's not charging "celebrity art work" prices, I think they were around $250-$300.

Apparently he's got a whole cottage industry going. https://valkilmer.com/

I guess I don't hear them as stiff at all? Densmore has kind of a light, jazzy touch and Krieger is one of the least macho or chugging of the 60s guitar heroes

otm. "break on through" came on at a bar yesterday and i suddenly fell in love with densmore's drumming on it

I've never thought Densmore was all that good but Krieger was a really interesting guitarist.

Not that interested in repeating myself so will note that my thoughts on Manzarek and Densmore's relative stiff-ness is upthread - Manzarek in particular can't swing for shit, and his circus organ playing style is grating in a lot of places.

The famous 1981 Rolling Stone piece is when I remember the hype took off:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jim-morrison-lives-the-legacy-of-the-lizard-king-64885/

I like Densmore and Krieger's playing on almost all Doors stuff.

If you can swing on a harpsichord, Manzarek's comping on "Love Me Too Times" seems fine to me.

Or a tack piano on "People Are Strange"

the Lost Boys must have given them a bit of a boost as well.

Are any members of the Doors egregious in their lack of ability to swing on "Love Street?"

That RS article is fucking amazing.