Bands you keep trying to like but can't get into

I keep trying with the Mark Hollis solo album. It's nice, but I keep wandering off to other discs though.

I also like Marr's accompaniment work on "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" and, though it's a little simpler, I think he's quite effective on "William, It Was Really Nothing".

In my experience, having that breakthrough moment with The Smiths isn't gonna happen by focusing in on any particular song or performance, but ignoring them and letting them surprise you. One day you'll be in the right mood and "Ask" will come on and you'll be shell-shocked

goon otm - I swore for years that I hated the Smiths and then I saw David Tennant sing 'The Boy With The Thorn In His Side' on that awesomely terrible Blackpool tv show and I was hooked.

Also it helps if you think of Morrissey as a comedian-who-sings rather than a singer-with-wit

that Still Ill live clip is awesome, andy rourke was such a tight bassist

if you can't do the smiths just listen to monochrome set instead.

Bryan Ferry's voice in general. I'd rather listen to early John Foxx (the first two Ultravox! albums) and Japan/David Sylvian. I rate Roxy Music highly as a band, but I'll never like Ferry's voice.

http://pitchfork.com/news/49567-watch-johnny-marr-tell-the-story-behind-the-smiths-heaven-knows-im-miserable-now/

Ace timing, pfork.

i don't get funky house

that's the impression he gives me. why can't he just sing normally, unmannered and natural? by changing his voice he wants to achieve something. the only thing i can imagine is that he wants to appear more serious, more important, someone to be respected. but for me he comes over as a fake, actually quite laughable and phony. the more i think about it the less i understand why he sprechsings like he does.

yeah I mean why do mbv have to distort their guitars so much so you can't hear individual notes,and why do they obscure what they sing like that. they ae fakers but they are only doing this to be respected!

I'll tell you there is only one way to sing, this stretching of your voice thing is crazy. Like how much more impact would Diamanda Galas have if her words on the Armenian genocides could be heard properly instead she is so avant-garde with her voice and fucks around with microphones so much I MEAN WHY I DONT KNOW.

She's just trying to impress people/showing off...

Derek Bailey! And, to be even more controversial, Albert Ayler!! Two exclamation marks reqd. for that one.

Husker Du (or anything else by Mould)
Replacements (or anything else by Westerberg)
Manics, Oasis, Blur, etc
Post-1975 Dylan

The White Album, The Wall

Replacements (or anything else by Westerberg)

haha yeah if you don'd like the replacements i don't think westerberg solo stuff is gonna close the deal

Westerberg solo stuff -- many other artists evolve their sound over the years; Stephen Duffy's solo material is far better than that when with Lilac Time, Nick Cave better with the Bad Seeds than with Birthday Party, Julian Cope better solo than with Teardrop Explodes.

agreed, but i don't think that's the case with mr. westerberg

i always think i should be more into roxy music, but i can't quite connect with them.

ha it does seem like something you should like tbh

Surely you've heard Ferry's cover of "Like A Hurricane"?

yeah, i mean, i'm OK with them, they're just not a band that i've come to love. maybe it'll happen one day...

have you heard "the right albums"?

[/zappa]

haha, i'm pretty sure i've listened to everything up to avalon. think i generally like the band, just don't really respond to ferry's thang.

and now, for my sins, i'm trying again -- stranded!

i think "for your pleasure" is the rockist's rockist's roxy album of choice

there's a certain coldness/emotional vacuum at the heart of Roxy, it's all very arch and performative and you kinda have to dig that. that being said I think what converted me to them was early Eno-era tv clips

specifically this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF2YP1CFAnc

I mean, Ferry's vampire gigolo moves are pretty funny here

it's all very arch and performative
yeah why can't these british guys just rock out, you know? like americans, like black sabbath.
but seriously, i think my fave thing of theirs is avalon, because it kinda points in the direction of robyn hitchcock's more shiny surfaced 80s records.

huh that wouldn't be the first connection I would make. now, Japan and Duran Duran otoh...

early japan is basically a roxy tribute band

yeah why can't these british guys just rock out, you know? like americans, like black sabbath.

hahaha. In a recent BBC doc about Brits playing in the US, Ian Anderson said that, as Tull openers, Roxy Music didn't go over in the US because they were too arch/arty. Which, you know, coming from a flautist fronting a band with a member dressed in a bunny suit...

it was kinda weird how well Tull did in the u.s.

yeah why *those* particular prog-hippies got over is kind of inexplicable

I still haven't heard Beefheart yet. It's interesting that you lump him in with The Fall and Can thoug

― how's life, Tuesday, February 12, 2013 6:13 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I still haven't heard Beefheart yet. It's interesting to me hat you lump him in with The Fall and Can though, because I really love Can but I can't stand (and have given up on even trying to like)The Fall.

― how's life, Tuesday, February 12, 2013 6:15 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Got about halfway through This Nation's Saving Grace again this morning. Still nope.

The Feelies.

Been trying, and failing, for a long time.

Mogwai

I used to be a kneejerk smartass about hating Mogwai. Like, whenever someone would even mention liking them in passing, I'd go nuclear. Now the hate's worn off and I can enjoy (later) Mogwai in small doses. Still not a band I go out of my way to hear.

I can't imagine ever getting worked up about Mogwai but rock music has to have vocals, sorry Mogwai

Flipper

Grateful Dead

Henry Cow

Bands

Call the Cops I call first dibs on all the records that you don't want anymore

Count me in with the Mogwai thing.

Swans. Never in the mood.

The Fall. Normally an ILX poll makes me more enthusiastic about an artist but still the only Fall album I like is the Best of the Fall, mainly for the atypical pop moments that proper fans don't like.

Call the Cops I call first dibs on all the records that you don't want anymore
--gotta lol geir (NickB)

Ha. You're on.

awesome.

i'm not big on mogwai anyway, but flamboyant goon tie's proposal of a mogwai with vocals is waaaay worse, so just count yr blessings flambo.