B-b-but what kind of amp was it played through?
― I Am the Cosimo Code (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 11 September 2013 04:16 (ten years ago) link
Ha - after writing that post I put a Tele through a dialed-out compressor and felt like I was insanely high. Didn't realise Big Star played Mandocasters - even the bridge pickup on my Tele was pretty close.Dunno if you're having a dig, Naive Teen Idol, but that is indeed an electric mandolin - they are only about 2 feet long overall, as opposed to the 34" scale of a bass.
― MatthewK, Wednesday, 11 September 2013 05:21 (ten years ago) link
overrated Grandpappy Indie (VU notwithstanding); not worthless, but nor are Wishbone Ash, for goodness sake― mark s, Wednesday, October 17, 2001 5:00 PM (11 years ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Cool Internet discourseA+ poptimist excreta
― velko, Wednesday, 11 September 2013 05:43 (ten years ago) link
Ry Cooder on the Mandoguitar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2FrFBceLuY
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 11 September 2013 14:01 (ten years ago) link
Digging Nothing Can Hurt Me, which is alternative takes and re-mixes, as seen in the movie of the same name apparently.
― I Am the Cosimo Code (James Redd and the Blecchs), Thursday, 12 September 2013 14:22 (ten years ago) link
I thought it was just a capo-ed Strat put through the same kind of massive tube compressor that the Beatles favored on stuff like the "Nowhere Man" solo.
Maybe it is, maybe it's not-- but like I said, you can get a sound that is pretty damn close without a Mandocaster (which I'd never even heard of).
― Poliopolice, Thursday, 12 September 2013 15:35 (ten years ago) link
Went through the vinyl section of the one remaining centre of town record/cd shop today and found they had both #1 Record and Radio City in there. Not sure if I should be as surprised as I was. Good to see, but does leave me wondering how well known they are these days. Are they something every semi aware indie kid has known about since Teenage Fanclub were popular?
There are some odd semi obscure cd titles that appear in that record shop on a regular basis . That is to say odd titles appear regularly not individual titles reappear I don't think. Not sure if there's one semi informed cd buyer in the place or if there is a directive of what to buy from elsewhere. Somehow still not got around to really ask after several years.
― Stevolende, Thursday, 12 September 2013 19:24 (ten years ago) link
You can get new audiophile pressings of the first two fairly cheaply ($25-30 for the pair).
― A Made Man In The Mellow Mafia (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 12 September 2013 19:32 (ten years ago) link
And the SACD twofer if you are into niche digital formats. Plays on ordinary players too. It sounds BRIGHT but I think those controls were turned up at Ardent Studios rather than at the mastering plant.
― MatthewK, Friday, 13 September 2013 05:29 (ten years ago) link
I'm a wasted face, I'm a sad-eyed lie, I'm a holocaust.
― emil.y, Wednesday, 1 January 2014 03:59 (ten years ago) link
Documentary is on Netflix now.
― sctttnnnt (pgwp), Wednesday, 1 January 2014 06:26 (ten years ago) link
Watching now. Really well done. "When I said Ardent, people thought I had said Argent!"
― Can One Hear the Shape of a Ron Decline Bottle? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 5 January 2014 18:56 (ten years ago) link
TGIFs?
― Can One Hear the Shape of a Ron Decline Bottle? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 5 January 2014 19:09 (ten years ago) link
great documentary. wish it discussed the making of third a little bit more but can't really complain
― akm, Sunday, 5 January 2014 19:30 (ten years ago) link
Looks like Stranded In Canton is on Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1eDzz5fKio&list=PL0FEC235144290819
― Can One Hear the Shape of a Ron Decline Bottle? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 5 January 2014 20:21 (ten years ago) link
And just in case you've never heard Elliott Smith sing "Thirteen"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZZWtLch1g0
― Can One Hear the Shape of a Ron Decline Bottle? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 5 January 2014 20:24 (ten years ago) link
was posted over in the netflix thread but this panther burns clip is a must watch, so goodhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U-k32L0KCc
― tylerw, Sunday, 5 January 2014 21:39 (ten years ago) link
Really enjoyed the movie, and not just as a band bio -- along the way it hits on interesting things about Memphis, the music biz, the weird world of rock crit, how pop culture myths are made and sustained, and the central mystery of how art happens. I almost think it's better that they didn't get to interview Alex. It lets the film revolve around the absence of him and Chris.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 5 January 2014 21:51 (ten years ago) link
otm, every word.
― Can One Hear the Shape of a Ron Decline Bottle? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 5 January 2014 22:23 (ten years ago) link
thanks JR for Stranded in Canton, that was fucking great
― rip van wanko, Tuesday, 7 January 2014 21:39 (ten years ago) link
I like how TGI Friday's was THE place to be. How times have changed.
― Poliopolice, Tuesday, 7 January 2014 22:09 (ten years ago) link
lol "Axel Chitlin"
― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 7 January 2014 22:09 (ten years ago) link
Totally agree. It took such a huge mental leap for me to see TGI Fridays as anything other than what it is now.
― Non-Stop Erotic Calculus (bmus), Tuesday, 7 January 2014 22:53 (ten years ago) link
was it the first TGI Fridays?
― akm, Tuesday, 7 January 2014 23:05 (ten years ago) link
second after nyc according to google
― Hunt3r, Tuesday, 7 January 2014 23:15 (ten years ago) link
Yeah, that part cracked me up. It was so subtle like finding out the Stone's hung out at the first Applebees while recording Exile.
― Darin, Tuesday, 7 January 2014 23:44 (ten years ago) link
What was the new statute that changed Memphis nightlife? Liquor by the drink? Will never understand Southern alcohol legislation
― Can One Hear the Shape of a Ron Decline Bottle? (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 7 January 2014 23:51 (ten years ago) link
doc had some nice/funny stuff in it, a bit overlong and hindered by lack of any footage of the band which is a real bummer but not surprising. skirting of Bell's gayness a bit odd.
― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 8 January 2014 16:43 (ten years ago) link
It helped that there are such great supporting characters in the Big Star story like Jim Dickinson and Wm. Eggleston. Dickinson's widow was great in the doc.
― brio, Wednesday, 8 January 2014 16:59 (ten years ago) link
yeah my favorite parts were probably the bits with Eggleston and Dickinson
― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 8 January 2014 17:05 (ten years ago) link
skirting of Bell's gayness a bit odd.
anything more essentially vetoed by his family
― eclectic husbandry (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 8 January 2014 17:11 (ten years ago) link
yeah I get that. and man did his sister look uncomfortable on camera.
― Ayn Rand Akbar (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 8 January 2014 17:41 (ten years ago) link
Guys, one of the Box Tops posted on our borad once, for realz:So it's called _When Pigs Fly_...
― Wild Mountain Armagideon Thyme (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 11 January 2014 06:54 (ten years ago) link
Hadn't really dawned on me that some of those other Box Tops also had careers in music.
― Wild Mountain Armagideon Thyme (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 11 January 2014 07:08 (ten years ago) link
i didn't think much of the big star doc, but that tav falco clip is just pure unadulterated boss. "well, the best of the worst."
chris bell's sister may have been uncomfortable on camera, but the evident rawness of her brother's death for her came through very clearly and powerfully.
in re. chris's gayness i think the film managed to get across what it needed to.
― ★feminist parties i have attended (amateurist), Saturday, 11 January 2014 07:45 (ten years ago) link
i bought one of the lesser box tops albums recently, it had the little cut out mark in the //middle// of the jacket! what foolishness is that?
― ★feminist parties i have attended (amateurist), Saturday, 11 January 2014 07:46 (ten years ago) link
also am impressed with the effeminate quality of alex chilton's voice. tav falco has something of that, too. do you think it was part of their attempt to set themselves apart from conservative suburban west TN or something? or was it just in the water?
best thing on the big star doc DVD is that mini-feature where john fry talked about how the first two big star records were made. that was pure gold. wish there was a whole 2 hours about that.
― ★feminist parties i have attended (amateurist), Saturday, 11 January 2014 07:51 (ten years ago) link
also why do i get kind of angry when a bunch of british alt.rock mofos show up in these docs to retroactively "validate" their cult heroes? i don't need the guy from hot chip to tell me big star were the best.
― ★feminist parties i have attended (amateurist), Saturday, 11 January 2014 07:52 (ten years ago) link
I haven't seen the doc yet but there may be some kind of sense to that as the early 90s Big Star revival was mostly inspired by British bands dropping the band's name in interviews.
― Position Position, Saturday, 11 January 2014 11:58 (ten years ago) link
at least Bono wasn't in it
― Number None, Saturday, 11 January 2014 12:47 (ten years ago) link
needed more posies
― the "Weird Al" Yankovic of country music (stevie), Saturday, 11 January 2014 12:57 (ten years ago) link
― Position Position, Saturday, January 11, 2014 5:58 AM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
sure, but... who gives a fuck?
― ★feminist parties i have attended (amateurist), Saturday, 11 January 2014 13:13 (ten years ago) link
Suppose it makes a change from Thurston Moore and Henry Rollins
― Master of Treacle, Saturday, 11 January 2014 15:47 (ten years ago) link
also am impressed with the effeminate quality of alex chilton's voice. tav falco has something of that, too.
A lot of times IME that's just how some southern men talk. It sometimes codes as effeminate or "gay" but it's just a particular combination of dialect and lilt that I've heard IRL from a lot of men from Tennessee, the Carolinas, and Georgia.
― Ian from Etobicoke (Phil D.), Saturday, 11 January 2014 16:15 (ten years ago) link
My uncle has the same accent. You can especially tell when he says something like "well I don't know."
― pplains, Saturday, 11 January 2014 16:48 (ten years ago) link
Carolinas for sure. I used to find it really distracting in certain men because it had a way of increasing their appeal by roughly 1/3 even when they were not particularly appealing people.
― mambo jumbo (La Lechera), Saturday, 11 January 2014 16:57 (ten years ago) link
i.e. Lindsey Graham
― pplains, Saturday, 11 January 2014 16:57 (ten years ago) link
wait that's a different accent than the one i'm talking about
― mambo jumbo (La Lechera), Saturday, 11 January 2014 16:58 (ten years ago) link
It's still that kinda sing-songy, rounded and somewhat feminine way of speaking.
No, not the same one, but along those lines.
― pplains, Saturday, 11 January 2014 17:06 (ten years ago) link
Somehow this discussion is reminding me of this story Arthur Alexander: Classic or Dud/S & D?
― Wild Mountain Armagideon Thyme (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 11 January 2014 17:08 (ten years ago) link