(On some browsers you'll need to refresh this page in order to see the comment you just left.)
Sharps - 2004-08-05 10:03:58
"There are a lot of albums from my youth that I can't listen to anymore, or whose appeal is strictly nostalgic..." I�m curious: which ones? Over the last couple of years, I went on a jag of buying CD�s of albums I adored as a kid that had not been a high priority for me in the years since: Fleetwood Mac, Simon & Garfunkel, ELO, Bee Gees, Monkees. For the most part, I was relieved to rediscover them as pretty damn listenable. I�ve been wracking my brain and I can�t think of a single album of my yoot that I now find unlistenable. Parts of OLD FRIENDS/BOOKENDS, but that�s about it.
-------------------------------
Paula - 2004-08-05 10:47:00
I may have been exaggerating to create a contrast (my post was about Young Marble Giants, not about dismissing the music of my youth), and I didn't mean to imply that any one album is "unlistenable" in an absolute sense, just that I don't care for certain records anymore. They served me well, they made me who I am, but I can't sit and listen with the same rapt attention.
One example would be side one of Hounds of Love--it's a classic album, I was obsessed with it when it came out, but I can't really get behind a lot of those songs currently.
Bonnie Raitt is another example--I wouldn't trade my experience of discovering and loving her music for anything, but a lot of her records I can't relate to now.
Throwing Muses--amazing, breathtaking stuff, but I prefer K. Hersh's solo stuff now.
This is going to sound like sacrilege, but after Joe Strummer died and I went back and really listened to the first couple of Clash albums, there was a lot there that didn't seem quite so brilliant to me now as it did when I was a teenager. (specifically "What's my Name" and several songs off of "Give 'Em Enough Rope.")
As for F Mac, I love 'em like they were my family, but, y'know, I'm not gonna listen to "Gold Dust Woman" much these days.
-------------------------------
Dan - 2004-08-05 11:12:44
That's interesting that your only casualty is BOOKENDS, John. I was a Simon and Garfunkel worshipper when I was a kid: today, I have a little problem with the 60s-damage on the first three albums (including PARSLEY SAGE, which I used to adore), start feeling in sync with the sensibility around BOOKENDS, and definitely still groove on BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER.
One thing that I seem to enjoy less than I did as a kid is Garfunkel's solo albums. There's a grandiosity there that qualifies my appreciation now. I think Springsteen falls into that category a little bit: I still like him, but now I'm always thinking, "Okay, Bruce, we know it's an anthem, now let's check out your melody and structure." None of this stuff qualifies as unlistenable, though.
I could swear I had the Young Marble Giants around here somewhere...but I just found an Stuart Moxham tape that Paula made for me years ago.
-------------------------------
Sharps - 2004-08-05 12:34:05
BOOKENDS: Stuff like "America" is amazingly inspired, but the arch, dippy crap like "Save the Life of My Child" sends my runnin'. Lately I think Simon picks up the worst inclinations of the times he lives in: 70s sleaze and smarm on STILL CRAZY, condescending cultural appropriation on GRACELAND. "Hear my words that I might teach you." Oy. I gotta pick up that Young Marble Giants; Carino's been raving about it for years.
-------------------------------
Dan - 2004-08-05 12:52:40
Hmmm - I'm okay with "Save the Life of my Child." There's underlying hippie damage, but there's a sense of humor now, and a pleasure in the dynamics of the music that takes the edge off, as if the delivery of wisdom is no longer the point.
I'm enjoying "Fakin' It" these days - the song craft there is really unusual.
-------------------------------
Sharps - 2004-08-05 15:01:05
Speaking of Springsteen, he came out today in favor of homeland regime change with a NY TIMES op-ed. One band I was addicted to in high school that I never listen to now is Southside Johnny. Well, apart from hearing what is essentially the Asbury Jukes on Conan every night. I wonder if I would still enjoy their albums. I guess I still love every record I ever fell in love with. Even disco. No - I love disco more.
-------------------------------
add your comment:
back to the entry - Diaryland
