Tuesday 26 November 2013
LIVE ROCK CRITIC: LIVE ROCK CRITIC FORTY-ONE: CRITICIZING THE REF...
LIVE ROCK CRITIC: LIVE ROCK CRITIC FORTY-ONE: CRITICIZING THE REF...: LIVE ROCK CRITIC FORTY-ONE: CRITICIZING THE REFLECTORS I cannot help myself; I am absolutely truthful and sincere in my criticism. I...
LIVE ROCK CRITIC FORTY-ONE: CRITICIZING THE REFLECTORS
I cannot help myself; I am absolutely truthful and sincere in my criticism. Informed that an act is great I watch and listen. I have viewed and heard great performances. If I do not experience the fine music which I am looking for I will analyze what is the problem.
I get right into finding fault, spotting flaws and exposing fakes. I can't help myself.
Jelena Adzic gushes over Arcade Fire’s double disc with five minute plus tracks “Absolutely killing it” with mush music. Next, enthusiastic about Blue Rodeo’s same old folky country. To add to the mediocrity “Henly “ whoever they are spewed insipid pap in the Canadian tradition of not quite Rock crooning . It is hard to really Rock. Enthusiasm, inspiration and much calculation and rehearsal can result in the exciting space changing music which I think Rock Music should be.
I despise weak Rock and folky Rock and country Rock but I do realize that there are many people who do enjoy all that bastardized Rock and even bebop and rap.
I am certain that “Arcade Fire ‘ consider themselves to be a Rock Band. Have they tightened and toughened, and practiced ? Are they ready to Rock.. I will be honest and open minded as I listen to “Arcade Fire Reflectors” slow moving fumbling start. I am listening intently, hoping things will pick up .The slow fumbling is a foil, an antipasto with the main course of Rock to come. I have doubts, are most people satisfied with what I am dismissing?
The Reflectors have thrown off their paper heads and emerged as the huge mob of the Arcade Fire Gang.
The lead guitar spits out a hot lick, a bit like a splash of hot sauce on a gefriska matzo, the bland flour paste is not improved by hot sauce, garish the sauce floats as an irritant on the tasteless pap. The drums are weak, rhythm not very punctuated timely nor precise
There is a turn on a dime reaction time in Rock music . The musicians must function together like the parts of a machine, unfailingly reacting with strength and certainty to each change in the music the rest of the band is performing. As wrist pins and pistons follow con rods attached to the crankshaft the instruments have to be precisely worked by the musicians. There are options in Rock and Roll where leads surf on a bed of sound.
There is a matter of relevance which governs those options. Arcade Fire creates a swarm of unconnected rhythms and leads which are not a viable substitute for the solid backing which Rock leads require. There is another type of skill required where the music moves the listener. What lends real excitement and drama to a Rock performance ?. I think that a large part of that depends on the vision of the writer.
There is a lack of any coherence in the “Reflectors” performance I am criticizing which aired on the Stephen Colbert Report. Repeating and reprising do not create coherence.
Did anyone else notice that when the performance was over Wynn leaned his guitar up against his amplifier to rush up and embrace Stephen Colbert and the guitar fell over and crashed to the floor.
I cannot help myself; I am absolutely truthful and sincere in my criticism. Informed that an act is great I watch and listen. I have viewed and heard great performances. If I do not experience the fine music which I am looking for I will analyze what is the problem.
I get right into finding fault, spotting flaws and exposing fakes. I can't help myself.
Jelena Adzic gushes over Arcade Fire’s double disc with five minute plus tracks “Absolutely killing it” with mush music. Next, enthusiastic about Blue Rodeo’s same old folky country. To add to the mediocrity “Henly “ whoever they are spewed insipid pap in the Canadian tradition of not quite Rock crooning . It is hard to really Rock. Enthusiasm, inspiration and much calculation and rehearsal can result in the exciting space changing music which I think Rock Music should be.
I despise weak Rock and folky Rock and country Rock but I do realize that there are many people who do enjoy all that bastardized Rock and even bebop and rap.
The Reflectors have thrown off their paper heads and emerged as the huge mob of the Arcade Fire Gang.
The lead guitar spits out a hot lick, a bit like a splash of hot sauce on a gefriska matzo, the bland flour paste is not improved by hot sauce, garish the sauce floats as an irritant on the tasteless pap. The drums are weak, rhythm not very punctuated timely nor precise
There is a turn on a dime reaction time in Rock music . The musicians must function together like the parts of a machine, unfailingly reacting with strength and certainty to each change in the music the rest of the band is performing. As wrist pins and pistons follow con rods attached to the crankshaft the instruments have to be precisely worked by the musicians. There are options in Rock and Roll where leads surf on a bed of sound.
There is a matter of relevance which governs those options. Arcade Fire creates a swarm of unconnected rhythms and leads which are not a viable substitute for the solid backing which Rock leads require. There is another type of skill required where the music moves the listener. What lends real excitement and drama to a Rock performance ?. I think that a large part of that depends on the vision of the writer.
There is a lack of any coherence in the “Reflectors” performance I am criticizing which aired on the Stephen Colbert Report. Repeating and reprising do not create coherence.
Did anyone else notice that when the performance was over Wynn leaned his guitar up against his amplifier to rush up and embrace Stephen Colbert and the guitar fell over and crashed to the floor.
Tuesday 5 November 2013
LIVE ROCK CRITIC 40 ELTON AND CYRUS
Flamboyant and politically incorrect sexuality is portrayed by both of these performers. Elton is slowly losing it and Miley is just getting it. Seeking fame through extravagance and notoriety is classic rock methodology.
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Flamboyant and politically incorrect sexuality is portrayed by both of these performers. Elton is slowly losing it and Miley is just getting it. Seeking fame through extravagance and notoriety is classic rock methodology.
Flashy costumes and provocative lyrics characterize their performance. Miley is wilder of course as it is 2014. As radically as Elton john portrayed himself it was a more restrained time. Miley is more overt and I thought she was her best at the MTV Music Video Awards 2013. I am listening to Elton John “Live in East London”. It has been schmaltzy, the voice pretends instead of in the old days exhorting and explaining. Elton has a new album “The Diving Board”. New song “Home Again”, not very energetic very schmaltz, melodic and ponderous but just a bit weak. Fortunately there are no backing tracks everyone plays live; but “Home Again” sounds like many old Elton John Hymns. “ Oscar Wilde Gets Out” is more of a dirge than a hymn. Folk music with a hint of Gypsy and a twist Rachimonov produced a mildly spiced schmaltz.
During his performance of “Levon” Elton is doing a more energetic job at this point with some very complicated high notes, all live. “Rocket Man” has some spacey new sounds in it on slide guitar and synth. Elton does sound just like he always did right now live.
I have fast forwarded through the dated boozy hymns. They are fast, probably good to dance drunk to years ago. The voice sounds insincere on some of the old songs sung to many times.
Miley Cyrus has been performing since she was a child. Her successful father had the music industry connections. Her role as Hanna Montana was and still is widely televised. “Hanna Montana” and “Breakout” albums made her more successful than most adult musicians.
Miley’s sexual posturing at fifteen should have prepared us for Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke at the MTV Video Awards.
The portrayal of sex on the MTV Video Music Awards is the logical extension of her self promoted image. I do not think a twenty year old is a child. She is an entitled permitted and credible sexy actress. I thought that the direction and the choreography of her performance at the MTV Music Video Awards with Robin Thicke are stunning; In my opinion the performance was a well planned and executed portrayal of how many adults really look at sex and love. The performance was a Voguging of heterosexual lust.
Miley on Saturday Night Live. On October 26th 2013 I witnessed Janelle Monae performing on SNL. Her performance was mediocre with her band producing weird fractured music. Once again I wonder why would she be on Saturday Night Live.
October 26th 2013 Miley Cyrus is on Saturday Night Live appropriately as everyone is talking about her and she is performing in a manner which is similar to the performances hosted on SNL. Her band played live and played well to her core audience in her first number. The performance was not spectacular but it was very well received.
I didn’t like her second number on October 6th 2013 on SNL. Cyrus looked sick and drained compared to her rousing performance at the MTV Awards.
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