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.
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