A MEGATONIC JOURNEY WITH JOEE ADAMS
Friday, March 28, 2008
Simple math, at it's simplest
A quick rebuttal on a particularly sullen review from the past that I’ve just read… namely this one:
‘Former Smiths guitarist sounds like bad imitation of his old band. For most rockers, the past is a dangerous place, because it's all been done before. For Johnny Marr, the trouble is double: The crowning irony of the debut record by his new band, the Healers, is that it sounds like the groups that imitated Marr's old band, the Smiths. The twangy Brit pop of the opener, "The Last Ride," could be something from Oasis, a band that openly adores the Smiths.”
Let’s recap on this one shall we?.. Oh wait! I forgot to mention this review was taken from a mondo cool contributing Rolling Stone journalist, who I boldly (underline) would like to mention, (ahem) currently no longer contributes anything to Rolling Stone, aside from the occasional death threat, and scathing remarks on his FORMER job, to his FORMER co-workers. Let’s focus on the first paragraph of this gem.
“ Former Smiths guitarist sounds like bad imitation of his old band, for most rockers, the past is a dangerous place, because it’s all been done before. For Johnny Marr, the trouble is double: The crowning irony of the debut record by his new band, the Healers, is that is sounds like the groups that imitated Marr’s old band, the Smiths.”
Okay there chief, so.. Lemmie get this straight, You’re accusing Johnny Marr, of sounding like the groups, that imitated him? As in, Oasis, Pet Shop Boys, Beck, the list goes on and on, So basically, you’re calling him out on the fact that.. he sounds too much like.. himself?
O.k. so in that case, is it wrong to assume that.. For instance, “What’s the story (Morning Glory) is basically Oasis, trying to sound more like Oasis?, or is it that they’re trying to sound more like, Shoegazer?
Let’s also not forget, that during Marr’s substantial hiatus from the music biz, he spent most of his time working with, and contributing on albums with the likes of such artists as, Bryan Ferry, The Pretenders, Kirsty MacColl, Neil Finn, Karl Bartos of Kraftwerk, Talking Heads, Black Grape, Billy Bragg, Pet Shop Boys, Beck, and (you guessed it!) Oasis. All of which, can be argued, have tried to (as you’ve so eloquently put it) “imitate” the Smiths sound. Well bravo genius! You’ve figured out the mystery haven’t you, how is it that so many newer groups have sounded so much like the Smiths?
Listen pal, you can’t squeeze a buncha’ apples into a glass and call it lemonade. Whatever way you squeeze it, and whatever Johnny Marr puts together these days, is gonna sound like Johnny Marr, and Johnny Marr, sounds like the fucking Smiths. It’s simple math at it’s simplest.
- Joee Adams. ¶ 1:43 AM 0 comments
‘Former Smiths guitarist sounds like bad imitation of his old band. For most rockers, the past is a dangerous place, because it's all been done before. For Johnny Marr, the trouble is double: The crowning irony of the debut record by his new band, the Healers, is that it sounds like the groups that imitated Marr's old band, the Smiths. The twangy Brit pop of the opener, "The Last Ride," could be something from Oasis, a band that openly adores the Smiths.”
Let’s recap on this one shall we?.. Oh wait! I forgot to mention this review was taken from a mondo cool contributing Rolling Stone journalist, who I boldly (underline) would like to mention, (ahem) currently no longer contributes anything to Rolling Stone, aside from the occasional death threat, and scathing remarks on his FORMER job, to his FORMER co-workers. Let’s focus on the first paragraph of this gem.
“ Former Smiths guitarist sounds like bad imitation of his old band, for most rockers, the past is a dangerous place, because it’s all been done before. For Johnny Marr, the trouble is double: The crowning irony of the debut record by his new band, the Healers, is that is sounds like the groups that imitated Marr’s old band, the Smiths.”
Okay there chief, so.. Lemmie get this straight, You’re accusing Johnny Marr, of sounding like the groups, that imitated him? As in, Oasis, Pet Shop Boys, Beck, the list goes on and on, So basically, you’re calling him out on the fact that.. he sounds too much like.. himself?
O.k. so in that case, is it wrong to assume that.. For instance, “What’s the story (Morning Glory) is basically Oasis, trying to sound more like Oasis?, or is it that they’re trying to sound more like, Shoegazer?
Let’s also not forget, that during Marr’s substantial hiatus from the music biz, he spent most of his time working with, and contributing on albums with the likes of such artists as, Bryan Ferry, The Pretenders, Kirsty MacColl, Neil Finn, Karl Bartos of Kraftwerk, Talking Heads, Black Grape, Billy Bragg, Pet Shop Boys, Beck, and (you guessed it!) Oasis. All of which, can be argued, have tried to (as you’ve so eloquently put it) “imitate” the Smiths sound. Well bravo genius! You’ve figured out the mystery haven’t you, how is it that so many newer groups have sounded so much like the Smiths?
Listen pal, you can’t squeeze a buncha’ apples into a glass and call it lemonade. Whatever way you squeeze it, and whatever Johnny Marr puts together these days, is gonna sound like Johnny Marr, and Johnny Marr, sounds like the fucking Smiths. It’s simple math at it’s simplest.
- Joee Adams. ¶ 1:43 AM 0 comments
