Can Someone Explain Radiohead to Me? Grammys

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 12 Feb 2009 3:07 pm

I do not care if someone likes or dislikes a particular piece of music. Because it simply doesn't matter. Nor does it matter that anyone know if I like something or not. I have nothing invested in having someone 'support' me in my opinion. It...Just...Doesn't...Matter. If they liike something I don't care for....so what? If i really like something that they could care less about....so what?

Unfortunately, if someone chooses to present themself as an arbiter of what is 'good'---this person ends up way at the back of the line of people whose opinion I'm going to respect. Back there with Seymour and Walley. If they try to present 'credentials', whether professional or life experience, it just digs a deeper hole. It is no longer about the music---it is about the 'expert'. Sorry. I can't imagine what such a person could say that would hold much water, once they tried to tell me that "something is just not good, that's a fact." They might as well tell me that "******" is the one true god". I tune those people out too.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 12 Feb 2009 6:47 pm

OK then - got it! Everything is good,nothing is bad,everything is subjective and a person's lifetime of musical perspective is meaningless to everyone but them.
Doesn't that about sum things up?

Don't worry - be happy!

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 12 Feb 2009 7:10 pm

This is getting funny. Out.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 12 Feb 2009 10:06 pm

If we're done with Radiohead, can we talk about Wilco now?

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Feb 2009 1:48 am

b0b wrote:If we're done with Radiohead, can we talk about Wilco now?

And Robert Planet.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 13 Feb 2009 2:58 am

Michael Johnstone wrote:OK then - got it! Everything is good,nothing is bad,everything is subjective and a person's lifetime of musical perspective is meaningless to everyone but them.
Doesn't that about sum things up?

Don't worry - be happy!

First there was art. Then there were people talking about art. Ok so far. Then there were people pretending that talking about art mattered. Then there were people pretending that their talking about art mattered more than other people's talking about art. If we are feeling charitable we smile and pretend we are listening to them.

Nothing is good, nothing is bad. Because I don't trust anyone to make that determination.
There is only I like it and I don't like it. Or I respect it. Or don't respect it.
None of which matter. But for the sake of discussion it can be diverting. And revealing.
I have never been dissuaded from liking something that I liked because of an 'expert' opinion. I have been persuaded to give a second listen to something because someone I respected liked it.
Try to guess how I respond to the statement "you should/shouldn't enjoy this based on my judgment that it is good/bad because I know better than you".

Don't worry, be happy? If you want to, fine. Suit yourself.
I'm gonna listen to some music.

Michael Johnstone · Post by **Michael Johnstone** » 13 Feb 2009 7:06 am

Try to guess how I respond to the statement "you should/shouldn't enjoy this based on my judgment that it is good/bad because I know better than you".

I never said you shouln't enjoy it. I just explained why I thought it was weak,rootless,drivel. If music as art can be totally subjective,than so can opinions about music as art. If my observations hit a nerve - sorry.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 13 Feb 2009 8:35 am

b0b:

If we're done with Radiohead, can we talk about Wilco now?

Ok. I'll go first. Uhh... Wilco sucks ?

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 13 Feb 2009 9:26 am

I'll go second. I really love 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' and most of 'A Ghost Is Born' and 'Summerteeth'.

Incredible live band, too.

Nathan Golub · Post by **Nathan Golub** » 13 Feb 2009 9:41 am

b0b wrote:If we're done with Radiohead, can we talk about Wilco now?

I got one- Wilco started sucking when they stopped using pedal steel on their albums.

(kidding! I love 'em all.)

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 13 Feb 2009 9:53 am

Wilco is just simply bad and that's a fact.

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 13 Feb 2009 10:03 am

Jon, maybe you could supply some credentials to back that up?

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 13 Feb 2009 10:08 am

Actually, I don't have much of an opinion on them. I've never quite gotten them or their status as alt icons.
They are one of those bands for whom I am still waiting for an 'aha' moment where I can say "oh, I get it!"
And waiting. And waiting.

Nathan Golub · Post by **Nathan Golub** » 13 Feb 2009 10:37 am

Wilco's been referred to as "the American Radiohead" by music critic types. I'm not sure how that fits into this conversation...

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 13 Feb 2009 12:01 pm

I didn't know that Radiohead isn't American - until now!

As for Wilco, I got Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, listened to it once and thought "What's the big deal?". It went on the shelf. A couple of years later I saw the documentary about how it was made, and went back for another listening. Now it's one of my favorite rock CDs. I guess I just missed the point on my first listening.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 13 Feb 2009 1:04 pm

I'm not a Wilco fan for the same reason I'm not a Radiohead fan: not enough choruses.

Seriously, though.....if Wilco is the American Radiohead, the Jayhawks are the American Oasis. Less artsy, but more accessible.

My buddy Bob Egan played steel with Wilco for a while.....he's now in Canadian band Blue Rodeo . He doesn't talk much about the Wilco days.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 13 Feb 2009 1:11 pm

I never really got into the whole Uncle Tupelo Wilco Son Volt trifecta which is odd cause im playing in bands that people tell me are in that same "alt country" vein. Saw son volt once and just didnt get why people dug it. course back then if I saw an acoustic guitar i'd start booing. Listening now, I still dont get it.

radiohead....burst onto the scene on the heels of grunge with creep and cashed in on the teenage angst. that first video is hilariously emo. coast on another album, with slightly diminished sales.
Then they drop OK computer, its a change...one the critics gobble up (and rightly so , its a great album destined to be "classic"), now the emo schtick (green plastic flowers, creep etc etc) is replaced with post-modernism and we get songs about the anxiety of modernity and fear of technology , ufos, plane crashes, airbags, and yes ...computers...but at the same time the instrumentaion gets even more technical and electronic..oh the irony! Kid A follows solidly but was already in the can i suspect...they blew up to be super huge indie band of the decade and IMHO lost it at that point. Theres a couple good tracks scattered throughout the next couple albums. The grammy performance ...was not to my liking in the least and I consider myself to be a fan.

I thought Tom Yorkes (radioheads frontman)recent solo album The Eraser was brilliant. IM not sure if you cats would dig it tho...lost of electronica like drum software action. You can youtube a couple live solo clips of Yorke on the Rollins show. they're quite good and will save you buying the album if you hate the music hehe. Be warned there is a new remix issue of this album out right now...me no like.

here ya go, dig the fancy synth http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4hZt--0 ... 1&index=18

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 13 Feb 2009 1:47 pm

OK then - got it! Everything is good,nothing is bad,everything is subjective and a person's lifetime of musical perspective is meaningless to everyone but them.
Doesn't that about sum things up?

Thank you, Mike. I was searching for the words when I found yours.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 13 Feb 2009 3:00 pm

Wait a minute - Radiohead did a video? I'm learning something every day. I guess I should have known.

I don't watch music videos. I usually read or do Sudoku puzzles when I'm listening to music. Can't read and watch a video at the same time.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 13 Feb 2009 3:34 pm

well bOb, that was back in the early 90's when MTV still played videos. I havent seen a music video in ages myself. Its all reality tv now, no more videos.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 13 Feb 2009 5:28 pm

It sounds much better if I don't watch Yorke's head waggle.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 13 Feb 2009 5:32 pm

Actually I thought Michael J's post was well-said and mostly made sense. And I also thought Jon L's criticism of what he said did too.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 13 Feb 2009 7:55 pm

Okay, I'm not a radiohead devotee, and I don't do grammies, so I listened to most of their stuff on utoob. I find them neither great nor terrible, sort of a cross between Bread and U2. There's nothing there that really "grabs" me, though, like David Gates or Slash could, occasionally. I think any decent musician with a studio could probably make that type of music.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 13 Feb 2009 10:22 pm

Donny Hinson wrote:sort of a cross between Bread and U2.

This is brilliant. You made my night, Donnie. I never saw it coming. But when you think about it, you've nailed it pretty good, although Thom Yorke and Bono would be have a hernia being compared to David Gates - which in itself is a delight.

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 14 Feb 2009 8:25 am

Lots of bands are influential,groundbreaking, competent,revered and emotionally resonant without being very good.

And with that quote, Michael Johnstone wins the

2009 Pterodactyl of Love Award!

I just listened to some Radiohead for the first time - why is that guy so unhappy? I recommend drugs - god don't you kids know anything?