blickstein@eludom.DEC (Dave Blickstein) (03/01/85)
I think the question that was asked was if anyone was STILL putting out long varied pieces. The only one that comes to mind is Frank Zappa. A band that has tragically, broken up, but was doing extended pieces as recently as 2 years ago was the inimitable (Dixie) Dregs. Any devoted fan of progressive music, should at least get a chance to listen to a Dregs album. All of their albums are excellent, although "Freefall" is more countryish and less progressive than the rest. Dregs tunes rarely last for less than 4 or 5 minutes and each album has had at least 1 or two 9 minute tunes on it. The Steve Morse Band, perhaps unfortunately, is not doing extended tunes, although they have successfully carried on the tradition of the Dregs. (Steve Morse is the guitarist/composer from the Dregs (He has also won the Guitar Player magazines Best Overall Guitarist poll for several years in a row)). Dave Blickstein
ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis) (03/09/85)
From Davidl: >I heard Husker Dufus up here a couple of nights ago... always thought the >guitar player had an electric 12-string. What I discovered was, he was >playing a Gibson Flying-V or some clone thereof, and using two very beat-up >effects boxes - an Electro-Harmonix "Small Clone" chorus, and an MXR >distortion box. I liked his sound. > >Sean, you may as well give up on anyone talking about music in net.music.. Those who have missed the changes in music over the past ten years would do well to catch the SST tour -- it played here last week, and I believe it will continue nationwide for a while. The bands on this tour (Husker Du, Minutemen, Meat Puppets, Saccharine Trust and others) rank among the most creative in current American rock and roll. The worst part about the tour is that they're ALL wonderful. Who has time to catch five bands? Admission was, incidentally $7.50. The Meat Puppets performed music from their upcoming 3rd Album. These guys are constantly unpredictable, this time merging jazz harmonies and astonishing psychedelic effects into their already peculiar country- thrash sound. My guess is that their creativity derives from a dislike of playing the same music for very long. Consequently, they sound just awful at their old music, and open stargates with their new. The Pups do not play existing styles -- they only invent new ones. The Minutemen's style has complex rhythms, weird harmonies, an eerie low-key angst, punctuated by surprising starts and twists. Originally, they were known for fast-and-furious 60-second songs, and I lost touch with their style when they were in transition. Their restless style was engaging, their techique precise. Husker Du has received its share of attention in the past few months. They played hard, fast, l o n g, and with great exhuberance. Six sides of new material (Zen Arcade, New Day Rising), and so little time! -michael -ps Found in a recent net.music article: >Here is the Village Voice 1984 PAZZ & JOP CRITICS' POLL >as published in the issue dated February 19, 1985. > >Albums ... > 8. Husker Du: "Zen Arcade" ... >14. Minutemen: "Double Nickels on the Dime" ... >20. Meat Puppets: "Meat Puppets II" ... >Singles > 4. Husker Du: "Eight Miles High" Two and a half years ago Husker Du and the Meat Puppets seemed to be secure in their obscurity, the epitome of `publically unacceptable'. Funny how fast times change.
kah@ihldt.UUCP (Kurt Hedlund) (03/17/85)
/***/ One long and connected piece of music from the 60s was the Amboy Dukes' (Before Ted Nugent got top billing) 'Journey to the Center of the Mind'. It took up one album side and had "classics" such as 'Why is a Carrot more Orange than an Orange,' 'Death is Life,' as well as the titled Journey'. This is a rather interesting record considering its anti-drug message (though the message is not that clear) and its length, was far from the norm in the middle sixties. I've had feeling this was one of the first long rock pieces done by a somewhat popular group, I'm sure it's before the Who's Tommy, but I might be wrong. Does antone know for sure when Journey to the Center of the Mind was released?? Kurt Hedlund (ihldt!kah)
Benjamin%PCO@CISL-SERVICE-MULTICS.ARPA (Paul Benjamin) (03/19/85)
> I've had feeling this was one of the first long rock pieces done by a > somewhat popular group, I'm sure it's before the Who's Tommy, but I > might be wrong. Does antone know for sure when Journey to the Center of > the Mind was released?? The single (Journey to the Center of the Mind) was a top-40 hit (at least in the Detroit area) in the summer of 1968. The song itself is not particularly long. Perhaps the album had a longer version. I don't have the album but I do have an anthology album, "Michigan Rocks", released about 3 years ago on Seeds and Stems Records, that includes "Journey" plus other goodies like the Rationals' "Respect" (Aretha heard it on the radio and decided to record it), Bob Seger's "Heavy Music, Part 1", Scott Richard Case's (SRC's) "I'm So Glad", MC5's "Kick out the Jams" (not the Brothers&Sisters version), the Stooges' "1969", etc. There is an historical blurb for each cut, I think. I'll check and see if I can get a more definitive date.