ahearn@convexs.UUCP (08/08/85)
Re: women in rock `n' roll:
1. The current Great Feminine Hope:
The Bangles--check out their first LP, ``All Over the
Place'' if you like classic pop. The lyrics are good, occasionally great,
sometimes funny, and they play quite well. The big influence seems
to be the Beatles; the Bangles go in for well executed, expressive
harmonies, and the kind of ``hooks'' that the Beatles made
famous. I still like the record after quite a few listenings, though
I must admit that playing them immediatly after the hardcore bands I
favor is occasionally unnerving. The record really is irrestible, though.
2. Great Feminine Hopes of the Past
I agree with (whomever..) that Chrissie Hynde is a very sexy lady
and an unusually good artist. It bothers me a little to think that
the woman who wrote ``Precious'' and ``Middle of the Road'' doesn't
sell like Madonna does, but that's life, right?
Actually, as far as I'm concerned, Chrissie can't be counted out. She's
too talented and too intelligent to discount. She may yet have a great
record in her, if she can find the right mix of musicians again. (Farndon
and Honeyman-Scott, for all their problems, did seem to complement Chrissie
real well.)
Then again, there's Patti Smith, one of my all-time favorites, whom I hope
one day makes another record. Actually, as far as I'm concerned, some of the
stuff Patti recorded will stand with anyone's work. ``Horses'' is absolutely
great, if you can handle her ``art'' bias (even if you can't, how you could
listen to tunes like ``Redondo Beach'' and ``Free Money'' without being
struck a fan is beyond me. Not to mention her version of ``Gloria,'' which
is awesome.) I also jump around and gesture when I listen to ``Easter.''
I particularly like a tune called ``Rock `n' Roll Nigger'' which should
be required listening for punkers. (Lavadie, take note!)
Patti is also evidently a good friend of William Burroughs. There's a great
scene in ''Burroughs: A Documentary'' in which Patti laments that she
couldn't ever get Bill into bed. (Maybe Madonna could, who knows?)
Oh well, back to work. Ars longa, vitae brevis...
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Joe Ahearn {allegra, ihnp4, uiucds, ctvax}!convex!ahearn