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Post by JayUtah on Dec 17, 2007 23:21:11 GMT -4
And no, I can't scuba-dive. But I plan to learn; and then I can gurgle Beethoven's 9th through the regulator: Phleubbluh schoempbly Gurgle-funken phlockbleu auph Ephlbe-e-e-e-bleeoompbl...
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Post by Ginnie on Dec 17, 2007 23:40:24 GMT -4
First, a lot of vocals. I can only sing to my own songs. My vocals can only be described as a very bad Lou Reed.
I expected you to be able to play multiple instruments. I have a question for you: What ROCK band, in your opinion made the best use of the keyboard (piano, synth, organ etc.)?
The music I can perform is not always the music I like to listen to. I know the limits of my talent and try to stay within them. But that doesn't stop me from enjoying a pretty wide range of music. I can't perform a lot of what I listen to either. I guess a lot of the bass I can - except for jazz. I can't figure out them scales no how. Listening to jazz bass is a wonderment to me. I once tried stand up bass - man, I couldn't play it. It would take me a lot time to learn it.
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Post by JayUtah on Dec 17, 2007 23:52:05 GMT -4
What ROCK band, in your opinion made the best use of the keyboard (piano, synth, organ etc.)?
Not really a fair question since the keyboard-controlled instruments are so versatile and so have been used so variously by different bands. Certainly some of the piano work in Beatles needs attention. I would also consider the organ in Doors songs significant. So much of 80s pop was built around synths that you'd have to mention that whole era even if there weren't many specific outstanding examples -- and it's not really rock. I'd have to single out J. Geils as having the best keyboard riffs of that era.
Then there's Billy Joel.
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Post by echnaton on Dec 18, 2007 2:30:48 GMT -4
If anyone is into jazz, lay down your top jazz album that I could go out and buy and not be dissapointed.
Thy Steve Lacy - Momentum. It s modern Jazz but is also swings.
Money Jungle reflects Max Roach's strong modern jazz influence. It is interesting to listen to the differences in Ellington's tunes on that album compared to earlier, more traditional Ellington recordings.
[What ROCK band, in your opinion made the best use of the keyboard (piano, synth, organ etc.)?
I'd have to say that the early incarnation of King Crimson was one of the best uses of keyboards. They really put the Mellotron through its paces and created some great sounds that integrated well with the remainder of the music. What one would expect from Fripp under all circumstances. I am quite partial to the Mellotron sound on general.
The Moody Blues also used the Mellotron to great effect.
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Post by echnaton on Dec 18, 2007 2:46:22 GMT -4
Townes Van Zandt - Live in Berlin I am always kind of amazed at the spread of Van Zandt's influence. He was a great song writer and well known in Texas among people who listened to folk music. I suspect that most of my friends here would knot know his name now. I saw him a few times in the late 70's playing at Anderson Fair, the best folk music venue in Houston. One evening, home town favorite Lyle Lovett was the warm up act. I wonder if my old LP of "Live at the Old Quarter" is still around.
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reynoldbot
Jupiter
A paper-white mask of evil.
Posts: 790
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Post by reynoldbot on Dec 18, 2007 5:35:34 GMT -4
DEVO certainly made great use of the keyboard, as does They Might Be Giants. You will hear all sorts of beautiful sounds and styles by sampling some of their library.
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lenbrazil
Saturn
Now there's a man with an open mind - you can feel the breeze from here!
Posts: 1,045
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Post by lenbrazil on Dec 18, 2007 17:58:11 GMT -4
OK here is my list. Its thirteen but I just couldn’t cut anything Classical Philip Glass – Koyaniskatsi Terry Riley – The Harp of New Albion Aaron Copland – Symphony #3 Bach – Brandenburg Concertos Rock I am with ginnie on these two Beatles – White Album Brian Eno – Here Come the Warm Jets. The Who – Quadrophenia The Who – Who’s Next Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks Jazz Brand X – Moroccan Roll Al De Meola – Elegant Gypsy Duke Ellington – Ellington at Newport Duke Ellington, Charlie Mingus and Max Roach – Money Jungle I could have tripled the list without blinking. Certainly it would change if you asked me tomorrow. It would be hard to limit myself to just 10 albums if that’s all I could load on my Ipod (Zune actually), how about 16? Not really in any particular order but I’d stick to the first ten if that’s all you’d allow. My list could be much longer as well. 1. John Coltrane – A Love Supreme 2. Albert Ayler – Love Cry 3. New York Dolls – Private World (2x album - remixes and demos) their 1st album if you consider this cheating 4. The Stooges – Fun House 5. Johnny Cash – Live at San Quentin 6. Sun Records –The Definitive Hits (2x comp. Stars like Cash, Perkins and Lewis and obscure greats like Billy Lee Riley) a good 50’s comp. if you consider this cheating. 7. John Lee Hooker – A good compilation or John Lee Hooker Sings the Blues 8. Chico Science e Naçao Zumbi– Da Lama Ao Caos (From the Mud to Chaos) - The definitive “Mangue Beat” (Swamp Beat) album mixes rock, funk and Brazilian regional rhythms 9. Peter Tosh – Equal Rights 10. Antonio Carlos (Tom) Jobim and Elis Regina – Elis & Tom - IMO the greatest Bossa Nova album of all time. 11. Rolling Stones – Beggars Banquet or Exile on Main Street or a good comp. 12. Howlin Wolf – Moaning in the Moonlight 13. Manu Chao – Clandestino (+bonus tracks) 14. Link Wray – Mr. Guitar - 2X CD comp or Rumble! – IMO The greatest guitar player ever. 15. Luis Gonzaga – Ao Vivo Forro is a accordion driven form of Brazilian country music Gonzaga was the definitive musician, singer, composer and lyricist of the genre 16. Jimmy Cliff etc – The Harder They Come Soundtrack
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lenbrazil
Saturn
Now there's a man with an open mind - you can feel the breeze from here!
Posts: 1,045
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Post by lenbrazil on Dec 18, 2007 18:03:00 GMT -4
What ROCK band, in your opinion made the best use of the keyboard (piano, synth, organ etc.)? Eeer band s and artists ? and the Mysterians, Suicide, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis
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Post by JayUtah on Dec 18, 2007 19:55:49 GMT -4
...as does They Might Be Giants.
A very good example, not only of good keyboard usage but also of innovative composition in general.
Does a tubulum count as a keyboard? I have to admit near infatuation with Blue Man Group. I have a used BMG drumhead on my office wall.
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Post by Ginnie on Dec 18, 2007 22:35:55 GMT -4
My favourite bands with excellent keyboards: Yes ELP Genesis The Doors King Crimson Supertramp Booker T David Bowie (I know he's not a band but he used excellent piano players like Mike Garson and Rick Wakeman )
And of course, I have a story: When Neil Young was getting ready to record 'After the Gold Rush' he needed help with the piano duties. So he rang up Nils Lofgren (who had contacted him previously about playing with him). So he phoned Nils and invited him to the recording sessions. Then Neil said that Nils would be playing piano. "But I'm a guitar player" said Nils. Neil replied he didn't want anybody too polished, and wanted a simpler sound. I don't which parts are Nils or Neils on the record, but you can appreciate the simplicity of the playing. Which is why I say I play Neil Young piano...
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Post by Ginnie on Dec 18, 2007 22:48:04 GMT -4
Townes Van Zandt - Live in Berlin I am always kind of amazed at the spread of Van Zandt's influence. He was a great song writer and well known in Texas among people who listened to folk music. I suspect that most of my friends here would knot know his name now. I saw him a few times in the late 70's playing at Anderson Fair, the best folk music venue in Houston. One evening, home town favorite Lyle Lovett was the warm up act. I wonder if my old LP of "Live at the Old Quarter" is still around. You got to see him live? Incredible running into a fan here. Have you ever seen the DVD "Be Here To Love Me". Check it out if you can. On 'Live in Berlin' Townes tells a great story before he sings 'Poncho and Lefty' which is quite funny but its too long to go into here. You're probably familiar with the Steve Earle quote, "I declare that Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in America, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table with my boots on and say that" or something pretty close to that. Steve Earle adored Townes, but as rough as Steve was, Townes freaked him out sometimes. Like when Townes played Russian roulette with himself just to freak Steve out so that he would leave the house.
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Post by laurel on Dec 18, 2007 22:59:42 GMT -4
lenbrazil mentioned Johnny Cash, I like him too. But I can't make a list of 10 albums to take to a deserted island, because I tend to take a huge collection of CDs on a trip, then I find myself in the mood to listen to one of the few I left at home.
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Post by Joe Durnavich on Dec 18, 2007 23:06:50 GMT -4
I don't care to rank music, but the song I have been listening to a lot lately is Pictures of Matchstick Men by The Status Quo and the album of choice has been Pink Floyd's The Wall.
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Post by Ginnie on Dec 18, 2007 23:23:14 GMT -4
Status Quo - otherwise known as Spinal Tap? Supposedly that band was one of the major influences on Rob Reiner's portrayal of a heavy rock band. I was never into them myself, they really never broke out of Great Britain I think. I did listen to a few other lesser known bands at the time though like Budgie. I like Uriah Heep a lot too in the seventies, they were sort of a second rate Deep Purple. As much as I like music, it is amazing how much I haven't heard. I'm gonna mention some really top Canadian Bands over the years. I bet most forum members have never heard them; A Foot In Coldwater Fludd 54-40 Max Webster Chilliwack The Tea Party Sloan The Rheostatics Cowboy Junkies Our Lady Peace Blue Rodeo Rough Trade The Payola$ Here are some Canadian Bands and performers that people have heard of: Steppenwolf The Band (4/5ths) Rush The Guess Who The Tragically Hip Joni Mitchell Neil Young Leonard Cohen Sarah MacLaughlin Daniel Lanois Alanis Morrisette Bryan Adams Bruce Cockburn Bachman Turner Overdrive David Clayton Thomas (of Blood, Sweat and Tears) Anne Murray Celine Dion I know of a few Australian bands....how come we don't hear of any from New Zealand? Or do we get them mixed up? The Finn brothers are NZ though...I think. Oh, will Peter Garrett do good work?
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Post by echnaton on Dec 18, 2007 23:46:59 GMT -4
You got to see him live? Incredible running into a fan here.
It is pretty amazing finding other who have even heard the name. I haven't listened to his music in years but I still remember on of the jokes he told on the Live at the Old Quarter album.
Q. What's white and crawls up your leg? A. Uncle Ben's perverted rice.
Pure Townes!
There is a new Old Quarter music hall, now in nearby Galveston Texas. They hold a Townes Van Zandt memorial concert every New Years day. Van Zandt song by various musicians all evening in commemoration of his death on New Years Eve. It would be interesting but it is a little too far and too late since I have to work on Jan 2nd.
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