Last night I noticed about 5 songs that were by former American Idol contestants in the background while I was dining out at a restaurant. It's become quite apparent that AI has taken over the music industry. It's a no brainer -- The acts have already been "focus group" tested by the American public. At this point all they have to do is get packaged and marketed. It's become quite apparent that AI has taken over the music industry.
The last thing you want to do as a contestant on American Idol is to actually win the competition! It seems there are only 2-3 winners that have stuck around. Most of the airwaves are polluted with the castoffs and we rarely even hear about the winners. Where is Fantasia Barino these days? Probably hanging out with Taylor Hicks at Euro-Disney.
In my experience, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone in the entertainment industry willing to take a risk these days. Almost every song you hear on the radio has been put though the same "hit making" mill, which continuously churns out frothy, forgettable pop. Even Bon Jovi is pumping out country hits. When the hell did that happen? I suppose it's the only way to stay relevant for some. Most industry folk will only go for the "sure thing." This also explains why every single movie that comes out today is either a remake, a sequel, based on a comic book, novel, TV show, toy, a theme park ride, a cartoon carrot, a talking toupee, a popsicle stand, a dog & pony show, a salad dressing, etc. etc. etc.
All safe bets. Where are the original ideas? Where are the "Ghostbusters" of today!?
Our world today lacks vision and needs a great big fucking pair of bifocals.
How do you go from being in the biggest rock band in the world then to … being in the biggest rock band in the world now?! Just ask Dave Grohl!
(Dave is the prime example of what it is to be a Rock Star.)
For me, this week has been all about the new Foo Fighters album "Wasting Light." It's another great bunch of songs that just hammer home the fact that Foo is good for you! (I'm listening to the album for about the 10th time as I write this.)
In my opinion (which is always right), Dave's career is unparalleled and a paradigmatic anomaly. Usually it's hard to resurrect, let alone surpass a larger than life rock star status after a key member of your band implodes. (i.e. Led Zeppelin ended overnight when it was bedtime for Bonzo, and he decided to never wake up.)
Instead of crashing and burning out into obscurity after Nirvana ended, Dave flipped the script and rose from the ashes. Not to keep mixing metaphors, but he has really managed to kick rock's ass in the face! Not only has Foo Fighters seemingly had more hits that Nirvana even had songs, but they've managed to capture the spotlight every single time they come around with a new album.
I'm sure it's abundantly clear at this point that Foo Fighters is Dave's deal. He's created a band situation for himself where he's in charge of who comes and goes and doesn't have to push the "reset button" if anyone else in the band decides to blow their head off. This is a valuable lesson that I've taken to heart, having learned it the hard way. It's a model that I've decided I will follow in the future.
This is not to say that none of the other guys in the band (Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflet, Taylor Hawkins, and Pat Smear) are unimportant. Quite the contrary; Dave has hand picked these kick-ass musicians to create an unmistakable and legendary sound. After watching their Documentary, and seeing what it's like for them in the studio, it's clear that Dave micromanages every single note, snare hit, and scream on their recordings.
I think the most important thing gleaned from the Dave's success is that he seems to have surrounded himself with good, loyal people and he's always stuck to a clear vision of what Foo Fighters represents. If I've learned anything in my own personal experience it is: Always go with your gut, never compromise your integrity, and if anyone stands in your way -- stomp their face in.
When Kurt Cobain took his own life, he left a major void in the rock-time-continuum. It is my belief that after the way things went down 16 years ago, Dave feels the insurmountable burden and compulsion to personally fill that void in his own way. I get the feeling that he has the need to live up to his earned status, and never wants to let the fans down. Whether he was like that before Nirvana or not, he has since shown that he has a maniacal urge to constantly prove himself on every song; on every album.
There are many lyrical allusions to my hypothesis on Wasting Light, such as the line "...here comes the king of second chances" (Bridge Burning); "...Getting good at starting over every time that I return. I'm learnin' to walk again -- ...I never wanna die!" (Walk); and the song I Should Have Known which Dave says was written with Kurt in mind.
It has the refrain: "No I cannot forgive you yet, No I cannot forgive you yet, You leave my heart in debt, I should have known.
(It's nothing short of chilling to hear Krist Novoselic play the heavy handed, nasty, bad-ass bass line in the bridge section of this track [the "middle eight," if your British] with the legendary Nevermind producer, Butch Vig at the helm. Pat Smear is back for this Fighting round, and happens to be one of the few among the Foo who knew what it was like to play/tour with Nirvana. A fittingly therapeutic step toward closure regarding the whole fucked up shit-uation that must have spiraled out in their personal lives after Nirvana's abrupt and untimely end.)
To me, those lyrics are a key insight to what motivates Dave's indomitable spirit. For years it seemed that Dave would rarely if ever admit to musical references to Kurt/Nirvana, but now, it seems Dave is comfortable enough to go there. It's okay to talk/write about it now. Though there's obvious bitterness still there, it seems to be what propels Foo forward. Ain't nobody gonna dictate Dave's destiny but him! It was a wise decision to record their latest album, "Wasting Light" on old fashioned 2" tape. I learned a great lesson from Rick Rubin, (via Howard Stern, by way of Chris Rock) which is "always set yourself apart from the pack." This album is sonically unique in today's homogenized digital/Pro Tools universe. The rawness is realness. The imperfections are present, and are what give the sound its character; Its authenticity; Its purity. Something that Dave has carried over from the Nirvana days to the current state of Foo Fighters.
(I often think there is a certain kindred spirit between guys like Dave and his Them Crooked Vultures band-mates (John Paul Jones [Led Zeppelin], and Josh Homme [QOTSA/Kyuss]). These guys are all great rockers who blew up in other bands, and shine when they have a vehicle to showcase their badass-itude. They all also seem to be career-minded musicians, rather than total fuck-ups.)
This particular album pushes their sound even further. The mastering leaves some overhead for the mix to breathe. It's great to be able to hear all the layers of what was actually recorded rather than squashing it all into a modern rock sound sandwich.
Song-wise, the album just fuckin' rocks as I keep listening. Miss the Misery just came on. The 4/4+2/4 balls out rock riff immediately has my head banging. As the song plays, I'm only able to continue typing this with my pinkies and pointers as my hands have automatically and uncontrollably locked themselves in the devil horns position! \m/ \m/
(Sidebar: One time a sound engineer told me that you can't groove to a 7/8 time signature… that engineer must have never heard FF's Times like These... )
I really get the sense that Dave is constantly working at maintaining a certain level of quality. He works hard, and seems to have no limit to is desire to top their last hit. It's apparent that Dave is well aware and appreciative at how rare it is to be given a second chance at being among the gods of rock. Evidently, Dave was always destined for greatness, despite his mid-90's hiccup. One can only infer that the secret must be in his ability to win people over with his charisma, wit, great rock songs and even more so, HARD WORK! They just don't quit.
Foos keep on Fighting.
(Thanks to my friend Keith for forwarding this link just now
and reminding me that being a class act also can help your longevity. A good way to to put a button on this blog entry.)
Last night I caught the unstoppable, infinite-car-pile-up-traffic-accident that is Charlie Sheen. He was performing at Radio City Music Hall on his Violent Torpedo of Truth / Defeat is Not an Option tour. I must say, I found him funny and quite amusing for a bit, but as the show went on and the crowd got more intoxicated, things got... more interesting?
Warlock = Tigerblood + Adonis DNA
The audience was calamitous and people were complaining that they wasted their money. What were they expecting, Shakespeare?
I don't mean to pop your bubble-yum, but Charlie is NOT a stand up comedian, he's a Movie and Television star whose had 6 weeks to develop a touring act for which he's had absolutely no experience. Everyone who bought a ticket knew this going in, so I'm confused as to why anyone would be disappointed. I went to the show, without any expectations, just to be open to what might happen and be witness to the whole cultural phenomenon surrounding Charlie.
I very much appreciate the spectacle of it all in an Andy Kaufman kind of way.
Andy had the unique ability to deliberately turn audiences against himself. To me, this is a brilliant form of meta-comedy that I enjoy. During some performance pieces, he would create awkward silences, and insist that the audience stop laughing at him. I actually saw one bit he did on Letterman, where he went through the crowd asking for money because he fell on hard times after getting fired from his hit TV show, Taxi. People actually dug into their pockets to give him a hand out!
Little did the audience know that they were a part of the whole joke, and that there is a much bigger social punchline that becomes defined afterward and is hilarious in the context of time. Like a magician, Andy used slight of hand to keep you looking where he wanted you to look, but all the while he was pulling a rabbit out of your ass.
I will not go as far as to say that Charlie is orchestrating his theatrical demise each night. However, I will point out that the recently unemployed actor has sold thousands of tickets at venues across the country, strictly on his pop-culture capital. That is an ingenious way to take the limes you've been handed and turn them into a margarita flavored Porsche. Ultimately, the joke is on anyone who is taking this whole thing seriously at all.
I'm not laughing at Charlie, I'm not even laughing at the crowd (...well maybe I am) -- I'm laughing at the context and enjoying the all encompassing absurdity. The fun is in the reaction it gets! I find it hilarious when people flip out and say how much they either think Charlie sucks, or think he's the greatest thing since cheeze waffles were invented.
Charlie is a fascinating case study in our culture's morbid obsession with celebrity melt downs. In the end, I got my money's worth because I'll always get to say that I was there to see it... whatever it was.
How could America vote off the best singer in the competition??? The elimination of Pia Toscano is a big enough upset for even me to quit watching American Idol!
I'm convinced the voters must all be smoking crack in order to have voted her off and keep the lame country, microphone flautist Scotty "McDreary."
American Idol has officially OFFICIALLY jumped the shark after this unforgivable moment. This show has always been about likability and vocal talent. They've really offset the ratio by voting for talentless teenyboppers and putting the actual musicians in jeopardy. It just goes to show that you really don't need ability or even good looks to make it in the music biz. The remaining contestants are a bunch of interchangeable garbage faces and Casey Abrams. Let me know who wins, cuz I ain't watchin' no more.
