The socalled devils music.

[Manna]

Yeah, I was mildly into MTV back then too, when I could get it, which wasn't often. (I haven't had TV for about 8 years now, so I don't know what it's like these days.) I remember being at a friend's house one night, and I'm not sure what it was, but somehow the videos for Smells Like Teen Spirit, She Moves in Mysterious Ways, and Orinoco Flow kept cycling. We were probably stoned and most of our sentences began with, "Smells like..." One of the boys held a flame to my sock and burnt the fuzz off. I flipped out a little, but it ended up being kind of pretty, and I let him do the other one. Smelled like burnt sock fuzz.

Thanks for the analysis, maybe I'll have to check out some NIN.

~~~
Our Leonard, mainstream/pop?
!!!
OK, that's it, I have to go to Australia.
Nick Cave, yeah. I have a strange fascination for him. I don't know his stuff very well yet, but I have a thing or two, and I like what I have. He has a really luscious way of singing, without having a traditionally "good" voice. I like to picture him in bare feet. OK, I need to go wipe up this drool.

[KjeXXXer]

KjeXXXer, heavy metal opera lover , sorry to butt in here, I'm getting the vibe you don't care much for the alternatives!

It depends on the band, but as a general rule I don't like the alternative scene much.

[julia]

Lord have mercy, you people have nearly worn out my eyeballs! Couldn't look away, though...

Sorry if I only skimmed over some bits... that was a LOT to read from the beginning! While it may surprise some... yes... I do dig some metal... some.

Metallica's "Garage Inc." with ... "Whiskey in the Jar (old Irish ballad/Thin Lizzy cover)" and "Loverman (Nick Cave Cover)" is notably listenable! Ozzy's "Changes" and "Crazy Train" are also cool. And, I can't recall the title of the album... but I know there are one or two System of a Down songs I was mad about at one time. And, do Nine Inch Nails qualify as metal??? I'm thinking not... but they had a memorable song or two. And, actually so did Tool.

So... thanks for this interesting read. Oh, and Hi Jack. Funny to see you here after all these years. I'm the twinkling idiot from the BBS years ago. And, Jason... I'm beginning to dig your avatar... sorry if I came across as unkind before. Was really only teasing.

Peace,
Jules

[julia]

p.s. to Manna...

My husband does the burnt sock fuzz thing at least once a week. Cool to watch... and makes your feet warm

And, let's be honest... Nick Cave is a genius of biblical proportions, eh???

Okay... enough from me, then.

Julia

[Teratogen]

julia, don't feel bad about dissing my avatar. I'm used to putdowns and insults by now. It's only happened to me my entire life. But then thank you for getting into it. Hahaha. But I apologize if it was too much to read. I really dig the subject of music history and somewhat consider myself a pop music historian. I did study it in college as well.

I wouldn't necessarily classify Nine Inch Nails as metal, though they did win a Grammy or two in that category. But let's not forget how tuned out those people are. I can and will never ever forget the fact that Jethro Tull won the very first Grammy in the category of Heavy Metal over Metallica.

[julia]

Hey Jason,

Jethro Tull? Metal? Nooooooo... tell me you're kidding. While yes, flutes are made of metal... I just can't figure this one out. But, makes me smile to hear about the win... if true

And, no need to apologize about sharing your music history knowledge... I think it's great. And, seriously dig that someone is hangin' in with me using groovy terms like dig!

Jeeeeeezusss it's late... I really must go back to bed.

Peace,
Julia

[lizzytysh]

Hi Jason ~

I, too, the same as Julia, have been trying to follow this thread.

But I apologize if it was too much to read.

For me, it has nothing to do with "too much," but is rather simply a matter of paragraph breaks. It's a visual thing for me; yet, somehow linked to processing the information. I get/feel 'overwhelmed' when there is no white space for the eyes/mind to rest; and the old grammar stuff about new paragraphs delineating new directions of thought is really helpful. Other than that, all's fine. Any effort in that direction will be really helpful for me when you write; otherwise, carry on and I'll just do my best .

Disclaimer: Don't look to me for proper paragraph divisions, though .


~ Lizzy

[KjeXXXer]

I'll agree on the whole paragraph thing, and add that I'm pleased to see you guys reading the thread, I wasn't expecting it at all really.


As far as the grammy, Jethro Tull did win it over Metallica. A dismal day indeed.
As the story goes Metallica did win the grammy a few years later in 1991, prompting drummer Lars Ulrich to express his delight that Jethro Tull didn't have an album out that year.

I also want to add that I think Jazz Police is an awesome (for want of a better term) "rock" song.

[julia]

Axel,

You're joking... right? Jazz Police?? Noooooooooo!!! "Throw another turtle on the fire. Guys like me are MAD for turtle meat". That line even made it onto my post on the worst lyrics thread. Rock song?? Uff!

But thanks for the Metallica grammy info. How did Jethro Tull even qualify for that catagory? Maybe he changed since I'd last heard his music many many moons ago.

Peace,
Julia

[KjeXXXer]

Jazz Police kicks tremendous amounts of ass in every way thinkable. I love it.
And the lyrics are cool too.

[Teratogen]

My apologies for the lack of paragraph breaks. I'm usually good with that. Sometimes when I'm writing on such topics I love I tend to get carried away and make it one stream of consciousness type thing. Hahahaha. I thought about paragraph breaks, too, which is funny because I thought where I would make them in those specific posts would cause too many short paragraphs. Of course, then I went on too long... hahaha.

There. Hope that's better. julia, as far as I know Jethro Tull is nowhere near metal. But as for "Jazz Police," you all may shoot me, but I have to go with KjeXXXer on this one. "Jazzer, drop your axe: It's Jazz Police!" My favorite line though, is "Jesus taken serious by many/Jesus taken joyous by a few/Jazz Police are paid by J. Paul Getty/Jazzers paid by J. Paul Getty II." Besides the female backup chorus it is quite a fast-paced up-beat song that seems VERY unlike Cohen, including the jazzy piano solo. It's very '80s, just like the rest of I'm Your Man. I could see a great video of this, with Cohen wearing a suit and tie and hat... something like out of a noir picture. In fact the entire video would be like a noir type thing in black and white and everything. It's an offbeat tune but I dig it. Half jazz, half beatnik, but all '80s. Hahaha. "Blood is thicker margarine than grease." Another great line.

[julia]

Hey Jason,

Looks like I may be the outsider here (no big surprise to me, then), but I still seriously hate Jazz Police. Okay, yeah... the J. Paul Getty II lyric was pretty righteous... C'mon!!! I mean come on!!! This is a terrible terrible song. And, this is coming from one who digs Leonard in the most fierce way possible!!! Uff! So, I'm happy that some find pleasure in even the worst of his efforts. But... but... this is NOT my Lenny at his best, let's be honest. Jazz Police. Let's just dial up Muskrat Love and MacArthur Park while we're at it then, shall we??

Oh, I can't go on. Have at it then, jazzers...

Still sending peace,

Julia

[julia]

p.s.

I groove on your well conceived noir idea of a vid for the song... but, still can't buy in.

Jules

[lizzytysh]

One of the things that I like about Jazz Police is that if it really is anecdotal, as I've heard it is, then Leonard is laughing at himself in a very big way. I also like its strong, intense, and relentlessly driving rhythm.

It immediately evidences that Leonard is capable of taking many different directions when it comes to musical presentation. I wouldn't play it for someone unfamiliar with him, as an example of Leonard as a whole; nor as being typical of the songs that draw us near and dear; however, as an example of his aptitude for amazing variety, I'd play Jazz Police, Dear Heather, and Queen Victoria.

Jazz Police is a song that's fun to sing along with and gets you moving [think housework and doing the dishes ~ with, hopefully, none broken ] and with lyrics of merit and humour.

I like your noir idea for a video of it, Jason.

Thanks for your paragraph breaks. Many small ones is still much easier to process than one big one.

I love the photo you've chosen as your avatar, Julia. I still have the pages in the magazine [I think it was Look] from when I first saw it. It's one of my all-time favourites of Leonard... the one I always make sure to show people when I'm attempting to acquaint them with Leonard's music [a 'task' quickly becoming much easier ]. If I were to have chosen a Leonard photo as my avatar, that would very likely have been the one. Good on you for having chosen it. Something in it just says it all. In the accompanying article, he speaks of his preference for staying in seedy hotels... a preference that has no doubt since changed, though clean and simple would likely cover it.


~ Lizzy

[KjeXXXer]

I love the rythm of Jazz Police, especially when the girls go "Jazz Police, I hear you calling.." The bass guitar and drums just really compliment eachother, the bass particularly stand out great during the piano solo. Just excellent.

And the video idea is something I've often contemplated, just as you deecribed it, but on stage with some cool cat playing the bass while sporting a suit, and an overhead view of the drums.. Yeah. Someone ring Leonard about this.