Posted by Trung
on 7/19/2012, 10:09 am, in reply to "Re: Why do I get the feeling you're going to lose a LOT of readers now? (nt)"
110.175.228.247
I don't think that John being pro-ween could lose readers. It's the case that John admitting not caring about the development of rock music in the 90's and that Ween ignoring the 90's as a positive thing (although John openly admitted that in other reviews so most people who read that site would already know that about him).
Really the 20-30 demographics would care alot about 90's rock because that's what they grow up listening to.
I have to say I am one of those crowd who grew up listening to 90's rock music and enjoying it as well. I guess I have to give kudos to John who was able to articulate quite accurately the type of person who wouldn't like Ween.
Similarly I'm one of those people who listen to Ween and just get a WTF reaction to it and absolutely confusion that people like this stuff (barring Mollusk, even then though I still get WTF reaction to stuff like Blarney stone and dick in the wind).
Their diversity is admirable it's just that my taste isn't ecletic enough and they cover a lot of genre of music that I really don't care about. I mean, John mention that You ####ed up capture the spirit of Hardcore punk. Which sort of cements why I never listen to any hardcore punk album ever. Really I'm not that impress when they decide to be eclectic by doing sea-shanty songs or being ecletic by singing in helium voice or doing circus-like instrumental songs mix with bored spoken word about how this is a hiv song.
Really I have no problem with humour in music, the thing is there's a difference between writing a song that is funny and writing a joke song. I much prefer humorous songs to be just songs with funny lyrics in there (like some of Dylan, Sparks, 10cc etc). Ween are like a caricature (I know that's the point but I don't like that point) and just seem to silly for me to care.
It doesn't help that I'm one of those people who doesn't bother to read lyrics until long after I decide it's a good song. Write good music that is self-sufficient by itself and only then I pay attention to the lyrics. I really couldn't care less if Ween were genius satirist if their music doesn't captivate me.
I don't particularly think their songs are particularly well written either. I don't find them emotional resonant at all (one of the things I don't get about George reviews was how he believes Ween were able to emulate emotional resonance). There isn't enough "epic", anthemic songs with an emotional climax to really be resonant (buckingham green is a key exception though and It is one of the alltime classic rock songs and one of the best songs of the 90's).
Ween knows how to create catchy melodies (when they try but they don't always try) but the pop masters (beatles, kinks, rolling stones, Radiohead hell even Dylan) know how to create a sense of occasions to their melodies and when a chorus comes up, treat it as a special occasion, for one thing have the chorus distinctive to the verse and have appropriate build up to it (pre-chorus or even just an instrumental linkage). Normally have the chorus be the most melodic, the highest pitch, the most loudly sung, the most instrumentation part of the song and have instrumental build up to it. Ween chorus could be catchy but in general there's lack of sense of occasion to it and there really isn't anything distinguishing it from their verse (it's the same issue I have with Wilco). To me that's how i separate pop master to people who are just merely competent.
Example. Baby Witch does not sound like "Idiot Wind" at all. For one thing Dylan knew how to create chorus that is distinctive and sets up chorus like it's a special occasion (usually he has a pre-chorus and instrumental build up and he belts out the chorus to contrast with the verse). Idiot wind has anthemic qualities, Baby Witch although catchy does not and mostly just meanders on with the verse and chorus basically interchangeable even if admittingly it is catchy (I do like the song but I can't say it's anything spectacular).
--Previous Message--
: Surely that view isn't prevalent amongst the
: male überwhite American middle-class nerdy
: 20-30 something's that I'd imagine dominate
: John's readership?
:
: --Previous Message--
: Because of the common anti-Ween view you
: yourself described in the intro.
:
:
: