The Album Review Club - Week #147 - (page 1942) - Blonde On Blonde - Bob Dylan

[Coatigan]

It has been quite interesting reading the comments, credit to everyone, and more so for those that gave it more than the 3 goes or expanded to parts of other albums. Most of it I can see and agree with, if anything I half expected it to be a bit more polarised.

My own perception has changed a bit on reflection. I didn't think of the album and sound as that particularly universal, however the multiple comparisons to the generic tripe that is the Foo Fighters, imo the biggest con in music that I can think of, suggest there is a fairly routine aspect to this. Which I 100 percent think is the case for a bulk of their later work, maybe it started earlier than I gave it credit for. Could in part be to do with timing and age of first hearing it. I have to admit, my heart sank every time someone made that link to the Foos. The only similarities for me previously were, it came out in the year FF stopped being even mildly interesting, and, both crossed that line where you want the bands you like to be big and well known, but not too mainstream where they lose their identity and quality, pandering to their own popularity.

As a band, I do think Biffy are quite derivative, and some of the unique the progressions and passages aside, they do borrow heavily. From a scene they are a good decade late to. Which I think showed a bit of interesting style purism, that it should only belong to a handful of bands and that particular era.

Overall, hope it left something with someone even if it is one or two songs or a promise of more to look out.

 

[BlueHammer85]

It has been quite interesting reading the comments, credit to everyone, and more so for those that gave it more than the 3 goes or expanded to parts of other albums. Most of it I can see and agree with, if anything I half expected it to be a bit more polarised.

My own perception has changed a bit on reflection. I didn't think of the album and sound as that particularly universal, however the multiple comparisons to the generic tripe that is the Foo Fighters, imo the biggest con in music that I can think of, suggest there is a fairly routine aspect to this. Which I 100 percent think is the case for a bulk of their later work, maybe it started earlier than I gave it credit for. Could in part be to do with timing and age of first hearing it. I have to admit, my heart sank every time someone made that link to the Foos. The only similarities for me previously were, it came out in the year FF stopped being even mildly interesting, and, both crossed that line where you want the bands you like to be big and well known, but not too mainstream where they lose their identity and quality, pandering to their own popularity.

As a band, I do think Biffy are quite derivative, and some of the unique the progressions and passages aside, they do borrow heavily. From a scene they are a good decade late to. Which I think showed a bit of interesting style purism, that it should only belong to a handful of bands and that particular era.

Overall, hope it left something with someone even if it is one or two songs or a promise of more to look out.

Good post, I agree Biffy are class band in there own right and whilst I do see the comparisons with Foos , they do have their own identity.

 

[RobMCFC]

"....however the multiple comparisons to the generic tripe that is the Foo Fighters, imo the biggest con in music that I can think of"

That's a bold claim.

I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other: I bought a few Foo Fighters albums 8 years ago having never listened to them before. It was the Sonic Highways TV series that prompted me to give them a go and I do really like that album.

However, I applaud you for for sticking your neck out here - saying what we really think of music and the discussions that it generates can only be a good thing. Let's see what others think!

 

[Coatigan]

That's a bold claim.

I don't have a strong feeling one way or the other: I bought a few Foo Fighters albums 8 years ago having never listened to them before. It was the Sonic Highways TV series that prompted me to give them a go and I do really like that album.

However, I applaud you for for sticking your neck out here - saying what we really think of music and the discussions that it generates can only be a good thing. Let's see what others think!

It my personal opinion and feeling, one I myself am not that happy about at all and have desperately tried, many times over, to change. I even went back through some of their hits again, as a result of this week, just in case.

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

It my personal opinion and feeling, one I myself am not that happy about at all and have desperately tried, many times over, to change. I even went back through some of their hits again, as a result of this week, just in case.

The Colour And The Shape is their only truly fully-formed record IMO, and it's magnificent in part because it has a unifying theme -- it's about Dave's break-up with his then-wife from beginning to end. It also mixes styles and sonic dynamics very effectively (compare "Wind Up" to "Walking After You").

Personally, I love the Foos but more for individual songs/sound than for specific records per se.

Anyhow, you can not like their music (I understand and agree it has a more "generic" feel now than it did in the mid-90s -- they've felt a bit out of gas creatively for a while now) but you can't not like Dave (not that you said you don't -- just pointing it out). He's the Tom Petty of "grunge" -- completely and inexorably immersed in rock and roll, same as Petty was.

 

[RobMCFC]

That's week #43 done and truly dusted. The last time this many sixes were dished out in such a short space of time was Ian Botham against the Aussies, so it's no surprise that Foo Fighters Biffy Clyro finished on an average of 6.0 from their 11 votes. Thanks again to @Coatigan for the nomination.

I'm hoping that @southamptonblue is waiting in the wings with a few clues to this week's album.

 

[Coatigan]

The Colour And The Shape is their only truly fully-formed record IMO, and it's magnificent in part because it has a unifying theme -- it's about Dave's break-up with his then-wife from beginning to end. It also mixes styles and sonic dynamics very effectively (compare "Wind Up" to "Walking After You").

Personally, I love the Foos but more for individual songs/sound than for specific records per se.

Anyhow, you can not like their music (I understand and agree it has a more "generic" feel now than it did in the mid-90s -- they've felt a bit out of gas creatively for a while now) but you can't not like Dave (not that you said you don't -- just pointing it out). He's the Tom Petty of "grunge" -- completely and inexorably immersed in rock and roll, same as Petty was.

And he is the main reason I do Want to like their stuff. I do also know it too, it isn't a dismissive view, I have actually listened to every album, gave them all a right good go. There is a good greatest hits album to be made out of some 30 years of releases, but if I am to pick out songs that truly moved me, can count them on one hand.

Agree with Colour and Shape being their strongest release, followed probably by Echoes for me. But overall, they all feel a paint by numbers excersise, rinse repeat and release every 3 years.

This bit isn't my opinion, but there was a podcast I listened to a while back, where someone argued that nobody actually 'likes' Foo Fighters. They just say they do when they want to claim they like 'rock' music. It is the easy and safe choice that anyone can claim etc. While I find that extreme and broadly disagree with it, I do actually see the point behind it. And the earlier comment on here 'even my 87 year old grandmother says she likes FF' highlighted that to an extent, they cover a huge spectrum of mainstream to pop audience, Because they play it safe and keep it generic. They don't challenge, the audience, themselves, or music. Repeat catchy simplistic melodies, well put together, and just enough edge to be seen as alternative, while still being pop-radio friendly for the hit stations. And obviously Dave Grohl sells the rest, to those of us that have a real attachment to that style or era.

That doesn't make any of it bad by any stretch, just a bit banale and repetative. They are popular for a reason though and good on them.

 

[southamptonblue]

That's week #43 done and truly dusted. The last time this many sixes were dished out in such a short space of time was Ian Botham against the Aussies, so it's no surprise that Foo Fighters Biffy Clyro finished on an average of 6.0 from their 11 votes. Thanks again to @Coatigan for the nomination.

I'm hoping that @southamptonblue is waiting in the wings with a few clues to this week's album.

I am....just walked in from work, will sort in bit!

 

[FogBlueInSanFran]

And he is the main reason I do Want to like their stuff. I do also know it too, it isn't a dismissive view, I have actually listened to every album, gave them all a right good go. There is a good greatest hits album to be made out of some 30 years of releases, but if I am to pick out songs that truly moved me, can count them on one hand.

Agree with Colour and Shape being their strongest release, followed probably by Echoes for me. But overall, they all feel a paint by numbers excersise, rinse repeat and release every 3 years.

This bit isn't my opinion, but there was a podcast I listened to a while back, where someone argued that nobody actually 'likes' Foo Fighters. They just say they do when they want to claim they like 'rock' music. It is the easy and safe choice that anyone can claim etc. While I find that extreme and broadly disagree with it, I do actually see the point behind it. And the earlier comment on here 'even my 87 year old grandmother says she likes FF' highlighted that to an extent, they cover a huge spectrum of mainstream to pop audience, Because they play it safe and keep it generic. They don't challenge, the audience, themselves, or music. Repeat catchy simplistic melodies, well put together, and just enough edge to be seen as alternative, while still being pop-radio friendly for the hit stations. And obviously Dave Grohl sells the rest, to those of us that have a real attachment to that style or era.

That doesn't make any of it bad by any stretch, just a bit banale and repetative. They are popular for a reason though and good on them.

And I think part of the issue is that Dave is a pretty happy, content and secure person, doing what he loves, though obviously he's been close to tragedies (more than one, including one of the greatest musical tragedies ever for wasted potential). That's why TC&TS is different -- it's about an unhappy relationship, and on that record, he actually FEELS and writes/sings about those feelings, in a way that I think is brilliant and touching, which is why it's a top 25 record for me personally. On some of Echoes he does too ("Let It Die", and "Home", and the miner ballad which he wrote for them) but on plenty of stuff between and after Echoes (including the first record), his songs often sound GREAT (IMO) but MEAN very little. I go back and forth, but I think my favo(u)rite Foo song is "DOA", which literally could be generic to ending any unpleasant experience whatsoever. Maybe that makes it universal? Whatever -- I like it for its chord changes.

Anyway, while I didn't appreciate "Puzzles" at the level you did, I have started making my way through some of BC's more recent catalogue, so clearly regardless of the particular record, I have another artist to explore, which is always good!

 

[Coatigan]

And I think part of the issue is that Dave is a pretty happy, content and secure person, doing what he loves, though obviously he's been close to tragedies (more than one, including one of the greatest musical tragedies ever for wasted potential). That's why TC&TS is different -- it's about an unhappy relationship, and on that record, he actually FEELS and writes/sings about those feelings, in a way that I think is brilliant and touching, which is why it's a top 25 record for me personally. On some of Echoes he does too ("Let It Die", and "Home", and the miner ballad which he wrote for them) but on plenty of stuff between and after Echoes (including the first record), his songs often sound GREAT (IMO) but MEAN very little. I go back and forth, but I think my favo(u)rite Foo song is "DOA", which literally could be generic to ending any unpleasant experience whatsoever. Maybe that makes it universal? Whatever -- I like it for its chord changes.

Anyway, while I didn't appreciate "Puzzles" at the level you did, I have started making my way through some of BC's more recent catalogue, so clearly regardless of the particular record, I have another artist to explore, which is always good!

I think their latest album is pretty strong. A couple before that, a bit not so much. Their first is worth a listen, although might be too nirvana for you. Only Revolutions is the most successful and polished.

You mentioned liking bubbles, here is a wee side challenge. Without looking it up, can you tell who the guest guitar is on it. Quite distinctive imo, particularlynat the end. One who collaborated with Grohl, if it gives you a hint.