I'll reply to this one publically......
I hardly think that a negative review of hometown/homestate bands is a
flame, it's an honest statement of a "personal opinion". That is, I'd
like to offer my unique "point of view" in order to let folks (read:
consumers) located way outside the Portland area in on what they are
considering purchasing. How many of us have bought an album/CD without
hearing based soley on an enthusiastic review or two, and then were
disappointed?
There is no way (and this criticism has been leveled at No Dep mag) that
this forum can be a gladhanded affair only heaping praise and backslaps
onto our pet genre bands Not that I'm saying any of the Portland acts I
gently slagged are guilty of this, but the alt-country genre suffers from
an influx of weak outfits. They need to be called out and perhaps, the
criticism leveled will serve to improve the band. Of course, how this
differs from any other genre is beyond me.
Harley, I appreciate your unabashed support of the Portland scene, I find
the alt-groups less pleasing than you do. Doesn't mean I don;t harbor an
appreciation for them. However, then again....I am squarely oriented in
the bluegrass, old-time, singer-songwriter end of things. We just need to
agree to disagree.
I'll respond to your comments one at a time now....but again, to
reiterate.....we need to maintain some degree of criticality around here,
otherwise....what's the point?
On Mon, 1 Mar 1999, Harley Cowan wrote:
> Then why don't you? Have you made the hour drive to Portland to see any of
> the bands you speak of? I have seen them all a few times in the past few
> months and I think there is some real talent here. What is this whole
> *caution* thing anyway? What are you exactly trying to warn people about? If
> your posting is so singular and subjective then should it be phrased as a
> warning? I think there is some real merit in these releases. Especially from
> a town dominated by post-grunge-glamour-punk and neo-hippie-folk-crap.
More times than I can count Harley. As a matter of fact, I'm loosely
affiliated with a club down here that's booked many of the very same acts
I mentioned. I'll be seeing Little Sue for the umpteenth time in Salem
tomorrow night and I'll be buying her CD from her to replace the promo
copy I have. So, yes....I am quite familiar with their collective output.
As per caution, well....that's my fault, I suppose. It would take an wful
lot to make me say...."Band X totally sucks". I'm trying, in a rather
inarticulate way to say, this is my opinion and I'm definitely not as
excited as other people about Record X. I'm sorry, neither the Flatirons
nor the Countripolitans hold all that much interest for me. Now, if the
damn Derailers had never left Oregon, that would be a different story.
I'd be heavily rooting for the home town'ers. So, yes....caution, because
I'm polite, sensitive, and I really would like to see the Portland alt
country scene expand and achieve.
>
> >The Countripolitans record definitely has its moments. Although I'd again
> >caution those of you fascinated by their name to be wary.
>
> Here we are again with this caution thing. What's in a name?
Because the name implies a particular genre of country music that.....if
someone purchases the record on the basis of the name, I think they'll be
disappointed. Much less a "countrypolitan" kind of sound than say, Mike
Ireland & Holler. Would you agree? A name conveys a lot.....a feeling,
an emotion, a genre. Not too many country bands named GWAR, Circus of
Power, or Slayer. The name conveys quite a bit of information.
> >It's not overly Countrypolitan, nor Bakersfield, nor anything else.
>
> What is that supposed to mean? Does everything have to be labeled? Do you
> need to attach an ID to all the parts to feel comfortable? I think The
> Countrypolitans' CD has a mix of sound and style that fits well as a whole.
> Are we so used to things being packaged that it all must taste the same?
> Take the new Kelly Willis for example. Her voice is still candy to my ears
> but I'm getting sleepy already.
No accounting for taste I'm afraid! <g> Everything doesn't need to be
labelled but as a librarian type, I appreciate accurate categorization. I
most certainly don't find the Countripolitans CD displeasing because of
their selected name. I don't feel cheated because I bought the CD and it
didn't live up to their name. I bought it because I want to support the
hometeam and I'm going to tell people what I think about it. I'll
probably buy any release they make because I do support the indy scene.
So, I do put my money where my mouth is by consuming and attending shows.
>
> There are a few songs on there that don't plod by any means.
Well, YMMV....love that Internet acronym, "Your Mileage may Very".
> What do you mean by underdeveloped? I'm curious because I'm working on some
> songs in my own band and am wondering when to stop with them. What makes a
> song fully developed?
Well, and this is difficult since you are a songwriter and god damn, I
don't want to slag too much because 1) I haven't heard your material and
2) this is where it is taken so personally. I haven't found the writing
on either the Flatirons, Countripolitans, Little Sue, nor Fernando to be
overly compelling to me. "To me", that's the catchphrase. Reminds me of
the old man, child, and donkey fable. Your songs are fully developed when
they fully convey the thoughts, dreams, emotions, aspirations that YOU
want to convey. Just don't expect the songs to carry the same impact to
each & every audience member. When Tom Russell or Dave Alvin sings, I'm
on the edge of my seat. I hang on the words. Nothing coming out of
Portland grabs that way and that's admittedly, my loss. So, I couched the
term underdeveloped to describe my personal disatifaction. next time,
less cagey and more specific. You called me & I'll own up to that.
> >Plus, it has the most bizarre production
> >I've ever heard. The lead singer's voice literally jumps off the disc
> >about 5 ft' in front of anything else.
>
> I guess they got you on that one.
Again, YMMV. I found the production to be strange, but not totally
unappreciated. I personally believe they produced the CD the way they
did, since Elizabeth's voice is the strongest instrument in the band.
> >Sorry, Golden Delicious, nor Bingo, nor any of that other Portland stuff
> >(Hank Plank & the 2x4's excluded since I haven't heard them) appeals to me
> >in the slightest.
> What does appeal to you, except Steve Earle?
Well, let's see......Dwight Yoakam, Dave Alvin, Tom Russell, Emmylou
Harris, Steve E., Del McCoury, Robbie Fulks, Derailers, Dale Watson,
Gerald Collier, Kimmie Rhodes, Pernice Brothers, Greg Trooper, Jim
Lauderdale just to name a few. I fully admit that the more indy-aesthetic
or punk feel doesn't hold much appeal to me. That's my personal bias and
I'm more than willing to own up & admit to that. Hell, it colors my
opinion...thus, I prefer singer-songwriter, straight country type
material.
> flames beget flames
Again, we need to feel free to disagree around here. My post was so far
from a flame because it is pointless to totally gut up & coming indy
bands. Let them produce and let information regarding the releases flow.
What's the point if everything is candycoated?
Hope to meet up with you Harley......I'll buy you a beer sometime.
AND....even though I disagree with you, I sure support that right to
disagree. Glad you support the music. So do I and that's why the Low
Power FM Station that is under planning may appeal to you.
> Portland Music Fan
> Harley Cowan
Harley, I hope you aren't implying I'm not a music fan........again, beer
offer stands, hope to meet you sometime soon.
Signed, a Willamette valley Music fan.
Jerry
Jerry Curry - Spectre Booking
Independence, Oregon
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
In the Top 40, half the songs are secret messages to the teen world to
drop out, turn on, and groove with the chemicals and light shows at
discotheques. -- Art Linkletter
