tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154988.post6059828398620312487..comments2024-03-26T01:59:52.206-04:00Comments on Just outside: Brian Olewnickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08567239067604835372noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154988.post-55344084846069366022008-08-18T16:50:00.000-04:002008-08-18T16:50:00.000-04:00I have similar Marvel/music experiences with Wheel...I have similar Marvel/music experiences with Wheels of Fire, although in the early 80s. (Happy belated birthday by the way, fellow Leo) I haven't listened to it in more than ten years though. Funnily, I remember las time I heard it thinking that "As You Said" was the best thing on it. Cellos, you see. Don't think Clapton's even on that one.Alastairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06229187273419378525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154988.post-80856249202285136982008-08-18T08:53:00.000-04:002008-08-18T08:53:00.000-04:00Caleb, During the 90s, I re-acquired early Zappa d...Caleb, During the 90s, I re-acquired early Zappa discs (which I'd previously traded in) up to Burnt Weeny. I never owned Freak-Out (or Absolutely Free) in my youth, though friends did and I heard them. But a couple years ago, I went and picked those two up on disc.<BR/><BR/>The first surprising thing was that I could recollect the pieces on Freak Out virtually note for note. I didn't think I'd heard it <I>that</I> much and I'm guessing it's more a matter of being an impressionable sponge at that age and those particular combos of neurons and synapses not having yet disintegrated. Secondly, though, was how strong I thought the album was. I still think it works quite well overall, even the mock doo-wop stuff. On the other hand, 'Absolutely Free' fares far more poorly. I'm tempted to even go so far as to posit that his future career trajectory is encapsulated in those two recordings, the more rewarding music emerging from the paths broken in 'Freak Out', the more stilted, boring things (both rock and "classical") having their roots in the second album.<BR/><BR/>Also, I have to say that I enjoy his humor in "Money" (and, later, "Uncle Meat") very much. For me, his slide into adolescent nonsense doesn't begin until around 1971. Again, this may center around what myself and friends were finding amusing at the time and there was definitely, around 1970, a hippie-backlash in play then. Not a condemnation but a recognition of the silliness of some premises, especially as it became fashionable, as they gained wider roots in US culture and began to take on characteristics of an industry (I blame Woodstock).<BR/><BR/>Lines like "Oh my hair's getting good in the back." had enormous resonance for those honest enough to say, "Yeah, I've said that" and to realize how shallow and superficial those concerns were.Brian Olewnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08567239067604835372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154988.post-54658855737133332472008-08-18T06:23:00.000-04:002008-08-18T06:23:00.000-04:00Most of the music I listen to today is the same mu...Most of the music I listen to today is the same music I listened to when I was younger. I have added a lot to my likes but there is not much that I have discarded, 20 odd years ago I was listening to Laurie Anderson, The Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, Patti Smith, Talking Heads,Prokofiev, Stravinsky, Shostakovitch, John Cage, Philip Glass and these are still my favourites. When I was about 8 I loved Queen and I have to admit to liking them still.lolabellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00673137047219723402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154988.post-91205319576882401082008-08-17T23:51:00.000-04:002008-08-17T23:51:00.000-04:00I had a similar experience recently with some earl...I had a similar experience recently with some early Zappa/Mothers that I unearthed. Freak Out and Only Money were my Marvel accompaniments, as well as introductions to more challenging musical material (the list of influences on the Freak Out jacket kept me searching for a long time). Freak Out sounds really dated now; the only song I can tolerate is Trouble Every Day. Only Money fares a little better because of all the musique concrete, but Zappa's adolescent hippy humor... sheesh!<BR/><BR/>Anyway, your post makes me kinda curious about White Room, about which I have very fond memories. Interesting parallel trajectories, since I also followed Bruce and Baker much more than Clapton.Caleb Deupreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14013497049609718830noreply@blogger.com