There are two phenomenon that cause me great consternation. On the surface they seem to be polar opposites to one another but is reality they are intertwined.
On the one hand we have those music fans that are constantly bemoaning that music just isn't as good as it used to be and that records definitely sounded better in the analog days long before digital.
On the other hand we have those grizzled veterans who swear up and down that music is still a vital and exciting part of their life and they discover at least 2 or 3 records a year that come close to changing their lives every bit as much as the first time they heard the Beatles' Revolver.
Are either of these people telling the truth? I don't think they are and i think both are.
You see, when you're growing up and you're starting your life as a music fan, everything is fresh and new and exciting. Every new record is a profound discovery that seeps in to your soul and enters your bloodstream. In retrospect, how can anything you hear in subsequent eras of your life compare to those first few years of discovery?
On the other hand, there are kids today discovering new music for themselves and they are having the same experience as we had oh so many years ago. In a couple of years, they will discover the music that we loved and they will embrace it but it still won't be the same as the records that were recorded for them today by their generation of musicians.
No point...just saying.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
What ever happened to...
The title could apply to any number of artists but in the case of this post I am talking about Wide Mouth Mason and The Soundtrack of Our Lives. before you begin typing away about how both bands still exist and have released new music (I know, I know), please hear me out...
In the mid-90's Wide Mouth Mason literally burst out of nowhere - if you consider Saskatoon nowhere. Freshly signed to a major label they toured across Canada as an unknown opening act for Big Sugar. Each night, by the end of their set - after a rousing version of Stevie Wonder's "Satisfaction" and guitarist Shaun Verrault's orthodontic pyrotechnics - the crowd was converted. When their debut came out it was no surprise that it was certified gold in Canada and their touring base was solid. Three guys, one stage, incredible show, awe inspiring sound. I watched them do the same throughout the mid-west of the U.S. In Kentucky, while opening for Kenny Wayne Shepard, I watched as the guys got a standing ovation just for walking through the club after their blistering set.
Wide Mouth Mason were a blues-based band. As a classic three piece it made sense. After the first flush of success they settled in for their second album and decided they wanted to reach a pop audience. Their album sales declined. And on the third album as they continued down that path their sales continued to dwindle. You can blame it on many things and there's no definite answer but if a band does something well, why not stick to it, perfect it and let your audience celebrate it. Wide Mouth mason never lost their live edge but their performances suffered from weaker material.
As for The Soundtrack of our Lives...their performance 5 years ago at the Opera House in Toronto was a rock and roll epiphany for me. Their command of the stage and dynamic performance revived my faith in rock and roll and kicked my ass into the new millennium. The album Behind The Music was classic mixing The Who, Stones and Pink Floyd into a beautiful stew. the single "Sister Surround" got a ton of airplay and the video was in regular rotation everywhere. Their lead singer wasn't your everyday pretty boy but audiences couldn't take their eyes off of him. The band was poised to be the next big thing. And then they recorded their new album and the music wasn't as vital. Critics panned the record and music fans voted with their wallets. The Soundtrack of Our Lives disappeared off the North American landscape as quickly as they had appeared.
It's a shame that Wide Mouth Mason and Soundtrack of Our Lives aren't forces anymore. Their live shows were what put "incendiary" in to rock and roll.
In the mid-90's Wide Mouth Mason literally burst out of nowhere - if you consider Saskatoon nowhere. Freshly signed to a major label they toured across Canada as an unknown opening act for Big Sugar. Each night, by the end of their set - after a rousing version of Stevie Wonder's "Satisfaction" and guitarist Shaun Verrault's orthodontic pyrotechnics - the crowd was converted. When their debut came out it was no surprise that it was certified gold in Canada and their touring base was solid. Three guys, one stage, incredible show, awe inspiring sound. I watched them do the same throughout the mid-west of the U.S. In Kentucky, while opening for Kenny Wayne Shepard, I watched as the guys got a standing ovation just for walking through the club after their blistering set.
Wide Mouth Mason were a blues-based band. As a classic three piece it made sense. After the first flush of success they settled in for their second album and decided they wanted to reach a pop audience. Their album sales declined. And on the third album as they continued down that path their sales continued to dwindle. You can blame it on many things and there's no definite answer but if a band does something well, why not stick to it, perfect it and let your audience celebrate it. Wide Mouth mason never lost their live edge but their performances suffered from weaker material.
As for The Soundtrack of our Lives...their performance 5 years ago at the Opera House in Toronto was a rock and roll epiphany for me. Their command of the stage and dynamic performance revived my faith in rock and roll and kicked my ass into the new millennium. The album Behind The Music was classic mixing The Who, Stones and Pink Floyd into a beautiful stew. the single "Sister Surround" got a ton of airplay and the video was in regular rotation everywhere. Their lead singer wasn't your everyday pretty boy but audiences couldn't take their eyes off of him. The band was poised to be the next big thing. And then they recorded their new album and the music wasn't as vital. Critics panned the record and music fans voted with their wallets. The Soundtrack of Our Lives disappeared off the North American landscape as quickly as they had appeared.
It's a shame that Wide Mouth Mason and Soundtrack of Our Lives aren't forces anymore. Their live shows were what put "incendiary" in to rock and roll.
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