Burning Wood

1974, Sheepshead Bay. I'm listening to the new Eagles record and "Already Gone" is just about over. My stepmother says, "God that's awful." But it wasn't said like a wicked stepmother. She loved music. Al Green, Buffalo Springfield, The Rascals and The Doors were some of her favorites. She just really hated "Already Gone." Actually, I don't love that song, or for that matter any of the Eagles "rockers." I prefer the band harmonizing over country ballads.

1980, Sheepshead Bay. I am listening to the new Rush album "Permanent Waves." Everyone in Sheepshead Bay was, as we were all getting prepped for the band's four night run at The Palladium. About a minute into the second song, "Free Will," my stepmother says, "God that's awful!"

True story.

There is a story popping up lately, in the wake of the upcoming Rush reunion that I had not heard about. Apparently, there is a feud between Geddy Lee and Don Henley. In brief, Henley had once said "Yuck" when Rush was mentioned and Geddy retaliated with "He's an asshole." I bet a number of readers would agree with both assessments.

Rush and the Eagles are two bands with little in common other than being played on the same classic rock radio stations. I am a big fan of Rush. I only just like the Eagles, though if I had to make a Top Ten list of all-time cringemaking songs, the Eagles would probably hold five of the ten spots.

I've been thinking about something on and off for months now. It's a subject that won't go away, and why should it? Good, passionate discussions on music are not only healthy, they can be a lot of damn fun when the participants behave themselves. I'm pretty sure I've talked about this before, but I don't mind bringing it up again.

What is the aversion to music that is produced well versus the appeal of music that isn't?

Or maybe that is too broad. A low-key Joe Henry production works for me more than a hot Don Was production.

How about this instead?

What is the appeal of artists and bands who knock out the same, three chord rock and roll for years, and why are there groans of disapproval when those same artists venture out of their comfort zone into bigger and brighter waters?

I love some good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll, but I don’t love taking the side of the underdog just because they are the underdog. (See: Willie Nile, an artist I respect, with an unbeatable work ethic and a great outlook on life. But musically, I find his brand third rate at best.)

I had a friend who loved Guided By Voices when they first popped up. One day at the shop, he asked me to listen to "Bee Thousand" because it was right up my alley. All Music said, "it's obvious that Robert Pollard has an uncanny gift for a hook and a melody, and Bee Thousand's 20 cuts are dotted with miniature masterpieces." My friend mentioned how a few of the songs sounded like The Hollies, who he knew I loved.

No amount of drugs would make me believe GBV sounded like The Hollies and besides, my friend was not a Hollies fan, so why the hell would that be a selling point for him? He preferred this lo-fi noise to "Bus Stop" and "Carrie Anne." I guess as long as a band has a leader with a guitar running on C batteries, and an album that sounds like it was made in a recording booth at a State Fair, he was all in.

It's not just him.

People listen to The Shaggs but won't listen to The Who. Look at the photo below and read the first comment on the bottom. It says."The Shaggs. Better than The Beatles--even today."

That comment could have been put there just to wind people up, except I know too many people who truly think that way.

Recently, the band Tuk Smith & The Restless Hearts has been recommended to me by a number of friends whose musical taste is often on par with mine. I listened to the band's music. I liked it. But, here's what I found baffling. I think they sound like Bon Jovi. A few of my friends who recommended Tuk Smith would never be caught dead listening to Bon Jovi. But you can't tell me "Troubled Paradise" would be out of place sandwiched between "Living On A Prayer" and "It's My Life." I'm not buying it.

A friend sent me this over the weekend:

"Can you explain to me why Richard and Linda Thompson’s "Sunnyvista" is always dismissed and considered a low point in Thompson’s career? (especially by Thompson aficianados) I’ve always rated it as one of his best. It’s obvious I’m wrong. I just listened to it again. Still love it. I don’t get why no one gets it. Any insight? Who can hate "Saturday Rolling Around?" Or the riffiness in "Civilization?"

I offered this:

"Well, two things come to mind. The first- it’s upbeat, and RT/Linda fans seem to prefer misery. Maybe they mistake joy for lightweight. The other thing is that theory I have about people truly not knowing why they like or dislike something, like all the people who call ”Nebraska” a masterpiece. Don't get me wrong, I love the record. But I love five Bruce records more. If it’s a masterpiece it’s an inadvertent masterpiece. It wasn’t planned. But these people jump on a bandwagon and they don’t know how to get off."

He replied:

"All valid points. Yet there are the contrarians who shit on obvious classics--The Beatles are overrated--just to appear to be an original thinker. It doesn’t seem to work the other way around. When something’s deemed a misstep, it rarely gets a second life."

Long time readers know, I often give records a second life. Sometimes, it takes years and multiple spins to get what's going on.

It took years before I was able to appreciate the Velvet Underground. Now, I genuinely love them. But I wonder just how legendary that band would be if those same songs had a more accomplished drummer and better sound. Would anyone give a crap about "Sister Ray" if it was 3:35 and not 17:32?

Burning Wood

Thursday, November 6, 2025

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

"Yuck" Versus "Asshole": Today's Essay Question

Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Monday, November 3, 2025

Sunday, November 2, 2025

Songs Of The Week, 2025: 10/25-10/31

Saturday, November 1, 2025

BW's Saturday #68: Good, Old-Fashioned Record Making