tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post3290409676563749343..comments2024-03-28T07:27:42.810-07:00Comments on Burning Wood: John Hiatt VS. The Black KeysUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-28598287000955066502023-01-07T16:11:06.099-08:002023-01-07T16:11:06.099-08:00I don't understand why he still hasn't rem...I don't understand why he still hasn't removed this song from his catalog. I'm a pretty big fan of his late 80s-90s stuff. Just don't get itAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-57962919191488832902014-07-16T12:12:43.106-07:002014-07-16T12:12:43.106-07:00Hey Buzzbabyjesus,
I'm right with you.
That...Hey Buzzbabyjesus,<br />I'm right with you.<br />That's exactly why I stopped donating to the United Negro College Fund.<br /><br />Bill<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-37569944041132470202014-07-15T15:06:41.161-07:002014-07-15T15:06:41.161-07:00I had the same reaction to the Black Keys album.
...I had the same reaction to the Black Keys album. <br />It was all going by in a haze, floating over me with nothing holding on until the very last song. Gotta Get Away. Great cut. Although by the time I got to it, I wrote the album off as a dud.<br />I'm just hearing the new John Hiatt today. And it's love at first listen. Yes, I am one of those long time fans who have been loving his records for decades, but he's been on an intimidating winning streak of late. He manages to keep the elements fans have come to expect while adding little surprises. <br />Maybe I'm just overly excited having just finished listening, but this might his best album yet.<br />Loving the fact that he's never lost his sense humor after all these years.<br />Old People is an instant classic. Randy Newman should cover it.<br /><br />hpunch<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-91644392427286889042014-07-11T06:05:57.528-07:002014-07-11T06:05:57.528-07:00I must admit that I'm puzzled by the notion th...I must admit that I'm puzzled by the notion that an artist is "capable of swinging for the fences, but never do". It reminds me of the old adage, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach". <br />It seems to me that we have a helluva lot of "teachers" nowadays, artists with the physical attributes and capability of playing instruments, but little ingenuity or talent for song composition. The music is technically flawless, but quickly and easily forgotten.<br />As for what I'm listening to:<br />R.E.M. Unplugged-Has there been a better rock vocalist in the last 30 years than Michael Stipe? True, his lyrics were sometimes indecipherable, but the guy had heart. The other guys were great as well. Helluva band, in their prime.<br />Michael Jackson's Greatest Hits-I resisted this guy when I was younger because of all the hype, but talent is undeniable. His heartfelt performance of "Ben", possibly his strongest vocal ever, makes you forget it's about a mouse.<br />Willie Nelson, Band of Brothers-I love you, Willie, but just stop. The voice just isn't there anymore.<br />Roy Orbison, Mystery Girl 25th Anniversary-I loved this album 25 years ago. They added some demos and re-released it. The additions don't do much for me, but if they get Roy's magnificent voice out to a new audience, I can live with them. A helluva artist, and man.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02812221895719217031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-34648599627135206432014-07-10T08:58:05.854-07:002014-07-10T08:58:05.854-07:00I really like the new Black Keys, but it does soun...I really like the new Black Keys, but it does sound more like a Danger Mouse offering, which is not bad, just not what many of us may want out of them. Can't wait for the new Hiatt. The new Rival Sons is great and they are a band who seem to know who they are and go out and kick ass each time. Great fun!<br /><br />AndyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-50022103112818776012014-07-10T05:24:14.897-07:002014-07-10T05:24:14.897-07:00"artists capable of swinging for the fences, ..."artists capable of swinging for the fences, but never do. I keep hoping each album will be either artist/band putting it all together and finally releasing something even approaching prime Zep"<br /><br />That is why I give them the time of day. <br />A fun topic could be which indie artists have come closest? <br />Big Star is an obvious one. Who Else?buzzbabyjesushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09375127662096374324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-59995253295207569802014-07-10T05:20:07.704-07:002014-07-10T05:20:07.704-07:00I apologize for not being clear on this as it coul...I apologize for not being clear on this as it could be interpreted a number of ways, many of which I'd be appalled at endorsing. I have no idea what "The Negroes Were Dancing" is even about. The title as a refrain did it all for me. <br />I was in The Santa Monica Civic waiting for Hunter/Ronson to come on('79,possibly '80), when John Hiatt took the stage. I knew who he was, they were pushing "Slug Line" in my local Liquorice Pizza,and I'd already had a negative reaction to the new wave poser on the cover.<br />I found his performance so irritating that by the time he got to "The Negroes Were Dancing" I was looking for something to throw at him. I've never gotten over this terrible first impression.<br />I know he's a more than competent musician and writer, but I don't care.buzzbabyjesushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09375127662096374324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-76934203181742058442014-07-09T18:06:07.501-07:002014-07-09T18:06:07.501-07:00Re: John Hiatt. A few months ago, I was watching ...Re: John Hiatt. A few months ago, I was watching American Gigolo, and there's a scene where Richard Gere's character walks into a record store. The song playing in the background really caught my ear. Wait a minute ... I know that voice ... sure enough, closing credits revealed the song to be "Take Off Your Uniform." Back when he was getting pigeon-holed as the American Elvis Costello.<br /><br />Bring the Family and Walk On really did it for me - otherwise, I find him prone to great songs on every album, but not whole albums that go all the way.<br /><br />On a higher shelf than The Black Keys, who aren't bad. I tend to think of them exactly as I do of Jack White/White Stripes: artists capable of swinging for the fences, but never do. I keep hoping each album will be either artist/band putting it all together and finally releasing something even approaching prime Zep.<br /><br />It's songwriting, more than anything. You can have great influences, even a great sound and feel, but if the songs aren't there ... you're just pissing in the wind.William Repsherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16690181505790748431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-67052964060983529572014-07-09T16:15:46.957-07:002014-07-09T16:15:46.957-07:00What I'm listening to that's reasonably ne...What I'm listening to that's reasonably new:<br /><br />Somewhere Else - Lydia Loveless<br /><br />Radio Sweetheart - Sarah Borges<br /><br />Common Ground - Dave & Phil Alvin<br /><br />The Boat that Carries Us - Peter Himmelman<br /><br />Another Self Portrait - Bobby D. <br /><br />All good and worthy albums.<br /><br />Allan R.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-40546102222443353992014-07-09T10:14:04.570-07:002014-07-09T10:14:04.570-07:00buzzbabyjesus -- I'm not sure what to make of ...buzzbabyjesus -- I'm not sure what to make of your comment. Are you saying John Hiatt is a racist or that "The Negros Were Dancing" is an unforgivably crappy song or ...<br /><br />Slug Line might not be my favourite John Hiatt record but I don't believe for a second he is racist and the record (and that song) in no way diminish my admiration for John Hiatt and his work.<br /><br />Am I reading too much or missing something?JAYESSEMMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00043689582943456784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-40274879615324083392014-07-09T09:03:24.594-07:002014-07-09T09:03:24.594-07:00The Black Keys might be the victim of unreasonably...The Black Keys might be the victim of unreasonably high expectations given the greatness of their last two albums. I give them credit for at least trying some new directions (maybe too many new directions for one album) even if they're not all winners. I like "Turn Blue" and disagree that it's all texture and no melody. Still, I can't argue with anyone who thinks the record might be better credited to "Danger Mouse featuring The Black Keys."<br />John Hiatt, on the other hand, comes with little or no expectations. He'll make a good, polished record every time out and if this one is a lot better than that I'll seek it out. And I really like that cover photo (am I the only one who still cares about this? Well, I'm a graphic designer so it's a hard habit to break...)<br />And re album graphics, the Black Keys' sleeve has a folded-up insert that I was expecting to have notes or lyrics or photos or something other than just a larger version of the blue and red swirl on the outside.<br />That's it... a true waste of trees. (Hmm, you think maybe its lack of content is a metaphor for the album?)Ken Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4357001616333664522.post-56616304696346254002014-07-09T07:17:50.571-07:002014-07-09T07:17:50.571-07:00I saw John Hiatt open for Hunter/Ronson and I have...I saw John Hiatt open for Hunter/Ronson and I have never forgiven him for writing, "The Negroes Were Dancing".buzzbabyjesushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09375127662096374324noreply@blogger.com