Opeth Day; Or: How Can Lovers Of Music Dislike So Much Of It?

 

I listened to Opeth for the first time. I've known about them for years. I am a heavy metal fan. It's just that the band and I never crossed paths. Then I saw an Instagram post of Lenny Kaye's, where he shared photos of Opeth's opening night on their U.S. tour, and it was his commentary that sent me to one of their best reviewed records, 2005's "Ghost Reveries." 

Lenny said this-

"I had the extreme pleasure of witnessing Opeth at the opening show of their US tour. They are a renowned Swedish band that happily embraces dark metal, prog complexities, and melodic sensibility, unusual in a genre built on readymades."

I went in knowing a bit of what to expect, and also not expecting I'd last the 70 minute length of the record. That's two and a half Hollies' albums worth of my time.

Verdict?

I wanted more. I was never bored. The record knocked me out.

Now, I'd be surprised if anyone reading will actually listen to this record, which is why I didn't include an audio sample. After 17 years of this blog, I know what I am up against. Heavy Metal is regularly frowned upon on these pages, even when it's fairly easy-to-swallow hard rock. 

If you can't deal with "Whole Lotta Rosie" or "War Pigs," you won't last a minute with Opeth. 

When the singer isn't growling like Satan's hemorrhoids, which happens almost immediately into the first song, but thankfully, only occasionally throughout the record, his voice reminds me of Greg Lake. Musically, this band is sensational. They don't simply thrash away like Metallica or Pantera, and more times than not, remind me of classic Yes, if Yes were more aggressive and well, much louder. Underneath the frenetic arrangements and creativity you will often hear appealing melodies, not unlike something you'd hear on early King Crimson records or Brit folk records. A few guitar solos reminded me of David Gilmour's tone, especialy his sound on "Shine On You Crazy Diamond." 

Let me stop here.

Heavy Metal
AC/DC
Black Sabbath
Prog Rock
Brit Folk
Greg Lake
Yes
King Crimson
Metallica
Pantera
Pink Floyd
Hemorrhoids
Satan

I know my audience. I know many reading have little to no time for what's on that list, not to mention, at worst, a general, no-go attitude, or at best, an indifference towards reggae, free jazz, country blues, Tropicalia, disco, hip hop, EDM, salsa, punk, hardcore, polkas and The Grateful Dead.

This brings me to my first question. 

Why does music seem to be the only art form with so many restrictions?

Lovers of film don't only watch westerns, or Marx Brothers films, though I guess a few might.
Avid readers don't only read horror or romance novels, though I guess some do.  
Gourmands aren't eating pizza every night, though there are worse things in life.
We can appreciate oils, water colors, acrylics, sculptures, deco, surrealism, etc.

But with music, the rules, regulations and excuses seem endless. 

"No Fender Rhodes please."
"No drum machines."
"Guy sings like Lily Pons."
"Songs are too long."
"No cymbals."
"Too many novelty songs."
"They were better with the old bassist."
"The Beatles are overrated."
"Some good stuff, but he didn't hit any home runs."
"Why is he singing about wizards and fairies?"
"Enough with the castrato vocals."
"The Beatles are a boy band."
"Must he sing with that Okie voice?"
"Another guitar solo?"
"Sing in ENGLISH!"
"I stopped listening to them in 1972."

Back to basics rock and roll seems to be something everyone could shake on. But, god help you if you toss in a few bells and a few whistles, some camp, or a little extra production. It's like your pissing on The Pieta. Yet, if you've got a backstory, like selling your bicycle and having to walk five miles to the nearest Waldbaum's where you worked after school so you could save enough money to buy a guitar, your records could sound like shit and you'd still be a champion of rock and roll. 

I get it, until I don't. 

Punk is all attitude. Rock and roll is punk. I am all in. But what I don't get is how showing your ability to play your instrument well, while trying hard to make great records that don't sound like your guitar is running on C batteries, is something to crap on.

Okay, I am going a bit off the rails here. But I am sure long time readers get my point and I bet some of you have experienced some or all of this. I have heard or read every one of those quotes above. "No Fender Rhodes please" was actually said by me when a customer told me his favorite jazz artist was Bob James. After an eyeroll that caused temporary thrombosis, I suggested listening to "Giant Steps" or "Kind of Blue." He replied, "Are those good jazz records?"

Readers often point out my listening habits. Some have questioned how I could jump genres so easily, or how I could stand listening to The Cro-Mags, Fairport Convention, The Specials, Irma Thomas, Motorhead, Ornette Coleman, X-Ray Spex, Tom Petty and David Bowie all in one day. 

What I want to know is, how could you not? 

What makes the sound of Queen or the Dead Boys more or less offensive than Graham Parker or Willie Nile? Why is "This Year's Model" a fave of every Elvis Costello fan, while"Momofuku" is mostly ignored? One of my best friend's two favorite artists are Bob Dylan and Van Morrison and he hates more of their records than he likes. 

I realize there are no real answers, but that doesn't mean I don't think about it every time I hear a song or an album that thrills me, like this Opeth record, and wonder how it's not thrilling everyone who hears it. 

But more to the point, how can lovers of music dislike so much of it?

As I was listening to the Opeth record, in awe of the production and sound of it all, getting more excited with each riff and transition, every unique drum pattern, I ran to my desk to start typing. Then, I thought, this record will go over like a lead balloon. I'm not going to bother writing about it. Do I really want to set myself up for crickets? 

It also stinks that I already thought I knew the outcome.