2016 Rock Hall Nominees

     As a fan of rock music I don't want to crap on other music fans, but the current results of the Rock Hall fan voting have me perplexed. I'll admit to a bit of hypocrisy, because I loved how the fan vote helped get Rush into the Rock Hall. However, we have seen repeatedly with the MLB All Star game that this is a dubious practice at best. The Rock Hall has 15 nominees this go around; The Cars, Cheap Trick, Chic, Chicago, Deep Purple, The J.B's, Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, Steve Miller, N.W.A., Nine Inch Nails, Los Lobos, The Smiths, The Spinners and Yes. Your current leader in the fan vote with nearly 25% is...Chicago. The Smiths are in 14th place with .27%. Really people? I have voted three times for The Cars (3rd place), Yes (2nd place), Cheap Trick (7th place), The Smiths and once for Steve Miller (4th place). The top five is rounded out by Deep Purple. I have made arguments for some of these artists several times on this blog, but I do have some random takes regarding this class.
     It's sad that it took the death of Chris Squire to finally get Yes on the doorstep of Rock Hall induction. Squire was the one constant in an ever changing lineup of prog rock geniuses and deserved to stand on that stage. I'm curious to see who will be inducted as Yes. Squire, Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Alan White are no-brainers, but what about the Trevor's Horn and Rabin, Bill Bruford or Tony Kaye. Yes are the gold standard of the much maligned genre, prog rock, and are deserving of induction. In a perfect world, they would pave the way to the Rock Hall for ELP and King Crimson, but that's very unlikely.
     It would also be sad if Cheap Trick were to be inducted without Bun E. Carlos being included in the ceremony. I don't know what happened between Carlos and the rest of the band, but they really need to straighten it out if they are inducted. Sadly, they only have 1.23% of the fan vote, so it may be a moot point. Apparently, the Japanese don't participate in the fan vote for the Rock Hall. Seriously though, they are the most deserving band in this class.
     Even though I'm not the biggest fan of Moz and he would probably boycott the ceremony because it's not vegan, The Smiths have to be in the the Rock Hall. It's a travesty that they are in 14th place. They are the UK equivalent of R.E.M. and their influence is pervasive in the past 30 years of indie rock.
     Chicago being number one in the fan vote is both surprising and completely predictable. I'm of an age where I grew up with their Transit Authority album and 70's hits. In my opinion, that output makes them a borderline Rock Hall worthy band. However, their 80's releases were horrendous and extremely popular. Bottom line, if they get in I'm fine with it but I couldn't vote for them.
     Not to be a jerk, but my "Please Child" list is Janet Jackson, The J.B.'s, Chaka Khan and Los Lobos. I have never heard of The J.B.'s. Los Lobos had one song on a soundtrack. I'm sure they are all nice people with dedicated fans, but this is a Hall of Fame.
     Having said that, this is a really strong class. I have great respect for Ritchie Blackmore, Trent Reznor, N.W.A., Steve Miller and Nile Rodgers. I didn't vote for them (except Steve Miller on one ballot for nostalgic reasons), but they are all extremely talented artists. My only gripe is that a few nominations seem to be based on agendas rather than merit. I'll just leave it at that. Peace.

What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World

     I can tell you the exact moment my opinion of Colin Meloy began to change...his cameo in Bob Mould's "I Don't Know You Anymore" video. Up to that point , I just considered him an insufferably pretentious singer who tried way too hard and took himself way too seriously. In 2006, my place of employment chose The Decemberists' album, The Crane Wife, as an in-store play and I couldn't stand it. Ordinarily, music that's literate and pretentious and arcane is right in my wheelhouse. However, there was something about Colin Meloy's voice and delivery that I just couldn't get past. The first time I watched the "I Don't Know You Anymore" video and Meloy entered the scene, I believe I audibly groaned and almost turned it off. I decided to tough it out because I wanted to hear the new Bob Mould song. Meloy's performance was a hilarious send-up of himself. He makes fun of Bob's flip phone and gives him advice as a indie rock "veteran".

     Now, fast forward to 2015. My employer chose The Decemberists' album, What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World for an in-store play. I still wasn't a Decemberists fan, but Colin Meloy had earned some good will with me. After a few listens, I had to admit that I was enjoying it. Sure, it still sounded pastoral at times and Meloy still employed words from the 18th Century SAT test, but it also had some great songwriting and guitar work. I decided to take a flyer and buy the LP and it's breathtaking on vinyl.
     Ironically for me, the fantastic opening track, "The Singer Addresses His Audience", is aimed at old fans of The Decemberists. He's explaining to them that he knows they don't want the band to change, but they have to change...some. The lyrics on the second verse are great: "We're aware that you cut your hair in the style that our drummer wore in the video/ but with fame came a mounting claim for evermore. You know. So when your bridal processional is a televised confessional to the benefits of Axe Shampoo, you know we did it for you. We did it all for you".
     The formatting of the LP is interesting. It's a 2 LP package, but there are only three sides. The fourth side has some stars and comets and an all seeing eye etched on it. My favorite song is "Mistral". The first line is "So we already wrecked the rental car and I've already lost my way". I was trying to imagine what Colin Meloy would consider as wrecking a rental car. Maybe he spilled some of his Caramel Machiato on the passenger seat. Anyhow, it features a catchy chorus, some great background vocals and exceptional band play. My one gripe with The Decemberists is that drummer John Moen is woefully underutilized. I know for a fact from his work in side projects like Boston Spaceships and Eyelids that he's a really good rock drummer. He does manage to get loud on the album's closing track, "A Beginning Song". It's probably my second favorite song and closes out with a bombastic flourish reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel. I highly recommend What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World, especially on LP. I might even go back and give some of their old albums a listen, except The Crane Wife. Peace.